Kerala, India - Gods own country - Top places to visit

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Kerala is addressed as ‘God’s own country’ and it certainly justifies the given title. The beautiful tropical beauty, Kerala is one of the most beautiful places in the whole world. This coastal state has everything that any peace-lover seeks while planning for a vacation – the beautiful greenery, exotic backwaters, fascinating culture, and whatnot. There are beaches mountains, adventure, heritage, culture, wildlife, and many other elements that make Kerala state popular in terms of tourism.

Kerala tourism is popular throughout the world. Every year, thousands of tourists visit Kerala to taste its amazing culture, explore its hidden treasures, and soak in time full of peace and tranquility. From being a sought-after honeymoon destination to the most-preferred destination for a family vacation, Kerala is a must-visit place.
Here are the top places of Kerala that you must add in your itinerary while planning your vacation:

Trivandrum 

Nearest Airport - Trivandrum
2833 Kms from New Delhi

Trivandrum is the capital city of Kerala and is the combination of stunning heritage as well as a colonial legacy. This city is built upon 7 hills. Trivandrum successfully preserves its old-world charm and you will surely unveil this as you start exploring this metropolitan cum tourist spot. There are beautiful temples, palaces, beaches, and museums where you must mark your presence.
 
The Padmanabhaswamy temple is a must-visit temple of the city. Other famous temples of Trivandrum include the Attukal Bhagwati Temple, Pazhavangadi Ganapathy Temple, Aazhimala Siva temple, and many others. The famous Kuthiramalika Palace Museum is where you can have a dose of Kerala history and culture. Another place to excite all the history fanatics is the Kanakunna Palace. The quaint cafes and restaurants of Trivandrum are where you can taste the authentic Kerala food. As Trivandrum has its own airport – domestic and international, reaching here is no hassle.

Kovalam 

Nearest Airport - Trivandrum
18 Kms from Trivandrum

Kovalam is a coastal town of Kerala that is most famous for its Ayurvedic treatments, massages, and activities such as yoga and meditation. Thus, if you are planning to escape to Kerala to witness a dose of rejuvenation, this is the place to be in. Kovalam is situated 13 km away from the capital city, Trivandrum. Hence, you can drive down to this town without a hassle.
 
Apart from pampering yourself at the beautiful resorts and meditation centers of Kovalam, you can explore the amazing local markets and shop for a variety of things including the rich spices, handicrafts, wooden statutes, and much more. You can also entertain yourself with the many adventure sports hosted at the beaches of Kovalam. Kovalam is a hidden treasure of Kerala.

Varkala

Nearest Airport - Trivandrum
42 Kms from Trivandrum

The coastal town of Varkala is situated in the southern part of Kerala. This place is known for its unique Northern Cliff that is located in the nearby Arabian Sea. If you want to taste some hippie culture, visit this place. The shacks, the coastal line, the beaches, and many other factors make this place a much sought-after destination of Kerala. Besides, the samadhi of saint Sree Narayan Guru is located in Varkala. Hence, you can mark your presence there as well.
 
As you begin to explore Varkala, you will come across some of the most beautiful tourist spots such as pristine beaches, forts, hills, lakes, lighthouses, natural fisheries, etc. Pamper yourself with some Ayurvedic spas at the affordable resorts. You can also stay at the hostels of Varkala for a straightforward hippie experience.

Alleppey 

Nearest Airport - Kochi
146 Kms from Trivandrum

If you are seeking tranquillity away from the hustle-bustle of your daily hectic lifestyle, Alleppey is the best place to be in. In fact, you can even take a solo trip to this beautiful place and we assure you that you wouldn’t feel bored or left out. This is because Alleppey has a lot to offer. The scintillating beaches, peaceful backwaters, as well as lagoons together, make this place Venice of the East.
 
Commercially, the city is popular for its extensive network of interlinking. Apart from this, Alleppey is also known for its houseboat cruises and if you wish to have any houseboat experience, your visit to the city is a must. Book your room in an Ayurvedic resort and rejuvenate your body with the amazing Ayurvedic therapies carried out here. Visit Alleppey Beach and know about its glorious history. You can also walk down the 137-year old pier while strolling at the beach. Kochi Airport is the nearest commute to Alleppey and is situated only 57 km away from the main city.

Kottayam

Nearest Airport - Kochi
146 Kms from Trivandrum

Kottayam is the ancient Kerala town that rests on the hilltop flanked by the Vembanad Lake and the Western Ghats. This place is rich in terms of its culture and is home to natural beauty. Kottayam is popularly known as the Akshara Nagari of Kerala as it is home to many publishing houses and print media.
 
