Kerala, a land of magical fables and lyrical stories. A land that I first discovered through its stories. Growing up as I did, reading stories told by the many gifted writers of my country. Stories that were so intensely humane that I couldn’t help but be drawn into that world, a world of overwhelmingly beautiful landscapes teeming with life that drew its very living force from a culture that was both singular and diverse at once. A culture that had welcomed many a different people from places near and far, a culture that absorbed and grew alongside its people, as the land went through a rich and varied history of its own.
From rambling along the river Nila unravelling and understanding human emotions through Anita Nair’s Mistress to being thrown into the heady spice gardens of Salman Rushide’s The Moors Last Sigh, I had journeyed through Kerala vicariously for years. If I had just about got a taste of the cultural pluralism of Kerala then, through the eyes Rushdie’s narrator, Moor, who comes from a family which began when a Goan Catholic of Portuguese descent married a Cochin Jew of Spanish descent. It was on my road trip through Kerala in 2018 aboard the Kerala Blog Express that I actually got to witness it and live it.
& when I saw this film by Kerala Tourism for their campaign Human By Nature I couldn’t help but feel it all over again. That magic in the everyday, the power of human stories, the bond between us and the nature that surrounds us and envelopes us in its warm hug.
Kumarakom on Vembanad Lake
On my last trip there, as our houseboat made its way back from Alleppey drifting along lazily on the backwaters, we sat on the deck of our houseboat gazing at the idyllic scenery watching the villages go by. And on a whim decided to make a quick pit stop at one of them. Kumarakom.
Kumarakom on Vembanad Lake, Kerala’s largest and India’s longest lake is a cluster of tiny islands that is famous not just for its sprawling bird sanctuary but also for being a quieter alternative to Alleppey. Making it the ideal destination for those looking to get a feel of the Kerala backwaters, but at a leisurely pace.
As we got off our boat onto the meandering dirt path into the village, afternoon was just turning to evening and the village was stirring back to life, and I couldn’t help but think of a life where afternoon siestas were but a way of life!
Experiencing village life at Kumarakom
Walking through the village we were greeted with welcoming smiles and that was all the encouragement that our curiosity needed. We spent our evening stopping at houses, crossing over wooden bridges to nearby farms, looking in on people going about their business.
Sometimes even trying our hand at these jobs to sometimes just being content watching. We got to meet and talk to people working at varied traditional jobs – from coir making and mat weaving to catch net fishing and toddy tapping.
Travel today has evolved beyond checking off things to do on a pre planned itinerary. Seeking authentic experiences, connecting with the land that we are travelling through local people, food, customs and culture has become the very essence of travel. To have experienced this, a slice of life along the Vembanad Lake in Kumarakom, Kerala surely made us human all over again.
Here’s to a renewed sense of appreciation to everything ‘Human by Nature’, to a life of peace and oneness where man, animal and nature co exist in symbiotic harmony.
For magic can exist in a land where majestic beings are not just revered as gods and loved as family but also get to star in celebrated stories. Take for instance, Sooryamangalam Sreeganeshan, the elephant who is the narrator and protagonist of The Tusk That Did The Damageby Tania James.
NOTE: This is a sponsored post written in collaboration with Kerala Tourism under the Human by Nature campaign. The content of the post is completely my own, drawn from my own experiences in Kerala.
Distance from Mumbai | 80 Kilometers Best Time to Visit | October – May
This Asia’s only automobile-free hill station is also India’s smallest. Matheran is a popular weekend getaway with Mumbaikars for whenever they feel the need to disconnect. An eco sensitive area, the whole of Matheran is a luxuriant green, covered in dense evergreen trees and its lakes, parks and numerous view points are best explored walking. It is not uncommon to see butterflies everywhere or spot a wide variety of wildlife from the Matheran Giant Squirrel to Golden Langurs. Getting here by the hundred and ten year old narrow gauge heritage Matheran Hill Railway from Neral will only add to the experience.
2. Malshej Ghat
Distance from Mumbai | 135 Kilometers Best Time to Visit | October – March
Malshej Ghat is one destination that you can choose to go either in the monsoons for its glorious waterfalls or in the winter for the flamingoes that dot the horizon. Though the drive through this beautiful mountain pass in the verdant western ghats is a good enough reason to take this trip, there are quite a few things to do here. Walk along waterfalls or go birdwatching at the Pimpalgaon Joga Dam on the Pushpawati River. One can even take a short detour to visit the Shivneri Fort where the great Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was born.
3. Bhandardara
Distance from Mumbai | 165 Kilometers Best Time to Visit | August – December
Trek routes and forts abound in Bhandardara, but it is the pre monsoon fireflies camping that has pushed Bhandardara to the top of the weekend getaway list for the folks in Mumbai – Pune. Sitting on the banks of the River Pravara near Igatpuri, this verdant village has enough lakes, dams and waterfalls for one looking to unwind outdoors in the lap of nature. Maharastha’s most popular trek route, to the state’s highest peak, the Kalsubai Peak also starts here, from the nearby village of Bari.
4. Mahabaleshwar
Distance from Mumbai | 235 Kilometers Best Time to Visit | December – June
Once the summer capital of the British in the Bombay province, this hill station in the Sahayadris is one of the few evergreen forests in India. Also the starting point of the River Krishna that flows through Maharashtra and three of its adjoining southern states, there is an eight hundred year old temple dedicated to it in Old Mahabaleshwar. With its vast strawberry fields, panoramic views of the surrounding valleys and the gorgeous waterfalls that dot them, Mahabaleshwar makes for the perfect monsoon road trip.
5. Kaas Plateau
Distance from Mumbai | 270 Kilometers Best Time to Visit | September – October
Literally meaning Plateau of Flowers, the Kaas Plateau is arocky plateau near Satara that could be compared to the Valley of Flowers in the Himalayas. For between the months of August and September, here bloom a legion of wild flowers, quite a few of which are not even found anywhere else. A biodiversity hotspot with over eight hundred and fifty varieties of flowering plants, it is a treasure trove of butterflies too. Kaas Plateau is two hundred and seventy kilometres from Mumbai.
6. Goa
Distance from Mumbai | 585 Kilometers Best Time to Visit | November – March
The Portuguese called it the Rome of the East, one of may agree or disagree but one cannot take away from the fact that Goa sure is the coolest place in India. From the balmy beaches to the weekly flea markets, from the wild parties to the exciting food options, all of which makes Goa so sought after, is something that is deeply ingrained in popular culture and needs no mention. But there is so much more of Goa take in. Its seventeenth centuries convents and churches, the fishing villages and spice plantations, all just waiting to be explored, slowly.
From the world’s smallest to the world’s least visited countries, here is a list of 10 off beat countries to visit in 2020. In these times of Instagram-fuelled over tourism, these beautiful yet under the radar countries should find a place on your travel wishlist too!
1. Malta
An archipelago of islands just off the coast of Sicily, so small that it is often overlooked, yet a country so rich in culture and history that it is but a wonder that it is so often overlooked, Malta.
Malta together with its sister islands of Gozo and Comino are nothing less than spectacular in terms of the experiences that they have to offer. From diving into the azure of the Mediterranean to getting a glimpse of Caravaggio’s masterpiece, Beheading of St. John the Baptist, set against a backdrop that is but a true depiction of the period – the high Baroque of St. John’s Cathedral; there is much to explore in Malta. Not to mention the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, a subterranean complex of temples and burial chambers dating as far back as 4000 BC.
2. Liechtenstein
A tiny country wedged between Austria and Switzerland, Liechtenstein is the perfect off the radar destination to go to if one wishes to lose oneself in the old world intrigues of European principalities. Medieval castles, walking trails through a network of quaint little alpine villages, Liechtenstein is perfect for a walking day tour. Europe’s fourth smallest country, you can actually drive across the country in twenty five minutes flat. Liechtenstein is so small that it doesn’t have an airport, just two train stations, a hospital, a TV and a radio station.
3. San Marino
Vatican City isn’t the only small country within a country, there is one other just like it, in Italy. In fact it also happens to be the world’s oldest surviving republic. Sitting atop Mount Titano, overlooking the Adriatic coast is an impenetrable stone fortress, a country in itself, San Marino. It couldn’t get more idyllic than in San Marino, with a cuisine that is heavily influenced by the neighbouring Italian cuisine, desserts and local wines that are luxuriously indulgent to say the least and to top it all, tax-free shopping at the fashionable stores that line its cobble-stoned streets.
4. Monaco
Long known as the playground of the rich and famous, Monaco is an all year round kind of a destination. It isn’t just about the fast cars and casinos, Monaco with its pleasant balmy weather all through, makes it the perfect destination to go yatching on the French Riveria. And come May, there is also the annual Grand Prix, definitely bucket list worthy.
5. Guatemala
Coffee and Chocolate, arguably the most important things in life? Well, for some. And, Guatemala isn’t just the birthplace of Cacao but its volcanic highlands are famed for the coffee beans produced here for they make for a very distinctive flavoured, earthy coffee. That in itself would be reason enough to travel to this small country in Central America. But there is more, from colourful, wonderfully preserved Colonial buildings on one end of the spectrum to equally wonderful, just as carefully preserved ancient Mayan sites on the other end. Not to mention, the celebrated Lake Atitlán, formed in the basin of a massive volcanic crater.
6. Tunisia
Once a great powerful city and ancient Rome’s arch rival, Tunisia today is but a forgotten little country on the edge of North Africa. From cities like Sidi Bou Said that could well have been in Greece to dramatic Saharan landscapes, Tunisia is straight out of a picture postcard.
7. Armenia
There are many superlatives associated with this country in the Caucasus Mountains. From being the first Christian Country in the world to being home to the longest rope-way in the world, Armenia also supposedly boasts of the cleanest, most delicious water in the world and also the world’s oldest winery. Even its bread, lavash is listed by UNESCO as intangible heritage. Besides the ancient cathedrals and monasteries, the crystal like Lake Sevan is amongst the must see places in the country.
8. Tuvalu
Tuvalu, this island country in the South Pacific deserves special mention for being the least visited country in the world and also for being unbelievably stunning. Nine islands which really are just coral atolls and strips of palm fringed lands comprise the country of Tuvalu. Thinly populated and barely on the tourist radar, these islands are pristine and undisturbed making it a literal paradise for birding enthusiasts and divers.
9. Ecuador
Named after the Equator – on which it lies, Ecuador boasts of a richly diverse landscape. This country in South America encompasses not just the glorious Amazonian jungles but also the Andean mountains and the islands of Galapagos too. Little wonder then that this is where, right here on these volcanic Galapagos islands that Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution took seed.
10. Estonia
Something about this country Estonia which makes it more of a fairy-tale town than just another European country with a tragic war history. Maybe it is the historic old town of Tallinn peppered with snow kissed breathtaking medieval castles, dramatic hilltop fortresses, vibrant facades about town. Or maybe it is just the Struve Geodetic Arc that it shares with nine other countries. As romantic as it sounds, the arc is actually just a chain of survey triangulations which led to the first accurate measurement of the meridians. Be that as it may Estonia is as charming as it gets.
The Pancharamam Kshetras spread across Andhra Pradesh are essentially fivetemples built for just one Shiva Lingam. A popular pilgrimage circuit for the Hindus of Andhra Pradesh, this tour across temple towns (and, otherwise) takes you through Palakollu, Bhimavaram, Samarlakota, Draksharamam to the State Captial, Amaravathi.
The Legend of Pancharam Kshetralu
Once upon a time there was a Rakshasa King, Tarakasura and he owned a magnificent and powerful Shiva Lingam. Or so the story goes.
A war ensued between the devas and asuras, the classic showdown between Gods and demons.
Kumaraswamy, the God of War himself, was fighting the demon Tarakasura but couldn’t kill him, no matter how. For at every deadly blow, the rakshasa would reform, limb to limb, from his cut off body parts. This power to rejoin came from the aforementioned mighty Shiva Lingam that the demon wore.
The only way to destroy him was to break this powerful lingam first.
So, it was to be. And, by the end of the battle, there came to be five pieces of this mythicalSiva Lingam. Which fell in five different places in Andhra Pradesh. Temples were then built in those locations around the fragments and it is these five ancient temples that now constitute the Pancharama Kshetralu.
Architecture of Pancharamam Temples
All of the Pancharamam temples are two storeyed stone temples, for fragments though the Shiva Lingams are, they are all massive Shiva Lingams in themselves.
To continue the story, the five fragments were installed and worshipped at five temples by the five gods, Indra, Surya, Chandra, Vishnu and Kumaraswamy.
Temple 1 |Kumararamam / Bhimaramam
Where | Samarlakota Shiva Lingam Installed By | Kumaraswamy, Son of Shiva
The first one, by Kumaraswamy himself is at Samarlakota near Kakinada and is known as Kumararamam or Bhimaramam variously. The temple is beautiful, peaceful and yet not too crowded like the other four.
Getting There | From Kakinada, Kumararamam in Samarlakota is 15 kilometers away.
Temple 2 | Draksharamam
Where | Draksharamam Shiva Lingam Installed By | Surya, Sun God
The next one nearest to here is Draksharamam. Probably the biggest and definitely the most celebrated of the five, Draksharamam isn’t just a Pancharamam Kshetra but also a Shakti Peetham.
This expansive tenth century temple boasts of a rich history and numerous mythological legends are associated with it, which is one of the reasons for its popularity.
Believed to be the site of the mythical Dakshayagnam – where Daksha Prajapati’s daughter and Shiva’s wife, Sati immolated herself in the Yagna Fire – it is one of the eighteen major Asthadasa Shakti Peethams in the country. And she is manifest here as the Goddess Manikyamba alongside Lord Shiva.
Getting There | One can get to Draksharam too from Kakinada. It is at a distance of 34 kilometers from the city.
Where | Bhimavaram Shiva Lingam Installed By | Chandra, Moon God
The Shiva Lingam in Somaramam is said to change colour according to the phases of the Moon. If it is a pristine white on full moon nights, it is a dark ebony on the days of no moon or amaavasya, probably owing to the fact that legend says, this is the Shiva Lingam that was installed by Chandra or the Moon God himself.
Getting There | The easiest way to get to Bhimavaram is from Rajahmundry which is 90 kilometers away.
Temple 4 | Ksheeraramam
Where | Palakollu Shiva Lingam Installed By | Vishnu, The Protector
In Ksheeraramam, Shiva instated by Vishnu here, is Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy and the temple itself flaunts a nine storeyed temple tower.
Getting There | This too like the last one is in West Godavari and the most convenient way to get there would be from Rajahmundry via Bhimavaram.
Temple 5 | Amararamam
Where | Amaravathi Shiva Lingam Installed By | Indra, God of Wealth
The last of the five temples is Amararamam in Amaravathi, Andhra Pradesh’s burgeoning new capital. Legend has it that this Shiva Lingam laid here by Indra wouldn’t stop growing and a nail was affixed to it, in an attempt to stop its growth. But the Lingam started bleeding and today devotees from all across flock here, to this ancient temple on the banks of the river Krishna,to catch a glimpse of that red stain on the head of the Lingam.
