Kerala is on India’s southwestern tip, in a region known as the Malabar Peninsula. The official language is Malayalam, and not many people speak Hindi (the language most widely spoken in India) – although it’s not difficult to find someone who speaks English. Along that same vein, Kerala is different from the rest of India in many ways…
Kerala, or Keralites, as her people are known, are multifaith and have a large Christian population – as this area was settled by the Portuguese (like Goa) and they brought their Jesus-loving ways with them.
Kerala has a 98% literacy rate and tops every social development list when compared to other Indian states. With this, and even though there is a lot of prosperity in Kerala, the people have been historically looked down upon by the northerners due to the darkness of their skin (India, like much of Asia, is obsessed with skin paleness).
Kerala frequently tops ‘Best Of’ lists, and it was once named as one of National Geographic’s ’10 Paradises on Earth.’ It really is a place of beauty and charm, but as with everywhere, there is some room for improvement (more on that later).
When people picture Kerala in their mind’s eye, they may imagine sprawling tea plantations and glittering backwaters, Chinese fishing nets, white and gold lungis, coconut trees, and a tiger or two. Here’s how to experience all of that and some of the lesser-known treats Kerala has in store.
When to Visit Kerala :
India’s main Southwest monsoon moves up the country, beginning in Kerala sometime around May (monsoons are unpredictable, sometimes it’s earlier, or later). The heaviest rains are normally in June, July and August and things are expected to start drying up towards the end of September.
India’s second little monsoon comes from the Northwest and lands in Kerala around mid-October and lasts around one month, although it is characterised by mostly short downpours in the evening and is nowhere near as disruptive as the main monsoon.
Before the monsoon comes around, the heat builds in Kerala to a point where you feel like you can’t move or breathe, with 100% humidity the air is thick and wet. The months of April and May can be unbearable, and even with 3 fans pointing at your face you still can’t do much. Yes, you could get AC (there will be power cuts) but stepping outside after being in a chilly ice box feels like a punch in the gut. It may sound like I am being dramatic but I am really not.
If I were visiting Kerala to explore the state, I would choose to visit from September – March (the peak/busiest months being December and January).
How to Get to Kerala :
Kerala is served by 4 international airports (in order of North to South) –
Kannur
Calicut (Kozhikode)
Cochin (Kochi) (not to be confused with Japan’s Kochi Airport)
Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram)
Kerala is connected by domestic flight to airports all over India, or if you’d rather come in by land, you have the option for a train or bus too. Train is my preferred mode of transport in India, it’s cheap, comfortable and a great adventure! Here’s everything you need to know to buy a train ticket and take the train in India as a tourist.
The south of India is a breeze compared to the rest, and I have never been harassed in Kerala. People are genuine, welcoming, and helpful. That being said, airport taxi drivers worldwide are a different breed of people, so I would suggest having your guesthouse/hotel send someone to pick you up when you first arrive in Kerala. Nobody wants to haggle and fight as soon as they’ve got off a plane.
Some cities in Kerala have Uber, and just for a rough idea of the price, when I get picked up by a rickshaw driver from Cochin Airport and go to my regular haunt of Cherai Beach .
