One week in Kerala is just not sufficient. Nicely, one week in Kerala is sufficient to make you fall in love with this a part of southern India and vow to return – and to discover past the subcontinent’s western coast too. A one week journey to Kerala is simply sufficient to get a style of this stunning a part of the world too, from its iconic backwaters to its lengthy historical past and the colourful inexperienced tea plantations.
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So if, like me, you solely have a couple of week to spend, you possibly can nonetheless pack in a number of the highlights.
Though I travelled with out my daughter on this journey, to go to Kerala for a pal’s wedding ceremony – squeezing in our exploring earlier than two days of events, sari carrying and henna – it’s undoubtedly someplace I’d suggest with children, particularly should you’ve already visited international locations like Sri Lanka or South East Asia, together with Burma and Cambodia, or if that is your first go to to India.
To start out you off, right here’s my one week in Kerala itinerary, with tips about what’s greatest for teenagers of various ages, what to see in Kerala and the way I’d adapt my very own go to to go well with children. All appropriate for adults!
Day one to 3: Fort Kochi
The historic coronary heart of Kochi, that is additionally the place you’ll discover many of the foremost sights – and in contrast to Ernakulam, the fashionable aspect of town, it’s someplace you possibly can stroll round, absorbing the sights and the colors (count on a number of presents from tuktuk drivers to take you although).
Wander alongside Mahatma Gandhi seashore, the place you’ll see fishermen bringing their catch in to promote on the little stalls and native households wandering together with an ice cream, in addition to a herd of elephant statues throughout our go to: on the finish of the sand stand the well-known Chinese language fishing nets which take 4 individuals to function.
Not merely a vacationer curiosity, we noticed them across the coast. For the basic sundown shot of them silhouetted in opposition to the sky, the very best views are from one of many boats however you possibly can be part of the selfie-snapping crowds in one of many little coves too.
Uncover some historical past on the Indo Portuguese museum, with artefacts from Kerala’s church buildings, earlier than wandering to the Santa Cruz cathedral basilica and ambling alongside a number of the lanes close by, together with Burger Road, with avenue artwork and little memento outlets.
The Kerala Kathakali Heart can also be on this space, to get a style of the theatrical dance model.
Additional south in Mattancherry, you possibly can discover extra of Kerala’s historical past on the palace, donated to a former ruler by the Dutch, with its fabulous murals and in-depth shows of historical past.
Extra uncommon is the reminder of Kochi’s Jewish neighborhood close by, on the sixteenth century Paradesi synagogue. Spices and antiques jostle alongside the souvenirs within the lanes right here. There are additionally specialist Jewish historical past excursions of the world.
Do take one detour to Ernakulam although to the folklore museum with 1000’s of artefacts on show over three flooring, protecting every thing from masks utilized in dances to statues of gods, weapons and family objects.
Even the constructing is a exhibit together with a 63-tonne interlocking ceiling on show. One man’s assortment, it’s an interesting place to cease.
The place to remain in Fort Kochi
Keep on the Tea Bungalow – certainly one of a string of transformed heritage properties in Fort Kochi, it as soon as belonged to Brooke Bond tea firm (therefore the identify!).
All of the rooms are adorned in a different way and named after sea ports: Mine (Mauritius) had a four-poster mattress, big lavatory and an image of a dodo, whereas Zanzibar has its personal small backyard and outside lavatory.
The resort additionally has a small pool, with Indian and western breakfast – plus the workers had been very useful checking out a automobile to take us to Alleppey. One phrase of warning: the genuine furnishings embody picket flooring, so if in case you have a floor ground room, you’ll get to listen to the individuals strolling round above you.
Tip: There aren’t any direct flights from the UK to Cochin, so that you’ll should go by way of the Center East or India – I’d suggest selecting the previous for a smoother expertise!
We flew by means of Muscat with Oman Air: very simple each methods with round 90 minutes to get by way of the extra safety between planes, and lengthy sufficient to seize a espresso every manner (albeit at Oman’s elevated costs!).
