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'Why Kerala is my favourite – and the most underrated – region in all of India'

Agents
Helen Bateman
2 October 2025

Helen Bateman from Firecrest Travel found laidback luxury and genuine hospitality when she travelled across five regions of the southern Indian state earlier this year

Helen Bateman
© Helen Bateman

Helen Bateman explores Kerala's tea plantations

I e-biked through quiet villages, pressed handmade paper, took a cooking class, and sipped mango lassis by palm-fringed pools. Here are a few insights from a personal trip that I took in May, arranged by our DMC, TBi.

Why Kerala deserves your attention

Most of my first enquiries for India focus on the Golden Triangle, the iconic Taj Mahal, the pink city of Jaipur and tigers of Ranthambore. With these big hitters comes a faster pace of life, the chaos, the sights and the sounds of the big city.