Get ready to make the very best of your time in this beautiful region of India.
Journey in Brief: National Geographic calls Kerala: Gods own Country! With the Arabian Sea to the west, the Ghats towering 500 - 2700 metres in the east and networked by forty four rivers Kerala enjoys a temperate climate, a long shoreline with serene beaches and tranquil stretches of emerald backwaters; lush hill stations and exotic wildlife.
Kerala truly brings out India as a study in contrasts. As a gap year traveller, you cannot fail to be touched by the warmth and welcome you receive in cities and villages alike. Each day offers a fresh adventure! Add Ayurvedic spas, art, magical festivals plus historic and cultural monuments and you have a totally unique experience.
Highlights:
- Amazing Coffee and Tea
- The backwaters
- A number of museums and Art galleries
- Beautiful Dravidian Temples
- Periyar wildlife sanctuary
- Tea Plantations
- Kumarakom bird santuary
Recommended:
- Bring appropriate clothing and footwear
- Lighter and all-covering for heat and for visiting temples
- A scarf is also useful for women for head covering visiting temples
Have a look at your detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Trivandrum - Relax, sightseeing and a night at a beach resort
Your first day sets the scene for this whole relaxing journey. Kerala is a magical state, lush jungle, tranquil backwaters and laid-back cities.
Along with a taste for coffee the Malyali share the Tamil passion for long, multi-syllable words, though here they speak Malayalam. Trivandrum's other name is Thiru-v-anatha-puram or the abode of the snake god Anantha. Anantha is the serpent on whom Lord Vishnu rests.
Day 2: Trivandrum - Tour the city.
Take in the Padmanabhapuram temple, the Kuthiramalika (Puthenmalika) Palace museum, the Napier Museum and the Sri Chithra art gallery. There's a strong Christian tradition in Kerala so you'll find a mix of architecture from magnificent churches to magnificent temples.
Day 3: Kumarakom - The emerald peninsula.
Drive to Kumarakom, the charming emerald peninsula that juts into the Vembanad Lake and visit the bird sanctuary - an ornithological paradise and haven for migratory birds.
Day 4: Periyar - A very special wildlife sanctuary.
A perfect blend of spectacular nature and human innovation on the banks of Periyar lake, set in lush greenery high in the western Ghats (hills).
Day 5: Periyar - A spicy walk.
For centuries Kerala has grown and exported spices around the world and a walking tour of the Periyar spice plantation allows you to wander through plantings of cardamom, tea and coffee.
Day 6: Munnar - A favourite place for Brits.
This haven of peace and tranquillity was used by the British as a popular summer resort. It's amazingly beautiful and a comfortable place to be to escape the heat - high up in the hills in Idduki district. The aroma of spice in the cool air, the wildlife sanctuaries and exotic flora and fauna make this a place you'll never want to leave!
Day 7: Travel - Tear yourself away from Munnar.
You'll travel through tea plantations, immaculate valleys and mountains on your way to your next destination - the port of Cochin, where you'll arrive in the evening.
Day 8: Cochin - All life is here!
An ancient port originally built by the Portuguese there's a multinational influence from the Jewish quarter to the Chinese fishing nets at the harbour entrance. It's build around a natural harbour with lagoons, canals and fishing hamlets to reflect the diversity that is Kerala.
Day 9: Cochin - Soak up the culture.
There's everything you could possibly want from the Mattancherry Dutch palace, to the Jewish synagogue and town. Or why not take a look at the Fort Cochin area then catch a performance of the vivid and colorful traditional Kathakali dance. The tour ends here.
Know your destinations better...
Cochin, Kerala
Highlights: Cochin , also known as Kochi, is Kerala's most cosmopolitan city. Over the years, it has been influenced by Portuguese, Dutch, and British, as well as Chinese and Arab traders. Called "the Queen of the Arabian Sea", this ancient city spreads across the mainland and onto several islands. The Portuguese built some of Cochin's finest buildings, particularly St Francis Church and the fort that dominating the entrance to the port area on Wellington Island. The Jewish quarter contains one of the world's oldest synagogues. Modern Cochin, on mainland Ernakulum, has all the facilities you'd expect in a modern city.
If you're there mid-August to mid-September you'll find yourself in Kerala's most festive period, Onam. The exact dates of the 10-day festival vary but it marks the beginning of the harvest season. In legend Onam marks when the good-hearted and generous (demon) king Mahabali visits his subjects after he was pushed underground by Vamana (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu). You'll see colorful and intricate floral carpets laid out on the ground to greet the king.
The spices grown in the state have been exported worldwide through Cochin for centuries. It's also the home of Kathakali dance and probably some of the best fish dishes you've ever eaten.
When to Go: December to May. The monsoon showers peak between June and November.
Periyar, Kerala
Highlights: Set high in the ranges of the Western Ghats, in Kerala, is the Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve.
When to Go: Best time to visit is from October to May. Post monsoon the season is near perfect, as the lake is full and the greenery lush but the insect life turns active, which can be a slight deterrent. Winter is great though the temperature can dip quite low. Summer is not too bad as the hills never get sweltering hot.
Kumarakom, Kerala
Highlights: The village of Kumarakom is a cluster of little islands on the Vembanad Lake, and this small water world is part of the Kuttanad region. The bird sanctuary here, which is spread across 14 is a favorite haunt of migratory birds and an ornithologist's paradise.
When to Go: The peak tourist season is from November to March.
Munmar, Kerala
Highlights: Munnar is one of the most popular and nature rich tourist destinations in India. This hill-station was once the summer resort of the British in South India. Munnar is located 1600 meters above sea level and at the confluence of three mountain streams - Madrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala.
When to Go: Except the monsoon months that fall between June and September, Munnar can be visited the whole year through.
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Testimonials:
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The scenery was spellbinding. Our tongues had been frozen in our awe of the expanse of emerald green marsh land, canopies of tropical fruit-bearing trees sheltering lily carpeted lagoons, with the rain silently breaking the inky smooth surface water, whilst we meandered at snail's pace through paradise.
Naomi Popple
”