Southern India’s natural riches have been keenly sought after by outsiders for centuries. Yet despite many European, Asian and Western influences, the Indian people have remained true to themselves.

“I have always been drawn to countries where there still exists a strong ‘non-white, non-western’ cultural heritage. India is one of those countries,” says Claire Martin, a nationally recognized TV meteorologist. “The people of India are welcoming, friendly and very funny and I can’t wait to go back.”

Martin was introduced to Indian hospitality when she led a small group of Canadians on a healing journey through Northern India last fall. The trip successfully raised $6,000 towards a second digital breast imaging machine at Royal Columbian Hospital (RCH).

Martin is a survivor of melanoma and a two-time survivor of breast cancer. She has beaten the odds and credits early diagnosis, support from family and friends, and a strong focus on personal well-being for her survival.

“It was the connection, the spirituality we all felt at the end of the trip that was the most surprising gift from our time in India,” Martin recalls. “The group felt like family at the end, and India our home.”

This time, her 14-day Essence of South India tour, departing on Oct. 4, 2012, will provide travellers with the opportunity to explore the vibrant and spicy landscape of Southern India while raising funds for life-saving equipment at RCH.

From the backwaters of Kerala (rated in the top three tourist destinations by the World Travel & Tourism Council and listed in National Geographic Traveler’s 50 Places of a Life-time), to the sandy beaches of Goa, the Essence of South India tour will unwind your soul.

The tour embarks from Cochin (Kochi), a breezy sea-port town flanked by the Western Ghats on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west. For centuries, Cochin has been a port of call for British, Dutch, and Portuguese voyagers, which is reflected in its blended colonial-style architecture, including the highly decorated Santa Cruz Basilica and 16th-century Dutch Palace.

Trust your nose to lead you down narrow streets through the old districts of Mattan Cherry to colourful, pungent spice markets. As Martin can attest from her last visit, a tour of India is as much a spiritual journey as an olfactory one.

“On my last trip, I was impressed most by the people and the smells! The food being cooked on the streets literally makes your mouth water. Walking past small shops in the mornings and breathing in the smells of fresh chapatis being made was fabulous … and don’t get me started on the curries,” she quipped.

If you’re looking for a breath of fresh air, make your way down to the waterfront for sightseeing in  Fort Cochin. There, you can see that early Chinese voyagers also left a parting gift in Cochin, in the form of enormous fishing nets that line the shores like course sails on a fleet of tall ships.

Continuing in the path trod-den by leagues of past European explorers in search of spices, the tour moves inland to the tourist places in Munnar Hill Station, 1,600 metres above sea level. Once the summer resort of the erstwhile British administration in South India, it still retains its colonial charm and is famous for its tea plantations, most of which are privately owned. With its sprawling estates, rolling hills, sparking waterfalls and undulating valleys, Munnar is an idyllic retreat.

Over hill and dale, you will travel to Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, a reserve on the Kerala/Tamil Nadu border that is surrounded by tea and spice plantations. A lush forest with a vast lake at its heart, Periyar National Park is a protected elephant and tiger reserve. With an estimated population of 50 tigers and 900 elephants, you are not likely to miss spotting one of these exotic creatures on a guided walk through the reserve at early dawn or on a tranquil lake cruise in the afternoon.

Leaving behind the flora, fauna and wildlife of Periyar, your tour takes you into the impossibly beautiful Kumarakom, a cluster of tiny islands surrounded by a labyrinth of tropical waterways. “I know travellers to South India that consider this the ‘journey of a lifetime, an absolute must,’ ” relays Martin. “To be able to leisurely drift along the beautiful back waters of brackish lagoons, lakes and canals will definitely be a once-in-a-life-time experience.”

Used for both accommodation and transport since ancient times, the country houseboat in Kerala is referred to as a ‘Kettuvallam’. These eco-friendly houseboats are made from locally sourced materials like bamboo poles and coconut fibre, and can stretch up to 23 metres long and sleep several passengers. There is no more fascinating way to experience life in the Indian ‘bayou’, than from aboard one of these luxurious vessels. Pass farmers bathing their buffalo; watch fishermen and vegetable growers sell their wares by boat; and admire the sunset before being lulled to sleep by the gently lap-ping water.

