Best Tourist Places in Kerala — Munnar, Alleppey, Wayanad, Kochi and More

Munnar tea estates sit at 1,532m altitude and are among the most visited destinations in Kerala. The town is in Idukki district, roughly 4 hours from Kochi, and functions as the hub for exploring Kerala's High Range. The Eravikulam National Park (home to the endangered Nilgiri Tahr), Mattupetty Dam, and Echo Point are the key attractions alongside the tea gardens themselves. Munnar is also the place to see the rare Neelakurinji flowers — which bloom once every 12 years (next bloom expected 2030). The best Munnar experience is waking at 5:30am to walk through the tea gardens in mist before the tourist buses arrive at 9am — a completely different landscape from what midday visitors see. Stay 2 nights minimum.

Alleppey is renowned for its tranquil backwaters and houseboat cruises — one of the best places to visit in Kerala for a romantic retreat. A houseboat (kettuvallam) overnight on Vembanad Lake, watching the sun set over still water while a cook prepares Kerala fish curry in the galley, is the experience that defines Kerala travel for most visitors. Houseboat prices range from ₹6,000/night (basic) to ₹25,000+/night (premium with AC, sundeck, chef). Book at least 2 weeks ahead in peak season (December–January). The Nehru Trophy Boat Race (second Saturday of August) is Kerala's most famous annual event. See our August travel guide for the boat race timing.

Chembra Peak at 2,100m takes 4–5 hours round-trip and requires a permit from the forest department. The heart-shaped lake near the summit is a forever favourite for photography. Wayanad is Kerala's most complete adventure destination — trekking to Chembra Peak (Kerala's highest accessible peak), bamboo rafting in the Kabani River, jeep safaris in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, and the atmospheric Edakkal Caves (prehistoric rock engravings at 1,200m). Wayanad's coffee and spice plantation landscape is distinctly different from Munnar's tea country — denser forest, more wildlife, and a less commercialised feel. For travellers who want to avoid Munnar's crowds while experiencing Kerala's Western Ghats, Wayanad is the stronger recommendation.

Kochi is the best starting point for any Kerala trip — an international airport, a heritage quarter (Fort Kochi) with Portuguese, Dutch, and British layers visible in the architecture, the iconic Chinese fishing nets silhouetted against sunset on the waterfront, and a café culture built around the city's long history of international trade. Fort Kochi's Mattancherry area has Jew Town (a 400-year-old Jewish neighbourhood with the Paradesi Synagogue built in 1568), the Dutch Palace (Mattancherry Palace, free entry), and heritage homes converted into homestays. The Kochi-Muziris Biennale (December–April, alternate years) is one of Asia's largest contemporary art festivals. An evening kathakali performance at Kerala Kathakali Centre (from ₹300) is the finest cultural experience the city offers.

The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary lake cruise (KTDC-operated, from ₹150) offers the best chance of seeing elephants, sambar deer, and otters at the water's edge — morning departure (7am) is significantly better than afternoon for wildlife sightings. Don't miss the boat ride on Periyar Lake — you might spot a deer, an elephant, or even a tiger near the water. Bamboo rafting and spice plantation tours are also available. The surrounding area of Kumily has Kerala's most concentrated spice market — cardamom, pepper, vanilla, and cinnamon sold directly by plantation owners at a fraction of retail prices. Thekkady is 4 hours from both Munnar and Alleppey, making it the ideal midpoint on a Kerala circuit.

Varkala is known for its tall cliffs that overlook the Arabian Sea. The cliffside stretch is perfect for long, peaceful walks, sunsets, and enjoying delicious seafood. Also known as Papanasam Beach, its waters are considered holy. Varkala is Kerala's most architecturally dramatic beach — the 15–20 metre red laterite cliffs rising directly from the beach create a setting found nowhere else in India. The North Cliff has restaurants, yoga studios, and boutique hotels perched with unobstructed Arabian Sea views. Varkala is simultaneously a Hindu pilgrimage site (Janardhana Swamy Temple) and a backpacker favourite — a combination that creates a genuinely interesting atmosphere. Best visited early morning when the beach below the cliffs is uncrowded.