The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is where you can do early morning safari to spot some beautiful chirping birds. You can further visit numerous temples of the city such as Vaikom Mahadev Temple and Thirunakkara Mahadev Temple. The local markets of Kottayam are where you will stumble upon the beautiful traditional sarees as well as relish upon the local Kerala cuisine. Other places of attraction in and near Kottayam include Vembanad Lake, Marmala Waterfalls, Thazhathangady Juma Masjid, and Parel Syro Church. Kottayam is only 47 km away from Kochi Airport.

Kumarakom

Nearest Airport - Kochi
158 Kms from Trivandrum

Kumarakom: Kumarakom is situated 16 km from Kottayam. Thus, you can extend your trip and reach nearby Kumarakom for rejuvenation, tranquility, and much more. This place is located on the banks of the largest lake in Kerala, Vembanad Lake. Interestingly, Kumarakom is a group of many little manmade islands.
 
The backwaters, paddy fields, tempting local cuisines, culture of fishing, traditional rice barges, houseboats, etc. are the highlights of this place. You can find many budget and luxury resorts at Kumarakom for a comfortable stay. Visit the famous Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary and spot some beautiful migratory birds. You can reach Kumarakom by flight as the nearest airport to the city is in Cochin. Kumarakom is also connected by road from cities such as Bangalore, Chennai, Cochin, Kottayam, and Mangalore.

Sabarimala 

Nearest Airport - Kochi
166 Kms (Pamba) from Trivandrum then 5.1 Kms by walk on hills from Pamba

Sabarimala is known as ‘India’s own Mecca’. This is because over 30 million pilgrims visit the Sabarimala temple making it the largest destination of pilgrimage in the country. Sabarimala is situated inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve in the Pathanamthitta, a Kerala district. This place is surrounded by many Hindu temples each of which carries its own significance. The traditions at this place are a combination of Vaishnavism, Shaktism, Shaivism, and other traditions.
 
The temple is located between eighteen hills and is further flanked by the dense forests. Hence, reaching this town is a thrilling experience itself. After seeking blessings at the different temples in Sabarimala, you can trek up the mountains from Plapalli to Aangaamuzhi to Muzhiyaar. Sabarimala doesn’t have an airport of its own. You can drive down to the town from the Kochi or Trivandrum airports respectively. The railway connectivity includes places such as Ernakulam, Kottayam, and Chenganur.

Kochi 

Nearest Airport - Kochi
199 Kms from Trivandrum

Kochi: Cochin or Kochi is a commercial port city of Kerala. It is also addressed as the Queen of the Arabian Sea. Apart from being a cosmopolitan and industrial capital of Kerala, Kochi has a lot to offer to the tourists as well. The beautiful art galleries are the best hideout for everyone who is a connoisseur of art. You can spend hours at the amazing art galleries of Kochi. The classic-contemporary amalgamation of this city makes it a perfect travel destination for everyone.
 
If you are a shopaholic, you can visit the Lulu Shopping Mall that is touted as the biggest shopping mall in India. Kochi also entertains a variety of heritage sites, temples, beaches, and forts to explore. The annual Biennale Festival hosted in the city is popular throughout the world. Here you can witness the spectacular Kathakali as well as Kalarippayattu performances by the skilled artists. Land in this beautiful city via Cochin International Airport as it is the easiest commute.

Idukki

Nearest Airport - Kochi
229 Kms from Trivandrum

Idukki is the most nature-laden Kerala district and any nature-lover is surely going to fall in love with this place at first sight. Half of the area of this district is covered with forest. If you decide to stay here, you will end up having an exotic experience. This place is known for its tea factories, dense forests, rubber plantations, beautiful bungalows, as well as wildlife sanctuaries.
 
There is an arch dam built across the Kuravan Kurathi mountain in Idukki that is known as the largest in the country. Alongside this, Anamudim the highest peak of India resting to the south of the Himalayas is also situated in Idukki. As a tea-lover, you can participate in drinking different varieties of teas. You can further engage in a boat ride, trekking, wildlife-related activities, and many others for fun and adventure. The easiest commute to reach Idukki is via Cochin International Airport (99 km from Idukki).

Munnar 

Nearest Airport - Kochi
266 Kms from Trivandrum

Munnar is a tropical paradise of Kerala. This beautiful hill station is located at a height of 1600 meters in the Western Ghats. There are many places and spots that make this place famous among the tourists, especially among the honeymooners. The tea estates, misty blankets, high peaks, and serene greenery are the highlights of this beautiful place.
 
Munnar is located on the banks of three rivers namely, Nallathanni, Madupetti, and Periavaru. Apart from admiring the lush green beauty of this hill station, you can also visit the popular Eravikulam National Park and Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary to catch a glimpse of the wildlife present in the state. Munnar doesn’t have its own airport. But there are many mediums using which you can reach here. The nearest commute to Munnar is the Cochin International Airport that is located at a distance of 110 km from the hill station. The closest railway station to Munnar is Aluva that is the situation at a distance of 100 km respectively.

