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Travel Tips for Kerala

Valid as of 20 May 2019

I travelled around Kerala for 10 days using all forms of public transportation and accomodation. Here is what I gathered.

Health

Most food stalls handle food with bare hands. Request for food handled with gloves or tongs.

Filtered bottled water is easily and readily available in most stalls, even in rural areas. Else, request for filtered water.

Malaria is endemic with huge amounts of aggressive mosquitoes. Protect yourself by taking malarone, doxycycline or mefloquine at prescribed doses and periods. Wear long pants and long sleeved clothing, and use insect repellant with above 20% DEET on exposed skin after dusk.

Humidity is low which leads to cracked skin. Bring along a moisturiser to protect your skin.

Weather

May is an exceptionally hot and dry period with average temperatures at 32 degrees. Bring your sunblock, insect repellant, sunglasses and loads of filtered water!

June to July is the monsoon season in Kerala. Good period to visit places reliant on water (waterfalls, backwaters, paddy fields) but bad for hiking, general travel and photography. Take your pick.

Holidays

May is a school vacation period in India. Expect larger than usual crowds everywhere especially at scenic places.

Most shops close.on Public Holidays. Pothy’s Super Store at Trivandrum is a notable exception.

Coverage

The free BSNL SIM Card for foreigners with an electronic travel visa is suspended.

Foreigners require lengthy paperwork to get a SIM Card including references in India and proof of residency statements. BSNL allows only Indian nationals to get SIM Cards. It is far easier bringing a travel SIM.

BSNL provides the best and widest coverage in rural areas, and can connect with other mobile networks.

Band 3, 5 and 40 is used in India for 4G services. Ensure your phone supports these bands before bringing it.

Buses

Buses are recommended for short distance transport below 200km.

Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has a vast coverage of routes. Rides are cheap, though slightly more expensive than trains, based on distance and category (ordinary/intercity/long distance).

A hub and spoke model is used. Trivandrum is the central hub for Kerala. Most bus routes start at bus terminals near the train station. Buses move between cities left to right, bottom to top, and vice-versa. Generally, movement beween two cities takes an hour.

It takes 5 hours to travel by public buses from a bus terminal along the coast to the middle of Kerala.

Routes seen online are inaccurate. Check with KSRTC Station Masters at the main bus depot of the city, or call them for available buses and the waiting point. Staff and locals are helpful and would guide you.

Buses are reliable and on time. Be prepared for very crammed rides. 30% of seats are reserved for ladies. Buses are old and generally absent of litter. Ask the bus conductor where to stop.

Eating and drinking is allowed.

City bus: Rs. 10–15
Intercity bus: Rs. 30–100
Long distance bus: Rs. 150

Almost all buses have no air conditioning.

Trains

Indian Railways, operated and managed by the Minstry of Railways covers most tourist cities along the coast and a few inner cities. Popular routes (Nilgiri Mountain Railway Line) are booked 3 months in advance.

Be prepared for extreme cramming especially in popular routes or the run-up to festivals (Thrissur Pooram). Avoid cramming by booking sleeper class and above tickets.

Do not board a reserved cabin if you don’t have the right ticket and proof of identity. Indian Railways personnel do frequent checks and you will potentially be evicted and booked for financial or civil penalties.

Autos

Known as tuk-tuks in Thailand.

Expensive option for locals but quick and convenient. Use it to reach difficult places or during hot weather.

First 1.5km: Rs. 25
Next 1km: Rs. 20
Waiting charges varies

All autos have no air conditioning.

Private Hire

Uber is the most popular transport app in major cities (Kochi, Trivandrum). Uber is not available in other cities, including Kanyakumari. Prices can be really high but at off-peak periods, offers better rates than autos.

Alcohol

The legal drinking age in Kerala is 23.

Kingfisher is the most popular beer brand in India.

Accomodation

OYO Rooms is a credible and affordable option within India, apart from the usual sites.

Most rooms have no air conditioning. Read carefully when booking.

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