God's own, they say !

Settled comfortably in the slopes of Western Ghats, Kerala has been one of the most enchanting travel destination for travel freaks. The last thing you would expect from Kerala is to be a tropical paradise, and it truely is!

The beautiful backwaters of Kerala are a complicated labyrinth of canals, rivers, lakes and inlets where sea water and freshwater meet each other. Houseboats were traditionally used to transport harvested rice from the backwaters, but today they are mostly used for tourism. You get to choose from over 2000 houseboats roaming the canals. However, the best way to wander in those canals is by a kayak, since huge houseboats cannot sail amidst smaller canals where you get to see the wildlife and locals going around with their daily activities.

The water-ride in the Cochin Port is another cookie in the basket . It is a major port on the Arabian Sea – Indian Ocean sea route. It was naturally formed by the great floods of Periyar. In the same ride, they give you a quick tour of Paradesi Synagogue and describe the Jewish practices, and their discipline -

just a nice different experience. You would also get to see from a little distance (at the entrance of the harbour), gigantic Chinese fishing nets operated by huge machines to earn a livelihood, solely by fishing. The Dutch Palace falls in your plate next, built by the Portugese. It was given to Raja Varma later. Followed by the Dutch Palace is St. Francis Church, built originally by the Portuguese; believed to be the first church built by Europeans in India. Vasco da Gama was originally buried here.You would also see innumerable big and small ships (containers and cruise vessels) taking goods/passengers to places far and wide.

Munnar, well known for its verdant hills draped in exotic tea plantations will take your breath away. A hundred of pages would be less to scribble the experience in this wonder-land.
Those fleeting few grey moments, suspended between inky blackness and early morning light, provide the most drama at times. Like they did one early morning, when we peeped out into the balcony, just to soak in the spectacular scene unfolding in front of us. The sky was still a dark purple, the silhouette of the mighty tea plantations looming large in the distance. Behind the ever-lasting greens, the dark purple subtly embraced the tinged pinkish-orange, even as the horizon appeared clear and cloudless.

We watched in awe as the pinkish orange turned into surreal gold, as the sun rose from behind the lush green dewy hills - a disc of deep crimson. I thought of the drawings I had done during art classes in primary school. But this was for real ! Just a few minutes, and the sun was over and above the hills, drenching everything in crisp bright light. We stood spellbound, cold notwithstanding.  The first rays also served for the birds to shake off their chirping and myriad calls; just the background score that this breath-taking sight needed.

As the morning wore on, we ventured out along narrow, winding roads up the hills, flanked for the most part, by deep gorges on one side and towering hills on the other. Occasionally, the dense foliage cleared to reveal a hamlet on either side. A walk to remember!

Getting drenched in the monsoon rain, sipping a steaming hot cup of ginger tea, feeling the raindrops on your palm amidst such marvellous picturesque paradise, is a unique experience of its own kind. Far far away from the noisy, dawn to dusk hustle bustle of our daily routines, the glorius sound of silence would provide you a perfect "me time"! .

Do not miss a luxuriant and easy way to achieve an instant calm and rejuvination with the most divine ancient Ayurvedic ritual  - Shirodhara. Practiced for more than 5000 years, Shirodhara oil treatment is based on ancient principles of Ayurvedic medicine. Translated from Sanskrit as a holistic healing Science, Ayurveda aims to harmonize the body, mind, senses and soul. Ayurveda may be an ancient Indian therapy, but its appeal is thoroughly modern. This holistic system of diet, herbal remedies and massage has become popular with thousands of celebrities, spa-goers and harried workers who wish to regain a balanced and healthy life. While you go on to choose one, make sure the ambience is worthwhile and the equipments do not need refilling and restarting, creating unnecessary bomb-blast sounds that would end up damaging the entire bliss.

I could go on writing about this little heaven on earth; I could go on visiting it year after year! God's own, they say!