What is YatraJunction?

YatraJunction is a free AI-powered travel guide and trip planner for India. It helps you discover the best places to visit, build smart itineraries, calculate train/bus/flight fares, and explore local food, temples and trekking routes across India.

Is YatraJunction free to use?

Yes. YatraJunction is 100% free to use. You can plan unlimited India trips, generate AI itineraries and explore destinations without creating a paid account.

Which is the best time to visit India?

The best time to visit most of India is October to March, when the weather is cool and pleasant. Hill stations like Manali, Shimla and Ladakh are best in summer (April–June), while Goa and Kerala are ideal between November and February.

What are the top places to visit in India?

Top destinations in India include the Taj Mahal (Agra), Jaipur, Varanasi, Kerala backwaters, Goa beaches, Ladakh, Rishikesh, Manali, Hampi and the Andaman Islands.

Can YatraJunction plan a budget trip to India?

Yes. YatraJunction includes a fare calculator for trains, buses and flights plus AI-generated budget itineraries, so you can plan an affordable India trip in minutes.

How crowded does Onam get?

Crowd level is rated High. Popular event. Reserve stays at least 1–2 months ahead. Suggested planning window: 45 days in advance.

What are the main rituals at Onam?

The core rituals include: Pookalam — intricate flower carpets laid daily; Onam Sadya — 26-course vegetarian feast; Vallam Kali — snake-boat race at Alappuzha; Kaikottikali (women's circle dance).

What foods are associated with Onam?

Traditional dishes include: Onam Sadya (full feast), Avial, Payasam, Banana Chips, Olan.

Cultural10 days

Onam

Kerala's 10-day harvest homecoming

17–26 Aug 2026Across Kerala, KeralaHigh crowdIn 115 days

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Significance

Celebrates the homecoming of the mythical king Mahabali. Transcends religion — every Malayali, Hindu or otherwise, celebrates Onam as the state's harvest festival.

Every home lays out the Pookalam (flower carpet), families gather for the Sadya (26-course banana-leaf feast), and Alappuzha hosts the Nehru Trophy snake-boat race — 100-rower longboats sprinting through backwaters.

First-time visitor

Time your trip to include Thiruvonam (final day) for the Sadya and the boat race the following weekend.

What to see

Pookalam — intricate flower carpets laid daily
Onam Sadya — 26-course vegetarian feast
Vallam Kali — snake-boat race at Alappuzha
Kaikottikali (women's circle dance)

Festival foods

Onam Sadya (full feast)AvialPayasamBanana ChipsOlan

Best for

familiesfood loverscultural immersion

Travel tips

1Book the Alappuzha boat race tickets 2 months ahead
2Stay with a homestay family to experience a real Sadya
3Monsoon tail end — carry waterproof gear

Never miss a festival

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Subscribe to Kerala or to the full Cultural category — we'll nudge you at 90, 30, 7 and 1 days before each begins. Tune it off anytime from the bell in the header.

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Linked places, stories and categories

Linked destination

Alleppey Backwaters

Kerala

Famous for its houseboat cruises through the serene network of canals and lagoons.

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More festivals

Festival calendar — Kerala

Every cultural event we track in Kerala, sorted by date.

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Places

All destinations in Kerala

Curated places, rituals and hidden gems across the state.

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Every cultural event across India in one list.

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From the YatraJunction journal

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Kerala’s Backwaters: Sailing Through God’s Own Country

Coconut groves, kettuvallam houseboats and the slow heartbeat of the south — how the canals of Alleppey became the most poetic waterway in India.

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Questions & Answers

About Onam

Onam 2026 is scheduled for 17–26 Aug 2026. That's 115 days from today.

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A 36-hour spectacle centred on the Vadakkunnathan temple — 30 caparisoned elephants, synchronised parasol exchanges, and a 7-hour percussion ensemble that draws musicians from across Kerala.

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110 days away

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115 days away

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Where tribal Gujarat chooses life partners

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A 3-day tribal fair near the Trinetreshwar temple — famous as a traditional matchmaking ground. Unmarried men carry embroidered umbrellas as a courtship signal; women in mirror-work dresses dance in the Raas circle.

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