Road trip through Kerala - God's Own Country

There are lots of places to see around the town, so after exhausting spice route trail we drove towards Munnar town, to cover all the view points and the reason it is known for, tea tea and more tea. Once you reach town center, there are 4 different directions you can go to explore different places. It is difficult to cover all the places in a day as last view point/place in each direction is more than 30 KM away from the town center. Our hotel staff suggested us to explore places en-route Madupatty Dam, as it is one of the most popular sites among tourist. We started with KDHP Tea Museum which is just 1.5 km from the town center, it chronicles the journey of tea in the area through photographs and machineries. The museum tour also includes a brief documentary depicting the history and growth of tea estates in the area. We get to watch the transition from the rudimentary tea roller to the modern fully automated tea factory. Various stages of tea processing can be seen. It also houses a souvenir shop to make you pick a bag or two for friends and family back home.

Next we had a brief pit-stop at Photo Point, to have a perfect frame worthy picture for the wall. Believe me once you cross this the entire route will provide far better landscapes and background. While travelling towards Madupatty Dam, you will also pass through Flower garden, Bee nest and Botanical garden which we skipped as we anticipated nothing new. Mattupetty Dam is one of the most popular sites in the area and tends to get quite crowded. The viewing area at the dam is not nicely maintained but driving along the lake is very appeasing. Few kilometres ahead of dam is Echo Point. It is located in the midst of pristine natural surroundings that will certainly invoke the photographer in you. It also makes for an incredibly scenic drive. The last thing to see on the route is highest point in Munnar - Top station which falls on the Kerala-TamilNadu border. Here you can enjoy the panoramic view of Western Ghats and the valley. The drive through endless tea plantations and magical low-lying clouds everywhere is something you need to feel instead of the places to see. As it is rightly said that "It's about the Journey, not the Destination."

Munroe Island is located on the confluence of Ashtamudi Lake and Kallada river. The place is not prominent among Indian tourist, resulting into hardly any hotels options. But plethora of home-stay on the shore of the canals are easily available. It is an unadulterated destination in the lap of nature. It has got some magic up the sleeve, something which cannot be bargained. The river forming canals, flowing calmly and gracefully has got some magic to make you forget every hustle and bustle of your daily chaos and mundane life.

Most of the afternoon was spent on the shore of the canal, relishing the calmness and serenity of the place. In evening we explored the tiny island, experienced lip smacking juices/shakes at Munroe Mocktails and traditional Kerala meal cooked by our home-stay owner summed up the day.

Jatayu Earth Center - on the way from Munroe Island to Kovalam has enough reason to pay a visit. This is where the mythical Eagle: Jatayu is said to have fallen from the sky while trying to rescue Sita, the wife of Lord Rama when she was abducted by the demon king Ravana. It holds the distinction of having the world’s largest bird sculpture.

Kovalam is renowned for it's crescent beaches. The life starts late in the day on the beach and carries on well into the night. There are a range of hotels from 5-star to budget accommodations. After exploring the Light House and a stroll on the beach, our evening was best spend savoring food from series of beach side restaurant with cool breeze flowing through you. If you are sea food lover, this place is a paradise for you.

The entire palace is made from wood and the Kerala Government maintains it. The intricate carvings on wood and the simplistic decorations make this place a must-visit for anyone who wants to witness the magnificence of the Venad kingdom. The palace complex is divided into several sections, with the royal furniture, paintings, weapons and others put on display. It also has a museum, which is home to many antiques and artifacts.

The main reason for a driving to Kanyakumari was to visit the famous Vivekananda Rock Memorial. The place can be easily reached by a 15-min regular ferry service from Kanyakumari beach, a common ride for Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Thiruvalluvar Statue. I would advise to explore both the places in early morning hours, as with rising temperature and high humidity it can be very tiring. Also buy a premium ticket, to avoid waiting in the line for up to two hours during peak times. We didn't like the area surrounding Kanyakumari beach and Amman temple as it was quite crowded and entirely muddled, but it is a blissful experience to simply sit and meditate in the quiet Dhyan Mandapam (meditation hall) at Rock memorial or gaze at the meeting point of three mighty oceans with wonder.

With our objective achieved in Kanyakumari, we returned to Kovalam before dusk and drove to Trivandrum to capture sunset from Valiyathura Pier (sea port). The guards at the entrance didn't allow us to go ahead but you can still enjoy the gushing waves from the shore. Next we rushed to Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple so we could make in time before the last darshan closes for the day. It is dedicated to Lord Padmanabha; one of the avatars of Lord Vishnu. The temple is considered the richest temple in the world and was also in news for the mass treasures that are unearthed in multiple vaults. The sanctum sanctorum of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is located on a stone slab and the main idol, which is about 18 ft long, can be viewed through three different doors. The temple architecture stands out for its work in stone and bronze.

Check temple timings and other instructions before you visit the temple. I would also suggest to interact with some locals to understand the rich history and intricate architecture.

As the houseboats are not permitted to operate in night and are required to halt at various spots along the backwaters, the evening was spent strolling through village life along the banks and gazing paddy fields of succulent green curvaceous rice barges. We spent the night on the houseboat and devoured a three course meal.

Honest suggestion - take a day excursions instead of overnight stay package to explore backwaters at Alleppey/Kumarakom or make sure you choose a exquisite houseboat for overnight stay.

You can also make most of your time by taking a trip to Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary which is home to many rare species of birds and is a haven for nature lovers.

Fly back to Mumbai

As we had an early morning flight, we returned the car and checked-in at airport and spent the night at airport awaiting for our flight.

That’s it – the road trip offered a plethora of panoramas, sights, and cultural experiences – it left us rejuvenated! It is truly God's own country not just for it's beauty but also for it's people, we loved our time in Kerala and can’t wait to go back!