God's Own Country
God's Own Country — Kerala. When Nature Embraces you
From scenic backwaters and lush tea valleys to spice-scented and golden beaches, Kerala is a soulful blend of nature, culture and tradition.
ABOUT KERALA
A Land of Timeless Charm
The best of Kerala tourism is its palm-lined backwaters, the Munnar tea hills, its Ayurveda tradition, Kochi's colonial old town and the beaches at Varkala and Kovalam. Experience My India suggests eight to twelve days linking these on a north-to-south route, ideally between October and March, arranged with local guides and private transport.
Kerala is a long, narrow coastal state on India's southwest tip, wedged between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. Its capital is Thiruvananthapuram, the official language is Malayalam, and it is widely regarded as one of India's most literate and cleanest states. For travellers, that adds up to a green, gentle and easy-to-navigate introduction to India, which is why Kerala is so often chosen for a first trip. This guide covers the whole state: where to go, when, how long you need, and how to travel it well.
580km
of Arabian Coastline
44
Rivers
100%
Natural Bliss
14
Districts to Explore
TOP DESTINATIONS
Where every view tells a story
Alleppey
Backwaters & Houseboats
Munnar
Tea Garden & Hills
Kochi
Heritage & Culture
Wayanad
Wildlife & Nature
Varkala
Beaches & Cliffs
DISCOVER
Why Kerala is Called God's Own Country
God's Own Country is Kerala's tourism tagline, and once you are on the ground the phrase stops sounding like marketing. Kerala is a narrow strip on India's southwest coast where the Western Ghats fall away through spice and tea country into a lattice of backwaters and out to the Arabian Sea. That compressed geography means a single short trip can hold cool tea hills, still green waterways and warm beaches, which is rare anywhere in the world.
The official language is Malayalam, and English is widely understood across the tourism trade, so first-time visitors navigate easily.
Kerala's main international gateway is Cochin International Airport (COK), and the state also has international airports at Thiruvananthapuram (TRV), Kozhikode or Calicut (CCJ) and Kannur (CNN), which makes open-jaw routes easy.
God's Own Country is an official Kerala Tourism tagline, not a local nickname, which is why you see it on signage statewide.
OUR CULTURE
Traditions that Inspire
Kathakali
Dance Drama
Onam
The Harvest Festival
Theyyam
The Sacred Ritual
Kalaripayattu
The Ancient Martial Art
WHAT
Is Kerala famous for
Kerala is famous for its backwaters and traditional houseboats, its tea and spice plantations around Munnar, its long-established Ayurveda tradition, its vegetarian-friendly coconut-and-spice cuisine, and beaches such as Varkala and Kovalam. It is also known as one of India's cleanest and most literate states, which is part of why first-time visitors to India so often start here.
Houseboat & Backwaters
Tea & Spice Plantations
Coconut & Cuisine
Kerala Beaches
WHERE TO GO
Match a region to your trip
Most Kerala trips are built from a handful of regions, each with a distinct character. This is the fast way to match them to the kind of trip you want.
| Region | Known for | Best for | Suggested nights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kochi (Fort Kochi) | Colonial old town, Chinese fishing nets, cafes and galleries | An easy first stop by the airport | 1 to 2 |
| Munnar | Rolling tea plantations, cool hill air, viewpoints | Slowing down, tea country walks | 2 to 3 |
| The backwaters | Waterway villages, houseboats and canoes, Vembanad Lake | Stillness on the water | 1 to 2 |
| Thekkady / Periyar | Spice hills and a wildlife reserve | Nature and plantations | 1 to 2 |
| Wayanad | Forested highlands, waterfalls, quieter trails | Off the busier circuit | 2 |
| Varkala / Kovalam | Cliff and beach towns, surf and yoga | A coastal finish | 2 to 4 |
Packages
Handpicked Tour Packages
Best seller
Perfect Kerala Route
With two full weeks you can add Thekkady or Wayanad for spice hills and wildlife without rushing the rest.
We Plan the routes, you live the moments.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
The four questions everyone asks
When is the best time to visit Kerala?
The most reliable window is October to March, when the weather is dry and warm and the hills are clear. June to September is the southwest monsoon, when Kerala is at its greenest and Ayurveda and monsoon-tourism come into their own, but daily downpours make it a trade-off. April and May are hot and humid on the coast.
How many days do you need in Kerala?
For a first trip, eight to twelve days is the comfortable range: enough for Kochi, the tea hills, a backwater stay and a few days on the coast without rushing the slow roads. A tight six to seven days works if you pick two regions and a beach, and two weeks lets you add Wayanad or Thekkady and travel at Kerala's real pace.
How do you get to and around Kerala?
Fly into Cochin (COK) for the classic north-to-south run, or into Thiruvananthapuram (TRV) to travel south-to-north and finish in the hills. Flying into one airport and out of another avoids backtracking. Distances are short but journeys are slow on winding roads, so most visitors travel by private car with a driver.
Should you try Ayurveda in Kerala?
Ayurveda is a genuine way of life in Kerala, not just a spa add-on, and the monsoon months are traditionally considered the best time for a proper course. A single relaxing massage is easy to arrange almost anywhere; a multi-day therapeutic programme is worth choosing a reputable, accredited centre for.
What does a Kerala Trip Cost?
Kerala is good value by international standards, but the total depends on a few clear levers rather than a single figure: the season you travel (peak December to February rates run higher than the shoulder months), whether you sleep in homestays or in heritage and resort properties, and whether you add a private car with a driver and local guides.
For what is included at each level, see our Kerala tour packages, and tell us your dates and travel style for an exact price.
What is Kerala's food like?
Kerala food is coconut, curry leaf, spice and seafood, and it is famously good for vegetarians. A traditional sadya, a feast served on a banana leaf, is worth planning a meal around, and a cooking class in the backwaters is one of the trip's easy highlights.
For the dishes to seek out and where to find them, see our guide to Kerala cuisine.
HOW WE PLAN IT
What we have learned running Kerala
In the trips Experience My India has run across Kerala, the same lessons come up again and again: split Munnar so you sleep in the hills and not the town, treat the backwaters as a place to slow down rather than a box to tick, and build the drive to Munnar as its own half-day rather than a transfer to endure. Our on-ground network across the state — local guides who grew up in these places and drivers who know which roads turn slow when — is what lets us plan around those realities instead of discovering them mid-trip.
Experience My India was founded in 2018 and has hosted more than 50,000 guests from over 35 countries, with in-house specialists, a private transport fleet and a network of local guides across India. Founder Gurudutt Kaushal (IIT Jodhpur; Outlook India 40 Under 40) began as a local guide before building the company.
KERALA TRAVEL FAQ
Questions we are asked most
Is Kerala safe for tourists?
Kerala is regarded as one of India's safest states for travellers. English is widely understood and the tourism trade is well established. Take normal precautions, and swim or surf with a school where there are riptides on the coast.
How many days do you need in Kerala?
Eight to twelve days suits a first trip across Kochi, the tea hills, the backwaters and the coast. Six to seven days works for two regions and a beach; two weeks lets you add Wayanad or Thekkady at Kerala's slower pace.
What is the best time to visit Kerala?
October to March is the dry, reliable window. June to September is the green but wet monsoon, which suits Ayurveda and monsoon-tourism. April and May are hot and humid on the coast.
Why is Kerala called God's Own Country?
It is Kerala Tourism's official tagline, reflecting a compact geography that packs tea hills, backwaters and beaches into one small coastal state.
Is Kerala good for a first trip to India?
Yes. Its gentler pace, wide English use and established tourism make it a common soft landing for first-time visitors to India.
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