Pragati’s Kerala trip Review with Thrillophilia- Unveiling the true taste of Southern India
After travelling to almost 15 states of India, it was the turn for Kerala. This was our fourth trip with Thrillophilia. Me and my partner have always trusted this platform for its impeccable efforts at making the entire trip experience worthwhile. Their dedication, professionalism, and accountability are what made us go back to them again and again.
And for Kerala, we knew that they were the best option, with the finest resources and solid connections, so we were sure that we wouldn't face any issues as such.
With this confidence, we left for our much-awaited trip to ‘God’s Own Country’.
September 29th…
Taking blessings from the Padmanabhaswamy temple, we started our journey to Kovalam from Trivandrum. The temple was a sight to behold, with a massive crown extending for up to almost 7 storeys, and intricate designs that adorned the architecture made it more than just a masterpiece- it was an icon.
After reaching Kovalam, the first thing we did was satiate our hunger with a platter of 10+ dishes including pink chutneys and dishes made of different parts of banana trees (like flowers and stem), and all of it was served in an authentic lunch setting upon a huge banana leaf.
It was a delight. It was after long that we felt too full and wholesome.
Almost dying to jump on the comfortable bed of our room and sleep for a good two hours, we tried hard to convince ourselves that we were on a trip and we must go out for a short Kovalam exploration.
We were tired, but our zeal for travelling surpassed all lethargy. And we decked up for a serene beach excursion to Hawa Beach, and to the nearby attractions like Vellayani Lake. We wanted to go to Kerala Arts and Crafts Village, but due to a shortage of time, we could not visit it.
We were discussing this while coming back to the hotel in our jeep, and suddenly, our driver told us that we could visit the village if we wanted to see a spectacular show of Kathakali and Kalaripayattu. This suggestion actually uplifted our mood, and we both agreed in one go. He turned the car around and there started our main journey. We had a conversation with him regarding how to travel to Kerala better, and he was already on his feet to provide us with the best of this destination.
He seemed very friendly and helpful, and after the show in the Arts and Crafts centre, he had gained our full confidence. We saw various masks, each one of which surprised us with its immensely detailed artwork, and then we went to the cultural room where we were lucky enough to get the front row sitting for both shows.
Indian arts and culture should be promoted and celebrated more. There is so much to our culture that we don't recognise or value enough, which ultimately leads to demotivation and eventual dying out of the art form. We three were discussing this very thing throughout our journey from the centre to our hotel.
The next part of the journey
After a dead night’s sleep, we got up, headed to a delectable breakfast buffet, and headed out for the Kanyakumari excursion!
It was a marvellous ride- from Kovalam to Kanyakumari. We drove along the beachside, past a series of banana and coconut trees, and then we finally reached the southernmost tip of India. It was a fantastic feeling, standing at the edge of the country beyond which lay expanses of deep blue oceans. As far as our eyes could see, we could only see the liquid horizon that brought us heaps of hope for the future.
Strangely, these oceans always fill us up with so many expectations.
After taking the holy dip in Triveni Sangam where the Pacific Ocean, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean meet, we toured the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and then witnessed the towering statue of Thiruvalluvar- the famous poet.
Next up, Alleppey
Before boarding the houseboat, we wanted to go for a kayak ride along the backwaters. It was an unparalleled experience, gliding smoothly along the serene backwaters, rowing through fresh aqua blooms and past the palm-fringed coasts.
It actually helped us experience the backwater in a more wholesome way, because, when we boarded the houseboat, we realised that it kind of helps you tour the countryside from a distance. Kayaking offered a more interactive and intimate connection with nature. I, personally, like it more, however, my partner loved the houseboat (especially because he found a nice partner for fishing and for having a hands-on learning experience of making Kerala-style fish curry). Finally, the masala chai was capable of bringing back life into my soul, it was that well-made.
But our trip did not end here…
Thekkady and Munnar were still waiting for our visit.
We went boating along the Periyar Lake and took an Elephant Safari ride in the Periyar Tiger reserve before starting on the two-hour-long jeep safari. Although we could not see any big cats, we surely spotted some elephants and hippopotamuses bathing along with a melody of hundreds of birds chirping.
On our way to Munnar, we came across a few spots where the surrounding valleys and forests looked enchanting. Especially with the clouds climbing up the hill-slopes and sometimes even entering our car through the rolled-down windows. We crossed the Pullu Medu Elephant View Point (we could see hoards of elephants grazing there) and Parunthumpara Hill Viewpoint as well. It is a dreamlike viewpoint, whoever is reading this- please do give this a visit.
In Munnar, we visited the staples, like Mattupetty Lake and Dam, Echo Point, and Kundala Lake. Along with these, Shefin suggested that we try a natural spa in Munnar, so after our sightseeing tour of the spice plantations and tea garden, we went to a very aesthetic place for a couple-spa session. It was so relaxing and rejuvenating that all our tensions and worldly worries seemed to have vanished!
Valara Falls, Cheeyappara Waterfalls, Marine Driver and Kochi Fort drew the ending margins of this trip, rounding up our entire travel experience in the most stunning way possible.
This trip took us on a tour around clouds, waters, oceans, hills, forts, and temples, giving us the true taste of Kerala, and southern India as a whole. And special thanks to our driver, Shefin, for without him we would have missed out on a lot of ‘awe-inspiring’ experiences starting from culinary ones to cultural ones. Drivers are the ones who steer the wheels of the voyage, and he played his part beautifully.
Finally, thanks to Thrillophilia, once again, for curating such a brilliant trip. We assure you that we will come back for more!
Read More: Thrillophilia Kerala Reviews