"God's Own Country" at India's southern tip: colonial Fort Kochi, a night on a houseboat in the Alleppey backwaters, the tea estates of Munnar, the tiger and elephant reserve of Periyar and the clifftop beach at Varkala. Famous for Ayurveda treatments, seafood and the sadya feast served on a banana leaf. There is no direct flight from Ulaanbaatar — fly Hunnu Air to Delhi, then about 3 hours on a domestic flight to Kochi, or connect via Singapore or Bangkok; the e-visa is free for Mongolian citizens.
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Costs and prices on the ground
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return from $850
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Weather
Daytime 30–35°C · warmest in March
Orange — daytime average, blue — night, grey bars — rainfall, green — sea temperature. Best months: October, November, December, January, February, March.
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Things to see (12)
12 places: Chinese Fishing Nets, Mattancherry Palace, Paradesi Synagogue…
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Chinese Fishing Nets★ 4.3 (40,000)
CultureFree (tip the fishermen a little and you can help haul a net)24 hours; fishermen work early morning and at sunset
Ten-metre wooden cantilevered fishing nets along the Fort Kochi waterfront, said to have been brought by Chinese traders in the 14th century — loveliest at sunset. Nearby are St Francis Church (1503, where Vasco da Gama was first buried), the white Santa Cruz Basilica, Dutch-era streets and cafés. An easy walk with children.
Culture≈₹500 (Kalaripayattu martial-arts show separately ≈₹400)Daily: make-up from ≈17:00, show ≈18:00–19:00; Kalaripayattu ≈19:15
Watch a one-hour version of Kathakali, Kerala's 300-year-old dance-drama that tells stories through make-up, costume and facial expression, in Fort Kochi. Arrive an hour early to watch the actors apply their make-up; the gestures are explained in English at the start. Book front seats online.
Adult return fare: $850–$1500Connecting returns usually cost $850–1,500 (one-way from about $540). Via Delhi with Hunnu Air your trip will be exactly 7 or 14 days because it flies once a week; if you book the Delhi–Kochi leg separately, remember you clear immigration and collect your bags in Delhi, and leave at least 3 hours. The train from Kochi to Thiruvananthapuram (TRV, near Kovalam and Varkala) takes about 4 hours. Prices rise in December–January, around Onam and at New Year.
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Visa and documents
e-Visa · 30 days · language, safety, medical, SIM
e-Visa · 30 days
Mongolian citizens with an ordinary passport are eligible for India's e-Tourist Visa; India's official fee table lists the fee for Mongolian citizens as zero for the 30-day, 1-year and 5-year options (bank charges may apply). The 30-day visa is multiple-entry and non-extendable; the 1- and 5-year visas are multiple-entry with a maximum of 180 days per calendar year. Apply at indianvisaonline.gov.in at least 4 days before arrival and check that the ETA shows 'GRANTED'; fingerprints are taken on arrival. Since October 2025 all foreigners must fill in the online e-Arrival card within 72 hours before arrival. A regular visa can be applied for at the Embassy of India in Ulaanbaatar.
Visa rules can change — confirm with the embassy or an official source before you travel.
Language:Malayalam (the state language) and English; Kerala has India's highest literacy rate, so English is widely understood in hotels, restaurants, taxis and tourist sites; the script is Malayalam
Safety:Kerala is one of India's calmest and safest states. The main risks are natural: floods during the June–September monsoon and landslides around hilly Munnar and Idukki — follow India Meteorological Department (IMD) warnings and avoid mountain roads at night. Currents are strong at beaches such as Varkala and Kovalam and swimming is banned in the monsoon; swim only in lifeguarded areas. Car sickness is common on the winding hill roads. Dengue is spread by mosquitoes, so use repellent. The UK FCDO advises against travel to Jammu & Kashmir, the border areas with Pakistan and Myanmar, and Manipur — none of which applies to Kerala.
Healthcare:Kochi has private hospitals of international standard: Aster Medcity, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Lakeshore Hospital — English-speaking and JCI/NABH-accredited but expensive, so insurance is essential. Rural Munnar, Thekkady and Alleppey only have small hospitals, and serious cases are taken to Kochi. Dengue and leptospirosis rise during the monsoon; use mosquito repellent and drink only bottled water.
Phone:Mobile operators have counters in the arrivals hall at Kochi airport; you need your passport, a visa copy and a photo, and activation takes a few hours. Both Jio and Airtel issue SIMs to foreigners via eKYC; if you connect in Delhi you can buy one there. Coverage can be weak in the hills of Munnar and Periyar. An international eSIM is easier.
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Travel guide
Arrival, SIM, transport, money, customs — step by step
Like a well-travelled friend for a first-timer: before you go, landing, SIM, transport, money, food, safety, manners, apps, leaving — step by step.
🧳Before you goThe Indian e-visa is free for Mongolian citizens — but you must get it in advance and fill in the e-Arrival card.+
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e-Tourist Visa
Apply at indianvisaonline.gov.in at least 4 days before arrival. For Mongolian citizens the fee for the 30-day, 1-year and 5-year options is 0 (a bank charge may apply). The 30-day visa is multiple-entry and cannot be extended. Upload a photo on a white background and a scan of your passport page; check that the ETA says 'GRANTED' and print it.
