Kerala is a tropical state of India situated by the Malabar Coast and is one of the most popular tourist destinations. People from different parts of India travel to this destination to spend holiday and leisure time as they are attracted to the picturesque setting and distinctive culture of Kerala.
If you wish to delve deeper into the culture and tradition of Kerala then you must experience the local specialties and stay close with the locals to gain a deeper insight on the local lifestyle. The state is home to beautiful cities, each with its own unique charm that will help you append your leisure time in an enjoyable manner.
If you are planning on visiting Kerala, then here is the list of the twelve best things to do during your stay in Kerala that will offer you a splendid and thrilling experience as well.
- Walk through the Woods
- Stay In A Houseboat
- Watch The Snake Boat Race
- Watch the Martial Art Form of Kalaripayattu
- Attend a Temple Festival
- Stay In A Treehouse
- Varkala Beach – Swim In The Arabian Sea
- Bamboo Rafting
- Take A Canoe Ride
- Take in a Kathakali or Theyyam Show
- Sip a Cup of Tea in Munnar
- Spot Wildlife at Periyar Tiger Sanctuary
Table of Contents
Things to do in Kerala
Walk Through the Woods
If you are thinking that Kerala is all about backwaters, then you are wrong. In your trip to Kerala you can opt for a walk through the woods, camp and learn the stories of long forgotten travelers. The most ideal place to enjoy walking amidst the woods is Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, which is situated in Kollam and was established in the year 1984 and is spread over an expanse of 171 square kilometers.
The wild forest of Shendurney provides an opportunity to the eco-tourists to unveil the wilderness and natural beauty of Shendurney while trekking at Wet N Wild trail, Reservoir walk and Sky walk. Moreover, there is also an option for camping in the wilderness of Shendurney forests near the beautiful reservoir called Idimuzangan camp.
There is also another place, where you need to trek to reach the hilltop and enjoy your stay at Kurumthotti Top Hut, where you will find majestic views and enjoy your night by hearing the sound of the wild.
Stay In A Houseboat
Enjoying your stay in a houseboat while floating at the backwaters of Kerala will offer you a splendid and blissful experience. Houseboat offers you the homely atmosphere which enhances your way of living in the backwater. There are only two places in India where you can find houseboats, one in Kerala and the other one is in Dal Lake at Jammu & Kashmir.
The locals in Kerala call the houseboats Kettuvallam that generally movesta a slow pace and offer you a leisure trip amidst the nature. Earlier, houseboats were considered to be a convenient means for transportation. Over the years, the popularity of Kettuvallams have returned due to the growth of tourism in Kerala,
which attracts tourists to spend their days at leisure while enjoying the natural environment. Most of the traditional houseboats range between 60 to 70 feet in length and are made of wooden planks and the roof is covered with palm leaves and bamboo poles and a protective coating of cashew nut oil is painted over the boat.
Watch The Snake Boat Race
Boat races are one of the grandest traditions that are still practices in Kerala and has been kept alive by the locals to showcase their rich culture and practices. Snake boat races is one of the popular races where people from different parts of India come to see,
where chundan vallam or snake boats that are over 100 feet in length are races head to head with other snake boats and an old boat sung is sung by the racers in a rhythmic tone in full volume. Some of the popular boat races that are being held at Kerala includes Champakkulam boat race, Nehru trophy boat race, Paylppad boat race, Aranmula boat race, Thazhathangadi boat race, Piravam boat race, Karuvatta boat race and many more.
The thrill and excitement surrounding these races will offer you an exciting experience while your trip to Kerala, which you must not miss. You will be having free access to witness these races and enjoy the traditional races that is being held over the generations.
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Watch the Martial Art Form of Kalaripayattu
Kalaripayattu is considered to be the oldest as well as most scientific form of martial arts around the globe. Kalaripayattu was developed in Kerala and has been considered as the pride of Kerala and over the period of time, it has been acknowledged by different parts of the world, as it is believed to have a history of over 3000 years old.
