Munnar Trip

Neelakurinji is a flower, which is found high on the mountains. Based on our guide’s knowledge, we came to know that the flower blooms once in every 12 years.

Having a wish to see the blooming flower, we left for Anamudi Peak. Known as the highest peak in South India, it captured us for a long time. I and Sherry just could not take off our eyes from the gorgeous sights. A drive in the hill station is totally a refreshing experience as you come across many beautiful sights that lift up your mood.

Mattupetti Dam was the next part of our exploration. Just 10 km from Munnar, it is a splendid dam with boating arrangements in its reservoir area. We saw many people with their family. With its fascinating atmosphere, it becomes a great place for picnic.

After that, comes the Echo Point. As the name suggests, the place ‘Eco Point’ allowed us to hear the reverberations of our voice. Our next halt was at Kundala, another pristine location. It has an angelic dam site. We drove back to the hotel and treated our taste buds with the delicious food.

Sherry told that next day we would be visiting Devikulam. As we started, I was unable to hold back my excitement. This small yet sensuous little town just mesmerized us with its lovely lawns and beautiful plantations. The mist-coated hills and fresh mountain air multiplied our joy of our trip to Munnar.

We also visited Sita Devi Lake. It is famous for trout fishing. While passing through the roads, we could see the locals, enjoying working in tea gardens with their families. The sight forced us to think that how these people could enjoy working outside with such enthusiasm whereas we even get tired while sitting in our cabins with all the modern facilities! May be this is the charm and aura of hill station that keep your refreshed with its cool air and natural surroundings.

Sita Devi Lake

At the end of our tour, I insisted Sherry to buy some tea packets from shopping outlets in Munnar as I wanted to take home the magical aroma, I smelled there. We bought few packets and came back to our hotel. Next day, we were back to New Delhi for further journey.

All I could say after that trip is, we were even more happy, contended and refreshed with our Kerala visit!!

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Munnar Trip

From New Delhi, we took a flight to reach Kerala. We landed at Cochin International Airport where we were received by our tour assistance. He drove us to the hotel in Munnar, which took around 4 and half hours.

Though we were exhausted, yet the eagerness to see ‘Munnar’ overcame the fatigue of journey. Sherry just made me delighted with another surprise, which was the hotel room. The room was facing a beautiful view of the lush greenery and the fragrance of the air kept our mood delighted. After taking rest, we were ready to catch the best glimpses of this beautiful hill station.

I found Munnar the most beautiful hill station that I had ever visited. Snuggled in the lap of an appealing terrain, Munnar is a must visit place.

We discussed our guide about the tour itinerary and we left for our first attraction-Eravikulam National Park. This sanctuary was set up for the protection of the endangered Nilgiri Tahr. Fortunately, we could spot them. Seeing animals in their natural habitat makes you feel as if you are their guests. You would be a bit hesitating but they will not. Followed by our guide, we could also spot the Elephants, Gaurs, Langurs, Tigers, Leopards and atlas moth.

Eravikulam National Park

For me, watching tigers was a scary experience due to its wild and threatened look but I saw Sherry was enjoying it rather. We also heard about Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary but at that moment, we could not visit it and left.

The day ended and we were back to hotel. While relishing traditional Kerala food, we were exchanging thoughts about that day’s visit. Soon, we left for the room and fell asleep.

                                                                                                          To Be Continued…

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On being reached there, we stayed in a good hotel and has a quick routine round up to freshen up ourselves. Enjoying the facilities and beautiful view of our room, we made a plan to explore Kasargod.

Bekal Fort

We started from the most famous destination -Bekal Fort. Standing amidst the roaring music of the sea and unlimited waves in its background, this fort is among the best-preserved forts in Kerala. It was just 16 km from the south of Kasargod located on the national highway. Bekal fort has a circular impressive structure that rises 130 ft. above sea level and stands about 40 acres of land.

Being made in a shape of a gigantic keyhole, this historic fort offers best view of the Arabian Sea from its observation towers. Huge cannons were placed on these tall towers centuries before. We entered through a zigzag entrance and saw the trenches around the fort that looked amazing. The fort is the finest example of the defense strategy.

When we reached outside, Denis denoted to an old mosque. The guide told us that it was built by the valiant Tipu Sultan of Mysore. There is an observation tower amidst the fort. We had to climb a broad flight of stairs to reach there.