Tip: Use only the .gov.in site — look-alike private sites charge for a visa that is free.
Since October 2025 every foreigner fills in the e-Arrival card online or in the 'Indian Visa Su-Swagatam' app within 72 hours before arrival. If you connect in Delhi, enter Delhi airport as your first point of arrival in India; if you fly in via Singapore or Bangkok, enter Kochi.
October–March is best. The June–September monsoon is cheap and ideal for Ayurveda, but the sea is off-limits and landslides can occur. In 2026 the Nehru Trophy Boat Race was held in Alleppey on 22 August and Thiruvonam, the main day of Onam, fell on 26 August; houseboat prices double in late December.
🛬Arrival and getting into townKochi airport is at Nedumbassery, about 40 km north of Fort Kochi.+
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Immigration
If you connect in Delhi, you clear immigration there, collect your bags and check in again at the domestic terminal; in Kochi you land at the domestic terminal with no further checks. Arriving via Singapore or Bangkok, show your printed ETA and passport at Kochi's international terminal and give your fingerprints.
A prepaid taxi costs ₹1,500–1,700 and Uber from about ₹600; allow 1–1.5 hours depending on traffic. The cheapest option is the KSRTC air-conditioned bus at ~₹100, about 1 h 45 min. If you head straight to Munnar, it is ~110 km and 3–4 hours from the airport.
Tip: If you land at night, sleep near the airport or in Ernakulam and move to Fort Kochi in the morning.
There are official Airtel and Jio outlets at Kochi airport and in the city: you need your passport, visa and a photo, and activation takes a few hours. If you connect in Delhi, you can buy one at Delhi airport. Airtel and Jio coverage is fairly good in the hills of Munnar and Periyar but drops in some valleys.
If your phone supports eSIM, an international eSIM (e.g. Airalo) installed before you fly needs no paperwork. Without an Indian number, some apps cannot send you OTP codes.
🚇Getting aroundKerala is a long, narrow state: trains along the coast, cars into the hills and boats on the backwaters.+
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In Kochi: Water Metro and ferries
The Kochi Water Metro runs from High Court (Ernakulam) to Fort Kochi in about 20 minutes for ₹40, every 20–30 minutes from 7 am to 7 pm. Use the Kochi Metro within Ernakulam, and auto-rickshaws or your feet between Fort Kochi and Mattancherry.
The coastal railway links Ernakulam, Alleppey, Varkala and Thiruvananthapuram; the fastest train from Alleppey to Varkala takes about 1 h 40 min. Book air-conditioned seats (CC, 3A) in advance with the IRCTC app.
For the hills of Munnar and Thekkady, hiring a car with a driver is easiest: Kochi to Munnar is ~130 km and 4–5 hours, Munnar to Thekkady about 3 hours. Traffic drives on the left, and it is wise not to drive the winding hill roads yourself.
Car sickness is common on hill roads — bring medicine and water for children.
💳Money+
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Rupees and ATMs
The currency is the Indian rupee (INR). Kochi, Alleppey and Munnar have plenty of bank ATMs; foreign cards pay a fee for cash withdrawals. Houseboats, shikaras, street food and rickshaws need cash, so carry small notes.
Almost everywhere in India you pay by QR code (UPI). Foreign visitors can open a UPI One World wallet by showing their passport and visa, top it up with a foreign card and pay by scanning QR codes; the balance is refunded.
A 1-bedroom deluxe houseboat costs ₹9,000–15,000 a night (2 people, lunch, dinner and breakfast included), premium ₹15,000–25,000. Prices rise 50% at Onam and Diwali and double from 20 December to 5 January. When booking, confirm in writing the hours the air-conditioning runs at night and which meals are included.
🍜FoodA land of coconut, seafood and spices — utterly different from North Indian food.+
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What to eat
Sadya — a vegetarian feast of many dishes served on a banana leaf (a must at Onam); appam (rice pancakes) with coconut-milk stew; karimeen (pearl spot fish) fried in banana leaf; Malabar biryani, parotta and coconut fish curry. Most food is spicy — say 'less spicy'.
Drink only sealed bottled water; be careful with ice and raw salads. Eat seafood fresh at busy places. Bring diarrhoea medicine and oral rehydration salts.
Tip: Coconut water and the toddy shop are local specialities — toddy is an alcoholic palm wine, so with children just eat the food.
🛡️SafetyAll emergencies: 112. Kerala is calm, but watch out for the monsoon, sea currents and hill roads.+
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Monsoon, floods and landslides
Heavy June–September rain can flood low-lying Alleppey and trigger landslides around Munnar and Idukki. On red-alert days stay off hill roads and check IMD bulletins.
Currents are strong at Varkala and Kovalam — swim only between lifeguard flags and never in the monsoon. Put children in life jackets on houseboats and shikaras. Walk carefully along Varkala's cliff edge at night.
