The Ten Must-Visit Places Of Kerala In The Winter
Travelling is therapeutic and takes our stress and mind away from work. Travelling is what everybody loves doing. When we think of travel, we cannot help but wonder about our budget for the trip. That’s when the nearest destinations come to our minds.
If you are looking for a serene and green environment to take your vacation without burning a hole in your pocket, do not scratch your brain and think too much. Why not head to Go’s Own Country, Kerala? It is blessed in abundance with greenery, wildlife, resorts, beaches, and Ayurvedic spas all across the state. And what’s more, Kerala is rich in its culture and the people are friendly too.
While planning a trip to Kerala, you must never miss visiting these absolutely breathtaking places that are adorned with winter moods. These places not only give you a peaceful vacation but also offers you so much to take back to. Read on to know how.
Wayanad
The lush beauty of Wayanad, the Land of the Paddy Fields, hidden inside the Western Ghats mountains, forms the border of Kerala’s greener region. This location is stunning and spotless, quaint and alluring, and full of history and culture. This verdant hill station, which is home to a variety of crops, forests, and animals, is located 76 kilometres from Kozhikode’s seashores. Wild animals have a lot of space to roam in their natural environment in the Wayanad highlands.
Its proximity to popular South Indian tourist spots like Ooty, Mysore, Bangalore, Coorg, and Kannur makes it a favourable location as well.
Vagamon
Vagamon is a hill town and a small plantation township in the border region of Kerala between Kottayam and Idukki. It is 1,100 metres above sea level. with a never-ending arc of lush mountains, breathtaking canyons, and meandering rivers. Vagamon, which is 1200 metres above sea level and surrounded by tea gardens, fresh air, a lulling pine forest, little waterfalls, and scenic meadows, is a prime tourist attraction.
The journey itself to Vagamon is amazing. Solid rock was used to build the meandering path to Vagamon, which is surrounded by pine forests. You can also see the broad plains thousands of feet below you as you descend past hills covered with vegetation.
Three magnificent hills that make up the hill station and add to its appeal are Thangal Hill, Murugan Hill, and Kurismala. So, if you want eternal bliss and peace, head to Vagamon Hill Station. The Vagamon hill station offers you a unique and unique setting in contrast to other hill stations in Kerala. The region offers a setting for spiritual activity in addition to being rich in natural beauty. It’s the perfect place for meditation because of the calm surroundings and the soft breeze that blows across the valley.
Thekkady
Any visitor should make a point of visiting Thekkady in Kerala, India’s largest wildlife reserve. The 120-year-old “Surki” dam, also known as Poorna in Vedic jargon, built across Periyar is a well-liked tourist attraction. A 25 square kilometre man-made lake surrounds the sanctuary’s 777 square kilometre footprint.
Thekkady, the sole tiger reserve in the country, is home to many critically endangered animals as well as a thriving tribal culture. Tropical plants and fauna are in great profusion there. Thekkady is a lovely rendition of heaven on earth for people who adore nature in all of her wild manifestations.
At a height of 700 metres above sea level, Thekkady is located. Anybody who appreciates adventure, fun, animals, and the outdoors will love Thekkady, which is situated in Kerala’s Idukki region. Thekkady, which is hidden among the Western Ghats’ evergreen and semi-evergreen woods, has a lot to offer tourists. The greatest wildlife reserve is home to Asian elephants, bison, sambar deer, boars, tigers, leopards, wild squirrels, lion-tailed monkeys, and other creatures.
Thekkady is a very calm and peaceful place. Your body and mind will be revitalised by Thekkady’s cold climate. The nearest town, Kumily, is 4 kilometres away from Thekkady. Make plans to explore this place slowly.
Munnar
Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni, and Kundala, three mountain streams, come together to make Munnar. One of Kerala’s most well-liked honeymoon destinations is Munnar, which offers a wide range of resorts and lodging choices to suit various budgets. The extensive tea estates, quaint towns, winding alleys, and tourist attractions make this a popular vacation destination.
One of the rare plants that may be found in these woodlands and meadows is the neelakurinji. The next time this flower blooms, which bathes the hills in blue once every twelve years, will be in 2030.
Anamudi, the tallest peak in South India, is situated in Munnar and reaches a height of 2,695 metres.
Don’t forget to visit the Tea Museum, Top Station, Anamudi Peak, Mattupetty, Pallivasal, Chinnakanaal, and Anayirangal while you’re in the area.
Kumarakom
Kumarakom is a maze of backwaters with shimmering water, the vivid green of mangrove forests, coconut trees lining the embankments, clear skies, and flocks of migrating birds skimming the water. It is a true dreamland.
According to National Geographic Magazine, Kerala is one of the places that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. Every year, more than seven million people travel there. The majority of these tourists make a lengthy stopover in Kumarakom. This well-known tourist destination on the eastern coast of Lake Vembanad is made up of a collection of islands. A masterpiece created by man and nature, Kumarakom is located in the state of Kerala and is flanked on two sides by a large lake and a network of calm canals.
Kozhikode
The second best place to live in India is Kozhikode, which is located in the most picturesque state in the nation. Beautiful beaches, parks, temples, cathedrals, reserves, hillocks, museums, wildlife, sculptures, rivers, and much more can be found in this charming city, popularly known as Calicut. It serves as Kerala’s primary commercial and trade centre. This place became well-known as one of the Malabar region’s most important ports for the trade of goods between Europe and India, including spices, silk, and other items, after Vasco Da Gama’s arrival in 1498. The landscape in Kozhikode is marshy. Kozhikode is hence also referred to as Chullikkad, which means “shrubby forest,” on a global scale.
