Kerala

Kerala is a state on India's southwest coast, a narrow strip of land between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats. Its capital is Thiruvananthapuram, and its port city of Kochi was a centre of the spice trade for centuries.

Travellers come for the backwaters of Alappuzha and Kumarakom, the tea estates of Munnar, the forests of Thekkady and Periyar, Fort Kochi and Mattancherry, and the Malabar coast in the north. Kathakali, Theyyam, Ayurveda and a long tradition of seafood and spice cooking are part of daily life. Onam, Vishu, Thrissur Pooram and the snake boat races are among its many festivals.

The best time to visit Kerala is September to March. The monsoon, from June to August, is the traditional season for Ayurvedic treatment.

Pollen Dots plans customised journeys anywhere in Kerala, with local guides and stays. Browse the journeys and stories below, or write to us to plan a journey around what you want to see.