Top Travel Destination in Kerala

Kochi

• 26Places
• 955Agents
• 2120Packages

Kochi or Cochin is a bustling cosmopolitan city in Kerala. This ancient port city has been the battleground for all European powers in India. Titled as the ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea’, Kochi has been an important port, especially for spice traders. It is referred to as the commercial capital of Kerala. This city has been ranked sixth best tourist destination in India by a travel magazine. McKinsey Global Institute placed Kochi amongst the 440 emerging global cities that will have a 50% share of the world GDP by 2025. The city has a well-established infrastructure that adds to the economy, with special focus on tourism, sea trade and information technology. Kochi has a vibrant cultural diversity of not just domestic nature but also from influences of Portuguese, Dutch, Arab, Chinese, and Japanese who were prominent trade partners in old days. Tourists can witness this impact at many destinations during their visit here.

Kovalam

• 13Places
• 25Agents
• 1602Packages

Kovalam literally means a grove of coconut trees. The town of Kovalam in Kerala justifies its name with the endless number of coconut trees it has. It is a coastal town situated on the beach side of the Arabian Sea in Thiruvananthapuram. The place is a popular tourist destination amongst westerners. It came into the limelight during seventies with mass influx of hippies who flocked this town on their way to Ceylon. The beauty of its beaches has been maintained in their pristine condition. They are not overly crowded. This town is a peaceful place, perfect for those wanting a recluse. Life is Kovalam is slow and laid-back. The view of the sunset at the beach is a remarkable sight that stays with the admirer lifelong. Tourists can also enjoy surfing, boat rides and other water sports here. This town is not far from other major touristy places which are easy accessible from here.

Thiruvananthapuram

• 13Places
• 201Agents
• 486Packages

Thiruvananthapuram or Trivandrum is the capital city of Kerala. It is also the headquarters of Thiruvananthapuram District. Situated on the west coast of India; the father of nation, Mahatma Gandhi also called it the "Evergreen city of India". The city is also one of the major exporters of software in the state and is also reckoned as a chief IT hub. The city, Thiruvananthapuram is also home to many central and state government offices and all year round a lot of political activities take place in the region. There are also many schools, and science & technology institutes in the city. The University of Kerala is also located here. Thiruvananthapuram is counted amongst the 10 greenest cities in the country. The city was called Trivandrum until 1991 and it had derived its name from the word ‘thiru-anantha-puram’, a Malayalam word. Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple located here is the richest temple in the whole world.

Kannur

• 10Places
• 56Agents
• 29Packages

Kannur is a town in the northern coastal region of Kerala. It was also known as Cannanore during the British Raj. The name Kannur has two etymological possibilities. One is that the name was derived from an ancient village called Kanathur. The other theory is that it is a mix of two words, Kannan- meaning Lord Krishna and Ur- meaning place, making the literal translation to be ‘The place of Lord Krishna’. It has been titled as the Land of Looms and Lores due to the loom industry here. The town is famous for its temple festivals where the popular dance form of Theyyam is performed. This town is rich in natural beauty. There are some ancient forts, unperturbed wildlife, pristine beaches and famed temples, which have contributed to the blooming tourism of the place. Thousands of pilgrims flock this town in the months of June and July to be a part of Kottiyoor Vysakha Mahotsavam, a religious pilgrimage festival.

Idukki

• 15Places
• 59Agents
• 146Packages

Idukki is the second largest districts in the state of Kerala formed on 26th January 1972. It has a total of 22 cities. Some of them are Adimali, Idukki, Cheruthony, Painavu, Munnar, Marayur, Kattappana, Thodupuzha and Vazhathope. Its name was derived from the Malayalam word Idukku, meaning ‘narrow gorge’. The largest arch dam of Asia is Idukki Dam where Periyar flows through a gorge between two giant rocks. This dam is the main source of hydroelectricity of the state, accounting for 66% of the total power generation. This district has unparalleled natural beauty and is one of the growing tourist destinations in India. It offers some exotic views to the onlookers with its wildlife, forests, hills, dams and plantations. For tourists interested in adventure sports, Idukki has some trekking facilities to offer as well. Munnar city in of this district is gaining popularity as a honeymoon destination. Peermede is a plantation town in Idukki which is also worth a visit.

Kollam

• 13Places
• 53Agents
• 141Packages

The city of Kollam in Kerala has been mentioned in Greek literature from the first century. It is an ancient port with Christian, Muslim and Hindu communities inhabiting the place. There is also presence of a historical Chinese population here. The town has a European feel to it because of the colonial era. The famous traveller Ibn Battuta mentioned in his accounts, the port of Kollam amongst the five Indian ports he had seen in India during his visit in the 14th century. Marco Polo has also visited this city during his time as a Chinese mandarin. Kollam has a thriving tourism industry. A proverb that is much used for this city is ‘Once you see Kollam, you will not need your home any more’. Kollam has mesmerizing natural beauty along with a hint of history. The places that interest tourists are the beaches, old forts, adventure parks, picnic village and backwaters of Kollam.

