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Travellers are no longer just satisfied with sightseeing. They want take part in activities that will allow them to experience the place in its entirety. At such times, it becomes incredibly important to visit a place that offers enough activities to entertain travellers. For those who are looking for an active vacation, Kerala is surely one of the best options. Here are our top picks for must do things in Kerala.
For every traveller who wants to explore the wildlife of Kerala, there’s no better place than Kodanad Elephant Sanctuary. Though there are no other animals apart from elephants, you get a chance to spend a day with the most intelligent animal of the animal kingdom at this sanctuary. There are a lot of fun activities in which you can participate such as giving a bath to an elephant, watching baby elephants play, elephant safari and feeding elephants. If you are tired of those safaris where you just gaze at the animals without interacting with them head to Kodanad sanctuary and spend a day with the elephants.
Veli is a tourist village about 8 kms from the city of Thiruvananthapuram. This tourist village offers a number of activities so that travellers can experience rural life in Kerala. However, the biggest attraction (that will truly elevate the experience) is dining on the Veli lake. Go boating the old style in the paddle boat in the lake and treat yourself to a scenic view of the beautiful lined coconut trees along the lake and the hanging bridge that connects the tourist village with the nearest beach.
Even though this sounds like the most common things to do in Kerala, you must not miss out on this experience. Relish the rassam rice or delicious idlis and dosas with lip-smacking sambaar on a banana leaf. Eat your meal on a banana leaf and lick your fingers just like the Kerala way!
Have you cancelled your houseboat stay because of the exorbitant prices? Going on a houseboat is on every traveller’s wish list of things to do in Kerala. A half day ride on a houseboat at Alappuzha is your best alternative for this. Starting at just Rs. 600, these rides will take you along the gorgeous backwater trails where you will spot some indigenous species of birds. You don’t have to reserve a big chunk of your travel fund for the houseboat rides as you can now set sail on a houseboat at Alappuzha every time you are in Kerala.
Watching snake boat races in Kerala is one of the most incredible experiences and also the top things to do in Kerala. Several men rowing the boats in tandem is an incredible feat in synchronisation and athleticism. These races are mostly held in the monsoons from July to September in Alappuzha. You can even rent a boat and go in the waters to watch the race closely. If Kerala is your go-to monsoon escapade then include this in your list of things to do in Kerala. Alleppey is the closest railway station and you can head to Alappuzha from there.
Varkala beach, also known as Papanasham beach, is well known for its mineral springs. Papanasham means washing away all the sins. The mineral water springs have high medicinal value. So, if you want to go for a mineral rich bath, swim in the waters of Varkala.
Kerala has the best quality of bananas. There are innumerable varieties of bananas available in this coastal state. Try the local snacks such as upperi, puzhungiyathu and pazhampori all made from the local varieties of banana.
Whether it is the Japanese garden or a scenic rope-way, Malampuzha is a lesser known, picturesque destinations in Kerala. The Malampuzha garden is spread over 28.5 acres of land and resembles the classic Mughal gardens of India. The garden is also home to a large sculpture of Yakshi (an enchantress). Amidst the garden a musical water fountain show is hosted every day at 6 pm. Malampuzha can rightly be called as the city of gardens as you will find one wherever you turn. The rock garden of Malampuzha is yet another must-visit place in the town. Include a visit to Malampuzha in your list of things to do in Kerala and indulge in a visual floral feast.
If you are entranced with slinky beauty of these dangerous reptiles, then a visit to the snake park at Malampuzha is a must for you. Pythons, Cobras, Vipers and many other kinds of snakes can be spotted in this snake park, making this a must-include in your things to do in Kerala list.
If you are an adventure junkie, who is looking for fun things to do in Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram is the place for you. The Academy for Mountaineering and Adventure Sports is situated in Thiruvananthapuram and offers training in several adventure activities such as skydiving, scuba diving and rafting. Once you complete the basic training you can fly high in the skies of Thiruvananthapuram with skydiving or test the deep waters of Kerala with scuba diving.
Visit Napier museum to discover a new facet of Kerala’s architectural designs that has a mix of Chinese and Mughal designs. The Natural History Museum exhibits the history of ethnography, one of the most sort-after research methods today.
What are you waiting for? Start planning your Kerala itinerary, now that you have a comprehensive list of activities. Still confused? Head to the nearest SOTC branch and leave all the planning and booking to our travel experts for your next Kerala trip .
