Culture, literature, art and food all within the radius of lovely, Kerala.
Words by Ojas Jani | 28th November'24
If you're trying to mix surf with a side of adventure (the kind where you’ll run out of camera roll,) there’s no better time to visit South India.
Welcome to Kerala, God’s own country and a surfer’s paradise.
Image by Sahil Naik taken at Kochi Biennale
Fort Kochi transforms into a creative playground where warehouses become canvases and streets turn into living art installations. It’s pretty special – the kind of place where you can spend hours just wandering around, finding weird and wonderful art in unexpected corners. Worth the trip from Varkala if you’re an art enthusiast.
The thing about Thrissur Pooram is…it’s not just a festival. It’s Kerala’s largest temple celebration. Imagine 30 elephants, meticulously decorated representing centuries of tradition. These aren’t just animals in a parade; they’re worshipped storytellers carrying generations of ritual and pride. The percussion, is an ‘instrumental’ part of this, with a rhythm that communicates more than words ever could. Thousands gather, not as spectators, but as participants in a living, breathing cultural experience.
Image by Alex P. Roy
If you’ve skipped the very uppity GB Row Challenge and think it’s a rich college frat sport, this is somewhat the opposite but with double the adrenaline rush. The snake boat races are NEXT LEVEL. Insert 100-person boats charging through backwaters like they've got something to prove, and they only start prepping a month in advance! The atmosphere around these races is something else. Alleppey is the race capital and December to February is the best time to watch them.
Good food's always easy to find in Kerala, but this festival takes it up a notch. Street food stalls, cooking demos, the works. Nice way to refuel after a morning surf. The seafood in Varkala is pretty special year-round, but this is worth checking out if you love a spicy curry and 10 other renditions of it.
Bit tricky to explain, but imagine elaborate costumes, intricate face paint, and performances that tell old stories of ancestral lores, of each household in a traditional Malabar village. Full disclaimer though, it's not a tourist show…these are proper cultural events that have been happening for centuries. You just have to ask your local guide, friend, or companion to take you to one but we’d try Kannur or anywhere from Kasargod to Vadagara in the North of Kerala.
Image by Akshay Moncy taken at a Theyyam performance.
Bonus: Kerala Literature Festival (January 2025)
Brilliant minds, salty sea breeze, and stories that serve as food for thought. Happening in Kozhikode every January, the Kerala Literature Festival isn't your dusty old book conference. We're talking global authors rubbing shoulders with local storytellers, conversations that jump from Malayalam poetry to global politics faster than you can say "Another chai, please.”
The nice thing about Varkala is you can dip in and out of these events between the surf and yoga retreat you signed up for. Everything's fairly accessible, and it's the perfect time to immerse yourself in something other than warm foamy waters.
Shall we talk about getting you here?
