Kerala · South India
Kerala 2026: Backwaters, Hills & Beaches
God’s Own Country — houseboats, tea hills and beaches. Best Sep–Mar; a relaxed 6–7 day loop for ₹15,000–30,000 per person.
Guide by MRIGAN
KERALA — God’s Own Country 🌴
Best time to visit
• Sep–Mar: pleasant, post-monsoon greenery — the sweet spot.
• Jun–Aug: heavy monsoon — lush and cheap, great for Ayurveda, but wet.
• Onam festival falls in Aug–Sep (colourful, but busy).
How to reach
📍 Fly into Kochi (COK), Trivandrum (TRV) or Calicut (CCJ).
📍 Well connected by train along the coast.
A 6–7 day loop
Day 1–2 – Kochi: Fort Kochi, Chinese fishing nets, cafés, a Kathakali show.
Day 3 – Munnar: rolling tea gardens, Eravikulam National Park, viewpoints.
Day 4 – Thekkady: Periyar wildlife, spice plantations, a lake boat ride.
Day 5 – Alleppey (Alappuzha): an overnight houseboat on the backwaters.
Day 6–7 – Beaches: Varkala cliffs or Kovalam; wind down.
Budget (per person, excluding travel to Kerala)
Stays: ₹800–2,000/night (a houseboat runs ₹6,000–15,000 for the boat).
Food: ₹400–800/day — don’t miss a banana-leaf sadya, appam & Malabar seafood.
Local transport: ₹500–1,500/day (trains, autos, hired cabs).
✅ Typical 6–7 days: ₹15,000–₹30,000 per person.
Travel tips
- Do just one houseboat night — it’s magical but pricey; base the rest in Alleppey homestays.
- Book Munnar and houseboats ahead over weekends and in Dec–Jan peak season.
- Carry light cotton, rain protection, and mosquito repellent for the backwaters.
- Eat local: sadya, appam with stew, Malabar biryani and fresh coconut everything.