Don’t neglect you want a visa to go to India – you’ll not be allowed to board the airplane with out it, even the primary leg from the UK to your transit vacation spot. You possibly can prepare these on-line prematurely.
Day 4 to 5: Alleppey and the backwaters
Maybe essentially the most iconic a part of a visit to Kerala is taking a brief cruise on a houseboat by means of the backwaters – and this was simply certainly one of my favorite components of the journey.
You don’t should depart from Alleppey but it surely’s one of many foremost areas to begin from, following the waterways to the massive lake main all the way in which to Kochi itself.
The dimensions of the boat will restrict which channels you possibly can undergo should you’re travelling as an even bigger group, though canoe is the one strategy to discover a number of the narrowest.
We headed out with our paddles for a brief tour simply earlier than sundown, with our information exhibiting us easy methods to make necklaces from waterlilies and chatting with locals on the banks as we paddled slowly previous.
In case you’re undecided easy methods to get round Kerala with children, the 12Go web site is nice for evaluating personal and public transport, in addition to serving to type out reservations
We additionally stopped at Champakulam, residence to one of many oldest Christian church buildings in Kerala, believed to have been established within the fifth century – in addition to an interesting wooden carver’s workshop, at St Thomas Tremendous Arts, the place we chatted to the proprietor as he carved a brand new spiritual statue for one more church.
You may as well go for massages alongside the way in which (we didn’t) or to cease and choose up konju, the massive bluey inexperienced freshwater prawns (we did) so as to add to our lavish meals.
However probably the greatest components of the cruise is solely the prospect to look at the surroundings and the individuals: palm bushes reflecting within the nonetheless water, the solar reflecting golden because it units, locals washing garments on the banks, a water bus bringing individuals residence at evening, canoes laden with big cargoes of grass.
There are day cruises in addition to in a single day stays, which final slightly below 24 hours – for me, even our in a single day journey actually wasn’t sufficient and I’ve had beloved to do an extended journey right here.
The place to remain in Alleppey and the backwaters
There’s an enormous number of totally different houseboats, from the extra genuine to the super-swanky – a compromise resolution means you possibly can nonetheless get a style of the custom whereas having aircon (at evening, at the very least), en-suite lavatory and a mosquito web over the mattress.
It’s scorching and humid even after darkish falls, so aircon is one luxurious I used to be glad to have. Do take mosquito repellent.
You possibly can merely flip as much as Alleppey and haggle for a houseboat: they dock at round 9am and depart at round midday/12.30, so time your go to after their return within the morning for the largest alternative.
In case you’d relatively have one thing sorted earlier than you arrive in Kerala, particularly should you’re travelling with children, I beloved the houseboats from Lakes & Lagoons, which we had booked by means of i-escape. In addition to superb meals on board, they’ll organise excursions too and as they depart from a personal dock (with just a little store promoting alcohol!), it’s much less busy.
Tip: With barely lower than 24 hours on board, the time goes again sooner than you count on, particularly when you add stops and excursions in – subsequent time, I’d go for 2 nights to have a bit longer merely drifting alongside the backwaters and ingesting within the view. A ship with an enormous cozy lounging space is a bonus as properly!
Day six to eight: Munnar – PLAN A
The opposite aspect of Kerala – away from the seashores and the backwaters, the hills are a implausible distinction to the coast and Kochi. And as a bonus, noticeably cooler (though it’s value remembering the altitude makes it simpler to burn so don’t ditch the SPF).
Travelling steadily upwards from Alleppey, the panorama will get lusher and greener with the brilliant colors of small villages breaking apart the surroundings alongside the winding highway. Preserve your eyes peeled for monkeys as you go.
And the hills themselves are coated in tea bushes, the emerald inexperienced in surprising swirls and terraces because it stretches over the slopes, winding up inclines and clinging to ridges with big boulders littered in between, as if giants had been interrupted throughout some type of sport.
It’s excellent should you love trekking, though because the plantations are personal property, you’ll want to go out with a information because it’s tough to wander solo. There’s additionally a tea museum simply exterior Munnar, to introduce guests to the method concerned in making tea, in addition to its historical past – plus it’s set on an employee-owned working plantation.
