Vacation is the time when the mind gets relaxed and life, cheerful. It has become important for everyone today, to go on a vacation every once in a while, to escape the rush and chaos of work life. India, being one of the most beautiful countries, never fails to provide options for those who love travelling. Each state has its own splendour which allows people to witness different cultures and traditions while staying in the country itself. If you are thinking about a vacation in the southern part of India, here is how we suggest spending a week in Kerala so as to completely rejuvenated.
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A little about Kerala
Kerala – God’s Own Country – is located on the Malabar Coast of India. Be it boathouses or Kathakali, Kerala has the capability to amuse visitors every time. Kerala is rich in art forms and its harvest festival, Onam is celebrated in a way which attracts tourists from all parts of the country. Not to forget, the local cuisines such as idli, dosa, payasam and idiyappam have been India’s favourite since ages.
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How to reach Kerala
Kerala has an efficient flight, bus and train services. The easiest way to reach Kerala is through the Kochi airport though it has other airports in cities like Trivandrum, Kannur, Calicut, Kottayam as well. And an interesting fact about Kerala is that it is the only state in India to have four international airports.
Trains in Kerala can easily take you to all the major cities consuming only 3-6 hours of your time every time you travel from one city to another. Travelling via bus is yet another option for transportation and has reasonable rates so that you do not end up spending lots of money only on travelling.
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Tips for planning a week in Kerala
So, now that we have motivated you to plan your vacation in Kerala, here are some tips to stitch together a complete itinerary.
Start in Kochi
It is preferable to start your journey by getting down at Kochi airport or Kochi railway station as it will ensure accessibility to all major cities of Kerala. Kochi also has metro facilities for travelling within the city. You can spend a day or two exploring places such as Mattancherry Palace, Elephant training centre, Saint Francis church and so on. Some of the best places to stay in Kerala are situated in Kochi itself so finding a hotel would not be a problem too. There are a lot of budget hotels in Ernakulam providing both budget accommodation facilities. If you are looking for luxury accommodation, Ernakulam has various options for that also.
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Drive to Munnar
Who does not love plantations all around? Munnar in Kerala makes sure that you view tea plantations along with the surreal sights of valley or dams. Places such as Mattupetty Dam and Pothamedu viewpoint offers amazing picturesque surroundings for you to capture some of the best memories of your life. Munnar is just a 4-hour drive from Kochi so you can book a private cab for yourself as it will allow relishing the exquisiteness of Kerala properly.
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Head to Varkala
After staying for around 2 days in Kochi and spending a day in Munnar, you can catch a train or bus from Munnar to Varkala. It will take around 6 hours to reach Varkala so it is recommended that you book a room for one night there. Visit Varkala beach and Varkala cliff and soak in the divinity of nature. You will love how serene and peaceful the place is.
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Get mesmerised in Alleppey
After hanging around for a day in Varkala, move on to the next destination that is, Alappuzha (Alleppey). A number of trains ply daily to and fro Varkala to Alappuzha. Since it is only a 3-hour long journey, you will not even feel tired while travelling. Try spending a day in Alappuzha. The district has a wide range of beaches so you can start your day with Alappuzha beach’s houseboat tours and end the evening with the soothing sunset view at Marari beach.
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Finding a place to stay in Alappuzha would not be a difficulty. There are plenty of beach resorts which have all the amenities like wellness centres, Ayurveda camps so as to keep you stress-free.
End your vacation in Kovalam
If some vigour is still left, you can take a train again the next day to head towards the palm-lined beach town of Kovalam to soak in the fresh wind of Hawa and Samudra beach. It has a lighthouse with a viewing platform too which will make you feel that you are secluded from the world at large and thereby, have one of the finest experiences of your life. It is said that you have not visited Kerala until you have visited the beaches of Kovalam.
From here on, you may choose to return to Kochi or might even start your return journey from here itself.
In the end…
Kerala is a lovely place to visit either alone or with a family. It witnesses bag packers in huge numbers every year who just come into Kerala to appreciate the still pure form of nature difficult to find in any other part of the country. On the other hand, family visits to Kerala is also a common phenomenon. The local delicacies, colourful beaches, pristine churches provide every visitor with a handful of memories.
Yes, going a vacation would mean keeping all work aside for a while. But a one week trip to tourist destinations in Kerala would refresh your mind and memory. Have a happy vacation!
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