Trip to Kerala - God's Own Country

Kerala, located in the far south of India, is a very beautiful tourist destination. A trip to Kerala is an essential addition to any travel enthusiast’s bucket list. It is also known as God’s Own Country. Kerala is popular worldwide for its stunning coastlines, spice plantations, backwaters, dense forests, Kathakali dance, ancient temples, and wildlife sanctuaries. On one side, there are magnificent tea gardens in Munnar, while on the other side, Periyar’s jungles are worth seeing.

Kerala is extremely rich and diverse from a tourism perspective. It is one of the most literate states in India. From a religious perspective, we are all familiar with two major temples, Sabarimala Temple and Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple. People from India and abroad also come here for treatment using Ayurvedic methods.

Adventure enthusiasts can enjoy off-roading in jeeps in Munnar, Kerala, while paragliding arrangements are available in Vagamon. In the field of martial arts, Kalaripayattu is a highly scenic martial art form here. People here are also huge fans of football. This is evident from the large cut-outs of football players in houses, fields, walls, and streets, adorned with their country’s flags. We visited here to see all these beauties of Kerala. Our journey to Kerala began at Kochi, the gateway. We reached Kochi by air. From Kochi, we set off for Munnar, the finest hill station in Kerala.

During my trip to Kerala, I would like to share my experiences in my own words so that readers can gain good information about Kerala.

➥Munnar
Munnar is the most beautiful hill station in Kerala. There are very good tea gardens here. On the way from Kochi to Munnar, you can see two major waterfalls, Cheeyappara and Valara Waterfalls. I particularly liked the Cheeyappara Waterfall, which is quite tall. We stopped here for quite some time. Moving ahead, we visited a spice garden to see various types of spices such as black pepper, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, and nutmeg, among others. There were also plants of Ayurvedic herbs grown here.

We stayed in Munnar for two days. The Eravikulam National Park here is famous for the endangered wildlife species, the Nilgiri Tahr. The Nilgiri Tahr resembles a goat and can easily climb steep rocky terrains. Surrounding the Eravikulam National Park, there are also tea plantations. To enter the park, one can take a special bus from the park’s gate. Munnar has many spots for off-roading by jeep. If you want to truly appreciate the beauty of Munnar, you must go for a jeep off-roading adventure. There is also a very old Tea Museum here, which is worth visiting.

Munnar has many centers where you can watch the classical dance Kathakali and the famous martial art Kalaripayattu. I really enjoyed both of these performances. In Munnar, we visited a chocolate factory and saw how chocolates are made. We stayed in Munnar for two days. On the way from Munnar to Thekkady, we stopped at beautiful tea plantations. These tea plantations are the best in Kerala. On one side were high mountains, and on the other side, beautiful tea plantations. Wow, what a view! We stayed there for a long time. After spending a wonderful time, we headed towards our next destination, Thekkady.

➥Thekkady
Thekkady is known for its wildlife-related tourism. It is home to the Periyar National Park, also known as the Periyar Tiger Reserve. This park is famous for its tigers and elephants. Inside the Periyar National Park, there is the Periyar Lake, where you can take a large boat ride to explore the jungle. To reach this lake, you can take a special bus from the park’s gate. The lake is very large, and wildlife can often be seen drinking water along its banks. I enjoyed seeing the nests of vultures on the dry trees inside the lake.

In Thekkady, you can also go on a jungle safari in the Periyar Tiger Reserve by jeep. The jeep safari to Gavi, a place located inside the jungle, was an excellent experience. On the way to Gavi, we saw various types of wildlife, such as barking deer, wild boar, gaur (Indian bison), different species of monkeys, and sambar deer. Gavi has a very beautiful guest house. We also did a short trek there. By trekking, we reached the top of a hill from where we could see a herd of elephants on another hill. Gavi has a lake where boating is also available. By boating, people go inside the jungle to see a beautiful waterfall.

In Thekkady, the experience of riding an elephant in the spice gardens was also very enjoyable. After staying here for two days, we set off for the next destination of our Kerala trip, Vagamon.

➥Vagamon
Vagamon is another hill station in Kerala worth visiting. This place is famous for paragliding. Previously, Vagamon was not very well-known, but now it is gradually becoming popular among tourists. There is also an adventure park here. I really enjoyed kayaking, ziplining, and sky cycling in Vagamon Meadows. The pine forests here are also among the must-see places. Vagamon also has excellent tea plantations. Additionally, off-roading trips by jeep are also available here.

➥Alleppey or Alappuzha
The next destination of our Kerala trip was Alleppey. On the way from Vagamon to Alleppey, we saw pineapple fields, rubber plantations, and cocoa trees used for making chocolate. The backwaters of Alleppey attract tourists from all over the world. Staying and cruising in a houseboat in Alleppey is a unique experience. The beautiful villages of Alleppey, green fields surrounded by coconut trees, and towns viewed from the backwaters were very impressive. The houseboats, equipped with all modern amenities, look magnificent. We thoroughly enjoyed cruising and staying in a houseboat in the backwaters of Alleppey.

After staying one night in Alleppey, we started our journey back to Kochi. On the way from Alleppey to Kochi, there is Marari Beach, which is very beautiful and clean. After spending some time there, a little further ahead, we came across a very beautiful Mararikulam Shiva Temple. The atmosphere there was very peaceful and wonderful. After having darshan and performing puja at the temple, we continued our journey towards Kochi.

➥Kochi
Kochi, formerly known as Cochin, is the largest port city in Kerala. The airport here is quite impressive. It is India’s first airport to be fully operated by solar energy. People come here to see the Chinese fishing nets used for catching fish along the shores of Kochi. Kochi is home to Cochin Shipyard Limited, which provides the largest shipbuilding and maintenance facilities in India. It also hosts the headquarters of the Southern Naval Command of the Indian Navy. In Kochi, we visited the Basilica Church, Dutch Palace, and Marine Drive. After exploring Kochi, we headed to the airport for our return flight.

Our trip to Kerala was very memorable. It is so beautiful that it truly feels like “God’s Own Country.” We couldn’t visit some other popular places in Kerala this time. However, on our next trip, we hope to explore Kerala’s capital, Thiruvananthapuram, its beautiful beaches, and the hills of Wayanad. I have written separate blogs about the places we visited, where you can find detailed information about these locations. Whenever you get the chance, be sure to visit Kerala, God’s Own Country.

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➜ Must Do in Kerala: Visit the tea gardens in Munnar, jungle safari in Thekkady, see the chocolate factory, stay in a houseboat in Alleppey, shop for spices, and indulge in photography.

➜ How to Reach Kerala: Kerala has major airports in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. It’s better to fly into Kochi for easier access to Munnar and Thekkady. Traveling by road is also a good option to reach Kerala. Kerala is well-connected by rail; major railway stations near Kochi are Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram, accessible from all parts of the country.

➜ Best Time to Visit Kerala: The best time to visit Kerala for tourism is from October to March, after the monsoon season.

➜ Ideal Duration for Kerala Trip: At least 7 days / 6 nights are recommended for a trip to Kerala.

Information Source: Authentic information sources available on internet, Various Articles and books on the subject & Interaction with local public.