There are only few days left until the most amazing days of Diwali and you must have started planning an unforgettable trip this season. If you are looking to visit Kerala, this article is for you. Before I start sharing my views on why you should visit Kerala this Diwali, let me briefly share the information about Diwali for non Indian readers to our blog.

Diwali is known as the festival of lights and its biggest festival of India. Every year this festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm in every corner of the country. Many people stay at home with their family to celebrate this prosperous festival. While few of the people plan for visiting different places in India with their family and friends during the Diwali vacations. But we found that, when it comes for a Diwali vacation trip, whether it is with family or friends, everyone’s priorities are Goa, Manali, Shimla, and other related places. What about God’s Own Country Kerala? Let’s start traveling this time towards Kerala.

Kerala is known for its eye-pleasing beauty. The beaches, temples, hill stations, mountains, weather and the impeccable natural scenarios make Kerala, the land of God. No wonder! why Kerala is the first choice for tourists? It’s like more than a complete package. You can experience everything in a single tour. Kerala is in its most beautiful attire during the Diwali season. Thus, it is an ideal place for tourists in Diwali Vacation.

Best Time & Weather: In October–November, Kerala is pleasant and less humid. It is not too hot, rains are rare, and the air is fresh. Perfect time to enjoy beaches, backwaters, and hill stations. Pack cotton clothes, light jackets for Munnar, sunscreen, and mosquito repellent.

How Kerala Celebrates Diwali: In Kerala, Diwali is celebrated in a simple but beautiful way. People light diyas (oil lamps), share sweets with neighbors, and visit temples. Fireworks are less compared to North India. Still, you will find cultural programs, temple lamps, and a festive vibe all around.

11 Diwali Vacation Trip in Kerala with Family and Friends:

Here I will show you some of the most amazing ways you can spend your Diwali vacation in Kerala with your friends, family or partner.

1. Rejuvenate and Relax with Ayurveda:

Kerala is known for its best Ayurveda centers. How about getting yourself relaxed in the woods with Ayurveda for this Diwali in Kerala? Ayurveda in Kerala focuses on complete rejuvenation therapy and complete wellness. It not only relaxes the body physically but also brings in mental peace. Rasayana (rejuvenation) plays a vital role in the eight branches of Ayurveda science. Rasayana makes you feel younger and energetic and has a better immunity system. On this Diwali vacation trip in India, enjoy the perks of Ayurveda right in God’s land- Kerala.

Extra Tip: You can try Panchakarma therapy, herbal massages, and Ayurvedic steam baths at world famous centers in Kovalam, Thekkady, and Kumarakom. Also, many resorts in Kerala offer Ayurveda + yoga together for a complete wellness holiday.

2. Houseboat in Backwaters:

It is a lifetime experience to stay in houseboats in the backwaters of Kerala. The weather of Kerala in October invites a stay in the houseboats. You can enjoy the best summer and rain by staying on the houseboat and enjoying the delectable Kerala food. There are about 1000 houseboat operators. The adventure begins from Alleppey to destinations like Kumarakom, Kottayam, Alumkadavu, or any other places to visit during the Diwali vacation that you may choose. Make this Diwali a memorable one.

Check out the Kerala houseboat package right now for your Diwali vacation trip

• Premium Houseboat in Kumarakom
• 1 Bed Room Premium Houseboat at Alleppey
• Lake Ripples Houseboat in Alleppey
• Cinnamon Houseboat in Alleppey
• Shikara Boat Trip

Extra Tip: Book a sunset cruise or overnight stay with candlelight dinner. Some houseboats even arrange cultural performances for tourists.

Moonlit & Lantern-lit Cruises: During Diwali nights, ask operators for lantern-lit or candlelight night cruises. The reflections of diyas and moonlight on the backwaters make for a magical Diwali evening.

3. Kerala Cuisine:

The best place for a Diwali vacation in India is to enjoy the delicacies of Kerala. Kerala offers numerous mouthwatering dishes on banana leaf comprising seafood, meat, vegetarian, rice preparation, snacks, sweets, and coconut water without a due.

You must try Puttu and Kadala Curry, Appam with Stew, Idiyappam, Nadan Kozhi Varuthathu known as Spicy Chicken Fry, Kerala Prawn Curry, Naadan Beef Fry or Kerala Style Beef Fry, Malabar Parota, Kerala Style Fish Molee, Banana Fritters, Palada Payasam, Sadhya, Erissery, Thalassery Biryani, Naadan Kozhi Curry and other dishes.

Extra Tip: During Diwali time, many restaurants and homestays prepare special Payasam varieties like Ada Pradhaman and Palada. Do not miss the traditional Sadhya meal served on banana leaves.

Festive Addition: Some resorts even offer cooking classes for sweets like Nei Appam or Aval Vilayichathu during Diwali, so you can learn and taste local delicacies in a hands-on way.

4. Kerala Diwali Vacation Trip: Multiple Options to Explore

Kerala can offers multiple options to spend your Diwali vacation. Do you love hill station, want to go on boating, explore wildlife or spend time on beaches; Kerala can fulfill all these needs. Here is the brief about some of the most popular tourist places in Kerala.

• Padmanabhaswamy temple is the richest temple in the world
• Munnar is the best hill station in Kerala enchanting waterfalls and hiking routes are the adventures here.
• Kovalam is rated as the best beaches in India. It is also divided into three more beaches.
• Varkala is one of the top beaches in India. It is having sea on one side and a high cliff on other.
• Wayanad is the Green Paradise of Kerala. The heart shape lake in Wayanad is the core of it.
• Idduki is famous for the Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary comprising wide-range of species of birds, plants and animals.

