The idyllic lush green state of Kerala hugs India’s south-west coastline with the Arabian Sea. The name Kerala means "land of the coconuts" and due to its almost equatorial climate Kerala’s coastline is thick with cool green coconut groves.

Kerala is also famous for its unique backwaters. The backwaters are a network of rivers, streams, lagoons and canals that almost run the length of the state just behind the coastline. A boat trip along the backwaters affords a unique and peaceful view of Kerala village life with its waterside activities of coirmaking, toddy tapping, fishing and rice growing.

Kerala cuisine is distinctive and delicious. It reflects the diverse religious traditions found within the state, its coastal location and the all-pervasive presence of the coconut. Rice is the staple cereal that is eaten with a variety of seafoods and/or tasty vegetable dishes invariably thickened and flavoured with coconut. Dosa (rice flour pancakes) are very popular, as are appam, iddiappam and puttu that are all delicious rice flour dishes.

Kerala is an ancient home for Ayurvedic medicine. It is also the home of Kathakali dancing, a sacred form of dance drama which has evolved over the last 400 years. The high skilled performance is accompanied by drummers and singers who act as narrators. The performers spend hours bedecking themselves in their decorative costumes and putting on elaborate make up prior to the performance. Daily performances of dances and pre-performance preparation can be enjoyed in Varkala.