11 Must Visit Beautiful Places To Visit In Kerala

Kerala, locally known as Keralam, has cemented its place as one of the top destinations that you must visit at least once in a lifetime. From its natural beauty to its culture and traditions, the state stays true to its title, ‘God’s Own Country’, which is further burgeoned by the variety of tourist places in Kerala. Wondering how it got its title?

# Fort Kochi

Commonly known as the 'Gateway to Kerala'; Kochi is an enchanting city with an eclectic influence. You can sense the influence of Arabs, British, Dutch, Chinese, and Portuguese cultures in here. With great architecture and several historical sites, Fort Kochi attracts a lot of tourists to the area. It is without a doubt one of the best tourist places in Kerala.

# Kerala Backwaters

One of the most relaxing things to do in Kerala is to take a trip in a houseboat along the palm-fringed Kerala canals, known as the backwaters. You can even spend the night out in the middle of a lake. Enjoy the bliss of staying a few nights at a resort or along the backwaters. Also, do not miss seeing the sunset from Kakkathuruthu Island on Vembanad Lake, as featured in National Geographic.

# Marari Beach

If you wish to explore the picturesque beaches, Marari is one of the best places in Kerala for that. The placid fishing village has a long stretch of undeveloped beach with a variety of accommodations to suit your stay.

# Periyar National Park

Kerala’s Periyar National Park, in the Thekkady district, is one of the most beautiful national parks in southern India. Periyar is famous for its wild elephants to such an extent that you can take 30-minute elephant rides through the jungle. There are boat safaris in here, and visitors can also partake in an excellent variety of eco-tourism activities. All of this makes it one of the best places to visit in Kerala.

# Munnar

Munnar is renowned for its sprawling tea plantations. Here, you can witness tea picking and processing, and try fresh tea straight from the gardens. There’s even a tea museum! The area’s natural beauty is characterized by winding lanes, misty hills, and forests with exotic plants and wildlife.

# Varkala

The setting of Varkala beach is extremely beautiful and breath-taking. Varkala has a paved footpath that runs along the length of the cliff, bordered by coconut palms, quaint shops, beach shacks, hotels, and guesthouses. At the bottom of the cliff, you’ll find a long stretch of sparkling beach which you can reach by stepping down from the cliff top. The vibe in here makes it one of the best tourist places in not only Kerala but the whole of India.

# Wayanad

Wayanad is the bright green mountainous region stretching along the Western Ghats. It has a beautiful scenic appeal, abundant coconut palms, thick forests, paddy fields, and lofty peaks that form the landscape. Owing to the nature of its terrain, the area has a lot to offer to adventure enthusiasts.

# Kovalam

Kovalam is Kerala’s most happening beach which is located about 40 minutes southeast of the capital city Trivandrum. It was catapulted onto the tourist map in the early 1970s when the masses of hippies converged on it, as they followed the Hippie Trail to Ceylon (now called Sri Lanka). Since then, it has become one of the top tourist places in Kerala.

# Poovar Island

Have you ever seen or heard of over-water bungalows? You’ll be pleasantly surprised to find them at the Poovar Island Resort. The island itself lies at the point where the Neyyar River meets the Arabian Sea, and in between is an elongated sand bar.

# Trivandrum

Viewed among the best tourist places in Kerala, the main attraction in Trivandrum is the 16th-century Padmanabhaswamy temple. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, it was built by rulers of the kingdom of Travancore. Trivandrum also has a myriad of interesting museums and galleries, housed in classical heritage buildings.

# Sargaalaya Crafts Village

An initiative of the Kerala state government, Sargaalaya won the National Tourism Award for Best Rural Tourism Project in 2016. This tourist village was set up at the pretty village of Iringal, in the Kozhikode district of Kerala. Staking its claim as one of the best places to visit in Kerala, It is a platform for talented artisans to display their craftsmanship. Tourists can see the artisans in action and also buy their art.