Kerala in December

December is one of Kerala's best and most festive months. The coast stays warm and dry near 31°C by day and 23°C at night, while Munnar turns cold after dark. Rain is light. It is peak season, climbing to a Christmas and New Year crush, with the Cochin Carnival filling Fort Kochi.

How is Kerala's weather in December?

December is dry, bright and cooling across Kerala. The retreating northeast monsoon has cleared the north and centre and is fading in the far south, so most of the state turns reliably dry, the backwaters settle, and the hills cool sharply at night.

Weather in Kerala in December

December marks Kerala’s shift into the dry season. November still carried the retreating northeast monsoon, with evening showers across the south and centre. By December those rains fade, first in the north and last to clear in the far south around Thiruvananthapuram. On the coast, days sit near 31°C and nights hold in the low 20s. Climb into the high ranges and the holiday changes. Munnar and Vagamon turn cold after dark, into single digits on the clearest nights, and the tea slopes catch the last of the hill rain early in the month. These are long-term December averages, not a forecast for any single year.

Overall Temperature in Kerala, area wise

The figures below are long-term December averages, not a forecast for any single year. They are grouped by region because a December day in Munnar and a December day in Kovalam are not the same holiday.

Kerala Hill Stations: Weather and Temperature

• Munnar. The coldest of the group. Days stay bright near 22°C, but nights average around 14°C and drop into single digits on the clearest nights, so the early tea-estate drive needs a warm jacket. Early December can still catch the last of the hill showers.
• Wayanad (Kalpetta). Milder than Munnar, near 27°C by day and 16°C at night, and drier this month, with good walking weather across the plateau.
• Vagamon. Breezy days near 27°C and the monthly night average around 18°C, but Vagamon is known for far colder clear nights up on the meadows, so carry a proper layer.
• Thekkady (Kumily). Mild days near 26°C and cool evenings around 17°C in the Periyar belt, pleasant without Munnar's deep night cold.

Kerala Coastal and Backwater Regions: Weather and Temperature

• Alleppey (Alappuzha). Warm and dry near 32°C by day and 23°C at night, with the calm water that defines the December houseboat season.
• Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum). Close to 31°C by day and a low-24°C night, with the south still catching the odd early-December shower before it dries out.
• Kollam. Much like Thiruvananthapuram, warm and mostly dry, and the quieter southern gateway into the backwaters.
• Kozhikode (Calicut). A touch warmer and drier again, near 33°C by day, with the northern coast already firmly dry.

Kerala's Other Destinations: Weather and Temperature

Bekal. Far-north coast near 33°C by day and dry, pairing a clifftop fort with a long, uncrowded beach, and a good base for north Kerala's Theyyam season.

Kuttanad. The deep backwaters south of Alleppey, warm near 32°C and calm, the heart of the dry-season houseboat and village-canal country.

Nelliampathy. A high range near Palakkad, cool around 22°C by day and down to the low teens or single digits at night, a quiet, cold-hill alternative to a busy Munnar.

Is there any rainfall in December?

Light, and clearing as the month goes on. The coast averages roughly 20 to 60 mm across 2 to 6 rainy days, with the south around Thiruvananthapuram (about 60 mm) wetter than the north near Kozhikode (about 22 mm), the last trace of the retreating northeast monsoon. The hills catch more early in December, with Munnar and Vagamon near 99 mm as the slopes finish drying, then settle. For most itineraries December rain is a non-event: a stray shower, mostly in the south and early in the month, rather than anything that reshapes a day.

How is the Sea Temperature in Kerala?

The Arabian Sea off Kerala sits around 28.5°C in December, holding close to that from Thiruvananthapuram up to Kozhikode. That is warm enough for comfortable time in the water. Whether it is safe to actually swim is a separate matter, covered below, and depends on the beach and the day.

What to pack for a trip to Kerala in December?

Pack for two climates, because December moves you between a warm coast and cold hills.

• Light cottons and linen for the coast and backwaters, where days stay warm.
• A proper warm layer for the hills. A fleece or light jacket for Munnar and Vagamon mornings and nights, not just a thin shawl.
• Closed shoes for cold tea-estate walks and chilly high-range evenings.
• Strong sun protection. The coastal sun bites by mid-morning, so carry a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
• One smart-casual outfit if you plan to be out for Christmas services or New Year events in Fort Kochi.
• Modest clothing for temples, with shoulders and knees covered. Some temples set specific dress rules, so check before you go.
• Insect repellent for backwater evenings and wildlife areas.
• A light rain shell is optional. You will rarely need it, though the far south can still catch an early-December shower.