You may as well discover Munnar itself: not essentially the most picturesque city maybe, however its bustling centre is residence to a busy market, mosque, church and temple for a glimpse of life in Kerala.
The place to remain in Munnar
I beloved Windermere Property – colonial-style rooms on a working tea plantation, which additionally grows espresso and cardamom, they’ve a daily stroll by means of the plantation recognizing birds and crops, in addition to some implausible views.
The meals – a set menu with recurrently altering selections, and choices for various dietary necessities – was so scrumptious that I ate till I used to be past full.
There’s additionally a small (unheated) pool and hammocks to laze in, in addition to extra actions resembling tea tasting. They’ll additionally prepare excursions, and sorted out the transfers to the resort from Alleppey and again to Kochi.
Tip: It’s an extended drive should you’re visiting with children – 4 to 5 hours from Alleppey, after which three to 4 hours again to Kochi or the airport. Audible’s audiobooks are my failsafe for lengthy automobile journeys with my daughter though should you’re visiting after the monsoon season, there are additionally waterfalls to cease at alongside the way in which – visiting in February, the dearth of rain meant it wasn’t actually value it after we visited.
We break up our time in Kochi due to the marriage, so you would do one thing related and spend a bit longer exploring Fort Kochi on the finish of your Kerala journey.
In any other case, should you’re heading straight again to the airport, I’d suggest reserving into an airport resort earlier than a morning flight – Nedumbassery is nearer to Munnar than Kochi itself, but it surely’s nonetheless an extended drive. Flora Airport Resort is minutes away from the terminals with a free shuttle and a small rooftop pool.
In case you’re undecided easy methods to get round Kerala with children, the 12Go web site is nice for evaluating personal and public transport, in addition to serving to type out reservations
Day six to eight: Kerala’s seashores – PLAN B
In case you’d relatively hit the seashore than head to the hills – or are travelling with youthful children who’re prone to benefit from the surf greater than hilltop plantations, there are some nice stretches of sand for a relaxed finish to your Kerala journey plan.
The place to remain on Kerala’s seashores
Varkala has probably the greatest seashores in Kerala, though it’s value understanding it’s set on the backside of a cliff so not superb should you’re visiting Kerala with a toddler or child.
You even have an aquarium to discover in addition to the Janardana Swami Temple close by if you wish to combine paddling with a bit extra Indian tradition – the surf right here means paddling is all that’s protected.
Take a look at the Gateway resort, which additionally has a pool and is barely a brief stroll from the seashore.
It’s additionally an extended drive again to the airport on the finish of your journey, except you fly again from Trivandrum Worldwide Airport – additionally an choice with Oman Air and different airways travelling by way of the UAE.
Kovalam is equally pretty however even additional away from Alleppey so should you do solely have per week, it’s not my best choice as a part of the very best itinerary for Kerala.
Marari is quieter however is far nearer to Alleppey, really easy to slot in after exploring the backwaters for a chilled-out finish to the journey. One of many seashore seashores in Kerala for swimming, it’s excellent for households – additionally superb should you’ve acquired youthful children and need to restrict any journeys to about 90 minutes as properly.
The 5 villas at Marari Villas are proper on the seashore – some have their very own personal swimming pools, others share, whereas some also have a personal seashore space. Or should you want a resort, take a look at the Marari Seaside Resort.
In any other case, stunning Cherai seashore on Vypin Island is north of Fort Kochi, so it’s an extended drive from Alleppey however a lot nearer to the airport at Nedumbassery for the return journey. Nearly 10 miles lengthy, its seashell studded white sands are between the ocean and the backwaters, which makes it distinctive.
The Sea Lagoon Well being Resort additionally has an amazing pool plus views of the backwaters and seashore, with a family-friendly welcome.
For extra causes to go to Kerala, take a look at my prime six
*First revealed 2019, up to date 2026*
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Disclosure: Accommodates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee. All of the lodges included are ones I stayed in myself or would suggest.
Photos copyright MummyTravels
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