This is a Kerala Tour experience posted in Vancouver Sun

The Kerala Backwaters are a labyrinthine system formed by more than 900 km of waterways In the middle of which there are a number of towns and cities, which serve as the starting and end points of backwater cruises. The backwaters have a unique ecosystem – freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea. In certain areas, such as the Vembanad Kayal which is the longest lake, where a barrage has been built near Kumarakom, salt water from the sea is prevented from entering the deep inside, keeping the fresh water intact. Such fresh water is extensively used for irrigation purposes and agriculture.

Paddy Fields, Palm trees, pandanus shrubs, various leafy plants and bushes grow alongside the backwaters, providing a green hue to the surrounding landscape. Many unique species of aquatic life including crabs, frogs and mudskippers, water birds such as terns, kingfishers, darters and cormorants, and animals such as otters and turtles live in and alongside the backwaters. Backwaters of Vembanad is the largest of the lakes, covering an area of 200 km², and bordered by Alappuzha (Alleppey), Kottayam, and Ernakulam districts. The port of Kochi (Cochin) is located at the lake’s outlet to the Arabian Sea. Alleppey, “Venice of the East”, has a large network of canals that meander through the town.

Here are few tips for a guest who is planning for a holiday in Kerala backwaters

• Alleppey and Kumarakom are the  most popular  spot for a holiday in Kerala backwaters even though you can enjoy the holiday in  Kollam , Kasargod , Thiruvallam , Poovar and Kozhikode as well.
• Best time to visit Kerala backwaters are all through the year but  if you have a choice then plan your visit in such a way as not to visit  backwaters in Monsoons
• You can either enjoy a day cruise in backwaters or opt for an overnight stay through one of the world famous Kerala Houseboat package.
• When you choose a Kerala Houseboat , ensure that  you choose a premium, luxury or deluxe houseboat and maximise the budget at your disposal.
• When you book a Kerala houseboat cruise for one night all meals will be served on board. The cuisine is continental, south Indian, North Indian or traditional Kerala flavored with the local specialties like delicious local fish if you are a non vegetarian.
• Houseboats pick you up at Alleppey or Kumarakom at 12 PM and lunch is served on board when the cruise starts. the cruise will go on and guests can request to stop at places of interest . At around 5 – 5: 30 PM the houseboats will be anchored close to shore as Government of Kerala doesn’t allow tourist activity as fishermen put nets in the sea. Go for village sightseeing and dinner is served at night.
• You can also request for fishing rods and do angling in houseboats and may also take canoes on  rent if you want to do some canoeing and kayaking
• If you don’t have a high budget  to take a houseboat on rent or for a day cruise , then don’t worry you can always opt for  a shikara or a country boat.

Holiday in Kerala houseboat in  Alleppey or Kumarakom backwaters will be a truly memorable experience with a mind-blowing view of canal systems and endless lagoons , Paddy fields, fishing in backwaters, small houses on small stretch of land There are villages in all over these backwater, The view of backwater birds, people working in paddy fields or people using small canoes as mode of transportation, small resorts, heritage homes are specialty of this area.

Sree Anantha Padmanabhaswamy Temple is one of the 108 holi places of Lord Vishnu. The capital city of Kerala – Thiruvananthapuram is named after the Lord in this temple. The word Thiruvananthapuram literally means “The land of Sree Anantha Padmanabhaswamy. Followers believe that the Lord has personally come in disguise and had saved many times the Travancore Kingdom from the clutches of enemies. Recently sri padmanabhaswamy temple was in news for the discovery of hidden treasure worth billions of dollars which also underlined it as a must visit while on a Kanyakumari Tour Package or while visiting tourist places in Trivandrum.

