Kerala Holidays
God's Own Country

The Kerala backwaters are a 900-kilometre network of interconnected canals, rivers, lakes and lagoons that run parallel to the Arabian Sea coast. This extraordinary inland waterway system — one of the world's most biodiverse coastal wetlands — has shaped Kerala's culture, commerce and identity for over two thousand years.

Villages here have no roads. Children travel to school by boat. Coir is still made by hand on canal banks. The pace of life has barely changed in centuries. Arriving on a traditional kettuvallam houseboat, you step into a world where silence is interrupted only by birdsong and the lap of water against the hull.

The main backwater region stretches from Kollam in the south through the famous Alleppey (Alappuzha) hub to Kumarakom and the vast Vembanad Lake — the longest lake in India at 96 kilometres. Beyond lies Kuttanad, the 'Rice Bowl of Kerala', where paddy fields lie below sea level in one of the world's most remarkable agricultural landscapes.

The Western Ghats — known locally as the Sahyadri — run 1,600 kilometres along India's western coast, forming the backbone of Kerala's eastern edge. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012, they are recognised as one of the world's eight most important regions of biodiversity, older than the Himalayas and richer in endemic species than almost anywhere on earth.

In Kerala, the Ghats produce a landscape of extraordinary variety: the high-altitude tea estates of Munnar at 1,600–2,600 metres; the dense bamboo forests of Wayanad; the wildlife-rich shores of Periyar Lake at Thekkady; and the cardamom, pepper and coffee plantations that have spiced the world's kitchens for centuries.

Unlike the crowded hill stations of north India, Kerala's Western Ghats remain relatively unhurried. The roads wind through valleys that smell of eucalyptus and cardamom, past waterfalls that appear around every bend.

Kerala's western coast stretches 590 kilometres along the Arabian Sea — one of the longest and most varied shorelines in South India. Unlike the resort-heavy beaches of Goa, Kerala's coast retains an authentic character: fishing communities that have worked the same waters for generations, coconut palm groves that reach down to the sand, and ancient Chinese fishing nets silhouetted against evening skies.

Each beach has its own distinct personality. Kovalam is sophisticated and well-served, with an elegant crescent bay. Varkala is dramatic and cliff-top, with bohemian energy. Marari is secluded and serene — a long, quiet arc of sand. Bekal in the north combines a spectacular beach with a 17th-century fort.

Arriving in Kerala by air, the beach is typically the perfect finale to a circuit — after the mountains of Munnar and the canals of Alleppey, a few days by the sea brings a beautiful, unhurried close to a journey through three extraordinary worlds.

Peak Season (October–February) — The ideal window. Clear skies, low humidity, temperatures of 23–32°C. Houseboats are fully operational; the landscape is lush from the retreating monsoon. Book early as premium boats sell out months ahead.

Shoulder Season (March–May) — Warm and bright with building humidity. Fewer crowds, slightly lower prices. March is excellent; April and May grow very hot (up to 38°C).

Monsoon Season (June–September) — Kerala transforms dramatically. Rains fill the canals, paddy fields turn brilliant green, and the air smells of earth and flowers. Fewer houseboats operate. Prices are lower and the experience is uniquely atmospheric — ideal for Ayurveda, when the body is most receptive.