Top 30 places to visit in Kerala

(1 out of 30 places to visit in Thiruvananthapuram)

Aazhimala Siva Statue also know as Gangadhareshwara Statue is the tallest Shiva statue in kerala, located inside the temple premises at Aazhimala Siva Temple near Poovar - Kovalam road in Trivandrum. At 52 feet high, the Lord Siva statue at Azhimala Siva temple along with beach and cliff view around gives breath taking views for nature lovers and pilgrimages. No words to describe the Gangadhareshwara sculpture, it looks very real. You can directly see the lord shiva holding the goddess ganga in his locks. The statue is very detailed and very beautiful 3D structure constructed by Devadathan. Places is located at 21 KM from Trivandrum.

(3 out of 30 places to visit in Thiruvananthapuram)

Agastya Mala is a tall peak with a height of 1868 metres. It lies inside the Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary and is part of the biosphere reserve inside the sanctuary. this peak is good for trekking. Stretching for 25 kilometres. One of the best trekking experience available in kerala. Simply an escape from the modern world into the wild. You need entry pass from forest department. There is season trekking and off-season trekking. Trekking can be completed in 2 or 3 days. There is a base camp called athirumala, and stay is arranged there. There is no proper network for mobile phone. No one will disturb you there. Plastic is not allowed, but we can keep water bottle. Pure water, fresh air. The forest will always surprise you. Just check the photos for the beautiful views. Lots of herbal plants are available in this region

(4 out of 30 places to visit in Alappuzha)

Alappuzha popularly known by its former name Alleppey. It is also called as " Venice of the East ". Alleppey is an enchanting place, It is the hub of Kerala's backwaters, home to a vast network of waterways, over a thousand houseboats and an important coir industry. The houseboats you find in the backwaters of Alappuzha are in fact a reworked version of the Kettuvallams of olden times. The Alappuzha beach with a 137-year-old pier extending into the sea and an old 17th-century lighthouse built by the Portuguese add to the magic of the place. One can experience a splendid night cruise on the serene backwaters of Alleppey with your loved ones, enjoy the exotic beaches and lakes. The city is situated 28 km from Changanacherry, 46km from Kottayam, 53km from Kochi, 129km from Thrissur and 155km from Trivandrum.

(5 out of 30 places to visit in Kollam )

Ashtamudi Lake is the most popular place in Kollam, which is surrounded by lush green trees and swaying coconut palms. It possesses a unique wetland ecosystem and a large palm-shaped water body, second only in size to the Vembanad estuary ecosystem of the state. ‘Ashta’ means eight and ‘mudi’ means coned, the name is indicative of the lake’s topography with its multiple branches. The lake is also called the gateway to the backwaters of Kerala. Fishing is another activity which can be done in the rich waters of Ashtamudi Lake. The best time to visit this wondrous beauty is from November until the end of March when climatic conditions are cool and pleasant. Nearest railway station: Kollam Junction, about 2 km. Nearest airport: Trivandrum International Airport, about 70 km

(6 out of 30 places to visit in Thrissur)

Athirappilly Falls, is located 60 km from the Thrissur district of Kerala. It is formed by the Chalakudy River. It is a marvellous cascade of frothy waters that makes its way from the Anamudi mountains of the Western Ghats. This 80 ft high and 330 ft wide marvel is the largest waterfall in Kerala and is often referred to as the "Niagara Falls of India". It flows through the verdant greenery of Vazhachal Forest toward the Arabian Sea, creating a spectacular vista of scintillating water, emerald jungles and azure sky. There is a pool above the falls where you can relax and unwind. To get a view of the waterfall, one needs to get down from the mountain for about 100 meters. There is another waterfall on the way from Athirappilly to Vazhachal Falls, in close proximity to the road, which is locally called "Charpa Falls".

(8 out of 30 places to visit in Wayanad)

Chembra is the highest peak in Wayanad district at an altitude of 2000 meters above sea level. It is located close to the bumbling town of Meppady and just 8 km south of Kalpetta. The peak is famous among trekkers for providing an excellent one-day trekking experience which takes about three hours. It is situated 290 km from Bangalore. On the way to this peak, you can sight a heart shaped lake, which is said to have never dried up. It is one of the topmost attractions of this peak. This lake is known as 'hridhayathadakam'. After the trek, you can visit the three-tiered Soochipara waterfall which is surrounded by forests. This is also known as Sentinel Rock waterfall.

(9 out of 30 places to visit in Idukki)

The Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Western Ghats and is a part of the Idukki District. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is a unique protected area located in the rain shadow region in the eastern slope of Western Ghats, adjoining Tamilnadu. Its animal population includes species such as grizzled giant squirrel, gaur, spotted deer, tufted grey langur, slender loris, crocodile, wild elephant, tiger, leopard and many birds. There are some significant peaks located in the sanctuary, namely Kumarikkal Mala peak, Nanadala Malai, Kottakombu Malai, Vellaikal Malai and Viriyoottu Malai. The sanctuary receives its considerable share of water from Chinnar and Pambar rivers. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is also home to the Thoovanam Waterfall, which lies on the Pambar River. Chinnar is around 60 km away from Munnar and the nearest town is Marayur, which is around 16 km away from the sanctuary.

