Though I have driven well over 1500 Kms in the last few days through probably the worst possible roads in God's Own Country Kerela, but the sights and sounds of all the places made it all worth it. A much needed break, I call it a search, search for nothing yet you get all that you can ask for.
My body is tired but the mind relaxed. A Journey that was planned at the nth moment. The idea was to spend 4 days in Munnar and back but fate had some other plans. I did some route search and chalked out a plan to drive through hosur-Krishnagiri-Salem-Iddupadi-Thippur-palladam-Munnar. The first leg of the journey for about 150kms was all tranquil as you drive on NH7 on to NH47. But the first turn on to Mutter road was the start of getting lost. My sincere advice to all those driving in Tamil Nadu state highways please learn reading and speaking in Tamil before you venture in any of these highways. The stretch which was intended to save us 50 Km costed us additional 50 Km. There are absolutely no signage in any other language other than Tamil. The roads a narrow with two many cuts and directions. One wrong turn and you are lost in villages. We finally found our way back onto NH47 and then on to Palladam. The place was amagingly windy with tons of wind-farms good 40-50 km with good roads, and then you enter Kerela through the Chinnar Wild Life Sanctuary. This is a single road with tons of pot holes. Which is true for most part of kerela. (A Sad thing considering so many tourist visit this Blissful place). We were driving through the jungle with no tools (We forgot the Wheel Wrench and other tool kit at home, luckily we didn't need any). As we made our way through the hills,(Munnar was still approximately 50 Km) we were soon approaching nightfall. The winds picking up every km we drove into the woods. Suddenly out of no where we are greeted with some very beautiful birds, none that I have seen before and then a playful elephant very close to our car. We almost ran into a herd of elephants but were lucky to have just passed them without troubling them. The winding roads were only getting more regular and bumpier with more and more pot holes, there it was our first waterfall of the journey from a distance the sound of the water crashing down on the ground below was simply beautiful. The splendor only grew as the rains started and we climbed up the hills. Presenting ever changing view of the Blue hills. The water falls presented a very good break everytime we passed one falling on the road and passing under it. It was almost 9 PM when we reached our resort near the perinakal fall. Another majestic fall. The resort was on the NH49 and I must say that the roads are pathetic for a good part of the journey in Kerela. The lockhart estates presenting breath taking view of the hills. I remember driving through a tea factory I guess when a whiff of tea being blended greeted us. I must say that though I am not a tea drinker, the aroma was simply awesome. We had traveled our first 500 Km today. After dinner we all crashed.
The next day when we woke up near the pandavas rock, a view out of the window presented Blues Hills and the Fog almost hugging all the rocks. The wind and the drizzle was simply beautiful to watch. This being said, it never is very nice when you have plans to go sight seeing. After our breakfast we started for the Top Station some 50 Kms from the resort. There were many sights that were simply superb. I am skipping all to reach straight to Top Station. This ironically falls in Tamil nadu. What is the top station, it a walk on a cliff taking you to the edge of a hill providing a 360 degree view of the hills around you. The Cliff almost fills you with awe of its splendor and might. The only thing is you really need strong legs and powerful lungs to trek down the cliff to the vantage point. The walk back is steep and really tests your stamina. I strongly recommending spending time on this hill. After shopping in the local bazar and food in Munnar, we returned on time back to the hotel. Our Little angel Gia getting her first cold. The weather the whole day had been raining. The flooring in our cottage was super cold for our baby to play anywhere other than the bed.
The next morning, there was strong winds and thick fogs. The weather a huge deterent when you have a small 8 month old who doesn't like to just sit in a car or a room. How in-different they are to the changing environment. She didn't seem to mind the cold at all but running nose a little warm body was good enough for us to escape the cold hills into something more bearable. We then drove to thekkady, through the winding hills and ever increasing pot holes to reach thekkady. Another wild life sanctuary around a lake. We were again greeted with tons of rain and waterfalls on our way. After spending a few hours here we started for Kumarakom. The back waters. The roads are such a deterent to anything that you want to do here. The distance, rain, bad roads only made the travel a very painful experience to an otherwise awesome trip. After checking in our hotel for the night we retired after the tiring road trip. We had traveled good 800 Kms by now. What to say about the back waters and house boat. I think its an experience and only an experience can define it.
The last leg of the journey was to the historical city of kochi and its heritage sites. After spending a day in kochi we headed home. I never imagined the roads would be this bed. What should have been just 8 hrs drive turns out to be 11 hrs ride. Thanks to very bad roads. Good 120kms of non motor-able roads.
Though we traveled 1500 kms, this trip with my parents was one that will be long engraved in our memories. Personally this trip for me was a much a needed break from the monotony of life and the tired feeling.
I will definitely recommend driving down to kerela inspite of bad roads. Only thing you need may be an SUV instead of a small car.
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