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Culture
Onam in Kerala: Festival Travel Guide
Onam is Kerala’s biggest festival, a ten-day harvest celebration usually falling in August or September. Travelling during it changes the texture of a trip considerably.
What you’ll see
- Pookalam — elaborate flower carpets laid outside homes each morning
- Vallam Kali — snake-boat races, most famously at Aranmula and Alleppey
- Onam Sadhya — a 20-plus dish vegetarian feast served on a banana leaf
Plan ahead
Hotels and houseboats in Alleppey book out early for Onam week, especially around the boat races. If your dates overlap, confirm accommodation at least two months out.