(10 out of 30 places to visit in Idukki)

Devikulam is a small hill station about 16 kilometres from Munnar in the Idukki District of the southern state of Kerala. It lies 1,800 metres above sea level. Its velvet lawns and vast range of exotic flora and fauna have made it a must visit spot for all who are in the vicinity. The nearby Sita Devi Lake is frequented by visitors throughout the year. Devikulam hill station offers opportunity for mountaineering, hill climbing and nature trekking. The term, "Devikulum' literally means a pond of the Devi. The Devi Lake, which is said to have mineral water, is a gift from the nature. The Sita Devi Lake offers rejuvenating springs of mineral water and is also a favourite picnic spot among tourists. Besides the expansive tea plantations, a spice garden run by the district tourism promotion council nurtures a wide variety of spices. It is located at 149 kms from Cochin, 132 kms from Kottayam.

(11 out of 30 places to visit in Idukki)

The Idukki Dam is a double curvature Arch dam constructed across the Periyar River in a narrow gorge between two granite hills locally known as Kuravan and Kurathi in Kerala. It is a 168.91 m (554 ft) tall arch dam. The dam stands between the two mountains – Kuravanmala (839)m and Kurathimala (925)m. This dam was constructed along with two other dams at Cheruthoni and Kulamavu. Visiting the Dam Limited to Public Holidays, Saturdays and Sundays. The Idukki Dam is one of the highest arch reservoirs in Asia.

(12 out of 30 places to visit in Idukki)

The Idukki wildlife sanctuary, Kerala is covered with forests of teak, marshes, bamboo and other grasslands. This sanctuary is considered to be one of the richest and most extensive forest belts in peninsular India. The Idukki wildlife sanctuary is spread over an area of 77 square kms. The Idukki wildlife sanctuary stretches over the taluks of Udumpanchola and Thodupuzha in the Idukki district, in Kerala. It is located at a distance of 40 kms from Thodupuzha. The Idukki wildlife sanctuary came into existence in the year 1976. The Idukki wildlife sanctuary has a rich bio diversity, and rich avifauna. This wildlife park is situated very close to the Idukki arch dam.

(13 out of 30 places to visit in Kollam)

Jatayu Earth's Center also known as Jatayu Rock/ Jatayu Nature Park is located at Chadayamangalam in Kollam district of Kerala. This park and tourism center has the world’s largest bird sculpture, which is of Jatayu constructed on top of a rocky hill. There is an entry fee for the park and also a parking fee. They also provide a lot of outdoor activities(with added charges) and game arcades and other fun activities for kids. There are few shops for snacks/drinks, the park is well maintained.
The sculpture of the mythical bird Jatayu is brilliant and the view from the top is beautiful and breathtaking. One can trek to reach the top of the rock, it also has cable car and helicopter service. Place is located at 37km from Kollam, 45km from Thiruvananthapuram, 166km from Kochi, 135km from Kanyakumari, 235km from Madurai.

(16 out of 30 places to visit in Idukki)

Kundala Dam Lake is among the major tourist attractions of Munnar. It is located 21 km from Munnar,it is at a height of 1700 meters above the sea level. The Kundala Dam was constructed for Pallivasal Hydro Electric Project in 1946. This arch dam is famous for its Kashmiri-Shikara boat rides and pedal boat rides.

(19 out of 30 places to visit in Palakkad)

Malampuzha Dam is the largest reservoir in Kerala, located near Palakkad. It is a combination of a masonry dam with a length of 1,849 metres and an earthen dam with a length of 220 metres. The dam is 355 feet high and crosses the Malampuzha River, which is a tributary of Bharathappuzha, which is Kerala's second largest river. The dam was inaugurated on 9 October 1955.

(20 out of 30 places to visit in Kochi)

The Mattancherry Palace is a Portuguese palace popularly known as the Dutch Palace, in Mattancherry. Mattancherry Palace is now a museum displaying paraphernalia belonging to the rajas of Kochi. Located at around 12 km from Ernakulam and 42kms from Cochin International Airport, it was built around 1545 C.E. by the Portuguese as a present to King Veera Kerala Verma of Kochi dynasty. It has a lovely collection of murals. These depict some of the great Indian epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata along with revered Gods of the Hindu faith like Lord Krishna of Guruvayur Temple.

