The list of places to visit in Kerala in December is endless. With everything from hills, beaches, forests, and backwaters experiencing pleasant weather and comfortably cool temperatures in the winter, it becomes easy to explore delightful destinations like Munnar, Wayanad, Varkala, Kovalam, Thekkady, and many more.
The weather in Kerala in December is ideal for stepping out and indulging in the touristy experiences it offers. Most travelers visit Kerala in December, the most comfortable time to visit this tropical Indian state.
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Top 10 Places To Visit In Kerala In December
With less humidity, cool winds, less rainfall, and an average temperature ranging between 23°C and 31°C, it’s the perfect time to go on a Jeep safari in Kerala’s jungles, stroll amid its tea plantations, swim on its beaches, and sail houseboats on its backwaters!
Here’s our pick of the best places in Kerala in December that you must check out during your visit.
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1. Kozhikode
From its stunning countryside to serene beaches, lush valleys, wildlife sanctuaries, glimmering rivers, and historical attractions, Kozhikode is filled with enthralling sights for you to engage in!
Whether you visit its many medieval churches and temples, sail along the Dolphin’s Point, cruise its backwaters, or visit the ancient lighthouses, you’ll end up having the time of your life in Kozhikode!
Once the most prominent center for trade for the Chinese, Arab, and East Africans, Kozhikode is now an integral part of Kerala tourism. Every experience you enjoy here will tell you why it’s one of the best places to visit in Kerala in December!
Kozhikode tourist places: Lokanarkavu Temple, Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary, Mananchira Square, Dolphin’s Point, Beypore Beach, Sarovaram Bio Park, Thikkoti Lighthouse, Kappad Beach, Kozhikode Beach
Kozhikode weather in December: Pleasant with cool nights and sea breeze
Nearest airport: Calicut International Airport (29 km)
Nearest railway station: Kozhikode Railway Station
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2. Kovalam
Kovalam is a splendid beach town along the Arabian Sea on the outskirts of Trivandrum, the capital city of Kerala. Far from the Trivandrum’s busy city life, Kovalam is a quiet coastal area with tremendous natural beauty and tourist attractions to enjoy.
While there’s a lot to experience here from Vizhinjam Sea Port’s sunset to delicious food, ancient Hindu temples, grand churches, and Ayurvedic wellness therapies, it’s actually Kovalam’s beaches that have landed it on the list of best places to visit in Kerala in December!
Its gorgeous trio of crescent beaches and rocky cliffs have earned it international fame! Since the 1930s, tourists from around the globe have been coming here for sunbathing, diving, swimming, herbal massages, catamaran cruising, and staying in its beach cottages.
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Kovalam tourist places: Kovalam Beach, Samudra Beach, Vizhinjam Lighthouse, Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Attukal Bhagavathy Temple, Padmanabhapuram Palace
Kovalam weather in December: Warm days, cool nights, cool sea breeze
Kovalam nearest airport: Trivandrum International Airport (10 km)
Kovalam nearest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram Central (16 km)
3. Wayanad
Wayanad is a soothing blend of mountain peaks, blooming meadows, tea and spice plantations, trekking trails, cascading waterfalls, ancient caves, untouched forests, and exotic species of wildlife and birds.
Like many hilly places to visit in Kerala in December, Wayanad is blessed with year-round cool weather and chilly winds! This ‘Spice Garden of India’ grows everything from cardamom, black pepper, fenugreek, cumin, star anise, coffee, tea, rice, and bamboo. It’s also famed for its honey and medicinal herbs.
It has numerous wildlife reserves and national parks on its premises to protect its diverse array of flora, fauna, and avifauna.
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Home to Asia’s second-largest earth dam Banasura and the mighty Chembra Peak, Wayanad is a hub for activities like trekking, mountaineering, camping, jungle safari, rock climbing, and more.