Getting There | One can get to Amaravathi from Vijayawada, which is only 18 kilometers away.
Are you longing to get away from the craziness of Delhi? To slow down and take a break, to detoxify? Then here is a list of 6 stunning weekend getaways from Delhi, that are just perfect to do that. Nothing.
1. Jim Corbett
Distance from Delhi | 245 Kilometers Best Time to Visit | November – June
Hands down the most popular national park in the country, the Jim Corbett National Park isonly a six hour drive away. Part of the larger Corbett Tiger Reserve, Jim Corbett is famed for its tiger population. It is in fact here, the country’s oldest established National Park, that Project Tiger was first launched.
Add to the magical landscape of Uttarakhand the fact that this is the only place in India where you can stay the night in a jungle. In a snug old rest house at that! So go have yourself an adventure right here, a few hours from Delhi.
2. Rishikesh
Distance from Delhi | 245 Kilometers Best Time to Visit | September – November
On the 50th anniversary of The Beatles coming to India, why not go see for yourself where the Fab Four spent one of their most creative phases. It was in the Maharishi Ashram in Rishikesh that The Beatles spent seven weeks, wrote forty songs of which they eventually recorded twenty.
This long abandoned ashram is now being converted into a Museum by the Uttarakhand State Government and there is also of course the usual white water rafting, trekking, yoga, meditation and Ganga Aarti to indulge in while in Rishikesh.
3. Jaipur
Distance from Delhi | 280 Kilometers Best Time to Visit | November – February
Rajasthan’s largest city and its capital, Jaipur ranks right up there alongside the Taj Mahal on every tourists’ bucket list for India. Not only is this city home to India’s biggest Literature Festival but it is also the starting point to explore the sunny state of Rajasthan – be it the painted havelis of Shekhawati or the Thar Desert.
Known for its UNESCO world heritage sites, striking palaces, sprawling forts and colourful bazaars, Jaipur is the most perfect of weekend getaways from Delhi for a family holiday.
Distance from Delhi | 287 Kilometers Best Time to Visit | April – June
Bored of Mussoorie already? Drive on a little higher and you are in Landour. A British era cantonment town, which together with its twin town of Mussoorie is crowned as the Queen of Hills. From being home to Jim Corbett’s parents once to today being Ruskin Bond’s, Landour has always been distinctly more European than Mussoorie.
So slow down in this quiet little hill station, go for walks among the cool conifers, indulge in the delicious cheese pizzas that thIS town is famous for and take a break from the other often frequented hill stations and weekend getaways from Delhi.
5. Chail
Distance from Delhi | 336 Kilometers Best Time to Visit | April – June
Chail is a charming hill station overlooking the Sutlej Valley in Himachal Pradesh. Originally built as a summer retreat for the Maharaja of Patiala, even today it works as a worthy alternative to the noisy and overcrowded Shimla.
From exploring the Chail Palace for its splendid architecture to hiking all the way to Kali ka Tibba or even venturing out as far as the Girl River from some angling, there is enough to keep one actively engaged here in Chail. This hill station of deodars and pines also boasts of being home to the world’s highest cricket ground.
6. Dharmshala
Distance from Delhi | 470 Kilometers Best Time to Visit | February – June
Famous for a lot of things, Dharmshala is many things to many people. From monasteries and hip cafes to scenic trek routes through the Dhauladhar mountains, Dharamshala has something to offer to every kind of traveller. There is much to do here.
Take delight in the distinctly Tibetan vibe of the place or take a shot at being a hippie. And if one tires of this and craves a change of scene, then there is Mc Leod Ganj to head to for the day.
Though Nizamabad as we know it today was founded in the 18th century, it is actually an ancient city whose legacy has stood the test of time. From ancient temples right at the heart of the city and even a little way off to rock formations from eons ago and secret lakes, there is much that Nizamabad has to offer as a weekend getaway from Hyderabad.
So, here is a guide that gives you the lowdown on everything that you can do in two days in Nizamabad – places to visit, where to stay & eat.
Hyderabad to Nizamabad Road Trip Route & Itinerary
Hyderabad to Nizamabad Distance | 175 Kilometers Drive Time | 3 Hours
Ali Sagar is more than just an irrigation dam and reservoir. This nearly ninety year old man-made lake which lies nestled in a dense forest is reached via a short hike along a beautiful garden and a path hewn through the fiery red boulders and emerald green forest cover. One can go boating in the lake, all the way to the lush green islands that dot the waterscape. There is also a deer park on the premises which makes Ali Sagar a favourite weekend haunt for families living in the district.
2. Ashok Sagar
Another popular lake here is the Ashok Sagar Lake which is enroute Ali Sagar, while heading away from the Nizamabad city. This too is a beautiful lake with a garden abutting it. But being easily accessible – right alongside the highway – it lacks the charm and sense of adventure that Ali Sagar boasts of.
3. Dichpally Ramalayam
Locally known as Khilla Ramalayam, the Dichpally Ramalayam with its sculptures of black and white basalt are so reminiscent of the famous Khajuraho temples that the moniker, Indur Khajuraho was bestowed on it.
Though the temple itself is a 14th century Kakatiya temple, it is believed that it was here in Nizamabad, on a hill in Dichapally, that Ram stopped – on his way to wage war on the Demon King Ravan, right after meeting Hanuman for the first time – and stayed a fortnight.
The Sri Neela Kanteswara Temple, right at the heart of the city, is yet another beautiful temple in Nizamabad.
Originally built as a Jain temple in the North Indian Nagara style of architecture by the Satavahanas, it was later converted to a Shiva Temple. This colourful temple and the soothing reflection it casts in the water of the neighbouring ancient step-well make for a beautiful sight anytime of the day.
5. Nizamabad Fort & Ranganatha Temple
The Nizamabad Fort isn’t like any other fort in the country, this one has become so much a part of the city today, the inside of a fort is like a neighbourhood in itself!
If not for this unique juxtaposition in itself, the Nizamabad fort is still worth a visit for the stunning Ranganatha Temple inside.
6. Armoor Rock Formations & Cave Temples
Also in Nizamabad but a little away from the city, are the stunning Armoor Rock Formations. These naturally weathered rocks that date back over a million years are so distinctively striking that they are but a natural stopover for those driving on the Nizamabad – Karimnagar Highway.
And, sitting in the caves somewhere in those rocks is the Navanatha Siddheswara Temple also known as Navanthula Siddulagutta – gutta for cave and Navanatha Siddhas for the sages who are believed to still reside in them. Inside these caves are numerous temples that you get to through an entrance that is barely three feet. Once you crouch down and go through it, the cave opens up and skylight filters in into the interconnected passageways, guiding you through the caves.
Complete your trip with lunch at Angeethi in the city of Nizamabad. This vegetarian friendly restaurant is made to look like a traditional village of mud houses on the outside but serves up some yummy food in an air-conditioned, nicely done up inside!
Where to Stay in Nizamabad?
One can stay at the Haritha Indur Inn in Nizamabad. Run by the Telangana State Tourism Department, it is centrally located, clean and pocket friendly.
The Food Capital of Kerala, Kozhikode in North Kerala is a must visit destination on your Kerala holiday and here is a guide to Kozhikode’s tourist places, the popular and the offbeat.
A rather underrated destination, Kozhikode, with its historic sites, its delicious Malabar cuisine, boat building yards and uncrowded beaches can be the perfect starting point for exploring the Malabar Region of Kerala.
Like most cities in Kerala, Kozhikode too has an anglicised, easier to pronounce name, Calicut.
Calicut even lent it’s name to Calico, that Indian textile which was once at the crux of our country’s Imperial trade-history. Incidentally, it is also where Vasco da Gama first docked in 1498.
Nearest Airport | Calicut International Airport, 28 kilometres from the city center. Nearest Railway Station |Kozhikode. Best Time to Visit | October to February. A coastal town in the tropics, Kozhikode is best visited in the cooler months. Where to Stay in Kozhikode? Splurge | Raviz Kozhikode Save | Malabar Palace
With such a wide array of beaches to choose from, one of the first things to do when in Kerala is to head to the beach. Especially on the Malabar Coast, which is home to not just beautiful beaches but also to probably one of the most historic one.
And, if it is a peaceful promenade that you are looking for, to spend a contemplative evening watching the sunset, then the Kozhikode Beach it is. It is after all the heart of the city, from which it borrows its name.
#2 SM Street
Known for its distinctive food culture, Kozhikode is home to one of the oldest food streets in the country, SM Street. Short for Sweet Meat Street, this was once the busiest of food streets. It was the British who gave this street its name, when they saw it lined with endless stalls of halwa – which they referred to as sweet meat. It still is one of the busiest streets in Kozhikode, selling everything from boho clothes to sliver trinkets.
#3 Kuttichira Jumaath Mosque
If you want to lose yourself in the sights and sounds of Kozhikode, then the lanes of Kuttichira in Thekkepuram would be the ideal place to do just that. Around the Kuttichira pond are mosques and houses, old and beautiful, built in wood, in traditional Kerala style – an architectural style that is as unique as it is striking, thanks to the maritime history of the region.
Of these, the Kuttichira Jumaath Mosque or the Mishkal Mosque, as it more commonly known and the Muchundi Mosque are exceptional examples.
#4 Payyoli Beach
This little known beach on the Malabar Coast is stunning to say the least, what with its unending stretches of clean golden sand, swaying coconut palms and clear blue waters.
Little wonder then that Olive Ridley turtles chose this beach to nest!
But its with secluded locations like these that we need to approach with even more care. And travelling responsibly takes on a whole new meaning when you have to keep the peace of a pristine place like this going, so that these guys keep coming back to their home, year on year.
#5 Beypore Beach & Port
An Uru in the making at Beypore
Twenty minutes from Kozhikode is yet another beach and port, Beypore. Here, at the boat building yard in Beypore Port, one can go inside an Uru, the traditional Arabian trading vessel and see master craftsmen at work, bringing to life this striking handcrafted teak wood trading vessel that traces its origins back to over fifteen hundred years ago.
It was in the waters of the Kappad Beach that the Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama first landed, over five hundred years ago, successfully concluding his voyage to discover a sea route to India. And to mark that historic moment – which opened the floodgates of global imperialism, there still stands a memorial, albeitan unremarkable one.
#7 Mother of God Cathedral
If architecture draws you, then the ‘Mater Dei’ or the Mother of God Cathedral near Manachira in Kozhikode is a must visit. This Gothic church of curved arches and lofty wooden doors also makes for a picture perfect backdrop, for also seeking photo ops on their travels.
#8 Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary
This bird sanctuary on the banks of the river Kadalundi is a bird watchers delight. You could easily spend a happy day here spotting the different species, from seagulls to terns, that make this sanctuary their home. November to April is the typical season for sightings.
#9 Tusharagiri Waterfalls
Three waterfalls of the Chalippuzha River come together in the Western Ghats to form this powerful torrent of a waterfall that is the Tusharagiri Falls. Creating a gush so forceful that it gives the water it’s white colour and the waterfalls its name – Tusharagiri, snow capped mountain.
#10 Kalari Sangams
Kalaripayattu Practice at a Kalari Sangam in Kozhikode
There are many KalariSangams in Kozhikode where one can witness the fourth century martial art, Kalaripayattu and even train in it if one wishes to. This classical Kerala art form is definitely worth a watch and a quintessential ‘Kerala Experience’, so even if it comes last on this list of Kozhikode tourist places it one of those that can’t be missed.
One of the oldest and the more famous of these is the CVN Kalari Sangam.
Find yourself in the city of pearls for 2 days? Here is a quick guide to things to do in Hyderabad. Including where to eat and what to see for a truly local experience.
Things to do in Hyderabad
1. Go on a Heritage Walk in the Old City of Hyderabad
Conducted by the Telangana Tourism Department, this guided walk through the lanes of the old city, happens every Sunday from 7:30 am to 9 am. There are four walks to choose from, to explore the architectural and historical splendour of the city, but the walk from Charminar to Chowmahalla Palace remains the most popular.
2. Naubat Pahad | Science Museum & Birla Planetarium
A View of Birla Mandir from Naubat Pahad
The Sky Show at Birla Planetarium is popular across quite a few of the bigger cities in India, but here in Hyderabad, where it is located on one of the more popular hillocks of the City, the Naubat Pahad, it gives you two additional reasons to visit. One for the sweeping views of the Hussain Sagar and the pristine white Birla Mandir. And the other, for its Science Museum. The interactive science section here at the Museum has been engaging children and adults alike in exploring the basic laws of Physics in a fun way for over 27 years now.
3. Sunset Boating on Hussain Sagar
And who hasn’t seen pictures of the famousBuddha Statue of Hyderabad, believed to be the tallest monolith of the Gautama Buddha. Take an evening boat ride in the Hussain Sagar to see the Buddha against the backdrop of a setting sun.
This white granite statue of the Buddha was consecrated by the Dalai Lama himself!
4. Go on a Road Trip
Been there done that? Looking for some offbeat experiences? Then head out on the road to discover the unexplored side of Telangana. Plan your trip to include anything from forgotten forts to secluded waterfalls.
Here are some useful guides to help you design your road trip from Hyderabad.
See the iconicCharminar by the evening lights of the fruit sellers or on an early Sunday morning when it is at its atmospheric best with the Jummeraat Bazaar that pop ups enroute Charminar every sunday. While there, also check out Laad Bazaar, an entire lane dedicated to selling colourful bangles. Nothing else gives you a feel of old Hyderabad like this traditional bazaar.
One can also go up a minaret of Charminar to take in the entire old city – the heart of Hyderabad from its balconies.
Though they don’t rank high on the typical tourist checklist, the Qutb Shahi Tombs are yet another must visit. Some of the areas of this expansivecomplex are undergoing restoration, in the hopes of bringing this mausoleum onto the coveted list of UNESCO Heritage Sites.
3. Golconda Fort
Golconda Fort, believed to be the strongest of the Deccan Forts holds number one spot on every traveller’s Hyderabad itinerary and rightly so. For the earthy brown monument with its manicured lawns isn’t just beautiful. The architectural designs to draw water and even cool the citadel on a hot day are intriguing. Also, the trek up to the summit of the fort is invigorating, specifically around sunset.
And when one has had enough of ruins and tombs, then a visit to the Chowmahalla Palace is sure to refresh you with a peek into the the erstwhile life of the Nizams ofHyderabad.
5. Birla Mandir
Built in a mix of Dravidian and Rajasthani architectural styles, the Birla Mandir is a beautiful marble structure sitting – in all its pristine white splendour – atop a hillock on the banks of the Hussain Sagar. The temple is dedicated to Venkateswara Swamy is a quiet and serene place.
