Kerala on a 10-day Road Trip
An idea out of the blue which catered to our wanderlust and reverence for nature prompted us to stick a push-pin on Kerala, a state in southwest India. Having a reputation of being known as “God’s Own Country”, we were curious to see what Kerala had to offer to have received such a precious title.
Over a month of planning is what it took to set foot on the pedals of a Toyota Etios to embark on a 10-day road trip around central and north Kerala. The map below shows a snapshot of the journey which comprised of Kochi-Allepey-Kumarakom-Thekkady-Munnar-Thrissur-Vythiri-Wayanad-Kozhikode-Kochi. A total distance of 1864 km was covered in 10 days, and it would be an understatement to say that those days were some of the best travelling days we’ve had.
🚀 Day 1: Arrival in Kochi – Also known as the Queen of the Arabian Sea, it was our base for this dreamy trip. We rented a self drive car for our Kerala escapade and stayed overnight at Kochi.
🚀 Day 2: Allepey – Also known as Alappuzha, this place is popularly referred to as the Venice of the East. The sunsets at Alappuzha Beach are simply mystical and warrant a visit. The house boats are a hot favorite among travellers looking to spend a night or two in a very intimate setting. We decided to head to Kumarakom instead to spend our night at a quaint resort.
🚀 Day 3: Kumarakom – The twin town of Allepey, Kumarakom is yet another prominent tourist attraction for those intending to discover more of Kerala’s scenic backwaters. The town is dotted with exquisite resorts and is the home of opulence. For bird lovers, one can visit the Kumarakom Bird sanctuary to indulge in spotting more than 1000 exotic species.
🚀 Day 4: Thekkady – Nestled in the lush green ecosystem of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, this is a must visit for wildlife lovers. The day-long jeep safaris constitute of a wholesome package of indulgence in the wilderness of the hills. The neighbouring Kumily or the Plantation town gets its name from the rich expanse of cardamom, rubber and tea plantations that encompass it.
🚀 Day 5: Munnar – The more touristic hill station of Kerala, Munnar has a bunch of sightseeing options in and around it including the Mattupatty Dam and Kundala Lake where tourists can indulge in various boating activities such as kayaking, paddle and speed boating. For those who love to take the road less travelled, there are many off-beat hikes and accommodation options in the lap of nature.
🚀 Day 6: Thrissur – Thrissur is a place of cultural and religious importance as it houses a dozen temples including the famous Vadakkunnathan Temple, the abode of Lord Shiva deity. Whilst heading to the North, Thrissur was our pit stop for the night before we embarked on a 7-hour journey to the lap of the Nilgiris – Vythiri!
🚀 Day 7: Vythiri – A prominent hill station situated in the Nilgiris Belt that expands from the neighbouring states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, it features on the radar of nature lovers who desire to soak themselves in the foggy and dense forests of Vythiri.
🚀 Day 8: Wayanad – While Wayanad town being an administrative district headquarters is more commercialized, the district is also home to the widely known Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary where tourists flock in large numbers to participate in the wildlife safaris to spot Asiatic elephant herds. The Banasura Sagar Dam, the Sentinel and Soochipara Falls make Wayanad one among the most desirable hill stations of Southern India.
🚀 Day 9: Kozhikode – Formerly known as Calicut and one of the cotton powerhouses of Kerala, this town is dotted with beaches including the Thikkodi drive away beach. This served as the perfect pit stop while we embarked on our return journey from Wayanad to Kochi.
🚀 Day 10: Cochin – With the entire day to spare before we ended the most ethereal trip of our lives, Kochi served as a perfect transition from the serenity of the past few days to the hustle and bustle of cities. Being the largest city of Kerala, Kochi was abuzz with urbanization. Our trip ended on a high note with a visit to Fort Kochi, that still bore the remnants of the strong Dutch and Portuguese influence. Besides marvelling about the architecture, one could also tickle their taste buds at the dozen art cafes that serve all sorts of international cuisines that are undoubtedly drool-worthy. What better way to end a trip with a visit to Fort Kochi’s most exquisite spas for an authentic Ayurvedic Kerala massage to brace yourself for life’s innumerous battles?
Coconut trees are naturally ubiquitous in Kerala. In fact Kera means coconut in Malayalam! The first few days of the trip were spent amidst backwaters lined with coconut trees, and watching Keralites cruise by on boats time and again. They tend to fill the naturally beautiful environment with warmth and hospitality, so visitors get to experience a perfect amalgamation of appeal and comfort (think raspberry pie). Despite the clockwork protests in Kerala, there was an umpteen amount of simplicity and content in the air – uncanny contradictions that perfectly balance out!
The marvelous drive along the narrow meandering roads of the plains, hills, and mountains presented a new surprise of scenic wonder at every turn. The stunning panoramas filled us with a wonderful feeling that is difficult to replicate. Despite the endless picturesque views, we never grew complacent and gasped every time something visually breathtaking came into sight!
Stunning vistas spread far and wide baring vibrant shades of green. Our eyes had never seen so much greenery, and not to mention how detoxifying it was to be amidst the emerald expanses.
Spectators can reap great scenic rewards when stopping at viewpoints – the kind of views that lights up one’s face and broadens one’s horizons! And we must say, Kerala is incredibly generous.
All year round, Kerala is inundated with tourists from all over the world. Though we must admit that it was a fly in the ointment seeing beautiful places become commercialized and overwhelmed by traffic and garbage. If we can all strive to be responsible and leave the places we visit cleaner than we found it, we can make everyone’s travel experience a better one.
Relaxation was also part of the itinerary despite it being a massive road trip. The resorts were minimalistic yet sophisticated, and there were plenty of early morning sun-basking opportunities, usually followed by a refreshing dip! The weather in November accommodated for it all.
We loved so many things about Kerala.
We loved the big things like the mountains and the unreal silhouettes that were apparent and an absolute feast for the eyes.
We loved the aesthetics of the blue sky and ocean against the pale cream sand during day time and the pastels of dusk that brought with it a very intimate moment between humans and the vast seascape.
We loved witnessing India’s largest and Asia’s second largest earthen dam called the Banasura Sagar Dam, and relishing in the MS Windows wallpaper-like views of the reservoir. A complete spectacle for the spirit!
But mostly we just loved the little things.
The way the sharp hairpin bends and quick descents over the hills made our tummy tickle on the insides.
The drive through the clouds that stirred feelings of uncertainty and awe at the same time.
The way the road trip made us think less of the future and more of the moments right then and there.
And how the overall journey convinced us to believe that travel isn’t always about being in the right place at the right time, but sometimes about creating the best moments, the sum of which makes up our story.
We think we have forever, but we don’t. We never do.
Break the everyday monotony and take new leaps.
Soak up all the beauty that comes your way.
And always notice the signs and synchronicities that show up in your life. They can gift you some of the best moments; the nameless ones that will leave you smiling for a long time, and the unexpected ones that will change the course of your life.
Because magic is always just around the corner ✨
