Kerala in Monsoon: Best Places to Visit, Things to Do & Travel Tips
There’s something quite magical about Kerala during monsoon. The summer heat fades, the skies darken, and the rains bring everything back to life. It doesn’t feel like just another season, it feels like a reset. You can actually feel the rhythm of life slow down, not in a lazy way, but in a way that invites you to pay attention. If you’re planning to visit Kerala in monsoon, you’ll find that the best parts aren’t always the ones people talk about online.
If you’re looking for the best places to visit in Kerala during monsoon, curious about how the lush Kerala backwaters turn even greener, or wondering why Ayurvedic treatments in Kerala work wonders during the rains, you’re in the right place.
In this Blog
Why Monsoon 2025 Is a Special Time to Visit Kerala?
It’s not just about the rain. Monsoon in Kerala 2025 is predicted to bring heavier showers than usual, but they’ll come and go, giving you time to explore between spells. That means great weather for clicking pictures, and even better weather for sitting on a verandah with banana fritters, watching the rain fill the canals and fields without any trouble.
This is also a time when the locals are very much in rhythm with nature. Farmers are busy, boatsmen are alert, and in villages, you’ll hear temple bells, school announcements and distant drums between the rain showers. And what makes this season so enjoyable is how daily life continues alongside it all.
Kerala Backwaters in Monsoon
You’ve probably read plenty about Alleppey and Kumarakom. But what most Kerala travel guides won’t tell you is that Kerala during monsoon 2025 isn’t about cruising the backwaters with a dozen other tourists. It’s about slowing down and soaking in the rhythm of everyday life.
Try starting your backwater journey just after a spell of Kerala rain, in the quiet of early morning. The smell of fresh coconut husks, turmeric floating from open kitchen windows, and the faint sound of Malayalam songs from a passing canoe, well, now that’s the real memory. This is when Alleppey in the rain truly feels magical.
You’ll also notice how the water looks different in the rain. It’s darker but cleaner. The surface tension is smooth and reflective, so you see an upside-down version of the coconut trees, making every photo look like it’s been edited.
Some smaller canals, especially near Kainakary or Edathua, open up into wide fields that disappear under shallow floodwater. Ducks waddle through the water as though it’s solid ground, and children stand at the edge, waving at houseboats with plastic bags over their heads. It’s moments like these that make the places to visit in Kerala during monsoon stand out from any regular season.
Offbeat Places to Visit in Kerala During Monsoon
You must’ve heard of Alleppey in rains and Munnar in mist but there’s a quieter, moodier side of monsoon in Kerala that travel brochures rarely highlight. Here are five offbeat places to visit in Kerala that come alive with the smell of wet earth, the taste of seasonal food, and the rhythm of falling rain.
Ponmudi
Just a short drive from Thiruvananthapuram, Ponmudi turns poetic during the rains. Think narrow winding roads flanked by cardamom plantations, thick mist hugging the hills, and the kind of silence only the forest can offer. It’s a haven for slow travel lovers. Ditch the drive and walk the leaf-carpeted trails that weave through sleepy villages, overgrown ferns, and fog-kissed viewpoints. One of the best things to do in Kerala if you love green hills and mood lighting.
Kuttanad
Located near Alleppey, Kuttanad is known as the rice bowl of Kerala and is one of the most fascinating places to visit in Kerala during monsoon. With fields that sit below sea level, rising waters during Kerala rain season make the entire region feel like it’s floating. Rain changes everything here from the colour of the soil to the way people work the land. You’ll see temporary ridges, flooded fields, and narrow canoe paths that look straight out of a dream.
Aranmula
Aranmula, famous for its snake boat race, offers something far more soulful during the monsoon. Watch young rowers slice through the rain-slicked canals, explore ancient temples as thunder rolls in the distance, or chat with traditional artisans polishing the famous Aranmula mirrors by hand. A lovely mix of cultural things to do in Kerala when the rain turns everything reflective, literally and metaphorically.
