Whether you're a native Indian living abroad, looking to reconnect with home, or an adventurer looking for a great Indian visit to add to your mantle, we've got the same advice for you. If you want to know what is the most happening destination in India, right now, let us tell you.
Hands down, my friend (as they say in India), you have to get to Kerala. The heydays of Katmandu and Goa have come and gone. Unless you want to be a trophy of irony, forget them. Mumbai and Delhi are certainly happening, but the breakneck hectic surge of humanity is a bit much for many
If you're looking for an India stay that provides the best of what the country has to offer, at a relaxed pace, surrounded by natural beauty and vibrant culture, for you, the current time in India is Kerala time! Located in a long stretch at the south-western corner of the country (if you can picture Chile in South America, you can roughly picture where Kerala is in India), it has everything you could want for a vacation or extended stay.
Consider these features:
Let's start with Kochi. It's sometimes still called Cochin on older maps. But, by whatever name, the commercial center of Kerala is as happening as it is beautiful. It sits engagingly at the crossroads of some of Kerala's famous backwaters. The town spreads out over the northern end of a peninsula, several islands and the corresponding mainland. Kochi's ubiquitous ferries ply the waterways of the city's exquisite natural harbor. Personal experience allows me to testify that dolphins sometimes swim so close to the low slung ferries that you can, without exaggeration, simply reach over and pet them, right there in the water. It's a memory that has stuck with me my whole life.
The architecture of the city is pretty great, too. This is especially true in the Fort Kochi area, where a history of diverse colonization, including a century and a half under the Portuguese, has left behind a sometimes stunning and unexpected architectural legacy.
Don't let all that gorgeous nature and culture mislead you, though. When urban rocking is the name of the game, Kochi can deliver there, too. The town has a happening nightlife: restaurants provide great food from all the regions of India, along with a fine assortment international dining options. And once dinner is done, you can hang out at any of an assortment of cafes, including some artsy spots. Or, if it's more your speed, don't worry, there are plenty of clubs and pubs to party away the eve.
And when you've had enough of the big city action and want to get away to more subdued settings, Kerala fills that need just as well. For those who want to be on the move, we recommend exploring the backwaters. They are composed of lagoons and lakes parallel to what used to be known more exotically as the Malabar Coast. These lakes and lagoons are linked by a network of canals and rivers.
While there is so much to explore here we'll quickly mention just two options. The center of all this is the Alappuzha (still sometime referred to as Alleppey) district. The main town of the backwaters, it is sometimes called the Venice of the East because of all the canals running through the town. It was one of the great trading centers of the area and remains a vibrant and fascinating location to visit.
Another popular choice in the backwaters is to spend time on the kettuvallams, or Kerala houseboats. There are more than 2000 of these kettuvallams plying the backwaters. Historically grain barges, they have been converted into a kind of floating cottage, which has proven popular with tourists. They are equipped with thatched roofs over sleeping quarters; provide inboard toilets, out deck sitting areas and Kerala-style meals prepared by the crew. This is a trip you won't soon forget.
But, if even that's too much action for you, and all you really want to do is lounge on a beach and sip a refreshing drink, while soaking in the sun and the sound of the waves, Kerala has you covered still. Indeed, there are plenty of spots for this, but we'll tell you about just one absolute gem that you must see. Varkala is a chill-out heaven. But, despite its laid back paradise profile, unlike most other such spots along the Malabar Coast, it has not been overrun by Western hippies and rave kids.
Here you'll find that dream tropical coastline, with the perfect beach, just as you imagined it. Plus, you get the bonus of the geologically distinctive cliffs of the area. The seaside village of Varkala spreads out over these cliffs, in a series of small shops, over a kilometer in distance. Varkala is truly a delight to the palate, the senses and the spirit. It's got to be seen to be believed. (To get some fleeting sense of the delights, check out the video at our post: The Current Time in India is Varkala Time!)
And if you're so hard to please that even all that isn't quite enough (and you actually do plan on leaving the beach for more than a delicious seafood lunch), Varkala has a 2000 year old temple, which is an important Vaishnavaite shrine. Plus, it is a major center of Ayurvedic medicine. Heck, it even has an Ayurvedic hospital! Could you really ask for more?
There are international flights into Kochi and the Kerala capital city of Thiruvananthapuram (about 32 miles, or 50 km) from Varkala. But, if you really want to make an adventure of it and have time on your side, we strongly recommend flying into the even better served Mumbai airport. And, after the requisite visit to Bollywood, hop on the astounding Konkan railway down the west coast. When I first started going to India in the 1970s this train didn't exist. What a great benefit and blessing it has been since 1998.
However you choose to get there, though, just get there. Nothing lasts forever. And Kerala is in all its glory. The current time in India is, indeed, Kerala time!
