Season guide · Kerala · India
Kerala in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Wouter Hagens, Public domain
Quick answer
Dry, sunny and comfortable, with cool nights in the hills; peak season with the highest houseboat and hotel prices. Expect highs up to 32°C (90°F) and lows around 23°C (73°F), with about 5 rainy days across December–February. December–February are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 23°C (73°F) to 32°C (90°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 5
- Sea
- 28°C (82°F) to 28°C (82°F)
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32°C (90°F) | 23°C (73°F) | 1 | 11.6 h | 5/5 |
| February | 32°C (90°F) | 24°C (75°F) | 1 | 11.8 h | 4/5 |
| December | 32°C (90°F) | 23°C (73°F) | 3 | 11.5 h | 5/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 32°C (90°F) against a yearly 31°C (88°F), and 5 of the year's roughly 135 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 5/5 and hotel prices 5/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Kochi Carnival — parades and New Year celebrations in Fort Kochi (around 1 January)
- January: Kochi-Muziris Biennale — contemporary art exhibition across Fort Kochi (in biennale years, usually December to March)
- February: Attukal Pongala — huge women's offering ritual in Thiruvananthapuram (February or March)
- February: Theyyam season — ritual performances in northern Kerala (roughly November to May)
- December: Christmas — celebrated widely, especially in Kochi (25 December)
- December: Kochi-Muziris Biennale opens (in biennale years, usually December)
Make the most of the weather
Experience · Alappuzha
Backwater houseboat cruise
Converted kettuvallam rice barges with bedrooms, a deck and a cook sail from Alappuzha across Vembanad Lake and along the canals of Kuttanad, where paddy fields lie below water level.
- Time needed
- 1 night
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Couples
- Kids
- Food
- Views
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Park · Munnar
Eravikulam National Park
Go early to beat the queue for park buses; the park usually closes for several weeks during the tahr calving season around February and March.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Kids
- Views
- Outdoors
Experience · Munnar
Munnar tea estates and Tea Museum
Tea has been grown on Munnar's hills since the late 19th century.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Outdoors
- Views
- History
- Photo spot
Viewpoint · Munnar
Top Station
Go early in the day; clouds often roll in and hide the view by late morning.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Views
- Free
- Photo spot
- Nature
Park · Thekkady
Periyar Tiger Reserve
A forest reserve of about 925 sq km around an artificial lake created in 1895.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Active
Day trips in winter
- Athirappilly Falls (About 2 hours by car from Kochi) — Kerala's largest waterfall drops about 25 metres over a wide rock face on the Chalakudy River, surrounded by forest.
- 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.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Kerala?
Yes: December–February are among the best months. Dry, sunny and comfortable, with cool nights in the hills; peak season with the highest houseboat and hotel prices.
+What is the weather like in Kerala in winter?
Highs of up to 32°C (90°F) and lows around 23°C (73°F), with about 5 rainy days over the season.