It is at the extreme southwest of the Indian subcontinent, separated from the rest of the country by the majestic mountain range of the Western Ghats, that Kerala, "land of God" as its inhabitants call it, spreads its splendid landscapes made of a myriad of canals and lagoons, superb beaches overlooking the sea of the Laquedives and tropical forests. Beyond its exuberant nature, Kerala is home to an impressive and unique cultural heritage: a subtle cuisine, a protean architecture inherited from Jews, Muslims, Dutch and Portuguese who once traded in spices by sea, unique traditions such as theyyam (ritual art close to trance), kathakali (traditional dance theatre) or the ancient martial art called kalarippayatt, still practiced in Calicut.... The tourist guide of Kerala will make you discover an India far from the clichés, the tourist infrastructures are very well developed, and will allow you to cross its lands and waters, sometimes on board a houseboat, rocked by the backwaters, sometimes in the bunks of a train as old as magnificent running towards the cosmopolitan Fort Cochin. And what about these tea plantations of Munnar, running infinitely towards the horizon, without forgetting the cliff of Varkala or the beach of Kovalam... Namaskaram!

What to visit Kerala?

When to go to Kerala?

When to go to Kerala? The best time to visit Kerala is from October to March, and the two best months to visit this southern part of India are January and February. As with all popular seasonal destinations, there are disadvantages to coming to India during the peak tourist months: tourists flock to Kovalam and Varkala for example. Hotels also inflate their prices during these periods, so one may prefer to come during the off-season (April, September, October and March), when it is less crowded and prices are negotiable again. The monsoon floods Kerala between June and September. Some areas are at their most beautiful during the monsoon (notably the Western Ghats), but then it is difficult to travel and there is a greater risk of being exposed to diseases such as malaria. Floods, power outages and natural disasters are not uncommon either. When to go to Kerala? Ideally in September-October and March-April, or even from December to March, taking care to book your accommodation well in advance.

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Weather at the moment

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Weather all year round

The weather in Kerala is tropical, so the region does not experience great climatic variations. There are, of course, dry (peak in April and May) and wet seasons. The southwest monsoon reaches the coast in early June and, within a few days, it spreads to Maharashtra and covers the whole country by mid-July. Temperatures in Kerala oscillate throughout the year between 25 and 30 °C.

Budget

The unit of currency in India is the Indian rupee. When it comes to spending money, Kerala can allow you to be extremely volatile, or on the contrary thrifty... The country has sumptuous hotels, especially in Kochi, good hotels, clean and comfortable, or small lodges or guest houses more or less clean. Your choice will depend on your budget. Prices increase during the high season (from October to February), sometimes drastically.

Procedures

To travel to Kerala, a visa and passport (not necessarily biometric but valid 6 months after the end of your trip) are required. Be sure to find out about the : the conditions for obtaining your visa, as they are constantly changing. VFS (www.vfsglobal.com), a partner of the Indian Embassy in France, manages visa applications.

In addition to the multiple-entry tourist visa valid for 6 months, since May 1, 2015, the e-Tourist Visa has been available. It is valid for a maximum of 60 days (2-entry visa; online formalities) and cannot be extended, but the waiting times to obtain it are much shorter and the procedures are carried out online. Please note that this type of visa is only valid on arrival at certain airports (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Kochi, Trivandrum, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Goa). So plan your trip according to your visa.

Health

India has a bad reputation for its food hygiene and in particular for the quality of its water: the water is not drinkable in Kerala. This is especially true during the monsoon season and in summer. The sanitary situation differs between the countryside and the cities, where it is safer. However, if you follow a few simple rules of hygiene (wash your hands well before and after meals, brush your teeth with bottled water), you should not encounter any problems. Concerning vaccinations in Kerala, it is strongly advised to check that all your regular vaccinations are up to date.

How to go to Kerala? Our advice & tips

Perhaps more than anywhere else in India, there is no shortage of travel providers to organize a stay in Kerala. Indeed, the region has a very well developed tourist infrastructure and corresponds to all budgets. You can concentrate your visit on a particular area of Kerala, but it is also possible to organize, together with the travel agency of your choice, a tailor-made tour to discover the essential of the region.

Discover our selection of travel agencies for this destination

To get to Kerala by your own means, the most convenient way is certainly by air. Depending on the region you wish to visit, you can fly to Thiruvananthapuram or Kochi airport. Bangalore and Bombay are also possible entry points, but it will be necessary to foresee an additional journey (train, plane or cab) to reach Kerala. As for the accommodation, in order to save money, we will take care to book well in advance.

On the air side, more than 70 cities are regularly served by the national airline Indian Airlines. Public ferries are a pleasant and cheap way to travel, although a little slow. They run on the backwaters and connect the cities of Kollam, Alleppey, Kottayam and Kumarakom. Buses are not very comfortable and are often overcrowded, while the Indian railway network is the second largest in the world and serves almost all regions of the country. Less expensive than the plane, the train is often the best solution to cover long distances. Finally, the car remains an option offering more autonomy, preferably with a driver.

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Pictures and images Kerala

Filet de pêche au-dessus du canal des backwaters. RCH - Fotolia
Plantations de thé à Munnar. Mazur Travel - Shutterstock.com
Phare de Kovalam. F9photos - iStockphoto
Musiciens de Kochi. Mazur Travel - Shutterstock.com

Discover Kerala

When to travel?

When to go to Kerala? The best time to visit Kerala is from October to March, and the two best months to visit this s...
Read more about it

Weather forecast

The weather in Kerala is tropical, so the region does not experience great climatic variations. There are, of course,...
Read more about it

Budget

The unit of currency in India is the Indian rupee. When it comes to spending money, Kerala can allow you to be extrem...
Read more about it

Formalities

To travel to Kerala, a visa and passport (not necessarily biometric but valid 6 months after the end of your trip) ar...
Read more about it

Health

India has a bad reputation for its food hygiene and in particular for the quality of its water: the water is not drin...
Read more about it

How to travel by yourself?

To get to Kerala by your own means, the most convenient way is certainly by air. Depending on the region you wish to...
Read more about it

How to get organized?

Perhaps more than anywhere else in India, there is no shortage of travel providers to organize a stay in Kerala. Inde...
Read more about it

Getting around

On the air side, more than 70 cities are regularly served by the national airline Indian Airlines. Public ferries are...
Read more about it

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