Hands down, my friend (as they say in India), you have to get to Kerala. The heydays of Katmandu and Goa have come and gone. Unless you want to be a trophy of irony, forget them. Mumbai and Delhi are certainly happening, but the breakneck hectic surge of humanity is a bit much for many
If you're looking for an India stay that provides the best of what the country has to offer, at a relaxed pace, surrounded by natural beauty and vibrant culture, for you, the current time in India is Kerala time! Located in a long stretch at the south-western corner of the country (if you can picture Chile in South America, you can roughly picture where Kerala is in India), it has everything you could want for a vacation or extended stay.
Consider these features:
Let's start with Kochi. It's sometimes still called Cochin on older maps. But, by whatever name, the commercial center of Kerala is as happening as it is beautiful. It sits engagingly at the crossroads of some of Kerala's famous backwaters. The town spreads out over the northern end of a peninsula, several islands and the corresponding mainland. Kochi's ubiquitous ferries ply the waterways of the city's exquisite natural harbor. Personal experience allows me to testify that dolphins sometimes swim so close to the low slung ferries that you can, without exaggeration, simply reach over and pet them, right there in the water. It's a memory that has stuck with me my whole life.
The architecture of the city is pretty great, too. This is especially true in the Fort Kochi area, where a history of diverse colonization, including a century and a half under the Portuguese, has left behind a sometimes stunning and unexpected architectural legacy.
Don't let all that gorgeous nature and culture mislead you, though. When urban rocking is the name of the game, Kochi can deliver there, too. The town has a happening nightlife: restaurants provide great food from all the regions of India, along with a fine assortment international dining options. And once dinner is done, you can hang out at any of an assortment of cafes, including some artsy spots. Or, if it's more your speed, don't worry, there are plenty of clubs and pubs to party away the eve.
And when you've had enough of the big city action and want to get away to more subdued settings, Kerala fills that need just as well. For those who want to be on the move, we recommend exploring the backwaters. They are composed of lagoons and lakes parallel to what used to be known more exotically as the Malabar Coast. These lakes and lagoons are linked by a network of canals and rivers.
While there is so much to explore here we'll quickly mention just two options. The center of all this is the Alappuzha (still sometime referred to as Alleppey) district. The main town of the backwaters, it is sometimes called the Venice of the East because of all the canals running through the town. It was one of the great trading centers of the area and remains a vibrant and fascinating location to visit.
Another popular choice in the backwaters is to spend time on the kettuvallams, or Kerala houseboats. There are more than 2000 of these kettuvallams plying the backwaters. Historically grain barges, they have been converted into a kind of floating cottage, which has proven popular with tourists. They are equipped with thatched roofs over sleeping quarters; provide inboard toilets, out deck sitting areas and Kerala-style meals prepared by the crew. This is a trip you won't soon forget.
But, if even that's too much action for you, and all you really want to do is lounge on a beach and sip a refreshing drink, while soaking in the sun and the sound of the waves, Kerala has you covered still. Indeed, there are plenty of spots for this, but we'll tell you about just one absolute gem that you must see. Varkala is a chill-out heaven. But, despite its laid back paradise profile, unlike most other such spots along the Malabar Coast, it has not been overrun by Western hippies and rave kids.
Here you'll find that dream tropical coastline, with the perfect beach, just as you imagined it. Plus, you get the bonus of the geologically distinctive cliffs of the area. The seaside village of Varkala spreads out over these cliffs, in a series of small shops, over a kilometer in distance. Varkala is truly a delight to the palate, the senses and the spirit. It's got to be seen to be believed. (To get some fleeting sense of the delights, check out the video at our post: The Current Time in India is Varkala Time!)
And if you're so hard to please that even all that isn't quite enough (and you actually do plan on leaving the beach for more than a delicious seafood lunch), Varkala has a 2000 year old temple, which is an important Vaishnavaite shrine. Plus, it is a major center of Ayurvedic medicine. Heck, it even has an Ayurvedic hospital! Could you really ask for more?
There are international flights into Kochi and the Kerala capital city of Thiruvananthapuram (about 32 miles, or 50 km) from Varkala. But, if you really want to make an adventure of it and have time on your side, we strongly recommend flying into the even better served Mumbai airport. And, after the requisite visit to Bollywood, hop on the astounding Konkan railway down the west coast. When I first started going to India in the 1970s this train didn't exist. What a great benefit and blessing it has been since 1998.
However you choose to get there, though, just get there. Nothing lasts forever. And Kerala is in all its glory. The current time in India is, indeed, Kerala time!
About the Author:
To know The Current Time in India, in every sense of the word, check out our website . Mitchell Jones is one of the best travel journalists on India and other popular spots. When you're considering a vacation in India, be sure to read his piece on CDC Travel Vaccines for India .
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