Chinese Fishing Nets At Cochin Harbour
Periyar River At Thattekad
The Issues That Need To Be Considered When Travelling To Kerala Are As Follows
- What time of the year are you willing or able to travel?
Are you expecting to base yourself at a beach location only or are you prepared to travel inland at least a few nights on a ‘Mini Tour’ or a ‘Full Kerala Tour’ in order to experience its must-see attractions?
- What are the important sights and experiences that may interest you along the way?
- How are you going to travel around Kerala?
- What type of hotels are you looking to stay at during your visit to Kerala?
Tiger At Periyar National Park
When To Go? The Weather
The Peak Tourist Season:
November To March is traditionally the best time to travel to Kerala as the state experiences low humidity and low rainfall. The period between December and March is especially amiable in terms of climate to visit Kerala. Hotel rates are however at their highest and availability becomes an issue unless confirmed many months ahead. The hills and mountains may turn rather chilly in the evenings. The beaches are at their best at this time of year with calm seas.
Hot Season: April To May
Kerala warms up considerably to prepare for the ‘burst’ of the South West Monsoon each year. This is traditionally the period where the Hill Stations such as Munnar and Thekkady experience crowds of visitors that wish to escape the heat of the coastal plains.
Monsoon Season – June To August
The state is lush and green during the intermittent monsoon rains. This is the main ‘domestic season’ in Kerala for visitors from other parts of India as hotel prices reduce dramatically. The wellness and Ayurveda season reaches a peak between June and August, as the benefits of Ayurveda are at their best during the Monsoon rains. The extremely colourful temple ceremonies at Thrissur and Snake Boat Races are also performed at this time of year. The beaches however especially around Kovalam lose much of their sand and seas can be rough.
Shoulder Season: September To October
Travel to Kerala during September – October is a good option as the Monsoon subsides and hotel rates are still low while seasonal crowds are largely absent. There may be some intermittent rain from the North East Monsoon but this is largely mitigated by the barrier of the Western Ghats that runs through the spine of Kerala.
Note: The simple truth is that weather patterns have all but changed in South Asia due to climate change, so there are no longer distinct rainy or dry seasons and the monsoon periods have scattered. It can be sunny or rainy on any given month.
Streets Of Old Cochin
Exploring Old Cochin
Our First Hand Knowledge
It is essential to actually stay in a hotel inside Fort Cochin in order to immerse yourself in the history and ambience of its old Portuguese, Dutch and British architecture and heritage.
The old spice markets are fast disappearing and only about 26 members of the once famous Jewish community are still left. In its place, Fort Cochin has become a thriving bohemian hotspot with trendy art café’s and lots of interesting street art too.
The food is absolutely amazing in Cochin. All the local culinary styles from Hindu Sadhyas to Muslim Buriyanis and Syrian Christian delicacies are found in sometimes small unassuming eateries of the old town.
There is actually no need to leave Fort Cochin. The commercial area of Ernakulam is of no interest at all to tourists.
Some of the original ‘famous’ colonial hotels are rather worn out but there are even better ‘new kids’ on the block.
With a half-day to spare in Cochin there is an option of a hands-on cookery course for food enthusiasts. These are highly recommended as they are authentic experiences with extremely experienced professionals who will teach both the theory and practice of using Indian spices in traditional biriyanis, South Indian cuisine and Syrian Christian dishes.
Dramatic Scenery At Munnar
Munnar And The Western Ghats
Our First Hand Knowledge
Although a working plantation town, Munnar was not really a colonial Hill Station like ‘snooty’ Ooty or Kodaikanal on the other side in Tamil Nadu. However, Munnar has recently exploded in popularity and is now a major Indian honeymoon destination. Like other Hill Stations in India you are more likely to have views of the roof of your neighbouring hotel rather than mist-clad mountains if you choose to stay in the congested town center.
It is instead best to stay in the outskirts of Munnar where several lovely boutique properties have amazing views.
The mountains are just opening up, especially those straddling Tamil Nadu, with adventure sports, hiking and trekking incorporating high-altitude camping among spectacular scenery that rivals the Himalayas up north.
Most non-Indian visitors are more likely to appreciate the scenery rather than the town itself so a day or two at Munnar is actually quite enough, unless you want to totally relax while appreciating the views or go on a long hike.
Be sure to go by jeep up the zig zags to Kolukkumalai, the highest tea estate in the world (7900ft) with astounding views where you really feel like you are in the Himalayas. It is best to avoid Top Station with its crowds and congestion.
Malabar Giant Squirrel
Thekkady And Periyar
Our First Hand Knowledge
If you take Thekkady at face-value, it can look like a bit of a tourist trap, especially Kumily village which is full of Kashmiri hawkers and the prospect of an awful boat ride on Periyar Lake.