Only Hindus are permitted inside the temple.Dress codes are to be strictly followed before entering the temple.

What to wear on a visit to this holi temple?
Women will be allowed inside the temple in a long ankle length skirt although sarees are the safest choice for a visit to Padmanabhaswamy temple. Wearing a full sleeved top is also the best for women, although men are contrarily expected to shed their shirt and enter chaste of chest.

What is strictly prohibited is short or bifurcated garments for either sex – churidars, pants , shorts, short or mid length skirts or dresses. Men can loan a mundu there to wear over their pants, but there aren’t sarees on loan for women.

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple Trivandrum Timings

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple opens daily at 03:30 AM and closes at 07:20 PM. However, there are specific timings for darshan when devotees can see the deity

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple Darshan Timings in Morning

03:30 AM to 04:45 AM
06:30 AM to 07:00 AM
8.30 AM to 10:00 AM
10:30 AM to 11:00 AM
11:45 AM to 12:00 PM

Evening Darshan Timings of Sri Padmanabha Swamy Temple

05:00 PM to 06:15 PM
06:45 PM to 07:20 PM

Please note that the temple worship timings are subject to change during festival occasion.

Munnar is a picturesque hill station in Kerala that is nestled in Western Ghats and is encircled by the undulating hills of the Anamalai mountain range. The Scottish planters discovered Munnar but it was under the British that Munnar became a major plantation area for tea and tea gardens are among the main tourist attractions in Munnar Honeymoon Packages.

Munnar is a hill station that experiences salubrious climate and does not have extreme climatic conditions like Shimla or Manali. Munnar is situated at a height of around 1600 meters above sea level as a result of which it is one of the most preferred destinations in India at any given time. One can say that the peak season for Munnar tourism is all though the year.

Munnar in Winter (September to November and January to March)- Best Season to visit Munnar
The best time to visit Munnar would be October to November and from January to May when it is comfortably cold. There may be occasional rains which will give a misty experience of Munnar. September just after rains it would be like one of the best experiences in Munnar with verdant green tea gardens and and good amount of water in waterfalls on the way to munnar .It will be just great if you dont mind occasional shower.

Munnar in Peak Winter (December)- Great Season to visit Munnar
Though Munnar has pleasant climate throughout the year, it experiences colder winters and the weather is extremely cold during winter (December/January). The temperatures can drop to five degree celsius conditions during the peak winter season. However you wont experience snow like North Indian hill stations like Shimla or Manali. . The hill station does not witness heavy snowfall and tourists throng Munnar in December during Christmas and New Year.

Munnar in Summer (April to May)- Best Season to visit Munnar
Even during the summer months Munnar is a good place to travel to and the temperature seldom goes beyond 20º C. Therefore, when you travel to Munnar during summer months you will need to carry some light woolen clothes for protection against the cold weather.

Munnar in Monsoons (June to August)- Good Season to visit Munnar
Winters are also an ideal time to visit Munnar if you love rains in the hills. Though moving around is a bit difficult in rains and mist, a rainy vacation will lift up your spirits.D uring winters, the weather and climate of Munnar becomes too cold and sometimes the temperature can go below 0º C.Peak monsoon season in end June and July should be avoided as it rains quite heavily in Munnar and surrounding areas. The roads can get very slippery and it is advisable to travel to Munnar during day time as nights are misty.

Munnar is known as Kashmir of South India and snuggled in the lap of such an alluring terrain, Munnar is one of the most beautiful hill stations in India and a visit to Kerala is never complete with out a visit to Munnar . Do make sure that you take some photographs in tea gardens whether you are visiting Munnar in the best time to visit Munnar or not.The place is a paradise for nature lovers and provides them the best ambience, the honeymooners require for their dream honeymoon tour. Its beauty never misses to captivate people’s mind and soul with its very first glimpse. Rambling tea plantations, rising and falling hills swathe in bright green beauty of flourishing valleys are big attractions for families.

