Rachel’s two week trip across South India

Mumbai can certainly be called a mega city with a metropolitan population estimate of 21 Millions. Traditionally not a tourist favorite, the locals will assure you there a certain charm to the city which you will discover if you take time to explore.

Hippie-paradise in the 60s and 70s, famous for rave parties in the 90s and nowadays honeymoon destination for domestic couples – Goa went through a lot in the last decades and has still managed to retain its charm

No, this is not a scene out of the Flintstones even though it definitely looks like with the many red colored boulders covering the landscape and an impressive stone chariot to maze at. Hampi is rather a paradise for backpackers looking to relax at cheap but comfortable accommodations and mattress-lined restaurants.

Mysore (or Mysuru), a city in India's southwestern Karnataka state, was the capital of the Kingdom of Mysore from 1399 to 1947 and is therefore known for its glittering royal heritage and magnificent monuments and buildings. Most visitors come to see the world heritage-listed palace or to practice Ashtanga yoga in the many institutes.

Wayanad is a disctrict in the north of Kerala famous for its lush greenery and tea- and coffee estates. Less touristy than Munnar or Thekkady further south, this place welcomes hikers and nature lovers with easy to moderate hiking routes through forests and plantations to waterfalls and view points.

Calicut or Kozhikode is Kerala’s most northern city and therefore for most visitors a quick stop worth between travelling from and to Goa, Karnataka and other destinations in the Western Ghats like Wayanad. It was the place where the Portuguese adventurer Vasco da Gama first landed on the Indian land.

This little sleepy town on a group of islands went through many colonists hands – first the Portuguese, then the Dutch and last but not least the British. So it’s no wonder that you find Hindu temples, Catholic churches in European style, Synagogues and mosques just a stone throw away from each other.