Wayanad tourist places: Kanthanpara Waterfalls, Karapuzha Dam, Pookode & Karlad Lake, Edakkal Caves, 900 Kandi
Wayanad weather in December: Pleasantly misty, cool winds, dewy vegetation, infrequent rainfall
Wayanad nearest airport: Calicut International Airport (65 km)
Wayanad nearest railway station: Calicut Railway Station (62 km)
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4. Munnar
Munnar is blessed with scenic natural beauty everywhere you look! It’s an idyllic hill town nestled in the mesmerizing Nilgiri hills of the Western Ghats 6,000 feet above sea level.
This erstwhile summer capital of the British colonizers is famed for its green belt of resplendent forests, tea estates, lakes, and waterfalls stretching into the horizon. It also shelters exotic flora and fauna, including the Neelakurinji flowers (that bloom only once in 12 years) and the rare Nilgiri Tahr.
It is among the finest places to visit in Kerala in December courtesy of its year-round pleasant weather, natural abundance, and endless activities like trekking, camping, birdwatching, plantation walks, jungle safari, boating, and treehouse stays.
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Munnar tourist places: Attukal Waterfalls, Pothamedu View Point, Eravikulam National Park, Kundala Lake, TATA Tea Museum, Kolukkumalai Tea Estate, CSI Christ Church, Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
Munnar weather in December: Year-round cool winds and fresh mountain breeze, cool days and cold nights, infrequent rainfall
Munnar nearest airport: Cochin International Airport (79 km)
Munnar nearest railway station: Aluva Railway Station (108 km)
5. Alleppey
Also called the “Venice of the East”, Alleppey, or Alappuzha, is home to Kerala’s most enchanting network of backwaters. It is the heart and soul of Kerala tourism and unarguably one of the best places to visit in Kerala in December.
Alleppey lures in world’s travelers with an exciting array of things from its jade-colored backwaters to its charming village scenes, picture-perfect houseboats, coconut groves, dreamy canoes and shikaras, dense mangroves, and delightful paddy fields.
For the most thrilling experience of touring Alleppey, you must plan your trip around any of its action-packed boat races and the 10-day joyous festival of Mullakkal Chirappu!
Alleppey tourist places: Pathiramanal Island, Alappuzha Beach, Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, Punnamada Lake, Marari Beach, Mannarasala Sree Nagaraja Temple, St. Andrew’s Basilica, Alleppey Backwaters, Krishnapuram Palace
Alleppey weather in December:
Alleppey nearest airport: Cochin International Airport (85 km)
Alleppey nearest railway station: Alappuzha Railway Station
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6. Vagamon
Unlike the popular hill stations of Munnar and Wayanad, Vagamon is an offbeat hill town with fewer crowds and untouched natural beauty. Tucked 1,100 feet above sea level, Vagamon is known for its tea plantations, verdant valleys, misty mountain peaks, stunning waterfalls, and dense pine forests.
It is among the best winter places in Kerala with several scenic tourist attractions and experiences that you can explore. From the dreamy Vagamon Pine Forest where popular movies have been shot to the lovely Marmala Waterfall ideal for trekking and swimming, Vagamon has it all!
Vagamon is the perfect place to visit if you’re looking for a relaxing and peaceful holiday where you can simply sit back and enjoy nature’s beautiful artwork!
Vagamon tourist places: Thangalpara, Murugan Hill, Karikadu View Point, Vagamon Pine Forest, Idukki Dam, Marmala Waterfalls, Uluppuni Top Station
Vagamon weather in December: Cool days and cold nights, fresh mountain breeze, infrequent rainfall
Vagamon nearest airport: Cochin International Airport (100 km)
Vagamon nearest railway station: Kuttikanam Railway Station (22 km)
7. Thekkady
India’s largest tiger reserve and an enormous expanse of unspoiled forests on either side of the beautiful Periyar River have made Thekkady one of the most exciting places to visit in Kerala in December.
Its endless forest reserves, tiger sighting safaris, bamboo rafting, lush hills, rare flora, trekking, and camping opportunities lure in armies of nature lovers and adventure seekers! But its vast expanse of forests and lakes is also ideal for a laid-back vacation where you can surround yourself with unscathed nature!
