Cabs — Uber & Ola
App taxis work well in Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and other cities; autorickshaws fill in everywhere else.
Plan your trip
Everything for a first trip to Kerala
A checklist that remembers your progress, the apps worth installing before you land, and a season-by-season guide to picking your dates.
First-timer's checklist
Tick it off as you plan
Saved in this browser, so it'll be here when you come back.
Essential apps & services
Install before you land
The handful of apps that make getting around and paying effortless.
Food — Swiggy & Zomato
Reliable food delivery and restaurant discovery across Kerala's towns and cities.
UPI payments
Set up a UPI app (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm) — QR payments are accepted almost everywhere, even at small shops.
KSRTC
Timetables and online booking for Kerala's state buses, including long-distance AC services.
IRCTC
The official app for booking Indian Railways tickets — essential for the popular coastal trains.
Google Maps
Navigation, ferry points and live traffic. Download offline maps for hill areas with patchy signal.
Weather — IMD
Check the India Meteorological Department forecast, especially during the monsoon and for hill trips.
Best time to visit
Pick your season
Kerala is good year-round — it just depends what you're after.
Oct–Mar
Peak season
Cool, dry and sunny — the most comfortable months for backwaters, beaches and sightseeing, and the season for Onam's aftermath and Theyyam. Book ahead; this is the busy, pricier window.
Jun–Sep
Monsoon magic
Lush, green and dramatic, with waterfalls in full flow and the best season for Ayurveda. Expect heavy rain in bursts, fewer crowds and lower prices — pack a good rain layer.
Apr–May
Summer & the hills
The lowlands get hot and humid, so head up — Munnar, Wayanad and Vagamon stay pleasantly cool. A good time for hill stations and tea country before the rains arrive.
Travel respectfully:
Dress modestly at temples and places of worship (cover shoulders and knees) and remove footwear where required; some temples admit only Hindus. Ask before photographing people or rituals, carry a refillable bottle and avoid single-use plastic, and stay on marked trails in the hills and reserves.
