The southern Indian state of Kerala is a tropical paradise of wide stretches of sand, swaying palm trees and year-round lush green vegetation. This narrow stretch of coast reaches to the Arabian Sea on its eastern side and is wedged in by the Western Ghats region on its other side.

This is a land of coconuts and spices, of beguiling backwaters, of high mountains and pristine rain forests as well as those idyllic beaches. Visit temples and mosques, and choose from a wide range of sporting options as well as ayurvedic spas, oil massages and other treatments.

The state is criss-crossed by no fewer than 41 rivers, with tributaries forming Kerala’s maze of unique backwaters and lagoons and small islands. Rivers, pools and canals are all separated from the sea by a narrow strip of sand banks.

With Kerala holidays, the emphasis is often on rejuvenation. Spend a day or two on a house-boat doing nothing but watching the palm trees drift by, or enjoy lazing around the beaches of Kovalam or Varkala.