History · Kerala · India
7 historic sites to see in Kerala
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Start with Mattancherry Palace, Paradesi Synagogue and Jew Town and St Francis Church. Together the 7 picks below take roughly 10–13 hours across 6 areas; 2 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 7
- Free entry
- 2
- Time to see them all
- 10–13 hours
- Areas
- Mattancherry, Fort Kochi and Munnar
Historic sites in Kerala
Palace · Mattancherry
1.Mattancherry Palace
Inside are some of India's finest Hindu temple murals, depicting scenes from the Ramayana, alongside royal portraits and palanquins.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Religious site · Mattancherry
2.Paradesi Synagogue and Jew Town
It stands at the end of Jew Town Road, a street of antique shops and spice warehouses that once belonged to Kochi's Jewish community.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Shopping
- Architecture
Religious site · Fort Kochi
3.St Francis Church
Vasco da Gama was buried here in 1524 before his remains were returned to Portugal in 1539, and his gravestone is still in the floor.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Architecture
Experience · Munnar
4.Munnar tea estates and Tea Museum
The Tea Museum at the Nallathanni estate explains the industry's history with old machinery and a working processing demonstration, and guided walks through the estates show how leaf is picked by hand.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Outdoors
- Views
- History
- Photo spot
Religious site · Thiruvananthapuram
5.Padmanabhaswamy Temple
Entry is restricted to Hindus and follows a strict dress code, but the exterior, tank and surrounding fort streets can be seen by all.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Free
Museum · Ernakulam
6.Kerala Folklore Museum
A private museum in a building assembled from traditional wooden architecture, holding masks, costumes, carvings and musical instruments from Kerala's performing arts, including Theyyam and Kathakali, with a small theatre on the top floor.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Historic site · Wayanad
7.Edakkal Caves
The final section of the climb is steep, with ladders and narrow rock passages.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Active
- Outdoors
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Mattancherry | Mattancherry Palace and Paradesi Synagogue and Jew Town | 1 hour + 1–1.5 hours |
| Fort Kochi | St Francis Church | 30 minutes |
| Munnar | Munnar tea estates and Tea Museum | Half a day |
| Thiruvananthapuram | Padmanabhaswamy Temple | 1 hour |
| Ernakulam | Kerala Folklore Museum | 1.5 hours |
| Wayanad | Edakkal Caves | 2–3 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 7, 2 free, 5 low cost. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Munnar tea estates and Tea Museum; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Mattancherry and Fort Kochi): Mattancherry Palace → Paradesi Synagogue and Jew Town → St Francis Church, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Munnar and Thiruvananthapuram): Munnar tea estates and Tea Museum → Padmanabhaswamy Temple, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Ernakulam and Wayanad): Kerala Folklore Museum → Edakkal Caves, at least 4 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- July: highs of 29°C (84°F), about 23 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Heavy monsoon rain continues, with landslide risk on hill roads; the lowest prices of the year.
- June: highs of 29°C (84°F), about 24 rainy days, very quiet crowds. The monsoon arrives with torrential rain; seas are rough and unsuitable for swimming, but landscapes are vivid and Ayurveda centres are busy.
- May: highs of 32°C (90°F), about 14 rainy days, quiet crowds. Very humid with increasing storms; many Varkala cliff businesses start to close for the monsoon.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Fort Kochi — Colonial-era streets of homestays, cafés and galleries on Kochi's sea front
- Ernakulam — Kochi's mainland business centre with the railway stations and metro
- Munnar — Hill town surrounded by tea estates in the Western Ghats
More of Kerala
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Kerala?
Mattancherry Palace. Built by the Portuguese in the 16th century as a gift to the Raja of Kochi and later renovated by the Dutch, hence its nickname the Dutch Palace.
+Which of these are free in Kerala?
St Francis Church and Padmanabhaswamy Temple.