Kerala stopped me in my tracks. The moment I stepped onto Varkala Beach, watching those rust-red cliffs drop straight into the Arabian Sea while palm trees swayed overhead, I knew this place was different. I probably stood there for an hour just taking in that perfect chaos of crashing waves and sunset colors, completely forgetting about my camera.
After exploring the most beautiful places in Kerala, I can tell you South India hits different. From drifting through the backwaters on a traditional houseboat, watching kingfishers dive between rice paddies, to standing in awe as waterfalls thunder through the jungle at Athirappilly, this place feels like pure magic. Get ready, because these 12 spots are about to show you exactly why Kerala stole my heart.
Bucket-List Worthy Places to Visit in Kerala
Looking to explore Kerala’s most beautiful places? From the serene backwaters of Alleppey to the lush landscapes of the Western Ghats, Kerala is packed with stunning scenery. Stroll the historic streets of Fort Kochi, marvel at the natural beauty of Munnar, or explore the vibrant culture of Thiruvananthapuram. Discover the charming allure of Kumarakom, the tranquil beaches of Varkala, or the breathtaking views from Wayanad. Whether you’re into backwaters, hills, or beaches, here are 12 of Kerala’s most breathtaking spots!
1. Anamudi Shola National Park
The whole reason I fell for this place is because it’s where your phone actually loses signal – and honestly, that’s the best part. Anamudi Shola National Park sits at the foot of South India’s highest peak, and the air up here is so clean it almost hurts your lungs after breathing city pollution.
I spent three hours here just wandering the moss-covered trails without seeing another soul. The Nilgiri tahr – those adorable wild goats – will practically pose for photos if you’re patient enough. What really got me was watching a Malabar trogon flash its bright red chest through the canopy while giant squirrels scrambled overhead like they owned the place.
The best time to visit is October through March when wildlife sightings are frequent and the weather’s actually pleasant. Skip the summer months unless you enjoy sweating through your shirt in five minutes. The 15-kilometer drive from Munnar takes about 45 minutes through winding mountain roads that’ll test your driving skills but reward you with views that make Instagram jealous.
Bring a guide if you can – they’ll spot animals you’d walk right past and explain why this UNESCO World Heritage site matters. Entry is free, but you’ll want to start early morning when the animals are most active. Just don’t expect any fancy facilities up here; it’s pure nature, which is exactly the point.
2. Bekal
Nobody talks about Bekal because everyone’s too busy fighting crowds at the more famous spots, but that’s exactly why I loved it. This place has Kerala’s largest fort sitting right on the Arabian Sea, and you can actually hear yourself think while exploring it.
Bekal Fort rises dramatically from the shoreline with its unique keyhole shape, and the observation towers give you views that stretch so far you’ll wonder if you can see all the way to Dubai. I spent an entire afternoon here reading a book on the ramparts without anyone bothering me – try doing that at Kovalam.
The Fort View Beach underneath is perfect for that sunset walk you’ve been promising yourself. The sand’s golden, the waves aren’t trying to knock you over, and local fishermen still use the area, so it feels authentic rather than touristy.
What’s cool is you can kayak through the narrow backwater channels that snake inland from here. I did the Chandragiri Fort trip across the river, which adds some adventure without requiring a engineering degree to organize. Entry to the fort is just ₹25 for Indians, and you can easily spend half a day exploring without feeling rushed. October to March offers ideal weather with calm seas, making it perfect for both beach time and fort exploration.
3. Kovalam Beach
Kovalam Beach isn’t just one beach – it’s actually three distinct crescent-shaped shores, each with its own personality. I discovered this the hard way by assuming they were all the same and missing out on the best spots my first day.
Lighthouse Beach is where all the action happens – morning yoga sessions, sunset cocktails, and enough cafes to fuel a coffee addiction. The red-and-white lighthouse makes for killer photos, but honestly, the real magic happens when you grab a beer and watch the sunset paint everything orange. I’ve never been one for tourist crowds, but this place earned its reputation.
Hawa Beach next door is where I actually ended up spending more time. Local fishermen bring in their catch every morning around 6 AM, and watching them haul in their nets while sipping chai from a roadside stall became my favorite morning routine. Samudra Beach is your escape hatch when you need quiet – same gorgeous sand, fraction of the people.
The Ayurvedic treatments here aren’t just tourist traps; I got an authentic massage at one of the wellness centers and slept better than I had in months. For adventure seekers, this is one of Kerala’s best surfing spots, especially after monsoon season. September to March offers ideal swimming conditions, though the water’s warm year-round. Just be prepared – this place is popular for good reasons.
4. Munnar
Munnar stopped me dead in my tracks the moment I saw those endless green tea plantations rolling over the hills like someone had covered the mountains in velvet. The British knew what they were doing when they picked this spot as their summer retreat – even today, it’s the perfect antidote to India’s heat.
The Tata Tea Museum (officially called Kannan Devan Tea Museum) charges ₹75 for adults and shows you everything from antique tea-processing machines to how they still make your morning cup. But honestly, just walking through the Kolukkumalai Tea Estate – the world’s highest tea plantation at 7,900 feet – was more impressive than any museum.
