6 reasons to visit Kerala – human by nature

When I remember back to my trip to Kerala last year, it’s like looking at a tapestry, woven in glorious technicolour. Few places I’ve visited have seemed quite such a vibrant melting pot, where different faiths and cultures are combined alongside a mix of scenery to make somewhere very special.

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I was reminded of all the reasons to visit Kerala as I watched the new video from Kerala Tourism – called Kerala, Human By Nature, it’s based on real stories and the impressions of travellers to the region and instantly brought back memories of why I loved exploring this part of India, of the people we met along the way and the glimpses of real life we saw.

If you haven’t visited Kerala before, I defy you not to feel inspired – and if, like me, you’ve got wonderful memories of exploring ‘God’s Own Country’, as it’s known, this will make you even more desperate to return. For some added tempting, I’ve also shared my top reasons to visit Kerala below.

Kerala’s varied landscape

It might be one of the smallest Indian states, but even during my week in Kerala, I managed to get a taste of the wonderful scenery there is to discover.

From the peaceful tranquillity of the backwaters, exploring waterside villages and watching sun set behind the palms, to the colourful bustle of Fort Kochi, with its bright buildings and long history, you can plunge yourself into exploring or escape to watch the world go by for a bit.

Then there are the golden sands of the coast and the undulating waves of green at the tea plantations in the hills of Munnar, where we walked from colonial-era hotels past the tea-filled hillsides, where I took a nature walk through the woods to learn more about the area’s wildlife.

Travel a little further and you can venture to nature reserves, even seeing wild elephants in Thekkady if you’re lucky.

A feast for the senses

Around every corner there seemed to be another treat for the senses: the scent of spices sold at streetside stalls fills the air, mixing with the salty breeze from the sea.

The taste of the wonderful food wherever you eat: traditional curries galore, especially vegetarian, local fish and seafood dishes, accompanied by the addictively moreish Keralan parotta (or paratha) as well as modern fusion dishes, those classic spices given an updated twist.

The sound of the drums and music accompanying Keralan Kathakali dancing, where performers still wear dramatic make-up – eyes white against masks of green and red face paint.

The feel of a silk sari pooling loosely through your fingers, with pile after pile of jewel-bright fabric sitting heaped on shelves nearby, shimmering with gold thread.

The mix of cultures

One of the most religiously diverse parts of India, you’ll spot wonderfully decorated Hindu temples – perhaps if you’re lucky, a torchlit procession after dark too – but also churches galore along the roads as you drive from one corner of Kerala to another.

Around a quarter of those who live in Kerala are Muslim, almost one in five are Christian. But one of the most unexpected elements in this melting pot is Kerala’s Jewish history.

In Jew Town, in Mattancherry, close to historic Fort Kochi, you can find the legacy of a Jewish community dating back to around the fourth century. 

The beautiful Paradesi synagogue was built in 1658, with intricate hand-painted floor tiles and glass candelabras, while many of the shops on the streets surrounding the synagogue sell items still used in Jewish households.

Kerala’s history

Kerala’s history of trade and seafaring helped create this fascinating mix of influences, of cultures – and the distinct character which sets Kerala apart.

Stroll through Fort Kochi and you can still see the Chinese fishing nets off the coast, silhouetted against the sunset, one of Cochin’s best-known sights.

In the Mattancherry Palace – also called the Dutch Palace –  wonderful murals telling tales from Indian epics decorate the walls, while displays tell the history of the Kings of Cochin.

One of my favourite memories is cruising the backwaters in one of Kerala’s famous houseboats. Once purely a practical way to transport heavy loads, or reach more remote areas, they’re now an unmissable experience.

Not only enormously relaxing, I treasured those snapshots of life along the way. Stopping to explore the village of Champakulam, we chatted to craftsmen transforming wood into everything from statues to souvenirs.

The village has had a church since the 5th century: today’s whitewashed building, decorated with splashes of purple and gold, was full as we passed, the congregation singing as part of the service.

In between we bought huge freshwater prawns and fresh coconut, before canoeing along even smaller waterways watching families in their homes on the banks – washing clothes in the water, cooking, children playing and waving as we passed.

Colourful Kerala

Even the buses are turquoise in Kerala. Wherever you turn there’s colour, from the emerald green of the tea bushes to the cornflower blue sky, a splash of pink on a staircase in Munnar, shimmering silvery pink scales of the fish on sale in Fort Kochi.

The Kochi-Muziris Biennale was running while we visited, with contemporary art on display, but it was the street art which caught my eye both in Fort Kochi and Mattancherry, bright and thought-provoking, decorating the alleys.

Kerala’s people

The Kerala, Human By Nature video is a reminder that it’s the people who make a place – and one of the best reasons to visit Kerala.

The driver who took us from Fort Kochi to Alleppey, bursting with pride about his home – chatting about the sights we could see, explaining about life and culture in Kerala, even stopping at some picturesque spots so we wouldn’t miss the chance to enjoy them.

The guide who took us into the forest in Munnar, telling us about the different plants from cardamom to coffee (and tea, of course), as well as those with medicinal purposes, spotting a porcupine quill on the forest floor as we gazed out to the hills.

It’s those stories which bring Kerala alive – and which make me wish I could return.

PIN FOR LATER: 6 REASONS TO VISIT KERALA

Disclosure: Sponsored by Kerala Tourism 

Kerala Human By Nature campaign image/video courtesy Kerala Tourism, all others copyright MummyTravels

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