Opting to bat, Kerala were off to a disastrous start and kept losing wickets at regular intervals at the Perintalmanna Cricket Stadium.
Left-arm spinner Rahul Singh returned impressive figures of six for 19 for the visitors.
Himachal, too, struggled despite a better start. In the end the visitors were all out in 37.5 overs, but managed to take a first-innings lead of 60 runs.
K Mohnish (3/60) and Fabid Ahmed (3/12) were the most successful bowlers for Kerala.