Kerala's commercial capital is the gateway — the backwaters (Alleppey, Kumarakom), hill stations (Munnar, Vagamon), wildlife (Periyar), and the tea estates of the Western Ghats. All within 4 hours.
Friday-night departure to most picks works; the Periyar drive is the only one needing daylight (forest stretch). Pair a hill-station with a backwater stay for a 3-day weekend; same-elevation pairings flatten the experience.
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