Beaches, mangroves, waterfalls, backwaters, cultural and religious centers of historical significance..these are but some of the things which make Kozhikode worth visiting. Situated on the Malabar coast, Kozhikode is a northern district of Kerala that boasts a unique mix of old world charms and modern commercial centers. Kozhikode was a powerful kingdom in the medieval periods, when Kerala was a cluster of small kingdoms. The rulers of Kozhikode stretched their power well into middle Kerala, dominating the Kochi Kingdom in central Kerala. (The third kingdom of power in ancient Kerala was Travancore in the south). Even before the middle ages, Kozhikode was a prominent trading center thanks to the existence of a port in Tundis, which was somewhere in the vicinity of Kozhikode- though its exact location still remains a matter of dispute. A significant trade relationship was established between Kozhikode and the Arab world- with Arab influences seen even today in the architecture and food, as well as Arab words that had merged into the everyday vernacular. The long history of Kozhikode makes it a must-visit for history buffs, with monuments to the past still standing tall, as testimony to traditions that gave rise to a unique culture. Food is another aspect of Kozhikode which begs to be explored. Early Arab influence was only the beginning of culinary expansion of Kozhikode.

Palakkad, or Palghat as it is also called, is a district that borders Kerala’s neighboring state of Tamil Nadu to the north. The district has quite a bit of multi-ethnic history, thanks to the Palakkad gap in the Western Ghats- one of the few passageways which allowed people from across the border to come over in the olden times when the concept of motorized vehicles was science fiction. This intermingling of ethos shaped a culture that’s unique in Kerala. Tamil influence could be seen in everything from the cuisine to the language and people’s attire in Palakkad. Palakkad is also known for its vibrant traditional music culture- especially that of Karnatic music, which is South India’s classical music. It was in Palakkad that two of Karnatic music’s great geniuses were born- Palakkad Mani Iyer and Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar. Temple festivals in Palakkad are occasions to capture performances of some of the finest practitioners of the artform. But even if you are not a music aficionado, there are plenty of reasons to visit Palakad. For the region is rife with amazing waterfalls, is in close proximity to a mist-laden hill station, and boasts several places of historical importance that date back by centuries.

Blessed with green-hued mountains, lush forests and beautiful water bodies, Idukki is a special slice of heaven in god’s own country. This northern district is also home to the mighty Anamudi- the tallest peak in the whole of South India. Idukki’s another claim to fame is that you could find the world’s second largest arch dam there. Thanks to its natural bounty, you could also find a thriving wildlife population in its forests- one reason why the district has not one or two but five different national parks.

A key reason why Kerala has evolved a unique culture is its unique geographic location. The relative insulation from external forces that the mountains of western ghats afforded on one side and the Arabian ocean on the other, meant the state evolved its own cultural identity, largely undiluted by other influences for centuries. While the Arabian ocean still served as a pathway for maritime trading, the tall, majestic hills of the western ghats still remained formidably unsurpassable. And to enjoy the beauty of the western ghats, there are very places like Wayanad. The euphemism ‘green paradise’ is usually used to describe Wayanad, and rarely is a euphemism this well earned.

A village which is not far from the southern end of Kerala, Poovar forms a part of a region which is influenced by the cultures of both Kerala and the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu. This lends the place a unique cultural flavor- noticeable in the cuisine and the dialect and even in the manner of clothing, to some extent. However, it’s the beach and backwaters in the village which the tourists seek out the most. Being away from the city’s rush, the village’s beach offers some of the most stunning sunsets the human eye can behold. Enthusiasts of yoga and other spiritual practices would also find much to love about Poovar since relevant teaching centers could be found here. Varkala, Kovalam and Poovar all fall within a seventy kilometer stretch. It is common for visitors to hop from one beach to the next and enjoy them in a span of a few days.

Like many things in modern history, it was the hippies who popularized Kovalam too. Not that this beach town located some 13 kilometers from the state capital of Trivandrum got scant attention until the hippie revolution. Even in the 1920s, the then queen of Travancore, Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi had a resort contracted at the beach. The beach’s majestic beauty was not lost on the many foreign traders and other dignitaries who visited as guests of the royal family. However, the quiet fishing village remained much the same throughout the ensuing decades. It was only in the seventies, when young foreigners with dreams in their eyes and songs in their lips came along the hippie trail on their way to Ceylon and discovered Kovalam did it began its transformation into one a tourists’ mecca. Come for the tan, stay for the exquisite natural beauty.

The only Kerala town where you can find cliffs adjacent to the Arabian ocean, Varkala is unsurprisingly one of the most popular tourist destinations of the state. Among the many beaches in Varkala, the most popular is the Papanasham beach. Literally, papanasham translates as ‘the annihilator of sins.’ The beach is famous for the fact that Hindus perform an annual ritual for the soul of their dead ancestors on its shores. The water is only ankle deep to some distance from the shore, which makes it especially clement for some of the rituals which require those who perform them to stand in the waters. As for the cliff that overlooks the waters of the main beach, a row of shops selling handicrafts and appetizing local dishes stand like an unhooked garland strung across it. Varkala is also blessed with numerous lakes and backwaters flanked by tall coconut palms lining the edge.

This laidback village by the Vembanad lake is blessed with backwaters, farmlands and cluster-islands of trees that attract seasonal migratory birds. Put another way, to enjoy the essence of traditional, agrarian Kerala, there are few places to match Kumarakom. This backwater destination is essentially a network of small islands; so look forward to plenty of island hopping, breathing in fresh air, and traversing the backwaters on boats that look like they time-travelled here from the past!

This quiet yet charming beach town is among the places in Kerala most visited by tourists. Once a port town, Alleppey holds its colonial past almost as if it’s preserved in amber. A trip to Alleppey thus becomes a journey to a destination as it is a trip back in time. There are art galleries galore for the art enthusiasts, and backwaters to behold the beauty of rural living, even as you take a trip in traditionally constructed boats. While you are in Alleppey, be sure to enjoy the incredible cuisine which is famous in its own right. Among its many charms is also Pathiramanal- a small island that’s famous for the migratory birds it attracts.

The verdant forests and the tranquil lakes that form key parts of the landscape of Thekkady have been advertised perhaps too many times through pictures and videos for promoting tourism. But no amount of media is going to substitute what it feels like to gaze at the majestic Indian elephants bathing in the lakes even as the air is filled with the cries of exotic birds rarely seen elsewhere in the state. The small town of Thekkady is situated close to the famous Periyar National Park.

Among the most popular hill stations in Kerala, Munnar is not far from the state’s business center of Kochi. But the tranquil hills of Munnar, laden with tea plantations and where mists descend to kiss the leaves of verdant trees are psychologically as far from the madding crowds as could be. The regions in and around Munnar have quite a long history of human habitation- with tribals including the Muthuvan and Malayaram sects inhabiting the areas for thousands of years. It was during the British raj that Munnar began to be reshaped as a hill station. A majestic destination which is located near the merging point of three lakes(Munnar literally means three lakes), it’s a place where the skin is caressed by the cool wind even as the heart is warmed by the beauty all around.