Kerala

Add an organic basket in your travel luggage when you are traveling in Kerala, here you can find some natural and pure ingredients at some amazing prices.

• Spice Market in Kochi: Kerala is a house of pure and exotic spices since the medieval days, apart from culinary uses you can also use these spices as medicines if you are practicing Ayurveda as an alternative therapy.
• Asparagus in Varkala: Explore the rich handicrafts of Kerala in this market where you can purchase handmade cotton fabrics and try designer suits and Kerala Sarees.
• Grand Kerala Shopping Festival: State tourism authorities of Kerala releases a calendar for grand Kerala shopping festival, it is a shopping pageant where you can get an access to local artisans under a single roof.

Periyar National Park is the biggest national park of Kerala. Most of the wildlife sanctuaries are located in the same area. The popular wildlife sanctuaries of Kerala are specific in many ways, Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary gives you an access to the elephants exclusively and Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary can become a meeting point where you can find some amazing birds.

• Periyar National Park: Located near the city of Thekkady, this park encircles an area of 26 square kilometers.
• Silent Valley National Park: Located next to Palakkad district, this park covers an area of 90 square kilometers. The mountain ranges of Nilgiri are the advantage of this tropical rainforest.

A network of water bodies connected with the backwaters and rivers of Kerala along with the beaches offers a big playground for watersports activities in Kerala. You can enjoy traditional local water sports along with adventure driven western waters sports as well.

• Surfing at Kovalam: Tides of maximum 2 meters can greet you at the exotic beach where surfboards along with professional trainers are easily available.
• Kayaking at Alappuzha: Explore the village life while trying your hands at Kayaking is this Kayaking hub of Kerala on the palm-fringed waterways.
• Rafting in Bhoothathankettu: Float well in the challenging rapids of Periyar River and experience a proximity to the dense forests that are surrounding.

Visit a tribal village, pass through a lush green rainwater forest and cool your heals off right next to a breathtaking fountain, the treks of Kerala presents a variety of universes to explore when you are out to test your endurance on these treks.

• Chembra Peak: An ideal trek for honeymoon couples, recite your love on this Chembra Peak right next to this heart-shaped lake to reignite the passion of love.
• Anamudi Peak: Enjoy this trek inside Eravikulam Park, Anamudi park is the highest peak at a height of 2700 meters. This trek is worth it because of the heavenly sights that it offers.

Kerala is an ideal honeymoon spot because of its natural beauty. Most of the spots in Kerala offer a great deal of solitude and wilderness that couples often seek. A stay in the houseboats and exotic packages to enjoy a voyage in the backwater networks can also serve as a great option for honeymoon couples. You can also visit the Kerala honeymoon tour.

• Tree houses of Athirappilly: You can call them the Niagara of Kerala, these waterfall facing tree houses are an ideal place for couples where they can feel lost in nature.
• Tea Gardens of Munnar: Enjoy the farm fresh organic food and feel the energy of nature to mark your honeymoon adventure in the tree gardens of Munnar.

Beaches of Kerala can be divided into three major categories, first you can explore tribal villages that can be compared with village boardwalks, then we have beaches on the outskirts of big cities like Kovalam beach and finally, we have Fishing beaches where you can enjoy village tourism.

• Marari Beach: Located in the Alleppey District, this is a fishing village where tourist can feel at home while witnessing the fishing culture of Kerala.
• Kovalam Beach: A coastline of seventeen kilometers has become a cynosure of international tourists. Enjoy the traces of Hippie culture when you are in Kovalam. It is an ideal beach destination for backpackers.
  
  

Hinduism, Jainism, Islam, and Christianity are the main religion of Kerala, this state also owns the tag of "God's own country." The list of pilgrimage centers in Kerala is very big.

• Sabarimala: At a distance of 70 kilometers from Pathanamthitta, It is a Hindu pilgrimage center where the temple of Lord Ayappa is the prime attraction.
• Padmanabha Temple, Trivandrum: A huge idol of Lord Vishnu marks this temple. This temple hogged limelight because of its treasure chests that are believed to have immense wealth locked in them.

Kerala has a well-developed network of rivers, canals, and backwaters. You can hire a houseboat or a cruise and select this path to explore Kerala while staying in an unusual and romantic accommodation.