Where to Eat – like a local – in Hyderabad
If you want to eat like a local in Hyderabad, then it isn’t just about the biryani or the haleem, you start your day with an Irani Chai and a side of Osmania Biscuits at Nimrah Cafe. Located bang opposite the Charminar, this landmark is the starting point for many a walk in the old city of Hyderabad, be that a photo walk or a food walk.
Just as iconic are Paradise and Pista House – ‘world famous in Hyderabad’ as one would put it – the former famous for biryani and the latter for haleem.
The city also boasts of eateries that grew from just a bandi (handcart) to full fledged multi storeyed cafes and restaurants. Amongst these are the Gokul Chaat Bhandar and Ram ki Bandi. Both worth a visit, for their chaats and dosas.
And if you are a vegetarian in Hyderabad, against popular belief, you needn’t despair. For you have an entire street that comes alive every evening and serves up everything from a dabeli or a vada pavto a fruit flavoured soda or a malai kulfi. That is Sindhi Colony for you. It is such a hit among the youngsters for street food that within hours of opening, most of these joints sell out. So be there in Sindhi Colony by five any evening, if you want to try out everything.
There is ever so often that you crave a quick weekend getaway. For a little breather between work and the drudgery of daily life and you do not have the time to plan an elaborate holiday. On those days, long Weekends are like answered prayers. And, just for times like that, here is a list of 8 places to visit near Chennai that are only a few hours away from the city but are as good a tourist destination as any in the country.
1. Mahabalipuram / Mamallapuram
Distance from Chennai | 57 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | Monsoon & Winter. October – April.
Renowned for its ancient monuments dating back to the Pallavas of the seventh and the eighth centuries, Mahabalipuram is home to numerous Hindu temples sculpted as monolithic chariots, cave sanctuaries and rock reliefs even. Together they form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The most famous of which are the five Rathas dedicated to the five Pandavas of Mahabharata and the elephantine open air rock relief which is The Descent of the Ganges – also known as Arjuna’s Penance.
Today this ancient seaside town is also buzzing with surfers that are thronging here in their quest for big waves making this the number one place to visit near Chennai.
Getting There | Mahabalipuram is only an hour and half away from Chennai by road. One can also take the train or bus to get here.
2. Pondicherry
Distance from Chennai | 156 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | Winter. December – April.
Go further down the East Coast Road from Mahabalipuram and you reach Auroville – Pondicherry, which is also next on our list of popular tourist places to visit near Chennai.
They say if you can’t afford a ticket to Europe, travel to Pondicherry instead. Stroll through the white part of town where cafes cool and inviting are at every turn. Or wander through the streets on the Tamil side to absorb the distinctive Franco-Tamil culture of the place.
Pay a visit to Auroville to experience life at this utopian community, meditate in the Matrimandir and shop for eco friendly products. Take a short drive to Arikamedu, an ancient Roman archaeological site or to the Fossil Forest in Tiruvakkarai. Or simply sit on the edge of the rocky beach and let a sense of tranquillity wash over you.
Getting There | The best way to get to Pondicherry from Chennai is by the East Coast Road. There are also trains and buses that connect both cities.
Distance from Chennai | 270 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | Winter. December – April.
Tharangambadi, ‘the place of the singing waves’, was the first Danish trading post in India and in a Danish twist to its original name, it came to be called Tranquebar. Just like Pondicherry, here too, you will find an eclectic mix of two cultures coming together. Of a former Danish colony and a fishing village of rural Tamil Nadu. Besides the lyrical singing waves and the swaying palms of the southern coast line, there are also the Dansborg Fort and the New Jerusalem Church to explore.
Getting There | The best way to get to Tharangambadi from Chennai is by road. The drive takes over six and a half hours, so one can also take a bus to get to Tharangambadi from Chennai.
4. Trichy
Distance from Chennai | 330 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | All year round.
The stunning gopurams of Srirangam Temple
One of the oldest inhabited cities of Tamil Nadu and my personal favourite on this list of places to visit near Chennai, Trichy is home to temples both unique and popular. From the more famous Ranganatha Swamy Temple of Srirangam to the little known Rockfort Temple.
Second in size only to the Angkor Wat, Srirangam occupies an entire islet in Trichy and is the largest functioning Hindu temple in the world
The Rockfort Temple is a series of cave temples inside an ancient rock that dates back to over a billion years ago. The Jambukeshwara Temple is yet another one of interest in Trichy for all architecture lovers. Also here is the ancient Kallanai Dam, more commonly known as the Grand Anaicut which is a picturesque digression from all the temples.
One can also extend the trip by driving to Thanjavur or Kumbakonam, both towns boast of ancient temples of stunning architecture.
Getting There | There are regular flights from Chennai to Trichy everyday. By road the drive to Trichy takes around six hours. There are also connecting trains between the two cities.
Distance from Chennai | 320 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | Dry, cool months. January – March.
Airavateeswara Temple in Darasuram, one of the three great living chola temples in Thanjavur
In and around Thanjavur are ‘The Great Living Chola Temples’, three grand temple complexes dating back to the 11th and 12th centuries. These UNESCO classified world heritage sites make Thanjavur one of the best destinations in the country for architecture & history enthusiasts.
But this historical town earns its position on this list of places to visit near Chennai not just for this but also because it is the go-to shopping destination for art lovers and connoisseurs. It is from Thanjavur that the strikingly beautiful gold laid Tanjore Paintings come from.
The Thanjavur Maratha Palace along with its museum dedicated to the Chola heritage of the region is another tourist attraction here that is worth a visit.
Getting There | Nearest Airport is Trichy. One would have to fly to Trichy and drive down to Thanjavur, which takes about one and a half hours. But, there are frequent trains and buses from Chennai to Thanjavur.
Distance from Chennai | 460 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | All year round.
Madurai is Tamil Nadu’s pride and the illustrious Meenakshi Amman temple here is truly a marvel. One cannot help but lose oneself in the labyrinth of courtyards in this sprawling temple complex of immense proportions.
Its fourteen Dravidian style gopurams etched in beautiful detail and intense colour dominate the city’s skyline. So striking is this temple that it has even inspired full blown life size movie sets in the South.
Getting There | Madurai is connected to Chennai via regular flights, trains and buses. By road, it is an eight hour journey from Chennai to Madurai.
7. Kodaikanal
Distance from Chennai | 525 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | Summer. March – June.
Driving through the western ghats to get to Kodaikanal – this beautiful hill station that often serves as a less crowded alternative to the more famous Ooty – is in itself a pleasurable experience. It sure is the ideal destination for a leisurely holiday, for here you can spend your days amongst the mist rolled hills indulging in home made chocolates and boating in the Kodai Lake.
Getting There | One can get to Kodaikanal from either Coimbatore or Madurai. The drive to Kodaikanal takes anywhere between three to four hours from either of the airports. There are direct trains and buses too that ply regularly between Chennai and Kodaikanal.
8. Rameshwaram
Distance from Chennai | 540 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | All year round.
One of the major Hindu pilgrimage sites in the country, Rameswaram is where Rama worshipped Shiva or Eswara as he is also known, giving this unique holy city its name.
It is also believed that it was from here, in Rameshwaram, that Rama built the bridge to Lanka to bring back Sita after defeating Ravana.
But it is the Ramanathaswamy Temple here that brings the most travellers to this Ramayana site. This temple of the many sculpted corridors is a shining example of beautiful Indian architecture. The outer corridor alone has over a thousand carved pillars that taper off into what looks like an exquisitely painted tunnel.
Add to it the beauty of Pamban Island itself, the island on which this temple town is located and Rameshwaram becomes the one destination on the list of places to visit near Chennai that just cannot be missed!
Getting There | Nearest Airport is Madurai and the drive from Madurai to Rameshwaram takes around three and a half hours. By train or bus, it is an overnight journey.
It isn’t just the beaches – which sure are numerous and beautiful – that make the city state of Goa such a tourist magnet for Indians and foreigners alike. It is also its vibrant culture. A culture that is a mix of the local Goan eclectic Indo – Portuguese history juxtaposed with the bohemian spirit inherited from a long line of trippy tourists who have made Goa their home.
With its picturesque forts and historic churches, hip flea markets that run shoulder to shoulder with chic boutiques, trendy cafes along treelined avenues, Goa has something of interest to every kind of traveller.
So, here is a quick guide to travelling through Goa. From where to eat to what to see and do on your first trip to Goa.
Where to Eat in Goa
You cannot be in Goa and not have seafood. And it is said that it couldn’t get better than the Goan Fish Thali at Fat Fish, where, for once, you will see just as many locals as tourists relishing in the distinctive Portuguese flavour of Goan cuisine.
Yet another favourite of the locals and celebrities alike is the Exotic Seafood Platter at Martins Corner.
And as for vegetarians like me, head to Casa da Moeda late afternoon for high tea and be regaled by the hosts who dish up some some local Goan anecdotes with a side of tea and cake. Originally Goa’s Mint, currency was minted here a hundred and eighty four years ago. Today it is the Dias family’s home and one can visit with a prior appointment.
Villa Blanche Bistro in Assagao
Also, if you happen to be in Goa on a Sunday, then the brunch at Villa Blanche Bistro cannot be missed. For here you are not just spoilt for choice with the variety of bagels, pretzels and cheeses on offer. Vegetarians can dig in to a sumptuous meal too, thanks to their exclusive vegan and gluten free menus.
What to See in Goa
The beaches ofcourse.
While North Goa is known for it wild parties and crowded beaches, South Goa is for those looking for the quieter beaches to spend a lazy afternoon. So beach hopping from North Goa to South Goa should surely be top of your itinerary for Goa.
Popular North Goa Beaches
From Anjuna to Baga, every beach you have heard of is in North Goa.
Baga Beach, North Goa
1. Anjuna
If you love chasing sunsets, then the Anjuna Beach with its swaying palms and rocky cliffs is the place for you. It is also here that the famous Flea Market is set up, every Wednesday.
2. Baga
But if you want to indulge in some people watching, then the Baga beach is where everyone is at.
3. Calangute
Calangute with its uber cool eateries and shacks is the queen of Goa beaches and also its most crowded!
4. Miramar
The Miramar beach is to Goa, what Chowpatty is to Mumbai! Miramar is also known for its stunning views of the Fort Aguada.
5. Vagator
And, how can you miss the beach made famous by that iconic scene in Dil Chahta Hai ?! It is the Vagator Beach and Chapora Fort then.
Popular South Goa Beaches
Agonda Beach, South Goa
1. Agonda
Agonda used to be so quiet that the Olive Ridley turtles used to nest here. But with South Goa rapidly making it onto the tourist radar, Agonda has become its most popular beach. Today, it is people and beach shacks that crowd out this beach.
2. Palolem
Though the Palolem Beach is yet another popular beach in South Goa, quickly being overrun by eateries, boutiques and restaurants; I still love its vibe. There definitely is something about Palolem, which is probably why it is the setting for silent night parties every Saturday.
Remember that song in Ae Dil Hai Muskhil – where you dance to your own music in a club?
Churches of Old Goa
The second most popular thing to do in Goa, after beach hopping is to see the churches and convents of Old Goa. Or Velha Goa – as it is known locally – the old Portuguese capital.
Sunset Views of Velha Goa and the River Mandovi
The whole of Old Goa is a UNESCO inscribed world heritage site and rightfully so. For these churches and cathedrals were built right after the Portuguese came to Goa in 1510, with a view to inspire awe amongst the native Indians. So that they would more readily accept Christianity.
See them not just for their striking architecture that varies from Portuguese – Gothic to Tuscan and Corinthian, but also to visit the mausoleum of Goa’s patron saint, Francis Xavier, housed in the Basilica of Bom Jesus.
Things To Do in Goa (Beyond the Beaches)
Dudhsagar Waterfalls
1. Latin Quarter
Take the Fontainhas Walking Tour to explore the oldest surviving Latin Quarter in Old Goa and the only living one in all of Asia. Whimsical and colourful, this walk takes you through narrow alleyways of charming old traditional homes painted in hues of yellow, blue, maroon and green. And, it sure is going to transport you to another time right there in the middle of the bustling city of Panjim.
2. Dudhsagar Waterfalls
Trek to the popular Dudhsagar Waterfalls and explore the luxuriant green forests of Goa, when you tire of its countless beaches.
3. Sunaparanta Centre for Art + Cafe Bodega
Visit the Sunaparanta Goa Centre of the Art. Beloved of the art lovers in Goa, this not-for-profit arts initiative is more than just a gallery and cafe. Sitting in an old Hindu Portuguese house, Sunaparanta serves as a hub for Goa’s cultural events. There is also a library here that is a great resource for anyone looking to delve deeper into understanding art.
4. Divar Island
Cycle on the Divar Island where beautiful little Portuguese villas dot every winding lane. Here on the island is also the Church of Our Lady of Compassion that boasts stunning panoramic views of the Goan countryside.
5. Nerul River
Take a sunset boat ride on the Nerul river.
6. Literati Bookshop & Cafe
Check out the Literati Bookshop and Cafe in Calangute to browse through some antiquarian books or just for some coffee and conversation in the garden cafe of this store that has been featured in lists of the Greatest Bookstores of the World.
Masulipatnam or Machilipatnam as it is now known was once the first port of call on the Coromandel coast for European traders vying for a hold on India and it’s trade. This often overlooked-by-travellers town on the East Coast of South India makes for the perfect day trip destination from Vijayawada or even as an interesting detour for those heading to Vijayawada.
Where is Machilipatnam?
Machilipatnam is a coastal town in the Krishna District of Andhra Pradesh.
Machilipatnam History
An ancient port town of the sixteenth century, Machilipatnam’s long rich history isn’t just about the trade. For it even finds mention in many Buddhist texts, for it is believed that the Buddha made his way to Amaravati – only a couple of hours away, via here.
Though this once important port has faded away into insignificance it still boasts of flourishing trade. Only today, it is in the hugely popular Kalamkari fabric and gold plated costume jewellery (or imitation jewellery as it is more commonly known) used in Indian movies and television soaps.
Machilipatnam Places to Visit + Things To Do
1. Machilipatnam Beach / Manginapudi Beach
The Machilipatnam Beach tops of the list of points of interest in Machilipatnam. For this is a beach that is only a short road trip away from Hyderabad, which being in the land locked Telangana, doesn’t otherwise have quick access to the sea. It is also a black sand beach, yet another feature that sets the Machilipatnam – Manginapudi Beach apart. For there no other in the state.
2. Datta Rameshwaram
While Manginapudi in Machilipatnam has long been popular for its beach. It is only in the last few decades that Manginapudi has grown in prominence, owing to be being adopted by Datta Peetham led by Sri Ganapathi Sachidananda Swamy. He christened Manginapudi as Datta Rameshwaram, declaring it be a holy site equivalent to the major pilgrimage centre of Rameshwaram, after building a temple dedicated to Dattatreya Swamy.