The training begins with the oil massage on the entire body until it is supple and agile. Some of the feats that are an integral part of this art form consists of summersault (marichil), running (ottam) and jumping (chattam). Moreover, there are also lessons in using various weapons like bows and arrows, maces, spears, daggers and swords.
The aim of practicing this martial art form is to bring the ultimate coordination between body and mind. Moreover, this martial art form also focuses upon indigenous medicinal practices.
Attend a Temple Festival
The festivals of temples are celebrated with grand pomp and show. The temple festival will offer you a diversified experience as you can see the festival promoting art and culture. Thrissur Pooram is one the most renowned and colorful temple festivals celebrated in Kerala. This festival is celebrated in the Vadakkunnathan temple. In this temple festival there are two major participants namely, Thiruvambadi Sree Krishna temple and Paramekkavu Bhagavathi temple.
This occasion is held because it is believed that God and Goddesses meet each other annually on this occasion. Some of the major events that are held in this festival comprise of Madathil Varavu, where over 200 artists participate with instruments like Edakka, Cymbal, Trumpet, Madhalam and Thimila. Another event is Ilanjithara melam,
which is celebrated inside Vadakkunnathan temple where you can find a number of elephants decorated with ornaments, decorative bells, well crafted kolam and nettipattam. After Ilanjithara melam, Kudamattom is celebrated where Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu groups enter inside the temple premises and exchange well crafted and colorful umbrellas on the top of the elephants.
The main attraction of this festival is the fireworks display that lasts for around an hour, which occurs on the fourth day of pooram.
Stay In A Treehouse
Kerala offers a wide array of options for accommodation ranging from tree houses, backwater resorts, hill resorts and beach resorts. Spending a night at a treehouse on your trip to Kerala will offer you an unforgettable and adventurous experience. The tree houses offer comfortable and luxurious accommodation.
If you are seeking for a fascinating stay then you must spend a night or more in the wooden cottages that are built on top of trees that are situated at an elevation in between 20 feet to 90 feet. These treehouses are made with coir mats, bamboo poles and are placed on top of actual trees.
These treehouses are the modified versions of “Erumadam” that were earlier built by forest tribes to protect them from wild animals. At present, the treehouses are provided with modern amenities like shower and water facilities, washbasins, telephone and cozy beds.
THe visitors enjoy the rich flora and fauna surrounding them that is surrounded by lush green forests. Some of the popular destinations, where you can stay in treehouses are Thekkady, Munnar and Wayanad.
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Varkala Beach – Swim In The Arabian Sea
Varkala Beach is a popular tourist attraction that is located south of Kollam in South Kerala. Varkala Beach is a quiet and calm hamlet that is situated at the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram district. The cliffside by the beach overlooks the Arabian sea and offers you the perfect blend of cultural charm and natural beauty.
Some of the beautiful locations that are near this beach are Sivagiri Mutt and a 2000 year old Vishnu temple. This beach is also known as Papanasam beach and has a natural spring which is considered to be a holy spring, as it is believed by the locals that a dip in the holy spring will help in removing the impurities and remove sins from their souls.
You can also enjoy a number of different water activities at the beach including swimming and paragliding. There are also a number of beautiful accommodation options near the beach and also some popular health resort that offers ayurvedic massage services.
Bamboo Rafting
Bamboo Rafting is another experience that you can gain while traveling to Kerala.
Kuruvadweep or Kuruva Island is a 950-acre protected river delta. The Island is located in the midst of tributaries of the river Kabini flowing through the Wayanad district. Indulge in bamboo rafting in Wayanad at Kuruva Island in the lush forested regions of Wayanad in Kerala and explore the beautiful rivers and streams around.
It is also ensured that the maximum weight to be carried in a bamboo raft is 250 kg or the chances of accident may increase. While riding the bamboo raft, you can witness the tranquil and calm environment and the stunning scenarios and lush green forests.
Take A Canoe Ride
Kerala offers scenic beauty of backwaters that is great for houseboat tours and canoeing, which is very popular among the tourists. While spending your vacation and enjoying the rich cultural inheritance, hill stations, scenic backwaters and beaches, canoeing adds an enthralling experience. While in Kerala, canoeing will help you explore the beauty of the backwaters and also allow you to visit different islands.
