Travelling Together Kerala

Kerala has been a favourite haunt of travellers from around the world for nearly 600 years; it's been known to exhilarate, enchant and enthral. Here's a cherry-picked list of 10 activities to get you under the skin of this incredible state.

Cruise the backwaters

No trip to Kerala is complete without a languid boat ride on its idyllic backwaters. Lined by emerald coconut plantations and interspersed by turquoise lakes, these placid lagoons are the perfect place to shake off pent-up urban stress. For a special experience, spend the night aboard a houseboat, and witness a dreamy sunrise break over the serene bayous at dawn.

Live it ‘up' in Munnar

Green is the colour that swathes the lush mountain slopes of Munnar Kerala's answer to the fabled hill stations of North India. The crisp air, clement weather and relaxed grain are all perfectly engineered to work up a restful experience in this scenic hill town. Order a steaming cup of tea from a nearby plantation to go with the breathtaking views.

Snap Kochi's fishing nets

Tops among Kerala's iconic photo ops are the cantilevered Chinese fishing nets – dating back to the 1400s – that line the harbour at kuchi 

(Cochin). Crafted out of teakwood beams and resembling giant alien arachnids poised to sting, they form unreal silhouettes against the seascape and provide some dramatic camera fodder, especially at dusk.

Embrace Ayurveda

Centuries of traditional Indian therapeutic wisdom and practices, perfected to soothe the human body, mind and soul, can now be accessed at the many Ayurveda spas across Kerala. Feel your senses come alive with an invigorating  session, or pamper those knotty sinews with a revitalizing aromatherapy or herbal massage.

Know your spices

Pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, mace, fennel, turmeric, cumin, coriander, aniseed, tamarind, allspice, saffron, poppy, mustard – that's some seriously spicey vocabulary. Ambush your olfactories at the spice markets of Mattancherry in Kochi (Cochin). Pack an extra bag for the inevitable shopping.