Tucked far away from the gang, Vagamon is that type of place that doesn’t ask for attention, but still gets it. Located alongside the border of Kottayam and Idukki districts, it has turned out to be a diffuse favorite for weekenders in 2025. What’s changed recently? No longer a great deal, fortuitously.
Vagamon’s gradual appeal lies in its rolling meadows, pine forests, and mist-laced mornings that make you forget about time. In reality, there’s something poetic in how the fog moves through its slopes—adore it knows the region better than everybody.
If you’re not in a hurry, paragliding over the hills offers a thrill without the noise of modern-day lifestyles. And for individuals who pick the earth underneath their feet, there’s usually a winding path through the Kurisumala Ashram.
It’s non-violent. Introspective. And a ways removed from metropolis complications. What makes Vagamon special in 2025 isn’t new cafés or hotels (although a few relaxed ones have popped up). It’s how the metropolis hasn’t lost its way while welcoming extra site visitors.
Locals still greet with smooth smiles, and homestay meals taste like a person’s grandma made them. The Vagamon Lake hasn’t gone out of business, and that’s an alleviation. Paddle boating remains a quiet affair, not a touristy spectacle. And inside the evenings, because the sun dips at the back of velvety hills, many vacationers find themselves simply sitting there doing nothing. That’s the magic of Vagamon. It lets you pause.
Read More: Top 15 Weekend Getaways from Bangalore for a Quick Escape
Athirappilly: The Sound of Falling Water and Forests
If there’s one location in Kerala that continuously roars but feels soothing, it’s Athirappilly. The waterfalls here don’t need a creation. Nicknamed the Niagara of India, this spot has pulled in nature enthusiasts for decades. But in 2025, the enjoyment feels a bit extra intentional.
Eco-paths were installed to guide traffic via the Sholayar Reserve wooded area without demanding it. The wooded area breathes heavily here, deep, inexperienced, and wild, with the occasional rustle of langurs or hornbills breaking the silence. Walking through the trails near the waterfalls isn’t just scenic; it’s grounding.
But Athirappilly isn’t just about the famous falls. It’s a complete package deal weekend escape for those inclined to look around. Vazhachal Falls close by is calmer, a chunk understated, and that’s its beauty. Families tend to picnic here, even as others head in the direction of Malakkappara for tea estates hidden among tall bushes. Newer remains in 2025, specifically treehouse hotels, have brought a rustic but at-ease choice for tourists in search of privacy.
No blaring track, no plastic clutter—luckily, neighborhood policies are tight now. At night, with the rumble of the falls in the distance and stars visible through gaps inside the canopy, Athirappilly gives you that uncommon mix of awe and stillness.
Bekal: where Forts Meet the Ocean
In northern Kerala, no longer too a long way from the Karnataka border, lies Bekal. It’s no longer the first region human beings think of, however, perhaps that’s why it nevertheless feels unspoiled. The main attraction here is the long-lasting Bekal fort, standing like a quiet father or mother over the Arabian Sea.
Its ramparts offer postcard views of crashing waves and windy skies. Come 2025, this fortress will have begun drawing a gradual but regular circulation of tourists seeking out heritage without the hustle. Families, solo explorers, or even couples on brief getaways now pick out Bekal over its busier cousins like Kovalam or Alappuzha. More than just an ancient spot, Bekal is surrounded by peaceful seashores that haven’t been celebration zones.
Kappil seaside, with its golden sands and quiet backwaters, remains a meditative area. Close by, one can rent a bicycle and roll through coconut plantations and sleepy lanes. The city has embraced wellness tourism too—numerous Ayurvedic motels now offer brief weekend therapies aimed at digital detox. The combo of castle partitions, sea breeze, and Kerala’s recuperation traditions makes Bekal feel like a hidden retreat. And what’s clean? You go away with extra calm than pix.
Thekkady: Spice Air and Elephant Trails
Kerala’s wild aspect has constantly found a home in Thekkady. But in 2025, the appeal feels deeper, greater curated for individuals who respect nature’s rhythm. The Periyar Tiger Reserve nevertheless attracts travelers, but now with stricter eco-policies.
Boat rides at the Periyar Lake have fewer time slots; however, extra-skilled naturalists explain bird calls and remote rustles. Spotting a tiger is rare, sure—but the wooded area’s richness lies in its moments: a wild boar ingesting from a move, massive squirrels leaping, or the hush that falls before rain starts.
Weekenders coming to Thekkady don’t just discover the wild—they flavor it. The spice plantations are very alive and fragrant. Visitors now walk guided spice trails, learning about pepper vines, cardamom pods, and cinnamon bark. It’s palms-on and oddly healing.
Cooking classes with conventional Kerala recipes, the usage of clean plantation produce, are also trending. And then there’s elephant bathing—no longer the industrial type, however, ethical sanctuaries wherein you observe, not make the most. Thekkady, in 2025, feels it is irresistible to teach people to travel gently, and that lesson sticks with you.
Read Also: Most Beautiful Railway Stations Around The World
Kumarakom: Drifting through Backwater Dreams
Not all weekend getaways require hills or hikes. A few simply need a ship, a breeze, and perhaps an e-book. Kumarakom fits that temper perfectly. On the banks of Lake Vembanad, this backwater haven has been on Kerala’s traveler map for some time; however, what’s changed in 2025 is how travelers interact with it.
Houseboat tourism, once criticized for its ecological toll, is undergoing a shift. Sun-powered boats, trained eco-courses, and biodegradable essentials are slowly redefining how weekends waft here. For folks who decide on land to water, Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is a quiet thrill.
Migratory birds nevertheless go in season, and patient observers are rewarded with sightings of Siberian cranes or purple herons. The pace of existence is slower right here, almost suspended. Homestays provide lakeside breakfasts with fresh toddy and karimeen fry. Night canoe rides under a peach-colored sky, a sense of floating on a lullaby.
And possibly that’s why, in a nation full of vibrant destinations, Kumarakom gives something else absolutely—a pause, a breather, a mild go with the flow from recurring. It's not about doing extra, but approximately feeling extra.
Conclusion: Kerala’s Weekends Are fabricated from Soul, not Schedules
In 2025, Kerala remains what it’s always been—a land of depth, contrast, and soul. However, the manner weekend getaways are skilled has matured.
Vacationers now do not chase attractions but seek tales, silence, and connections. Whether or not it’s Misty Hills in Vagamon or echoing falls at Athirappilly, sea-breezed forts in Bekal or the wild heart of Thekkady, every spot has its rhythm.
And when you go with the flow on a houseboat in Kumarakom, you realise—it’s no longer just about places, but how they make you feel.
