From pristine beaches and backwaters to extensive stretches of tea and spice plantations and rolling hills, Kerala is a land of diverse natural beauty. It is dotted with waterfalls, fresh springs and forests with opportunities to spot rare birds and wildlife. It is also ingrained with Hindu temples and Christian churches dating back to hundreds of years along with cultural dance, martial arts and age-old Ayurveda treatments.

Beguiling white sands, fresh and spicy seafood, and a cold drink under a glowing sun mix up together makes Goa an exotic destination to visit. But there's plenty more: striking Renaissance cathedrals in Old Goa, ancestral homes surrounding the ragtag city of Margao, the ornate Hindu temples of Ponda, and Panaji's Portuguese historic district.

Karnataka is predominantly made up of the once-princely state of Mysore and the Berar territories. The state capital of Karnataka, Bangalore remains the country's most "Western" city famous for its energetic nightlife and highly evolved IT industry. Explore the nightlife before you head to Hampi, a great medieval Hindu capital of the south with the ruins of Vijayanagar Kingdom.