Meenmutty Waterfalls
Tucked away near Wayanad, Meenmutty Waterfalls becomes a roaring spectacle during the monsoon. The falls surge with new life, surrounded by thick rainforest and wet, glistening boulders. This is one of those places to visit in Kerala where nature flexes its muscles in the most beautiful way. Add it to your list if you’re chasing dramatic landscapes and don’t mind getting gloriously soaked.
Thenmala
India’s first planned ecotourism destination, Thenmala, is a paradise during monsoon. Located in the foothills of the Western Ghats, it’s perfect for forest treks, suspension bridge walks, and spotting monsoon-drenched flora and fauna. Whether you’re cycling through wet trails or sipping hot chai post-hike, Thenmala offers a completely different angle to monsoon in Kerala, one that’s wild, green, and packed with lesser-known things to do in Kerala.
Food in Kerala
The food in Kerala during the monsoon hits differently, you could ask anyone. Imagine yourself sitting cross-legged on the floor, banana leaf steaming with hot rice and tangy rasam, as the scent of rain-kissed earth drifts in with the breeze. Somehow, every bite feels richer, deeper, more comforting.
Monsoon brings with it a seasonal menu, less about fanfare and more about memory. Could be chakka puzhukku (mashed jackfruit with coconut and spices), kappa vevichathu with fiery fish curry, or kanji paired with crunchy payar and pickle. These dishes aren’t curated for Instagram, they’re stirred straight from backyard gardens and old family recipes.
And then there are the snacks: ethakka appam (banana fritters), parippu vada with piping hot chai, and if you’re really lucky, a juicy mango dipped in chilli powder and salt. Trust us, this is one of the most delicious and soul-satisfying things to do in Kerala when it rains.
What to Pack and What to Expect in Kerala
Travelling through the places to visit in Kerala during monsoon doesn’t require high-tech rain gear but just a little thoughtfulness. Quick-drying sandals, a sturdy umbrella (the locals swear by a particular kind), and light cotton clothes that won’t complain about a bit of rain go a long way.
Expect sudden downpours and equally sudden sunshine. Expect a power cut or two, especially in smaller towns, but also expect them to pass quickly. Kerala rain isn’t just about the weather but it is more about how the state moves with it, not against it. That quiet, effortless hospitality might just be the most beautiful surprise of your trip.
Homestays in Kerala
Forget hotels this time. If there’s one thing that genuinely shapes your experience of Kerala during monsoon 2025, it’s where you stay. And a homestay in Kumarakom, a homestay in Thekkady, or even a homestay in Wayanad can make all the difference. Why? Because monsoon isn’t just seen, it’s heard, smelled, tasted, and lived. And there’s no better place to absorb all that than in someone’s home.
There are these homestays across Kerala, such as The Stone Villa, Villa Marina, Regal Retreat, Novera, Rivera, Orchid Haven, The Forest Echoes, Whitewood Serene, Cheppanam House, Aqua Vista, The Periyar Palace, Shalom Villa and The Rain, that offer immersive experiences. These homestays are spread across Kerala, each offering a unique glimpse into the local life and culture during the monsoon.
Choosing a homestay over a hotel allows you to truly experience the Kerala rain, not just as a backdrop, but as an integral part of daily life. It’s one of the most authentic things to do in Kerala during the monsoon.
What stays with you after a trip through Kerala during monsoon 2025 isn’t just the view. It’s how the place feels when the rain touches it. It’s how houses breathe with the sound of water. How daily life bends and adjusts without complaint. And how, if you take your time, you’ll begin to sync up with that rhythm.
So if you’re planning your trip, don’t look for perfect weather or uninterrupted sunshine. Look for good company, strong coffee, kind hosts, and places where you can hear the rain hitting the earth. That’s where the real Kerala is waiting.
Image credits: Jan Joseph George via Wikimedia
Written by: Ruben Saha
