Scenic attractions[edit]

The Backwaters of Kerala are a maze of lagoons criss-crossed with rivers, shallow pools and canals, all separated from the sea by a narrow strip of sand banks. Backwaters are present throughout the state but Alappuzha and Kottayam are most notable in this regard.

The Blue Mountains of the Western Ghats, popularly known as Nilgiris, are close to Thiruvananthapuram and there are numerous hill stations in this area. The most popular is Munnar, the honeymoon capital of the state. The highest peak of the Western Ghats is Anamudi (2,695 metres), which is good for trekking. The area is also home to several sanctuaries and forest reserve areas. There are more than two dozen waterfalls, both large and small, with numerous rapids and springs. The largest fallwaters are at Athirampally, where three milky waterfalls fall at great speed.

Kerala has 650 km of coastline and numerous beaches. Popular recreational beaches include Alappuzha Beach, Kollam Beach, Cherai Beach, Muzhappilangadu beach and Varkala Beach. Some of these beaches also have historical significance such as Kozhikode Beach where Vasco da Gama first landed in India and Kovalam Beach near Thiruvananthapuram, a centre of Hippy counter-culture in the 1960s.