Kerala at a glance
For visitors, Kerala means tea hills in Munnar, spices and wildlife in Thekkady, a night on an Alleppey houseboat and a beach at the end. For families in Kozhikode, Wayanad is the easy weekend in the hills.
Best time to visit
- December to February is the most pleasant, and October to March is the main season.
- The heaviest rain falls in June–July and again in October–November. Red alerts can bring night-travel bans in Idukki and trekking suspensions in Wayanad.
Rules to know
- Eravikulam National Park (Munnar) is closed from 1 February to 31 March for the Nilgiri tahr calving season. Visitors travel by forest buses; tickets are booked online.
- The Tea Museum in Munnar and Edakkal Caves in Wayanad are closed on Mondays; Edakkal has a daily visitor limit.
- Choose licensed houseboats: they display a Port Department licence, a registration number and a star class, and carry lifebuoys and GPS. Houseboats anchor for the night from about 5:30 pm to 8 am.
- The Mundakkai–Chooralmala landslide area in Wayanad is closed to visitors.
Distances from Kozhikode
- Wayanad (Kalpetta): about 73 km, 2–2.5 hours via the Thamarassery ghat.
- Athirappilly: about 170 km, around 4 hours.
- Alappuzha: about 240 km, around 6 hours. Munnar: about 275 km, around 7 hours.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Kerala?
December to February is the most pleasant; October to March is the main season. June–July has the heaviest rain.
When is Eravikulam National Park closed?
Every year from 1 February to 31 March, for the Nilgiri tahr calving season.
How far is Wayanad from Kozhikode?
About 73 km to Kalpetta, 2–2.5 hours by road via the Thamarassery ghat.
How do we choose a safe houseboat?
Choose a licensed houseboat showing its Port Department licence, registration number and class, with lifebuoys and GPS on board — like the ones in our packages.