Kerala
Travelers go to Kerala for slow backwater cruises, tea-covered hills around Munnar, and long sandy beaches along the Arabian Sea.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Kerala sits on the Malabar Coast, where a narrow belt of lowland lies between the Western Ghats mountains and the Arabian Sea. Thiruvananthapuram is the capital. Malayalam is the main language, and English is also official. Visitors come mainly for the backwaters, a maze of brackish canals, lakes and rivers along the west coast, and for sandy beaches fringed with coconut palms. The state is often called God's Own Country.
Inland, the land climbs into the Western Ghats, where tea estates surround Munnar and Athirappilly Falls drops from the Chalakudy River. Kochi, with Fort Kochi on its old port waterfront, is a major base for travelers. Panchakarma and other Ayurvedic treatments draw many foreign visitors, and Onam, the state festival, marks the yearly return of the legendary king Mahabali. The southwest monsoon brings about 65% of the year's rain from June to August, so plan the trip around it.
Kerala in five
- Spend a night on the backwatersHouseboats leave from Alleppey (Alappuzha) around midday and moor overnight. A canoe trip on the narrow canals is the quieter alternative.
- Allow a full day to reach MunnarThe road from Kochi to the tea hills is winding and takes about 4 hours. Stay at least two nights.
- Start in Fort KochiThe old port has Chinese fishing nets, churches and spice warehouses, and is the easiest first stop from the airport.
- Apply for the e-Visa before you flyMost visitors need an e-Visa, applied for online in advance.India e-Visa
- End on the cliffs at VarkalaVarkala's cliff-top beach town is the usual finish after the backwaters, well south of Kochi. Reach it by train or road, and add it only if you have a week.Varkala
Neighborhoods
Where to stay in Kerala, the full guide
Kochi (Cochin)
- Price band: $$
Alappuzha
- Price band: $$
Munnar
- Price band: $$
Varkala
- Price band: $
Things to do in Kerala
See all attractions in Kerala
Need to know
- Airport
- Kochi (COK); also Thiruvananthapuram (TRV) in the south
- Getting there
- Flights from Indian cities; trains along the coast
- Getting around
- Car with driver, trains on the coast, buses
- Best base
- Fort Kochi, then move on to Munnar and Alleppey
- Time needed
- 5–7 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Festival
- Best
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryClear6 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°Dry, clearJanuaryClear
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 58 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, clear
- FebruaryClear7 rainy daysHigh32°Low24°DryFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 27 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry
- MarchRain14 rainy daysHigh32°Low25°HotMarchRain
Best
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot
- AprilRain24 rainy daysHigh32°Low27°HumidAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 173 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Humid
- MayRain29 rainy daysHigh31°Low26°Pre-monsoonMayRain
Poor
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 592 mm
- Rainy days
- 29
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Pre-monsoon
- JuneRain30 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°MonsoonJuneRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 600 mm
- Rainy days
- 30
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Monsoon
- JulyRain30 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°MonsoonJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 504 mm
- Rainy days
- 30
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Monsoon
- AugustRain30 rainy daysHigh28°Low25°MonsoonAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 474 mm
- Rainy days
- 30
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Monsoon
- SeptemberRain28 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Rain easingSeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 342 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain easing
- OctoberRain26 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°ShowersOctoberRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 377 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- NovemberRain21 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Drying outNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 218 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drying out
- DecemberClear10 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°DryDecemberClear
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 66 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry
Average daily high and low in Kochi, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Festivals: Jan Makaravilakku · Aug Onam · Sep Onam
Right now in Kerala
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
24
- Feels like
- 28°
- Humidity
- 97%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 85%
Kerala
04:07 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today31°23°85%Tuesday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 85%.
- Wed31°23°80%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 80%.
- Thu32°24°98%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 32°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 98%.
- Fri31°23°96%Friday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 96%.
- Sat31°23°94%Saturday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 94%.
- Sun30°23°98%Sunday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 98%.
- Mon31°23°71%Monday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 71%.
Updated 02:23 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 95.08 INR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Every year
- JanMakaravilakkuKerala
- Aug–SepOnamKerala
Before you go to Kerala
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Kerala, checked
- Apply for an e-Visa or check visa rules on the official Indian portal, indianvisaonline.gov.in, before you fly, since the rules and fees change.
- Kerala is officially called Keralam in Malayalam; check that your booking names and travel documents match the official state name.
- Hartals, general strikes that shut roads and shops, can stop buses and trains without much notice; check local news before you set out.
- Kerala's roads have some of India's highest accident rates, so avoid night driving on narrow roads and hire a local driver for hill routes.
All Kerala guides
Where to stayWhere to stay in Munnar: four bases compared
Head to headKochi to Alleppey or Munnar: backwaters or tea hills first?ItineraryKochi in 2 days: Fort Kochi, Jew Town and the water routesHead to headMunnar or Ooty: which South India hill station to pickItineraryMunnar in 2 days: tea estates, Eravikulam and viewpointsWhere to stayWhere to stay in Kochi: Fort Kochi, Mattancherry or ErnakulamPlan around Kerala
Regions, trains, e-Visa and money
Read the guideKochiFort Kochi, Jew Town and the water routes
Read the guideMunnarTea estates and viewpoints in the hills
Read the guideAlappuzha (Alleppey)The backwater canals and houseboat jetties
Read the guideIndia e-Visa guideWhich visa to pick, what it costs, how to apply
Read the guideGetting around IndiaTrains, flights and cabs between cities
Read the guideKerala FAQ
How many days do I need in Kerala?
About a week covers Fort Kochi, Munnar, the backwaters and a beach at Varkala or Marari.
Is a houseboat worth it?
For one night, yes. Longer stays can feel slow; a day canoe trip on the narrow canals shows more village life.
When is the best time to visit Kerala?
December to March, when it is dry. The southwest monsoon brings heavy rain from June to August.
Should I do Alleppey or Munnar first from Kochi?
Alleppey is about 1.5 hours from Kochi and Munnar about 4, so many travelers do the backwaters first and finish in the hills, or reverse it if flying out of Kochi. The Kochi to Alleppey or Munnar guide compares both orders.
Is Kerala worth visiting in the monsoon?
Only if you accept heavy rain, which can cut views and some boat trips from June to August. Prices fall and the landscape is green, so choose a base near Kochi and keep plans flexible.