Then I insisted Denis to visit the temples of Kasargod. At first, he was not ready but I persuaded him and we headed to Ananthapura Lake Temple. Devoted to Lord Anantha Padmanabha, the temple is built in the middle of a small pond. There is no external source of water to supply the pond but rain only.

With each passing day, our curiosity to explore the Kasargod was increasing. We both wanted to make the most of our visit to Kerala. Next attraction which we visited was Chandragiri Fort. The guide who accompanied us, told that the fort was built in 17th century by Shivappa Nayaka of Bedanore. A small mosque was also situated near but we could not visit it.

Ananthapura Lake Temple

Next day, we also visited Madiyan Kulom temple, located in Ajanur village. Devoted to goddess Bhadrakali, the temple also houses some other deities like Bhagavathi, Kshetrapalan and Bhairavan.

Enjoying traditional cuisine, having the glimpses of Indian culture and viewing the historic monuments altogether was a great experience.

Renowned for its illustrious scholars who belong to Kuttamath Kunniyur family, Cheruvathur is another interesting place which we visited. The main attraction is the ruins of a Dutch fort, dating back to 18^th century.

The trip ended and we bid goodbye to this wonderful place with a heavy heart but we were happy to have the snaps of our tour.

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Ayurveda Massage

In the very next week of our wedding, we got the chance to explore Kerala and believe me that was like a dream coming true. I was desperately waiting for the day, when we would fly to the beautiful state of south India and it was really a tough job to wait.

Finally, the day approached and we took a flight from New Delhi and reached Kozhikode Airport. From there we hired a private car and reached our destination hotel. As it was middle of the day, so we decided to take the rest for that day.

Next morning, we started our day with Kerala Ayurveda massage to revitalize our body and soul. Use of aroma oils by skilled therapists made it an unforgettable experience. That was simply different from the treatment I had taken in Delhi. One can choose the treatment from a long list of Kerala Ayurveda therapies. Ayurveda massages not only revitalize your body but is the base of natural healing treatment with the help of plant based medicines.

Later on, we moved to explore the sun kissed beaches of Kerala. It is really hard to explore every beach of Kerala in one single trip as this amazing state is full of beaches. So, we finalized only five beaches and that too for different days. Those five names include Kovalam Beach, Alappuzha Beach, Kappad Beach, Varkala Beach and Beypore Beach.

After reaching Kovalam beach, I understood why people love to visit beaches. 17 km coastline and cluster of three beaches can not be explained in words. Breathtaking sea views and endless sight of coconut trees create a fascinating environment. For the next four days we enjoyed a quality time on  rest of the beaches.

Kerala Vacation

Then, it was the time to enjoy some more quality moments and to start the new life in the beautiful houseboats in the backwaters of Kerala. This was the most fascinating time in the complete trip. Made up of natural elements borrowed from mother nature, these house boats are something out of the world. Charismatic ride on those classical Kerala houseboats and interconnected canals gave us a chance to explore the green land in the most beautiful way.

Our  Kerala vacation was over but still we were not in a mood to go back in that hustle bustle of Delhi. The whole tour was amazing. We took the same route and came back with lots of golden memories. The only thing I can say about our  Kerala honeymoon tour was it was truly amazing to know my life partner in the mesmerizing views of Kerala.

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Alleppey Houseboat Travel

Wherever I got to know about Alleppey, one thing common that I found was its backwaters. The increasing popularity of these backwaters forced us to visit them first. Alleppey backwaters are a network of natural waterways that connect different towns and villages in Kerala. Being beautiful and very peaceful, they offer you ample opportunities to relax.

As we wanted to make the most of our time so we stayed in a luxury hotel. It helped us to enjoy our tour at its best without worrying about the things like where to eat and stay.

The Alleppey canal side is worth to mention here. This is the most sophisticated way of seeing the land that envelops them. We went by houseboat which was truly an amazing house on a boat. Having never been on a houseboat I was very excited. The cruising on houseboats was a truly memorable experience. It felt great to be far away from the crowd of the city and that too, enjoying cruising amidst the water. By visiting beautiful backwaters and beaches, we made the most of our tour.

Alleppey Backwaters

The crew was very supportive and it made our journey more comfortable. As we set off, my husband started admiring scenery and was also sharing his knowledge about this land. The cruise ended but we did not feel like detaching from that little houseboat. Keeping the delightful memories afresh in my heart, I headed to a small village with my husband. There we strolled around and captured the beautiful glimpses of the sunset.