Kumarakom is nestled on Vembanad Lake and is renowned for its peaceful backwaters and bird sanctuary. It is where Kerala's most celebrated luxury resorts are located — Taj Kumarakom, CGH Earth Coconut Lagoon, and Niraamaya among them. Spot migratory birds at the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary — one of Kerala's major attractions. For travellers who want the backwater experience in a more peaceful setting than Alleppey with higher-quality accommodation, Kumarakom is the superior choice. A sunrise canoe ride through the bird sanctuary (best October–February when migratory birds from Siberia and the Himalayas are present) is one of Kerala's finest quiet experiences.

Athirappilly Falls is Kerala's most dramatic waterfall — an 80-metre wide cascade over basalt rocks on the Chalakudy River, surrounded by the Vazhachal Reserved Forest, and the filming location for dozens of Malayalam films including the Bahubali franchise. The forest around the falls is one of the last stretches where the Great Indian Hornbill is regularly sighted. The waterfall is at maximum volume July–September but approach roads can be difficult in heavy monsoon — October to January is the recommended window. A morning visit (open from 8am) is strongly recommended — crowds build significantly after 10am. See our waterfalls guide for how Athirappilly ranks nationally.

Kozhikode (Calicut) is North Kerala's cultural capital — where Vasco da Gama landed in 1498 and where the spice trade that shaped global history began. Kozhikode offers Kappad Beach, Beypore Port, and the bustling SM Street. The Malabar biryani, Kozhikode halwa, and seafood here are distinctly different from South Kerala's cuisine. Kannur is North Kerala's beach and culture destination — famed for its vibrant culture and pristine white beaches that are relatively undiscovered. The Theyyam ritual performances (October–May) in Kannur's temples are one of India's most extraordinary living cultural traditions. Bekal Fort is the largest and best-preserved fort in Kerala — pair it with the broad beach for a half-day that belongs on every Kerala shortlist.

Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) is Kerala's state capital and home to the Padmanabhaswamy Temple — India's richest religious institution (estimated wealth ₹1.2 lakh crore+). See our temples guide for the Padmanabhaswamy treasure vault context. Kovalam is South Kerala's most developed beach resort — offering Ayurvedic centres, cafés, and water activities including kayaking and surfing. The lighthouse beach and Hawah Beach form the main Kovalam crescent. Poovar is a serene village at the southern tip of Kerala offering a mix of golden beaches, backwaters, and estuaries with unique floating cottages. Kanyakumari (just across the Tamil Nadu border) is a natural addition to a South Kerala circuit — the sunrise over the confluence of three seas is one of India's most distinctive travel experiences.

Kerala's eastern hill country — the High Range — contains the state's most dramatic mountain scenery. Beyond Munnar and Thekkady (covered above), Vagamon is the most compelling underrated hill station in Kerala — listed in National Geographic Traveler's 50 most attractive places in India. Vagamon sits at 1,100m in Idukki district and is part of a rare high-altitude grassland ecosystem distinct from Munnar's tea-dominated landscape. Key attractions include Vagamon meadows, pine forests, and Kurisumala Hill. Unlike crowded hill stations, Vagamon feels natural and untouched — the strongest alternative to Munnar for travellers who want cool climate and green scenery without commercial crowds.

West Kerala's coastal and backwater belt is the most visited section of the state. Beyond Kochi, Alleppey, and Kumarakom (covered above), Thrissur is Kerala's cultural capital — home to the Thrissur Pooram (April/May), widely regarded as the most spectacular temple festival in India with 15 caparisoned elephants, percussion ensembles, and fireworks that draw 500,000+ visitors annually. The Vadakkunnathan Temple at the centre of the festival is one of Kerala's oldest temples. Guruvayur (29 km from Thrissur) is the most sacred Vishnu temple in Kerala — the "Dwarka of the South" — drawing millions of pilgrims annually. The Guruvayur Elephant Sanctuary (Punnathur Kotta) houses 50+ temple elephants and is one of Kerala's most unusual visitor attractions.