Exploring Kerala, God's Own Country

40 Cities| 17 Days| 65 Days. Follow the whole My Way on Highway Journey here.

Being a first-timer in Kerala, especially after having spent a decade in New Delhi, brings forth a new consciousness about the lush topography and general positivity of the surroundings. Today is the fifth day for the husband and me in God’s Own Country (Day 32 of our road trip) and it is a green mirage that’s still sinking in. Of course, we have had our tough share of driving on the narrow meandering roads but this southern-most, least corrupt state of India works for us just fine.

What A Pleasant Surprise!

My favourite part of our stay here has been cruising in Kerala around eight in the morning, and the reason is plain and simple – the schools! It is an absolute delight to spot so many children, both boys and girls of all ages and religions standing in wait for their school buses. The fact that Kerala experiences the highest literacy rate of 95.5% in the country and the highest sex ratio of 1,084 women: 1,000 men is quite well-known. But I witnessed a beautiful sight, quite rare to the rest of India – policemen helping kids cross the street. No wonder nature truly has blessed it with such a charming landscape that spans mountains, lagoons, rivers, thick forests and emerald backwaters!

Nuts About Coconut

Coconut to Kerala is what butter is to Punjab! I am not sure if that’s an ideal comparison to make but I hope I got the point across. *wink wink* The sight of tall sun-kissed coconut trees, bearing their fruit, beside tranquil waters under an open sky, is stuff that art is made of. Tasting the fruit is a whole new gratifying story. Naturally, we were craving to get our first sip of nariyal paani and got that opportunity in Vadanappally while covering the 189-kilometre long stretch from Kozhikode to Kochi. We lesser mortals had only been acquainted with the green coconut you often see by the road side but today we met the King Coconut distinguished by its slightly reddish colour. As we sipped on our regular poison from the former, the hawker told us about the Ayurvedic benefits of the latter. Yep, next time!

Raising The Net

We had just whizzed past a bridge in our car, Gulabo, when we caught our first glimpse of the glistening Periyar River. Enchanted, we parked our ride at the first opportunity and walked back. The bewitching view will always be etched in my memory as the waters moved coyly to unburden the fruit of fish to the seasoned fishermen waiting by the banks. And weren’t they waiting in style with their Chinese Fishing Nets as ammunition. Believed to have come to this region from Macau, these fishing nets offer a picturesque sight in addition to being a popular means of catching fish here. The net is tied to the corners of mechanical contrivances made from wood and then immersed in water. Once enough fish has been caught, the bell, hanging overhead, rings due to the weight of the captured seafood. Traditionally, a team of six fishermen is required to pull out the game.

Our cameras were very happy going past Paravur, the Gateway of Malabar. The brilliant photo opportunities to click the magnificent churches here should definitely not be missed. By the way, locals believe that Paravur aka Parur is one of the 64 villages created by Parsurama.

An Oasis To Remember

The Dunes, our amazing hotel in Kochi, is an absolute pleasure to be staying in. Thank you MakeMyTrip for rocking our holiday once again! Located in the heart of Ernakulam area, this remarkable property brings to the guests a top notch stay and smooth service. Our east-facing room deserves a special mention as it gives a view of the cityscape like no other. Check out the picture below and you will know just what I mean. By the way, the sky in Kochi looks just so breathtakingly beautiful. Didn’t know that was possible until now! After a sumptuous lunch of beef steak and fried rice, we caught up a few winks to make up for the early morning drive.

The Islander

The cerulean Kochi sky turned dark monsoon grey as we made way for the famous Bolgatty Island overlooking Marine Drive at a Twitterati’s recommendation. Nestled in this spectacular location is the Bolgatty Palace resort run by KTDC that has a lovely restaurant and bar overlooking a nice, green vista. Go there to experience the amity and calm. The walk back to the parking is really good too as you get to see the night view of the gorgeous Marine Drive and its reflection in the sleeping water.

That’s quite a bit for a day, isn’t it! Catch you tomorrow.

(Photo Credit: Tariq Khan)