While canoeing, you will get to witness fishermen casting nets, a never ending line of palm trees and coconut trees, small islands and paddy fields. The enchanting views while canoeing will give you a fascinating experience. Some of the places where you can experience canoeing are at Kozhikode, Kochi, Ashtamudi lake, Kasargod, Kumarakom and Alleppey.
Take in a Kathakali or Theyyam Show
If you want to gain an insight into the more primal side of the state then you should look for Kathakali or Theyyam shows. There are different dance styles that are built upon the traditional religious stories that are expressed using unique costumes and dynamic performances. First, Kathakali dance is one of the seven classical dance styles of India, which is known for its make-up, colorful costumes and facial gestures and this dance style helps in expressing the stories associated with demons and deities.
In total there are 101 classical Kathakali stories, out of which only one-third stories are performed today and intense drumming is used to build up tension during a dance performance. Kathakali dance is also one of India’s oldest theater forms which can be traced back 500 years ago, when male dancers used to perform them in Hindu courts and temples.
The combined dance form using body movements, facial expressions (rasas) and hand gestures (Mudra). Theyyam, on the other hand, is a folk dance of Malabar, which means “The Dance of Gods”. This dance performance is rooted with indigenous religious beliefs where you can witness the combination of dancing, chanting and singing.
Theyyam dancers are believed not to act the rol;e of deities but the deities actually possess the dancer during a performance and at the end one can see the dancers bless devotees. Theyyam ceremonies are authentic and are rarely attended by tourists and can be found in the northern part of Kerala. There are over 450 different styles of Theyyam, each with its unique music and style.
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Sip a Cup of Tea in Munnar
Munnar is considered as the “Chai Paradise” of Southern India, as it offers one of the best quality tea producers. Munnar has over 50 tea estates around Munnar that covers an area of over 3000 hectares. The first tea sapling was planted at Parvathi by A.H. Sharp, which at present is a part of Sevenmally estate.
The interesting facts about the tea gardens at Munnar is that the gradual elevation in tea plantations helps in bringing change to the taste of the tea. There are four grades of teas, namely, top leaf (white tea), second leaf (green tea), third leaf (black tea) and fourth leaf (tea dust). The sweet toned fragrance of the tea is what makes it unique from the tea of other parts of India.
Spot Wildlife at Periyar Tiger Sanctuary
Periyar Tiger Sanctuary is a popular tourist attraction spot of Kerala, where you can spot numerous varieties of flora and fauna, starting with the winged Travancore Evening Brown, a rare species of butterflies to Indian elephant to tiger. The sanctuary holds 62 species of mammals and has a good number of elephants along with mongoose, foxes, leopards, Indian wild dogs, gaur, mouse deer, barking deer and sambar.
You can also try out the boat ride on the scenic lake that will offer you a chance to watch the animals closely while they are drinking, bathing or playing in the water. Moreover, there are also 38 species of fish, 27 species of amphibians and 45 species of reptiles.
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Frequently Asked Question
What is the most famous thing in Kerala?
Kerala is famous for coffee, spices and tea, as most of the tourists who visit here purchase these items the most.
Can you wear shorts in Kerala?
Yes, one can wear shorts in Kerala, to remain comfortable while exploring different places around Kerala.
Is Kerala expensive?
No, Kerala is an affordable place to visit and the reasonable rates attracts the visitors. It is among the top 10% of cities in India that is known for its affordability.
Which is the best season to visit Kerala?
The best season to visit Kerala is during the months of September to March, when one will get pleasant weather with less humidity that will help you explore different plantations, tranquil canals and enchanting lagoons.
Which is the most beautiful part of Kerala?
Munnar is the most beautiful part of Kerala that attracts tourists with its sprawling spice and tea plantations, beautiful hills and lovely lakes.
What is Kerala special for?
Kerala is renowned for some of the major attractions such as tropical greenery, ayurvedic therapy, hill stations’, backwaters and coconut lined beaches.