A cultural crossroads, seaside Calicut is refreshingly un-touristy – despite having plenty to see and do, from medieval mosques to martial arts.

Young, vibrant and always in the throes of change, Chennai is one of India’s most exciting and creative cities — with some of the best street-food anywhere.

A land of ghostly, abandoned mansions, like the ruins of a fairytale kingdom, Chettinad is one of the most spectacularly unexpected destinations in India.

This charming, low-key corner of Kerala wouldn’t get much press if it weren’t for Theyyam: a Hindu festival unlike anything you’ve ever experienced.

Kerala’s pride and joy, the backwaters offer mile upon mile of jungle-fringed paradise, where life is slow, water is king, and everything happens by boat.

India’s coolest and most progressive state capital, Kochi feels like a European city transplanted to the palm-fringed Keralan coast.

Paddy fields, betel farms and coconut groves provide a picture-perfect backdrop for experiencing village life in rural south India.

‘The Soul of Tamil Nadu’, ‘The Athens of the East’, ‘The city that never sleeps’ – Madurai is one of the oldest cities in India, and it has collected its fair share of epithets over the years.

World Heritage temples combine with sand, surf and backpacker vibes to make Mahabalipuram a beach break with a difference.

Arguably the best beach destination in Kerala, with golden sands, glittering seas, and plenty of laid-back south Indian charm.

Enjoy old-world luxury in a plantation bungalow, surrounded by the emerald-green tea fields and mist-cloaked mountains of Munnar.

Experience life in the Keralan countryside, surrounded by lazy waterways and fields of pineapple, banana, coconut and black pepper.