Why visit Kerala, and where should you go?
Kochi is a welcoming first stop, especially for travellers flying in from Delhi or arriving from another country. Set aside time for Fort Kochi and Mattancherry rather than treating the city only as an airport transfer.
Munnar offers tea-growing hills and cooler high-range weather. Thekkady, near the Periyar landscape, adds a different forest setting and a chance to explore the area around Kumily. Alappuzha (Alleppey) is known for canals and backwater cruises. A houseboat is one option; a shorter cruise may suit travellers who prefer to sleep in a hotel. keralatourism.org
A first-time route is Kochi → Munnar → Thekkady → Alappuzha → Kochi. Kerala Tourism also features this circuit in itineraries published through its accredited-centre listings. The listing is a route example, not a Moon Garden Tour package or price. keralatourism.org
When should you visit? What weather should you expect?
November to February generally offers pleasant conditions for a first visit. March to May can feel hot and humid on the coast, while Munnar’s higher elevation gives it a different feel. Kerala has two rainy periods; rain can affect sightseeing and driving plans, especially in hilly areas. Check the forecast close to departure instead of relying on a seasonal average. keralatourism.org
For a road trip, keep a flexible day in the schedule during wet weather. A photograph-friendly hill road can become a slow drive in rain and mist.
How to reach Kerala from Delhi
- Flight: Fly from Delhi to an airport that matches your itinerary. Kochi is a convenient starting point for the Kochi–Munnar–Thekkady–Alappuzha circuit. International visitors connecting through Delhi should allow time for immigration, baggage and their onward connection.
- Train: Choose your arrival station around the first destination rather than booking simply “to Kerala.” Ernakulam is a useful rail gateway for Kochi and Munnar; Munnar itself has no railway station. Kerala Tourism identifies Ernakulam Junction as a railhead for Munnar.
- Car or bike: Plan a multi-day, one-way journey of roughly 2,700–2,900 km to Kochi, depending on your exact start, route and diversions. Confirm the live distance in navigation before publishing or departing. That distance is additional to your Kerala sightseeing and return journey.
Delhi to Kochi by car or bike: complete route outline
Delhi → Agra → Gwalior → Jhansi → Sagar → Nagpur → Adilabad → Hyderabad → Kurnool → Anantapur → Bengaluru → Hosur → Krishnagiri → Salem → Coimbatore → Palakkad → Thrissur → Kochi.
This is a planning corridor, using the NH44 direction for much of the north–south journey and the Salem–Coimbatore–Palakkad–Kochi corridor towards Kerala. Junctions, bypasses and the fastest usable road can change. Set the next overnight stop in navigation each morning and check current traffic, weather and diversions.
| Driving stage | Suggested overnight area | Planning point |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi → Agra/Gwalior → Jhansi | Jhansi area | Start early; allow for city exits and breaks |
| Jhansi → Sagar → Nagpur | Nagpur | A substantial day; add a stop if your group needs a gentler pace |
| Nagpur → Adilabad → Hyderabad | Hyderabad | Keep time for the city approach and next morning’s exit |
| Hyderabad → Kurnool → Anantapur → Bengaluru | Bengaluru area | Long stage; split it if riding solo or travelling with children |
| Bengaluru → Hosur → Krishnagiri → Salem → Coimbatore → Palakkad → Thrissur → Kochi | Kochi | Do not schedule sightseeing immediately after arrival |
Five driving days is an ambitious outline, not a guaranteed timetable. Six or more days one way gives many families and riders more room for rest. Before booking hotels, check actual door-to-door distances and choose halts according to your drivers’ experience. The return drive needs its own days.
If taking your own car: Arrange servicing, check tyres and spare, carry documents, FASTag and a working navigation backup, and confirm parking at each overnight hotel. Rotate drivers where possible.
If riding a bike: Make the riding days shorter than a car itinerary. Check tyres, chain, lights and luggage mounting; carry protective gear, rain protection and drinking water. Avoid planning a late arrival on an unfamiliar wet or hilly road. Build rest days into the trip rather than treating the car schedule above as a motorcycle target.