Photo of Munnar which shows Laborers go to work at tea plantations in Kerala, India. Munnar Tourism is well known all over the world

This photo was selected as the Travel Photo of the Week by National Geographic

Chinese fishing nets (Cheena vala) are to Kochi what the painted face of a Kathakali actor is to the state of Kerala in promoting tourism. These are shore operated lift nets operated by a group of fishermen in Kochi, Vypeen and Cherai in Kerala and is a symbol of Kochi as a prominent place among honeymoon spots in Kerala.

Origin of Chinese Fishing Nets
The nets may have been introduced by the Chinese explorer Zheng He as per historic records. These antique fishing nets that provide Kochi with its signature style had made their way to Kerala around the 13th century when there was trade between Malabar and China. Each structure is at least 10 meter high and comprises a cantilever with an outstretched net suspended over the sea and large stones suspended from ropes as counterweights at the other end.

How are the Chinese fishing nets used for fishing>
Some describe it as the most non-violent form of fishing; anglers expect fish to swim into their immersed net, before they can lift up the catch. The net, hung on spindles from a cantilever and dropped into the estuary/lake, stays submerged till the fishermen are sure that enough fish have landed. Then, the net is lifted, trapping the unsuspecting fish.Each installation is operated by a team of up to six fishermen or four fishermen.

The system is sufficiently balanced that the weight of a man walking along the main beam is sufficient to cause the net to descend into the sea. The net is left for a short time, possibly just a few minutes, before it is raised by pulling on ropes. The catch is usually modest: a few fish and crustaceans — these may be sold to passers by or tourists within minutes. Rocks of various weights, each 50 cm or so in diameter are suspended from ropes of different lengths. As the net is raised, some of the rocks one-by-one come to rest on a platform thereby keeping everything in balance.

Tourism and Chinese Fishing nets
The Chinese fishing nets are a symbol of Kochi and have become a very popular tourist attraction, their size and elegant construction is photogenic and the slow rhythm of their operation is quite hypnotic. In addition, catches can be purchased individually and need be taken only a short distance to a street entrepreneur who will cook it.

Chinese Fishing Nets – Current Scenario
The nets are great symbols of our culture and history and Chinese fishing nets are the living monuments of Kochi and most of the Chinese fishing nets are owned and operated by private owners even though these are used as a symbol of Kerala Tourism. There are two types of nets — those operated by six people and those operated by four. Their number has come down over the years and unless we take urgent steps, they may lose their character and also their original purpose.The private owners of the nets, which are still being used to catch fish, had been reinforcing them every decade or so, making them stronger and larger losing the traditional style. A few of the fishing nets have iron pipes in place of the original teak wood, much to the consternation of heritage buffs. About 165 people in Fort Kochi earn a livelihood with the help of these nets which are also there in Vypeen and Cherai. When authorities deepened the channel for the Vallarpadam container terminal, the catch of fish through Chinese fishing nets was reduced and unless steps are taken to preserve the nets and help the fishermen, the tradition may die down and one of the major attractions in the many moods of Fort kochi may die down.

Mountains that hunch out of the valley are covered in manicured slopes of tea and sightseeing places in Munnar are just wonderful. However there are no trains to Munnar directly and Munnar is not in the rail route. Nearest railway station to Munnar is at Alwaye (Aluva) or Angamaly, which are nearly 120 kms away from Munnar. Most of the trains stop at Alwaye (Aluva) which is a bigger station than Angamaly. It is better to get down at Aluva rather than Ernakulam if your train stops there as it will help you in saving time on a visit to Munnar. The next best option after Aluva is to get down at any of the two railway stations in Ernakulam.

Anyone visiting Munnar can also get down at any of the two railway stations in Ernakulam, Ernakulam Junction (South) and Ernakulam Town (North). A taxi to Munnar from any of the railway stations in Ernakulam may cost 2500 Indian Rupees. Taxis are available for hire from the pre paid counter inside the station premises

All these stations are operated by the Southern Railway zone of the Indian Railways and comes under the Thiruvananthapuram railway division. Ernakulam Junction is one of the major railway stations in Kerala with trains to any part of India and also one of the A1 graded stations in the Southern Railway.

