List of 10 hidden places to visit in Kerala Vypin Island, Gavi, Kumbalangi, Poonkudi, Aranmula, Meesapulimala, Wayanad, Munroe Island, Kuttanadu and Bekal.
Kerala, despite being called "God's Own Country" numerous times, is a calm state with an abundance of natural beauty and rich cultural history. Yes, places such as Munnar and Alleppey are the obvious favourites of a traveller, but there is much more to see beyond the obvious that turns out to be more alluring. In this blog, we take you through hidden places to visit in Kerala, those less-frequented yet equally fascinating places, the state promising you indelible experiences.
Vypin Island
Gavi
Kumbalangi
Poonkudi
Aranmula
Meesapulimala
Wayanad
Munroe Island
Kuttanadu
Bekal
A small drive from the bustling city's harsh sounds of Kochi, Vypin Island is an oasis that personifies the attractively old-fashioned parts of Kerala. Clean beaches, beauty, and serenity make Vypin Island an ideal destination to have a vacation away from the crowds.
Beaches and Lighthouse: The sandy shores of the island are apt for a leisurely day of beach near the sands. Located on top of a hill, the Vypin Lighthouse has panoramic views of the Arabian Sea and coastline. It has undergone structural changes to enable visitors to ascend the lighthouse. The view from the top is well worth the climb, especially during sunset.
Local Cuisine: Fresh seafood is a specialty of Vypin. Fresh catch of fish, prawns, and crabs is worked up into mouth watering delicacies by the local eateries. Try some fiery Keralan fish curry to get the true flavour of the cuisine.
Fishing Villages: The beauty of the old fishing villages on the island has to be seen to understand the local way of life and culture. Share a few words with the friendly locals and know about their centuries-old fishing techniques.
Gavi is a naturalist's paradise, quietly away within the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. It is an unseen destination that gives an immense feel of the rich flora and fauna of Kerala.
Wildlife Spotting: Gavi is a place that holds a great variety of flora and animal population. Elephants, sambar deer, and different types of birds can be spotted during nature walks or jeep safaris.
Travels: More than two, but not a lot of travels wind through the beautiful forests and move in a wavy pattern over the hills of this place. Challenging journeys test one's ability to last through or tolerate bad times, and the amazing views and first-hand experience with nature are a huge reward for the effort.
Camping Experience: Gavi offers a very interesting camping experience. Getting to spend a night in the middle of the land area that has never been changed by people under starry skies is one such experience that combines all the features of the spirit of nature in Kerala.
Located a few kilometers from Kochi, Kumbalangi is a beautiful fishing village with a different view of traditional Kerala life. Rich in culture, the community is well known for its relaxed pace.
Local Crafts: Kumbalangi is famous for its traditional craftwork, especially coir making and boat-building. Visiting the local workshops will definitely provide hands-on information about these very old crafts.
Boat Rides: Take a cruise in traditional boats through the calm, simple places that resist change in Kumbalangi. The still water and surrounding green beauty give way to a peaceful, beautiful trip.
Cultural Experiences: Visit the villagers and get understandings of deep things in the Kerala traditional village way of life. Have a chance to see some of the daily activities that are done by the locals, like fishing, coir making, and village special celebrations with fun events.
Another almost equally off-beat destination would be Poonkudi in Idukki, in a district that brags an amazing wide view of a nature scene or wide area of beautiful land and very calm setting a place appropriate or smart for those looking for the pleasure of their own company or for nature lovers.
Tea Gardens: Walking through the rolling tea huge houses at Poonkudi or taking snaps is in fact a very pleasant-feeling experience. The beautiful green tea large farm with crops almost opposite or showing the differences between with the blue sky is in fact a visual treat.
Views: Poonkudi is located at a height, offering one very wide view of the hills and valleys surrounding it. Such beautiful views and cool climate probably best suit it for relaxation and reflection.
Hiking Trails: Many trails have been cut through the beautiful green that covers the area. These offer an opportunity for a visitor to get in touch with nature and feel the freshness of crisp, clean air.
Located beside the Pampa River, Aranmula is rich in cultural history and historical importance. A small, beautiful village with a blend of tradition, making things in a high-quality way, and natural beauty.
Aranmula Kannadi: This village is famous for its metal mirrors, known as Aranmula Kannadi. Get to visit local workers who make beautiful things to see the detailed process involved in making these like nothing else in the world mirrors.
Aranmula Boat Race: It is held every year to be seen in their traditional snake boats. Brilliant celebrations or parties combined with the visual food-based celebration of coloured boat races are the perfect example of local culture.
