The south-western Indian state of Kerala is often described in guidebooks as "God's own country" - famed for its endless swathes of coconut trees, palm-fringed beaches and peaceful backwaters.

Visitors to the increasingly-popular holiday destination are usually struck by three things - the lushness of the Keralan landscape, its relative prosperity and the deep religiousness of its people. Its overriding sense of tranquillity makes Kerala an attractive proposition for backpackers and traditional holidaymakers alike.

Visitors arriving in Kerala usually book flights into the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram (widely known by its old name, Trivandrum) or Kochi (Cochin). Kozhikode (Calicut), in the north of the state, also has an international airport - but is rarely visited by western tourists.

Trivandrum is located in the far south, ideally placed for the beach resort of Kovalam. The city itself, despite offering a number of value hotels, doesn't hold a great deal for tourists - other than a well-stocked zoo and the huge Shri Padmanabhaswamy temple and adjacent Puttan Malika palace.

Kochi has long been on the tourist trail, and is often described as a "must see" by both travellers and holiday guides. Don't be fooled on your arrival - Kochi comprises the modern, bustling Ernakulam as well as the more tranquil Fort Cochin across the water. Indeed, most travellers head to Fort Cochin - well-known for its Chinese fishing nets and old colonial architecture. There are a number of cheap hotel options - although expect to pay a little bit more than elsewhere.

The Kovalam beach resort isn't the place to get away from it all and you'll certainly be in the company of other tourists. Located half-an-hour south of Trivandrum, Kovalam offers a beach-side collection of hotels, restaurants, cafes and ayurvedic massage centres - a place to go if you're looking to shake off some backpack-inflicted aches and pains.

Somewhere more laid-back (but still offering an excellent choice of accommodation) is Varkala, located 54 km north-west of the state capital. The village has long been regarded by Hindus as a place of pilgrimage - with visitors usually sharing the impressive beach with religious processions.

Every visitor to Kerala is encouraged to spend a night on a houseboat (known as a Kettu Vallam) on the Kuttanad backwaters, which stretch from Kochi to Kollam (Quilon) via Alappuzha. The network of waterways offer visitors the chance to experience rural Keralan village life as well as the opportunity to see kingfishers and parakeets.

The best time to visit Kerala is between late December and February - visitors can expect clear blue skies and less humidity, which is often a problem from March onwards.

Like the rest of the country, Kerala uses the Indian rupee as its currency and is five-and-a-half hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.

Car hire is not generally recommended in India - and Kerala is no exception. The state has an excellent rail network and you'll usually be greeted by an array of rickshaw drivers on arrival at a station.

The best flight offers are usually found in July and August - although travellers should be prepared to contend with the Indian monsoon, which usually lasts until the middle of August before resurfacing for a few more weeks in October.