Season guide · Kerala · India
Kerala in summer
March–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: P.K.Niyogi ( talk ), Public domain
Quick answer
Hot and humid on the coast with pre-monsoon storms from April; the hill stations of Munnar and Wayanad are at their most popular. Expect highs up to 33°C (91°F) and lows around 25°C (77°F), with about 25 rainy days across March–May.
Key facts
- Months
- March–May
- Temperatures
- 25°C (77°F) to 33°C (91°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 25
- Sea
- 29°C (84°F) to 30°C (86°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in summer
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 33°C (91°F) | 25°C (77°F) | 3 | 12 h | 3/5 |
| April | 33°C (91°F) | 26°C (79°F) | 8 | 12.4 h | 3/5 |
| May | 32°C (90°F) | 26°C (79°F) | 14 | 12.6 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 33°C (91°F) against a yearly 31°C (88°F), and 25 of the year's roughly 135 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in summer
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- April: Vishu — Kerala New Year (usually mid-April)
- April: Thrissur Pooram — temple festival with caparisoned elephants and fireworks (April or May)
Good choices for summer
Museum · Thiruvananthapuram
Napier Museum
Combine it with the Sree Chitra Art Gallery next door for paintings by Raja Ravi Varma.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Rainy day
- Art
- Architecture
- Kids
Museum · Ernakulam
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
Experience · Kovalam
Ayurveda treatment
Choose centres with qualified Ayurvedic doctors who consult before treatment, especially for multi-day programmes.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours, or courses of 1–3 weeks
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Couples
- Rainy day
Palace · Mattancherry
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.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Experience · Fort Kochi
Kathakali performance
Arrive an hour early to watch the performers apply their make-up, which is as fascinating as the show.
- Time needed
- 2 hours including make-up
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- After dark
- Art
- Kids
- Rainy day
Day trips in summer
- Alappuzha backwater day cruise (About 1.5 hours by car or train from Kochi) — If you cannot spend a night on a houseboat, a day cruise or a smaller shikara boat ride through the canals near Alappuzha gives a good taste of backwater life, with lunch on board.
- Cherai Beach (About 1 hour by car from Fort Kochi) — A long beach on Vypin Island north of Kochi, backed by backwaters on its other side, so you can see sea and lagoon within a few hundred metres.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is summer a good time to visit Kerala?
It is a trade-off: Hot and humid on the coast with pre-monsoon storms from April; the hill stations of Munnar and Wayanad are at their most popular. The best months overall are November–February.
+What is the weather like in Kerala in summer?
Highs of up to 33°C (91°F) and lows around 25°C (77°F), with about 25 rainy days over the season.