Kerala Travel Tips

There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency that visitors can bring.

Banks are open for transaction from 10:00 - 15:30 hrs on weekdays and from 10:00 - 12:00 hrs on Saturdays.

Main hotels, restaurants and shopping centres honor major credit cards.

(Hours fast (+), slow (-) on IST)
USA: -10.30, Germany: - 4.30, Canada: - 10.30, France: - 4.30, Australia: + 4.30, Spain: - 4.30, UAE: - 1.30, UK: - 5:30.

High season: September-May
Monsoon Rejuvenation Programmes: June-August

Cotton outfits; hats, sunglasses, sunscreen lotion etc.

Heavy penalties including imprisonment for possession of narcotic drugs.

Go only to those Ayurveda centres that are classified/approved by the Department of Tourism. Click here to see the list

All standard restaurants offer a variety of cuisines including Continental, Chinese, Indian and typical Kerala fare.

Tap water is purified and quite safe to drink. It is not advisable to drink water from slow moving streams, lakes or dams. Bottled water is also available.

Police control room: 100
Fire station: 101
Ambulance: 102, 108

While traveling on Highways (Highway Alert Number): 9846 100 100
While traveling in Trains (Railway Alert Number): 9846 200 100

Some temples do not permit entry to non-Hindus. Strict dress codes are followed in most of the temples. Footwear is banned inside the temple premises.

Nudity is not allowed in any Kerala beach.

Smoking is banned in public places.

Visitors to most Kerala houses leave their footwear outside before entering the house.

Behaviour, demonstrating affection in public like hugging or kissing is not an accepted practice in Kerala.

To visit a wildlife sanctuary, prior permission has to be taken from the authority concerned of the sanctuary.