Breathaking photos from Kerala to make you dream

Kerala has been one of the hotspots of Indian tourism and rightly so. The beautiful state, also known as God's Own Country, is a lush tropical paradise, loved for its beautiful beaches, backwaters, cuisine, culture and more. Here, we have picked some of the most beautiful photos of the sunshine state, photos that will make you dream.

Alleppey's classic backwaters are what got this place famous as the Venice of the East. When traversing the waters here, you will often come across school children on boats, beautiful huts by the side, aroma of fresh karimeen fish wafting through, and lush paddy fields at the back of these house.

This place has magic that is hard to beat.

This is how the annual festival of Pooram looks like in Kerala. It is celebrated with much aplomb at the Vadakkunnathan (Shiva) Temple in Thrissur, and is dedicated to Goddess Kali. Pooram celebrations at Thrissur are a treat to experience.

Kerala is home to a surprising number of waterfalls, but Athirappilly is perhaps the most famous one. A number of Indian cinema's masterpieces including Guru, Dil Se, Raavan, Bahubali and more. It is the largest waterfall in Kerala and comes down roaring from a height of 81.5 ft. It is a sight to behold, do not miss.

This is how Kovalam's Lighthouse Beach looks almost everyday. Of course, the scenes turn cinematic during monsoon-time here when clouds swell here in the typical Kerala fashion. Go for a walk here early in the morning or late evenings and you will come home with some unforgettable memories.

Scenes like this are an everyday affair at Kumarakom. While Alleppey is its more famous neighbour, backwaters at Kumarakom are also delightful and sans the tourists that crowd Alleppey. This place is also a hub for bird-watchers and those into wellness retreats, and is home to some of the best Ayurveda resorts as well.

Munnar and its famous tea estates will never lose their charm. Come monsoons and a number of seasonal waterfalls and streams come cascading down from the hillocks here; this is where tourists need to let go of their cameras and take in the surreal beauty of God's Own Country.

Varkala lies on the way to Trivandrum from Alleppey and is an essential stop. It will lure you in with its dramatic seaside cliffs, Tibetan markets, quaint cafes, temples and more. This is also for those into surfing and other watersports and has a number of training centers as well.