9 Best Sights in Kerala, India

The pristine Anchuthengu beach, 12 km (7½ miles) south of Varkala, is the location of a lighthouse and the ruins of the British Anjengo fort, built in 1695, which at various times was under Dutch and Portuguese attack. Anchuthengu ("Five Coconuts"), was the site of the first trade settlement of the East India Company, and therefore the beginning of British India. It was also the site of the first rebellion against the British, when locals, unhappy with the conduct of the British traders, banded together to oust them. All that remains of the 1695 fort is its four walls and a few tombstones from the adjacent cemetery. Like so many other areas of southern and central Kerala, the sea pleasantly merges with the backwaters here—be sure to bring a camera.

Known as Dakshin Kashi, or the Varanasi of the south, Varkala is a major center for the worship of Vishnu. At the Janardhana Swamy temple, you can see what happens at a popular Hindu pilgrimage destination—the prayers; the morning and evening aarti (devotions), when the gods are feted with oil lamps; and the customs of the devotees. Non-Hindus are not allowed inside the inner sanctum, but you can certainly view the architecture and soak up the atmosphere of this pretty and very busy 2,000-year-old temple.

Photographs of the deity are not allowed, and there may be a charge for using a camera outside.

The 18th-century Kuthiramalika (Puthen Maliga) Palace Museum, or Horse Palace, built by the king of Travancore, has carved rosewood ceilings and treasures of the royal family, including an ivory throne, weapons, paintings, and gifts from foreign dignitaries. Life-size Kathakali figures stand in the dance room. Carved horses, for which the palace is named, line the eaves of an inner courtyard. Only one-third of the enormous compound is open to visitors; the entrance fee includes a knowledgeable guide. Also note that you must remove your shoes upon entering.

In an 80-acre park at the north end of M.G. Road are the many attractions of the Museum and Art Gallery Complex. Each part of the complex requires a special ticket. At the Natural History Museum, a musty collection of animal skeletons, dioramas, and stuffed birds, head straight to the second floor to see an interesting model of a traditional nalakettu home (the traditional home of the Nairs, a warrior clan), complete with costumed figurines and a full explanation. The art museum's collection of local arts and crafts—including bronze and stone sculptures, ivory ornaments, and musical instruments—is as noteworthy as the building itself, with its almost Cubist pattern of gables, European-style minarets, and a decorative interior. Built in 1874, it was designed by Robert Chisholm, a specialist in Indo-Saracenic design, and was named after Lord Napier, the governor of Madras. Memorabilia donated by the royal family, including a golden chariot used by the Maharaja of Travancore, is displayed in the tiny Sree Chitra Enclave. On the opposite side of the park, the Sree Chitra Art Gallery has an eclectic collection of paintings, including works of the Rajput, Mogul, and Tanjore schools as well as those of India's most famous oil painter, Raja Ravi Varma; copies of the Ajanta and Sigirya frescoes; and works from China, Japan, Tibet, and Bali, along with canvases by modern Indian painters.

Sparkling Odayam, the next beach north of Varkala, is considered part of the town but is about 2 km (1 mile) away. It's quieter and even prettier—well worth visiting for an afternoon of sun or to watch a spectacular sunset. Thiruvambady Beach, still more tranquil, is a black-sand beach a climb down from the Cliff. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: solitude; sunset; swimming; walking.

Believed to be the largest wooden palace in Asia, this magnificent, 17th-century, carved-teak palace, set on nearly 7 acres, and with fantastic murals and carved and painted ceilings, is across the border in neighboring Tamil Nadu, about a 1½-hour (73 km [45 miles]) drive south of Kovalam on National Highway 47 in a very serene location at the foot of the Velli Hills. Padmanabhapuram was once the capital of the Travancore rajas (Travancore was the southernmost state, which was combined with Cochin and Malabar to form Kerala). This palace, their home, gives a taste of the grandeur of those times. Don't miss the brass lanterns that apparently have been lit since the 1700s, or the palace tank (reservoir) that was used for bathing. This huge complex is one of the best-preserved examples of old wooden architecture in India and worth the excursion, especially if you are a royalty or history buff.

The handsome Padmanabhaswamy Temple, dedicated to Vishnu, has a seven-story gopuram (entrance tower) that's as wide as it is tall to accommodate an unusual reclining statue of a very dark-skinned Vishnu (Padmanabha), lying in eternal slumber on a five-headed serpent. The date of its original construction has been placed at 3000 BC; legend has it that it was built by 4,000 masons, 6,000 laborers, and 100 elephants over the course of six months. In the main courtyard there's an intricate granite sculpture, supplemented by more stonework on the nearly 400 pillars supporting the temple corridors. Non-Hindus are not allowed inside the temple or inner sanctum but are welcome to view the impressive structure from the outside. The hours of opening reflect the eccentric uniqueness of this magnificent-looking and much revered house of worship: 3:30 am–4:45 am, 6:30 am–7 am, 8:30 am–10 am, 10:30 am–11:10 am, 11:45 am–noon, 5 pm–6:15 pm, 6:45 pm–7:20 pm, and a viewing of Vishnu can be booked online. You'll have to take off your shoes, photography is prohibited, and women should wear appropriate clothing (i.e., no shorts or sleeveless or revealing tops). Nearby there are little shops selling handicrafts.

A pristine strip of sand backed by a steep cliff, this is probably one of South India's prettiest yet most happening beaches. Unlike many Goan beaches, its beauty has not been marred by overdevelopment, such as hotels that are too close to the water. At what's also known as Papanasam beach, which means "to wash away your sins," a dip here may be a chance to dissolve your life's regrets in the Arabian Sea. You are bound to see plenty of pilgrims doing just that. Plenty of vendors will also come by, offering coconut water or slices of fresh pineapple. There are a few rip currents in these waters, so obey the signs. From the beach you can climb up to the Cliff for some souvenir hunting or to have a bite or a cool drink from the dozens of thatched shacks. Amenities: food and drink; parking (free). Best for: sunrise; sunset; swimming; surfing; walking.

Kathakali and Mohiniyattam performances take place here during the busy season, 5–7 pm. Come early to see the elaborate preperformance makeup being applied.