Ayurveda is a means to get Moksha or Mukthi (Relief) from diseases. Ayurveda, Yoga and Meditation helps you to merge with untouched nature. Being close to nature, peace and silence, an ayurveda resort is the perfect place to get rid of all the toxins, oil and impurities from your body. Ayurveda can lead you to a perfect life style of health and fitness.Ayurvedic Resorts in kerala is designed in a very traditional manner, which brings you on a sensory journey towards one of holistic healing and deep sense of well-being.

Traditionally, the period from August to March has been considered the best season to visit Kerala and the period between April and August is considered the best time for getting Ayurvedic treatments, for which Kerala is renowned worldwide. This way, Kerala deems to be an all season destination. However, carry an umbrella because Kerala has a knack of throwing up sudden bursts of showers irrespective of whatever month it is. The period from June to July and October to November, which used to be considered off season due to monsoons, has also started seeing a good influx of visitors. In fact, the monsoon period, with the atmosphere remaining cool and dust free, allowing for opening up the pores of the body, is considered ideal for Ayurvedic treatments.

I took a deep lungful of air and dived through the thick brown water to the river bed, clawing blindly at the sticky mud. The swift current was dragging me downstream, and my lungs began to burn. Finally, I felt a smooth round shape in the slime. I shot to the surface and proudly held my prize aloft.

Watching children on the bank just giggled. The boat cook didn’t look impressed either. Mussels, not pebbles, were on the dinner menu.

Two other members of the boat crew bobbed up beside me, their hands full of mussels. I took another breath and dived again. A few hours later I felt just a little guilty when I wolfed down quite a few more mussels than the half dozen I’d finally managed to bring to the surface.

Taken out of their shells and fried in spices, the mussels were delicious. Food always tastes better when you (almost) catch it yourself. And it tastes even better when the view from your table is stunning. My girlfriend, Carolyn, and I were on a houseboat in the Kerala backwaters. The dark red sun was dropping quickly behind the line of coconut palms across the water as we tucked into the mussels, plus vegetable curries and rice.

Perfect setting, perfect food. So far, so predictable – these waters have been a tourist favourite for years. But our houseboat, the Goodearth, is part of an initiative launched by people trying to do something a little different.

The backwaters of Kerala have become a victim of their own success. Hundreds, probably thousands, of houseboats (kettuvallams) full of tourists chug round the beautiful lagoons, canals and rivers. Some are multi-storey, air-conditioned affairs, blaring out music and belching fumes – a far cry from the simple traditional boats being gently poled through beautiful scenery which first attracted visitors.

Tourism is now big business and the environment has suffered. Engines and toilet waste are serious polluters. Many boats are owned by big companies so villagers here literally watch the tourist dollars sailing by while their young people are forced to move to towns and cities for job opportunities.

That’s where the Goodearth comes in. Late last year, four villages south of Kochi (formerly Cochin) set up the Keyal Gramodhaya (Backwater Self-help Group) with the help of ecotourism specialist Village Ways, which provided a grant and a loan (repayable over 30 years). The villagers (of Vayalar, Chenganda, Perumbalam, Kodamthuruthu) traditionally fishermen and boatbuilders, constructed the Goodearth and it’s they who run the boat, working as crew and guides. Other local people provide services such as laundry. A portion of any tips from the boat’s guests are shared round the villages for projects including bridge and path repairs.
Chinese fishing nets Chinese fishing nets line on the Kerala backwaters

The Goodearth is small and has a correspondingly small environmental footprint. There’s an engine but certainly no air-conditioning. All toilet waste and used water is held in tanks and discharged safely on shore. The villages we visit are off the usual kettuvallam route – we didn’t see another houseboat during our four nights on the Goodearth.

