Aerial view of a boat in Kerala, India

© Ebin Francis/Shutterstoc

Drifting through Kerala. Kerala, India

Kerala, pictured on our homepage today, is the southernmost state of India, admired for its lush green landscapes and crystal-clear beaches. Its name is derived from kera, the local Malayalam word for coconut, and there is an abundance of palm trees here, their spiky dark green fronds acting as natural parasols. The coconut also acts as a ubiquitous and adaptable natural resource from which countless products, such as coir, a versatile fibre, and toddy, a famous – and potent – local brew, are extracted.