Travelers find great pleasure in exploring its refreshing waterfalls, mountain peaks, rivers, thick jungles, diverse wildlife, and numerous plantations of cardamom, tea, and coffee. With over 260 species of migratory and endemic birds, it is also a haven for birdwatchers!
Thekkady tourist places: Periyar Tiger Reserve, Mangla Devi Temple, Odamade plantations, Murukkady, Vellaramkunnu, Chellarkovil village
Thekkady weather in December: Pleasantly warm days, cool nights, less humidity
Thekkady nearest airport: Madurai Airport (136 km)
Thekkady nearest railway station: Kottayam Railway Station (114 km)
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8. Kochi
Kochi, the ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea’, is a charming town in Kerala and the perfect blend of history and modernism. The city is loved for its balance of ancient architecture, historical monuments, and an old-world charm on one hand, and its shopping malls and rising skyscrapers on the other!
From exploring the vintage streets and Chinese Fishing Nets of Fort Kochi to taking a leisurely walk down Marine Drive, there’s a lot that makes Kochi one of the most culture-rich places to visit in Kerala in December.
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Sunny beaches, scenic backwaters, and mystifying palaces along with Kerala’s biggest elephant training center and one of India’s oldest churches are the kind of marvels you’ll get to experience on your visit to Kochi in December!
Kochi tourist places: Kodanad Training Centre, Church of Saint Francis, Marine Drive, Fort Kochi, Chinese Fishing Nets, Mattancherry Palace
Kochi weather in December: Sunny afternoons, balmy evenings, comfortably cool nights
Kochi nearest airport: Cochin International Airport
Kochi nearest railway station: Ernakulam Junction Railway Station
9. Varkala
This seaside destination in Trivandrum is Kerala’s only town with 15-meter-high cliffs overlooking the coast and the Arabian Sea. In addition to its picturesque cliffs, Varkala owes its popularity to its fun-loving hippie population and laid-back lifestyle.
Tranquil beaches, serene lakes, lush green peaks, ancient temples, world-class Ayurveda resorts, and dramatic landscapes are only a few of the things that have made Varkala one of the most preferred places to visit in Kerala in December for every beach bum.
When in Varkala, you can engage in several activities like scuba diving, parasailing, jet skiing, yoga, Ayurvedic spa, and witnessing traditional Kathakali dance performances at the theatres and local festivals.
Varkala tourist places: Varkala Cliff, Varkala Beach, Anjengo Fort, Kappil Lake, Sivagiri Mutt, Janardana Swami Temple, Chilakoor Beach, Varkala Lighthouse
Varkala weather in December: Pleasantly warm days and cool nights, clear skies, ocean breeze
Varkala nearest airport: Trivandrum International Airport (55 km)
Varkala nearest railway station: Varkala-Sivagiri Railway Station (2 km)
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10. Bekal
If you are a beach person who also loves historical places, don’t miss the town of Bekal! Among other things, this quaint town is famous for the Bekal Fort ruins located right on Bekal Beach.
It’s one of the biggest forts in Kerala and a rare and spectacular sight that brings people here from all over the world! Sitting on the coast’s steep hills since 1650 AD, this fort is a stellar example of ancient architecture and offers stunning panoramas of the Arabian Sea!
That’s not all. Bekal is among the most exciting places to visit in Kerala in December for its array of tourist spots and unique festivals that travelers love to witness.
The most loved is the Kambala Buffalo Race celebrated in December where farmers race their buffaloes in knee-deep waters of paddy fields!
Bekal tourist places: Bekal Beach, Bekal Fort, Kodi Cliffs, Ananthapura Lake Temple, Chandragiri Fort, Kappil Beach, Anjaneya Temple, Malik Dinar Mosque
Bekal weather in December: Balmy days, comfortably cool nights, low rainfall
Bekal nearest airport: Mangalore Domestic Terminal (67 km)
Bekal nearest railway station: Kasaragod Railway Station (14 km)
Now that you know of all the wonderful places to visit in Kerala in December, what are you still waiting around for? Book a personalized Kerala holiday package with Iris Holidays, plan your trip, and get set to go on a kickass adventure in God’s Own Country!
