Romantic Kerala Getaway Review: Harikesh & Sudha’s Thrillophilia Journey
When my husband and I decided to take a week off for ourselves, away from the craziness of work and our life, we thought Kerala would be a wonderful place to go. This was the first time in years that we were travelling without family or friends. We're both in our early forties. We wanted an experience that focused more on meaningful moments than merely checking off places. Thrillophilia took care of everything, from planning to booking.
The trip started in Kochi, but the drive to Munnar really set the mood. The road started to wind through green valleys, tea gardens, and sleepy little towns as we left the city behind. My husband opened the window so the cool mountain air could hit his face. I can still see how the mist hung over the hills, almost like a veil being lifted. By the time we got to our cosy hotel in Munnar, we were already in vacation mode.
We set off to explore Munnar the next morning, a place famous for its tea estates, but what we liked most was how every corner seemed to have a story. We were interested in learning about the history of how tea became such an integral part of Kerala's culture at the Tata Tea Museum. While I drank freshly brewed tea, my husband, who is always eager to learn, asked the guide a dozen questions about the old machines on display.
But it wasn't just about the places tourists go, as Thrillophilia planned for us to go to places like the Yellapatty Grasslands and 2nd Mile Viewpoint. These weren't crowded and felt untouched, a memory we will treasure forever. We stood at Yellapatty and looked out at an endless green landscape, with only the noise being the wind. We stood there for a while without saying anything and took in the view. We ended up in a small chocolate factory later on, where we got to try some handmade chocolates. When they gave us samples, I saw my husband smile like a schoolboy, and that was one of those simple things that made the day special.
We left the peaceful hills of Munnar and went to Thekkady for one of the best parts of the trip, the boat ride on Periyar Lake. As the boat drifted over the water, we watched elephants grazing and kids playing on the bank. The sense of serenity, as if nature had slowed down just for us, is something difficult to put into words. The tour of the spice plantation that came next, where we learnt how important spices are to the culture of Kerala. I purchased some to take home, and even now, whenever I open them in my kitchen, the aroma immediately takes me back.
We went on a local food walk that night, an absolute feast for your taste buds. We didn't go to fancy restaurants; instead, we went to many small eateries and tried everything from appam with stew to spicy Kerala fish curry. My husband, who usually likes mild foods, loved the spicy flavours. We laughed a lot that night, partly at ourselves trying to pronounce dish names and partly because we felt light, free, and unhurried.
Then came the part of the trip I had been looking forward to the most: Alleppey and its backwaters. We were very excited, as we had wanted to spend a night on a houseboat for years. We saw kids waving from the banks, women washing clothes by the water, and palm trees swaying in the breeze as the boat moved through narrow canals. The experience was akin to witnessing a slowed-down portrayal of Keralan life. The food on board was simple but tasty, and later in the evening, the captain even let us steer the boat for a few minutes. One of those times I'll always remember is when I saw my husband steer the enormous houseboat with childlike enthusiasm. That night, while we lay on the deck under a sky full of stars, the quiet of the backwaters enveloped us like a blanket.
We went to Kovalam for the last leg of our trip. The sea felt like a whole different world after the hills and backwaters. As we walked along Hawa Beach in the evening, the waves pulled at our feet, and the sky turned orange and purple as the sun set. Climbing to the top of Vizhinjam Lighthouse gave us a wonderful view of the coastline, and for once, my fear of heights didn't bother me. The Azhimala Shiva Temple was another surprise highlight with the dramatic backdrop of the ocean; the place had an air of serenity and spirituality.
We drove to Trivandrum on our last day to visit the Padmanabhaswamy Temple. It was enormous and stunning, and it felt like a fitting end to our trip.
Every experience we had together, from drinking tea in the hills to drifting on a houseboat, from enjoying spicy curries to walking barefoot on the beach, was absolutely unforgettable. A lot of the time, when we travel, we feel rushed or pressured. It felt more like a slow unfolding, which gave us time to reconnect not only with Kerala but also with each other.
People often call Kerala "God's Own Country", and I finally understood why. It is a place where nature heals, this trip was a reminder that love finds new ways to grow.
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