Destination Kerala... We know you will go there too!
Why we will visit Kerala again... Life is a picture, focus on the positive, develop from the negative, if things don't pan out the way you expected it, take another shot!
Usually we manage our travel and hotel bookings as well as our itineraries quite well on our own, but when we decided to visit Kerala a few years ago, we decided to book a tour package including accommodation through a tour operator based in Kerala. Our decision to do this was based on the fact that a holiday to Kerala, especially during the festive season (which is peak season for tourism) was expected to be really busy with loads of travel and as tourists in a foreign country, safety should be an important consideration. Kerala is huge! Travelling within Kerala itself involves a number of site seeing tours across the various towns and the distance between some of the towns are between 3 to 4 hours of travel by car. The scenic views while driving from town to town is a part of the culture experience one should not pass up on. Hence, it made sense to use the services of a local tour operator.
If nothing else, learn the lesson!
Without going into too much detail, we were left with a very disappointing experience with the services of the tour operator, but a lesson well learnt. The lesson to fellow travellers is that when booking tour packages ensure to make it explicitly clear of your travel requirements, e.g., if you require “5 star accommodation” never allow your request to be assumed to be “a five star tripadvisor rating”, the latter which could land you in a 3 star accommodation with extremely poor facilities. Further, the totally unacceptable explanation you could be given is that your request was misunderstood with no apology or no adequate attempt to resolve the matter ... these cowboys and crooks! Fortunately we managed our flights on our own and did not leave that aspect in the hands of the tour operator!
Lets set the Mood
In this blog I will mention the remarkable places to visit and our experiences in Kerala.
Munnar
Munnar, the place best known for its stunning hill stations with rolling hills is a scenic splendour. I can only describe Munnar as "the green mile ... into infinity!"
Spice and all things nice
Amongst the major tourist attractions in Munnar being the evergreen fields, the mighty waterfalls, the sparkling lakes and dams, Munnar has a massive spice industry providing India with the majority of its exotic spices such as cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, clove, turmeric and of course cardamom, my favourite spice. When in Munnar do make a trip to one of the many spice plantations, where you can stock up on your favourite freshly grown spices and you will also leave there well informed on the uses of each spice after an educational tour around the spice plantation.
Munnar boasts vast fields of tea and coffee plantations, these fields of greenery are a beauty to the eye. A visit to the Kanan Devan Tea Museum is also worth the time spent. Here you will learn of the origins of tea and you can view a demonstration of how tea leaves are processed.
At the gift shop one could purchase different types of organic tea. Before departing, be sure to taste a cup of the aromatic elachi (cardamom) tea.
On our first morning in Munnar, which was extremely cold, we opted to skip breakfast at the hotel and rather join some of the locals. Our driver took us to a local roadside restaurant where we enjoyed the traditional breakfast. More importantly, we have always been avid coffee drinkers until we first tasted elachi tea at this roadside restaurant. Elachi tea has since become our favourite hot beverage.
Kathakali is a classical Indian dance form based on hindu mythology and performed by seasoned artists in intricate costumes and elaborate makeup. Kathakali dance performances are staged throughout Kerala as it is native to the state.
Kalaripaattu, the pride of Kerala, is Indian martial arts in its most explicit form. It originated in Kerala and is acknowledged and respected across the world. Training in this martial arts form requires strict discipline and endurance to become a Master. After watching the performance you will be left intrigued and captivated by these young Masters.
Munnar’s Crisp Air
The weather is colder in Munnar during the months December to February. Since we travelled in December, we experienced the bite of the cold air during the evenings and early in the mornings. I learnt from the hotel reception in Munnar that a mug of boiled water was the cure for an oncoming sore throat and true enough the mug of boiled water did sooth the throat and also left you feeling warm and comforted.
 |
Tea Plantation
|
Thekkady
The trip from Munnar to Thekkady could take about 3 to 4 hours of travel by car. While travelling be sure to stop at the various view points and take in the beauty of this town, its hills, and picturesque landscapes. Thekkady is renowned for wildlife, forests and jungles and is home to the largest Tiger Reserve, Periyar. When one gets to view all of this natural marvel, you will appreciate why Kerala is referred to as "God's own Country".
