Kerala

The sun-drenched state of Kerala is up there with Goa as one of India's most popular tourist destinations and each year welcomes thousands of domestic tourists and foreign visitors. With its mix of beautiful sandy beaches, historic colonial towns, lush forests and tranquil hill stations, it's easy to see why. Kerala has a well-deserved reputation as one of the easiest places in India for foreign travellers to visit and English is widely spoken. Kerala is rightly famed for its incredible beaches, but between its coastline in the west and the Western Ghats mountain range on its eastern border, visitors will find an enticing mix of historic cities, ancient monuments, wildlife parks, vibrant communities, history and breathtaking scenery.

Often likened to the nearby state of Goa, Kerala is characterised by its stunning beaches and has been attracting backpackers ever since it first became popular with the hippies in the 1960s. A laidback charm still pervades ensuring its continued popularity with backpackers, but the state is now also being enjoyed by a new generation of package tourists from both home and abroad. Attracted by the fine climate, beautiful coastline and the sheer variety of inland tours and day trips on offer, visitor numbers continue to increase each year.

The sun-drenched Indian state of Kerala occupies a long, thin strip that runs along the country's southwest coast and is buffered by the warm waters of the Arabian Sea. Kerala is neighboured by the states of Karnataka in the northeast and Tamil Nadu in the southeast. In the very south of the state is the coastal city of Thiruvananthapuram (formerly Trivandrum) which is also the state capital. Strongly influenced by the Raj, this colonial city is a fantastic place to explore.

Stretching for almost 600km (373 miles), Kerala is blessed with a picture-perfect coastline that's peppered with stunning beaches. The length of the state means that there's a huge variety of beaches to choose from ranging from unspoiled secluded bays to bigger beach resorts with plenty of facilities that are popular with families.

Located close to the state capital, the beautiful Kovalam Beach is one of the most popular beaches in the state and attracts thousands of sun seekers to its four separate coves. Another popular beach close to the capital is Varkala which is famous for the Sree Janardhana Swamy Temple and the nearby Nature Care Centre.

Other popular beaches well worth seeking out include Thanagasseri Beach, Cheria Beach, Tanur Beach, Padinharekara Beach, Beypore Beach and Kappad Beach. But if quiet seclusion is what you're after, you don't usually have to walk far from the resort centre to find a stretch of sand that you can claim all to yourself.

Beautiful beaches are only part of Kerala's charms and visitors should not miss the opportunity to explore inland to enjoy a variety of visits and activities ranging from jungle treks and elephant safaris to tours of colonial mansions and religious sites.

Kerala's historic towns and cities are great places to learn more about the state's colonial history and provide a fascinating contrast to laidback village life along the coast. Of particular note is the state capital of Thiruvananthapuram and the town of Cochin; the latter stakes its claim in the history books as one of Europe's first Indian colonies.

Kerala's eastern border is dominated by the impressive Western Ghats mountain range, which has historically provided a natural defence from inland invaders. Lying at the heart of this rugged region is Anaimudi which, at 2,652m (8,840ft), is the highest peak in Southern India.

Kerala doesn't really have attractions specifically for children, but there's plenty to see and do here to keep families entertained.

Watersports are popular and many of the bigger resorts offer facilities such as jet-ski hire and parasailing. But visitors should be aware that the sea can be quite rough and is renowned for its strong currents.

The Periyar Wildlife Reserve close to Kumily is rightly one of the most popular tourist attractions in the state. Established in 1934, the reserve is home to many native species including Indian tigers, sloth bears, monkeys, deer, bison, kingfishers and huge herds of elephants.

The state is also famed for its rivers and waterways and a boat tour exploring the villages and communities that live in these lush areas is the highlight of many people's stay in Kerala. The triangular circuit in the south between Kollam, Alappuzha and Kottayam is the most popular but other quieter routes are also possible; the northern district of Kasaragode has a good reputation for relaxed, authentic tours.

Like Goa, Kerala is a great place to shop for traditional souvenirs and haggling at the tourist markets is a quintessential part of a trip to Kerala (be aware that prices are fixed in most shops and haggling is only expected at markets). Visitors can buy goods from all over India and other parts of Asia. Popular items include leather goods, carvings, ethnic clothing, silk saris, woven fabrics, carpets, jewellery and handicrafts. Tea, coffee and spices produced in Kerala itself are popular gifts.

Leaving the days of all-night beach raves behind it, evening entertainment in Kerala is now relatively low key and usually revolves around dining out in one of the many open-air restaurants. There are numerous bars and nightclubs with entertainment ranging from traditional Indian music and dance to blues bands and DJs. Many of the larger hotels and resorts also have their own onsite bars and nightclubs. And for anyone still hankering after the hedonistic days of the all-night beach party, these can still be found but they're usually at special times of the year (such as New Year) and usually take place in the areas more popular with backpackers.

Kerala's long coastline ensures a ready supply of fresh fish and it comes as no surprise that local cuisine includes plenty of seafood specialities. Coconut and coconut milk are frequently used and add a sweet taste to mouthwatering curries that have both Asian and European influences. A ‘thali' is a set meal for a fixed price that usually includes rice, curry, bread and yoghurt or sauces; they're fresh, wholesome and usually delicious. Keralans are well-used to catering for foreign palates and as well as milder curries, visitors can usually take their pick from a wide variety of world cuisines ranging from Italian pizzas to Mexican taco shells. Vegetarians are also well catered for.

Taxis are everywhere and are the easiest way of getting around; they're very reasonably priced too. For shorter journeys, a ride in that quintessentially Indian form of transport, the auto-rickshaw, is a fun and cheap way to get around. For longer journeys, there is a good rail network that runs from Thiruvananthapuram in the south of the state all the way along the coast to Kasaragode in the north; there are also a number of inland services. An extensive bus network covers most other areas of interest but these can get very busy so passengers should be prepared to stand. Car and motorbike hire is possible but visitors should be aware of road safety issues and carry the correct paperwork.

There's so much to see and do in this vibrant state that it is unlikely that visitors on a normal length holiday will have time to explore beyond Kerala itself. But, with internal flights, the cities of Bangalore and Chennai (Madras) make for fascinating excursions.

Kerala is marginally more expensive than elsewhere in India but is still great value when compared with European destinations so visitors can easily afford to splash out on a few treats. The state is famed for its beachfront yoga classes, ayurvedic massages and aromatherapy treatments and the cost is a fraction of that paid in Europe for similar treatments and classes.

Trivandrum International Airport (TRV)
Kozhikode Airport (CCJ)
Cochin International Airport (COK)