The jeep ride to Kolukkumalai costs ₹100 per head and requires a 4×4 because the last few kilometers are properly rough, but watching sunrise from up there while sipping tea made from leaves grown literally where you’re standing? Worth every bumpy minute.
Eravikulam National Park is where you’ll spot the endangered Nilgiri tahr – these mountain goats are surprisingly chill around humans. The best time to visit is September through May, with the rare Neelakurinji flowers blooming every 12 years (next in 2030). I did the Anamudi Peak trek and honestly felt like I was walking through a nature documentary. The cool mountain air makes hiking actually enjoyable rather than a sweaty ordeal.
Pro tip: stay at least two nights. One day for tea estates, one for wildlife, and extra time to just sit with a book and watch the mist roll through the valleys.
5. Munroe Island
Munroe Island is where Kerala’s backwaters get real – no tourist buses, no crowds, just narrow canals weaving through coconut groves where life moves at the pace of paddle strokes. Named after a British colonel, this cluster of eight tiny islands feels completely cut off from the modern world.
The magic happens in those skinny canals that only traditional canoes can navigate. I spent a morning gliding through waterways so narrow the coconut palms formed a tunnel overhead while kingfishers dove around us like we were part of their morning routine. October to March offers calm waterways and pleasant weather – avoid monsoon unless you enjoy getting soaked.
What made this place special was watching actual village life happen around us. Women washing clothes by the water, kids jumping off makeshift diving boards, old men making coir rope from coconut husks – it’s like stepping into a Kerala tourism ad, except it’s completely genuine.
I learned more about traditional life in four hours here than from all the museums I’ve visited. A day trip from Kollam costs around ₹700 by auto-rickshaw including waiting time, or you can stay overnight at one of the waterfront homestays and wake up to mist rising off the backwaters. The golden hour here is unreal – everything glows like someone adjusted the saturation settings on real life.
6. Nelliyampathy
Everyone heads to Munnar for hill station vibes, but Nelliyampathy gives you the same tea-covered mountains without fighting crowds for photos. The drive up here features ten hairpin bends that’ll test your nerves but reward you with views that make the white-knuckle moments worth it.
Nelliyampathy sits in the Western Ghats about 60 kilometers from Palakkad, and what makes it different is how uncommercial it feels. The colonial-era plantation bungalows scattered across the hills look like they haven’t changed since the British left, and several estates offer tours where you can actually taste coffee minutes after it’s been roasted.
I did the Seetharkundu viewpoint trek and could see clear to the horizon on a good day. The orange orchards here are something you don’t see in most Kerala destinations – bright fruit hanging heavy on trees surrounded by coffee plants and cardamom bushes. It’s like someone mixed the best parts of different landscapes together.
The nearby Parambikulam Tiger Reserve is just a short drive if you want to add some wildlife spotting to your mountain time. October to May offers clear mountain views and easily navigable roads – monsoons turn the access road into an adventure you might not want. Plan two days minimum; one for the plantations and viewpoints, another for just breathing mountain air and remembering what silence sounds like.
7. Pampadum Shola National Park
Pampadum Shola is Kerala’s smallest national park, but it packs extraordinary biodiversity into a compact area that’s perfect for people who don’t have weeks to explore the Western Ghats. This place is my go-to recommendation for anyone wanting proper wilderness without the commitment of a multi-day trek.
The landscape here switches between rolling grasslands and dense shola forests – those unique high-altitude evergreen forests you only find in the Western Ghats. I spent a morning following well-marked trails and spotted sambar deer, Nilgiri tahrs, and enough bird species to keep me reaching for my camera every five minutes.
What really impressed me was how pristine everything felt. The Nilgiri wood-pigeon and black-and-orange flycatcher you might see here are rarities that birdwatchers travel across the country to spot. The cool mountain climate makes hiking comfortable even when the lowlands are sweltering.
October to March offers the best weather for wildlife sightings, and hiring a local guide is worth it – they’ll identify animals you’d walk right past and explain how this delicate ecosystem survives. The park’s compact size means you can cover the highlights in a full day, but the pristine wilderness feels like you’re exploring untouched India. Fair warning: your phone will lose signal up here, which might be exactly what you need.
8. Thekkady
Thekkady is your gateway to Periyar Tiger Reserve, where massive Periyar Lake attracts wildlife in ways that make every boat cruise feel like a nature documentary. I’ve done game drives all over India, but floating silently across the lake at dawn while elephants drink at the shoreline was something else entirely.
The early morning boat cruises are when the magic happens. Elephants, gaur (those massive wild bison), and sambar deer emerge from the mist-covered hills like they’re putting on a show just for you. Tigers are elusive – I didn’t spot one in three visits – but the diversity of everything else makes every trip worthwhile.
The bamboo rafting expedition they organize lets you float through the forest in complete silence, which is when you realize how noisy regular life is. I saw more birds in two hours on that raft than I usually spot in a month of casual birdwatching.
