Introduction
Kerala is India’s most beloved state for good reason — the backwater canals of Alleppey, tea-covered hills of Munnar, the cosmopolitan heritage city of Kochi, Ayurvedic wellness retreats, and some of India’s finest cuisine. It’s where many travelers who’ve been overwhelmed by northern India recover their enthusiasm.
—
Top Destinations
Alleppey (Alappuzha) — The Backwaters
The Kerala backwaters are a network of canals, lakes, and rivers running parallel to the Arabian Sea coast. Renting a houseboat and spending a night drifting through the waterways, past rice paddy fields and fishing villages, is one of India’s quintessential travel experiences.
Houseboat rental: $80–200/night for a basic houseboat (includes crew, meals). Book through licensed operators. Overnight trips from Alleppey to Kollam or Kumarakom.
Munnar — Tea Country
Hill station in the Western Ghats. The drive up through tea estates at 1,600m elevation is extraordinarily beautiful. Cool temperatures (15–25°C) year-round.
Must do: Tea factory tour, Mattupetty Lake, Eravikulam National Park (Nilgiri tahr), Top Station viewpoint.
Kochi (Cochin)
One of India’s most cosmopolitan cities — Portuguese, Dutch, British, and Jewish heritage layer over each other in Fort Kochi’s heritage district.
Must see: Chinese fishing nets (the iconic cantilever nets, best at sunset), St. Francis Church (oldest European church in India), Mattancherry Palace, Jewish Synagogue, contemporary art scene at Kochi-Muziris Biennale (every 2 years).
Varkala
A cliff-top beach town south of Trivandrum. Dramatic red laterite cliffs, a natural mineral spring on the beach, budget-friendly accommodation, excellent seafood. More relaxed than Goa.
—
Kerala Food
Kerala sadya: The vegetarian feast served on a banana leaf. 20+ dishes. The definitive Kerala food experience.
Fish molee: Coconut milk fish curry. Light, fragrant, extraordinary.
Appam: Lacy rice crepe. Eaten with coconut milk or curry.
Puttu: Steamed rice cylinders with coconut. Breakfast staple.
Malabar biryani: North Kerala’s spiced rice dish with beef or chicken.
—
Alleppey houseboat day trips and overnight backwater cruises are bookable on Klook — convenient for organizing this essential Kerala experience.
Book Kerala backwater tours & houseboats on Klook →
* Affiliate link — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.