The visit that we paid to Krishnapuram Palace, was one of its kind experience. Far away from the commotion of city life, being in a Greenland and you suddenly find something which you could only imagine is something that you cannot afford to miss. Built in 18^th century by King Marthanda Varma, it is well-known for its impressive murals. Revealing the legend of Gajendramoksham, it houses a rich collection of antique sculpture, bronzes and paintings.

The shimmering backwaters, the peaceful journey and exciting cruising altogether made our Alleppey tour truly unforgettable.

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Kovalam Beach

Enveloped with sheer beauty, Kerala beaches are perfect destinations to enjoy vacation. We embarked on Kerala Beach Tour, which is a popular theme of the tour. The beaches spread over 600 km area and are gorgeous. Beaches are beautifully dotted with unlimited scintillating golden sands and swaying coconut trees which make them an ideal sport for relaxing.

Some of the most famous beaches of Kerala are:

• Kovalam Beach
• Kumarakom Beach
• Alleppey Beach
• Beypore Beach
• Varkala Beach
• Marai Beach
• Kappad Beach
• Sankhumugham Beach
• Thirumullavaram Beach
• Thangassery Beach

However, during our 10 days Kerala tour we could explore only three beaches, which are:

Marari Beach
We started for Marari beach from Cochin and soon we were in this tranquil destination. This beach destination is renowned across the world for its beautiful sandy stretch, azure sea and scenic atmosphere. The composite beauty of nature made us captivated till the time we stayed there. Marari Beach is also famous for rejuvenating Ayurveda therapies. I too had a refreshing experience in one of the Ayurveda centers that offers various treatments. After visiting the center, I felt myself rejuvenated like never before.

Varkala Beach
Our second beach destination was Varkala Beach, occupying a significant place on the tour itinerary. The guide who was making our all doubts clear during our tour, told us about the beach that it is renowned for its mineral water springs which are said to have medicinal properties.Like us, many tourists also visit the beach to explore the breathtaking beauty and to relax sometime in the lap of nature. This beach has also great importance as one of the well-known pilgrimage centres in Kerala.

Varkala Beach Kerala

Kovalam Beach
We heard a lot about Kovalam Beach and I read a lot about this beach in a travel magazine. Surrounded by lush greens, this charming beach consists of three small crescent beaches. These are Lighthouse beach in the southern most, Hawah beach in the middle and Samudra beach in the northern most. Its pleasant tropical climate helped us to enjoy the activities like surfing, wooden boat ride and shopping.

With lots of unforgettable memories during our Kerala Beach Tour, we bid goodbye to God’s own country.

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My interest in Ayurveda developed when I was in college. During that period, I got to know about Ayurveda and I started believing in the miracles of Ayurvedic therapies. Having heard and read a lot about Kerala Ayurveda, I decided to experience the same and left for Kerala, the ‘Green Paradise’.

On being reached one of the Ayurveda center in Alleppey, I came across a collection of remedial programms, massages and yoga procedures. After consulting with the expert professionals, I decided to undergo ‘Panchkarma’ treatment with full body massage to get rid of stress and fatigue caused by hectic daily routine. A woman masseur poured lots of oil and her gentle touch worked wonders and I felt relieving of all the stress and fatigue.

During my Kerala Ayurveda Tour, I got to know different aspects of Ayurveda. Here is a brief:

Concept of Ayurveda

Ayurveda is basically a science of life. This holistic science of life has the power to cure your body in a natural way. Considered as the perfect system of healing, Ayurveda emphasizes on the benefits of taking personal responsibility for one’s own well-being by imparting complete health knowledge.

Ayurveda in Kerala

Kerala is an ideal place to experience Ayurvedic therapies. It is the land where Ayurveda has been practiced for a long time. As a result, now there are many Ayurveda resorts, providing you Ayurvedic treatments through spa, massage and different therapies.

The therapies rejuvenate the body technique and treat the health problems besides facilitating basic fitness. Several of the popular Kerala ayurveda treatment plans include spa treatment plans, panchakarma, oil therapeutic massage yoga and meditation.

Some famous Ayurvedic resorts in Kerala are:

• Aquaserene Ayurvedic Resort
• The Ashtamudi Resort in Kollam
• Somatheeram Ayurvedic Resort in Kovalam
• Keraleeyam Heritage Home in Alleppey
• Ayurvedic Resort in Alleppey
• Kairali Ayurvedic Health Resort in Palakkad

Increasing Demand of Ayurveda

Visitors, not only Indian but foreigners are also eager to experience the bliss of Ayurveda. The Kerala Ayurvedic resorts offer the travelers multiple Ayurveda tour deals in Kerala including eating plan, spa, massage, yoga-meditation and treatment. Ayurveda massage is an importance remedy that may be used to men and women with no age bar.

