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Kerala

 

The state of Kerala in the South west of India on the tropical Malabar coast is one of the most picturesque regions of India offering great Indian Ocean beaches, a sophisticated culture, back-water canals and lakes and traditional plantations growing exotic spices.

A holiday to Kerala can encompass time on the beach, time in historic and atmospheric Fort Cochin, a backwater cruise through Kerala’s scenic backwaters and some cultural activities such as the famous Kathakali dance.

There are some superb boutique hotels in Kerala including the lovely boutique hotels of Malabar Retreats.

 

Discover Kerala

Kumarakom Lake Resort

Resort by Lake Vembanad, blending Kerala's traditional architectural charm with luxurious, modern comforts.

Lake Vembanad Resort
Relaxing Lakeside Resort
2 Nights from
£120pp
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Breakfast Inclusive

Ambady Estate

A combination of farm-stay with old-world elegance and modern convenience on a cardamom plantation in the Munnar Hills.

Trip Advisor Favourite
Just 4 cottages in Munnar
2 Nights from
£150pp
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Breakfast Inclusive

Hotel Arches Cochin

An 11 room boutique hotel with great rooftop restaurant in the heart of Fort Cochin.

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Boutique Hotel in Cochin
4 Nights from
£625pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Villa Jacaranda

Bijou guesthouse in serene South Cliff area of Varkala overlooking the ocean.

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Boutique Hotel
4 Nights from
£695pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Trinity Cochin

Luxurious mix of modern and historic in this 3-suite boutique hotel in Fort Cochin.

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Trinity Cochin
4 Nights from
£715pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Malabar House

Stylish and personal heritage boutique hotel in Cochin with gourmet dining - Malabar House comes highly recommended.

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Cochin Boutique Hotel
4 Nights from
£725pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Coconut Lagoon

Once described by Conde Naste as one of the 25 best destinations in the world. Living Keralan Heritage by Vemband Lake.

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Lakeside Boutique Hotel
4 Nights from
£775pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Old Harbour Hotel Cochin

Thirteen rooms in a luxuriously and sensitively restored colonial hotel, one of Cochin’s best hotels.

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Boutique Hotel in Cochin
4 Nights from
£780pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Brunton Boatyard

Boutique hotel in Cochin which harks back to the romantic trading days of the 19th century.

Ambience and Comfort in Cochin
Highly Recommended
4 Nights from
£890pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Neeleshwar Hermitage

Neeleshwar Hermitage is a dreamy beach and spa hotel in North Kerala in a quiet unspoilt location.

Trip Advisor Favourite
Boutique Beachfront Hideaway
4 Nights from
£910pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Eighth Bastion

Boutique hotel on a peaceful street corner in the centre of Cochin.

Boutique Cochin Hotel
Heritage & Modernity combine
4 Nights from
£930pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Unique Kerala

Stay in special places on this short Kerala tour & get a unique insight into the cultural of this beautiful corner of India.

Boutique & Unique Hotels
Cultural Kerala
9 Nights from
£1650pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Boutique Kerala

Stay at some of the best boutique hotels in Kerala on a short journey through the best of Kerala.

Tailor Make Your Trip
Best Boutique Hotels
7 Nights from
£1795pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Classic Kerala

Enjoy a Classic Kerala Tour and discover culture, wildlife, backwaters, heritage & some of the best beaches in India.

Tailor Make your Trip
Discover Kerala
10 Nights from
£2395pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Splendours of the South

See the best of the three states of the deep south - Temples, Hill Stations, Tea Country, Backwater Cruise, Heritage & Cuisine.

South India Odyssey
Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu
15 Nights from
£2595pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Palaces & Palms

Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Udaipur, Cochin, Backwater Cruise & Beach. Luxury North & South combination in two weeks.

Luxury North & South
Rajasthan & Kerala in Style
12 Nights from
£3595pp
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Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Cochin

A stay in Cochin is one of the highlights of any tour of Kerala and a stay of 2 nights at least is recommended to imbibe some of the atmosphere of this charming town on the Malabar Coast.

Cochin is a melting pot of accumulated influences from across the centuries, seen in the Dutch and Portuguese buildings, the British Raj influence, the Chinese fishing nets and the excellent local cuisine.

