5 Best Tourist Places in Kerala You Should Visit Once

1. Alleppey – The Venice of India 
Alleppey tops the list of best tourist attractions in Kerala. The city was titled the ‘Venice of the East’. The backwaters in the area are perfect for a houseboat vacation. Go exploring on the watery routes. The houseboats are age-old modes of transportation revamped with a plenitude of luxuries equivalent to a 5-star hotel. The scenic landscape is a soothing sight. Watch coconut groves, paddy fields, ducks and lilies and quaint villages pass by. The cuisines are of note as the fresh produce of the water takes place in your plate. Experience bliss like never before!

Places to visit in Alleppey: Alappuzha Beach, Krishnapuram Palace, Marari Beach, Revi Karunakaran Museum, Punnamada Lake, Pathiramanal, and Sri Krishna Temple in Ambalappuzha.
In addition, do not miss the Snake Boat Race is held in August/ September.
Best time to visit: September to mid-May
Nearest airport: Kochi Airport at 53 km.
Nearest railway station: Alleppey Railway Station is in the city.

2. Munnar – South India’s Tea Heaven
Munnar is one of the most beautiful hill stations in Kerala. Snuggled at 6000 feet, the town has an easy charm. The gradient and the salubrious weather of this hill are perfect for tea farming. The hill station has about 80,000 miles of tea plantation. This is undoubtedly one of the best places to visit in Kerala for Tea & Spice plantation tour. The town has an old-world colonial feel to it. Enjoy a relaxing stay in comfortable hotels in Munnar. For the adventure-seeking, trekking and camping are definitely exciting. Munnar is a balm to your body, mind, and souls.

Things to see in Munnar: Attukad Waterfalls, Cheeyappara Waterfalls, TATA Tea Museum, Meesapulimala, Blossom Park, Pothamedu View Point, Life of Pi Church, Top Station, Marayoor Dolmens, Mattupetty Dam, Indo Swiss Dairy Farm, Kundala Lake, Lockhart Gap, Anamudi, and Eravikulam National Park.
Best time to visit: October to March
Nearest airport: Kochi Airport is 143 km away.
Nearest railway station: Aluva Railway Station is 110 km away.

3. Fort Kochi – The Crowned ’Queen of Arabian Sea’
One of the top tourist places in Kerala, Fort Kochi is often the gateway to God’s Own Country. The Queen of the Arabian has multiple personalities. The city has a history, heritage and multi-ethnic culture. Perfect for nature lovers, history buffs, and tourists, it is one of the most visited travel destinations in Kerala. Fort Kochi has much to offer, in terms of sights, food and experiences. With museums, palaces, synagogues, Hindu temples, churches, heritage buildings, art galleries, beaches, Fort Kochi tempts you to go exploring. Do not miss to savour some of the cuisines and bring home souvenirs. 

Top places near Fort Kochi: Chinese fishing nets during Sunset or sunrise, Mattancherry Palace, Paradesi Synagogue, St. Francis Church, Santa Cruz Basilica, Hill Palace, Marine Drive, Ernakulam Shiva Temple, Indo-Portuguese Museum, Bolgatty Palace, Kodanad Elephant Training Center, Willingdon Island, Kochi Backwaters, Museum of Kerala History, etc.
Best time to visit: September to March
Nearest Airport: Kochi International Airport in the city.
Nearest Railway Station: Ernakulam Junction is 13 km away.

4. Wayanad – Nature’s very own garden 
Wayanad is one of the reasons why Kerala is God’s Own Country. The ‘land of paddy fields’ in Malayalam, this is one of the greenest places to visit in Kerala. The scenic beauty combined with thrilling adventures makes it a favourite among visitors. Stay in a treehouse, Wayanad has plenty of them. You can learn about tribal heritage as more than 50 tribes inhabit the area. Trekking is one of the exciting pleasures of the town. Walkthrough picturesque environs, if you are lucky you might spot a Neelakurinji flower which blooms once in 12 years. 

Best places to visit near Wayanad: Edakkal caves, Banasura Sagar dam, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Thusharagiri Waterfalls, Thirunelli Temple, Lakkidi View Point, Puliyarmala Jain Temple, Kuruvadweep, Papanashini River and Padinjarathara Dam.
Best time to visit: October to May. Wayanad is also one of the most beautiful places to visit in Kerala during monsoon to enjoy the perks of trekking and other adventure activities.
Nearest airport: Karipur International Airport at 95 km.
Nearest railway station: Kozhikode Railway Station at 72 km. 

5. Thrissur- Kerala’s Cultural Capital
Thrissur the “Cultural Capital of Kerala” is one of the must-visit tourist places in Kerala. Built around a 65-acre hillock, the town is home to several temples, cultural centres, churches and several colourful cultural festivals. If you want to witness history, heritage and culture of Kerala, there is certainly no better place to go. The city was one of the oldest sites of human settlements. There are many relics of megaliths and dolmens belonging to the Neolithic period. The vibrant Thrissur Pooram Festival is one of the major attractions that draw visitors in large numbers. 

Top things to do in Thrissur:Thrissur Zoo, Athirappally and Vazhachal, the two picturesque waterfalls, are located just 5 km apart, on the edge of the Sholayar forest ranges in Thrissur district. Athirapally Waterfalls (The Athirapally Waterfalls, Kerala, is a treat to the eyes for those who crave the fusion of mountainous terrain and a beach with frolicking waves is the waterfall most visited in Kerala), Shakthan Thampuran Palace, Viyur Jail Park, Temples of Vadakkunnathan, Paramekkavu and Thiruvampadi 
Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport at 50 km.
Nearest railway station: Thrissur Railway Station is in the city.