WHY I LOVED KERALA AS A FEMALE TRAVELER

I wasn’t expecting Kerala to be one of my favorite parts of India but everything about this state absolutely blew me away. Kerala is famous for being the birthplace of Ayurveda (traditional Indian medicine)  which draws a lot of tourists there for treatments. What many people don’t know is it’s actually one of the only Indian states that prioritizes gender equality making it one of the most ideal destinations for female travelers in India. Kerala has a lot of Portuguese influence and beautiful vibrant neighborhoods that were extremely clean compared to other States I experienced. Walking around here as a woman is completely safe and overall the attitude towards tourists was extremely hospitable. This state has endless opportunities to experience yoga/ spa retreats, incredible food, and so many beautiful nature opportunities. My biggest regret is not spending more time here. 

KOCHI 

I suggest starting off your trip in Kochi because the Cochin International Airport is a major airport and easily accessible from all parts of India. We absolutely loved our time in Kochi and I would suggest giving yourself at least three days there (more if possible) to experience everything the city has to offer. I suggest staying in the Fort Kochi area to be walking distance from amazing restaurants, shopping, and the famous Chinese Fishing Nets. During your time in Kochi don’t miss exploring the historic Jew Town, for amazing shopping and beautiful portuguese tiled covered streets. My favorite dining experience we had here was trying the famous roasted fish in banana leaves (Meen Pollichathu) at Fusion Bay Restaurant. This was easily one of my top 10 meals in India. Overall Kochi felt extremely accessible for tourists and was easy to navigate. 

ALLEPPEY BACKWATERS 

About an hour's drive from Kochi are the magical backwaters of Alleppey. We called an uber to drive us here and the ride cost us less than $20 USD. The Alleppey backwaters are the ultimate serene escape with tranquil canals, endless lush greens and stunning colorful boats of all shapes and sizes. Many people take two - three day cruises along the Alleppey backwaters to truly experience the serenity of the backwater and the vibrant culture that exists within it. I personally did not have time to do a full on cruise during my time in Kerala and opted for a sunset tour during an afternoon and absolutely loved it. Many people will approach you to book their boats or services upon arrival in Alleppey. I do not suggest booking in advance but rather walking up the canals yourself and inquiring about a boat ride. We did this and negotiated it ourselves and ended up paying about $10 USD for our afternoon boat tour. 

ARYUVEDIC EXPERIENCES 

Ayurvedic medicine is very different from that of western cultures, it’s based around discovering what is best for your particular body type and centered around holistic treatments and diet.  During your time in Kerala getting an ayurvedic treatment is the perfect way to relax and ease any travel pains. Always make sure to heavily research any ayurvedic practitioner / massage before receiving treatment. Ladies, it is extremely uncommon to have a male masseuse in India and I do not recommend accepting treatments from men for safety reasons. Any legitimate ayurvedic center should have a registration / official certificate, but be sure to research online and read testimonials as well. I really enjoyed my experience at Ayruville in Kochi. 

SPICE FARMS 

I plan to go back to Kerala just for this experience and wish I had time to do it on my own travels. The spice farms in Kerala look like they are out of a fairytale. A journey to the spice farms entails a four hour car ride so it’s a good idea to plan for at least one night there. I was told the Thekaddy spice farm is one of the most beautiful experiences. 

OTHER THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND 

• There is a heavy monsoon season so plan your visit between October - May. 

• Kerala is a communist state so you will see tons of communist flags and sometimes parades. 

• This is the place in India to try seafood and embrace eating Bananas leaves for many meals. 

• The backwaters have their own cultures and a homestay is an amazing way to truly immerse yourself as an alternative to staying on a houseboat.