Top 15 Tourist Destinations and Places to Visit in Kerala

Kerala state is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India and famous for sea beaches, backwaters, mountain ranges, waterfalls, Ayurvedic tourism and religious places. The most famous district of Kerala for mountain and backwater tourism also include Malappuram district,Kottayam district,Ernakulam district,Kasaragod district and Pathanamthitta district.

Alleppey – Houseboat

Alappuzha also known as Alleppey is oldest planned city in this region and home to picturesque canals, backwaters, beaches and lagoons. Alappuzha is an important tourist destination in Kerala and home to Nehru Trophy Boat Race in Punnamada Lake,paddy fields, houseboat cruise in backwaters and Alappuzha Beach.

Munnar – Hill Station

Munnar is the most popular hill stations located in Idukki district and a must visit place in Kerala. Munnar has several protected areas and native flora and fauna which are known for several threatened and endemic species.

Munnar Tea Garden
Hill Station
Mattupetty Dam
Eravikulam National Park

Thekkady – Wildlife

Thekkady is a wildlife tourist place and an important tourist location of the Periyar National Park in Idukki district. This place also consists of spices and coffee plantations and important tourist attraction in the Kerala state.

Kumarakom – Bird Sanctuary

Kumarakom is a tourist paradise,famous for its backwater tourism and popular tourism destination located near the city of Kottayam. Kottayam district is a major trading centre of natural rubber in India.

Vembanad Lake
Houseboat
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary

Kovalam – Lighthouse Beach

Kovalam is a famous beach town in Trivandrum and famous for the Kovalam Lighthouse Beach. There are a large number tourist attractions in the town such as Hawa Beach,Vellayani Lake, Halcyon Castle and Neyyar Dam.

Kozhikode – Cuisine

Kozhikode also known as Calicut, popular for local handicraft products and rich and exotic spices. The greater Calicut urban area is second biggest in India in the Malabar coast.

Kozhikode Beach
Thusharagiri Falls
Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary

Wayanad – Chembra Peak

Wayanad District is the most popular tourist destinations of Kerala and visited by tourists from the world. The district houses the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary,Sultan Bathery Jain Temple , Wayanad Ghat Road and Meenmutty Falls.

Neelimala
Chembra Peak
Luv Kush Temple
Banasura Sagar Dam
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

Kollam – Ecotourism Thenmala

Kollam or Quilon is a seaport city on the bank of Ashtamudi Lake and famous for Cashew industry,Seafood,pencil slat,Clam fishery and Thenmala, first planned eco tourism destination in India. The city of Kollam  has Tangasseri Lighthouse beach and one of the most visited lighthouses in Kerala.

Kollam Beach
Ashtamudi Lake
Adventure Park
Tangasseri Lighthouse
Thirumullavaram Beach

Thrissur – Pooram Temple

Thrissur also known as Trichur is the cultural capital of Kerala and hosts the most colourful and spectacular temple festival in Kerala. The city has large number of famous temples such as Vadakkumnathan temple,Guruvayur temple,Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple and Paramekkavu temple.

Thrissur Pooram
Puli Kali
Athirappilly Falls
Vadakkunnathan Temple
Thrissur Kole Wetlands
Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours

Palakkad – Scenic Hills

Palakkad also known as Palghat lies near the Palghat Gap in the Western Ghats and known as the gateway to Kerala. This low mountain pass is located between the Nilgiri Hills and Anaimalai Hills.

Palakkad Gap
Anaimalai Hills
Eravikulam National Park

Idukki – Western Ghats

Idukki district of Kerala lies in the Western Ghats and has vast forest reserve area. Idukki is home to Anamudi highest peak, famous Idukki arch Dam and many variety of flora and fauna located in various parts of hilly region.

Idukki Arch Dam
Vagamon Meadows
Cardamom Hills
Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary

Kannur – Looms and Lores

Kannur is known as the land of Looms and Lores, has a number of tourist attractions including beaches, hills, temples and other monuments. Tourist attractions in Kannur include Payyambalam Beach,Meenkunnu Beach,Snake Park,St. Angelo Fort,Dharmadam Island and Muzhappilangad Drive in Beach.

Chamundi Theyyam
Kalari Payattu
Tellicherry Fort
Muzhappilangad Beach

Kochi – Chinese Fishing Net

Kochi or Cochin is the famous port city of Kerala and often called Ernakulam. Cochin is known as the Queen of the Arabian Sea and one of the principal tourist destinations of Kerala, major tourist attractions in Kochi include chain of brackish lagoons known as Backwaters of Kochi,Fort Kochi,Marine Drive,Santa Cruz Basilica,Dutch Palace and Hill Palace.

Fort Kochi
Hill Palace
Vallarpadam Church
Chottanikkara Temple

Thiruvananthapuram – Varkala Cliff Beach

Thiruvananthapuram or Trivandrum is the first metro city in Kerala, located on the west coast and classified as Evergreen city of India. Trivandrum is a popular tourist destination, known for famous beaches of Kovalam and Varkala,Western Ghats hills,Kappil Edava lakes, Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, backwaters of Poovar and Anchuthengu and Padmanabhaswamy Temple.

Padmanabhaswamy Temple
Kovalam and Varkala Beach
Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Poovar and Anchuthengu Backwaters

Pathanamthitta – Boat Race

Pathanamthitta known as the pilgrim capital of Kerala and centre for main transport to Sabarimala temple. The district of Pathanamthitta known for its fairs and festivals with biodiversity, forest and plantations. The district host the world’s second largest Christian convention,Aranmula Boat Race and large pilgrims during the festival season of Sabarimala.