13 EXCITING THINGS TO DO IN KERALA, INDIA

Kerala, dubbed as God’ Own Country”  is one of the most exciting states in  India.  The state is known for its backwaters,palm-lined beaches , a mountain range whose slopes support tea, coffee, and spice plantations . Kerala is blessed with an abundant native wildlife. So many things await any visitor in this place. I have listed below 13 exciting things to do in Kerala.

1. Kerala Backwaters Cruising

Alappuzha  (Alleppey) known as the Venice of the East)   is popularly recognized for its  backwaters. The Backwaters of Kerala are a mesh of interconnected canals, rivers, lakes and inlets formed by more than 900 km of watercourses. The backwaters have a unique ecosystem – freshwater from the rivers meets the salt water of the Arabian Sea.

Possibly, the most exciting thing to manage when in Kerala is to go cruising  aboard a houseboat and the native oarsmen will consume you to an amazing world of delights and tranquility with a blend of nature in its entire traditional splendor pampering all your senses and rejuvenating your body.

2. Boating at Periyar Tiger Reserve

The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary   is situated high in the Cardamom Hills and Pandalam Hills of the southern Western Ghats on the border with Tamil Nadu.  The sanctuary is  spread out  over an expanse of 925 Sq.Km., Periyar is one of the 48 tiger reserves in India. The place is fervently guarded and the efficiently managed reserve is a repository of rare, endemic and threatened plant and fauna and forms the major landmark of two important rivers of Kerala, the Periyar, and Pamba. Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary (PNP) is a protected area in the districts of Idukki, Kottayam, and Pathanamthitta . It is renowned as an elephant reserve and a tiger reserve.

The Periyar Lake formed by the building of the dam across the Mullaperiyar River in 1895, the lake harbors within it a unique aquatic ecosystem. The numerous small islets in the lake are witness to the intricate inherent interrelationship among the terrestrial aquatic and subterranean life forms. A boat cruise along the Lake is perhaps the best mode to see the wildlife in the reserve. The duration of boating is one and half hours.

3. Witness the Vallamkali or Snake Boat Races

Watching the colorful Snake Boat races in Alappuzha is an amazing thing to do in Kerala. Vallamkali or the Snake Boat Race is a fascinating  feature  of the festival of Onam.  Vallamkali is celebrated  for a good number of years and its popularity is getting stronger  with each passing year . Beautiful green and scarlet silk umbrellas are used to decorate the Vallamkalis. Traditional songs Vanchipattu, sung on the rhythm produced by splashing of boats furthers adds to the overall festivities  of the team event.

4. Kayaking at the Backwaters

For outdoor buddies, kayaking through the backwaters of Kerala would be very exciting. Kayaking  allows you to explore the remote villages and observe the locals activities.

Ravi’s Farm, Amaravathi. Photo credits Kerala Tourism

5. Visit a Spice Plantation

When in Kerala,take a time to visit the aromatic spice plantations . This visit allows you to see for yourself   how the spices are being harvested like the  black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon and the exotic vanilla .

6. Watch the Sunset at Kovalam

Sip freshly brewed tea while watching the beautiful sunset at the Kovalam beach. Kovalam beach is said to be one of the finest beaches in Kerala. There are three beaches in Kovalam separated by rocky outcroppings in its 17 km coastline: Lighthouse beach, Hawah beach, and the   Samudra beach.    Kovalam is a beach town by the Arabian Sea in Thiruvananthapuram city, Kerala, India, located around 16 km from the city center.

7. Visit Edakkal Caves, Wayanad

If you love archeology, Edakkal Caves  are a must-see destinations for you. Edakkal Caves are two natural caves at a remote location at Edakkal, 25 km from Kalpetta in the Wayanad district of Kerala in India’s Western Ghats. They lie 1,200 meters above sea level on Ambukutty Mala, beside an ancient trade route connecting the high mountains of Mysore to the ports of the Malabar coast. Inside the caves are pictorial writings believed to date to at least 6,000 BCE,^[1][2] from theNeolithic man, indicating the presence of a prehistoric civilization or settlement in this region.^[3] The Stone Age carvings of Edakkal are rare and are the only known examples from south India.^[4]

8. Explore the  Pappathi Shola Trek(Butterfly Forest Trek) and Phantom Head

If you have a little more time while in Kerala, go and exploring the Butterfly Forest (Pappathi Shola)  and  Phantom head with Kalypso Adventure. The view is not only breathtaking it is also refreshing.

9. Shop for Souvenirs at Fort Kochi

Fort Kochi is an exciting small settlement on the coast and you can walk the entire length and breadth of it. The place is lined with  cafes and shops to hotels and roadside stalls selling various souvenir items . At For Kochi, you can buy clothes , incense, antiques , fashion accessories and much more. Fort Kochi is a good place  to experience history, relax and have a cup of tea on the verandah.

Photo credit: Kerala Tourism

10. Experience the Ayurvedic Massage

While in Kerala, take the opportunity  to indulge in Ayurvedic Massage. It is said that Ayurvedic massage is one of Ancient India’s best-kept secrets.  While many haven’t heard yet about Ayurvedic Massage, this Indian sublime  signature massage has been developed and refined for  more than  5,000 years .Ayurvedic Therapists’ combined skills and  knowledge of the body with mastery  of oils, music, and bodywork techniques has resulted in a unique art for balancing the body and mind through the medium of oil massage.

11. Explore Tea Plantations

I was amazed by vast tea plantations in various places in Kerala.  Kerala Tea Plantations  spread over Idukki, Wayanad, Kottayam, Thrissur, Malappuram and Palakkad but Idukki and Wayanad are the two major tea producing regions.

12. Dances of Kerala

I had seen a couple of Kerala Dances when I traveled to Kerala. Some hotels and resorts provide  some cultural presentations for their guests. Kerala is home to a number of dance and other performing arts. Some traditional  Indian dances  which developed in Kerala are  known worldwide today, especially the Kathakali dance. Kathakali is a theatrical and classical dance form of Kerala which was developed for over 500 years ago. It is a combination of dramatic play, dance, music, and ritual. Very popular in Kerala, Kathakali is one of the oldest theater forms in the world. The word ‘Katha’ in Malayalam means Story and ‘Kali’ means Play. Thus Kathakali literally means ‘Story-Play’.

13. Experience Sadya Feast

Kerala is known as the “Land of Spices” because it traded spices with Europe as well as with many ancient civilizations. One of the exciting things to  do when in Kerala is to    experience their traditional meal known as “sadya” . Sadya is a feast wherein the food is dished up on a banana leaf and almost every dish has coconut and spices added for flavor, giving its cuisine a sharp pungency that is enhanced with the use of tamarind.