The Monsoon in Kerala & Exciting Things to do in the Rains

The monsoon in Kerala is one of the most magical experiences in the world. The Indian subcontinent is strategically placed to receive the onset of the South West Monsoon. Dark grey billowy clouds laden with rain lash across the land, drenching the earth and Kerala comes alive with a new life.

Sheets of raindrops hit the earth, driven by the winds, settling the dust and running into the soil. Little rivulets come to life, flowing with bubbly song into craters, gutters & moats. The rivers of Kerala turn into mighty gushing waters teeming with fish. Plants & trees quench the thirst and put forth new leaves and fronds and the state is flush with greenery.

Visiting Kerala in the monsoon will show the visitor or tourist another face of the lovely state. It is the ideal time to relax & rejuvenate. Ayurveda rejuvenation therapies are recommended at this time as it is believed that the body is in a tender state in this season. Languid ayurvedic massages with medicated oils and specialised treatments for specific ills are highly recommended. These treatments can be had after consultation with an ayurvedic doctor and can be undergone in prescribed sets of days which are usually multiple of three, eg- 3 days, 7 days, 21 days etc

Another charming activity in the monsoon is a houseboat ride along the backwaters. The houseboat is a floating suite of rooms consisting of bedrooms with attached toilets, an open-to-the water living cum dining room and a sun deck to watch the water go by. A fully equipped kitchen and a crew consisting of a cook, cleaner and driver are on board. Watch the rain clouds gather on the horizon and put forth their bounty into the boundless stretch of backwaters from the safe & comfortable confines of your houseboat. Feast on local fare like fresh sea food, tapioca, lobsters etc prepared in true Keralan style by your very own chef or stop off at a local toddy shop for their delicacies while sipping the local tipple.

Districts like Trivandrum, Cochin & Calicut will have boat building & repair activity going on. The tourist can visit these huge boat building yards and watch these traditional wooden boats being repaired or maintenance works being carried out. Beypore in Calicut is the best destination for these. Any visit to India and any tourist in India would miss out on something without a visit like this.

For those on a South India Tour and planning on a trip up the mountains to Munnar or Thekkady, a Plantations stay will be a treat. Watching the monsoon sweep across the mountain ranges, covered in magical mist, and drenching the tea estates is an amazing sight. The fragrance of freshly moistened tea bushes while sipping a hot cup of tea can transport the visitor to another world. A walk among the tea gardens will throw up new water bodies, waterfalls, rivulets that didn’t exist during the summer.

A must-do in the monsoon in Kerala is a visit to the Athirapally waterfalls. This 80 foot water fall transforms into a thundering, roaring cascade that is a sight to behold. Only in the monsoon does it swell this size.

Monsoon tourism in Kerala is a must-do in every tourism itinerary and high point on every Tour of South India.

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