Anyone who watches the news would have seen Kerala badly affected by a huge monsoon event which overwhelmed much of the country. But water is also what makes this south west corner of India lush and vibrant, and they are keen to have tourists back. Mary Butterworth takes trips to Kerala in her Pure Kerala Tours, and Mary says in November 2018 they will be heading to Kerala again with their first group of the season. Mary's parents were … [Read more...]

by Hilary Mackenzie Twenty-three days in Tamil Nadu and Kerala! I had never been to India before, and though I felt a somewhat daunted before setting out, I soon fell in love this part of the world. We travelled in a small group of six brought together by Mary Butterworth's company Pure Kerala. We were in air-conditioned 10-seater buses with wonderful drivers who shared their love and knowledge of the area. We avoided the big cities and … [Read more...]

Travel with someone passionate about the place you are visiting, and you will discover the magic of a place. Mary Butterworth these days lives in Melbourne Australia and like many Australians her story has been one of migration and adaptation. Her parents were born and raised in Kerala and we spoke both English and Malayalam at home. Mary writes: "They were a dynamic and extraordinary pair: Fearless, entrepreneurial, creative and ambitious. … [Read more...]