The dominant colours are the deep green of paddy fields and palm groves, the azure blue of the sky and the golden shimmer of the sun on the ripples of the waterways.

Kerala is said to have sprung from the ocean. All along its coast, these exotic backwaters, canals, lagoons and inlets create an intricate maze that stretches for 1900 km across the land.

Begin your journey at Alappuzha, floating slowly past coconut palms dipping down towards the water and serene villages, as the moving landscape creates a living portrait of Kerala's rural life. Other country crafts will go by, some carrying a load of fresh bananas or coir, others filled with people travelling to nearby villages.