The monsoon season is a wonderful time. Getting to relax at home with a cup of hot tea and hearing the rain lashing the windows instils a sort of peace and calm that can’t be experienced too often. And there’s only one thing that can make this experience better – a holiday in paradise.
Known as ‘God’s own country’ and recently declared to be one among the ten tourist paradises of the world, Kerala is a place with an abundance of greenery and natural beauty. While it’s undoubtedly beautiful throughout the year, Kerala gains an alluring charm during the monsoons as the rains heighten the sense of serenity by enveloping the lush green forests and myriad lakes and backwaters in their downpour. So if you’re planning to relax and enjoy the rains this year, you might as well do it in Kerala because, trust me, the monsoons don’t get much better than they do here. Here are the 10 best tourist places to visit in Kerala during the monsoons:
1. Kovalam
Photo: Nayela/ 500px.com
Kovalam is a quiet coastal town that is a vast expanse of greenery bordered by innumerable coconut trees. It’s home to the famous Kovalam Beach which is regarded as one of the best beaches in Kerala. While it may seem counter-intuitive to visit a beach during the rainy season, it’s a brilliant experience at Kovalam. You can relax in peace at the secluded beach enjoying freshly prepared local delicacies and rejuvenating yourself with Ayurvedic treatments. Also, if you’re an adventurous person, you can try your hand at surfing as Kovalam beach is one of the only surfing destinations in India.
2. Alappuzha (Alleppey)
Photo: Wilford Machado/ 500px.com
Alappuzha, more popularly known as Alleppey, is the hub of Kerala’s backwaters and is regarded as the best place for tourists to relax on a houseboat in Kerala. The town is also home to a vast network of waterways filled with canoes and floating shops which have accorded it the nickname – ‘Venice of the East’.
Simply rent a houseboat and float along and gaze over paddy fields of succulent green, curvaceous rice barges and village life along the banks. This is one of Kerala’s most mesmerisingly beautiful and relaxing experiences.
3. Chalakudy
Home to the majestic Athirapally Falls, this this scenic village is one of the best tourist places in Kerala. The lush greenery and soothing quietude is just perfect for an ideal monsoon break. If you’re from a hectic city like Bangalore, staying in this peaceful town will be the perfect rejuvenation for your mind.
4. Munnar
Munnar Waterfall by Yogendra Joshi on 500px
Home to seemingly endless tea estates, Munnar is a lush green paradise who’s beauty is magnified under the cover of rain. With a number of nearby attractions, this hill resort is an ideal place to experience the magic of monsoon at its best. You can walk through mist-covered tea estates or visit the Athukad Falls which turning into a roaring cascade during peak monsoon season (July-August).
5. Wayanad
Photo : Chembra by Chandan Bhosle on 500px
Wayanad is the least populated district in Kerala and is situated in the Western Ghats at the southern tip of the Deccan Plateau. It is one of the most picturesque places to visit in Kerala, and the beauty of Wayanad is magnified tenfold during the monsoon. The undulating hills and glimmering lakes are a sight that’s almost surreal in nature. Be sure to visit the Chembra Peak which, at a height of 2,100 metres, offers a mesmerising view that is exaggerated under the cover of rain
6. Kumarakom
Photo: Tranquility by Nilkanth Pathak on 500px
If you prefer to spend your holiday’s lazing around and be treating like a king/queen, then Kumarakom is the ideal destination for you. Often called “One of the paradises on Earth”, Kumarakom has luxurious houseboats and stunning luxury resorts by Lake Vembanad.
Most of the resorts make excellent use of the Vembanad or its canals, revel in Kerala heritage furnishings and offer great Kerala Ayurvedic treatments.And to the delight of visitors, they also have some great monsoon packages. They also take you on activities like watching traditional boat-building, cycling around nearby plantations, visiting the bird sanctuary! Houseboat stays, boat rides and sunset cruises are a must when you are here during the monsoons.
7. Varkala
Photo: Colours of the setting sun by #TheWanderBong on 500px
A famous seaside destination, Varkala greets you with a ragged line of rich red cliffs which are a stunning contrast to the green coconut palms and thus form an interesting scenic backdrop. The place offers all the pleasures of the more famous Kovalam, sans the crowds and hawkers. It is also fringed by serene backwaters, natural springs and beaches which look all the more beautiful during the monsoons.
8. Nelliyampathy
The cloud-caressed peaks of the majestic Nelliyampathy hill ranges are a sight to behold. The height of the hills ranges from 467 m to 1572 m. To reach Nelliyampathy, one has to take the road starting from Nenmara that proceeds to the Pothundy Dam.
It also offers a splendid view of the Palakkad Gap, which is a geographical phenomenon in the Western Ghats formation in this region, bringing into view, parts of the adjoining State of Tamil Nadu.
Since there are not too many Bangalore tourist places that are particularly worth visiting when its raining, you should definitely travel to Kerala during these monsoons and revel in natural beauty at its best.