#4 Go hiking around Munnar
The tea plantations, grassy mountains and dazzling viewpoints around Munnar are the perfect antidote to the heat and humidity of the coast.
Although south India’s highest peak, Ana Mudi, is off-limits due to the Nilgiri tahr conservation programme several of the other summits towering above Munnar can be reached on day treks.
The hiking scene is surprisingly undeveloped and it makes sense to use the services of a guide, particularly for Meesapulimalai Peak (2640m), which can be accessed from Silent Valley or Kolukkumalai estates and could easily be incorporated into a multiday excursion.
Always check the weather, but as December is now the dry season, hiking trails tend to be in firm underfoot and in good shape.
On this tailor-made trip to Magical Kerala, you will enjoy a lazy cruise on a converted rice barge; visit fragrant spice plantations in Munnar and explore Cochi and spot local wildlife.
#5 Witness spirit-possession ceremonies at temples in northern Malabar
Parades of extravagantly decorated elephants, backed by drummers and fireworks, form the focal point of Kerala’s Hindu festivals, among them Thrissur’s famed Puram; you can also see intimate (theyyem) spirit possession rituals in the north.
Theyyem (or theyyam) – the dramatic spirit-possession ceremonies held at village shrines throughout the northern Malabar region in the winter – rank among Kerala’s most extraordinary spectacles.
More than four hundred different manifestations of this arcane ritual exist in the area around Kannur alone, each with its own distinctive costumes, elaborate jewellery, body paints, face make-up and, above all, gigantic headdresses (mudi).
Unlike in kathakali and kudiyattam, where actors impersonate goddesses or gods, here the performers actually become the deity being invoked, acquiring their magical powers.
These allow them to perform superhuman feats, such as rolling in hot ashes or dancing with a crown that rises to the height of a coconut tree.
Numerous theyyem take place in December across Kerala but check ahead for exact dates.
For more practical guidance that will help you make the most of your trip, have a chat with our local India experts, who can help you plan your dream trip.