Kozhikode is sometimes referred to as the “city of sculptures” and the “city of spices.” Your journey there would be over if you hadn’t stopped by the neighbourhood markets in Kozhikode to buy spices like cardamom and black pepper. The sculptures and spices are not the only reasons Kozhikode is what it is today. Kozhikode is a popular tourist destination due to its historical significance and modern conveniences.
The city’s top tourist destinations include places like the Thikkoti Lighthouse, Kappad Beach, Kozhikode Beach, Vellari Mala, Tali Temple, Tusharagiri Falls, Museums, Kadalandi Bird Sanctuary, Musical Fountain at Mananchira Square, Peruvannapuzhi Dam, Lion’s Park, Marine Water Aquarium, and SM Street.
Kovalam
The well-known Kovalam beach is made up of three adjoining crescent-shaped beaches. Travellers have made it their preferred hangout since the 1930s. A magnificent harbour with calm waters ideal for swimming has been created by a sizable rocky protrusion on the shore.
This beach offers a wide range of leisure options. Catamaran sailing, swimming, herbal body toning massages, unique cultural programmes, and sunbathing are a few of them. Beginning in the late afternoon and continuing well into the night, live on the beach. The beach complex includes a stretch of affordable cottages, Ayurvedic health resorts, convention centres, shopping malls, swimming pools, and yoga and Ayurvedic massage workshops.
Kochi
Some individuals associate Kochi with a variety of ideas. Many consider it to be a thriving cosmopolitan city with bustling activity in the streets, theatres, malls, and skyscrapers. It is also the state’s economic centre and has a unique fashion sense from the rest of the country, whether in terms of apparel or way of life.
Others see Kochi as a city with deep historical roots and streets that exude old-world elegance; a city with beautiful monuments and a wide population of linguistic and ethnic groupings, including Jews, Konkinis, Gujaratis, and others. Kochi is also home to a large number of Jewish people. Another group views Kochi as a vibrant, expanding market that provides opportunities for advancement and wealth to all who enter her doors.
To sum up, Kochi offers a blend of modernity, classic beauty, and a global outlook that both promotes and embraces change. For ages, Kochi has been a significant port city that serves both Kerala and the Indian Peninsula. Since the 14th century, Kochi has welcomed ships from Asian and European nations to its harbour as the Queen of the Arabian Sea.
Its landscape is a patchwork of flat areas, hilly areas like those in Ernakulam, coastal cities like Fort Kochi and Mattancherry, small islands, estuaries, and backwaters. With its remarkable monuments, unusual geography, and growing cosmopolitanism, Kochi can hold a visitor’s attention for days.
Idukki
Idukki, an isolated hill region in the Western Ghats, is blessed with the beauty and tranquilly of nature. Idukki, one of Kerala’s most scenic areas, is a refuge for nature lovers and animal lovers with its enormous mountains, verdant valleys, and wonderful streams.
Idukki is one of the most well-liked tourist attractions in Kerala due to its misty hills and valleys covered in the greenery of spice plantations, wildlife sanctuaries, and stunning waterfalls. The pristine charm of Idukki is difficult to resist.
This area offers adventurous tourism as well as visual beauty. There is the perfect area for hiking and trekking. Mountain trekking is quite popular in Idukki. Elephant rides are a popular attraction in Idukki.
Alappuzha
Alappuzha is known as the “Venice of the East.” One of the top tourist spots in Alleppey, this charming place is the hub of Kerala’s backwaters and is home to a sizable network of backwaters and more than a thousand houseboats. Actually, the houseboats in the backwaters of Alappuzha are modernised copies of the Kettuvallams from earlier times. In the past, kettuvallams, boats with thatched covers covering wooden hulls, were used to convey tonnes of rice and spices.
The modern houseboats come equipped with all the comforts of a decent hotel room, including air conditioning, contemporary bathrooms, cosy living spaces, kitchens, and even balconies for fishing. From a houseboat, one may observe activities in the coconut tree-lined backwaters. It’s the perfect place to relax with its calm streams and abundant vegetation. A historic Portuguese lighthouse from the 17th century and the 137-year-old pier that extends into the water at Alappuzha Beach add to the area’s appeal. Boat racing, the coir industry, and marine goods are among its well-known industries.
Get ready to explore the bus stop and the compact but busy city centre with its straightforward grid of canals. As you move west to the beach or pretty much anywhere else close to the backwaters, Alleppey becomes upscale and verdant. A floating world of hamlets, punted canoes, toddy shops, and of course, houseboats then gradually emerge. Admire the emerald paddy fields, thin rice barges, and village life along the banks as you float by. In actuality, this is where nature has given the nation her greatest gifts.
Author’s Note
These locations will enchant you without a doubt. In Kochi, it is recommended that you use the local bus or the metro to go around, but you’ll find that autorickshaws are more practical for getting around in the other parts of Kerala. Since all of these locations are far apart, you can travel by train or with a reasonably priced cab. Ola and Uber are the most favoured mode of transport while you are travelling in the cities. Make a good bargain while negotiating the price of the transportation that you are using. Or else, you may fall victim to overpriced fares.
When travelling to a new location, it is usually a good idea to leverage your connection and pick up a few words in the local language. Kerala, as it is the most literate state in India, everyone speaks English. Most of the people are well-versed in Hindi and Tamil too. But if you must learn the local language, you can learn a few words in Malayalam. “Namaskaram” means hello in English.
I hope your time in Kerala is enjoyable.