Kerala emerges as India's most popular destination, survey suggests

Friday 26 June 2009

Travellers booking flights to India are most likely to travel to the southern state of Kerala, it has been suggested.

Figures from Mahindra Homestays have revealed that over half of its bookings to India from the UK are for the region, which was followed by Rajasthan and Delhi.

Kerala received three times as many bookings as its closest rivals, with holidaymakers being tempted by the range of attractions in the state.

Japa Ghosh, Mahindra Homestays head of marketing, said that travellers are attracted to the region's homestays, which often allows them to sample home-cooked Indian cuisine.

"The survey reinforces our initial belief that UK consumers want an affordable holiday experience and are keen to discover the 'real' India by staying in private homes," the expert commented.

People who have booked flights to Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Kochi or Kozhikode can stay in a homestead for an average of £44 per night.

Kerala, which is noted for its impressive coastline and the beach resorts of Varkala and Kovalam, has a population of 31.8 million.