Many Hindu temples in Kerala admit Hindus only — respect 'Non-Hindus not allowed' signs. Remove your shoes and cover shoulders and knees at temples, churches and the synagogue; at some temples men remove their shirts.
Kerala is conservative: dress modestly away from the beach, and topless sunbathing is banned. Use your right hand to eat and hand over money; sadya is eaten with the hand.
Bargaining is normal in Jew Town and Fort Kochi shops, but not in fixed-price stores. It is customary to tip the houseboat crew at the end of the cruise.
Uber for taxis and rickshaws; IRCTC Rail Connect for trains; Indian Visa Su-Swagatam for the e-Arrival card. Buy Eravikulam and Periyar tickets online on the forest department's official sites.
Use Zomato and Swiggy to find restaurants and order food (an Indian number may be required). During the monsoon check India Meteorological Department (IMD) warnings.
Tickets and passports are checked at the terminal door, so keep your ticket handy. If you connect in Delhi, fly Kochi–Delhi the day before Hunnu Air's Monday morning flight and stay overnight in Delhi. Allow for traffic from Fort Kochi and leave early.
Rupees are hard to exchange outside India — spend them or change them back at the airport. Refund your UPI One World balance to your card. Overstaying your visa means a fine and an exit ban.
Given to the Raja of Kochi by the Portuguese in 1555 and later renovated by the Dutch, hence its nickname 'Dutch Palace'. It holds Kerala's finest murals on Ramayana themes, royal costumes and palanquins. No photography inside.
Culture≈₹10Sun–Thu 10:00–13:00, 15:00–17:00; closed Fridays, Saturdays and Jewish holidays
Built in 1568, the oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth, with a floor of hand-painted blue-and-white Chinese tiles and Belgian chandeliers. The surrounding Jew Town is full of antique, spice and textile shops. Cover shoulders and knees; no photos inside.
Relax1-bedroom deluxe ₹9,000–15,000 per night (2 people, 3 meals included); shikara ₹600–800 per hourOvernight cruise ≈12:00 to 9:00 next day; boats moor for the night
Spend a night on a traditional thatched-roof houseboat (kettuvallam) drifting through Kerala's backwaters past paddy fields, coconut palms and villages; a cook prepares meals on board. The cheaper alternative is a 2–3 hour ride on a small shikara boat into the narrow canals. Prices can double from 20 December to 5 January, so book ahead. With children, choose a boat with railings and life jackets.
NatureForeigners ≈₹1506:00–17:00 (early morning for birdwatching)
A 14-acre patch of forest on the shore of Vembanad, India's longest lake — herons, kingfishers and, from November to February, migratory birds. Kumarakom is a quieter, more upmarket lakeside resort area than Alleppey, known for its Ayurveda resorts.
KidsAdults ≈₹75, children 6–12 ≈₹359:00–16:00, closed Mondays
In Munnar, 1,600 m up among green tea estates, the museum shows the history of tea growing since the 19th century, old machinery and the processing of tea, with tastings. About 4 hours by car from Kochi. Combine with a walk through the estates, Mattupetty Dam and Top Station.
NatureForeigners ≈₹500 (park bus included)≈8:00–16:00; closed ~2 months in February–March for the tahr calving season
The place to see the endangered Nilgiri tahr, a mountain goat found only in the Western Ghats, up close. A park bus takes you up to the Rajamalai zone, where you walk across the high grasslands with views of Anamudi (2,695 m), the highest peak in South India. Book tickets online; weekend queues are long.
NaturePark entry foreigners ≈₹500 + lake boat ≈₹1,130 per seatBoats at 7:30, 9:30, 11:15, 13:45 and 15:30 (1.5 h); arrive 1 hour early
A boat trip on Periyar Lake can show you elephants, gaur, deer and, rarely, a tiger; guided jungle walks and bamboo rafting are separate. Around Kumily, take a guided tour of cardamom, pepper and cinnamon plantations. About 3 hours from Munnar. The first boat of the morning is best for wildlife.
BeachFree24 hours; swim in lifeguarded areas in daylight
A backpacker favourite where cafés, yoga centres and guesthouses line 15–30 m red laterite cliffs above the Arabian Sea; below are Papanasam Beach and the 2,000-year-old Janardhana Swamy Temple. Waves and currents are strong, so take care with children; many stretches of cliff edge have no railing.
BeachFree (small fee for the lighthouse)24 hours; swim in lifeguarded areas in daylight
Three crescent beaches separated by rocky headlands, 16 km south of Thiruvananthapuram; Lighthouse Beach is lined with restaurants and Ayurveda centres. The calmer Hawah Beach suits families. The sea is calm from October to March; don't swim in the monsoon.
NatureForeigners ≈₹200–2508:00–17:00 (tickets until ≈16:30)
The Chalakudy River drops 25 m across a 100 m-wide front at Kerala's largest waterfall — the 'Niagara of South India', featured in the film Baahubali. View it from the top, then walk about 1 km down steps to the base. About 2 hours from Kochi, with Vazhachal Falls nearby. Fullest after the monsoon, August–November; rocks are slippery.