(21 out of 30 places to visit in Idukki)

Mattupetty located near Munnar in Idukki District. Mattupetty is the hill station at a height of 1,700 m. Mattupetty is located 13 km away from Munnar. The main attractions of this alluring destination are Mattupetty Dam and Mattupetty lake, that plays an important role in water conservation and power generation. The dam of Mattupetty is a storage concrete gravity dam. The dam was constructed under the Pallivasal Hydro-electric project in the late 1940s, for the purpose of water conservation and power generation. Just a few miles away from the dam, in a serene ambience, one can spot 'Mattupetty Lake,' which is covered in a mist of clouds. Mattupetty is also famous for an Indo Swiss Farm Project or Livestock project, which was launched in the year 1963 as a part of the bilateral agreement between Indian and Swiss government. The best time to visit Mattupetty is from the month of August to May

(22 out of 30 places to visit in Idukki)

Mullaiperiyar Dam is a masonry gravity dam on the Periyar River in the Indian state of Kerala. It is located 881 m (2,890 ft) above mean sea level, on the Cardamom Hills of the Western Ghats in Thekkady, Idukki District of Kerala. It has a height of 53.6 m (176 ft) from the foundation, and a length of 365.7 m (1,200 ft). Constructed over an eight-year period (1887-1895) in the then princely state of Travancore (present-day Kerala), it was given on a 999-year lease to the neighbouring Madras Presidency under the Periyar Lake Lease Agreement of October 29, 1886. The dam was built with the intention of diverting the West-flowing Periyar river eastwards to the arid rain shadow region of Madurai. The dam stands at the height of 53.66 metres and 365.85 metres in length. If definitive measures were implemented, only then could the Tamil Nadu administration raise water levels to the dam’s full capacity of 152 feet.

(24 out of 30 places to visit in Thiruvananthapuram )

Neyyar dam is a gravity dam on the Neyyar River in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala. It is located on the foot of the Western Ghats about 30km from Thiruvananthapuram. Neyyar Dam is a charming lake-cum-dam and is a wonderful location situated amidst the allure of beautiful Kerala. Neyyar Dam is located at a distance of around 35 kilometres from Kovalam. The months between September to May are considered the best time to visit Neyyar Dam.

(25 out of 30 places to visit in Thiruvananthapuram)

The Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary in the southern state of Kerala in India is spread over the southeast corner of the Western Ghats. Neyyar sanctuary is the drainage basin of the Neyyar river and its tributaries – Mullayar and Kallar. It is located around 32 km from Thiruvananthapuram. It boasts of a beautiful Watch Tower, a Deer Park, a Lion Safari Park and a Crocodile Rehabilitation and Research Centre as well. The Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary of which the dam is a part is the habitat of over a hundred species of fauna including the Asian Elephant, tiger, leopard, Slender Loris and reptiles and amphibians like the King Cobra, Travancore Tortoise, etc. Tourists can see rare Asian lions, in lion safari park. The peak of Agasthvamalai is important landmark of Neyyar wildlife sanctuary, which has an elevation of 1868 meters. Neyyar wildlife sanctuary is a repository of rarest medicinal herbs. This sanctuary is home to several plants such as poeciloneuron pauciflorum, Eugenia floccose, humboldtia, ardisia missionis, Eugenia discifera, chiloschista glandulosa, polyscias acuminata, eulophia cullenii, paphiopedilum, hetaria ovalifolia and many more.

(26 out of 30 places to visit in Palakkad)

Parambikulam Dam is an embankment dam on the Parambikulam River. This Dam was built at the time of Kamarajar.

(27 out of 30 places to visit in Thrissur)

Peechi Dam lies at a distance of 23 km from Thrissur. The dam is the main irrigation project of this town of Kerala. The dam is constructed across the Manali River. The dam is spread across an area of 3200 acres. When it was completely built in 1957, it could irrigate up to 17555 Ha of land present in Mukundapuram, Thrissur, Thalappally and Chavakkad Taluk. Peechi Dam also supplies drinking water to the town of Thrissur. Facilities for Boating are available at Peechi Reservoir.

(28 out of 30 places to visit in Idukki)

Periyar National Park is a protected area near Thekkady in the districts of Idukki, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta in Kerala, India. It is notable as an elephant reserve and a tiger reserve. Two main river, Pamba and Periyar runs through the park which helps the flora and fauna to thrive in this region. The park lies in the middle of cardamom hills. Famous for its gorgeousness, greenery and stillness, the park is the dwelling place of abundant significant species, including the royal tigers and majestic elephants apart from other reptiles, fishes and birds. The Periyar National Park is spread over 257 square miles.

(29 out of 30 places to visit in Trivandrum)

Poovar Beach also know as Golden Sand Beach is located near Kovalam in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. This beach is home to some of the best picnic spots in the area located at the juncture of the Neyyar River joining with the Arabian Sea. The sands there are golden in color having river on one side and ocean on another. Various sight seeing places are there like mangroves forest, Mother Mary statue, elephant rock, coconut island, floating restaurant, floating cottages, etc. Poovar is basically a fishing village and the only way to reach Poovar is through water. Golden Sand Beach is located 12 km from Kovalam