Kottayam

• 21Places
• 127Agents
• 140Packages

Kottayam is also known as the Akshara Nagari (City of Alphabets) for its contributions to literature. It is also called the Land of Letters, Lakes & Latex. Of letters, since it was the first city in India to attain 100% literacy; of lakes, for its vast network of rivers and canals flowing into the backwaters and for latex, the extensive rubber industry there. This urban city is an important trading and educational centre for Kerala. The name of this city is a combination of two Malayalam words, Kott- means fort and Akam- means inside. This translates into ‘the inside of a fort’. The residing Syrian Christian Community has widely influenced the culture of this region. The traditional cuisine of Kerala also has a Syrian Christian touch to it. The major tourist attractions here are the exotic hilly areas located nearby, bird sanctuaries, lakes, royal palaces and places of religious significance.

Kozhikode Calicut

• 18Places
• 69Agents
• 272Packages

Kozhikode is popularly called Calicut, the anglicised version of the name. A type of cotton fabric, named Calico, was exported from here and has derived its name from Calicut. Situated on the Malabar Coastline, it is a prominent trading port in Kerala, dealing mainly in spices. It was hence called "City of Spices". The city is well-known since it welcomed Vasco da Gama who landed on a port 18km away from Calicut in 1498. In 2012, it was heralded as the ‘City of Sculptures’ because of the large number of architectural sculptures found here. The name Kozhikode is derived from two words, Koyil- meaning palace and Kota- meaning fort. The collective connotation is "fortified palace." Presently it is the second largest urban conglomerate of Kerala. It is blooming with natural beauty as well as high-rise buildings, malls, etc. This city has innumerable places to see, with a variety ranging from museums and planetariums to beaches and bird sanctuaries.

Wayanad

• 18Places
• 125Agents
• 663Packages

Wayanad District is situated in the north-eastern region of Kerala. It was made a district in November 1980 by combining parts of Kozhikode and Kannur Districts. This hill station is placed in the Western Ghats with dense forests and deep valleys. The topography of this district is varied. Some parts are flat, some are in the lower hills and northern parts are at a high altitude. The urbanisation of this district is as less as 3.79%. The population of this district is least in Kerala. This is the precise reason why the forest cover of this region is still intact and has carefully preserved the natural beauty and some endangered flora and fauna of Western Ghats. Earlier, the place was called Mayakshetra, meaning the land of Maya. It got changed to Mayanad and then Wayanad. The present name is said to be derived from two words, Vayal (paddy field) and Naad (land). The meaning hence becomes 'The Land of Paddy Fields'.

Palakkad

• 10Places
• 100Agents
• 67Packages

Palakkad, which was also called Palghat is a town located in Kerala. It is also a municipality, and administrative headquarters of the Palakkad District. The majority of people in the city speak Malayalam, which is also the official language of the city. It lies 350 km away from Thiruvananthapuram and 42 km away from Coimbatore if distance is estimated on Salem-Kanyakumari National Highway NH 47. Also referred as the "land of Palmyra trees"; many poems, stories and novels revolving the palm trees of the land have been penned down since now. Several steps have been taken by the district authority so far to protect the region’s palm trees. The average literacy rate in the region is 81%. The various languages spoken in Palakkad are Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi and English. Some of the tourist attractions of the place are Palakkad Fort, Jainimedu Jain Temple, Malampuzha Dam and Gardens, Kanhirapuzha Dam, Kollengode etc. According to 12th five-year plan, an IIT would be incorporated in Palakkad.

Trivandrum

• 13Places
• 183Agents
• 1075Packages

Trivandrum is situated at the southern tip of Indian subcontinent and is a noted capital of Kerala - god.

Ernakulam

• 14Places
• 480Agents
• 76Packages

Ernakulam city is situated in Kochi, Kerala. It is the financial capital of the state. The city is the most urbanized part of Kochi with a well-planned infrastructure. Ernakulam derives its name from a very famous temple of Lord Shiva called the Ernakulathappan Temple which is located here. The large scope of domestic tourism in Ernakulam has placed it first amidst the tourist destinations in Kerala. Much of its economy is driven by this tourism along with the contributions from Kochi Port and technology park named InfoPark. This city has a catchy urban landscape with some historical glimpses of monolithic monuments such as, Dolmens and rock-cut caves. These structures suggest that Ernakulam was inhabited by people since the Stone Age. This urban hub has many stadiums, churches, temples and high-rise buildings. The most notable event of the year here is the Cochin Film Festival that attracts people from all over.