Extra Tip: Offbeat places like Vagamon, Bekal Fort, and Munroe Island are also great to explore if you want peaceful locations away from the crowd.

5. Trekking & Hiking Around Kerala Hill Stations:

If you love adventure and want to spend your Diwali vacation by doing on moderate trekking routes, Munnar is the place for you. Here you can enjoy exploring tea gardens and can go for grassland trek as well. Munnar among the best places to visit during Diwali in Kerala because of its scenic beauty and pleasant weather. Here are the places you can explore around Munnar.

Check out the Kerala hill station packages and find the suitable package for the trip on this Diwali.

• The Mattupetty dam is more like a picnic spot located at approximately 1700 m above the ground. You can enjoy beating and can click beautiful lake surrounded by mountains.
• Tea museum is an unique place you should visit if you love to learn about history of a tea.
• You can also explore different waterfalls located around Munnar.

Extra Tip: Vagamon hills and Wayanad also offer trekking routes with beautiful sunrise views. Don’t forget to carry trekking shoes and light jackets.

Adventure Addition: Some trekking routes also offer night camping where you can enjoy stargazing and even spot fireflies during Diwali nights, adding a festive sparkle to your adventure.

6. Beaches with Beautiful Views:

Kerala beaches are very famous in South India and it’s one of the best places to visit in Diwali vacation in India with family because the natural charm and peaceful vibes make it perfect for a festive holiday trip. It is also one of the best destinations to travel in Diwali festival. It is included in the 10 paradises of the world. Kerala Beaches are the main attraction of tourism. A tourist from all over the world visits Kerala to enjoy the natural beauty of Kerala’s beaches. Kerala beaches add four moons to the Kerala beauties.

• Marari Beach is famous as weekend gateway. You can find loads of happy faces during weekends. Fishing activities are famous here.
• Poovar Beach is a place full of peace. One can experience a total scenic view here. You can also go on boating in water-land to see the marine life around Poovar island.
• Kovalam Beach is internationally famous. Herbal body massages are the best part here.
• Alleppey Beach is the Venice of East. Here you find a bundle of activities to indulge yourself.

Night Experience: During Diwali evenings, beaches like Kovalam and Varkala glow with lanterns and temple lamps nearby — perfect for evening photography walks.

Read Also: Top 12 Beautiful Beaches in Kerala That You Must Visit

7. Visit Temples in Kerala:

You can experience a totally different culture in Kerala. People here do worship God with different names. Moreover, their way of worshiping God also differ from other parts of the country. Below are some famous temples in Kerala that you can visit in Diwali vacation with your family:

• Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram
• Sabarimala Temple, Pathanamthitta
• Guruvayur Temple, Guruvayur
• Chottanikkara Temple, Chottanikkara
• Vadakkunnathan Temple, Thrissur

Extra Tip: Remember to follow dress codes (men often wear mundu, women saree/salwar) in temples.

Festive Ritual: Some temples host special Diwali pujas and light thousands of oil lamps, creating magical views in the evening. Tourists can observe these ceremonies and capture stunning visuals.

8. Enjoy Kerala’s Culture, Traditions and Special Events:

Kerala’s culture and tradition are worth because no matter the person here is a Hindu, Muslim or Christian, they are inter-related to each other. They enjoy every festival of Kerala together with same happiness and enthusiasm. People also take part in the Diwali celebration in Kerala, showcasing the unity of all religions as they light lamps and share sweets with the same spirit of togetherness. The native art of Kerala is Koodiyattom, a form of Sanskrit drama. One more outstanding art of Kerala include Thirayattam. “Kathakali Event” of Kerala is one of the most beautiful dance forms you can ever see.

Extra Tip: You can also watch Theyyam performances in North Kerala or attend a Kalari martial art show in Thekkady.

Some eco-resorts host special Diwali-themed cultural nights where you can enjoy folk dances, story-telling sessions, and lamp-lighting ceremonies in an eco-friendly way.

9. Beautiful Waterfalls in Kerala:

No one can deny the fact that Kerala is blessed with lots of beauty and one of its beauty includes the enchanting and mesmerizing waterfalls. Athirapally, Thommankuthu Waterfalls, Nyayamakad Waterfalls, Thusharagiri Waterfalls, Meenmutty Waterfalls, and etc. are the beautiful waterfalls you should visit in Kerala. If you remember the Bahubali waterfall scene, it was shot in Kerala at Athirapally waterfalls (it is edited to show higher water level).

10. Wildlife Sanctuaries in Kerala:

As Kerala be the heritage to much wildlife, you should not miss this fun. So, if you are an animal lover, then this can be a thrilling and exciting experience for you. You can visit Periyar National Park, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kodanad Elephant Training Center, Eravikulum National Park, Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala.

Extra Tip: Best way to see wildlife is by jungle safari, bamboo rafting, or boat ride in Periyar lake.

11. Go on an Adventure Ride & Other Activities:

If you love to do adventure activities, Kerala offers one of the best adventure activities to tourist in Diwali vacation. It is perfect to explore trekking and other wildlife adventures. There are various trekking and adventure places in Kerala blessed with natural beauty. Kerala is not just the place for relaxation, It is the place for adventures in the entire state. The adventure tourist in Kerala can opt for:

• Canoeing and Kayaking
• Trekking
• Backwater biking
• Mountain Climbing
• Backwater biking
• Wildlife Safari
• Bamboo Rafting along the Rivers

Extra Tip: You can also try paragliding at Vagamon and scuba diving at Kovalam for a thrilling experience.

Conclusion:

So, pack your bags, keep your cameras ready with loads of memory free and get set go because this time you will want to capture all that beauties with you and cherish them for a lifetime.

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