Kerala is one of the most beautiful places to visit at any time of the year. It is believed that December to February are the best months to visit. That may be so, but I also know that the monsoon creates magic in Kerala! Here are some awesome reasons and places to visit in Kerala in the monsoon.
Kerala has two rainy seasons, the first starts in June and the second in mid October and finally ends around mid November. Unlike some other places, the monsoons in Kerala do not take the form of incessant rain over days and weeks. The typical pattern is that it rains for a few hours followed by golden interludes of soft sunshine through the wet palm fronds. The temperatures range from a maximum of 29 to 23 degrees centigrade.
Onam Festival
Be part of the Onam festivities during your trip to Kerala
To be in Kerala during the Onam festival is a delight. Onam is the harvest festival and one of the most important festivals of Kerala. You will be able to savour the rich cultural heritage of Kerala through folk dances like Kathakali and Mohini Attam, the world’s oldest martial arts form – Kalaripayattu, decorated elephants, flowers, traditional games and elaborate feasts. Festivities carry on for about 10 days, culminating with Thiru Onam which falls on the 7th of September this year.
Where: Kochi, Trivandrum, Thrissur, and Kottayam
The famous Snake Boat Race, Vallamkali, on the river Pampa is also part of the festivities. Spectators, cheering for their favourite team, throng the sides of the river, as hundreds of oarsmen row their boats to finish the race first!
Where: 117 kms from Thiruvananthapuram
Best Time for Ayurvedic Treatments
Rejuvenate with a traditional Ayurvedic treatment
People specially visit Kerala to have the Kerala Massage and Ayurvedic treatment. According to the ancient traditions of Ayurveda, the best time to undergo these treatments is during the monsoons The weather is perfect – moist, cool and dust-free, opening up the pores of our skin, making the therapy more effective.
Where: From Ayurvedic resorts and wellness centres to five star hotels and even an Ayurvedic houseboat; the options are plenty in Kerala
Waterfalls
Soak in the natural beauty as you admire the cascading waterfalls of Kerala | Photo Credit: Irvin calicut/Wikimedia commons
What better season than the monsoons to see the waterfalls in their full glory. One can easily spend hours gazing at the beauty of the gorgeous waterfalls and soaking in the surrounding beauty. Did you know, Athirapally Falls, located about 47 kms from Thrissur was one of the filming locations of the Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan starrer Guru.
Where: Athirapally and Vazhachal, about 80 kms from Kochi; Thommankuth, 74 kms from Kochi; Thusharagiri, Kozhikode and Palaruvi, Kollam.
Beauty of the Hills
The hills of Kerala offer a magical experience | Photo Credit: Raj/Flickr
Mattupetty is an idyllic spot to enjoy the magic of the monsoons! This hill station, perched at a height of 1700 meters in the Idukki hills is best known for the dam and beautiful lake. It will be a nice relaxing holiday, with some great walks to see cascading waterfalls or you can sit indoors and watch the mist-laden hills while the rain pours down to cleanse the earth.
Where: 13 kms from Munnar.
Ride the Backwaters
Admire the lush greenery and savour delicious food on board a houseboat
Hire a traditional house boat and cruise down the 900 kms stretch of backwaters. On board enjoy authentic South Indian cuisine and just relax while you spot many species of aquatic life like Otters, Turtles, and Crabs and beautiful birds like the Kingfishers, Terns and Cormorants that flock the place. The rain just adds to the beauty with fresh greenery all around making it picture perfect!
Where: Alleppey or Alappuzha, 62 kms south of Kochi.
Beaches
Enjoy the peace and quiet as you walk along the beaches of Kerala
Mararikulam, a village in the Alleppey district, has a beautiful beach that becomes even more attractive during the monsoons. It’s a perfect place to unwind, away from the hustle of the real world! This is a great place to get an Ayurvedic treatment too.
Where: 11 kms from Alleppey
Great Discounts
Since it is ‘off season’, the hotels reduce their rates by almost half to lure tourists to come to the state during the monsoons. Not just that, you will also get to save on air tickets and transportation vehicles.
Fewer tourists
During the peak season,the beaches and hill stations of Kerala are swarming with tourists. That’s why I recommend you admire the real beauty of the destination during off season, when you can enjoy the pristine beauty minus the rush. Not just that, you can also opt for activities and things to do in Kerala at reduced rates. For me that sounds like bliss. I would have loved to make that the first reason!
So quickly plan your trip, book your hotels and head straight to spend an amazing holiday in God’s Own Country!
If you have already been to Kerala during the monsoons here are some other places you could visit at this amazing time of year.