Best Time to Visit Kerala (Month by Month)
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The best time to visit Kerala is from October to March, when the monsoon has passed, the days are dry and warm, the backwaters are calm and the hill stations are cool and clear. December and January have the most comfortable weather but are also the busiest and most expensive months. That said, Kerala has no truly bad season: the monsoon turns the state a brilliant green, fills the waterfalls and brings the lowest prices of the year. This guide explains what each month is like, so you can choose the time that suits your trip.
Kerala's Seasons at a Glance
Season | Months | Weather | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
Winter (peak season) | October to March | Dry, warm days on the coast; cool nights in the hills | Houseboats, Munnar, Thekkady, beaches, first-time visitors |
Summer | April and May | Hot and humid on the coast; pleasant in the hills | Munnar, Vagamon and Thekkady; school-holiday family trips |
Southwest monsoon | June to September | Heavy rain, often in long bursts, with dry breaks | Ayurveda, waterfalls, green landscapes, lower prices |
There is also a second, gentler monsoon (the northeast or "retreating" monsoon) in October and November, which brings short afternoon showers, mostly in the south.
Kerala Weather Month by Month
Temperatures are rough guides: the first figure is for the coast (Kochi, Alleppey), the second for Munnar.
Month | Coast / Munnar | What it's like | Crowds and prices |
|---|---|---|---|
January | 23–32°C / 8–22°C | Dry, sunny and the coolest month in the hills. Ideal everywhere. | Very busy until mid-January; high prices |
February | 24–33°C / 10–23°C | Dry and warm. Eravikulam National Park usually closes for a few weeks for the Nilgiri tahr calving season. | Busy; high prices |
March | 25–34°C / 12–25°C | Getting hot and humid on the coast; still lovely in the hills. | Quieter; good value |
April | 26–34°C / 14–25°C | Hot on the coast, with the first pre-monsoon thunderstorms late in the month. The hills are at their most pleasant. | Hill stations busy with school holidays |
May | 26–33°C / 14–24°C | Humid, with more frequent storms as the monsoon approaches. | Hills busy; coast quiet and cheap |
June | 24–30°C / 13–20°C | The southwest monsoon arrives in early June, usually the wettest month. | Low season; lowest prices |
July | 24–29°C / 13–19°C | Heavy rain with dry spells. Peak season for Ayurvedic treatment. | Low season |
August | 24–29°C / 13–19°C | Rain easing. Onam and the snake-boat races often fall in August or early September. | Busy around Onam; otherwise low |
September | 24–30°C / 13–20°C | Showers becoming lighter; green landscapes and full waterfalls. | Good value; rising from late month |
October | 24–31°C / 13–21°C | Mostly dry, with some afternoon showers from the retreating monsoon. | Shoulder season; good value |
November | 23–31°C / 12–21°C | Pleasant, with occasional showers early in the month. | Busy from mid-November |
December | 23–31°C / 10–21°C | Dry and comfortable everywhere. | Peak season; highest prices from 20 December to 5 January |
Best Time to Visit by Place
Munnar and the hill stations
Munnar, Vagamon and Thekkady are pleasant all year because of their height. September to March is best for clear views and cool, fresh weather; December and January nights can be cold, so bring a warm layer. April and May are popular with families escaping the heat of the plains. In the monsoon the tea estates are at their greenest but often misty. Munnar is also famous for the Neelakurinji, a shrub that turns the hills blue-purple only once every 12 years; it last bloomed in 2018, so the next mass flowering is expected around 2030. See our Munnar tour packages.
Alleppey and the backwaters
Houseboats run all year, but October to March is the best time for a cruise: the sky is clear, the water is calm and it's comfortable to sit out on deck all afternoon. April and May are hot during the day, so an air-conditioned boat is worth the extra cost. In the monsoon, a rainy afternoon on the water is atmospheric and prices are at their lowest, though you'll spend more time under cover. Compare boats on our Alleppey houseboat packages page.
Thekkady (Periyar)
October to March is the most comfortable time for the Periyar Lake boat ride and forest walks. Animal sightings near the water are often better in the drier months from February to May, when wildlife comes down to the lake to drink. During very heavy monsoon rain, boating and some forest activities can be paused for a day or two.
Kovalam and the beaches
The beach season runs from October to March, when the sea is calmer and safer for swimming. During the monsoon the sea is rough and swimming is not advised, though the beaches are quiet and dramatic to look at.