• Alappuzha: You can hire a houseboat for a couple accommodation of family accommodation. The price may range from INR 6000 to INR 11,000 depending upon the season.
• Kumarakom: Here you can purchase a package of a houseboat stay along with a cruise trip to nearby destinations. A normal round trip to Alleppey to Kumarakom can cost you around INR 8500 on twin sharing basis.

Wayanad and Coorg are the best places if you are planning a stay in the coffee plantations. Some tea plantations of Munnar are also good for this purpose.

• Wayanad: Wayanad and Kalpetta offer many coffee plantations resorts, you can get luxury resorts loaded with Spa; you can also find resorts that are ideal for family stay. The price range of these resorts may vary from INR 5000 on twin sharing basis to INR 11000 for a night on twin sharing basis.
• Coorg and Madikeri: Coffee plantation stay along with a theme resort and spa facility, Coorg and Madikeri offer many places like an Estate Bungalow or a cliff resort etc.
  
  

The water parks of the Kerala can be divided into two categories, first, we have family parks located on the outskirts of the big city like Cochin and others and then we have theme parks designed for hardcore water adventure activities. You can easily make a choice and move ahead to have fun.

• Theme Parks on the outskirt of big cities: Wonderla amusement park in Kochi is very famous for its exclusive rides. Magic planet theme park on the outskirts of Trivandrum is another park that is nice for family and big groups.
• Water parks in the Heart of Nature: Fun Forest Adventure Park in Munnar is loaded with pool based adventure activities along with rope based adventure activities. For family fun, one can visit Fun forest adventure park in Munnar as well.
  
  

The city of Cochin can be considered as the hub for scuba diving in Kerala this is the place where you can get an access to many PADI approved Scuba diving institutes and service providers.

• Scuba Cochin: It is a PADI approved company for scuba diving, you can learn scuba diving and enhance your skills by moving deeper under the expert supervision.
•  Scuba Kovalam: In the year 2015, Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion society established a scuba diving facility at Koval. It is a PADI approved facility where you can get the best deals in the terms of money depending upon the length of the course that you are doing.
  
  

Many family packages are available where they can cover a variety of destinations in Kerala. The town of Kochi in the central Kerala can be considered as an ideal starting point for these tours. The destinations that should be covered goes as follows.

• Wayanad: Famous for its tea plantations and tribal villages Wayanad is necessary to have in every family travel package. Experience the beautiful and adventurous journey of Wayanad.
• Munnar: Addition of a happening hill station can add a new fun quotient in the family trip, the tree plantation resorts of Munnar are just right for you when you are traveling under tight budgets.
• Kumarakom: Taste the climate of rainwater forest while staying next to the famous backwaters of Kerala. Kumarakom is a water-based destination where houseboats and cruises are waiting for your families merriment activities.

If you are the second time traveler to Kerala and planning to cover some offbeat destinations then a bike trip starting from Trivandrum and ending at Munnar can do justice with your wanderer's lust.

• Munnar: Explore various waterfalls during your road trip and feel like a free bird amidst the lush greenery of tree plantations.
• Thekkady: Find your way in the Periyar Reserve Forest Area, you can take a break in between and enjoy boat rides while passing through Thekkady. While your stay in the same area book some shows of cultural folk arts of Kerala and feel this culture first hand.
• Kovalam: Kovalam Beach has become a picture postcard of Kerala tourism. It has close proximity with Trivandrum if you are starting your biking trip from Trivandrum and Kovalam beach is the high point for that.

If you are a history lover then forts and palaces of Kerala can take you to a time travel in medieval times.

• Palakkad Fort: Witness the glorious history of Kerala when Tipu Sultan was alive, the scenic location of this fort is an added bonus along with the history of the place.
• Bolghatty Palace: The palace that hosed Dutch Governors followed by English Governors, this palace is among one of the oldest Dutch palaces outside the Holland.
• Bekal Fort: Located in the Kasaragod district, this deserted fort is among the very few sea facing ports of Kerala. Just right for your selfies and photographs, this fort provides a panoramic view of the adjacent area.

The connection line between the backwater destinations of Kerala forms the cruising destinations of Kerala.

