From Backwaters to Hilltops: What Excites More in Kerala?


Kerala doesn’t hit you all at once. It creeps up on you. One morning, you’re standing in a noisy junction in Kochi, dodging bikes and buses. By evening, you might be on a slow boat, watching a kid jump into a canal or a man washing his net by the steps. Another day, you’re above it all in the hills, with tea bushes on every side and mist sitting in the valleys. If you like travel that feels lived‑in, not staged, Kerala is a good place to start.

Float Through The Backwaters


If you want to understand how close people live to water here, go to the backwaters.

Out there, you’ll notice:
 
  • Homes, small shrines and schools almost leaning over the canal.
  • Boats are used for everything – kids going to class, vegetables being delivered, and bricks piled up in the middle.
  • Narrow waterways framed by coconut trees and bright green fields.

Easy ways to see this:
 
  • Take a day or an overnight houseboat in Kollam Ashtamudi Lake. You don’t really need a plan – just sit with a tea and watch.
  • Hire a canoe with a local rower for narrow canals.
  • Go early morning or at sunset for cooler, gentle light.

backwater
Take time to explore the hills

Take Time to Explore The Hills


Drive inland and uphill, and it feels like you’ve switched states.

Good hill areas:
 
  • Munnar: Munnar has endless tea slopes, bends in the road where you have to stop for the view, and small trails through the estates. A tea factory visit helps you connect the scenery with what ends up in your cup. The gentle mist that settles over the hills creates a calm, romantic setting that is perfect for a honeymoon.
  • Thekkady– forests, a calm lake, and spice gardens.
  • Wayanad / Vagamon – quiet roads, waterfalls, and beautiful viewpoints.

Activities that truly delight:
 
  • Wake up early, and walk through tea or spice fields while it’s cool and quiet.
  • Join a short guided walk or jeep ride to a viewpoint or forest patch instead of signing up for a huge trek you won’t enjoy.
  • Visit a plantation and see pepper, cardamom, coffee or rubber on the plant – it sticks in your head more than reading a label.

Give Kochi a Proper Look


Most Kerala trips begin or end in Kochi, but many rush through – don’t.

Kochi highlights:
 
  • Fort Kochi – colonial churches, cafés, and Chinese fishing nets.
  • Mattancherry – spice lanes, antique shops, and temples.
  • Newer areas – street art, studios, and creative cafés.

Simple ways to explore:
 
  • Walk or rent a cycle in Fort Kochi in the early morning or late evening. Just wander, no rush.
  • Sunset at the waterfront.
  • Enjoy Kathakali, Kalaripayattu, or local music in the evening.

Give Kochi a proper look
varkkala cliff

Take it Slow On The Coast


The Kerala coast is long. Some bits are busy; others feel like no one has bothered to turn them into “spots” yet.

Places that keep turning up in plans:
 
  • Varkala – cliffside views, cafés, and a beach below.
  • Kovalam – lively beaches with cafés, families, and regular visitors
  • Northern stretches – quiet, open beaches with locals and fishermen.
Things that don’t need planning:
 
  • Walk the beach at sunset, watching boats and people.
  • Have fish or prawns cooked simply at a small, no‑frills place instead of chasing “fine dining” every night.
  • Drop by a harbour or fish market early in the morning and just stand back and watch how fast everything moves.

Let Fragrant Nature Influence How The Trip Feels


Where you crash at night changes how you feel about the day. Fragrant Nature is a Kerala‑based group (around since 2009) that tries to make the hotel part of the experience instead of a bland backdrop. They’ve got three key spots: Kochi, Kollam and Munnar.​

Here’s how they fit in:

Fragrant Nature Cochin
 
  • A polished, characterful hotel near Kochi’s historic harbourside.
  • Handy if you want to wander through Fort Kochi and Mattancherry, then come back to a quieter, comfortable base instead of a random city box.​

Fragrant Nature Backwater Resort, Kollam
 
  • Right by the lake in Paravur, rooms, lawns and the pool all face the water.
  • Works well if your idea of a backwater day includes sitting on a balcony or near the pool, watching the light change on the water instead of being on the move all the time.​

Fragrant Nature Munnar
 
  • Perched at Pothamedu, with proper valley and tea‑garden views built into how the place is laid out.
  • From your room, a terrace or a common lounge, you can see why people keep going back to Munnar – you don’t have to drive out for every view.​

Common features:
 
  • Skilled Ayurveda centres for massages and wellness programmes.
  • Quiet yoga spaces for postures, breathing and relaxation.
  • Architecture and interiors that use Kerala ideas – verandas, courtyards, local art, wood – and pair them with modern comfort so it feels like a real place, not a generic chain.​
  • Menus that give real space to local food – fish curries, coconut‑rich dishes, appam, stews – while still offering familiar things if you want a break.

If you like the thought of your stay helping you feel the place better – through the view outside, the food on your plate, or the way your day is structured – Fragrant Nature’s Kochi, Kollam and Munnar properties are worth a serious look.


Turning this into your own Kerala plan


Kerala doesn’t need a hyper‑planned schedule. A few solid choices – a bit of backwater time, some days in the hills, a proper look at Kochi, a couple of evenings by the sea, and blank spaces for small surprises – are enough to fill a week or more without feeling rushed.

If this sounds right for you:
 
  • Pick two or three places that genuinely interest you – no need to cover all of Kerala at once.
  • Leave some time free for markets, tea stalls, side roads and local tips.
  • Book stays that add something to the experience instead of just covering the basics.
     
If you care about comfort, wellness and staying somewhere that actually feels like Kerala, not “any city, anywhere”, then checking out Fragrant Nature’s resorts in Kochi, Kollam and Munnar is a good next step. Once that’s in place, let the state do what it does best – slow you down and send you home with stories that aren’t copy‑pasted from a brochure.

Experience Kerala at Fragrant Nature resorts in Kochi, Kollam, or Munnar. Book now!
 

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