What Festivals and Events to attend in December in Kerala?

December is Kerala's most festive month, led by Christmas and the Fort Kochi carnival. Some dates are fixed, others follow the Malayalam calendar and move each year, so confirm them close to travel.

Christmas, 25 December. Kerala has a large Christian community, so Christmas is widely and warmly kept, with midnight mass, lit-up churches and street celebrations, strongest in and around Fort Kochi and the central Travancore belt.

Cochin Carnival, Fort Kochi. The city's long-running Christmas and New Year festival, with parades, bike and cycle rallies, music and beach events through the second half of December, ending in the burning of the giant Pappanji (“grandfather”) effigy at midnight on 31 December. The 2025 edition opened on 14 December. Confirm the current programme close to travel, as events have been scaled back in some years.

New Year's Eve. Fort Kochi beach and the main beaches fill up for the countdown. Expect road closures and barricades around Fort Kochi on 31 December.

Sabarimala Mandala Pooja. The Mandalam pilgrimage runs from 16 November to the Mandala Pooja on 27 December 2026, drawing very large crowds through Pathanamthitta and the approach roads. The shrine then reopens in the final days of December for the Makaravilakku phase that runs to 14 January 2027.

Theyyam season, north Kerala. The ritual Theyyam season is under way through the winter in Kannur and Kasaragod. Specific temple dates are set locally and not announced far ahead, so confirm performances through Kerala Tourism's Theyyam calendar.

Is the sea safe for swimming and water sports in December?

Calmer than the monsoon, but never assume it is safe. December seas are gentler than the June to September southwest monsoon swell, which makes it one of the more swimmable months. That is not the same as safe. Kerala's Arabian Sea coast carries a year-round risk of sudden undercurrents and rip currents, and some beaches have no lifeguards at all.

Swim only where lifeguards are on duty and flags mark the patrolled zone. At Kovalam, red-and-yellow flags mark where lifeguards are stationed.

Treat calm-looking water with caution. Lifeguards report that most rescues happen well offshore, where the undercurrents strengthen.

Water sports such as parasailing and jet-ski rides run at busier beaches like Kovalam in season, through licensed operators. Confirm the operator and conditions on the day.

If there is no guard and no flag, do not go in for a swim.

How crowded is Kerala in December?

December is peak season, and it builds through the month to the busiest, priciest window of the year. The first three weeks are busy but manageable. The Christmas to New Year stretch, roughly 24 December to 1 January, is the tightest of all for houseboats, hill hotels and flights.

There is a second crowd that catches planners out: the Sabarimala pilgrimage. Through December, pilgrim numbers swell across Pathanamthitta and the approach roads via Kottayam and Kollam, peaking toward the Mandala Pooja on 27 December, which congests traffic and fills accommodation in that belt. It has little effect on the beaches or Munnar. North Kerala around Kannur and Bekal stays comparatively quiet, which is part of its appeal in a busy month.

How much does a Kerala trip cost in December?

Expect peak-season prices across the board, highest in the Christmas to New Year week. As a rough guide, a mid-range December trip runs about Rs 4,000 to Rs 9,000 per person per day, twin sharing and land only, covering a mid-range hotel, a car with driver, entry fees and meals, and excluding flights.

For two people over a week that works out to roughly Rs 55,000 to Rs 1,25,000 before flights, depending on hotel class, how much of the hill-station and festive-week premium you hit, and whether you add a houseboat night. Treat these as indicative, as of October 2026.

The biggest single swing is the houseboat. In Alleppey and Kumarakom, a one-bedroom boat runs roughly Rs 7,000 to Rs 12,000 per night for a deluxe, Rs 12,000 to Rs 20,000 for a premium, and from Rs 20,000 up to about Rs 50,000 for a luxury, per boat per night, meals usually included.

What moves the price in December, specifically: the Christmas and New Year surcharge in the last week, peak demand on hill hotels in Munnar and Thekkady, and booking late into a month where availability is already thin. If you are shaping a budget, our Kerala tour packages and the Alleppey backwater houseboat package give you a current, costed per-person starting point.