Since, then Manginapudi has also attracting tourists who wish to take a dip in the sea, visit the the temple on the coast and the twelve wells that were also built by the Peetham to defend the town from destructive tidal waves.
3. Machilipatnam Port & Harbour
A trip to this port from where the East India Company conducted its trade should prove to be interesting. Instead of a huge fleet of ships that once docked here, you will now find colourful fishing boats crowding the waters. A more welcome sight surely?
Work is set to begin on developing an all weather deep water port here, at this long forgotten harbour.
4. Dutch Fort and Armoury
Though neglected as with everything else here in Machilipatnam, the sprawling Bandar Fort which was built by the Dutch in the 17th century, with its white washed walls and tiled roofs is reminiscent of Reis Magus in Goa. It is surprisingly good looking!
The fort is a living testimony to the maritime trade history of the region. For it has been home to a hospital, a customs office, storehouses and godowns, an armoury and a textile factory even at different times in the last few centuries.
5. Chilakalapudi Panduranga Swamy Temple
The Chilakalapudi Panduranga Swamy Temple built by Sree Narasimham in 1927 is a beautiful symphony of colours and symmetries. So strikingly is the main temple – dedicated to Panduranga Swamy and his wife Goddess Rukmini – painted in alternating hues of bright and vivid colours, that is bound to grab your attention from the moment you set foot on the sprawling temple grounds.
Panduranga Swamy Temple in Chilakalapudi, Machilipatnam
What is even more fascinating about this temple though, is that, there is no Hundi (a donation box that is a common feature of temples) here and anyone who comes to this place of worship need not pay anything for puja performed here. The temple is still maintained privately by the original builder’s grand son, Sree Gangadharam. He is also the head priest of the main temple.
Tiny temples in hidden alcoves dot the entire length of the complex and there is also the remarkable Sahasra Linga Mahamandapam with its many Shiva Lingams.
Chilakalapudi is also famous for being a hub for rolled gold jewellery.
6. Pedana Kalmakari
Pedana is where everybody’s favourite fabric, Kalamkari comes from.
Screen-printing New Age Kalamkari in Pedana, Machilipatnam
Machilipatnam and Sri Kalahasti are the two main centres in the country for production of this artisanal fabric.
But, Machilipatnam, has today moved onto screen printing, to quickly produce Kalamkari designs on both cotton and silk fabric to meet the growing demand – for fabric that has the Kalamkari design but not the price tag that comes with it. Very efficiently putting to use its long history of textile trading – that dates as far back as trading with the Greeks in Muslin – in commercialising this traditional form of art.
Must Try in Machilipatnam
Bandar Laddu
Don’t forget to bring back a box of the sumptuous Bandar Laddu, which gets it name from the place it comes from – Bandar, which is but Persian for Port, and one of the names given to the port town of Machilipatnam.
Explorers Guide | Getting There
One can get to Machilipatnam either via Hyderabad or Vijayawada. Both of which are major cities in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh well connected by air, rail and road.
Vizag for me is nostalgia. Of summer holidays spent fighting and adventuring with cousins. Of catching the sunrise while cycling down RK Beach. Of picnics in parks and lazy afternoons spent picking mangoes in the garden of my grandparents’ home. So, indulging in some nostalgia, of those oft thought of summer days, I have put together a list of places to visit in Vizag.
From the latest attractions in town to the secret spots of my childhood that have managed to stay that way for a long time now. Most of them either free or extremely affordable to visit even those that are amongst the most popular tourist places in Vizag.
#1 RK Beach (Ramakrishna Beach)
Despite being Andhra Pradesh’s largest city, Vizag still is a picturesque little coastal town at heart, where locals still like to spend their evenings at the beach.And, it is the Ramakrishna Beach or the RK Beach, as it is more popularly known – that is the beating heart of Visakhapatnam.
A 4 kilometre stretch of golden sand beach with a clean, wide promenade, RK Beach isn’t just a local favourite but tops the list of places to visit in Vizag. While early mornings are just for walkers and cyclists, it is only after 7AM that this road turns into a regular thoroughfare busy with everyday traffic.
#2 Dolphin’s Nose & Lighthouse
Other prominent attractions on the RK Beach are the Dolphin’s Nose – a cliff shaped like the nose of a Dolphin and the lighthouse atop it.
There was once a children’s theatre in the city, shaped like a Dolphin – a tribute to this very cliff; where they would screen movies from all over for kids in the summer break. & It remains a childhood favourite of mine, not to sound too solemn!!
#3 Kali Temple
Also along the RK Beach is a temple dedicated to the Goddess Kali. Built in the architectural style of the Kali Mandir in Kolkata, this temple in Vizag though much smaller is just as striking. The best time to visit the Kali Temple is of an evening when one soak in the peaceful atmosphere of the temple, while gazing at the sea – just across the road – as the sun goes down.
#4 INS Kursura Submarine Museum
Inside the INS Kursura Submarine Museum
It is along this beach that the decommissioned INS Kursura docks today and stands as a one of its kind museum open to public. This submarine, a veteran of the Indo Pak War of 1971, retains its interiors as they were, along with additional installations that offer a peek into the lives of navy personnel who live underwater for half a year at a stretch, protecting our borders.
#5 TU142 Anti Submarine Aircraft Museum
Opposite the Submarine Museum is yet another museum similar in style, only recently opened. This one is housed in a Tupolev anti submarine aircraft. The TU142, which holds the distinction of being the world’s fastest turboprop aircraft to ever have been made, served in the Indian Navy too. Before being decommissioned and setup as a museum. This museum too is unique in the fact that, though there is one other TU Museum – in Russia, the country of these aircrafts’ origin, this is the only one where one can go inside the aircraft and explore.
#6 Visakha Museum
The Visakha Museum houses collections that showcase the history of the region and the city of Visakhapatnam. Pore over maps and manuscripts, trace a journey back in time through the period clothes, currency and weaponry that are on display here.
#7 VUDA Park
A sprawling park of over fifty five acres, VUDA Park sits right at one end of RK Beach. A mini amusement park (sadly, now defunct), a beautiful skating rink, rolling lawns and access to the beach, once made this one of the most beloved of spots in Vizag. While the skating rink still retains its pride of place, it is the newer attractions like the musical fountain that draw the crowds to the park today.
#8 Kailasagiri
En route Rushikonda, is Kailasagiri. A landscaped garden sitting atop a hill, offering stunning panoramic views of the city of Vizag. Here is where you will find the now iconic and widely recognisable massive sculpture of the Gods Shiva and Parvati.
#9 Tenneti Park
Sitting at the foothills of Kailasagiri, just as you begin to climb the hill towards Rushikonda, Tenneti Park with its manicured lawns cut in levels into the rock face offers stunning ocean views.
So be it to spend a breezy evening or to catch the sun rise over the Vizag beach, Tenneti Park has to be on your list of places to visit in Vizag.
#10 Rushikonda Beach
Road to Rushikonda Beach
Of the many beautiful beaches that dot the verdant landscape of Visakhapatnam, Rushikonda Beach is next in terms of accessibility. Getting to Rushikonda Beach – just a little further past RK Beach along the winding ghat roads that hug the coast of Bay of Bengal – is in itself a pleasurable experience.
#11 Simhachalam Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple
The Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple in Vizag is probably the second most significant religious site in the state of Andhra Pradesh (second in terms of popularity only to Tirupati). It stands atop the Simhachalam Hill and it is believed to be where the Narasimha Avatar of Sri Vishnu was manifest. A striking temple built like a fort, it is surrounded by verdant hills.
One gets to see the idol in its true form only on the day of Akshaya Tritiya. For to keep the presiding deity, Narasimha – who is known for his ferocious anger – cool, it is always covered in sandalwood paste, except on this one day.
#12 Ross Hill Church
Harbour Views from Ross Hill
And, if one were to go beyond the beaches, Vizag doesn’t disappoint you. For the city abounds in hills and it isn’t just Kailasagiri that is picturesque. Ross Hill isn’t just beautiful but is made all the more interesting thanks to its harbour views. Also that, here, you will witness sitting alongside each other, three places of worship – of the three major religions of our country – a chapel, a temple and a mosque.
#13 Yarada Beach
The most striking of Vizag’s beaches and also its best-kept secret, Yarada Beach is cloistered away from the world. Hidden by emerald green hills of the Eastern Ghats that abound it on all three sides, there is only the sea for as far as the eye can see, once you are there. Which makes Yarada the number one lazy afternoon getaway from the city.
#14 Sri Kanaka Mahalakshmi Temple
Sri Kanaka Mahalakshmi is believed to the be presiding deity of the city of Visakhapatnam – starting with being the family deity of the then Rulers of Visakhapatnam to then being the one who is believed to have cured the city of Plague in the year 1917.
This centuries old temple dedicated to her is one of the most important religious sites for the local Hindus and holds pride of place on this list of places to visit in Vizag. Don’t miss it even if it is just to get a feel of the city’s cultural traditions.
Every destination on this list of weekend getaways from Hyderabad are within 200 Kilometres of the city and can be reached in under 4 hours, making them just the place to head to for the weekend. So get out that bike or car and make the most of your 2 days off from work.
#1 Warangal
Distance from Hyderabad | 145 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | June – February
In the courtyard of Ramappa Temple
Warangal is not just the second biggest city in Telangana today. It is also the state’s most historic, for it was once the capital of the Kakatiyas. Making it weekend getaway from Hyderabad for heritage lovers.
From magnificent medieval temples like the Ramappa Temple to the lyrical Thousand Pillar Temple, this 12th century city is most definitely The Heritage City of Telangana. Also popular here is the Lakanavaram Lake, with its holiday island and the widely recognisable yellow suspension bridge.
Take the NH163 from Hyderabad to reach Warangal via Bhongir.
Where to Stay in Warangal
At the Haritha Kakatiya Hotel, which is probably the best Telangana Tourism run hotel in the State.
#2 Bidar
Distance from Hyderabad | 145 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | All year round
Bidar Fort
If one loves visiting places of historic significance and can’t get enough of architecture, then, Bidar – just across the state border in Karnataka – is one of those weekend getaways from Hyderabad that you just can’t miss.
Though the most prominent landmark here is the Bidar Fort, there are over sixty listed monuments here, in this little town. The other often frequented tourist place here is the Guru Nanak Jhira Sahib Gurudwara. People of all faiths come here, even straight from the Hyderabad airport just to get water from the holy spring that is said to possess healing powers.
From Hyderabad take the ORR and then the NH65 till Zaheerabad From there head right to get to Bidar.
#3 Jetprole, Kollapur & Somasila
Distance from Hyderabad | 175 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | July – February
Jetprole, Kollapur and Somasila are small villages within minutes of each other along the left bank of the River Krishna.
These little hamlets are significant in that, here is where all the ancient temples that were in danger of being submerged – when the Srisailam Dam was being built – were brought to and put back together stone for stone as they were originally.
Somasila is also with popular with nature lovers for the scenic river bed is just ideal for a restful camping experience.
Things to Do & Places to Visit
Madana Gopala Swamy Temple (Jetprole)
Group of Shiva Temples (Jetprole)
Kollapur Palace, Chandra Mahal (Kollapur)
Madhava Swamy Temple (Kollapur)
Riverside Camping (Somasila)
Lalita Someswara Swamy Temple (Somasila)
Getting There
Take the NH765 from Hyderabad straight to Somasila. Or take the NH44 to Pebbair and then go left towards Kollapur.
#4 Khammam
Distance from Hyderabad | 195 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | July – February
From prehistoric rock paintings to historic temples from the era of the Kakatiyas – who built many temples in the region dedicated to Shiva, Khammam is one of the more unusual of weekend getaways from Hyderabad.
The two twelfth century temples in Kusumanchi are just as exquisite in their architecture as other better known Kakatiya temples like the Ramappa Temple and the ones in Ghanpur.
It was also here in Khammam, in Nelakondapalli that numerous Buddhist antiquities and even coins dating as far back as to the Ikshvakus were unearthed. And, the Stupa that still stoically stands here is the testimony to this region’s spiritual significance.
Things to Do & Places to Visit in Khammam
Khammam Fort
Nelakondapalli Buddhist Site
Kusumanchi Shiva Temples – Sri Ganapeshwara Alayam & Mukkanteswara Alayam
Getting There
Take the NH65 from Hyderabad to Suryapet and then head left to Khammam.
#5 Karimnagar
Distance from Hyderabad | 165 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | July – September. Monsoon for the dramatic clouds.
Elgandal Fort
Undoubtedly Telangana’s most striking fort, Elgandal Fort makes Karimnagar, the state’s most underrated tourist destination. Little known and too far from Hyderabad, Karimnagar is peppered with quite a few other forts, ancient temple ruins and Buddhist sites. This is the one road trip on the list here that promises a packed weekend!
You can also hear me talking about my road trip to Karimnagar for The Musafir Stories, here.
Take the Hyderabad – Ramagundam Road or the NH163 to reach Karimnagar via Siddipet. Alternatively, you can also take the NH44 from Hyderabad and go right from Kamareddy.
Distance from Hyderabad | 175 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | July – September. For the rain washed landscape.
Armoor
An ancient temple that is a Ramayana place, where Rama is believed to have stopped on his way to Lanka to rescue Sita. Lakes both expansive and small, nestled between hills or sitting serenely behind boulders. Extensive gravity defying rock formations with hidden cave temples inside. All of these and more make Nizamabad truly an explorer’s delight.
It cannot get more offbeat than this if you are looking for one of those quick weekend getaways from Hyderabad.
Distance from Hyderabad | 150 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | July – October. Monsoon is when the flood gates open.
The Nagarjuna Sagar Dam in Nalgonda district holds the record for being India’s tallest masonry dam. Almost fifty years old, this dam which took twelves years to finish, is still considered to be one of the largest dams built in Asia in the recent times.
It is quite a sight to behold when all of its twenty six flood gates are open and the water gushes down in a roar.
Distance from Hyderabad | 105 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | June – February
Pillalamarri (Telugu for banyan tree and its children) isn’t just the name of a famous Banyan Tree but of the village – where it stands – itself. This seven hundred year old Giant Banyan Tree spread over four acres of land just outside the city of Mahbubnagar is so popular with tourists, that it now has a deer park and science museum for the children who come there.
Things to Do & Places to Visit in Pillalamarri, Mahbubnagar
Banyan Tree
Science Museum
Deer Park
Gadwal
Mahbubnagar
Getting There
Take the NH44 from Hyderabad, till Jadcherla and from there on head right onto NH167 to get to Pillalamarri, Mahbubnagar.
