A much-talked-about place, Kerala hosts thousands of tourists from around the county all year long. Now you might think what more can be possibly new to know more about the state. But it might come as a surprise to you that it is quite beyond just a few famous cities.

Mohammed Saalim, who is a resident of Bangalore, works in a call center and has always dreamt of following travel as a passion. Now if you too have a mountain over the beach vibe, you’ve come to the right place. Because Mohammed here happens to be a mountain lover too. 

Having been to Kerala many times, he is a perfect person to share some tips, suggestions and might even disclose some tricks up his sleeves. 

Travel 101

He always sees fit to plan a week-long trip, where he dedicates 2 days for traveling and the other 5 for enjoyment. Having his car, he prefers road trips and being on his own. However, at times he does enjoy the company of his friends on the way. 

While he loves driving his car wherever he goes, he also recommends that one can easily travel through public transport. Kerala is well connected and one shouldn’t have a problem commuting. He also says that the localities are always happy to help tourists whenever they can. So it is a pretty happy-go-lucky place overall. 

Recent Travel

During his recent visit, he planned to tour Munnar, Athirappilly, and Backwater Alleppey. Located on the banks of the Vembanad Lake, this out-of-the-world city is heaven for the backwater vacationers on a Kerala trip! Adorned with lush greenery, coconut groves, and silent water is nothing less than a scene out of the movie. 

For trekkers, he recommends Wayanad and Munnar as the best places for hiking, having perfect terrains, especially for beginners. 

Local Commute Hacks and Budget Guide

If you are on budget travel, you can rent bikes from local shops to commute within the city. They are very cheap and allow you the flexibility to change and adjust your schedule. 

Our traveler says your budget for a week’s trip to Kerala depends on how you design your vacation. If you wish to stay at luxurious hotels, your budget can easily go up from INR 50,000 to INR 60,000. However, if you go a little easy on the hotels and book local homestays, hostels, or zostels, you can easily manage within INR 15,000*/ – INR 20,000*/-.

According to Mohammed, the best time to visit Kerala is between October to December. The cold weather, mist, and fog add more beauty to the charming surroundings. 

Recommended Place

He could not recommend Athirappilly enough. For all the folks tired of living within the chaos of the city and bustling life, this place is what you need. Soaked in beauty and tranquility, it is filled with a multitude of rivers and is home to many waterfalls. It is also less crowded in comparison to Munnar. The accommodation tariffs are also inclusive ranging from INR 1,500*/- to INR 10,000*/- per night. 

He stayed at Casa Rio Resorts during his visit to Athirappilly and highly speaks about it. Situated at a five-minute walk from Athirappilly Water Falls, it is full of modern facilities 

Food and Beyond

He enjoys the local food rather than at fancy restaurants. He also recommends trying Fish thali if you are a non-vegetarian. Coastal areas are known for their seafood, so it is a must-try. 

An important note to all the travelers is that it is advised to travel in the morning as there are many forest check posts along the way between Bangalore and Kerala, and they get closed in the night and only open the next morning. So it is applicable for many interstate routes. 

Having said that, Kerala is a safe place to travel especially for female travelers, and shouldn’t be a problem to find your way through.  

So this was the wisdom that Mohammed passed on for the fellow travelers who wish to plan their trip to Kerala. For more photos and videos check out his page @travel_with_saalim.

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