10 Things To Do On A Rainy Day In Kerala

Kerala averages 120–140 days of downpours every year, but don’t let that dampen your enthusiasm for ‘God Own’s Country’. Own the day with these 10 things to do in Kerala when it rains.

Pamper yourself with Ayurvedic massage

Ayurveda is a traditional Indian healthy lifestyle method, practiced in the country for more than 5,000 year. Incidentally, Kerala has one too many Ayurvedic centres and resorts as well as standalone outlets offering Ayurvedic massages. These centers offer holistic treatments – a mix of Ayurveda, naturopathy, yoga, mantra and de-addiction treatments – to make you forget about the grey weather. Those looking for a high-end massage can make their way over to Ayurvedic resorts like Carnoustie Ayurveda and Wellness Retreat or Kalari Kovilakom, but plenty of Ayurvedic resorts and centres are very affordable, such as Sarovaram Ayurvedic Health Center, Ideal Ayurvedic Resort and Shinshiva Ayurvedic Resort.

Relax on a backwater houseboat

Go museum hopping

Rainy days are perfect excuses to spend hours digging into the history and heritage at the museums, and there is no dearth of cultural sites and museums depicting the state’s rich past. Our top picks are the Hill Palace Museum, where visitors can catch a glimpse of the lavish lifestyle of the royal families of Kerala along with 19th-century paintings and sculptures; the other one is Napier Museum, where visitors can discover Kerala’s cultural heritage through historical artefacts and ancient ornaments. But don’t limit yourself – a plethora of other museums are available, such as Natural History Museum in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala Folklore Museum in Ernakulum and many more.

Get artsy

Kerala has abundant art galleries to satiate your inner artist, so grab a cup o’ joe and marvel at the contemporary artwork at the David Art Gallery. Or try Sri Chitra Art Gallery, which houses impressive work by well-known artists, including Rabindranath Tagore, Nicholas Roerich and Raja Ravi Verma.

Catch a performance art show

Watching a performance art show in Kerala is an absolute must as its martial, folk and classical art forms have enthralled the people world over. And what better way to spend a rainy day than catching one of these shows, held across the state. Watch Kathakali (17th-century classic dance form) at the Kerala Kathakali Center or Cochin Cultural Center every evening, or watch Kalaripayattu (ancient martial art form) at Kadathanadan Kalari Center.

1. Take shelter in Paradesi Synagogue

Synagogue

Why not head to a peaceful place instead? Built in 1958, Paradesi Synagogue is the one of the oldest synagogues in the Commonwealth of Nations. Marvel at interesting and rare antiques such as gold and silver crowns, a clock tower, Belgian glass chandeliers, hand-woven carpets, and four Torah scrolls encased in gold and silver. Bonus: entry is free.

2. Take refuge behind the Dutch Palace walls

Mattancherry Palace, also known as the Dutch Palace, is a beautiful blend of European and traditional architectural styles. Its central courtyard houses a temple dedicated to the Kochi deity, and two more temples on the premises are dedicated to Lords Shiva and Krishna. In addition to a gallery featuring weapons, coins, furnishings and other artefacts of the royal family of Kochi, the highlight of this palace is its stunning colorful mural collection, spanning 28 m² (300 square feet) and showcasing scenes from Hindu epic Ramayana. Note that the palace closes at 5pm.
Mattancherry Palace, Mattancherry, Kochi, Kerala, India, +91 48460 68716

Murals at Mattancherry Palace | © Mark Hills / Wikimedia Commons

3. Go underground at Eddakal Caves

Hide away from the moody weather by going underground. Descend into the Eddakal Caves, natural caves with Stone Age drawings. The entry fee is ₹20 (£0.23/$0.31) for Indians, ₹40 (£0.47/$0.62) for foreign nationals; plus an additional ₹25 (£0.30/$0.40) for the camera. Note that the caves close at 5pm.
Eddakal Caves, Wayanad, Nenmeni, Kerala, India, +91 94460 52134

Edakkal Caves from the top | © Nithish Ouseph / Wikimedia Commons

Awaken your inner chef

Kerala’s vibrant cuisine is rich with French, Malabari, British and Arabian influences, giving it a coastal flavour. Apart from feasting on the local cuisine, take a cooking class and learn about authentic Kerala culinary styles with access to a variety of ingredients and spices that may be unavailable back home. Numerous options are available, from casual cooking classes to extended residential cooking programmes – check out Philipkutty’s Farm and Leelu Homestay.

Get some retail therapy

Rain offers a perfect shopping opportunity, so fill your bags to the brim with authentic souvenirs and other items at Kerala’s markets, handicraft showrooms or shopping malls. For name brands, head to one of the many malls, such as LuLu Mall or Centre Square Mall. For souvenir shopping, visit Pulickattil Handicrafts to find reasonably priced metal and wooden artifacts and souvenirs. Looking for local spices instead? Head to Hindustan Spices & Herbals to find all kinds of medicinal herbs and spices.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.