text: A Romantic Vacation in Kerala
  
  As one of the most favoured destinations for couples in #India, Kerala, truly God’s own country, did not let us down. With its green landscapes, tranquil backwaters, and charming #culture, this is a true escape, one where you can find full #relaxation and rejuvenate yourself.
  
  The image of coconut trees all around the airport, and the hint of a humid breeze were my first impressions of Kerala as soon as we landed at Cochin airport.
  
  We had booked a car service through Keralatourism.org’s message boards. Our driver Sujith was on time.
  
  India’s traffic is a subculture in itself.
  
  India’s traffic is a subculture in itself. Self-driving vacations can be an adventure. It involves little or no use of GPS as streets don’t always have names. Traffic rules are open to interpretation. Both pedestrians and drivers think they have the right of way. But our idea was to relax. We could not be more thankful to Sujith, as we both knew only few words of Malayalam, one of Kerala’s official state languages, and one that most locals understand.
  
  For our stay in Cochin (also known as Kochi), we chose Hotel Trident. It is located in a quiet neighbourhood called Willingdon Island. In keeping with the tradition of Indian hospitality, Trident was a fine experience. We indulged ourselves at the hotel’s spa with Ayurvedic massages.
  
  from $67.11
  
  Hotel Trident, Cochin
  
  Houseboat Hiring in Kerala
  
  7 Days Kerala-Parotta Pass
  
  We had booked a dinner at Rice Boat, a fine dining restaurant by Vivanta by Taj - Malabar. There is something special about it (as it is with all Taj Group services; they make you feel like a member of a royal family). Overlooking the waters of Cochin harbour, it gives you the feel of dining inside a Kettuvallam, the famous thatched boathouse of Kerala.
  
  On the second day, we woke up to a balmy morning. It was an early start to the day as we wanted to explore Cochin with Art of Bicycle Trips through a local perspective. We followed it with lunch at Fusion Bay, an unpretentious eatery that serves the diverse flavors of Kerala cuisine, and is thronged by both tourists and locals.
  
  It gives you the feel of dining inside a Kettuvallam, the famous thatched boathouse of Kerala.
  
  India’s obsession with gold jewelry seemed all the more pronounced in Kerala. On our way from Cochin to Munnar, every 500 metres or so we passed a massive advertisement for a different jewelry brand. One of them sported Maradona, the footballer, donning heavy gold jewelry, and clad in a mundu (a traditional attire in which cloth is worn around the legs like a wraparound) with a huge smile and a Namaste pose. Sujith told us Maradona is a business partner to a well-known Malayali gold and diamond jeweler. I was sure that worked well for their business, since football is very popular in Kerala.
  
  By the time we reached Munnar, it was dark. We spent the night at Devonshire Greens. With its emerald green tea plantations, misty mountains, and wiry thin walking trails complemented by calming and cool weather, Munnar lived up to its hype of being a romantic destination.
  
  from $87.77
  
  Hotel Devonshire Greens
  
  Houseboat Hiring in Kerala
  
  7 Days Kerala-Parotta Pass
  
  From colonial and cultural relics on the harbours of Cochin to the soothing emerald greenness of Munnar, we had now arrived in the backwaters of Kumarakom. I wondered if we were still in the same state.
  
  Munnar lived up to its hype of being a romantic destination.
  
  A traditional houseboat awaited us at Kumarakom Lake Resort. This was the most languorous and luxurious part of our holiday.
  
  from $290.79
  
  Hotel Kumarakom Lake Resort
  
  Houseboat Hiring in Kerala
  
  7 Days Kerala-Parotta Pass
  
  We sat still on the open deck for hours, enjoying the tranquility both at dusk and dawn, the changing hues of the waters and the life it reflected – rice paddy fields, fishermen and villagers going about their life, and a range of birds. We were truly pampered by the staff present on the boat, who attended to our every need. Were we floating on our own kingdom? It was hard to imagine that a commercial city bustled and the traffic roared just a few kilometres away from this place.
  
  Kerala is most distinguishable from the rest of the popular Indian destinations in one important aspect - a considerable lack of chaos. It lets you breath, pause and savour every single moment of your visit.