Accomodations Holiday

BEST OFFBEAT DESTINATIONS IN KERALA

Written by OffBeatStays

Popularly known as God’s own Country, the magnificent state of Kerala is known for its exceptional treatments in ayurveda and panchkarma and the beautiful and blissful backwaters that brim with peace and blues and not to forget the cultural and crispy cuisine of the coasts! The sea food, the people, the accommodation diversity and the connection to nature – all of these are just different refractions of a state that shines like a diamond! With that said, exploring some untaken paths into this beauty spot is a bliss and we suggest you the best of them-

  1. Ashtamudi Lake

What instantly strikes your imagination when you utter Kerala are the Houseboats swaying in the blissful blues of the backwaters ! While most of the people chose Kumarakom and Alleppey, Ashtamudi is for the offbeat track.  A few hundred kilometres south, this beautiful backwater haven boasts of equally stunning backwaters. With a touch of Ayurvedic resorts on the coastline and the lake being famous for fishing you are sure to have a ball of time exploring this beauty!

  1. Vagamon

Lying undetected from the eyes of sprawling tourist, the sleepy land of Vagamon lies between 2 highly explored spots of Kottayam and Idukki an extremely favourable climate and a marshy land with pine trees and real estates spread out, this elevated spot of calmness offers not only peace and scenic views but also a scope of activities like paragliding and also parasailing and not to forget the numerous waterfalls profound in this region.

  1. Mararikulam

For a  state that lies on the waters on the coasts, Kerala is not as beachy as one would assume. The typical beach person usually ends up in the beaches of Varkala or Kovalam that flock of both Indians and foreigners. But a few miles further of the popular backwaters, gaze into the glistening and sprawling fishing village of Mararikulam that hosts the Marari Beach. With a white sand beach as shiny as the Maldives, you wont believe that it is still Kerala and not any other. With luxury resorts all along , dive in for a refreshing dip and bask in the sun and make your time along the beach that is truly an offbeat one!

  1. Thattekad Bird Sanctuary 

Secretly nestled on the northern banks of the Periyar River, Thattekad is the first ever bird sanctuary in Kerala. Home to about 250 species of birds alongside sloths and leopards, this is a perfect spot for bird watchers and wildlife photographers. Grab your lenses and peek into the flora and fauna of this place that is sure to mesmerise you. For the most extraordinary spectacle, visit during the months of October and March when you can feast your eyes on the Migratory birds from Siberia that throng in the sanctuary! 

  1. Parambikulam Tiger Reserve

As wild and green it can get, the beauty of kerala and its underrated and underexplored vintages is just too high! The Parambikulam Tiger Reserve is one of India’s most prominent habitats of the great Royal Bengal Tiger! Indulge yourselves in  long forest treks, jeep safaris, and treetop camping to spice your trip up! With truly magnificent and adventurous in the offbeat atmosphere of Kerala.

  1. Thalassery 

Popularly termed as the “Paris of Malabar” , the town is a cheerful one. This one is for the one who loves to mingle along with the locals instead of being one in a herd of tourists. What makes this an offbeat one is the innumerable unexplored town itself! Walk to the nearby Dharmadam Island or drive on the Muzhappilangad Beach, the longest drive-in-beach in India. Enchanting locals, the street food and the rich colonial history waiting to be seen by someone – this place surely is one of the perfect ones for an offbeat exploration.  

  1. Neeleshwar

At the far northern end of Kerala lies the sleepy village of Neeleshwar flanked by two rivers with the Arabian sea to its west. Abundant in  wellness resorts, dive into an aura of natural healing! With yoga on the beach to watching the sunset on the beach while munching on the local seafood on a cruising houseboat on the calm backwaters, feel the time passing through you in this blissful extravaganza!

  1. Ilaveezha Poonchira

An imperial and a majestic valley located along the borders of Kottayam in Kerala that sprawls across thousands of acres makes for one of the most gallant and spectacular view spots in the entire state! Nested Among mesmerising hills with some of them being above 3200 feet makes it an exhilarating one.  Ilaveezha Poonchira is a Malayalam word which means ‘a flowery lake where no leaves fall’. Since there are no trees on the mountaintops, leaves do not fall into this captivating valley. The charm of this tempting region is unparalleled and provides you mesmeric views of both sunrise and sunset. Ilaveezha Poonchira is nothing short of a paradise, especially during the monsoon months. 

  1.  Silent Valley National Park

Studded with rich tropical evergreen forests, this unexplored National park is the perfect amalgamation of Flora, fauna and nature – all the three come to life in this enticing place! This park houses the rare monkey species of Lion-tailed Macaque.Travellers can watch more than 1000 species of flowering plants in this region. Varieties of mammals, butterflies, moths and birds.Two blissful rivers, Bhavani and Kunthipuzha flow through the forests in the area. The evergreen Shola forests and enchanting waterfalls also make Silent Valley, the perfect spot to get mesmerised in.

CONCLUSION

Kerala is one of those rare places that brings together nature, man made marvels, God’s miraculous spots of devotion, culture and tradition , cuisine and most of all- People who make the place better and brighter and these should surely be enough to take a step of exploration into GOD’S OWN COUNTRY!!

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