Best Time and Season to Visit Kerala

Kerala experiences summer from April to June although you can sense its coming by the end of March. The on and off cooldown moments because of the surprise rainfall makes summer the best time to visit Kerala. Also, the western ghats block the northern winds and the Arabian Sea contributes with some cool breeze thus making it a desirable tourist destination.  

Average Temperature

Kerala does not make one sweat beyond 36 degrees in the day which is reasonably lesser than its bordering states.  The nights are pleasurably backed by cold winds with an average temperature of about 30-32 degrees.

Why is it the best time?

The ultimate godsend of visiting Kerala in this season is that you will be away from the bustling tourist overflow that usually prefers visiting Kerala in winters. So you can treasure all the ‘me time’ you need!

Places you must visit and activities to do in summer

One place you should disembark in the summer is Munnar, the tea deck, where you can let everything go with varietal activities like trekking, wildlife spotting, mountain biking and discovering their scintillating tea gardens. The little morsels of fog over their low-lying hills make it a heart-stopping sight.

Another must visit place in Kerala is Wayanad that is otherwise called the Jewel in the crown of Kerala. With a very trifling population, this treasure trove is home to a rich cultural heritage and thick forests where you can partake in activities like boating, the Chembra trek, explore caves and click their all-embracing spice plantations.

If you are in Kerala in the summers, then dropping your anchor in Malabar is a must. This pristine city is the mother of textile and spice industry.Thekaddy should be on your list if you are a wildlife person. Stationed on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, Thekaddy is where you spot animals at the National Park and maybe some on the Periyar Lake. 

The Periyar Tiger Trail is worth every penny. You could also have some fun with bamboo rafting, attend a Kadathanadan Kalari and Navarasa Kathakali show, visit the Elephant Junction and of course drop in at various spice centres. 

If you have set your heart on a backwater ride, then put Bekal on your list. The best allurement here is the key-hole shaped fort fronting the Arabian Sea that dates back to the 17th century. This is the land of beaches, historical locations, temples and yummy Keralite food.

When you hear Kerala, you immediately ruminate about Ayurveda and its mastery in this subject. Then why not visit Kumarakom hosting the Vembanad Lake of backwaters, India’s longest lake with a bird reserve. The accessibility of several Ayurveda spas in summer makes it the best time to visit Kerala. 

Houseboats take over the water in many places. Fall by The Bay Island Driftwood Museum apart from the Kumarakom bird sanctuary and the historical & ancient Thazhathangady Mosque.If you still have time on you, you can catch Kathakali shows, check in at the heart-shaped lake in Chembra Park, visit the legendary Chain Tree and live in the rain-forest of Lakkidi and make a bonus out of your summer trip. 

If Kayaking and other water adventures enliven you, then take a detour to Alleppey, the Venice of East.  The contours of Alappuzha beach and its 19th-century lighthouse will blow your mind away!

The only con

The slight trickle of sweat every now and then; do you mind that?Barring that, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t make it to Kerala in summer. 

Ranging from October to March, the winters in Kerala is an inexplicable marvel. This is the time of the year when the least rainfall is recorded and you can whiff at purity. Apparently, winter has been recorded as the best time to visit Kerala for its mild-mannered non-biting winters that offer a wide range of things to do during your travel.

Average Temperature: The average temperature in winters ranges to 32 degrees in the day to about 23 degrees at night. In both cases, your trip will be an amusing one as it marks the best time for uninterrupted sightseeing and for all other ‘Kerala must-do’s’

Why is it the best time? 

To begin with, this is the area around all their celebratory occasions, and you categorically want to be a part of them. One that is most observed is Pongal which is celebrated in the midst of January. Also, while the temperature is lower than the other seasons, it is still not uneasily cold. With an endurable climate, this land of God’s own Country is a charisma!

Places you must visit and activities to do in winter

Kovalam is not only the best place in Kerala but the best place in the country to be in the winters. This shimmering land of golden sand, flashing sea under the beams of the radiant but hiding sun is a breath-taking sight. If you live in cold places, then this is your getaway basking spot. Massages and Yoga thrive in this area if you want some quiet while water activities like Kayaking, Water skiing, Catamaran cruising and fishing will bring back the jump in you.

Drifting 1100 meters above sea level on the Western Ghats may not seem so off-track once you are in this exquisiteness of Kerala, Vegamon. You can see the green hills till your vision permits. You can be on one of them without difficulty by opting for paragliding. The illustrious sightseeing places are the Illikal Peak, Five Rocks, Ayyampara, Vagamon Kurishumala Church, Murugan Mala, etc.

