Kerala
Kerala is a haven - no huge cities to navigate, warm tropical weather, lush coconut palms and rice paddies, wild life reserves, and a best of all, rivers and inlets to explore in a houseboat.
Backwaters of Kerala (Kuttanadu) - The backwaters of Kerala are a network of canals, rivers, lakes and inlets, surrounded by lush palm trees and tropical greenery. Cruising on a houseboat (one day or more) is a must-do for families, highly recommended.
On the houseboat, glide through lagoons, past islands, villages in the distance, temples and shrines on the banks, emerald green rice fields, coconut groves, ducks and frogs in the water, colorful birds overhead.
Houseboats (kettuvallam) come equipped with bedrooms and bathroom, outdoor dining area and kitchen, electric lights and all the comforts of home. The onboard staff (boat men and cook) will pilot the boat and provide all your meals and snacks.
Periyar Tiger Reserve (Thekkady) - The big attraction at Periyar is tigers, but the amazing wildlife you're likely to see are elephants, gaur (like buffalo), sambar deer, langur and macaques, the Malabar giant squirrel, birds and butterflies.
There are two ways to explore the reserve - on a boat ride, or guided walks. The boat ride is easy if you have little kids, but the animals are all viewed at a distance. It's best to take the 3 hour guided nature walk, accompanied by a naturalist (they know where to find the wildlife).
Munnar - To escape the tropical heat, head up to the tea plantations at Munnar in the misty mountains. Kids will have fun wandering through the tea plantations, and exploring the market in town. Nearby, go pedal boating on Lake Kundala.
