Top 10 places in Kerala

[Thomas Madison]

Visiting god’s own country Kerala is an encounter with the magnificent beauty that nature is composed of. A true definition of “heaven on earth,” once you plan to visit this beautiful south Indian state, there’s a list of places you must visit in order to make your trip truly worthwhile.

Here is the list of  top 10 places in Kerala:

1. Wayanad

Situated in the north-eastern side of Kerala on the highest ranges of the Western Ghats, Wayanad is decked with beautiful mountains, waterfalls, rivers as well as lakes. Due to less tourist exposure, the area remains extremely serene and depicts profound beauty, especially the Meenmutty Falls, which is a 300 metres high, three-tiered waterfall.

2. Alleppey

Located in the Alappuzha district alongside the Arabian Coast, Allepey boasts of lagoons and backwaters, along with beautiful beaches. There are houseboat services in these backwaters which give you the feel of a sea voyage. Apart from the backwaters, the paddy fields are also worth a watch in Alleppey.

3. Munnar

Located on the junction of three rivers, namely, Madhurapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundaly, Munnar is a splendid hill station and remains as one of the most cherished tourist locations in Kerala. It is mainly situated on the ranges of the Western Ghats and comprises of a variety of dense forests, mountains and green valleys, which make it a perfect spot for honeymoons.

4. Kumarakom

Situated near the Kottayam city, Kumarakom is one of the most famous tourist spots in Kerala, especially due to the houseboat services that are offered in the Vembanad Lake located here. The place boasts of a variety of flora and fauna including rare species of migrating birds from different places.

5. Kozhikode

Situated on the southwest coast of Kerala, Kozhikode is also known as Calicut and has Waynad, Arabian Sea, Malappuram and Kannur as its perimeters. The place is famous for a variety of spices, along with temples and mosques located here. It also has a number of sea ports, dams and waterfalls which make a great tourist attraction.

6. Kochi

Formerly known as Cochin, Kochi is located near the Arabian Sea and is a hub for many chemical industries, along with the Indian Navy as well as the Indian Coast Guard. It also has a variety of temples and marine drives to offer, which are some must-visit sites.

7. Thekkady

Situated in the Periyal National Park, Thekkady is a beautiful location in Kerala which is a hub for a large number of animals, including Bengal tigers, Indian elephants and Nilgiri Langurs.

8. Thiruvananthapuram

The capital city of the state of Kerala, this place is on the west coast, and has Kollam, Kanyakumari and Tiruneveli as its borders. It is regarded as one of the 10 greenest cities of the country and is currently a famous IT hub that has a number of education institutes and research centers.

9. Kannur

Also known as Cannanore, Kannur is known as the land of Lord Krishna that has a variety of beaches, including the only drive-in beach in Asia, i.e. the Muzhappilangad drive in beach.

10. Thrissur

Regarded as the cultural capital for the state of Kerala, Thrissur is a colorful city with art festivals as well as a number of other cultural and religious festivals.