Kerala is rich in handicrafts. Almost all handicraft centers have extra-ordinary collections of wood, coir shell and sandal wood souvenirs, trinkets, jewellery etc. Wood carved snake boats, elephants, masks of Kathakali, ottamthullal, Kalaripayattu, Jewellery box and many more. These are great gifts and keep sakes.

The magnificent metal mirrors of Aranmula kannadi is a must buy and is quite popular in the shopping list of tourists. These ornamental mirrors are worth spending on as these are something unique to Kerala, which are not available anywhere else in the world.

The ethnic handloom 'mundu' with beautiful golden thread borders and designs is another hot pick in the shopping list. Made from pure cotton, these handloom clothes reflect grandiose and royalty. Check out the weaver's shops at Karalkada to Thiruvananthapuram to purchase some of the finest kasavu clothes, which make valuable gifts for someone special.

Before winding up your trip to Kerala, do not forget to buy cashew nuts, a popular seasoning for desserts. Kollam is undeniably the best place to buy nuts as it has many processing units. You can make your pick from salted, buttered or plain nuts depending on your tastes. The souvenir list is virtually endless and picking up the best is easier said than done.

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