To Kerala, With Love: Vinay’s Ode to God’s Own Country
If I am ever asked where I would celebrate my love, I would say, “Somewhere I can nurture this gift, a natural heaven, a tropical paradise maybe.”
It was two years ago when I met my current partner. Never before had I wanted so much to go for a Kerala trip.
This year, the opportunity finally arrived. I was just waiting for her confirmation, and I had done my research already, having decided where to book the tour package from, and how to go about the trip.
After hearing a ‘yes’ from her, I immediately got down to business. Having booked the perfect itinerary with Thrillophilia, along with an overnight houseboat ride, I knew she would love the arrangement. It has always been her dream to stay in a houseboat in Kerala and Kashmir, and this trip was the first step to turning this imagination into reality.
Since many of my friends had travelled with Thrillophilia before, I knew the drill. The entire process was butter-smooth, with everything taken care of. All the payments and details exchange were completed online, and the only thing remaining to do was to pack the bag and get set go!
Swaagatham!
There is a certain magic to explore the untamed wilderness of nature. Kerala was the abode of such a beauty. The place casts a spell that enchants you to the core.
Our trip was so full of calm and peace, with serene landscapes all around us. And escaping the Delhi dust, we came to Kerala. Stretches of greenery and vistas of tea gardens and spice plantations encircled us, and it felt like a much-needed space to breathe and live freely. We wanted a trip just like this, where we could drown in the silence together, hearing the distant chirps of birds and the soothing sight of backwaters. We wished to be with each other, be at peace with each other, and cherish every moment of our being together.
No hustle, no hurry, we just wanted to lie there and sync our hearts.
Our first stop was at Munnar. On our way to this place from Kochi, we saw so many waterfalls, small and big, known and unknown, all of them welcoming us to their beloved home.
Our driver, Mr. Shamon Momonkavil, was quite a knowledgeable person, adept in both English and Hindi. That is why we could communicate with him, learning about the region, its people, and everything that makes this place “God’s Own Country”.
Crossing the lush tea gardens, while witnessing a beautiful sunset, we reached our hotel on the first day. We rested well knowing that a mesmerising adventure lay ahead of us.
The jewels of the crown
We visited a chocolate factory, tea gardens, and Mattupetty Lake & Dam, located in the Kundale Lake. With the backdrop of breathtaking Dravidian mountains, the entire experience seemed like a treat to the mind, body, and soul. Now and then I looked at my partner to note her reaction, she seemed so happy and blessed that my own experience seemed to be enhanced.
The next destination was Thekkady, where we took a lovely boat ride in the Periyar River, in Periyar National Park. We saw elephants bathing in the river, some deer and bison lazing in the winter sun, and some little Langurs following their parents. The Periyar River is truly amazing. We could hear the rippling of the water and the faint trumpets of elephants from the jungle, and the hilly landscapes around us added another level of charm to the experience.
After the boat ride, we skipped the jeep safari and went straight to the market to try some local delicacies. We munched on Aviyal, Thoran, and Kappa until our bellies were full, and then we topped off our lunch menu with a glass of Panakam. We wanted to try coconuts here, but unfortunately, we over-ate so much that we kept it for the next day’s lunch.
Speaking of the next day,
It was the houseboat tour day.
This particular experience stole our hearts away to some far, far away land. Or, perhaps somewhere here in Kerala itself…
The backwater alleys snaked their way around Alleppey, lined with emerald coconut trees. It felt as if we had arrived in another world, without the annoying traffic noises and the ringing of cell phone notifications every now and then (yes, there was a network, but we did not even care to open our phones apart from taking pictures, that too rarely).
Our meals we freshly caught from the backwaters, fish curry, rice, and some local chutney topped the rank of our lunch menu. For dinner, we had amazing curries made with special Kerala spice mixes.
And the best part was the sunset and the sunrise. The entire sky was painted in red and orange hues, changing the entire mood of the journey from peaceful to spectacular!
We both had the best night of our time together, indulging in our favourite songs and masala chai in the evening, and then moving on to spending some quality time with each other at the back of the boat, watching some balconies of nearby houses lit up dimly as Gulzar’s lyrics floated in the air….
Aap Ki Ankhon Mein Kya Sahil Bhi Milate Hain Kahin,
Aap Ki Khamoshiyaa Bhi Aap Ki Aawaaz Hain..
Aap Ki Ankhon Mein Kuch Mahke Hue Se Raaz Hai,
Aap Se Bhi Khoobsurat Aapke Andaaz Hain…
As I say this, I speak for both of us,
It was perhaps one of the best trips of our lives. Kerala is truly ‘God's Own Country”, you feel at rest, love, and beauty here. The trip not only brought us much closer to each other, but it also helped us find our inner solace…and, we will be forever grateful for this.
Read More: Thrillophilia Kerala Trip Reviews