Many who travel to Kerala on a package holiday head to Kovolam, situated about 14 kilometres south of Trivandrum airport. It's set around the palm-fringed Lighthouse Beach, with its plentiful of beach shacks and bars. The many restaurants here offer fantastic seafood, meat and vegetarian dishes. There are also a few shops if you fancy bringing back some souvenirs, like drums, carvings or silver.
Varkala, just north of Trivandrum, is the ultimate "hippy hang-out". You can sunbathe on the long and sweeping beaches and, once you have had enough of the sun, chill out in the many cafes and bars on the cliff top. There are also many shops where you can pick up some great bargains (especially if you haggle), including beautiful silk dresses that you would pay a fortune for back home.
One "must see" on the Kerala trail is Cochin, an atmospheric peninsula with its spice markets, Chinese fishing nets and a mix of Portuguese, Jewish and British influences.
To see even more of the area, take a boat trip along Kerala's backwaters. You'll find plenty of choice available just a few hours up the coast at Alleppey, where you can cruise on a public ferry or commercial tourist boat. Also, for about £50 for a couple, you can hire a private house boat for a day, with your own crew and personal chef. Definitely worth splashing out on to impress your loved one!
Finally, it's worth heading out to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, where you can see wild elephants, giant squirrels, stripe-necked mongoose, and, if you're lucky, tigers and leopards. Many hotels and tourist agencies organise trips to the Sanctuary, where they will be able to arrange transport, accommodation and a guide to make the most of your trip.
The best time visit Kerala is between December and April, or between August and September when the skies are clear and there is less humidity.
A flight to Kerala from the UK takes about 12 hours.
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