Scratch the surface of Thekkady however and you can see another side to experience the pristine wilderness of the Periyar jungles.
Firstly, don’t consider the boat trip on Periyar Lake – it a terrible experience. The sound of the chugging diesel engines will send any self-respecting animal by the water’s edge scarpering back off to the jungle. Of course a few elephants or buffalo may not be bothered too much to move away.
Instead, try the Nature Walk on foot through dry jungle. You are unlikely to see any large animals but it’s exciting just the same. There is also the day long Border Hiking program for serious wildlife enthusiasts that runs deep inside the lush Periyar forests.
There are about 35 tigers at Periyar out of a total of 190 in Kerala. There is however no realistic chance of seeing a Tiger or a Leopard due to the thick jungles.
If you really want adventure, opt for the fabulous day long Gavi Jeep Safari – where wild elephants and leopards are frequently encountered along with an off-road open top jeep experience.
Backwaters Life
The Backwaters And Rice Boat Journeys
Our First Hand Knowledge
Firstly, it is absolutely essential that the Backwaters of Kerala are enjoyed by spending one, preferably two nights, onboard a Rice Boat.
It is important to understand that the journey is not continuous. After departure at midday the boats moor up canalside @ 2 pm in order to prepare and serve lunch. After lunch @ 3 pm the journey continues until dusk @ 5:30 pm when for safety reasons Kerala law dictates that the boat is again moored for the night by a canal bank. The next morning the boats make a dash back to base @ 8 am with breakfast served on the way to reach Alleppey @ 9 am. So the actual sailing time is only around 5.5 hours in total.
The boom in Rice Boat construction has led to a huge oversupply of craft. With fewer guests many are neglected and not well maintained. It is therefore highly recommended that a reputable operator is used.
The final secret is to make sure that your rice boat journey starts from Alleppey and not Kumarakom as the Southern Backwaters are the most picturesque with narrow canals where you can watch life pass by. From the Kumarakom pick up point a large part of the journey is taken up by the crossing of the vast Vembanad Lake which is pretty in itself but not as interesting.
If the Rice Boat journey does not interest you, the ideal location to stay ‘on shore’ by the Backwaters would be the vicinity of Kumarakom village on the east side of the lake.
Beach At Marari
Kerala’s Tropical Beaches
Our First Hand Knowledge
Marari Beach is an ideal end of tour beach stay in Kerala for many important reasons. It is very close to Alleppy which is the disembarking point for Rice Boats. The beach is lined with coconut trees and you can truly relax in an undeveloped “hammock beach” environment that’s perfect for lazing around. Marari is however a working fishing village and is not recommended for sea bathing as it shelves sharply.
Kovalam consists of 3 legendary crescent shaped beaches (Lighthouse, Samudra and Hawah) where it is possible to wade in waist deep water far out to the sea. It would be fair to say that weekends and public holidays makes this a very crowded environment during the holiday season. The Taj Green Cove is the place to head to for its luxurious Bali inspired cottages and international facilities.
The sand at Kovalam virtually disappears at many locations during the monsoon off-season.
To the south of Kovalam lies a succession of bays that also contain a scattering of luxury resorts such as the famous Niramaya Surya Samudra.
The Poovar estuary lies at the extreme south of Kerala with numerous mid-range hotels. The beach is reached after a sand bar on the opposite side of a very pretty lagoon, therefore people come to Poovar more in order to relax in a lush tropical environment rather than to relax on the beach itself.
Many beaches in Kerala are protected by stone walls to prevent erosion, so you need to climb over them to reach the sand.
Elephant Crossing Road In Wayanad
Wayanad And Northern Kerala
Our First Hand Knowledge
Northern Kerala covers a large part of the state but is seldom included in tourist itineraries. If you want an off-grid adventure or are into nature, this represents a marvelous opportunity for travellers to explore some unique locations like Kozhikode (Calicut) with its ancient Beypore shipbuilding yard, Kannur and Kasaragod.
Thrissur is the cultural capital of Kerala and home to the extensive Vadakkumnathan Temple. The city enjoys a thriving cultural tradition dating back centuries. The Thrissur Pooram is celebrated every year between April and May. For thirty-six hours, the city plays host to a large gathering of people and caparisoned elephants.
Athirappali is one of the most famous and magnificent waterfalls in India. The 80 ft high crashing wall of water is called the ‘Niagra Of India’. The pretty Vazhachal Waterfalls are also nearby.
The beautiful district of Wayanad is famous for its picture-perfect forests and low-lying misty hills containing lush tropical foliage. The area also contains many spice, coffee, and tea plantations. The Edakkal Caves are two natural rock formations with fascinating carvings.
