Hi, all, my husband and I are currently in Kerala, and we have been here for four days now and have three days left in this beautiful place. The next two days are booked with some activities and going to some locals house who has invited us, which leaves us with just one day. During our stay here we have just relaxed and don't did nothing else, and it is now that we have thought that we should have gone to see some tourist places. I need some quick help from you all and provide me with some tourist places in Kerala for a one day trip, which would make our holiday complete.
I spent two months at the Amritapuri ashram, and I would recommend a visit, even for one day, if you are able. Amma is a local saint who is known as the "hugging saint" and is famous worldwide. Her ashram is a thing of beauty. I will post the link to the webpage below. If you can, try to go on a day when Amma is giving darshan, or perhaps you can visit on a holiday. The people there are a mix of locals and Westerners, and they are very nice and accommodating. If you go, be sure to dress modestly (no bare shoulders or legs), because it is a temple as well. Ashram - Amma, Mata Amritanandamayi Devi
Hi there, welcome to the forum! For a one-day trip in Kerala, you should focus on just one tourist place and from there, explore the region fully. It's really difficult to fit in all of the tourist places in Kerala in just one day as the state is really vast. Since you only have one day and you haven't explored much of Kerala, I won't focus on the offbeat places but rather just the popular tourist places. This way, you can get a glimpse of the best attractions in the region. That's not to say that the remote locations and attractions are not worth seeing because they are. But you could just visit them for another time, after you have explored all of the tourist places in Kerala. So here we go: Best Tourist Places in Kerala for a One-Day Trip 1. Munnar - Sprawling tea gardens, lush waterfalls and greenery everywhere... These are what will greet you once you enter the hill station of Munnar. Unlike other commercialised hill stations, Munnar is yet to be polluted nor destroyed. Much of the region is pristine and clean, that's why it's one of the best destinations in Kerala. Two of the best attractions here are the Top Station and Echo Point, both are view points which give you a commanding view of the valleys and surrounding forests. If you enjoy nature, then have fun at the natural attractions of Munnar like the Pallivasal Waterfalls, Attukal Waterfalls and Lakkad Waterfalls. For those who loves strolling around gardens, there's the Rose Garden and the Blossom Hydel Park. One of the unique experiences you can have here is a night safari through the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary. If you're lucky, you might even be able to spot wild elephants on your visit to the hill station so have that camera ready all the time. Must visit places - Top Station, Echo Point, Pallivasal Waterfalls, Attukal Waterfalls, Lakkad Waterfalls, Rose Garden, Blossom Hydel Park and Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary. Related thread - Munnar Travel Guide 2. Trivandrum - As the capital of Kerala, you cannot compare Trivandrum with the other metro cities in the country. For starters, there's no proper mall or shopping complex here. The roads are quite narrow unlike the main cities in the country. But these features make Trivandrum stand out as it highlights the rich culture and heritage of the city. Where else can you find locals spending much time in the museum, in the library or in the beach? These are the main attractions of the city and you too would enjoy the time away from the usual modernities of life. So take a break and experience Trivandrum, a city like no other in the state of Kerala. One of the riches temples in the world can also be found there, the Padmanabhaswamy Temple. If beaches are in your list, then do consider the Chowara Beach and the Puthenthoppu Beach. Other must visit attractions here are the historical places like the Padmanabhapuram Palace and Kuthiramalika Palace Museum. The city sleeps early though so you cannot enjoy night life here, as I've mentioned, leave all comforts of modernities behind when in Trivandrum. Must visit places - Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Chowara Beach, Puthenthoppu Beach, Padmanabhapuram Palace, Kuthiramalika Palace Museum and many more. Related thread - Places to Visit in Trivandrum 3. Thrissur - Perhaps Thrissur is most famous for the Thrissur Pooram, a grand festival held at the Vadakkunnathan