Kerala
The far southwest: backwaters, tea hills, Ayurveda, boat races and the best coffee-and-breakfast culture in the
country. It’s the furthest of the suggest trips, so it’s only worth it if you can give it 5 days or more — but it’s
the trip people come back raving about. Its ideal if you want a mix of sightseeing, relaxation and amazing food!
Kerala tends to be a toned down version of India, so first time visitors would love it!
Notes:
- From Mumbai: 2 h flight to Kochi (COK), Trivandrum (TRV) or Kozhikode (CCJ). Trains are long
so don’t, unless the train is the point. - A sane first route: Kochi (2 days) → Munnar or Wayanad (2 days) → Alleppey backwaters (1–2 days). A mix of
city/culture, relaxation and vistas. - Its probably my default recommendation for anyone travelling to India for the first time.
- Its considered one of the safest places in India to travel, even solo. Its very tourist friendly and the beaches
are to die for!
The beaches in the last bullet, and this is a normal weekday afternoon on one.