Distance from Hyderabad | 132 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | June – February
This small village just off the busy Hyderabad – Vijayawada Highway, somewhere near popular highway pit stop – Suryapet, does not boast of an olden Giant Banyan Tree like the other eponymous village mentioned previously.
This Pillalamarri, in Nalgonda District, boasts of two ancient temples from the Kakatiya Era. Some say that the beautifully adorned pillars of these Shiva temples have inspired an entire range of traditional jewellery in South India. Making this lesser known Pillalamari a definite addition to this list of unusual weekend getaways from Hyderabad.
Things to Do & Places to Visit in Pillalamarri, Suryapet
Pillalamarri Shiva Temples
Sri Erakeswara Temple
Sri Nameswara Temple
Pillalamarri Lake
Phanigiri Buddhist Site
Getting There
Take the NH65 from Hyderabad and just before Suryapet head left. Use Google Maps to guide you towards Pillala Marri Rural.
A quiet descends over you as you find your way – through the expansive grounds of the Dadabadi Jain Sevashram hemmed in with trees– towards the Terracotta Jain Temple in Hyderabad. Only a stones throw from the other, more popular Karwan Jain Temple in Gudimalkapur near Mehdipatnam, the Dadabadi Jain Temple is a lyrical beauty of dulcet contrasts and a true oasis of peace in the otherwise crowded and narrow lanes of Karwan.
Dadabadi Shwetamber Jain Temple, Hyderabad
Built in a combination of terracotta and marble, this two hundred year old Shwetambar Jain temple makes for striking contrasts. You cannot but stop to admire the beauty of the rather unusual combination of the brick red of the terracotta and the pristine white of the Rajasthani Marble. Not to mention the intricate patterns carved into them. And, there is never a frisson of disturbance to the peace. Not by the pigeons flocking to the basins of birdseed kept out for them, nor by the steady trickle of regulars who come by everyday from all parts of the city to go about their solitary sojourn of faith and religion.
Past all this, as you enter the main sanctum, the smile on Dada Shri Jin Kushal Suri’s idol, to whom this temple is dedicated, only adds to the mood. You don’t have to be a Jain to experience a sense of stillness, here in this atmospheric temple.
Alongside the Dadabadi Shrine and terracotta temple, you will also find an old step-well, now in disuse, a conspicuously bright and new play ground, a multi-tiered marble fountain here and there amidst all the lush foliage on the grounds here. There is also an oldpeoples home and a wedding hall for Jains here.
Explorers Guide
Don’t Miss
Sundays and full moon days, if you want to attend a ritualistic Jain prayer.
Handy Tip
Though not mandatory, it is recommended that one wears white when visiting the Dadabadi Jain Temple. For it is of the Shwetambar Jain Sect.
Getting There
Head towards to the Gudimalkapur Park from Mehdipatnam. The temple is inside the Dadabadi Jain Sevasharam complex opposite the Sarada Nagar Community Hall, a little beyond the Gudimalkapur Park.
“The Beach is Boring”, proclaims the lone print on the walls of the Bombay Coffee Roasters, Goa. A quiet urban cafe tucked away in a colourful corner, somewhere along the winding lanes of Fontainhas in Panaji (Panjim), Goa’s capital city.
& why would you need a boring beach when you have coffee and wifi?!!!
Well, Bombay Coffee Roasters was originally developed as a kind of co-working space, a hostel and an all day cafe that was designed to cater to the new generation of artists, entrepreneurs and “free spirits”. So, go here for the wifi.
Or even better, go here for breakfast. For this cafe in the old Latin Quarter, serves the best homemade breakfast in Goa.
Bombay Coffee Roasters, Panaji, Goa
Ambience | Design + Crowd
??????????
Lovely in the monsoons. Just the right amount of cosy and quiet to spend a few good hours working, chatting with friends or simply reading with coffee on the side.
Food
????????
Best breakfast in town. Vegetarian friendly. Fresh, homemade and great on taste.
Service | People + Hospitality
????????
Easy going friendly staff who let you be. But, still are warm and helpful.
Value for Money | Price + Experience
??????????
It is an oasis of calm in the otherwise outrageously touristy Goa. Making it like no other cafe in town.
In the northeastern corner of Karnataka, closer to Hyderabad than any other city in the state is Bidar. It is a city steeped in Islamic history and if you love visiting places of historic and cultural significance and can’t get enough of architecture, Hyderabad to Bidar is the one road trip that you must take. Even the celebrated Bidri Artwork though known as a Hyderabadi Artform, originally comes from here.
Hyderabad to Bidar Distance | 135 Kilometres
Drive Time | 3 Hours
Trip Duration | FullDay
Hyderabad to Bidar Route Map
Places to Visit in Bidar
Bidar Fort
Inside the expansive Bidar Fort
The most prominent landmark of this city though is the Bidar Fort. It was built by the first sultan of the Bahamani Dynasty, Ala Ud Din Bahaman Shah when he set up his capital in Bidar, this city that dates back to the third century BC. Built on the brink of the Deccan Plateau, the Bidar Fort has been damaged and renovated many a time, but it stands till date as one of the strongest and the better-preserved medieval forts of the country.
Chaubara
Chaubara, Bidar’s most popular landmark, at the heart of town.
Once a watchtower, this cylindrical Chaubara of twenty two meters is now a popular clock tower in the area serving as a landmark from where all the roads lead into different parts of town.
Khwaja Mahmud Gawan Madrasa
The facade of Khwaja Mahmud Gawan Madrasa in the Old City Fort Area
This Madrasa, the Madrasa Mahmud Gawan, that housed everything from lecture halls and a library to housing for professors and students – everything that could be thought of over five centuries ago – and even a mosque was built by Mahmud Gawan. And, so the name, Khwaja Mahmud Gawan Madrasa. He, in 1466, was the Prime Minister and an important figure in the Bidar Sultanate. Despite the ruined façade on the main road, you can still parts of all this still standing, once you go in or even just cross the road.
Bahamani Tombs
Bahamani Tombs in Ashtur
Four kilometres from the Bidar Fort is the final resting place of the Bahamani Sultans, the little known Bahamani Tombs. Some of these are in a state of disrepair today, but even these crumbling mausoleums stand a beautiful testimony to the art of an era gone by. And, no visit to Bidar is complete without a trip to these majestic structures located in Ashtur.
Chaukhandi, Dargah of Hazrat Nemat Ullah Shah Kirmani in Ashtur
En route to Ashtur just before you get to the tombs, on the left is yet another idyllic setting for the ancient, to rest in peace, the Dargah Hazrat Nemat Ullah Shah Kirmani. Known simply as the Chaukhandi, this octagonal structure beautiful in its simplicity and clean lines is set in a lush expanse of green and is the tomb of Hazrat Khalil Ullah, a popular religious preceptor of the Bahamani Period.
Gurudwara Sri Nanak Jhira Saheb
Entrance Gate of Gurudwara Sri Nanak Jhira Saheb
The most frequented tourist destination in Bidar, though, remains the Gurudwara Sri Nanak Jhira Saheb. People of all faiths come here – sometimes even straight from the Hyderabad airport – to get the holy water from spring in the Gurudwara, which is believed to possess powers of healing. The structure itself is a classic example for modern day religious splendour, probably the grandest gurudwara I have visited till date. But, this for me completely shadowed the moment of quiet and tranquility usually experienced in a Gurudwara.
Sri Jharani Narasimha Swamy Cave Temple
The Jharani Narasimha Swamy Cave Temple is yet another popular destination, albeit of a different faith in the largely Islam dominated Bidar. Pilgrims have to wade through waist deep water in an underground cave to reach the inner sanctum of the temple get darshan of Sri Narasimha Swamy. Quite an experience in itself, that.
Hyderabad to Bidar Road Trip
Itinerary + Route
Leave early morning from Hyderabad and you should be in Bidar in less than two and a half hours. Just in time for when the Bidar Fort opens and is relatively less crowded.
Right in the heart of town are the two famous landmarks – Chaubara and Madrasa Mahmud Gawan. Visit these next, after the Bidar Fort.
A few minutes from here onChaubara Road are stores selling Bidriware. One can make a quick stop for souvenirs.
While on the road back to Hyderabad, one can visit the Gurudwara Nanak Jhira Sahib or even takea short detour to the Jharani Narasimha Swamy Cave Temple.
From the ORR, take the NH65 till Zaheerabad and then head right.
Pit Stop
Famous Tea Point near Sangareddy. This little dhaba claims to serve the best tasting Chai in the area, so much so that you will see cars parked all along the highway. So if you are craving some good old Irani Chai, you could make road trip just to and back from here!
Let two people interested in Photography come together and the conversation immediately veers to what lenses one has, which camera body one uses and so on and so forth!
So, for all those who wanted to know what gear I use, here it is.
This is what’s in my camera bag.
Camera
Nikon D810
My first DSLR was a DX, Nikon D7100 (18-105mm) DSLR Kit. It was feature loaded for its time and still is amongst one of Nikon’s bestsellers. & then sometime last year as I was shooting a night wedding, outdoors in a low light setting (totally out of my depth here) it suddenly stuck me that it was time for a Full Frame.
Bigger Sensor = More Information Captured = Better Image Quality
That is when I got my Nikon D810 Body.
& now even my time lapses come upload-ready. ?
*I would recommend that you only upgrade when you know you have outgrown your current system. I had used my D7100 for a full three years under different conditions to know exactly I was looking for.
Now that I was upgrading and I pretty much knew what kind of photography I enjoyed the most, I decided not to get the kit lens and opted for this lens instead.
It is a brilliant choice for shooting architecture.
I am not a “digital nomad” and I only do a few big trips a year. What I do though, is to go on a whole lot of road trips, hunting down ruins, temples, forts et al. And, this lens not only gets in a lot more of that into the frame but it also gives you wonderful depth when shooting with clouds as a backdrop.
So for those days, which is most of the time, this lens is the only lens I carry.
The last lens I got myself was the 24-70mm as my ‘alternate primary lens’. Now, whatever that means!
Here is why.
The 16-35mm is still my primary but when it comes to good old landscapes it is a bit limiting. For you cannot really play around with your composition where landscapes stretch away infinitely in to horizon. (Read mountains, deserts..)
Also there are trips where I can only carry one lens and then there are those where I can take along all my lenses but the conditions are such that it gets tough to change them too often. For instance, shooting winter landscapes in the subzero tempertures of the Himalayas.
It has in fact become my go-to lens and it rounds out my camera system perfectly.
This one is a work horse and is probably one of the most loved Nikon lenses ever. And, rightly so. I use it for just about anything from Bird Photography to Portraiture.
Got this one even before I got my D810 and it works just as good on a DX body.
This basic Benro tripod is the one that I have always used.
An inexpensive aluminium tripod like this is perfectly good for most kinds of photography unless you intend to use it in difficult terrains. Besides you wont feel irresponsible for sending it off in check-in baggage!! ?
Because a sturdy, carbon fibre tripod can be used even in rough weather. For, it isn’t recommended to handle aluminium tripod legs without gloves in sub zero temperatures, also aluminium tripods are not sturdy enough in strong winds. Plus, this one is compact and lightweight too, making it ideal for Travel Photography.
& yes, it fits perfectly in the side pocket of my camera bag.
Saves me the worry on those long trips entirely dedicated to photography. Also, it is safer to divide your memory into smaller units rather than risk putting all your photos and videos on one large memory card.
I can never have enough of Hard Disks shooting RAW!
Spare Batteries
Nikon EN-EL15 for my D810. Extreme weather conditions, far out places lacking access to electricity call for these.
Lens Cleaning Kit
I have a basic Photron Lens Cleaning Kit but if don’t mind splurging a little then I would say go whole hog with the Zeiss Lens Cleaning Kit. Besides being Zeiss, this one comes with a cleaning brush and a little pouch to carry it all in. Because, I know we all love our cameras and photography is one hobby that once you are in, you just cannot seem to stop coveting the brands or forever adding to the wishlist.
Camera Rain Cover
The Neewer Camera Rain Cover is the one accessory that I can not stop raving about! I have always just used my camera bag’s rain cover whenever I found myself stuck in a downpour while out shooting and had never really felt the need for this. And, then I got this camera rain cover as a gift and it was only after I used it in the Goa Monsoon, that I realised how much I loved it.
Well, it is more of an essential rather than an extra. But yes, I use it for my Food Photography, Flatlays and whenever I want to quickly freeze a travel memory. That way I dont lose out on a moment looking for the right lens and I can still get a sweet enough background blur with the dual cameras on the iPhone 7 Plus.
Those were his first words to me as we met at a dhaba along the road to Pushkar. He had left early from his home in Delhi, while I joined in from Jaipur later. This is where I met the entire group that I was to spend the next few days with, shooting at The Pushkar Mela. Eleven Photographers, the crew from Creative Image Magazine and him, the Father of Indian Photo Journalism.
Here is a quick look at what he taught us:
No static images
No pretty pictures please.
Wait a minute. Perceive & Receive.
Capture a moment. Stop thinking.
Action
Tension
Continuity
Intensity
Resonance of forms
And, the oft-heard refrain that has come to be his legacy to me – “not enough”.
Every time I would read or hear people say how we need a human element for scale I never was convinced but after the life changing five days with Mr. Raghu Rai at the Pushkar Fair, I learnt to see through pictures. See what adds that spark of life to a photograph.
Though I might not always to be able to take a photograph that has action in every inch of the frame, interaction and an intensity of emotion and expression in every face. I do now try to incorporate at least a tiny gesture, some form of action – interaction and for lack of a better word the precious ‘human element’ in my images.
The pictures that I took while walking in the alleyways of Old Udaipur in 2016 today seem so much more interesting. The motion blur that seemed flawed then adds movement and fluidity today. The people dotting the scene who were then a crowd today narrate a story, a life paused as the shutter of my camera closed.
Thank you sir, for changing my entire perspective. I haven’t just learnt crafting images but also how to see and understand them. What I knew and understood of photography before you, now, seems nothing.
An indelible image now. It will always stand for Pushkar Ji with Raghu Rai for me. Incidentally, this was also the first image that I made alongside this brilliant master of photo journalism.
& these here are the rest of the images that got a nod.
CGH Earth has two properties in Pondicherry – Maison Perumal in the Tamil Quarter and Palais de Mahe in the French Quarter just off the famous Pondicherry promenade. We split our time in Pondicherry in two parts – two days in the Tamil Quarter and two in the French, and stayed at both of these boutique hotels. One a restored Tamil home, another a recreation of a French home.
Definitely amongst the most charming of boutique hotels in Pondicherry, Maison Perumal is the one hotel there that I haven’t had enough of. Just as much as I can never tire off being in Pondicherry, I can’t think of not wanting to go back to this beautiful heritage home.
Maison Perumal Review: Past Perfect in Pondicherry
Location
????????
