Kerala has a reputation for being one of India’s most beautiful and relaxed states – think palm-lined backwaters, quiet beaches, lush hills and some of the best food we’ve eaten. But before we went, we still had a lot of practical questions: when’s the best time to visit, how easy is it to get around, is it safe, and what’s actually different from travelling elsewhere in India?
Here’s what we wish we’d known before arriving in Kerala, from weather quirks and transport to safety, alcohol, VISAs and avoiding the dreaded “Delhi belly.” If you’re considering a trip and want honest, on-the-ground answers rather than glossy brochure advice, this should help you plan with confidence.
When’s the best time of year to visit Kerala?
November to February are the best months to visit Kerala, generally being dry (not in the monsoon season) but not too hot yet (the heat builds up in March). Having said that, we visited in November and it was unseasonably wet, with locals saying climate change has affected once reliable weather patterns.
How to Get Around Kerala
Getting around town is affordable via rickshaw (usually 100-200 rupees). Between towns you can generally take a transfer by private taxi arranged by your hotel. We didn’t book any transfers before we arrived except pickup from the airport. Train and bus travel is also available and cheap, but may be less comfortable and takes longer.
Is Kerala safe?
Kerala is very safe, with a murder rate comparable to or less than many western European countries (data from 2017). When we visited, we never felt in any kind of danger, even after dark. There’s no need to take any more precautions than you normally would whilst travelling.
Is Kerala safe for women?
India in general doesn’t have the best reputation amongst international travellers in terms of safety for women, but we met many women travelling happily alone, in pairs, and in small groups.
Women in Kerala do tend to dress more conservatively than they do in Europe. If you wear a bikini to the beach, there’s a good chance you’ll be approached by Indian men asking where you are from. To avoid conversation, it may be worthwhile packing some clothes with more coverage than you’d normally take on a beach holiday (local Indian women often wear gym shorts or even tracksuit bottoms to the beach).
Can you drink alcohol in Kerala?
It’s relatively difficult to drink alcohol in Kerala as most restaurants and hotels lack licenses and alcohol cannot be bought at most stores or supermarkets.
You can buy alcohol at licensed state-run shops, known as Bev Cos, which is a cultural experience in itself. You have to pass through what can only be described as a cage, but young men will push past to get served first. A local politely explained we shouldn’t stand aside as they will simply keep coming and we’d never get served!
Some hotels and restaurants will, discreetly, provide alcohol without having a license and many upper-end resorts operate with a licence.
Do travellers need a VISA to visit India?
If you’re from the UK or many other countries, you’ll need to get a VISA to enter India. You can apply online, but the process is fairly painful as there’s a long questionnaire that often breaks midway through a question. You also have to upload photographs in fairly specific sizes. Put aside a good few hours to complete the task.
Once done, my VISA was approved within a couple of days and Charlie’s took a couple more (both for 30 days). We did print the VISA as instructed and we think this was probably worthwhile on balance, though several people at immigration showed the VISA on their phones.
Will you get stomach problems if you visit India?
We managed to avoid stomach issues completely during our two-week trip. We drank filtered water or bottled water and ate vegetarian food that we saw freshly prepared. Make sure the water used for ice cubes is also either filtered or bottled. We always opted to have cooked meals and avoided salads. We were selective with which restaurants we ate at, making sure they looked clean and had good reviews.
Are Kochi and Cochin the same place?
Yes. It’s not uncommon for places in Kerala to have a couple of different names. Alleppey is also known as Alaphuza. Locals are familiar with the variance and are happy for you to use either.
Overall, we loved Kerala. We found it to be safe, welcoming and refreshingly manageable, especially for independent travellers. It offers a slower, greener side of India without stripping away the richness that makes the country so interesting to explore. Kerala makes an excellent introduction to India, and a destination that’s easy to fall in love with in its own quiet way.