Best Kerala activities in December

The dry, cool weather opens up almost everything, and December adds its festive events on top.

Fort Kochi at carnival time. Walk the Cochin Carnival parades and the New Year countdown on Fort Kochi beach, ending with the Pappanji burning at midnight on 31 December.

Christmas across the state. Join midnight mass and the lit-up churches, strongest around Fort Kochi and the central Travancore belt.

Tea-estate walks in Munnar. Walk the estates in the early cold, when the light is sharp and the hills are clear.

Eravikulam National Park. Visit near Munnar while it is open. It closes around 1 February for the Nilgiri tahr calving season, so December is a clear window.

Periyar Lake boat cruise. Take the KTDC cruise at Thekkady, or a guided nature walk, in dry-season conditions. The KTDC boat fare is around Rs 450 per person, inclusive of 18% GST.

Backwater houseboat stay. Spend a night on an Alleppey or Kumarakom houseboat while the backwaters are calm and dry.

Theyyam performances. See a Theyyam ritual in Kannur or Kasaragod if you are in the north.

Beach day at Varkala or Marari. Take a slow beach day, with the sea calmer than in the monsoon months.

What are the best 5 places to visit in Kerala in December?

Chosen for what December does well: festive Fort Kochi, cold hill nights, calm backwaters and north Kerala's ritual season.

Fort Kochi. December is Fort Kochi's month. The Cochin Carnival fills the old quarter through the second half of December and peaks with the New Year countdown and the Pappanji burning on the beach, while Christmas lights up the churches. Warm, rainless days make it easy to wander between the Chinese fishing nets, cafes and galleries.

Munnar. Munnar is at its coldest and clearest in December. Nights fall toward single digits on the tea slopes, days stay bright near 22°C, and Eravikulam National Park is still open before its February closure. Time the estate walks and the Mattupetty and Top Station viewpoints for the sharp early light.

Alleppey and Kumarakom backwaters. The backwaters are at their December best: calm, dry and warm, which is exactly why houseboats sell out over Christmas and New Year. An overnight cruise gives you still mornings and open paddy views. Book weeks ahead, as festive-week rates are the year's highest.

Kannur. Kannur is the base for north Kerala's Theyyam season, when village shrines stage vivid overnight rituals through the winter. It pairs that with quiet beaches like Payyambalam and the drier, warmer north-coast weather, and stays far less crowded than the peak-season south. Confirm performance dates locally.

Thekkady (Periyar). Thekkady suits December for dry-season wildlife and cool, comfortable evenings. The Periyar Lake cruise is at its most pleasant now, and guided nature walks and spice-garden visits fill the days. The nearby Sabarimala routes are busy throughout the month, so allow extra time on the approach roads.

For a route that strings Kochi, Munnar, Thekkady and Alleppey together, our best of Kerala circuit is built for exactly this month, and the Munnar tour packages cover the hills on their own.

Travel Tips for a Kerala Trip in December

Book early, and earlier still for the festive week. Houseboats, hill hotels and flights are tightest from 24 December to 1 January, so lock those dates weeks ahead.

Carry a genuine warm layer for Munnar. Visitors routinely underestimate how cold the high-range nights get in December.

See Eravikulam this month if the park matters to you, since it closes around 1 February for the calving season.

Plan around Sabarimala if you route through Pathanamthitta or eastern Idukki. Pilgrim traffic builds toward the Mandala Pooja on 27 December.

For Fort Kochi on New Year's Eve, expect road closures and barricades, and sort transport and parking in advance.

Check the NH-85 road status to Munnar before you travel. That highway has had recurring construction and monsoon-season disruption. It might be temporarily closed.

Start sightseeing early. The coastal sun is strong by mid-morning, though hill mornings can be cold and misty.

Swim only at lifeguarded beaches, and follow the flags.

Thinking about a different month? Compare with Kerala in November for lower shoulder-season rates as the last rains clear, or look ahead to Kerala in January, the same dry weather with the New Year peak easing after the first week. For dry sightseeing with thinner crowds, Kerala in February stays cool and settled once the festive rush has gone. For the wider picture, see our best time to visit Kerala guide.