Restored by INTACH, this heritage building in the Tamil Quarter of Pondicherry was once – nearly three hundred years ago – a Chettiar mansion in the affluent neighbourhood around the temple. Maison Perumal is located right at the heart of the bustling side of Pondicherry, where the locals go about busily attending to their day’s work away from the precise boulevards of the French Quarter where most of the tourists restrict themselves to. It is the perfect location for those wanting to get a glimpse into the local Tamil way of life and still be able to get back to the promenade and its chic cafes and boutiques on a whim.
Design
??????????
From the redoxide flooring to the typical colonial Indian wooden furniture, Maison Perumal, transported me straight back to my grandparents hundred and eighty year old house in Visakhapatnam and I happily walked straight back to those summer holidays of my childhood. This beautiful house is tastefully done up in furtniture and accents that are are alive with detail. And, the sunlight that filters in through stained glass windows only adds dimension to this heritage home sequestered away in the colourful lanes of the Tamil quarter.
Our Room
????????
Quietly elegant, the rooms are furnished keeping with the Franco-Tamil character of this property and this corner of India that is Pondicherry.
Restaurant + Food
??????
The smell of cooked fish that wafted from the kitchen clung stubbornly to all that came out of the kitchen. So much so that I couldn’t gulp down more than a sip of my fresh watermelon juice the first night we were there. Making the one restaurant in the hotel, out of bounds for vegetarians, especially for those like me, who have been so all their life.
& NO, there is no room service.
But having said that, the food is delicious and is served hot and fresh by staff who are willing to whip up whatever it is that suits your preference. Like they did for us.
Service
??????????
We had checked into the hotel only late in the night, way past dinner time but the staff were so welcoming and helpful, they rustled up a quick vegetarian dinner for us by the time we were through checking-in. Not only did they suggest this themselves (we were too tired to even think of dinner!) but they did it happily too.
And, just for that they deserve a big thumbs up!
Convenience
????????
Wifi
Unlike most other hotels, wifi works well in the rooms too.
Drinking Water
Two litres of bottled water replenished daily.
Getting Out & About
The leafy lanes of the forgotten Tamil Quarter are shady, colourful and peppered with just the right amount beautiful old buildings. Add to that there is only the occasional tourist that wanders on to this side of the canal that divides Pondicherry into precise cultural quarters, there is much to explore right outside the Maison Perumal. The staff are also helpful enough to find you a “tuk-tuk” for those times when you aren’t just up for a walk and would rather head straight to the promenade or the more happening neighbourhood of Pondicherry.
Value for Money
????????
While Palais de Mahe, has the feel of a modern day hotel with all the amenities, Maison Perumal which is priced a little lower feels like an old lived in home, which is what it is. And, for those who love staying in heritage homes, Maison Perumal at around Rs.10,000 (150 USD) is good value.
My Take on Maison Perumal
Would I stay at Maison Perumal again? Most definitely, yes!
What did I love about Maison Perumal?
Genuinely helpful staff
Decor and Ambience
Courtyard Cafe
What did I hate about Maison Perumal?
Smell of sea food. But thats just a personal quirk. ?
My corner of the internet. My place on the planet. Where I share my love of travel with the world.
Who am I?
I am Neeharika Satyavada. I live in Hyderabad, India. & I love exploring.
I am, also, a full-time independent travel writer, an award winning photographer and the blogger here, behind, Map In My Pocket.
What is Map In My Pocket?
THEN. In 2015. (When it all started)
Exploring the forgotten ruins of Telangana, India for 52 Photowalks in 2016
If travelling is about exploring not just on the outside but within. For me, this blog is but a continuation of that exploration. That constant search to understand myself, express myself.
Through this blog if I am able to re-live those travels, give structure to my nostalgia and gain a sense of satisfaction from having ordered my thought and created something. And am able to bring inspiration. Even if it is just that one photo which made you want to pack your bags and go there, I would have achieved something.
So, here I am. Camera in hand & map in my pocket, forever ready to embark on that next journey.
psst..and, thats also how this blog got its name!
& NOW, In 2018.
In The Valley of Flowers after three days of road tripping and trekking through the Himalayas in the monsoon of 2017
Much has changed in these three years. Map In My Pocket has evolved. & so have I, along with it.
Today, on Map In My Pocket, I write comprehensive Travel Guides, Road Trip Itineraries, Destination Lists which include both mega monster lists like this one – Road Trip Guide: 56 Incredible Weekend Getaways from Hyderabad within 500 Kilometres or even quick city guides like this one here – 24 Hours in Jaipur. Because, I don’t want this blog to remain just a visual inspiration. I want for it to become a guide that you can bookmark and refer to when ever it is that inspiration hits you and you are ready to go.
But that does not mean I have given up on Travel Stories or Photography. How can I, for they are after all my first big love and what got me to start Map In My Pocket in the first place.
The things that I care about most and love writing about still remain the same.
With strangers who became friends. Enroute Tabo, Indian Himalayas in 2013.
No, I do not always travel solo. I usually travel with family, friends, groups or even that person that I accidentally met who shares my love of travel or photography.
Q. Do you do this full time?
Yes. I do now. But, I do not have the typical backstory of quitting my job to backpack around the globe. It was, in fact, my job as a Digital Strategist for a camera retailer that gave me the impetus to finally do what had been on my mind for as long as I could remember. So, when I started Map In My Pocket back in 2015, I was working full time. And, I still think it was the best way to start.
Q. How do you afford to Travel so much?
By the time I started this blog, I had already lived in Australia, Singapore and Dubai and travelled quite a bit there while pursuing my Masters. And, that I had already been into Photography for over two years helped with crafting my first travel stories for the blog. Later, after coming back to India, I started working and saved along the way to build my camera system and also travel. While doing this, I started Map In My Pocket and broke into freelance travel writing.
Last year, I quit my job and since then my main source of income has been from freelancing. I regularly contribute stories and images to Websites, Newspapers and Magazines – Lifestyle, In-flight and Corporate. Of which The Better India, Mint and Go Getter are a few.
I also make a little money from the blog, creating collaborative content for Brands and Tourism Boards that align with my interests and values. Like this piece here that I wrote for the Israel Ministry of Tourism.
BUT, all of this can only come together with finding the perfect balance of Work + Priorities + Splurge + Save!
Q. Are you a photographer, a travel writer or a blogger?
Can’t I be all?!
Q. What camera do you use?
I use a Nikon D810 with 16-35 mm & 24-70 mm Lenses. I also have a couple of other lenses and accessories that I use, but, not as often as these.
You can take a look at what’s in my camera bag, here.
Q. How many countries have you been to?
Honestly, I had never kept a track of this. Counting off UNESCO World Heritage Sites and my annual trips to The Himalayas was my thing. But, this is amongst one of the first few questions that I get asked every time I mention that I am (or am introduced as) a travel blogger.
So, that would be six countries – outside of India – of which, I have lived for a time in three.
For a complete (more or less!) list of where I’ve been, click here.
After two major setbacks – in both my professional and personal lives – in quick succession, I was left to ruminate, search, experiment. Exploring to find a way to bring my life back on track on my own terms and to then create a life of my choice. It was during this phase in my life that I decided to take that life changing trip to the Himalayas, back in 2013.
I was a cocooned and protected only child of doting parents. A life of travel as a career choice, wouldn’t have even occurred to me at that time. But, as with things that are meant to be, I found a photography group that was travelling to Lahaul & Spiti, a little known desert valley in the Himalayas (then) – the middle land between India and Tibet, got my then-bestfriend on board, convinced my parents to allow me to go on this journey of self exploration and discovery. And yes, also got my first DSLR. Unwittingly comitting myself to a new life. One of travel and photography, without the slightest idea as to where that would take me.
& since then, The Himalayas have had my heart. ??
Q. What’s your Travelling Style?
For me, it isn’t just about eating like a local (though that’s essential too). To truly experience a place, I believe, one also needs to understand its history, its heritage, its culture and most importantly its people. So, while I do like to not miss out on the touristy things, it is to going off the beaten track, exploring and discovering that I enjoy the most.
I BELIEVE TRAVEL, LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE THAT ONE TAKES UP IN LIFE, SHOULD BE DONE CONSCIOUSLY.
& as far as budgeting goes, I don’t like to confine myself to a particular style of travelling. Each destination calls for a journey that is unique unto itself. So if it is the Land of The Royals that I am headed to, then it is luxury all the way and if it is the Hippie Island of Virupapur Gadde, then I am all for renting that 200-rupees-a-night – mattress to spend the night under a star lit sky.
So, you will more often than not, find me hunting for and happily settled in, at…
Q. What are some of your favourite travel memories?
Clicking this picture of the Buddha in the Himalayas on my first big trip back in 2013 with my spanking new Nikon 7100 has to be my number one travel memory of all time.
Learning to Surf on the waves of the iconic Bondi Beach.
Kayaking with fellow bloggers (who are now friends) in Kerala.
Q. What has been your biggest moment since you started blogging?
Winning the Kerala Blog Express and representing India in their fifth season has to be my biggest achievement as blogger. But, what has been a bigger moment for me personally and even professionally since I started blogging is to shoot The Pushkar Fair, 2017 with Mr. Raghu Rai. Because, photography for me transitioned from simple love to serious business only once I started blogging and this blog in a way became the means to fulfilling my ambitions as a photographer too.
Q. Do you have a Travel Philosophy or a Manifesto?
Watching The Ganga go by. Haridwar, 2017.
Yes, of course!
To never stop exploring. To go near or far, from wherever I am. and, to go consciously.
I did not always know this of course or consciously apply it to my travels. But, this is something I came to realise, as I found ways to travel more. Travel while studying. Travel while working. Travel while being based at a place like Hyderabad – neither a hinterland in the lap of nature nor a glamorous cosmopolitan city smack in the middle of all things happening. While saving up to travel. While researching to find destinations, near and far.
Thank you for reading Map In My Pocket. ??
I do hope you will join me on this journey. & continue to enjoy the ride! ?
A hidden courtyard, swirling bougainvilleas dancing down in the breeze to carpet the floor, walls and doors adorned with graffiti that ranges from cute to edgy; the Artika Cafe Gallery in White Town, Pondicherry truly is a hidden gem.
Sequestered away behind a row of ordinary looking shops, this quiet and low key cafe is more of a local favourite than a tourist hotspot and probably the best French Cafe in Pondicherry. A couple of locals that we had met on our last trip to Pondicherry recommended Artika to us, after hearing of our experiences with the more popular “tourist favourites”. But as it is with cafes in Pondicherry (they are very particular about their timings and don’t usually stay open late or long!), I didn’t get a chance to go to Artika then. So, here I am now.
Artika Cafe Gallery, White Town, Pondicherry.
Ambience | Design + Crowd
?????
Courtyard Cafes have my heart anyway. But this one is a winner because it is artsy without trying too hard. Plus I really liked the abandoned and overrun kind of entrance into the cafe. Like you have stumbled upon something, though beautiful, is easy to miss.
I also loved the feel of the place. Relaxed. The crowd that it draws, seek it, for that too. It surely helps that Artika Cafe Gallery is more an offbeat favourite rather than a mainstream one!
Food
???
They have limited menus on certain days. On the day we were there they were out of both pesto and fries! So, I had croissants and cold coffee. But from whatever little we tried, the food was freshly made and tasted good. So, all in all the decent coffee and buttery croissants – though nothing exceptional – were good enough for me to want to go back.
Service | People + Hospitality
???
Not overtly friendly or over the top warm but welcoming enough for you to make yourself comfortable here at the cafe and even stay awhile. Ideal for those days when you just want to sit down, take it easy, maybe catch up with old friends.
Value for Money | Price + Experience
???
Mid Range cafe, you can get a main dish for less than Rs.300/-. So if it is just coffee and nibbles for two, except it to be around Rs.500/-. Definitely worth the experience.
Before Dubai became the glitzy capital of the famously fashionable that it is today, it was once an arid land of Bedouins. A semi-nomadic people who traversed the desert with their herds of camel and goat, eternally in search of oases that would sustain their agriculture. Everything from the famed dates and coffee of Dubai to the cultural amusements of today, like camel racing and hunting, trace their origins back to these nomads that had settled in the oases of Hatta and Al Aweer.
And the one thing that has remained a constant through the centuries in Dubai’s history is its trade. It was trade that brought Dubai its fame, paved the way for its later riches and even decided where the city itself would come into being. On the banks of a creek.
Take an abra, the traditional wooden boat on this very creek where Dubai’s story began; from Diera to Bur Dubai, from the new to the old.
To Al Bastakiya Quarter or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
History of Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood & Al Bastakiya
An Abra docked in the courtyard of Al Fahidi Fort, which houses The Dubai Museum today.
Built in the 1800s for settlers from the Bu Flasa tribe, when Dubai first became an independent political entity, the Al Fahidi area even today is home to the Ruler’s Court Mosque, the Al Fahidi Fort and the old residential houses.Only, these houses of the past have now been restored and converted to cafes and galleries, cool and quirky.
While this entire area in and around Al Fahidi is formally known as the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, the houses that were originally built by the traders from Bastak, Iran – and have now been restored – have come to be the Al Bastakiya Quarter.
Here, in Bastakiya, in the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, you can stroll through the lanes of history and be transported in time in those cobbled pathways, winding away between tightly packed buildings of ochre, the colour of the desert. These buildings are the Al Arish, the typical summer houses of the region, built with the signature wind tower made up of burlap pieces.
How to get to Bastakiya?
Along the winding walkways of Al Bastakiya
Al Bastakiya is just across the road from the Al Fahidi Fort (Dubai Museum), with its tell tale Abra docked in the courtyard. Walk down Al Fahidi street towards the creek keeping the fort to your left and you will come to Arabian Tea House. & sprawling complex housing this cafe is the Bastakiya Quarter.
Quiet and inconspicuous in the otherwise bustling Al Fahidi, the bazaar where local Indians flock to, this complex that is Bastakiya holds a myriad of interesting restored buildings for culture buffs and the artistically inclined.
NOTE: If you are taking a cab then Dubai Museum, Al Fahidi should do the trick. Otherwise simply take the Metro to the Al Fahidi Station and from there it is a 7-10 minutes walk.
What to See & Do in Bastakiya?
From galleries that double up as boutique hotels with just the few rooms to rent out, to those that bring together the specially abled to unleash their creative potential, every gallery here is also a café. There is much to discover here and one can easily spend the day just wandering through the maze of buildings and leafy boulevards, never knowing just what one might stumble upon next.
It is also in these very walkways that the aptly named, Dubai Art Fair, Sikka (Arabic for alleyway) happens every year around March.
Art Galleries
Art everywhere at Mawaheb, from the courtyard outside the villa to the terrace upstairs.
In the traditional Arabian villas of Bastakiya, there are many art galleries from the old and established ones like The Majilis Gallery to the newer, trendier ones like the XVA Gallery.There is also theMawaheb, From Beautiful People Art Studio where art in both its artistic and functional interpretations is created by beautiful people indeed. For here people with special needs – ‘the determined ones‘ as they are now known since the directive by His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Ruler of Dubai – predominantly young adults, come together to discover and voice their creative ideas.
