Kerala also referred to as ‘God’s own country’ has been a destination explored by travellers for a long time. It is, however, less talked about and visited that the bustling ‘golden triangle’ route consisting of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. For us, we wanted to step outside the chaotic cities and witness the serene beauty that South India offers. Therefore, Kerala was calling our names! We only had 6 nights/5 days, however, we achieved a lot so let’s have a look at what’s essential in a Kerala itinerary.
Let’s Get to Know Kerala…
Kerala is a state on the southwestern Malabar Coast of India. Defined by its layered landscape, the area spans almost 600km along the beautiful Arabian Sea coast. From beaches to calm backwaters, dense forests and spice and tea covered hills, the state of Kerala is a lush paradise celebrating the interplay of nature and humanity.
We were fortunate enough to visit Kerala with Kerala Tourism and Singapore Airlines. This meant we were in the best of hands when it came to piecing our Kerala itinerary together! The focus of our trip was ‘Human by Nature’. In other words, exploring nature and humanity across the most diverse terrains. And that is what we did. With a laid back and relaxed atmosphere, the people we met along the way were so welcoming and down to earth. They are very proud of their culture, supportive of their family and love to practice ancient rituals and traditions.
Below is a high level look at the itinerary we followed during our time in Kerala.
- Cochin – 1 night
- Munnar – 2 nights
- Kumarakom – 1 night
- Alleppey – 1 night
Exploring Kerala: Human by Nature
Let’s have a closer look at our Kerala Itinerary and what we saw in each place:
1. Cochin (1 Night)
Cochin also known as Kochi (very confusing we know!) is one of the major cities in Kerala. Unlike the locations we will talk about below which are a lot more laid back, Cochin is a bustling area full of heritage hotels, art cafes and colonial monuments. The abundance of colour and action within the City is wonderful to explore by foot. Be sure to visit Fort Cochin where the huge fishing nets haul in large masses per day.
Just walking through to streets and alleys of Cochin, we came across a number of locals or ‘Keralites’ who stopped to talk. One man we spoke to worked at the local laundromat. Proud of his work, he showed us the shirts he had just completed, and trust me, there was not one crease to be seen!
Children waved at us with large grins on their faces and shop vendors stopped us to show what fresh fish they had caught. While it is possible to see the endless hours of work they do daily, it is done with passion and to support their families.
Hotel: Ramada Resort
2. Munnar (2 Nights)
After leaving the honking horns in Cochin City, we drove four hours before reaching Munnar. Situated 1600m above sea level, Munnar is surrounded by rolling hills richly carpeted in the largest number of tea plantations in South India. The area also plays a key role in growing some of the most important spices including cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and turmeric. The scenery of this area is honestly breathtaking!
While driving through the area is dramatic and scenic in every direction, nothing compares to being amongst the tea plantations on foot. Our guide Sebinster who lives in Munnar was so passionate about his area and the tea plantations themselves. We witnessed hundreds of women working in the tea plantations as they picked the leaves from the bushes either by hand or using a machine. While you would expect that the women may not have liked us watching on, they smiled at us and it was easy to tell how proud they were of the area.
Afterwards, while we were exploring the tea factory, we asked our guide why men in particular were dressed so formally. He told us that this was normal in Kerala, and that both men and women take pride in their appearance.
Hotel: Tea Country Resort, Munnar
3. Kumarakom (1 Night)
The picturesque Kumarakom is an area that brings everything that Kerala has to offer into one city. From sprawling backwaters, to luscious rice fields, friendly locals and some of the best flora and fauna in Kerala. It also hosts the famous Nehru Boat Race.
We wish we could have spent longer in this area, but at least we had one night! Spending our time at Coconut Lagoon was incredible. Accessed only by boat, this traditional and eco-friendly resort offers everything you need for a relaxing stay. From tasteful wooden heritage villas to a butterfly sanctuary, wildlife spotting and cooking classes there is something for everyone! There are cows wandering around and afternoon tea served to you from a gondola on the backwaters! The memories we created during our one night stay are unforgettable. The staff went above and beyond to make our time in Kumarakom special
Hotel: Coconut Lagoon
4. Alleppey (1 Night)
Home to a large network of waterways and over 1000 houseboats, Alleppey has by the locals been called ‘Venice of the East’. And rightfully so! There is no experience that compares to cruising the backwaters in a houseboat past the local villages, gazing over paddy fields and waving hello to the other houseboats passing by. If you can add one thing to your Kerala itinerary, make it an overnight houseboat experience in Alleppey.
We were lucky enough to stay onboard ‘Saffron‘, one of the luxurious houseboats of Spice Routes. And when we say luxurious, we truly mean it! We had our own private houseboat with a living room, dining room and bedroom with ensuite! There was even a hot tub in the bathroom. The staff on board went over the top to make our stay a pleasant one.
During our stay with Spice Routes we were fortunate enough to be taken to the house of one of the staff members. Of course, we were greeted with open arms! With 4 generations living under the same roof, together we learned how to husk a coconut, boil clams (which we ate later for dinner) and cook a coconut and green mango chutney. While they may not have understood us, lots of smiles and hand gestures were exchanged. It is amazing that even though we were not able to speak to one another, we could all understand what was happening! Leaving this afternoon of activities, Olly and I both had the largest smiles on our faces.
Hotel: Spice Routes (Houseboat)
What makes Kerala worth the visit?
Not only is Kerala an incredibly scenic area of India but it is the friendly, down to earth people who make the experience even more memorable. Their laid back way of life is something which most people who live a fast-paced life wish for but haven’t quite figured out the right balance!
Just watching the faces of the children splashing one another in the backwaters and fighting over a piece of coconut brought warmth to our heart. It made us realise that it’s the simple pleasures of life that should really matter the most.
#SquadSQ Adventure
India was our second stop on the #squadsq adventure. Singapore Airlines sent four couples to different continents around the globe. Before coming to India, we visited Japan. If you are interested, have a look at our guides on Hiroshima and Kyoto. If you want to learn more about #squadsq take a look here.
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