Alleppey

• 15Places
• 68Agents
• 2326Packages

Alleppey is a well-known coastal town that lies in the Alappuzha district of 'Gods' Own Country' Kerala. It is considered as the oldest planned city in Kerala that stands on the top cleanest town in India followed by Mysuru and Panaji. Due to its beauteous surroundings, it is a picture perfect destination for spending the vacation. Tourists, especially honeymooners, prefer Alleppey as the place to spend the romantic holiday.   The Geography & Climate Alleppey is set along the shoreline of the Laccadive Sea. With an elevation of 3.3 feet above the sea level, Alleppey spans an entire area of 1,414 km. sq. It is blest with the tantalizing surroundings that include the hillocks and calm backwaters. The climate of this coastal town is defined as a tropical humid in nature. During the scorching summers, the temperature shoots up to 42°C, whereas, falls down below 15°C during winters. Thus, exclude summers and choose any other month to spend an indelible holiday at Alleppey.   The Must-Visit Places Alleppey is nature's bounty and is dotted with the beauteous surroundings in profusion. The places that lure visitors on a large scale include the names like Alleppey Beach, St. Andrew's Basilica, Ambalapuzzha Sri Krishna Temple, CSI Christ Church, Mannarasala Temple, and the local markets etc.  

Varkala

• 7Places
• 8Agents
• 128Packages

Varkala is a coastal town in Thiruvananthapuram district in Kerala. The cliffs in Varkala, adjacent to the Arabian Sea are a rare geological feature in the mostly plain coastline of Kerala. The Geological Survey of India has termed them as Varkala Formation, a geological monument. The town is often referred to as Dakshin Kashi (Banaras of South) for the ancient Janardana Swami Temple located here. The Papanasam Beach is believed to have holy waters that wash away one’s sins. The word Papanasam means ‘redemption from sins’. There are several Ayurvedic treatment centres around this beach. The pleasant weather, beautiful and unperturbed beauty of this town attracts many tourists. Another major attraction of this town is the fact that tourists do not have to shed too much from their pockets. The town of Varkala is not very crowded and offers a peaceful escape from daily life. Some nearby places like Paravur can also be visited for enjoying at beaches and backwaters.

Munnar

• 15Places
• 121Agents
• 2515Packages

Munnar is an exotic hill station and town that is entrenched in Idukki district of God's Own Country, Kerala. Its name 'Munnar' means 'three rivers' due to the conflux of rivers Mudhirapuzha, Nallathani and Kundaly.   The weather of Munnar remains cool during the days and nights winter season whereas the summer season witnesses warm weather during days and cool nights. The areas near hilly regions experience cool temperatures during all the whole year.   Surrounded with prolific green surroundings including the tea plantations and breath taking valleys, Munnar is a hill station that is elevated 5,200 feet above the sea level and rests in laps of the ranges of Western Ghats. It has the evergreen forest that boasts an exotic flora and fauna. The popular flower namely Neelarkunji that blooms once in 12 years is an attraction whereas the fauna includes grizzled giant squirrel, langurs, endangered gaurs, Nilgiri wood pigeon etc.   There are many locations that should be visited by the travelers. All the prime attractions include names like Attukad waterfalls, Kolukkumalai tea estate, Mattupetti dam, Echo point, Rose garden etc. that lure the travelers.

Thrissur

• 18Places
• 101Agents
• 132Packages

Thrissur is a revenue district located in central Kerala. Its etymology breaks the name 'Thiru-Shiva-Perur' to Thrissur that means 'The city with the name of Lord Shiva'. This is the land where the trade relationships of British India prospered with the other countries. Thrissur is also known as the cultural hub of Kerala as it gloats various places of worship and the Thrissur Pooram annual fest is held here.   Thrissur descends from the misty Western Ghats and covers an area of 3032 sq. km. The four rivers namely Periyar, Chalakudy, Karuvannur and Poonani are the major source of water for the dwellers of Thrissur. The climate of the place is tropical humid. The summer and winter, as compared to monsoons, are comparatively shorter in duration. The rainy season lasts till December mid with an average rainfall of 3000 mm. The mercury level touches upto 38° C on an average in summers and 22° C during winters.   Thrissur is a home to different attractions. There are many frequented places like Athirappily falls, Vazhachal, Kotta Elephant Sanctuary, Chavakad beach and the list goes on.