Museums
Inside the Coffee Museum
If it is a Coffee Museum or a Coin Museum now, it could be a Philately House next, which in great detail traces the evolution of postal stamps and postmarks from the Middle East. Or even a museum dedicated just to the local architecture and its restoration.
Cafés
The Cafe in the courtyard of XVA Gallery and Art Hotel
Arabian Tea Houseright next to the entrance to Al Bastakiya is like a landmark here. Easy to spot, the traditional Arab vibe draws you in; right from the crowded carpets that welcome you in through the low roof to the whiff of the typical Emirati breakfast tray of hummus and bread being prepared. And, as you begin walking in through the sikkas of the Bastakiya Quarter, the first vibrant place to greet you is the Make Art Cafe. Originally developed as a co-working space in another part of Dubai, it has since been reinvented as an Art Cafe here in Bastakiya. Then there are also the art galleries that brew just as good a coffee as they dish up art, like the XVA Gallery, Art Hotel & Cafeand theMawaheb, From Beautiful People Art Studio.
Restaurants
For a sumptuous spread of Middle Eastern fare, end the day at Bastakiya Nights, in one of the many courtyards of Bastakiya facing the Dubai Creek. This place comes alive at night and transforms the Bastakiya Quarter into a romantic setting straight out of somewhere in the middle of the desert.
Sheikh Mohammed Centre of Cultural Understanding (SMCCU)
Looking into the Diwan Mosque (Rulers Court Mosque) in Al Bastakiya, by the Dubai Creek
Also in the Bastakiya quarter is the Sheikh Mohammed Centre of Cultural Understanding. Where one can wind down at the end of a day of walking, with a dose of culture served up with a side of delicious Arabic coffee and dates. Or those looking for a more leisurely deep dive into the Emirati culture can indulge in a local style breakfast or lunch here on prior appointment.
To book your cultural meal at SMCCU, Al Bastakiya: Click here.
NOTE: One can also club the cultural immersion program at SMCCU with a heritage walk and a visit to theDiwan Mosque or the Rulers Court Mosque. Visits to the Diwan Mosque along with a walking tour of Bastakiya are conducted on Tuesdays & Thursdays at 10:30 AM and on Saturdays & Sundays at 9AM, all around the year except during the holy month of Ramadan. This tour is for about 90 minutes.
Where to Stay in Bastakiya?
Orient Guest House
Hidden in one of the leafy corners of the Bastakiya alleyways, is a traditional two storey Arabian villa, complete with a Majlis (public meeting) lounge that is the tranquil Orient Guest House. The local style rooms in this boutique hotel are also easy on the pocket!
XVA Gallery, Art Hotel & Cafe
The XVA Hotel with its many courtyards and wind towers is the idyllic retreat for creators and artists looking for a restful haven. The café with its award winning vegetarian menu and the art on display in the corridors of this Persian home only add to the mood.
You can also choose to stay in Bur Dubai, a bustling residential and commercial neighbourhood minutes from Bastakiya.
Explorers Guide
Entrance Fee: Free. There is no fee to go into the Bastakiya Quarter, to wander through its alleyways or to explore any of its museums even.
Timings: The Art Galleries and Museums are open from 10AM to 6 PM. Most of the cafes are open right from 7AM (like the XVA Cafe) to 10PM (like the Arabian Tea House).
Nearby Places of Interest: Dubai Museum in Al Fahidi Fort
The Souks – Gold, Spice & Perfume
Al Shindagha Historic Neighbourhood
Literally translated to mean the land of coconuts, Kerala with its signature houseboats and swaying coconut trees along the Arabian shoreline is a great destination to begin exploring and unravelling the tropical paradise that is India.
The Legend of Kerala
Legend has it that Kerala was reclaimed from the ocean in the Tretayuga by Parasurama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and the sixth of the dasaavataaras. It is said that he threw his battle axe into the sea from what is today Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of India. And the land that lay submerged between there to today’s Gokarna was retrieved. This ‘Land of Parasurama’ is now the South Indian state of Kerala.
& If only the marine fossils found in Kottayam could bear witness to this legend.
Mythology aside, Kerala has always held an important place in world history. Infact, it is this Spice Garden of India that was once the busiest of ports on the world trade routes. And, it was here that Vasco da Gama landed back in 1498, opening the floodgates of global imperialism.
Where is Kerala?
Nestled between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, along the western coastline of India, at its southernmost tip, lies Kerala. A narrow stretch of land, networked by over forty four rivers, this geographically diverse land has truly been blessed. For here you will find Mother Nature has been boundless in her abundance.
Why should you visit Kerala?
A Kettuvallam or a Houseboat in the backwaters of Kumarakom
From countless golden beaches and verdant hill stations to lush plantations of tea and spices. Kerala has an unmatched appeal in being able to cater to every kind of traveller.
There is a destination both offbeat and popular in Kerala to gratify everyone, from the adventure seeker to the romantic soul. Be it hiking trails, water sports, Ayurvedic retreats or even a hippie corner for the artsy ones, Kerala has an option.
Not to forget Kerala’s most compelling draw, its network of beautiful backwaters.
How to get to Kerala?
One can get to Kerala either from Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) which is the state capital or from Kochi (Cochin); both, important cities with international airports. Kozhikode (Calicut) also has an international airport and can be a good starting point if one wishes to explore the Malabar Region.
I however flew into Thiruvananthapuram and left from Kochi, exploring the state from the touristy South to the offbeat North.
What is the best time to visit Kerala?
Winter is typically the best season to visit Kerala, for the weather is cooler and generally pleasant. So plan your trip between October to January.
If you want to avoid the crowds and rather visit the state off season, then a Monsoon trip between the months of July and September would be a good idea. And, if the lure of the monsoon clouds isn’t enough then there are the roaring waterfalls and the crashing waves to induce you to make a trip to Kerala in the monsoons. Besides, colours in India always look fresher and brighter after the rains. Making the luxuriant green of Kerala, a perfect setting to slow down. Monsoons are also the ideal time for Ayurvedic treatments, as it is the most conducive time for natural bodily healing.
Summers are extremely hot and humid. Definitely not the time to visit Kerala!
Where to stay in Kerala?
KTDC Hotels & Resorts
A view of Kovalam Beach from KTDC Samudra
From resorts right on the beach to those located inside wildlife sanctuaries, there are over twenty seven KTDC properties, owned and run by the State Government across Kerala. We stayed at two – KTDC Mascot in Thiruvananthapuram and KTDC Tea Countyin Munnar and spent an afternoon at two – KTDC Samudrain Kovalam and KTDC Bolgatty Palace & Island Resortin Kochi.
I can say they were all beautiful, well maintained properties with a good spread of food for both vegetarians and non vegetarians.
To find or book a Government run property in Kerala: Click here.
With a destination as diverse as Kerala, when planning a holiday here, one can choose between a variety of resorts in different locations, depending on where one is headed to.
Beach Resorts: Be it something as popular and accessible as the Kovalam Beach or something as secluded and pristine as the Nattika Beach, there are atleast a few Beach Resorts in every village, town or city that boasts of a beach.
Backwater Resorts: From the tranquil backwaters of Alappuzha to the shores of the Vembanad Lake in Kumarkom, Backwater Resorts offering panoramic vistas of the picturesque waterscapes dot the canal banks of Kerala. Pick a backwater destination and let a houseboat take you there, effectively splitting your time between land and water.
Plantation Resorts: In the mist laden, spice scented hill stations of Kerala, are acres and acres of plantations from coffee to cardamom, from tea to vanilla. You can find a Plantation Resort that appeals to you in any part of Kerala. Munnar, Wayanad and Thekkady being the popular choices.
In the two weeks on the road in Kerala, abroad the Kerala Blog Express, I stayed at or visited & dined at more than thirty hotels and resorts in all. Of those, these are the resorts I would recommend:
Kanan Beach Resortin Nileshwar, Kasaragod and Ramada Resort Kochi in Kochi are my top two. The wooden cottages of Kanan Beach Resort, with their eclectic interiors and glass doors that open out to the sound of the ocean, are beyond gorgeous. While, for a resort in a bustling city, no one can do better than the Ramada Resort Kochi. It is a sprawling property with all the amenities of a modern business hotel on the inside and quaint red roofed cottages in the local style on the outside. Here too, you wake up to a beautiful dawn thanks to the meandering pool – punctuated with little wooden bridges – that passes by most cottages.
I would also recommend Vistara by The Lakein Wayand,and The Leaf in Munnar. Though both are great looking properties set in stunning locales, it is the people here who win you over with their warmth and efficiency.
Homestays in Kerala aren’t your typical intimate one bedroom cozy houses, though there are those too for the budget conscious traveller. Here, where it is said the homestay culture first came to flourish, there are eco conscious bungalows on 400 acre coffee estates even, for those who want an authentic experience while not having to let go off their creature comforts.
For a list of Kerala Tourism approved Homestays: Click here.
To explore Munnar Homestays: Click here.
Houseboats
One of the bedrooms in a Lakes & Lagoons Houseboat in Alappuzha
Think a Kerala holiday and houseboats are the first thing that come to mind! But to actually spend an afternoon doing nothing on a houseboat, for once to disconnect and just be, make for some magical afternoons.
The houseboats of today, were originally ‘rice boats’ used to ferry farm produce from the water-locked villages along the inland canals, before the advent of roads and bridges that made it easy for the farmers to trade. Kettuvallams, as these traditional country crafts are locally known, go upto over 60 feet in length and come equipped with everything that a home would need – bedrooms, bathrooms, a kitchen, a dining and lounge area even.
To stay, at least a day, on a Houseboat is surely a not to be missed ‘Kerala Experience‘.
For a list of Kerala Tourism approved Houseboat Operators: Click here I stayed on a Lakes & Lagoons Houseboat.The houseboat itself was comfortable and clean and the freshly made food was served hot and delicious.
Ayurvedic Retreats
On the grounds of Kaddapurram Beach Resort & Ayurvedic Centre, Nattika Beach, Thrissur
Ayurveda, the Science of Life is an ancient Vedic philosophy and one of the oldest holistic healing systems in the world that works on bodily balance through the harmony of the mind, body and soul. And, Kerala is the one place where it has thrived over centuries and generations of Ashtavaidyas, even as mainstream medicine gained wide spread acceptance across the rest of the country. This alternative form of medicine has today evolved to become an everyday wellness system.
From therapeutic treatments to rejuvenation programmes, Ayurveda is easily accessible in Kerala and is offered across a variety of Ayurvedic Retreats that can go from a simple city based Ayurvedic Hospital to an upmarket secluded beach resort.
For a list of Kerala Tourism approved Ayurvedic Retreats: Click here
What are the Top Things To Do in Kerala?
Beach Hop
Marari Beach
With a six hundred kilometre coastline that stretches along almost the entire length of the State, Kerala is dotted with numerous golden beaches. From famous white sandy beaches to fishing hamlets, from sun kissed isolated beaches to coconut groves, from historic beaches to boatbuilding yards; every beach is distinctive and singular. You will be spoilt for choice with the Kerala Beaches.
Take a walk down the Kappad Beach in Kozhikode, where Vasco da Gama first landed over five hundred years ago or watch the Olive Ridley turtles come out to play from their nesting ground that is the Payyoli Beach, also in Kozhikode. Or just go from one popular beach to the next, from Kovalam to Varkala, from Marari to Fort Kochi.
Get Outdoors for Adventure
Rappelling in Wayanad
Wayand’s terrain calls you to get outdoors. Dominated by the Western Ghats, this wilderness world is accessible only by road and just getting there is an off-roading experience in itself. From rappelling to trekking through jungle trails that lead you on to neolithic caves there is much to explore here. Not to mention the wild life, valleys, waterfalls and islands that dot the landscape. We even tried our hand at bamboo rafting in a setting straight out of Jurassic World!
You can book your Wayanad Outdoor Adventure with Muddy Boots. They organised a day trip for us.
Indulge in Water Sports
Taking a break while Kayaking in Dharmadam, Kannur
With so many beaches in Kerala, that go from crowded to secluded in a heartbeat, there is no dearth of finding a beach or a water sport that appeals to you. We went Kayaking from the Dharamadam Island and rode a Quad Bike on Asia’s longest drive in beach. Both among the unspoilt and quieter beaches of North Kerala, in Kannur.
We also got to go on a speedboat at first light in Kumarakom and chanced upon local fishermen out on the waters with their first catch of the day.
Other water sports that one can indulge in, here, in different parts of Kerala, are canoeing, sailing, waterskiing, white water rafting and wind surfing. The best beaches for adventure are the Muzhappilangad, Varkala and Kovalam beaches.
Cruise on The Backwaters
On a houseboat in Alappuzha
Forty four rivers that drain into the Arabian Sea, join with thirty four meandering inland lakes that are networked by innumerable canals, to bring to Kerala, its nine hundred kilometres of emerald green waterways that are the backwaters.
An experience unique to the state, floating by in a traditional wooden country craft on the languid backwaters is like no other. Cruise past lively little villages sheltered in the swaying coconut trees and the golden green paddy fields; as you laze under the afternoon sun, sipping a lemonade, book in hand.
While the eight hour trip from Kollam to Alappuzha is the longest backwater cruise in Kerala and the most popular, the Valiyaparamba route from Kasaragod to Kannur is the less crowded alternative.
“Time is rather abstract in Fort Kochi”, proclaims the Kerala Tourism website and I couldn’t have described Fort Kochi better!
Artistic, quirky, colourful, that is Fort Kochi for you. It is here that you will find those iconic Chinese fishing nets – that have come to be synonymous with Kochi and Kerala itself – lined up against the setting sun. Steeped in history and culture, it was here that the illustrious explorer Vasco da Gama was originally buried. In the oldest European Church in the country. Need I say more?
The historic locales of Fort Kochi are also the main venue for the artists led Kochi-Muziris Beinnale.
Check out the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, the fourth edition of which is set to happen from 12th December 2018 to 29th March 2019.
Catch a Temple Festival or Stumble upon one!
Townspeople heading to a local Temple Festival in the village of Vechoor
From the grand festivals of major temples to the small ones of local village temples, ‘Temple Festivals of Kerala’ are a visual spectacle. They are an assault on your senses. It isn’t just about the majestic elephants, caparisoned and golden, or the riot of colours or the crowds and the chaos. It is, maybe, a strange alchemy. Of religious fervour and childlike amazement at the spectacular show that is put on annually, in every corner of the state. Whatever it is, you get carried away and it is an experience like no other.
In Kerala there are both kinds of temple festivals, with and with out elephants. I have witnessed both.