So we stepped aboard at the village of Vayalar with a fairly clear conscience. The crew were waiting for us – Ponnappan, a fisherman, would be our guide. (British volunteers had been here, teaching the villagers English, in the run-up to the initiative’s launch late last year.) We would travel during the day and moor at the Keyal Gramodhaya communities at night to explore and get a taste of village life.

We cast off. The busy main road to Kochi was only a couple of miles away, but the little river along which we were slowly drifting couldn’t have been more tranquil. Great clumps – armadas – of floating plants advanced towards us in the strong current and coconut groves lined the green banks, with just the occasional house to be seen. Chinese nets – this method of fishing is thought to have arrived with explorers from the Ming dynasty in the 15th century – studded the water. Some were the size of a truck, but not all were in use – others were missing a spar, like a giant daddy-longlegs which had lost a limb to a schoolboy.

Our first day took us a few gentle miles to Chenganda village. Ponnappan led us off to explore, passing little wooden and stone houses among trees. It soon became clear this little village was a hive of activity, all of it coconut related. In the yard of one home an elderly woman had a big bundle of coir fibre, made from coconut husk, at her waist. She attached a few strands to an electric spinning wheel and started walking backwards, paying out the fibre. Back and forth she went on her 30ft-long production line, creating rope which would earn her 100 rupees (about £1.30) a day.

Down the lane, the lengths of rope that the woman, and a multitude of others, had made were being joined together on madly spinning reels. Women raced to keep them fed, while we watched, horrified, as their saris swirled within inches of being snagged and dragged into the machines.

We stopped at a workshop where three young men were working on a giant wooden loom to make heavy rolls of matting. Stripped to the waist and glistening with sweat they sent the shuttle flying through the threads, all the while dancing with perfect timing on the control levers at their feet. In the yard of another home, children just back from school were making simple bags from coir rope, then stuffing them with coir fibre, to be used in stopping soil erosion. A group of men squatted on the road surrounded by thousands of coconut halves, laboriously carving out the dried flesh with a wooden tool straight out of a museum.
Map of Kerala and villagers shelling coconut Villagers carve out the flesh from dried coconut shells, and a map of the backwaters

Ponnappan seemed to know everyone – we were met by smiles, some shy, some cheeky, but always warm. I joined a kids’ cricket game and, despite a run-up that was intended to scare the pint-sized batsman, was smashed for several sixes into the trees. The villagers had heard of the Goodearth project and seemed happy, and curious, to meet some of its first guests. We soon got used to explaining to faintly incredulous locals that, no, Carolyn and I weren’t married, and, no, we didn’t have children.

We got back to the boat just in time for the arrival of two members of the Keyal Gramodhaya’s ladies’ committee, who were responsible for cooking some meals for guests. Cousins Ranjini and Sudha unceremoniously shooed the cook out of his galley and showed us how to make green papaya curry and banana flower curry, attacking the phallus-shaped bud with some enthusiasm. Turmeric, onion and chilli were thrown in, along with lashings of coconut oil, naturally. It was great fun, and there was lots of laughter – although I wished, nosy as I am, that the lesson had happened in one of their own kitchens. A couple of gorgeous children from the village came on board and quickly lost their shyness. I introduced them to Angry Birds on my phone – they were hooked immediately. Was that bad? Should I have given them a pencil instead?

Our meal was great, if a bit tame; not the fiery Keralan food I’d been expecting. I suspect the women had been warned to tone down the heat for tourists. I spent the rest of our time on the Goodearth trying to get the cook to bring the chilli up to local levels.

We set off again mid-morning, setting the pattern for the next few days. We’d cruise for a couple of hours, settling in at the front of the boat, picking up our books, but really not managing more than a few sentences before looking up and being sucked in by the landscape. We’d stop for lunch, then move on again, reaching our night stop by late afternoon in time for yet more friendly encounters and shamefully poor attempts at beating small children at cricket.

We learned that mussels were just as important to the economy as coconuts. They are scooped up from the bed of the rivers and lagoons by the bucketload: after the flesh is removed, the shells are burnt in simple kilns (fired by coconut fibre) to make lime.