Time permitting, consider a boat trip in the Periyar Lake and you might have a rare opportunity to watch wild animals. Thekkady also boasts various spice gardens, so if you missed your opportunity to collect your spices in Munnar, you won’t miss them in Thekkady!
Elephant compund
Our visit to the elephant compound was a humbling experience. Here one can opt to go for a ride on the elephant, which is very popular. The alternative when visiting an elephant compound is to interact by feeding or patting elephants. We opted to do just that, an incredible experience. These interactive activities are under the supervision of trained persons.The sight of these majestic creatures just left us wanting to stay on for longer than our allocated time but we had to move on.
We were fortune enough to arrive early that morning and got to see the baby elephant dance to the tune of a song playing .... a heart warming sight!
Ayurveda
There are a number of Ayurveda Treatment Resorts throughout the State of Kerala due to the abundant supply of medicinal plants and herbs. Ayurveda treatments involve skilled techniques combined with the knowledge of the body with the effect of bringing healing and calm to the body and mind. Therapists conducting these treatments are taken through vigorous training before qualifying to perform these treatments. There are various types of Ayurveda treatments available, each to heal a different ailment. We opted for a customised package consisting of Marma Abhyanga (a therapeutic full body massage with focus on vital points), Swedana (herbal steam bath) and Shirodhara (method whereby warm medicated oil is poured over strategic points on the forehead giving a calming effect to the body, mind and spirit). These treatments were administered to us in private sections of the establishment, men on one end and females on the other and each treated by respective genders. I enjoyed the Shirodhara treatment most. Shirodhara is administered to treat central nervous system disorders and aids in the relief of stress, sleep disorders, anxiety and headaches. I suggest an authentic Ayurveda treatment be experienced at least once, when in Kerala.
Backwaters, Allepey
The Backwaters of Kerala most definitely must be on your list of things to do. I must mention that when I first came to know that we were planning a trip to Kerala, I was most excited to experience the Backwaters of Kerala. The Backwaters comprises the lakes, canals, rivers and lagoons that run parallel to the Arabian Sea Coast (known as the Malabar Coast). To experience the Backwaters, do make a trip to Allepey which is approximately 3 hours and 40 minutes of travel by car. An overnight private cruise trip on a luxury houseboat is a must. Caution, make certain it is a luxury houseboat, if that is what you paid for. If possible inspect the boat before it departs from the shore as we did not have this opportunity. We booked a luxury houseboat but after departing from the shore we realised we were allocated one of the entry level houseboats. Furious that we had been highly deceived with just about all of the accommodation and poor facilities allocated to us thus far, we tried not to allow our spirits to be dampened, we decided to breathe in, relax and hope things get better.
The staff on the houseboat were pleasant and we were welcomed with fresh coconut juice followed by a brief introduction to the local geography. Later as the cruise commenced we were taken on a trip through the water ways. As we passed the beautiful backwater villages, we observed villagers go about their day-to-day lives. The views of the green paddy fields were a great sight. After lunch of traditional vegetarian Kerala dishes, the boat docked for a short while and we had a brief opportunity to roam around the riverbanks. We visited the local fishermen’s stalls and watched them lay out their fresh catches for the day. We were allowed to purchase fresh fish, crabs and prawns and take back to our boat, which was later prepared by the chef on-board for dinner. The seafood was prepared in authentic Kerala style and we were served fish fry, crab masala roast, prawn curry accompanied by a salad for dinner.
After dinner we relaxed and watched the sunset. Then, around 9pm the captain of the houseboat asked us to go to our bedroom, as it was his time to sleep. Reluctantly and with grumpy faces, likes kids reminded of our curfew, we left to the unromantic bedroom. Early the next morning, after not much sleep in the uncomfortable room and having no hot water to bath with, we cruised back to shore and left with our driver to the next destination.
