Lakes in Kerala: 15 Beautiful Lakes & Kayals to Visit in 2026

This is the one most people picture when they think of Kerala. Vembanad is the longest lake in India, spreading across Alappuzha, Kottayam and Ernakulam, and it is the water the houseboats sail on. An overnight kettuvallam out of Alleppey or Kumarakom is the classic experience, drifting past paddy fields that sit below the waterline. Come during Onam (August to September) for the snake boat races. The nearest airport is Cochin International, and Kottayam is the handiest railhead for the Kumarakom side.

Ashtamudi, in Kollam, is Kerala’s second-largest lake and a Ramsar-listed wetland with roughly 100 fish species and 60 kinds of birds. Its eight-branched shape (the name means “eight coned”) gives it far more shoreline than its size suggests. The eight-hour Kollam to Alleppey boat is the longest backwater cruise in the state and a calmer, cheaper alternative to a private houseboat. Fly into Trivandrum, or Kollam for domestic hops, and Kollam Junction is the nearest station. September to March is the window.

Periyar is a reservoir inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve at Thekkady, created by the old Mullaperiyar dam. The draw here is not swimming or houseboats but the wildlife: a morning boat cruise regularly turns up elephants, sambar and, if you are lucky, a tiger coming down to drink. Book the government boat early, since slots sell out. October to March gives the best sightings. Cochin International is the nearest airport, Kottayam the nearest major railhead, and you can pair it with a Munnar leg easily.

Locals call Sasthamcotta the Queen of Lakes, and it earns the title as Kerala’s largest freshwater lake and a Ramsar site. It supplies drinking water to much of Kollam, so the water stays clean and clear. There are no motorboats churning it up, which makes it the calm counterpoint to the busier backwaters. The ancient Sastha temple on its bank is worth the short walk. Best months run August to March. Fly into Trivandrum, take the train to Kollam Junction, then drive out.

Vellayani is the southernmost of Kerala’s major freshwater lakes, about 7 km inland from Kovalam, and one of the largest freshwater bodies in Thiruvananthapuram district. It is a working lake, ringed by farms, and it hosts its own boat race during Onam that draws big local crowds without the tourist crush of Alleppey. Sunrise over the water, with paddy on the far bank, is the shot to get. September to March is ideal. Trivandrum airport and Thiruvananthapuram Central are both close.

Up in the Wayanad hills, Pookode is Kerala’s smallest freshwater lake, sitting in a bowl of evergreen forest at around 770 metres. It is compact enough to walk around in under an hour, and pedal boats let you get out onto the green water. There is a small freshwater aquarium and a spice-and-handicraft market by the entrance. A modest ticket covers entry and boating. October to May is comfortable; the monsoon turns the surrounding forest impossibly green but the paths get slick. Calicut is the nearest airport.

Punnamada, the northern arm of the Vembanad system near Alleppey, is where the Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race is rowed every August. Even on an ordinary day it is a lovely, wide stretch to cruise, and many Alleppey houseboats moor here. If you can time your trip to the race, do it: over a hundred rowers per boat, drums, and a finish line thick with spectators. The rest of the year, November to February is calmest. Reach it via Cochin airport and Alappuzha station

Kayamkulam Kayal is a long, quiet backwater between Alleppey and Kollam that most package tours skip, which is exactly its appeal. It runs close to the Arabian Sea, so you get lagoon on one side and a thin ribbon of coast on the other. Fishing hamlets line the banks, and staying until dusk rewards you with a glowing horizon over the water. It also sits near the Amritapuri ashram. November to February is best. Cochin is the nearest airport, Alappuzha the nearest railhead.

Paravur, near Kollam, is a coastal lagoon where the lake and the Arabian Sea almost touch, separated by a slim sandbar. It is an up-and-coming spot rather than a crowded one, good for a short country-boat ride from the Priyadarshini Boat Club. The mix of estuary, backwater and beach in one place is unusual even for Kerala. Go between September and February. Fly into Trivandrum, take the train to Kollam Junction, then drive the short hop north.

Akkulam is an offshoot of the Veli backwaters on the edge of Thiruvananthapuram, and it is the easy family pick. There is a tourist village with a boat club, a children’s park and a pool, so it works for an afternoon with kids rather than a full expedition. Pedal and row boats potter about the calm water. October to February is pleasant. It is a short drive from Trivandrum airport and Thiruvananthapuram Central, which makes it a simple add-on to a city stay.

Veeranpuzha is effectively the northern extension of Vembanad around Kochi, a brackish lagoon running parallel to the coast. It carries the same houseboat and canoe traffic as the Alleppey stretch but with fewer crowds, which photographers appreciate. The light in the early monsoon, with heavy cloud over still water, is a favourite among local shooters. September to March suits most travellers. Cochin International is minutes away, and Edappally is the closest station.

Vynthala, near Mala in Thrissur district and about 10 km from Chalakudy, is the quiet star of this list: the only naturally formed oxbow lake in South India. It curves in a horseshoe where an old river bend was cut off and left to loop on its own. Much of it has been reclaimed over the decades, so what remains is small, and it is not set up for mass tourism; treat it as a detour for photographers and anyone who likes a geographical oddity. June to August, when the water is high, shows the loop at its best. Cochin airport and Chalakudy station are both close.

Anayirangal, about 21 km from Munnar, is a reservoir ringed by tea plantations and forest, and its name translates to “where elephants descend.” Herds do come down to drink, so early morning and late evening are worth the wait, from a safe distance. The mist rolling over the tea slopes and the still water below is the reason to make the drive. September to January is the season. Reach it via Cochin airport; pair it with a Munnar hill leg and you can knock out two lakes and the tea country in one loop.

Vadakkechira is a heritage temple tank in the heart of Thrissur, more pond than lake but a genuine part of the city’s civic life for centuries. It has been landscaped into a walkable green space, and it pulls in migratory birds through the cooler months. It is a gentle stop rather than a headline sight, easy to fold into a Thrissur temple-and-culture day. October to February is comfortable. Cochin is the nearest airport and Thrissur has its own major railway station.

Mananchira sits right in the centre of Kozhikode, a freshwater tank fed by natural springs and once the private pond of the Zamorin rulers. Today it anchors Mananchira Square, a heritage park with an open-air stage and a musical fountain, so it is as much a public square as a lake. It is the easiest lake here to reach on foot from a city hotel. Evenings, when the fountain runs, are the time to come. Calicut International airport and Kozhikode station are both close.