This, they say, is God's own country and the green gateway of India. An enchant-ingly beautiful, emerald green land strewn with rivers, lagoons, backwaters and rich vegetation in between. From the bewitching beaches of Kovalam to the lush tea plantations in the hill station of Munnar, Kerala shows divine prejudice. A truly fertile land, if there were two colours to describe Kerala it would be blue and green with its sublime backwaters and acres of fertility. Here is nature on a platter.

Voted as one of the 50 must-visit destinations of the world by National Geographic, Kerala has got its tourism act together - the tourist is king here. No other Indian state provides as many facilities for tourists as does Kerala. Honeymooners can have custom-made backwater cruises, nature lovers can indulge in guided jungle walks and avid trekkers can traverse the splendid western ghats around Munnar. Kerala is all this and much more. A lovely getaway and a rendezvous with the natural world.

That's where we take you this month - from Kochi (Ernakulam) to Kumily (Periyar) and Munnar and back. Splendid roads, rolling oceans of green tea bushes, crisp mountain air, craggy hills, and wildlife can all be yours to savour. This destination down south will definitely be your cup of tea, the pun very much intended.

A ferry ride is a great way to view wildlife alongside River Periyar.

Kumily, Periyar or Thekaddy? It's a little confusing. Here's the simple explanation to it. The river around which the game reserve is called the Periyar. The actual reserve, starting from the entry gate, is called Thekaddy. The area outside where the shops and most hotels are located is called Kumily.

The best time to visit these places is from November to April. Sightings of wildlife at Thekaddy are better when it's hot because the animals are always near waterholes, quenching their thirst.

The hill station of Munnar is pleasant all year round and early morning outings will need woollens as it is chilly. An insect repellent and a pair of sturdy walking shoes are a must for jungle walks and treks. During the day sunscreen lotion, sun-caps and sunglasses go a long way to help bear the heat. For your vehicle a routine service would do just fine. The roads are terrific and the distances short.

The road from Kochi is a state highway with its fair share of traffic. The going is pretty slow till you get to Ettumanur via the towns of Tripunitura, Kanayannur and Vaikam.

The state highway that leads to Kumily goes through Kottayam, but it saves time and distance if you turn off at Ettamanur towards Pala, and join the state highway again at Kanjirapalli. Though this route is via a regional road, the state of repair is superb and there is very little traffic too. From Kanjirapalli it's a mountain road drive to Kumily as you are now in the Western Ghats.

The 108km drive from Kumily to Munnar is splendid with its fair share of blind corners and breathtaking views. Jeeps and buses come hurtling down the road at breakneck speeds. In Kerala public transport drivers believe that "The road is my race track and myself is the Schumacheraa". You can see the pure pleasure on the driver's face as he struggles with the steering wheel to throw the bus around tight corners at full throttle. The last 20 kilometres to Munnar take you through splendid tea gardens that will take anyone's breath away.

»  Sturdy walking shoes are a must if you plan to go on long walks or treks. A crepe bandage, ointment or sprays to relieve inflammation.
»  Rain gear as the rains
are sudden and swift and the tea plantations in Munnar provide little cover.
»  Warm clothing even in May. Average temperature is 15 degrees C.
»  Carry both a Tamil as well as a Malayalam phrase book. Few locals understand either English or Hindi.
»  Check out a good local guide who can take you exploring to places off the beaten track.