Did I mention our driver? Well our driver Mr Raja, was a true gentleman. A gem of a person who really tried to keep us happy and smiling. He was passionate about his job. He saw to it that we were as comfortable as possible in his presence, and we understood that there was not much that he had control over and we appreciated his humbleness. He kept us safe and took us to hygienic restaurants with excellent food. Mr Raja reflected the hospitality that we had become accustomed to and experienced during our previous trips to Incredible India. With his knowledge of the towns and kind hospitality in his personal capacity, he made up for all of the inefficiencies of the tour operator company he worked for. We were thankful for him!
Kochi
As we travelled to our final destination Kochi, we figured that we should get as much of the sightseeing done on our way to our hotel as it was in fact New Year’s Eve and our driver reminded us that the New Year’s Eve festivities at Fort Kochi that we had read about, could in no way compare to what our actual experience of it would be. The roads were beginning to get busier as we drove closer to our hotel. Due to the traffic and busy roads we opted not to stop but managed to get glimpses of the beautiful mosques, temples, churches and a Jewish synagogue which reflects the diverse culture of the people of Kochi.
New Year’s Eve at Fort Kochi
Fort Kochi is the most exciting place to be when bringing in the New Year. Thousands of the locals and tourist gather at Fort Kochi to join in the fun and festivities with loud music, dance and entertainment in abundance. Extravagant fire work displays light up the skies. People are hearty and happy on the beach. The highlight of the New Year’s Eve celebration is the lighting up and burning of a huge statue at mid-night (which was paraded through the streets over the week before the New Year’s Eve celebrations). The burning of this statute is to signify the end of the old year and welcoming the New Year. Amidst all the excitement, one needs to be extremely cautious as there are fireworks with loud noises, crowded places, and a lot of the people are under the influence of alcohol but we were re-assured by our driver that security is always heightened at these gatherings. The Kochin Carnival is a truly authentic experience.
New Years Day
It was most pleasing that we stayed at the Radisson Blu Kochi (which we arranged ourselves) for the last 2 nights in Kerala. The hotel and staff were excellent. On New Year’s Day, expect many of the streets in Kochi to be closed off for hours as the carnival parade comes to an end. Don’t expect to get much sightseeing done on this day. Rightly so, it’s best that you be booked into a comfortable hotel as you might have to spend most of the time at the hotel participating in activities available there which we did. We booked in for a spa session, swam in the rooftop pool and indulged in meals served at their superb restaurants.
Kasavu Saree
I was indeed pleased that I had an opportunity to go to the local Mall in Kochi just a stone throw away from the hotel, where I shopped for a Kasavu Saree. A Kasavu Saree is the traditional saree worn in Kerala and women are seen wearing these sarees at most auspicious occasions. The Kasavu Saree is a classic saree, white or ivory coloured with an elegant golden border and is usually worn with a gold or ivory coloured blouse. These simple sarees of ethnic shades of white or ivory and gold, are handcrafted pieces of art which when adorned with gold jewellery is pure elegance.
 |
| Traditional Kasavu Saree |
Recent Floods
I was deeply saddened on hearing of the August 2018 devastating floods which caused a multitude of deaths and massive damages to the infrastructure of Kerala. The tourism industry in Kerala is the states' largest contributor to its economy. A huge concern was the amount of time it could take for the tourism industry to recover. Only two months after the floods, Kerala Tourism Board made the much anticipated announcement that Kerala was open to tourists! That was certainly great news.
With every trip, there has to be something you take home. We took back the experience ... the good, the bad and the ugly. We have discovered much and learnt more (even how to book a tour package leaving no ambiguities, the principles of which would apply anywhere in the world). Our driver Mr Raja, who we grew very fond of is an example of the kindness of some of the people of Kerala.
The diversity of the people, the rich culture and beautiful scenic travels throughout Kerala, will most certainly lead us back to Kerala to re-live the experiences but this time differently and that's the reason why we will visit Kerala again.
I encourage you to visit and discover the beauty of Kerala, “God’s Own Country”.
wow beautiful scenic views
ReplyDeleteThank you :)
DeleteThank you
ReplyDeleteBeautiful place and very useful info thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kerala is indeed a beautiful place.
ReplyDelete