Alappuzha/Alleppey

• 12Places
• 167Agents
• 157Packages

Born in the year 1957 after the bifurcation of Kottayam and Quilon districts, Alappuzha is a mesmerizing town in Kerala. Due to its location in God's Own Country, Alappuzha is bestowed with the beauty of nature in abundance. Visiting Alappuzha will not be a wrong decision.   The alluring Alappuzha is elevated 3 feet above the sea level and unfolds across an area of 46 sq. km. It faces the Laccadive Sea and the district is ambushed with canals, lagoons, and rivers that tag it as the 'Venice of East'. Such tranquil locations define the climate of Alappuzha as a moderate. The summer season is warm & humid with an average temperature of 37°C. The winter season is best time to visit alappuzha,  cool and pleasant as the mercury level stays constant between 9°C-15°C amid the season. Alappuzha receives a substantial amount of rainfall with 900 mm on an average.   Alappuzha houses numerous astounding attractions. The visitors swarm to the places like Alappuzha Beach, St. Andrew's Basilica, Chettikulangara Swami Temple, Chinnaswami Temple, Kuttanad etc. to make their trip unforgettable.

Kumarakom

• 5Places
• 28Agents
• 1196Packages

Kumarakom is a town located in the beautiful state of Kerala. This town is a well-known tourist destination that is thronged frequently by holidaymakers. Adorned with breathtaking attractions, it is classified as the place where one can succumb to nature. Kumarakom has also won many accolades for its immense alluring landscapes and serene ambiance.   This nature's bounty is located at a height of 200 feet above the sea level. The land of Kumarakom is a soft plain that covers a gross area of vast acres of land. The lake of Vembanad is a major source of water in Kumarakom. The climate of the region of Kumarakom can be classified as tropical in nature. It faces scorching summers as the average mercury level sits at 40°C. The winter season is a pleasant season as the average temperatures do not rise above 19°C.   Kumarakom is endowed with nature's beauty in profusion. There are several attractions that are located in Kumarakom. The backwaters of Vembanad Lake, Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, Pearl Spot, and the Aruvikkuzhi Waterfall are must-visit places.

Calicut

• 0Places
• 122Agents
• 160Packages

Calicut is a township in the Indian state of Kerala. In the foregone times, it was known by the name of Kozhikode. it is the official name of the city. But the anglicized version of the name changed it to Calicut. Presently, Calicut is the largest urban area in the state of Kerala & was entitled as the 'city of sculptures' in the year 2012 due to different carved sculptures located in the city.   Perched on the shoreline facing the Arabian Sea, Calicut is elevated just 3 feet above the sea level. It covers a gross area of 177 sq. km. where 10% of land is occupied by the virgin sands. The climate of Calicut is tropical monsoon in nature. The summers and winters last for a shorter duration of time as compared to monsoons. The average mercury level during summer season stays between 36°C-40°C whereas drops down at 12°C respectively in winters. Calicut receives an adequate amount of rainfall with an average of 1000 mm.   Calicut offers numerous attractions to the visitors. The remarkable places include the names like Thusharagiri Falls, Sarovaram Bio-park, Tali Shiva Temple, Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary etc. This beautiful place never lets anyone down.

Guruvayur

• 8Places
• 3Agents
• 68Packages

Guruvayur is a pilgrimage town located in the Thrissur district of Kerala. According to the legends, this town is reckoned amid the oldest towns in India. Guruvayur was found 5000 years ago. This pilgrimage town is best-known for housing the Guruvayur temple. It is a shrine devoted to Lord Krishna and was constructed by the demi-gods Vayu Deva and Brihaspati. Therefore, the name of this temple and town is an amalgamation of the names of the demi-gods.   The town of Guruvayur stands at an elevation of 9 feet above the sea level. The uneven terrains sprawl over an area of 20 sq. km. Guruvayur experiences a tropical moderate climate as the region is surrounded by greenery. It faces mild temperatures across the year. The median temperatures scale between 25°C-33°C amid the year. Guruvayur also receives an annual average rainfall of 1700 mm.   The land of Guruvayur is adorned with eminent attractions that draw countless visitors. These places include the names like the intricate Guruvayur Krishna Temple, Punnathur Kotta Elephant Sanctuary, Mammiyoor Temple, along with the astir markets of Guruvayur.

Thekkady

• 6Places
• 10Agents
• 1999Packages

Thekkady is an attractive town that is located in the Idukki district of 'God's Own Country' Kerala. It is a beautiful destination for those that adore nature and its marvelous creations. The region of Thekkady is a picturesque landscape and the home to some exuberant mammalian species. The herd of elephant, deer, and bison can be spotted in Thekaddy. It welcomes hundreds of visitors amid the year.   Thekaddy is hemmed in the alluring hills of Western Ghats. The River Thodupuzhayar flows through Thekaddy feeding its lofty terrains. The climate of Thekaddy is tropical wet in nature. It encounters the summer season with an average temperature of 37°C and mild winters with an average temperature of 21°C. A heavy downpour is received during the monsoon season with an annual average of 3000 mm.   Thekaddy offers numerous attractions to the visitors. The must-visit places in Thekaddy are Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, coffee plantations of Murikaddy, Mangala Devi Temple, along with the hilly terrains of the Western Ghats where the venture of trekking can be enjoyed.