There are some really excellent boutique hotels in Cochin, a treat in themselves and a further reason to stay a little bit longer.

Most of the boutique hotels and sights are in Fort Cochin and this is where visitors spend the bulk of their time.

Things to see & do in Cochin

  • The Jewish Synagogue
  • Kathakali Dance Performance
  • Chinese Fishing Nets
  • Fort Kochi
  • Museum of Keralan History
  • Mattancherry Palace
  • Indo-Portuguese Museum
  • Ernakulam Shive Temple
  • Church of St. Francis

Backwaters Cruise

A Cruise on the Backwaters of Kerala is a superb way to experience 'God's Own Country'.

The Backwaters of Kerala consist of a little under 1,000 km of ancient canals and waterways which form historic networks of transportation routes around the area surrounding Lake Vembanad.

Backwaters Cruises in Kerala usually begin from Allepey which is around 90 minutes by car from Cochin.

Backwaters day cruises are an option, but we recommend spending a night on board, as the dusk and dawn are magical times along the tranquil canals - an experience really not to be missed.

About Cruising the Backwaters

A Cruise on the Backwaters of Kerala is a superb way to experience 'God's Own Country' and to see daily life in this sylvain corner of India.

Birdlife is abundant along the Backwaters, so birders will feel very happy here, cruising the Keralan Backwaters looking out for Kingfishers and Wading Birds.

Keralan Backwater Cruise vessels are usually converted rice barges, transformed into comfortable overnight river boats, perfect of an overnight cruise on the Backwaters.

There are usually just one or two cabins on each boat, usually fan-cooled, with open sides letting in breezes.

The crew on board will prepare meals and serve drinks as you meander through the Keralan Backwaters.

Munnar

Munnar is the centre of tea growing in Kerala and the hills surrounding Munnar are carpeted with tea plantations and dotted with old plantation villas.

The scenery around Munnar is stunning and the peaks are often encircled with mist.

In addition to tea, coffee and cadamom plantations, the region around Munnar has waterfalls and great walking spots such as Anamudi, the highest peak in India south of the Himalaya.

Eravikulam National Park is just 15km away and protects the endangered Indian Nilgiri Tahr.

Sultan Battery

Now known as Sultan Bathery, this Hill Station in Kerala is the largest town in the Wayanad District of Kerala, equidistant between Ooty and Mysore (about 100 km to each).

The town is named after Tipu Sultan of Mysore who used to store his arms and ammunition here.

With its pleasant climate at almost 1,000 m above sea level, and beautiful vistas, Sultan Battery is a popular Hill Station in Kerala.

Periyar Tiger Reserve

Thekkady is the gateway to Periyar National Park, a name which conjures up images of elephants, unending chains of hills and spice scented plantations.

The Periyar forests of Thekkady is home to one of the finest wildlife reserves in India, with almost 2,000 flowering plant species.

There are more than 60 species of mammals in Periyar, including  the Asian Elephant, Bengal Tiger, Indian Bison, Sambar Deer, Indian Wild Dog, Leopard, Barking Deer and the Smooth-Coated Otter.

Tours of Periyar are undertaken on a boat cruise on Periyar Lake.

The Nilgiri Tahr is confined to the higher rocky areas whereas the endangered Lion Tailed Macaque can be found in the interior evergreen forests. Both the Bonnet Macaques and Nilgiri Langur can be seen foraging from the trees near where the boat moors.

There are 265 species of birds in Periyar, including the Malabar Grey Hornbill, The Indian Pied Hornbill, Whitebellied Treepie, many species of Drongos, Woodpeckers, Flycatchers, Babblers and the spectacular Malabar Trogon.

Eravikulam National Park

Hidden close to Munnar, Eravikulam National Park is a sanctuary for the endangered Nilgiri Tahr.

The park is home to South India's highest peak, Anamudi (2,695 m).

This park is spread over an area of 97 square kilometeres and highlights include Echo Point, a spectacular viewpoint.

Official vehicles run drives in Eravikulam and the Nilgiri Tahr can be viewed in the Rajamalai region of the park.

There is a host of trekking options as well in the area.

The rare flora and fauna present in the park are also of great interest and it's possible to experience the biodiversity of a high elevation shola-grassland system on a drive through the park.

The early months of the year are the only time when the park is closed as this when the Tahrs are calving.