Thrissur

Nearest Airport - Kochi
275 Kms from Trivandrum

If you want to live Kerala culture at its best, Thrissur is the place that you must visit. This place is referred to as the cultural capital of Kerala and is popular for the beautiful classical performing arts of the city. What makes Thrissur a sought-after destination among all the travel enthusiasts are the world-famous Thrissur Pooram festival, Vadakkumnathan Temple, as well as its Onam celebrations.
 
This city has three temples of Lord Shiva and hence you can seek your blessings by visiting these temples. Other tourist attractions in the city include Kshetram Temple, Archaeology Museum, Tomb of Shakthan Thampuran, Heritage Garden, and Athirapally Falls. The shopping areas of the city sell the best spices, artifacts, coconut oil, and handicrafts; you can take home many souvenirs. While touring Thrissur, do not forget to visit the charismatic Kerala Kalamandapam Cultural Center. The nearest airport to this place is Kochi airport and you can drive down 67 km after landing in Kochi. You can also reach Thrissur by road as it has good connectivity with NH17, NH544 NH66, as well as NH47.

Kozhikode

Nearest Airport - Kochi
392 Kms from Trivandrum

The quaint location of Kozhikode is the first reason why you must visit this place during your excursion of Kerala state. There is the Arabian Sea on the west, Wayanad hills on the east, and this city is surrounded by beautiful beaches, historic sites, lush green countryside, and whatnot. This place is also known as the leading producer of spices and hence you can shop for the most organic spices from the local markets of the city.
 
Some of the most sought-after places to visit in Kozhikode include the gorgeous Tusharagiri waterfalls, Kappad Beach, Beypore Beach, etc. You can also check out the beautiful Sargaalaya Handicraft village and shop for the stunning local handicrafts and artifacts. Kozhikode is beautiful and quaint. It is well connected to some of the major cities of India such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Chennai, etc. via air.

Wayanad 

Nearest Airport - Kochi
454 Kms from Trivandrum

Wayanad is one of the most sought-after places if you want to make the most of Kerala tourism. The beautiful waterfalls, exotic wildlife, historical caves, remarkable hospitality at the resorts, and homestays together make it a go-to option for all the tourists. You are going to have the time of your life at Wayanad if you are a wildlife enthusiast as you can stumble upon many wild animals.
 
The Chembra Peak at Wayanad is a good trekking option and you can take a short trek to the highest peak at an altitude of 2,100 m. You will spot the beautiful Hridhayathadakam lake during your trek to the peak. This lake is a heart-shaped lake that never dries. Other places and spots that make this place famous among the tourists are Meenmutty waterfalls, Neelimala viewpoint, Edakkal caves, etc. The Calicut Airport is the nearest to Wayanad situated 61 km from the city.

Kannur

Nearest Airport - Kochi
489 Kms from Trivandrum

Kannur rests on the Malabar Coast of the state and is home to beautiful sightseeing options like monuments, beaches, ancient temples, picnic spots, and many others. This Kerala town embraces an ambience of the ancient colonial era. You can learn tales about the beautiful architectural monuments constructed by the British, Dutch, Portuguese, and the Mysore Sultanate.
 
The beautiful St. Angelo’s Fort is considered to be the best tourist attraction of this place. This is the place where you will learn a lot about Portuguese history. You can also visit the nearby town Talparamba that is home to two gorgeous temples namely, Trichambaram temple and Shri Rajarajeswara temple of Kerala. Gorge on the traditional and tasty Kerala food and witness the beautiful folk performance of Theyyam with your family and friends. Calicut has the nearest airport and is located only 82 km from Kannur.

Bekal

Nearest Airport - Mangalore (Karnataka)
574 Kms from Trivandrum

Beautiful forts, beaches, and backwaters together constitute the small town Bekal that is situated in the Kerala district called Kasargod. This place is home to the largest fortress of the state of Kerala and is considered as the primary landmark of Kasargod district. The beauty of Bekal is that this town is flanked by the Arabian Sea from three sides.
 
The major attractions of this town include the Kappil Beach, Nityanandashram Caves, and Chandragiri Fort. Bekal has easy connectivity with the Mangalore airport and you can also take a train from the nearby railway station in Kanhagad to reach here. As a history fanatic, you can learn a lot of Kerala culture by visiting the famous forts situated here. Do not skip staying a day at the houseboats.

The beauty of Kerala cannot be described in a few words. This place is truly God’s own country as it is surrounded by the beautiful greenery and picturesque natural spots that are the gifts of God to mankind. Kerala has culture, colours, peace, tranquillity, adventure, wildlife, and everything that makes your vacation the best experience of your life. Book your tickets now and visit the above-mentioned places in Kerala state. The hospitality of the state awaits.