The sound of rain, the smell of wet soil and everything good in Kerala - Monsoon
An extensive shoreline with tranquil beaches, quiet stretches of emerald backwaters, lush green hill stations and an array of unusual fauna, where else but, in the God’s Own Country, Kerala.
Through the wet palm leaves, you can see golden flecks of gentle sunlight. In Kerala, unlike other places in the world, it doesn’t rain continuously, so you can experience the intermittent brightness or the chilly darkness of the monsoon all in the same day. Therefore, one can fully appreciate the lively culture and lush forests that come to life during the monsoon season. Typically, the hottest temperatures fall between 29 and 23 degrees Celsius. So one of the best times to visit Kerala is undoubtedly during the monsoon season.
Onam, which falls around this time of year, is one of the most important festivals in Kerala. Being in Kerala during the harvest festival known as Onam is thrilling. You can experience Kerala’s rich cultural history through traditional dances like Kathakali and Mohiniyattam, the world’s oldest martial art, Kalaripayattu, decked elephants, flowers, traditional games, and grand feasts, colloquially known as the ‘onam sadya’. Thiru Onam, which this year falls on September 8, is the culmination of ten or more days of festivities. The celebrated Snake Boat Race, also known as Vallamkali, takes place on the Pampa River as part of the festivities. The villagers cheering on their favourite team along the river’s banks as hundreds of oarsmen vie to finish the race first is definitely a feast for the eyes of onlookers! As the mob chants ‘aarppo irro’, you can literally witness the beauty and the tremendous enthusiasm of the people there.