Kerala, in India’s southwest, has 5 out of 10 best cities to live in India. And I believe it! The state has a Portuguese feel, great weather, and is surrounded by water.

So many reasons to like this backwater (and I mean that nicely) region! My 7 insider tips:

Indian society is ranked according to caste, class, and wealth. Within this structure, Indian women face great barriers, especially when it comes to employment.

Traveling around India, I saw women working everywhere. Here’re the pics:

Kerala houseboats, also called kettuvallam, are country boats that were used to transport goods through the state’s backwater maze of canals. Now a tourist attraction, they’re a great way to spy village life on the famous Indian backwaters.

Here’s an inside peek!