How would you react if one fine day when you are on your leave from office your friend calls you up and tell you about a fabulous plan of trip to Munnar and that too a road trip..your first ever Roadtrip!
Shocked. Confused. Super excited. Happiness. Finally a little bit of freedom from the boredom of office life, I thought! Instantly I said "Yes" to his proposal and packed my bags that night. I was literally counting hours for the trip to begin with wide open eyes which was filled with excitement to explore the unseen. My exhausted life badly needed an escape to some beautiful place where I could sit quietly, be lost, feel each and every moment of it and ask myself who I am and what I actually want from life and trust me guys I found my answer. This friend of mine was truly an angel in disguise in my life.
The trip was all unplanned and as we all know "Sudden plans are always the best plans". It happened to be the best trip one can ever have in life. We 6 people started our journey in a Xylo and hit the road with an aim to reach Bangalore in 28 hours and took the NH 16. The route was : Kolkata-Bangalore-Munnar
You know the best and the most beautiful thing about a road trip is you can feel and enjoy every single things that comes in your way, every moment is like an adventure. You can go high with the highway, sing your heart out with all the travelling songs and all your favorite songs, stopping your car midway and dance like crazy with the tunes, having your lunch, dinner and breakfast in the dhabas passing by, the blue sky and the black roads, the mysterious nights where you need to drink hell loads of chai and coffee to stay awake to drive and head towards your destination, the windows down, the cool breeze, the green mountains which you see when you enter Vishakhapattanam and your endless talks and laughter which is the best part of any journey, you get to know your friends more better and create memories that you will cherish forever. Oh! and the petrol pumps which becomes your one and only savior when the nature called! The journey itself is the most magical part of a road trip and mostly when you share it with some crazy people.
So after a long 10 hours drive from Bangalore from where 3 more of our friends joined us in of course another car (POLO), along with the breath-taking sceneries, pleasant wind, soulful music and crossing many toll booths and check posts we reached a part of God's own country(Kerala), the mesmerizing Munnar. Located 1600 metres above sea level in Idukki district of Kerala, Munnar is a perfect countryside tucked away in the hills. Layered with lush green carpets of Tea plantations, huge green mountains, picturesque waterfalls and lakes and lot more, this small town situated in the Western Ghats is indeed a serene place to live in amidst nature. On the way to Munnar we also came across one of the biggest waterfall Lakkam Falls which is a retreat to the travellers. The strong flow of the stream creates a lot of cascades and you can't resist yourself from getting down with your pants rolled off and splashing the cold water on your face.
We checked in Brooklyn Palace Resort and Spa which was again a lovely place to stay and it gives you an amazing scenic view you wish to look at every morning from your balcony. We then spent our rest of the evening and night by doing a bonfire and danced like there is no end.
Waking up to the morning light and being greeted by a chilly breeze, we "The Roadtrippers" were all ready to explore places. So we had our quick breakfast served by the hotel staffs and began our journey to find an escape in Munnar.
The Mattuppetty dam is one of the most beautiful dam/lake I have even seen till now and it's huge. The ripples of blue water of the lake created by the dam will soothe your eyes and you can find thickly forested Western Ghats hills surrounding the lake. It was peaceful and statue still, a feast for the eyes. You will be lost in the beauty of the place and can click lots of pictures. We also enjoyed the boat rides on the lake along with some drizzle as we were blessed with a cloudy weather. You can also get to see plenty of shacks selling souvenirs, jewelleries and tea and can enjoy your own happy shopping time. Oh yes! Please do not forget to bring home the home made delicious chocolates and spices which you can get anywhere from the market.
Just as the name suggests, the Echo Point is a place where you can let the child inside you shout out loud, for you will enjoy when the echo is heard. If you go further down the dam you reach the Echo Point. It has a lake with densely wooded hills on the opposite side. This place is a must visit place in Munnar for the nature lovers as it will leave you mesmerized. Do not miss the Bread- Omlette and maggi by the local shopkeepers.
Top Station is where the roads end and it is indeed the ‘top’. 9 km farther from echo point is Top Station that offers a splendid view of the valley and the surrounding hills. You can click numerable beautiful pictures at this place and can treasure the memories. A must visit place again!
The Eravikulam National Park is considered to be the main attraction of Munnar. It is home to the endangered Nilgiri Tahr. This park is in the Rajamalai hills. The park remains open from 7.30 AM to 4 PM but travelling in the first hour is recommended to avoid the crowds. You can gt the entry ticket tickets from the counter or can book the tickets online as it is nowadays available online. The adventure in this place is to travel in the buses that will take you up to the destination through the narrow winding mud paths where you can get a beautiful view of tea bushes and waterfalls cascading down the slopes. The bus will drop you off at a point from where you need to walk up the slopes and can enjoy the stunning beauty of the nature the park holds. Once you walk up higher you can actually feel the scattered clouds passing through and do not forget to carry the water bottle as you can run out of breathe. This park has the largest number of Tahrs and these Tahrs are closely related to the Himalayan and Arabian Tahr. This place will allow you to bring out the photographer inside you, be it wildlife or the nature, so carry the best gadgets that you have for the best snaps. The park is also known for some rare and exotic flora, named as Kurichi or Neelakurinji. It blooms once in 12 years and covers the hills with its beautiful lavender-blue hue but we weren't lucky enough to have that view.
There are few places that leaves a special mark in your heart. Munnar is one such place for me. It is a picture perfect place that will offer you great panoramas and I would highly recommend to visit this place by road so that you do not miss the gorgeous mountains.
It is indeed a beautiful natural escape from the busy work schedules that we normally have. So pack your bags and get ready for an awesome trip to Munnar that can be cherished forever.
P.S. - The weather is cold in Munnar during July so carry one good woollen jacket.
HAPPY TRAVELLING!
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