Planning a rendezvous with Kerala monsoon this year? Visit these spots

Kerala's famed monsoon season is expected to arrive the State on June 4, Sunday. The sweet earthy smell that accompanies rains after a long spell of searing summer heat and sultry days brings hope and a sense of relief.

And when the rain is pouring, who doesn’t love to curl up under the cosy comfort of a blanket or sit on an easy chair sipping a piping hot cup of tea and listen to the heavy raindrops crashing down to earth.

But nothing comes close to hitting the road when there is a patchy drizzle and a nip in the air. Why not chalk out a wet itinerary even before the rains are knocking on your roofs? Here are some amazing spots.

Athirappilly
It would be foolhardy to take up the task of chronicling the enchanting beauty of the Athirappilly waterfall as it is simply indescribable. Athirappilly can bowl over travellers with thick forest all around, the sweet chirping of the feathered friends and the coolness of the stiff breeze.

Many blockbuster movies including ‘Baahubali’ and ‘Raavan’ were canned at the picturesque region surrounding the waterfall, which is on the Chalakudy River. Travellers flock to Athirappilly in the monsoon to savour the beauty of the gushing waterfall that falls from a height of 24m. While touring Athirappilly, make sure to visit the nearby Charpa waterfall and the Vazhachal falls as well.

Thekkady
Visiting the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, enjoying the Periyar Lake, the many plantations in the destination... you can indulge in a plethora of interesting activities in Thekkady, especially in the monsoon season.

You can enjoy a beautiful boating experience, nature walking, green walking and cloud walking experiences offered here during the rainy season. Border hiking, wildlife trail, rock climbing and bamboo rafting are some of the adventure activities here that can give the right dose of adrenaline rush to the tourists.

As the famous tourist spot is also dotted with superlative homestays and resorts, Thekkady is the perfect destination for all kinds of jaunts. Make it a point to include the small hamlet of Vandanmedu, which has picture-perfect cardamom plantations, on your Thekkady travel plans.

Bekal Fort
The beauty of the age-old Bekal Fort, which is a piece of poetry crafted out of red laterite stones on 35 acres of land, and the adjacent beach goes a notch higher when the rains arrive. The strong winds from the Arabian Sea and the slanting rain drops provide an ethereal feeling to the tourists.

The captivating Bekal beach probably has a romantic touch that can't be felt at other seashores in Kerala. And that’s the reason why the ‘Uyire’ song, which was canned at Bekal Fort, of Mani Ratnam movie ‘Bombay’, is still an evergreen romantic number. The main attractions near the fortress are the Pallikara beach, Bekal Hole Aqua Park, Kappil beach and Chandragiri fort, among others.

Nelliyampathy
Nelliyampathy is a slice of paradise that is situated nearly 60km away from Palakkad. This amazing hill station, which has earned the sobriquet ‘poor man’s Ooty’, boasts of a pleasant climate throughout the year. But undoubtedly the rains bring out the best in Nelliyampathy.
The thick forest, the lush green grasslands and the expansive tea and coffee plantations are the delight of any traveller. A drive to Nelliyampathy is an experience in itself as both sides of the winding road is riddled with alluring waterfalls and brooks.

The chances of spotting wild animals on the way to the top are also pretty high.

The state-run KSRTC is running bus services between Palakkad and Nelliyampathy for the benefit of the tourists. Usually, four-wheel drive vehicles are used for moving around in the hilly region. Rooms at reasonable rates can be taken on rent at the government-run guest house at Kaikatti.

Some interesting spots such as Seetharkundu, the place where Lord Ram, Lakshman and Sita, it is believed, had stayed while in exile, Kesavanpara, Chulliyar, Meenkara dam and the Manalaroo Estate, which produces the largest quantity of tea in India, can also be visited during the Nelliyampathy tour.

Wayanad
The nature decks up Wayanad exquisitely in the monsoons. The majestic hills and the lush greenery create a magic with mist, coolness and raindrops when the rain gods smile at this fascinating place.

The places of interest in Wayanad include Pookode Lake, Banasura Sagar dam, Meenmuttty waterfalls, Edakkal caves, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and the Kuruva Island.

Though places such as Chembra, Brahmagiri, Chirapullu and Kattukkunu are extremely enticing, trekking is banned in these spots during the rains as it would be risky.