Thiruvananthapuram : American journalist Stephanie Pearson’s feature on Kerala “The Great Heaven” has won India’s National Tourism Award for travel writing.

After the Ministry of Tourism of India announced the award, Pearson reacted on her Twitter handle @stephanieapears saying, “I’m honoured to receive this.”

Pearson’s travel feature is a snapshot on Kerala’s rollicking palm-fringed beaches, gorgeous topography, serene spirituality and hospitality.

Pearson, based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, won the award for Best Foreign Journalist for India. Her travel feature had appeared in the Outside Magazine.

It is based on her experiences during her three-week Onam sojourn in the state.

“The Great Heaven” will also feature in “The Best American Travel Writing”, a book to be published by Random House in October this year.

Pearson, a school teacher and science writer, travelled more than 600 miles by car, train, houseboat, on foot and kayak, reporting on the diverse wildlife, culture and spirituality of Kerala.

“Kerala is a laid-back tropical paradise where you can paddle hidden backwaters, trek the rugged Western Ghats, look for tigers, indulge in ayurvedic treatments, and chill out on unspoiled beaches. Just leave your manic Western self behind,” she wrote.