How to Spend 5 Days in Kerala, India The gods own country

Kerala is a land richly endowed with nature’s very best. Whether it’s fine beaches, beautiful hills, graceful lagoons or awe-inspiring art and culture, this southern state on India’s west coast has something for every type of traveller. If you have only five days to spare, this is the ideal itinerary to get you started on your ‘God’s Own Country’ wanderlust-worthy trip.

Kerala State in India is known by its ‘God’s Own Country’ moniker. It is not hard to see why, after spending 5 days in Kerala. From quiet backwaters to green tea plantations and tropical beaches, the state is filled with stunning natural beauty. In Kerala, there also coexists a confluence of religions. This itinerary to Kerala covers the best places to visit in 5 days in Kerala.

Kerala 5 Day Itinerary

When we consider Kerala 5 Day itinerary, you will have time to visit Fort Kochi (1 night), stay on a houseboat in the backwaters of Kerala (2 nights), and either visit the inland hill country (and tea plantations) or the coastal beach (1 night). We chose the hill country because we feel it’s more unique to the region and we can take many places around Asia on beach holidays. Even better, extend your itinerary to Kerala, and spend an extra night or two at each location. Kerala is a beautiful and relaxing place, and on a houseboat, one could have easily spent a couple of extra days away from life. And don’t forget to transfer factor times into your route – the roads can be slow, narrow and windy. For a more detailed breakdown of your Kerala 5 day itinerary, read on.

Day 1: get to know Kerala at Kochi

Arrive via Kochi in Kerala by reserving your tickets at Cochin International Airport. Explore Kochi city and its most famous suburb, Kochi Fort, a treasure trove of art, culture, and history. Start by learning everything you can about Kerala through a visit to its museums, including the Kerala Museum, the Kerala Folklore Theater and Museum, the Hill Palace Museum and the Indo-Portuguese Museum. Continue on to Fort Kochi and Mattancherry, where you can explore the Mattancherry Palace, the Paradesi Synagogue, Jew Town’s ancient curiosities and artefacts, and waft through the Spice Bazaar, which is infused with the aromas of spices traded around the world for centuries. Spend the evening at Chinese Fishing Nets watching the sunset.

Day 2: Munnar’s enthralling hill station

Travel to Munnar, a land of green hills and tea groves. From Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus station in Kochi, which will reach Munnar by 9:30 am, you can take an early morning bus at 5:20 am. Visit the Tea Museum, where you can learn everything you need to pick and process tea leaves. Moving on to the actual tea plantations which surround the site. Take a trip to Eravikulam National Park to catch a view of the Nilgiri Tahr native. For magnificent views of the surrounding hills and villages far below, head over to the Top Station. Don’t forget to buy various sorts of tea, original spices and honey when you have ample time in your Kerala 5 day itinerary

Day 3: Idle in the Divine Alappuzha Backwaters

Travel to the Alappuzha Backwaters, for which you must book a houseboat in advance. Take the Munnar 6:20 am bus that reaches Alappuzha at 12:50 pm or drive down, which takes about five hours to get there. Hop into your houseboat and cruise through the magnificent lagoons. Known as the ‘Venice of the East,’ the houseboat trip will take you through the village life’s sights and sounds. Relish with authentic delicacies, like karimeen fry (pearl spot fish), and local alcohol, kid. Stay overnight on the houseboat, to extend the experience. This is also an apt break between your journeys that will give you some rest.

Day 4: Sail around at the cosy Varkala Beach

Take the KSRTC bus at 8:15 am that gets to Varkala, the hippie hangout, at noon. Alternatively, driving down at less than three hours will be quicker. This is another relaxing destination as you can laze by the famous Varkala Beach, drinking in the magnificent sights of the admirable cliffs that line it. Treat yourself to water sports and adventure activities, for example, paragliding. Hang out at cafes over the cliffs and catch a lovely sunset as you bid farewell to the day.

Day 5: Explore history and culture at Thiruvananthapuram, capital of Kerala

There are constant busses from Varkala to Thiruvananthapuram at a distance of just 44 kilometres, which take about two hours to reach, so choose any bus in the morning according to your convenience. Visit The Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, the world’s richest temple. Continue to Kuthiramalika Palace (Horses’ Mansion), a remnant of Kerala’s rich royal history. Spend the evening at Shankumugham Beach, marvelling at Sagarakanyaka, a beautiful mermaid sculpture. Complete your trip to Kerala capital by booking a return flight from Trivandrum International Airport.

Best Time to Visit Kerala

The best time to visit Kerala is October through March in the winter. Don’t let the ‘winter’ label fool you, as this season’s weather is pleasant, hot but not humid, and outside the main season of monsoons. The weather in Kerala gets quite hot and humid in April and May and then turns monsoonal from June to September. When the weather was hot and dry but not wet or humid we visited in January.

Getting around

It is super easy to get around Kerala once you’re on the ground. While you can hire a private driver for the duration of your trip, in fact, there is no need to book transportation in advance. Instead, your accommodation will be able to hook you up to your next location by transport, with very reasonable rates for private drivers or taxis.

Plan your trip with Pickyourtrail

While getting together your trip to the Gods own country might not be a taxing task on its own, having a reputed travel firm which can customise your vacation as per your needs certainly adds to the benefit. Pickyourtrail enables a smooth customer experience and provides competitive pricing. Logon to www.pickyourtrail.com for more info to access to guides pages of all the destinations