Kerala Festivals Worth Planning Around
Dates follow the Malayalam and Hindu calendars and change each year, so check before you book.
- Onam (August or September): Kerala's harvest festival, with flower carpets, a grand vegetarian feast and snake-boat races. Hotels fill up around the main days.
- Nehru Trophy Boat Race (usually August): the most famous snake-boat race, held on Punnamada Lake in Alleppey, with long boats rowed by a hundred oarsmen or more.
- Christmas and New Year in Fort Kochi (late December): Fort Kochi's streets fill with lights and celebrations through the Cochin Carnival up to New Year's Day.
- Attukal Pongala (February or March): in Trivandrum, one of the world's largest gatherings of women, cooking offerings in the streets around the temple.
- Thrissur Pooram (April or May): a spectacular temple festival with parades of decorated elephants and huge fireworks displays.
Monsoon in Kerala: Should You Go?
The monsoon season, from June to September, puts many travellers off, but it has real advantages. Hotels and houseboats are at their cheapest, the crowds have gone, and the landscape is at its most beautiful, with waterfalls such as Athirapilly, Cheeyappara and Valara in full flow. It is also the traditional season for Ayurveda, when the cool, damp air is thought to help the body respond to treatment.
The drawbacks: rain can be heavy for hours at a time, hill roads can be slow, and occasional landslides or flooding can close roads in the hills. Beach swimming is unsafe. If you travel in the monsoon, keep your plans flexible and leave a buffer day before your flight home.
When Is Kerala Cheapest?
June to August, outside the Onam holidays, is the cheapest time to visit Kerala, with the lowest hotel and houseboat rates of the year. Late September, October, early November and March also offer good value with dependable weather. The most expensive period is 20 December to 5 January, when many hotels charge peak rates and add compulsory gala-dinner charges for Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
Best Time for Your Kind of Trip
- First visit: October to March. Everything is open, the weather is reliable, and you can combine the hills, backwaters and beaches.
- Honeymoon: November to February for the classic combination of cool Munnar evenings and a houseboat night. See our Kerala honeymoon packages.
- Families: October to March, or April and May if you stay mostly in the hills. See our Kerala family tour packages.
- Budget trips: June to September, or the shoulder months of October and March.
- Ayurveda: June to August, the traditional treatment season.
Plan Your Trip
Once you know when to go, choose a route that fits your days:
- Kerala 4 Days Itinerary: Munnar and a night on an Alleppey houseboat
- Munnar & Alleppey (4 days): Munnar and a backwater resort
- Kerala 5 Days Itinerary: Munnar, Thekkady and Alleppey
- Kerala 6 Days Itinerary: three nights in Munnar, Thekkady and a houseboat
- Kerala 7 Days Itinerary: a relaxed week with a houseboat night
- Vagamon, Munnar & Kovalam (8 days): two hill stations, the backwaters and the beach
See all our Kerala tour packages, or read about the best places to visit in Kerala.
Best Time to Visit Kerala: FAQs
Which is the best month to visit Kerala?
December, January and February have the most comfortable weather, with dry days on the coast and cool nights in the hills. For a good balance of weather and price, choose October, November or March.
Is it a good idea to visit Kerala in the monsoon?
Yes, if you don't mind rain. From June to September Kerala is at its greenest, prices are at their lowest and it is the best time for Ayurvedic treatment. Beach swimming is unsafe and heavy rain can slow travel in the hills, so keep your plans flexible.
When is the best time to visit Munnar?
September to March is best for clear views and cool weather. April and May are also pleasant, while the rest of India is hot. Note that Eravikulam National Park usually closes for a few weeks between February and April.
When is the best time for an Alleppey houseboat?
October to March, when the weather is dry and comfortable for sitting out on deck. Houseboats run all year, and monsoon cruises are cheaper and quieter, though you'll spend more time under cover.
What is the cheapest time to visit Kerala?
June to August, outside Onam, has the lowest hotel and houseboat prices. October and March are good-value months with better weather. The most expensive time is 20 December to 5 January.
What is the best time for a honeymoon in Kerala?
November to February is ideal for a honeymoon, with cool evenings in Munnar and pleasant days on the backwaters. Book early for December and January, when the best rooms and houseboats sell out first.