Kerala Ayurveda Treatment

Benefits of Ayurveda

Ayurvedic treatment uses medicated oils, drugs or powder prepared from natural herbs and plants as a result causing no side-effects.

Ayurvedic treatment also contributes in making the body more responsive to medicines and cures you by balancing the doshas which is a quick way of the healing process.

Yoga exercises help in strengthening the muscles, bones and many important organs like liver & heart, thus improve the blood circulation.

Ayurvedic therapies and meditation aid in calming down the nerves and relieve you of all the stress  of day-to-day life.

Panchakarma and Yoga exercises are also helpful in removing the harmful toxins from you body and thus making you feel relaxed.

Branches of Ayurveda

Following are eight branches of Ayurveda:

• Kayachikitsa-Internal Medicine
• Kaumarabhritya Tantra-Pediatrics
• Bhuta Vidya-Psychology/Psychiatry
• Shalakya Tantra-Ears, eyes, nose and throat
• Shalya Tantra-Surgery
• Agada Tantra-Toxicology
• Rasayana Tantra-Rejuvenation
• Vajikarana Tantra-Fertility Therapy

The wonderful massage with perfect healing touch really energized me!

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Recently, I got an opportunity to experience the pure and untouched nature during my Kerala tour.  We a group of four friends went there. I had heard a lot about Kerala from one of my colleagues, whose native land was Kerala. She used to talk about the spice plantations of Kerala. I always used to relish her food in lunchtime as it was enriched with the aromatic flavour of Kerala, the hub of spices.

The reason why I felt like going there was its picturesque surroundings of gardens. We planned a trip just after the monsoons and reached there in day time. After taking rest, we headed towards the greens of Idukki, which is called as the spice land of India.

Our knowledgeable guide shared his knowledge with us and told us that the climate and soil conditions of the hilly areas of this land make it best suited for tea cultivation. He plucked some green leaves and showed us. We saw that the shiny green leaves had pointed ends with a pleasant aroma. The trees were planted at a distance of 1 to 1.5 meter along the landscape. The guide told us that Cochin is the place which is known for producing spices. The traders dealing in spices also meet at the same place, which is actually the spice market of Kerala.

As we drove through the thick forests on a road that passes through several tunnels, we witnessed nature in a new form which was a great visual treat for us. Soon we reached in a place where we were enveloped in the unmatched aroma of the spice plantations. I was so delighted to find the spice gardens and tea plantations in front of my eyes. At the edge of the Periyar, we found many spices gardens. There were dense forests, dwelling at a height of 800-1000 meters which preserved the exotic flavours.

As we moved ahead towards Munnar and Wayanad, we were amazed to find some fragrances of coffee, black pepper and cardamom. We saw the clusters of black pepper plants. As we drove by, there were stretches of cardamom plantations. I decided to get down from the car to pick up some fresh cardamom. My friends also accompanied me. After collecting some cardamom and black peppers from trees, I run a few step and saw clove vegetation. All my three friends were busy in sorting out the other spices like black pepper, ginger, cardamom, turmeric, nutmeg and cinnamon.

It was an exciting and fun-filled experience that made us forget everything for some time. I simply lost myself in the captivating beauty of the gardens and plantations. After coming back, when I shared my tour experience of Kerala with my family members, I felt nostalgic.

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Munnar is one of the famous tourist destinations of Kerala where tourists come in a large number to feel the charm and glory of nature. Though I have heard and read about this mystic destination several times but I have felt its soul stimulating beauty during my Munnar tour last weekend. This is a beautiful Kerala tourist destination situated at an altitude of 5200 feet above sea level in the Idukki district. This is a premium hill station of this place located at the confluence of three Mountain rivers namely Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala which meet in the centre of the town.

Large number of tourists from several parts of the globe comes here to spend memorable and pleasurable holidays amidst serene and scenic natural ambiance. The incomparable beauty of this scenic land provides solace to the weary souls. This hill station is also a favoured destination for adventure freaks. The popular adventure activities of this place are rock climbing, trekking and paragliding.

