If you want the same exquisite coastal views and time is of no concern, a road trip to Kerala is surely worth a spot on your bucket-list. National Highways 17, 44, 47 and 49, along with smaller highways and roads, connect the state to the rest of the country. You can drive yourself or hire a car or taxi from any major city in India. The distance is around 2550 km from New Delhi, 1248 km from Mumbai, 834 from Goa, 461 km from Bengaluru and 603 km from Chennai.

The other option for road entry to Kerala is the bus, with plenty of public as well as private operators offering coaches of varying standards from luxury sleepers to economy seaters.

Taking a train to Kerala is an amazing experience, offering scenic views of the stunning coastline and Western Ghats for large parts of the journey. Connectivity, convenience and cost-effectiveness are other key features of rail travel, especially with the state boasting 200 active stations. The network is incredible, with trains running from all major Indian cities — as far as New Delhi or as close as Karnataka. And they can take you almost anywhere you want, considering the only district that lacks rail connect is Wayanad and Idukki.

It’s the magnificent Konkan rail line that leads in and out of Kerala, with major stops along the way such as Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Kozhikode, Kottayam and Ernakulam. Top trains include Kerala Express, Rajdhani and Duronto, amongst others, with weekly departures.

Being a coastal state, there are ways to reach Kerala by sea. In fact, its famous backwaters are connected all the way to Lakshadweep Islands! Make unique travel memories by making your way here by sea, with cruise ships from Cochin Port in Kochi or Vizhinjam International Seaport in Thiruvananthapuram.