I hitched a ride with a teenage crab fisherman in his simple canoe. We pulled up two or three crabs, which he dropped into the bottom of the boat, leaving them to scuttle around snapping their claws angrily at my bare toes. I got my revenge at dinner later.

The Goodearth’s guests may be trying to do the right thing but they don’t need to pack a hair shirt along with the factor 20. The boat is a beautiful example of traditional craftsmanship. The hull is of local anjali wood and the superstructure, including two en suite guest rooms, is of woven palm leaves and bent bamboo – it felt like sleeping in a very comfy and stylish treehouse. The crew were tremendously friendly and accommodating – even agreeing to the crazy foreigner’s request to go diving for mussels in a fast-flowing river.
Manisha and friends Guests at a local wedding – the girl in green is Manisha Mattel, who took the photo of the cook below

The trip gave us an amazing insight into the authentic village life and lovely people of Kerala. But one incident brought home to us the risks involved in taking visitors to an area largely untouched by tourism. One evening, when I was in our bedroom, a woman walked unannounced up the gangplank and gestured to Carolyn. She didn’t understand what the woman wanted so she found Ponnappan. He explained that she was asking for money and suggested giving her 100 rupees, which Carolyn did.

The incident left us both uncomfortable. What if the woman told the rest of the village she had been given the equivalent of a day’s wages? Would the villagers’ behaviour to the Goodearth’s guests change? Would the children who had loved having their photos taken start asking for money? Would the project actually harm the communities it’s meant to be helping?

Hopefully it was just a one-off, or perhaps the well-organised Keyal Gramodhaya will be able to manage the impact of the project on their community. Contacted this week, Village Ways, which has set up similar schemes across India, said its local co-ordinator had spoken to the guides about the incident. Village Ways’ director, Richard Hearn, said: “Our experience with other projects is that this can (rarely) happen in the early stages but quickly fades as the villagers begin to appreciate the long-term benefits that the project brings to the whole community.”
Keralan cook Preparing a huge pot of chicken biryani for the wedding feast

Besides, another episode was much more representative. On our final day we stopped at an island, barely more than a couple of hundred yards long, where preparations were under way for a huge wedding feast. Children, and adults, gawped at us, and the bride and her family plied us with food. I took a few photographs but my presence made their poses too formal. Instead, I gave my camera to a young girl who went off for 15 minutes or so and came back with some of the best pictures of the trip. There is one printed here. Thanks, Manisha!

This article originally appeared in The Guardian

Serene backwaters and verdant hill stations as well as the stunning beaches with historical palaces that embraces rich cultural heritage – The choice that Kerala offers to any guest is endless and there is so much to explore in Kerala. Every holiday seeker has a different purpose and requirement from Kerala and the best time to visit Kerala varies depending on your requirement.

Kerala has a long coast length or around 590 kilometers and western ghats on the other side of the state and this ensures that the climate of Kerala is neither too hot nor too cold. Kerala is slowly emerging as an all-season destination, although the period between October and April are considered best, as this time offers moderate temperatures around Kerala, making it ideal to visit the marvelous state.

Most guests ensure that they never miss Munnar Backwaters when they come for a visit in God’s Own Country and a holiday in Kerala backwaters is the experience they always look forward to when they plan a holiday in Kerala. So what is the best time to visit Kerala Backwaters. Traditionally, the period from August to March has been considered a good time to travel to Kerala and the period between April and August is considered the best time for getting Ayurvedic treatments, for which Kerala is renowned worldwide.

You can take a backwater cruise irrespective of the season but Kerala has a knack of throwing up sudden bursts of showers in monsoon and if it is a heavy shower you may not enjoy as much as you would wish to.

Kerala backwaters is ideal for a visit at any time of the year but if you have a choice then plan your visit to backwaters between August and May so that you avoid monsoons and enjoy the experience of tranquil, palm fringed backwaters of Kerala to the maximum.