Fort Kochi and Mattancherry Heritage Walk
A guided three-hour walk through Fort Kochi and Mattancherry, where Portuguese, Dutch, British, Jewish and Chinese layers of history sit side by side. The easiest way to make sense of the old port.
Kerala (India)
Kerala
Kerala is the green southwest corner of India, a long strip of coast, palm-fringed backwaters and Western Ghats hills where spices, tea and trade shaped the culture.
Kochi’s Fort Kochi and Mattancherry hold Portuguese, Dutch, Jewish and Chinese layers of history around a working harbour, the Alleppey and Kumarakom backwaters unfold by houseboat, Munnar climbs into misty tea country and the high grasslands of Eravikulam, Thekkady opens onto the lake of Periyar Tiger Reserve, and Varkala finishes the line with red cliffs above the sea. This guide gathers eighteen sights and experiences, eight hotels and six guides to help you plan a first trip.
Don't miss
Fort Kochi and Mattancherry Heritage Walk
A guided three-hour walk through Fort Kochi and Mattancherry, where Portuguese, Dutch, British, Jewish and Chinese layers of history sit side by side. The easiest way to make sense of the old port.
Alleppey Backwaters Houseboat Cruise
A houseboat cruise through the canals and lagoons of the Alleppey backwaters, with village life drifting past the deck. Rated 4.7 from around 67 travellers.
Munnar Tea Trail Walk with Factory Visit
A small-group walk through the tea gardens above Munnar with a tea-factory stop. Rated 4.9 from more than 600 travellers.
Chinese Fishing Nets at Vasco da Gama Square
Giant cantilevered fishing nets on the Fort Kochi waterfront, hauled in by hand beside a promenade of seafood stalls. Free to watch and best at sunset.
Things to do in Kerala
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
FreeChinese Fishing Nets at Vasco da Gama Square
Giant cantilevered fishing nets on the Fort Kochi waterfront, hauled in by hand beside a promenade of seafood stalls. Free to watch and best at sunset.
30-60 minutesDetails →
Mattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace)
A mid-16th-century palace of the Kochi rulers with 17th and 18th century Ramayana murals and a museum of royal regalia. Open daily except Fridays.
Kochi Evening Food Walk with a Local Guide
An evening walk through Kochi with a local guide, tasting Kerala dishes, browsing local shops and finishing with dinner. Rated 4.9 from around 60 travellers.
Kathakali and Kerala Cultural Show in Kochi
A skip-the-line ticket to a Kerala cultural show in Kochi built around Kathakali, the dance-drama known for its painted faces and costumes. Rated 4.8 from around 30 travellers.
Alleppey Backwaters Houseboat Cruise
A houseboat cruise through the canals and lagoons of the Alleppey backwaters, with village life drifting past the deck. Rated 4.7 from around 67 travellers.
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary and Vembanad Lake
A bird sanctuary on the shore of Vembanad Lake in Kumarakom, a village of islands and canals. Over 180 species have been recorded.
Munnar Tea Trail Walk with Factory Visit
A small-group walk through the tea gardens above Munnar with a tea-factory stop. Rated 4.9 from more than 600 travellers.
Eravikulam National Park
A high-altitude national park near Munnar, home of the endangered Nilgiri tahr and the grass-covered Rajamalai area. Closed February and March each year.
Anakulam Wild Elephant and Village Jeep Tour
A jeep tour from Munnar into the Anakulam forest-edge villages, where wild elephants sometimes come to feed. Rated 4.9 from more than 420 travellers.
Periyar Tiger Reserve and Thekkady Lake Cruise
A 925 square kilometre tiger reserve around an artificial lake in the Western Ghats, best known for boat cruises where elephants and deer come to drink.
Varkala Cliff and Papanasam Beach
Red laterite cliffs above the Arabian Sea, the only place in southern Kerala where cliffs meet the sea. Free to walk, best at sunset.
Half dayDetails →
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Coconut Lagoon CGH Earth
Kumarakom
A lakeside heritage resort in Kumarakom with bungalows and mansions, a pool, a spa, canoeing and cycling, close to the backwaters. The splurge pick.
Check rates →Xandari Harbour Fort Kochi
Mattancherry, Fort Kochi
A heritage hotel in Mattancherry with a pool, garden, library and a restaurant, a short walk from the palace and the Jew Town lanes.
Check rates →Spice Village CGH Earth
Thekkady
A cottage resort within walking distance of Periyar National Park, with a pool, spa, two restaurants and 52 rooms in garden cottages.
Check rates →Gateway Varkala IHCL SeleQtions
Varkala
A resort-style hotel in Varkala with a pool, spa, tennis court and sea-view rooms, a 14-minute walk from the cliff.
Check rates →Glenmore Resorts
Pallivasal, Munnar
A budget hillside stay at Pallivasal near Munnar, with valley and plantation views, breakfast included and a jeep for the steep access road.
Check rates →
$$$$Kumarakom Lake Resort
Kumarakom
A heritage-style lakeside resort in Kumarakom with private-pool villas, houseboats, two pools, a spa and two restaurants, with breakfast included.
Check rates →Raheem Residency
Alleppey (Alappuzha) town
A restored heritage building in Alleppey town, close to the seafront and the starting points for backwater cruises. A characterful base for travellers who want to stay in the town rather than on a lake.
Check rates →Punnamada Resorts
Punnamada Lake, Alleppey
A resort on Punnamada Lake in Alleppey, the stretch of backwater famous for the Nehru Trophy Boat Race. A lakeside base for houseboat departures, relaxed stays and family trips.
Check rates →Kerala guides
First Time in Kerala: How Many Days, What to Book and Getting Around
A practical primer for a first trip to Kerala: how many days to allow, how to link Kochi, the backwaters, Munnar, Thekkady and Varkala, what to book ahead and the seasonal closures that catch people out.
Where to Stay in Kerala: Kochi, the Backwaters, Munnar, Thekkady and Varkala
Where to base yourself in Kerala, from the heritage lanes of Mattancherry to a lakeside resort in Kumarakom, tea country in Munnar, a cottage stay near Periyar and a quiet resort in Varkala.
Kochi in Two Days: Fort Kochi, Mattancherry, Spice Lanes and a Kathakali Evening
A two-day plan for Kochi and Fort Kochi: the heritage walk, the Chinese fishing nets, Mattancherry Palace and the Jew Town spice lanes, a food walk and a Kathakali evening, with transport and timing tips.
Eating and Drinking in Kerala: Sadya, Appam, Seafood, Spices and Tea
What to eat and drink in Kerala: banana-leaf meals, appam and stew, backwater fish, Malabar biryani, coconut in everything, spice gardens, tea country and the rules around toddy and alcohol.
Best Time to Visit Kerala: Monsoon, Winter Sun and Festival Seasons
When to go to Kerala by season: dry-season sun from November to February, hot months in March to May, the southwest monsoon from June to September, the Onam and boat race season and when each region is best.
Day Trips from Kochi: Alleppey, Kumarakom, Munnar and the Elephant Villages
Which day trips from Kochi work and which do not: the Alleppey backwaters, Kumarakom and its birds, a long day to Munnar tea country and Anakulam, with realistic drive times and when to stay overnight instead.
