This is good news for those looking for cruises in the subcontinent. Gujarat, located on the West Coast of India, is a place known to be open to tourists. Its coast has serene beaches, islands, creeks, the Gulf of Kutchch, the Gulf of Khambat, pilgrimage centres and several tourists spots.

Many cruiseliners have approached Gujarat Tourism to start their operations. With its proximity to Mumbai and Goa, which are already established cruise destinations, it should be no problem for the state to link up cruises and start off. The fact that the state has some of India’s deepest and well-developed ports will be an added advantage.

Queen Mary II, the largest passenger liner in the world, along with Queen Victoria, will be coming to Kochi in mid March 2009. Queen Mary II is known for its world-class facilities onboard, which include 13 restaurants, three swimming pools, promenades, lounges and much more.

To make it even more interesting, it houses the world’s largest floating library, too. Come to Kochi, and visit these beauties.

The Cochin Port Trust and the government plans to develop the port by building a berth, a cruise terminal and a five-star hotel at the northern end of Willingdon Island.

Having a well-connected canal system, it’s no doubt that a majority of Kerala’s village folks still move about in canoes and boats. They ferry people as well as their produce to the markets. Talking about boats, there are a huge section of boats in Kerala-from snake boats meant for races to fibre fishing boats to traditional wood canoes to houseboats to classy yachts and luxury boats. Kerala’s rich coastline gives it ample scope for cruising as well as tourism.

The private and state-owned bus service connects even the far-flung hill stations to the major cities in Kerala and south India. Not to mention the ride in one!

How do we forget the good ‘ol railways? They have been running steady for years, connecting this coastal state with the rest of India. Being a cheaper and more reliable form of transport, a lot of tourists prefer them.

Cars, bikes and other vehicles available on rent provide flexibility for  travellers. An added advantage are the taxis and auto-rickshaws.

Which ever mode you choose, be sure to use them carefully and to the maximum. Riding a bike or a jeep in the hills of Munnar or Wayanad will prove to be an exhilarating experience (If you have the right company, nothing like it!).

Bolghatty Island, situated off the Cochin coast, houses the famous Bolghatty Palace. The island is connected to the mainland by ferries, and recently by bridge. The Palace has been converted into a heritage hotel equipped with a golf course, too. There are daily Kathakali performances for the guests here.

Once the home of the British Governors, it was built by the Dutch in 1744. The Kerala Tourism Development Corporation helps in its maintenance. The calm backwaters around parts of the island provides for great boating. There are a number of birds that make this island their homes.

Dutch merchants had built a villa on an island locally known as ‘Ponnikkara’ in 1744. It had green gardens, and was later called the Bolghatty Palace, and became an important picnic resort for the Dutch.

The yachting berth at the Marina near Bolghatty Palace came to be around the time of the Volvo Ocean Race. More recently, the Vasco da Gama Yacht Rally, from Kochi to Turkey took off in mid February. This three-and-a-half-month event will have stopovers in Oman, Yemen, Egypt and Cyprus before finishing at Alanya in Turkey.

The marina here will be the only one in the world to have an attached golf course. It has berthing facilities for 50 yachts. Two other marinas are being planned in this coastal city—at Maradu, and another in one of Cochin’s islands.