Temple. This festival is grand, colourful and attended not only by locals but also by foreigners. During this festival, all the local temples join in the event and showcase their reverence for Lord Shiva. It is a must to experience this festival when visiting Thrissur in April. But even if you're not visiting during this month, there are other attractions in Thrissur to keep you busy. There's the Athirappilly Waterfalls, sometimes referred to as the Niagara Waterfalls of India. For relaxing, do visit the Snehatheeram Beach and Chavakkad Beach. There are also about five dams in the city but the best ones are the Poomala Dam and Chimmony Dam. Temples, natural attractions, dams, beaches and even churches, Thrissur has it all. That's why it's must visit city in the state of Kerala. Must visit places - Vadakkunnathan Temple, Athirappilly Waterfalls, Snehatheeram Beach, Chavakkad Beach, Poomala Dam, Chimmony Dam and many more. Related thread - North Kerala Beaches 4. Cochin - One of the most developed cities in the state, Cochin is best to visit to get a glimpse of the modern Kerala and as well as the historical Kerala. Why so? Because Cochin has all the modern facilities, like malls, commercial areas and restaurants but it has also preserved much of its heritage sites like the Fort Cochin and Chinese Fishing Nets. Having been conquered by many international rulers (Dutch, Portuguese and British), you'd find that the city has a unique blend of interesting culture and traditions. If somehow you become tired of the city life, you can go to excursions to Cherai Beach and Vypeen Island. If you're craving for something modern, there's the Lulu Mall and Wonderla Amusement Park. As what the locals say, Cochin is not a place, it's a feeling. Must visit places - Fort Cochin, Chinese Fishing Nets, Cherai Beach, Vypeen Island, Lulu Mall, Wonderla Amusement Park and many more. Related thread - Cochin Things To Do 5. Kannur - Although the media has tagged Kannur as a city with political clashes and unrests, it is now far from that description. Ask the locals and they will tell you how serene and beautiful their city is. From its beaches, historical places and temples, Kannur would exceed the stereotypical expectations. Once you're here, visit the largest drive in beach in Asia, the Muzhappilangad Beach. Or if you're someone who enjoys history, there are numerous places here for that, like the St. Angelos Fort, a 500-year old fort built by the Portuguese. A visit to the Arakkal Museum can take you back to the Arakkal era, the only Muslim rulers of Kerala. There are also plenty of other beaches to visit here like the Payyambalam Beach, Thottada Beach, Dharmadam Beach, Ezhara Beach and Ettikulam Beach. Must visit places - Muzhappilangad Beach, St. Angelos Fort, Arakkal Museum, Payyambalam Beach, Thottada Beach, Dharmadam Beach, Ezhara Beach and Ettikulam Beach. Related thread - Kannur Travel Guide 6. Alleppey - Cruising through the backwaters of Alleppey can give a glimpse of the lives of the residents of Kerala. Aside from the greenery and wildlife, you get to see fishermen in their canoes or women sweeping their backyards. Thus, cruising along the backwaters can give you that satisfaction of understanding the way of life of the locals. On the other hand, Alleppey has several attractions as well to keep you busy like the Alappuzha Beach, Marari Beach and Thottappally Beach. Then, there are also a few temples that you can visit here like the Ambalapuzha Shri Krishna Temple and Subramaniya Swami Temple. You can also enjoy boating along the Kayamkulam Lake if a houseboat tour is too expensive for your budget. Must visit places - Alappuzha Beach, Marari Beach, Thottappally Beach, Ambalapuzha Shri Krishna Temple, Subramaniya Swami Temple and Kayamkulam Lake. Related thread - Alleppey Travel Guide 7. Kovalam - The city of Kovalam is best known for the Kovalam Beach, which is divided into three sections, namely: Lighthouse Beach, Samudra Beach and Hawa Beach. These beaches are the main attractions in Kovalam and they are very crowded especially when you visit during the peak tourist season. Opt for Samudra Beach if you do not like crowded and noisy beaches. You can also visit the Vellayani Lake and try out boating here which is a very serene and calming activity. You can also visit the Neyyar Dam which has several man-made islands that you can explore by boating. Must visit places - Lighthouse Beach, Samudra Beach, Hawa Beach, Vellayani Lake and Neyyar Dam. Related thread - Places to Visit in South India There you go, I hope this guide helps you in your trip in Kerala. Have fun!