Driving within Kerala: the first-time circuit
1. Kochi → Munnar: Travel inland through the Aluva/Perumbavoor–Kothamangalam–Adimali direction, subject to your starting point and the current route. Munnar is a hill destination, so allow more time than the map distance alone suggests. Kerala Tourism places Munnar roughly 120 km from the Ernakulam rail area. keralatourism.org
2. Munnar → Thekkady/Kumily: Make this a scenic transfer day with sensible stops, rather than adding a full sightseeing programme at both ends. Kerala Tourism has highlighted the Munnar–Thekkady road for its scenery. Confirm the navigable route and conditions for your date.
3. Thekkady/Kumily → Alappuzha: Descend towards the Kottayam side and continue to the backwaters. Confirm your boat’s boarding point and boarding time before setting out; “Alleppey houseboat” does not identify a single pickup location.
4. Alappuzha → Kochi: Return for the departure flight or train. Leave a generous buffer when your ticket is time-sensitive.
If a driver and car are part of a package, request vehicle type, daily duty hours, tolls, parking, driver allowance, pickup point and any extra-distance charges in writing.
What can you do in one day, two days, three days or a week?
| Time in Kerala | A realistic plan |
|---|---|
| One day | Explore one base, such as Fort Kochi and Mattancherry. This does not include travel from Delhi. |
| Two days | Stay around Kochi, or choose an Alappuzha backwater experience with a nearby overnight stay. |
| Three days | Choose Kochi + Munnar or Kochi + Alappuzha; avoid rushing all four destinations. |
| One week | Kochi 1 night → Munnar 2 nights → Thekkady 1–2 nights → Alappuzha 1 night → Kochi/departure. Adjust for arrival and departure times. |
For a Delhi-to-Kerala road trip, the table starts only after you reach Kerala. Add the outward drive, return drive and rest days to calculate the total holiday.
Food, local markets and what to buy
Try puttu with kadala curry for breakfast, appam with stew, and a sadya when available. Seafood is another option for those who eat it; menus and preparation differ by region and restaurant. Kerala Tourism
For shopping, Mattancherry’s spice market and Jew Town make a worthwhile Kochi walk. Broadway Market is another place to look for spices and dry goods. Cardamom, pepper and cinnamon are common choices; check packaging, freshness and any customs rules if you are carrying purchases abroad. Kerala Tourism
In Munnar, tea is an obvious souvenir. Around Thekkady, look for properly labelled spices. Alappuzha is a place to explore backwater-related local products and craft shopping. Buy items you can pack and use, rather than assuming every roadside “local” product is made nearby.
Hotels and who the circuit suits
For hotel examples to compare, Kerala Tourism Development Corporation lists Bolgatty Palace in Kochi, Tea County in Munnar and Aranya Nivas in Thekkady. These names are examples only: their current availability, facilities, prices and inclusion in a Moon Garden Tour quote must be checked. ktdc.com
- Families: Prefer fewer hotel changes, a suitable vehicle and a manageable hill-road day.
- Couples: Two nights in Munnar and an unhurried backwater experience can leave space to relax.
- Office groups: Agree on room sharing, meals, vehicle capacity, luggage and activity timings before the quote is final.
- International visitors: A Delhi connection followed by a Kochi arrival usually leaves more Kerala holiday time than beginning a cross-country road trip. Check current India entry rules through the official government portal. indianvisaonline.gov.in
Plan with Moon Garden Tour
Tell Moon Garden Tour your travel dates, Delhi arrival details, number of travellers, budget and whether you want a flight-and-car holiday, train arrival, your own car, a bike trip or a car with driver. Ask for a written itinerary with the exact hotels, boat arrangement, vehicle terms and exclusions.
Call: 7292093191 · WhatsApp: 7292093191 · Email: info@mgtour.in · Website/booking enquiry: mgtour.in
Conclusion
Choose the journey first. If you want Kerala itself to fill your week, arrive in Kochi and follow a compact circuit. If you want the freedom of your own car or bike from Delhi, give the highway journey the days it deserves. Either way, a clear route and realistic pace make the holiday better.