Say Kerala a number of times, and you definitely want to stop over at Kochi, the land of momentous places in Kerala. A city of multi-cultures, multi-heritages and multi-ethnic places and hospitality, Kochi marks ecstasy, especially in winters. You must peek into St. Francis CSI Church, the first European church in India. Fort Kochi, Mattancherry Palace left behind by the Portuguese, Chinese fishing nets are places and things that can keep you occupied.

Munnar is a hill station and this place is enthralling in the winters. You will always get the sense of hiking amongst clouds, you can smell the fresh tea while you walk by them, you can feel the soothing chill from the waterfalls, and you can trek till your heart’s content. Spot the undreamed-of wildlife at the Eravikulam National Park. You can also drop down at the Tata Tea Museum, the stately of all views.

If you want to get a breather at some more hill stations, then Neliyampathy and Idukki hill station shall fill in the blank with majestic views and lots of escapades.The river meets the sea at Poovar, and you shouldn’t fall behind! Offering the shortest backwater route in Kerala that slips out of the Arabian Sea, Poovar is an attraction for it is the point that combines the lake, the river and the sea. This utopia land is considered amongst the best for honeymooners.

Trek till the foot of the 2,695m high Anamudi, the highest point in India not falling in the Himalayan range.How can you leave without setting foot in one of the cleanest city of India, Thiruvananthapuram? The lagoons, the shopping blaze, the large Christmas celebrations, the International Film Festival, the hills, etc. is the big picture to plan your trip in the winters.

The houseboat cruise in Alleppey, Kottayam and its rubber estates, Thekkady, Varkala, Cherai Beach and Kozhikode are all great other options to visit during the winters.

The only con

Being the peak tourist season, you might find it a tad bit hard to get bookings; you need to be prepared for a crowd and for early bookings!Six months of winter bliss grades this southern beauty amongst the best time to visit Kerala. So pick any Kerala city and you are coming back revivified!

If your plan is to romanticise your trip, then Monsoon is hands down the best time to visit Kerala. You can revel in the tip-tip of the rains, sip onto hot coffees (tea if you’re actually in Kerala), smell the watery mud, and be in the heavenly paradise all at once. Did you know that Kerala stands out as the only state in this country to be hit by two monsoon waves, the northeast and the southwest? Soak in this tropical land from July to September.

Average Temperature

It doesn’t just rain in Kerala, it pours; but this is the kind of pour that you wouldn’t mind drenching in (Not all throughout the day though, you can get your moments of sunlight). While the average temperature ranges between 35 degrees to 20 degrees, the average record of rainfall during these months is between 2250-2500mm.

Why is it the best time?

Apart from becoming one of the most romantic places in the country, this is just the apt time to get some soothing time as this is indeed the time for ayurvedic massages to recline your body, mind and soul. You can also benefit from the heavy off-season concessions on various things during this time of the year. If you have never experienced the thrill of a backwater, then you ought to know that monsoon is the in-season! And it is during rainfall that you get sightseeing visuals of the astounding waterfalls.

Places you must visit and activities to do in monsoon

If you have made up your mind to visit Kerala in the monsoons, then you must plan it around the most happening annual event of the state, the Snake Boat Race. Conducted on the Pamba River, Alappuzha every year, this race fascinates thousands of tourists from around the world!

It is during these months that the entire wildlife at Thekaddy breathes into a fresh new life. You can look forward to the Jungle Night Patrol. A road trip to this magical city can be your ‘Wow’ moment with rubber plantations on the sides. Set off on a boat ride and if you are lucky, you can spot some elephants, deer, and many other animals.

You will be entranced to know that Mararikulam and its Marari Beach is your ‘I want a break’ place in the monsoons. The place is known for a wide range of species with 97 types of butterflies, 10 types of frogs, and about 3 types of turtles; you never know, you might be able to spot.

Now see, there is no whining about a hill station any time of the year; so then get set go to Munnar. You might have to pinch yourself to check if you are in a fantasy dream, or are really in a place as glorious! If capturing pictures on your camera and in your heart seem like your hobby, then there cannot be a better background than the Attukad Falls and the Anamudi Mountain.

A tree-house stay is a once in a lifetime experience and there is no place like Wayanad for that. What makes this amongst the top picks is the far-stretched lands that are hugged in fresh green colour. Your heart will melt in joy at the remarkable views and you can gather yourself up under any one of its medium-paced waterfalls.

The landscapes of Bekal, the amplified picturesque sight of Kovalam, nature’s beauty at Kumarakom, and the natural-springs and the backwaters of Varkala just push the fact that monsoon is indeed the best time to visit Kerala.

The only con

If you do not like this pitter-patter, and you don’t want to carry the extra luggage of raincoats and umbrellas, then this ain’t the right season for you.Maybe, one of the above other seasons then?