For religious or other purposes, temples and rituals carried out in a uniform manner:
On show are a couple of old temples with their history, related to designing and constructing beautiful buildings, structures, etc., and traditional grand beauty to the front. One can also witness a couple of local series of actions always done the same way for religious or other reasons and special celebrations with fun events in progress, making this cultural (placing underwater/surrounding someone with something) all the more colourful and beautiful.
Meesapulimala provides one experience that easily gets into the hot list of fun trip searchers for something. At the second-highest peak of the Western Ghats, there are strings of traveling options with breath-taking views.
Traveling Trails: Done in a very tiring and exciting manner, the journey towards Meesapulimala will be with thick forests and rolling hills around you, displaying scenes at every nook.
Lots of different living things all existing together: Meesapulimala is rich in varied flora and animal population; hence, this becomes a paradise for nature lovers. Natural scenes are mostly present in this region, but not a lot of groups of similar living things like birds, butterflies, and weird flora on the way.
Camping: Camping overnight close to the summit enables one to be able to soak up the unspoiled beauty of the Western Ghats under the stars. It's a perfect place underwater or surrounding someone with something from nature.
Wayanad is for sure one of those unknown people who suddenly becomes a possible winner in a contest—an area filled with creatures of very old stories or untrue stories and thought about, believed to be an unknown jewel, combining the best of natural beauty, historical places of interest, and peaceful wide views of nature scenes or wide areas of beautiful land.
Edakkal Caves: A priority visit on your schedule would be Edakkal Caves, where you get a view of very old petroglyphs thousands of years old. In fact, a peep into these caves is a look into the lives of early humans.
Pookode Lake: A quiet lake surrounded by beautiful green forests, Pookode Lake offers boating and picnicking in the middle of nature walks.
Soochipara Falls: Soochipara, is a beautiful three with different levels waterfall; it is also known as Guard Rock Falls. These falls are good for a refreshing dip and picnic.
Munroe Island lies at the coming-together of Ashtamudi Lake with the Kerala Simple places that resist change. This separated or isolated island is full of like nothing else in the world communities and traditional ways of living.
Traveling by small, light boat in simple places: The interconnected, narrow, human-made waterways of this island form a confusing network across, which can be explored in a small, light, pointed boat. Calm waves and nearby objects demonstrate how peaceful and picture-perfect everything may be.
Traditional farming: Munroe Island is known for its traditional ways of farming. Take a visit to the farms to learn more about producing crops, helping something grow, and other methods of farming.
Bird Watching: The island is the perfect place for bird watchers. The lands that often or always have a layer of water and simple places that resist change on Munroe Island shelter a variety of birds, some of which one gets to see upon reaching here.
Kuttanadu is referred as the "East Venice" It boasts detailed, narrow, human-made waterway systems and a unique quality, quiet, unimportant land.
Houseboat Cruises: Sail through the calm, simple places (that resist change) of Kuttanadu in a traditional country houseboat. The relaxing cruise is a great way to enjoy the picture-based wide view of a nature scene of beautiful land in the area.
Paddy Fields: The area's like nothing else in the world.
Farming methods are practised in paddy fields below sea level. This traditional way of farming is definitely a must-visit in the schedule when one comes to Kuttanadu.
Local Food: Getting a taste of local delicious things like "Kuttanadu duck curry" and "Karimeen Pollichathu" in the middle of beautiful things, things that are near and around something.
Located in the northern parts of Kerala, Bekal is an area known for its beautiful Bekal Fort and, in almost the same way, attractive beaches with history-soaked lands next to a body of water.
Bekal Fort: With stunning views of the Arabian Sea, the well-preserved Bekal Fort has a commanding position. The fort is an important, famous historical site due to its location and related to designing and constructing beautiful buildings, structures, etc.
Bekal Beaches: These calm beaches located off Bekal are tailor-made for a relaxed day by the sea. As compared to other noted beaches of the state, the land next to a body of water is compared to something else less crowded, and because of this, it offers a peaceful retreat.
Local Markets: Walk around the local markets of Bekal and get some things made by hand, spices, and other small, inexpensive objects that are reminders of visiting a place. Interacting with local vendors gives one a feel of typical Kerala culture.
These hidden places to visit in Kerala are hidden gems of Kerala and have many more experiences beyond the walking roads to Munnar and Alleppey. Be it calm islands, beautiful forests, culturally rich villages, or historic forts, it becomes the destination for every dimension that this beautiful state stands for. All these slightly weird places bring the traveller close to nature's beauty and its rich history and local culture in Kerala. So grab your belongings and head to Kerala's secret pearls.
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