Weather in Kerala

About Kerala

Kerala calls itself God's Own Country and has some claim to the title. The backwaters — a network of lakes, canals, and lagoons navigated by traditional rice boats — are uniquely beautiful. The hill stations of Munnar are covered in tea plantations. The Ayurvedic tradition is genuine and centuries-old.

Country

India

Best months to visit

January

Currency

INR

Language

Malayalam / English

Things to do in Kerala

Alleppey houseboat Munnar tea estates Ayurvedic treatment Periyar wildlife sanctuary Kovalam beach Kathakali performance

Weather by month

Click any month for detailed weather information and travel tips.

Recommended

January

31C

Hot and humid, with occasional showers.

February

33C

Hot and humid, with occasional showers.

March

33C

Hot and humid, with regular rainfall.

April

31C

Hot and humid, with frequent heavy rain.

May

29C

Warm and pleasant, with frequent heavy rain.

June

27C

Warm and pleasant, with frequent heavy rain.

July

27C

Warm and pleasant, with frequent heavy rain.

August

27C

Warm and pleasant, with frequent heavy rain.

September

27C

Warm and pleasant, with frequent heavy rain.

October

28C

Warm and pleasant, with frequent heavy rain.

November

28C

Warm and pleasant, with frequent heavy rain.

December

29C

Warm and pleasant, with regular rainfall.

Kerala is India without the relentlessness — a long, narrow strip of coastline where Arabian Sea surf meets quiet lagoon backwaters lined with coconut palms and Chinese fishing nets, where spice-scented hill stations grow the pepper and cardamom that made this 'Spice Coast' the obsession of medieval traders from Venice to Calicut. The houseboat journey through Alleppey's backwaters is one of travel's great slow pleasures, Munnar's tea estates are a revelation, and the food — fish molee, Kerala prawn curry, appam with stew — is the most refined and gentle in India.

Best areas to stay in Kerala

Kochi (Cochin)

Kerala's most cosmopolitan city — the iconic Chinese fishing nets at Fort Kochi, the Mattancherry Spice Bazaar, the extraordinary Jewish Synagogue, and the best contemporary art scene in South India.

Alleppey (Alappuzha) Backwaters

The Venice of India — 900km of inland waterways through coconut-fringed lagoons, best explored overnight on a traditional houseboat or by local punt and canoe.

Munnar Hill Station

A hill retreat of extraordinary beauty — endless carpets of tea estate green, the Eravikulam National Park (Nilgiri tahr, highest density in the world), and the most scenic driving roads in South India.

Kovalam & Varkala

Kerala's finest beach destinations — Kovalam is a classic resort with lighthouse beach, while Varkala's red cliffside restaurants above the Arabian Sea offer a more dramatic and less touristy beach experience.

Getting to Kerala

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Flights

Kochi International Airport (COK) is the most convenient gateway — served from London Heathrow and Gatwick via hubs (Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi) with Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Air India; Air India also operates a direct London–Kochi service.

⏱

From London

~9–11 hours total from London (via hub)

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Getting around

Hire car with driver is excellent value and very practical for Kerala's varied terrain; KSRTC state buses connect all major towns cheaply; public ferries cross the backwaters and are a beautiful local transport alternative.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to visit Kerala?

September to March is the finest period for most of Kerala — warm and dry. The south-west monsoon (June–August) is spectacular in its intensity but disrupts beach activities and some backwater routes. The north-east monsoon affects the far north coast briefly in October–November.

What is a Kerala houseboat experience?

Kettuvallam are traditional wooden rice boats converted into floating guesthouses — complete with bedrooms, kitchen, and crew — drifting through Alleppey's backwater canals and lagoons. An overnight journey is the most rewarding way to experience this unique landscape.

What is Ayurveda and can I experience it in Kerala?

Ayurveda is India's ancient system of wellness medicine — Kerala is considered its spiritual home. Genuine therapeutic treatments (not simple massage) require at least 7–14 days at a proper ayurvedic retreat; shorter spa treatments are available at most beach resorts.

What wildlife can I see in Kerala?

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (Thekkady) offers excellent elephant, gaur (Indian bison), and sambar deer sightings from boat or trekking. Silent Valley National Park and Wayanad are important tiger reserves. Kerala also has remarkable bird diversity throughout its backwater areas.

How do I travel between Kochi, Alleppey, and Munnar?

State buses are cheap but slow; private taxis and drivers are comfortable and relatively affordable in India; the scenic boat journey from Kochi to Alleppey along the backwaters (8 hours) is itself a highlight and avoids road transport entirely.

Traveler reviews

★★★★★

The houseboat night in Alleppey was the most peaceful travel experience I've had in years — gliding silently through palm-fringed lagoons at dusk with a fresh Kerala curry being prepared on deck. I didn't want it to end.

Anita K. · January 2024

★★★★★

Munnar tea estates in the morning mist with the Nilgiri hills surrounding you is a genuinely extraordinary landscape — nothing prepares you for the scale and greenness of it. The Eravikulam tahr sightings were wonderful and the colonial-era tea museum was fascinating.

Simon C. · February 2023

★★★★☆

Varkala cliff beach in December was perfect — the cliff restaurants above the sea with fresh fish and cold Kingfisher, the sunset view from the Papanasam temple cliff, and the beautifully warm Arabian Sea. Far less touristy than the northern beach states of India.

Gemma T. · December 2024