Vythiri is the focus of a booming domestic tourism scene in Kerala. It is also famous for its collection of rainforest Tree Houses.
Bekal has a lovely deserted stretch of beach that is awaiting development. The luxurious Taj Bekal is an exceptional resort here.
Chitoor Kottaram, The Old Palace Of The Kochi Kings
Train Crossing Viaduct
Getting Around Kerala
In Kerala, like the rest of India, there is a long-established tradition of ‘touring’ using vehicles with private drivers. This is still the best way to experience Kerala as a traveller. Please note however that many drivers are not that fluent in English.
Touring With A Luxury Vehicle And Driver-Guide
Usually, saloon cars are provided up to 2 persons and spacious Tempo Traveller vans are provided for 3 persons onwards.
Super Luxury Vehicles
If luxurious and comfortable travel between destinations is a priority on your list, we can provide you with top of the range Mercedes, BMW and Lexus vehicles.
Luxury 4×4 Vehicles
The quality of Kerala’s roads has come a long way in the last 15 years or so but there are some minor roads especially in the remote areas that are still bumpy. Travel by 4×4 such as a Toyota Land Cruiser is the ultimate method of luxury travel in Kerala.
Railways
Kerala’s railway system is not very extensive unlike other parts of India. There are no railway links from Kochi to tourist centers like Munnar and Thekkady for instance. Programs that include Northern Kerala may however include a railway journey.
Le Colonial, Fort Cochin
Hotels In Kerala
Kerala was probably the first state in India to embrace the concept of luxury boutique hotels. The historic properties inside Fort Cochin provided a delightful opportunity for such colonial themed renovations and hotels such as Malabar House and The Old Courtyard Hotel are internationally famous.
Large beach resort hotels are actually very few in number. The Leela Kovalam is Kerala’s largest resort hotel with 194 rooms and suites. The best beach hotel in Kerala is undoubtedly the Bali influenced Taj Green Cove at Kovalam with 68 cottage style rooms sprawled on a hillside besides the beach.
The Surya Samudra near Kovalam won worldwide plaudits when it acquired a collection of traditional wooden homes and moved them to a clifftop overlooking the Arabian Sea. These were duly refurbished to launch a luxury resort.
Marari Beach Resort pioneered the design of ‘semi-outdoor’ bathrooms in plant-filled courtyards that are now a feature of hotels in the tropics worldwide.
Kerala also pioneered the unique concept of Tree House stays in the tall rainforests of the Wayanad region.
Carnoustie Ayurveda And Wellness Resort at Marari and Neeleshwar Hermitage in Northern Kerala are the stand out luxury wellness beach retreats in Kerala.
Theyyam Make Up
Wildlife And National Parks
Periyar National Park is one of India’s most
famous wildlife reserves. However, there are
no jeep roads inside the park so the options for
exploration are either guided nature walks or
border hiking and camping, all on foot.
Boat rides on Periyar Lake to observe wildlife
are largely a waste of time. Note that it is
extremely rare to come across tigers due to the
thick forest.
Due to accessibility issues at Periyar, Jeep
Safari’s to the adjacent Gavi Forest are rising in
popularity with chances to see wild Elephants,
Gaur (Indian Bison) and even Leopards on the
roadside.
Sholas are the local name for patches of
stunted tropical montane forest found in
valleys amid rolling grassland in the higher
montane regions of Kerala. Eravikulam National
Park at Munnar is the most famous where the
main attraction are herds of the endangered
Nilgiri Tahr, a mountain goat.
Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary (345 Sq Miles)
with deciduous jungles contain large herds of
wild elephant and is contiguous with the
famous National Parks of Tamil Nadu and
Karnataka such as Kabini and Bandipur. Jeep
Safaris are possible here.
The two main bird sanctuaries in Kerala are the
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary on the shore of lake
Vembanad and the famous Thattekad Bird
Sanctuary – considered the richest bird habitat
on peninsular India.
Chat Now To Our Travel Consultants
Riyaz is our Senior Tour Consultant who travels frequently to Kerala and can give you first-hand information on all of our featured hotels and experiences.
Ronnie is our Sales Director who has travelled the whole length and breadth of Kerala several times.
Babu is our Operations Director at our Trivandrum Office. He is of the most respected hospitality professionals in Kerala.
Shaji is our Ground Handling Executive who is based at our Trivandrum Office and is on call 24 hours a day to look after our guests while they are in Kerala.
Who We Are?
Our Company has so far hosted in excess of 35 000 visitors to South Asia!
Established Since 2003
Infinity Pool At Surya Samudra, Kovalam