• Alleppey: Known as the "Venice of the East" this city is floating on the waters. If you are cruising in Kerala then this destination is necessary to have in your itinerary.
• Kollam: Backwaters connected with a lake along with a water passage to Alleppey that takes eight hours. Kollam is a touch point of maximum cruise packages that are available in Kerala.
• Kuttanad: Time to travel below the sea levels and visit this paddy field, which is a bowl of rice for Kerala as well.

Water cascading from a glorious mountain peak and people enjoying amidst the mist of a picnic spot on the foothill, it is a common sight when you are traveling in Kerala, pick a site of your choice and mark a day full of family fun.

• Meenmutty Waterfalls (Wayanad): Located near the Basura Sagar Dam this waterfall offers a picnic spot and a trekking route for the visitors.
• Soochipara Waterfalls ( Kalpetta): One of the most visited place in the Wayanad district, the foothill of the waterfall is good for swimming facilities as well.
• Lakkam Waterfalls ( Munnar): Play and swim in this mineral water rich waterfall located at a distance of 15 Kilometers from the city of Munnar.

Most of the camping sites in the Kerala are out of the crowd camping sites. Unlike “beaten camping sites,” you can feel a strong sense of adventure and feel more disconnection from the hustle bustle of city life.

• Camping sites at Munnar Tea Estates: The health-giving air of tea estate and nice climate is the highlight point of this camping site. It is also known as top station camping as well.
• Gavi: Find a camping nest in the land of 260 birds. As a camping site, this experience cannot felt anywhere else in the world. It is a small town in the Pathanamthitta district and Sabarimala viewpoint is the highest point of the town.

The boating areas of Kerala are emerging as the new lifeline of Kerala tourism, most of the locations are underdeveloped and this underdevelopment adds a pristine charm in the locations of boating.

• Alleppey: At a distance of 53 Kilometers from the Kochi, this place is emerging as the boating destination of Kerala where you can hire various crew packages and go for houseboat stays.
• Kozhikode: It is one of the busiest commercial towns of Kerala. It has become a boating destination because many cruise packages offer round trips from Kozhikode to various other destinations in Kerala.

There are two types of Rock climbing facility providers in Kerala, one belongs to the organized sector and their areas are centered on the big cities like Trivandrum. Unorganized players are available in Vagamon and Munnar.

• Thenmala: If you are a beginner then this town close to Trivandrum can be your starting point for the game. You can always hire best trainers and international standard safety equipment when you are heading in this area.
•  Munnar and Vagamon: Relatively new destinations for Rock Climbing, however, the degree of adventure can be a bit tougher here. If you have a penchant for unbeaten tracks then Munnar and Vagamon can be your rock climbing destinations.

One side of Kerala is covered with Nilgiri range of mountains and other ranges of Western Ghats, these are the areas where some amazing hill stations of Kerala are located.

• Munnar: At the elevation of 1600 meters, Munnar is a hill station where you can also find tea plantations. Enjoy the chill of night and during the day go for amazing excursions, Munnar has it all for you.
• Lakkidi ( Wayanad): Salubrious climate and view of the valley are the two highlight points of this serene hill station where your search for a quiet place can end effectively.
• Malampuzha ( Palakkad ) Man Made gardens and amusement parks make it an ideal destination for the families and groups.

Most of the lakes in Kerala are a depositing point of rivers and backwaters. You can get an access to these lakesides with backwater cruises and boating trips from the major boating destinations.

• Punnamada Kayal: Celebrate Onam on the banks of this lake and enjoy the annual boat racing festival of Kerala.
• Ashtamudi Lake: Eight tentacles of this lake connect it with a green lush island, the total area of this lake is around 1700 square kilometers. Get an access to any of the tentacles and get an access to Chinese fishing culture serving the fishermen of Kerala.

1. Here are the best tips Thrillophilia has to offer for your trip to Kerala

• Paragliding in Vagamon: If you are planning a trip during the off-peak season in Kerala then Paragliding in Vagamon can be an interesting option because of annual paragliding festivals that take place in the area.
• Never miss an Authentic Kerala Ayurvedic massage: This is the best way to detoxify you, ideally start your trip with a Spa session and move ahead with full energy.