Holiday in Kerala

What makes Kerala special as a destination?

Kerala, India's greenest state, stretches like a narrow strip of tropical paradise between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea on the southwest coast of the subcontinent. Known as God's Own Country, Kerala combines palm-fringed beaches, tea plantations in misty mountains, a 900-kilometer-long network of inland waterways (Backwaters), and one of the highest literacy rates in the world on just 38,863 square kilometers. The Backwaters of Alleppey (Alappuzha) are Kerala's most famous experience: a labyrinthine network of lagoons, canals, and lakes, traversed by Kettuvallam houseboats — converted traditional rice barges with sleeping cabins, a cook, and a helmsman. A night on the houseboat, as green rice fields and coconut palms silently pass by and fishermen cast their nets from narrow canoes, is one of the most magical experiences in India. The tea plantations of Munnar at 1,500-2,600 meters are a sea of emerald green tea: endless rows of well-maintained tea bushes cover the gently rolling hills, punctuated by shady silver oaks and the occasional flash of the rare Nilgiri Tahr mountain goat. The Tata Tea Factory offers tours, and in the mornings, mist envelops the plantations in a mystical atmosphere. Kochi (Cochin) is Kerala's cosmopolitan port city: Chinese fishing nets (Cheena Vala) reach out into the sunset along the Fort Kochi waterfront, centuries-old synagogues, Portuguese churches, and Dutch colonial houses stand side by side. The Kathakali dance performances, with their colorful costumes and expressive facial movements, are Kerala's most impressive art form. Ayurveda, the ancient Indian healing art over 5,000 years old, has its home in Kerala: Authentic Ayurveda treatments with oil massages, herbal therapies, and personalized dietary advice are offered in specialized resorts from Varkala to Kovalam.