Major attractions which we covered during our Munnar Tour are:

Devikulam

The beauty of gorgeous greenery with mountain backdrop makes this place a beautiful and romantic destination which calls on scores of tourists from several parts of the globe. Velvet lawns, cool mountain air, scenic landscapes, diverse flora and exotic fauna make this place an enchanting destination. Beautiful Sita Devi Lake and spectacular Pallivasal Waterfalls are the two foremost attractions of this place. Sita Devi Lake is a wonderful place to enjoy leisure or picnic. Trout fishing can be enjoyed here by tourists.

Eravikulam National Park

The diverse collection of flora, fauna and bird species make this place a popular destination for spending pleasurable holidays. It is one of the popular wildlife reserves of India where tourists come in large number for watching the wild animals in their natural habitat. This national park sprawled over an area of 97 km. The Tropical Evergreen Forest, Shola trees and rolling grassland dominate the flora of this sanctuary which nurtures a variety of wild animals. This park was founded in the year 1975 with an aim to protect the endangered Nilgiri Tahr. Some of the other wild animals which can be seen during a safari at this place are lion-tailed macaque, nilgiri langu, tigers, leopards and several species of birds.

Pothamedu

The unending stretch of tea and spice gardens makes this place a renowned tourist destination which calls on scores of tourists round the year. This plantation hub of Munnar is situated at a distance of 6 km from the city center. The scenic beauty of rolling hills, tea plantations and dense vegetation makes it a famous destination of Kerala Tourism. Apart from offering sheer natural beauty this place also provides facilities for adventure sports.

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The name of Kerala always conjures my mind with an image of the sun-kissed beaches, the misty hill stations, the enchanting backwaters and the forestlands rich in flora and fauna. Because of its celestial beauty National Geographic Traveler Magazine ranked Kerala a ‘Ten Paradise of the World’ and ‘Fifty Places of a Lifetime’.

This recognition is enough, which lures scores of tourists to this place from across the globe. And I am one of them who visited this land of scenic beauty with my two friends last month. We took customized Kerala Travel Guide from a travel agent at budgeted rates. This 4 day and 4 nights tour package was efficiently designed that provided us a chance to explore and experience the myriad facets of Kerala Tourism.

The first day of our Kerala Tour is dedicated for beaches. We spent almost whole day at Kovalam beach. This is a cluster of three crescent shaped beaches whose charm is renowned throughout the world. We enjoyed the scenic composition of sea, sun and sand at our best. The pristine, serene and scenic ambience of this place enthralls us most. This beach is also ideal for water sports activities like Kayaking, Swimming, Surfing and Skiing.

Next day of our tour was dedicated for backwater cruise. The Kerala Backwaters are a labyrinthine network of 900 km of waterways interconnected with canals, rivers, lakes and inlets. It is the uniqueness of Kerala Tourism, which gave us chance to experience the natures jubilant scattered in the form of land, sea and sky. ‘Kettuvalams’ popularly known as Kerala houseboats are the ideal way to enjoy Kerala Backwater Cruise.

With Kerala backwater Cruise, we experienced nature’s breathtaking beauty with the soothing sound of water rippling alongside the houseboat. During our cruise, we experienced kaleidoscopic view of countryside, swaying palm trees, emerald rice fields and several historical monuments on the bank. We were totally engrossed by nature’s jubilant beauty. The ecstasy we felt cannot be expressed in words.

After spending memorable night stay in a leisurely flowing houseboat, we reached Periyar in the morning. It is among the famous of all Kerala Wildlife Sanctuaries known for its exotic collections of flora and fauna. This national park is located on the bank of Periyar Lake and sprawled over an area of 777 Sq.km. The exotic collection of flora and fauna species make this place a heart throbbing destination. Whole day we spent in this wildlife reserve sighting many animals, bird species and floral species. Some of the most sighted wild animals are wild elephants, Sloth Bears, wild boars and Stripe-necked Mongoose.

After enjoying nature’s beauty, we went to dance theater to experience the rich culture fiesta of this state. Here we saw Kathakali the most renowned dance drama of all Kerala dances. It is a classical dance-drama known for its unique combination of literature, music, painting, acting and dance. The word Kathakali literally means Story-Play. The themes of the Kathakali are religious in nature whose stories are taken from religious scriptures.

Next and the last stop over of our itinerary were at a restaurant whose delicious dishes are known across the globe. Here we ate typical Kerala Cuisine whose taste still titillates my taste buds. After satisfying our appetite, we went to airport and good-bye this land of God’s own Country.

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