The spice plantations around Thekkady aren’t just tourist attractions – they’re working farms where you can learn how cardamom, pepper, and cinnamon actually grow. The guided tours include tastings that’ll make you understand why European traders fought wars over these spices. September to May offers dry weather when wildlife congregates near water sources, making animal spotting much easier. Evening Kathakali dance performances in town showcase Kerala’s traditional arts, and after a day in the wilderness, the cultural contrast feels perfectly balanced.
9. Thiruvananthapuram Beach
Thiruvananthapuram gives you the best of both worlds – proper beach time and cultural exploration without having to choose between them. As Kerala’s capital, it has the infrastructure to make your stay comfortable while serving up some genuinely beautiful coastline.
Kovalam Beach gets all the attention, but I actually preferred Shanghumukham Beach with its massive mermaid sculpture and way fewer crowds. The seafood here is incredibly fresh – I had grilled prawns at a beachside shack that were swimming that morning, and the Kerala-style fish curry was spicy enough to make me sweat but too good to stop eating.
The Napier Museum with its unique Indo-Saracenic architecture houses artifacts that tell Kerala’s story better than any guidebook, and the nearby Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple showcases Dravidian architecture that’ll leave you staring at the intricate carvings for way longer than you planned.
November to February offers perfect beach weather with minimal rainfall, though the water’s warm enough for swimming year-round. What I love about staying here is how you can spend mornings exploring temples and museums, afternoons on the beach, and evenings in restaurants that actually cater to locals rather than just tourists. The city vibe gives you options when you want them, but the beaches provide escape when you need it.
10. Vagamon
Vagamon remains Kerala’s best-kept secret, sitting in three hills that meet to create landscapes so beautiful they look almost artificial. This place hasn’t been discovered by mass tourism yet, which means you get incredible views without fighting crowds for photos.
The International Paragliding Festival they host annually draws pilots from around the world, and watching colorful wings soar over the rolling green hills is better than any air show. Even if you don’t fly, the takeoff areas provide viewpoints that showcase Vagamon’s entire valley spread out below you.
I spent a morning hiking through the pine forests here and felt like I’d been transported to the Scottish Highlands – except with better weather and way more exotic birds calling from the trees. The fragrant pine air works better than any aromatherapy session I’ve ever paid for.
What makes Vagamon special is the religious harmony you’ll find here. Murugan Mala (Hindu), Thangal Para (Muslim), and Kurisumala (Christian) sites all sit within walking distance of each other, representing three different faiths coexisting peacefully in one of India’s most beautiful settings. September to May offers perfect highland weather for outdoor activities. The tea plantations here rival Munnar’s beauty but with a fraction of the visitors, making this the place to go when you want Kerala’s mountain magic without the crowds.
11. Varkala Beach
Varkala Beach combines dramatic rust-red cliffs with golden sand beaches in a way that makes every sunset look like someone cranked up the saturation settings. Locals call it “Papanasam” because they believe these waters wash away sins – I can’t verify that, but they definitely washed away my stress.
The cliff-top pathway lined with boho cafes, yoga centers, and shops gives Varkala a laid-back vibe that attracts backpackers and wellness seekers from around the world. I spent entire afternoons in cliffside restaurants just watching paragliders float by while nursing fresh lime sodas and wondering why I ever thought I needed to be anywhere else.
Paragliding from the North Cliff helipad runs from December to April, 12:30 PM to 5:30 PM, weather permitting, and floating above those red cliffs with the Arabian Sea stretching to the horizon was worth every rupee. The Ayurvedic treatments here aren’t tourist traps – I got a traditional massage that left me sleeping better than I had in months.
The Black Beach, Odayam Beach, and other hidden spots along the coast are perfect for morning walks when you want to escape the cliff-top buzz. The 2,000-year-old Janardhana Swamy Temple adds spiritual significance to your beach time, and the natural springs believed to have healing properties give this place depth beyond just pretty sunsets. September to March offers calm seas and dry weather – perfect for both beach activities and cliff exploration.
12. Wayanad District
Wayanad is Kerala’s adventure playground, where Chembra Peak at 2,100 meters offers the highest trekking in the state with a famous heart-shaped lake halfway up. This place combines mountain adventures with cultural discoveries in ways that make every day feel packed with possibilities.
The Chembra Peak trek now costs ₹5,000 for a group of five Indians (₹8,000 for foreigners), with a daily limit of just 75 people, so book early. The heart-shaped lake that never dries up is about 4 kilometers one way, taking roughly 2-3 hours depending on your fitness level. I’ve done tougher treks, but few with such consistently beautiful scenery.
Edakkal Caves contain 8,000-year-old petroglyphs that make you realize humans have been appreciating Wayanad’s beauty for millennia. The Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary offers elephant and tiger spotting, though the elephants are much more cooperative for photos. Soochippara Waterfalls provide the perfect swimming hole after a morning of trekking.
The spice plantations here teach you how pepper, cardamom, and coffee grow while offering tastings that’ll spoil your palate for supermarket spices forever. October to May minimizes rainfall and maximizes your chances for outdoor activities. Plan at least three days: one for Chembra Peak, one for wildlife and caves, and another for just soaking up the mountain atmosphere while drinking locally grown coffee and wondering why you ever thought city life was appealing.
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