NOTE: There has been, a now long drawn debate on how ethical it is to have elephants in a temple festival – whether they are treated well, if they are subjected to inhumane control. It is true, that, they are chained. But, it is also true, that every child in Kerala hero worships his favourite elephant, knows all their names and eagerly waits to cheer for his favourite to be the star of the upcoming Pooram.
I love elephants, but I also respect tradition. I am sorry, but, this is still an unresolved conflict in my head. If you have any insights on this with enough facts to back them, please do let me know in the comments at the end of this post. Any healthy discussion towards understanding the issue better is wholeheartedly welcome.
Delight in The Classical Performing Arts
Archa, a local dancer performing Mohiniyattam in Kumarakom
Kerala is home to some of the oldest classical arts. From dance dramas and temple rituals that are counted amongst UNESCO’s Intangible Heritage of Humanity to ritualistic folk and intense martial arts even. Elaborate costumes, painted masks, vivid facial makeup that add to the fierce expressiveness of the performers and graceful movements characterise almost all of these performing arts.
So, when in Kerala, enjoying a classical art performance – be it the popular Kathakali and Mohiniyattam or the lesser known Kalaripayattu or Theyyam – is yet another ‘Kerala Experience’ not to be missed.
Mohiniyattam, the more feminine of the two traditional dance forms of Kerala, traces its origins back to Mohini, the mythical enchantress who was none other than the Lord Vishnu come to vanquish the demon Bhasmasura in a dance off.
Interestingly, it is also in Kerala that the son of Lords Shiva and Vishnu (as Mohini), Ayappan is revered and the famous Sabarimala Temple – that draws one of the world’s largest annual pilgrimages – dedicated to him is located. Nestled deep in the hills of the Periyar Tiger Reserve.
Home to the ancient Vedic medicine of Ayurveda, Kerala is the one place in the world that you cannot miss out on experiencing Ayurveda as a wellness programme at the very least, if not as a curative medical treatment.
From a simple foot massage to the famous Shirodhara, it is easy here, to find a restorative Ayurvedic experience that fits your needs.
North Kerala Vs South Kerala
North Kerala, from the Malabar Coast to Kozhikode is a pristine stretch of virgin beaches untouched by tourism. This region recently made it to Lonely Planet’s list of Top 10 Travel Destinations in Asia and with a new International Airport all set to open its doors in Kannur, there couldn’t be a better time to explore North Kerala, before it quickly transforms from offbeat to mainstream. Besides the bigger cities of Kozhikode and Thrissur and the more widely known Wayanad and Bekal; there are Kannur and Kasaragod. North Kerala is where all the action is, from temple festivals and ritualistic performances to water sports, there is much to see and do.
While all the offbeat destinations are in North Kerala, if you do not want to miss out on the popular tourist circuit, then South Kerala it is. Alappuzha, Munnar, Kumarakom, Kovalam, Varkala, all the beaches, backwaters and hill stations are in the south.
So the distinction is clear and travellers often decide their itinerary based on this. Usually making two trips to Kerala to explore both its touristy side and the offbeat.
Suggested Itinerary for 2 Weeks in Kerala
This was the itinerary for our 15 Day Road Trip aboard The Kerala Blog Express Season 5. Though some of the popular tourist destinations are not included in this itinerary, we did manage to cover the entire length of the state and also explored both North and South Kerala.
Day 1: Fly into Thiruvananthapuram | Explore ? Drive to Kovalam
Drive Time: 40 minutes. Kovalam is 20 kilometres from Thiruvananthapuram.
Kuthiramalika Palace in Thiruvananthapuram
Kuthiramalika Palace in Thiruvananthapuram was the first stop on our two week road trip across Kerala. It sure set the tone as to what to expect along the way, accompanying us as our bus traversed over one thousand six hundred kilometres – beautiful redbrick houses hidden in verdant banana trees and swaying coconut palms.
Explore, See, Do in Thiruvananthapuram
Kuthiramalika Palace
Located just outside the Ananta Padmanabha Swamy Temple, the Kuthiramalika Palace or the Horse Palace, was built by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Balarama Varma, the Maharaja of Travancore in the traditional architectural style of Travancore. It is infact the exquisite wooden carvings of the horses on the facade that give this dark wood palace its name.
Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple
A Divya Desam, the Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple is one of the hundred and eight principal centres of worship dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Unlike other temples in Kerala, this is built in the Dravidian style of architecture, with a towering gopuram that is the signature feature of a typical South Indian temple. But, what is distinctive about this temple is that the presiding deity, Padmanabha Swamy, is manifest in the Anantha Sayanam Posture, meaning, that the Lord Vishnu is reclining on the serpent Anantha in yoga-nidra or eternal sleep.
The Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple suddenly shot into limelight when under the orders of the Supreme Court of India, five of its six secret chambers were opened in 2011 and the temple’s untold riches were documented in mainstream media.
Did you know?
Thiruvananthapuram literally means town of the divine Anantha.
Yes, home to Anantha, the very snake on who resides Padmanabha Swamy, Lord of the richest temple in India, the Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple.
Explore, See, Do in Kovalam
Glistening waves and darkening shadows, Kovalam Beach
Kovalam Beach
Sunsets at Kerala’s most popular beach fringed with swaying coconut palms are a glorious riot of colours. And, there are three beaches – separated by rocky outcrops on the main beach of Kovalam – to choose from; Lighthouse Beach, Eve’s or Howah Beach and Ashok Beach.
Day 2: Drive to Kollam ? Take a Houseboat to Alappuzha
Drive Time: 1 Hour 20 Minutes. Kollam is 65 kilometres from Thiruvananthapuram.
The emerald green backwaters of Alappuzha
Explore, See, Do in Alappuzha
Life on a Houseboat
We spent an afternoon and a night on a houseboat going from Kollam to Alappuzha. A magical afternoon of gliding on the briny backwaters watching the villages go by, as they stirred to life, with villagers coming out to do their daily chores by the water in the fading afternoon light.
Pit Stop: Kollam
A view of the Kollam Beach with the play area opposite
After a traditional Kerala breakfast of Ada (rice parcels of coconut and jaggery steamed and served in banana leaves) on the houseboat, we drove to one of the villages by the banks of the Kumarakom Backwaters.
Experience Village Life at Kumarakom
The Kerala government has partnered with local bodies in the popular tourist regions of Kerala, to promote tourism responsibly and minimise the negative economic, environment and social impact of tourism. By participating in this Responsible Tourism Initiative, locals benefit from giving visiting tourists an authentic experience of understanding the daily lives and livelihood of the villagers.
To book your own ‘Village Life Experience at Kumarakom’: Click here.
Pit Stop: Marari Beach
Drive Time: 25 Minutes. Marari Beach is 15 kilometres from Alappuzha.
NOTE: We did not stay in Marari this day, but drove to CGH Earth Marari Beach Resort for Dinner from Fort Kochi on the last day. It is a beautiful property, the food is delicious and the service is just the right amount of helpful and friendly.
Overnight in Kumarakom **
Day 4: Drive to Muziris | Explore ? Drive to Kochi
Drive Time: 2 Hours. Muziris is 80 kilometres from Kumarakom Drive Time: 1 Hour. Kochi is 40 kilometres from Muziris.
Inside the Paravur Synagogue, Muziris
Explore, See, Do in Muziris
Paliam Kovilakam (Muziris Palace)
The Muziris Palace, originally the home of Paliathachans, Prime Ministers to the Kings of Kochi, became a significant part of history when a palliathachan hid his King here, during a time when the royal household was under threat from the Portuguese. Today, it is a history museum chronicling those times and events. With its elaborately carved wooden staircases in the traditional Dutch style and the red tiled roof of a typical Kerala house, the Paliam Kovilakam is a beautiful building hidden in the leafy walkways of Chendamangalam in Muziris.
Paravur Synagogue (Jewish Synagogue)
Popularly known as the Jewish Synagogue, the Paravur Synagogue though no longer an active place of worship has been converted to a Kerala Jews History Museum that is open to public during the day. While the present day structure was built only four hundred year ago, it is believed that there was an older synagogue in its place, dated to be from the 12th century, on the ruins of which this was built.
To plan your visit to the Muziris Heritage Project: Click here.
Overnight in Kochi**
Day 5 & 6: Drive to Munnar | Stay & Explore
Drive Time: 3 Hours 15 Minutes. Munnar is 130 kilometres from Kochi.
Explore, See, Do in Munnar
The Tea Plantations of Munnar
Tea Plantations & Tea Pickers
Lose yourself in the manicured hedges of the resplendent tea gardens. Meet the tea pickers, the smiling ladies with the delicate fingers.
Lockhart Tea Factory Tour
The only working tea factory in Munnar open to public, the Lockhart Tea Factory offer guided tours that take you through the hundred and sixty year old factory to watch and understand first hand how tea is processed.
You can book your day tour in Munnar with Route 49 Adventures. They organised the plantation and factory tour for us.
Munnar Market
Walk around the charming hill station, shop for home made chocolates. Chat with the locals, take back souvenirs and travel stories.
Drive Time: 3 Hours 45 Minutes. Thrissur is 160 kilometres from Munnar.
Explore, See, Do in Thrissur
Thrissur Pooram
Thrissur Pooram
Tracing its origins to as far back as over two hundred years ago, the Thrissur Pooram which is Kerala’s biggest and most prominent festival brings together ten local temples at the Vadakkunnathan Temple in the Malayalam month of Medam. All the deities arrive on elephant backs at the temple premises for stunning celebration that goes through the night.
Day 8: Explore Thrissur ? Drive to Kozhikode (via Nattika Beach)
Drive Time:2 Hours 45 Minutes. Kozhikode is 120 kilometres from Thrissur.
Inside the Vaidyaratnam Ayurveda Museum, Thrissur
Explore, See, Do in Thrissur
On our way out of Thrissur, the day after the Thrissur Pooram, we made a quick stop at this museum housed in a beautiful two storeyed traditional Kerala house.
Vaidyaratnam Ayurveda Museum
For those interested in knowing the five thousand year old legacy of Ayurveda The Vaidyaratnam Ayurveda Museum in Thrissur has interesting displays and presentations.
Pit Stop: Nattika Beach Drive Time: 40 Minutes. Nattika Beach is 25 kilometres from Thrissur.
Lazy afternoons on Nattika Beach, Thrissur
A little known fishing hamlet, Nattika Beach found itself on the tourist map of Kerala after being the location for a hit Malayalam Movie.
(Malayalam being the regional language spoken in the state.)
Day 9: Explore Kozhikode ? Drive to Wayanad (via Beypore)
Drive Time: 2 Hours. Wayanad is 85 kilometres from Kozhikode.
Murals depicting scenes from the book, Oru Theruvinte Katha in SM Street
Explore, See, Do in Kozhikode
CVN Kalari
Kalaripayattu, the fourth century martial art that is considered to be the fore runner to Kung Fu, is probably more akin to ballet, than just a form of self-defense, thanks to the performer’s graceful movements and intense facial expressions. But this classical Kerala art too is definitely worth a watch. And, probably even worth training in, for those wanting to achieve a sound mind in a sound body.
We were witness to a showcase match of Kalaripayattu at the CVN Kalari Training Centre.
SM Street + Parsi Temple
Sweet Meat Street or SM Street in short was once the busiest of food streets where the roads used to be lined with stalls of halwa (sweet meat for the British, who gave this street its name). It still is one of the busiest streets in Kozhikode owing to the plethora of the shop selling everything from boho clothes to sliver trinkets.
Minus the sweetmeat stalls, today, the most interesting features of SM Street are the delightful old Parsi temple hidden behind a nondescript gate and unruly foliage and the statue at its entrance. The statue is of SK Pottekkatt, who wrote the award winning Malayalam book, Oru Theruvinte Katha. The 1960 novel talks of life on the streets and is set in this very SM Street. Murals depicting scenes from the story line the cobbled pathways leading you into the celebrated SM Street.
Pit Stop: Beypore
Drive Time: 20 Minutes. Beypore is 10 kilometres from Kozhikode.
An uru in the making, Beypore
Go inside a Uru in Beypore and see master craftsmen at work, bringing to life this striking handcrafted teak wood trading vessel that traces its origins back to the Arabian Dhow.
Overnight in Wayanad**
Day 10: Explore Wayanad
Explore, See, Do in Wayanad
Waking up in the forests of Wayanad
Edakkal Caves
The very first pre historic drawings in India were discovered here in Eddakal. A kilometres trek takes you to the caves, where, distinct petroglyphs are found engraved into the cave walls.
Thovarimala Ezhuthapara Caves + Rappelling
Five kilometres from Edakkal, on Thovarimala, in yet another rock shelter, engravings probably dating back to 1000BC were discovered. Only recently. So, this area is yet to receive any kind of formal protection and/or conservation efforts. Which also means the Ezhuthapara Caves are relatively unknown.
This is where we hiked to, instead of going to the Eddakal Caves. You will not come across anyone else on this hike across plantations, grassy meadows and plateaus, even as you descend sharply to the cave.
We also did some Rappelling along the way, in Thovarimala itself.
Bamboo Rafting
Float along the River Vythiri, on a bamboo raft. Bird watch as you glide through a dense forest of green and you might just spot the famed Malabar Grey Hornbill, the most recognisable bird endemic to the Western Ghats. Once you reach mid river you can even try your hand at poling the raft forward. That, is what I did.
Drive Time: 3 Hours. Kannur is 120 kilometres from Wayanad.
Shimmery sunsets in Kannur
Pit Stop: Sargaalaya Arts & Crafts Village, Kozhikode
Drive Time: 3 Hours. Sargaalaya is 95 kilometres from Wayanad.
1 Hour 20 Minutes. Sargaalaya is 42 kilometres from Kozhikode.
Local artisans handcrafting bamboo chairs in the Sargaalaya Arts & Crafts Village
The Sargaalaya Arts & Crafts Village in Kozhikode brings together artisans from across Kerala under one roof. Here you can shop for traditional Kerala handicrafts.
NOTE: The Sargaalaya Arts & Crafts Villages on the route to Kannur from Wayanad is quite a detour. I wouldn’t recommend including this in the itinerary on this day. Visit the crafts village when in Kozhikode.
Overnight in Kannur **
Day 12: Explore Kannur ? Drive to Kasaragod
Drive Time: 2 Hours. Kasargod is 90 kilometres from Kannur.
Asia’s longest & Kerala’s only drive-in beach, Muzhappilangad Beach, Kannur
Explore, See, Do in Kannur
Kayaking at Dharmadam Island
Hemmed in by the Arabian Sea on one side and by the Anjarakandy river on the other three sides, Dharmadam Island is a great place to go kayaking. As you take the kayak into the waters you are hit by waves coming in from the sea, but once you cross the sand bars and the waves and reach the river, kayaking actually becomes a peaceful experience.
Kayaking here was one of my top Kerala Experiences. To kayak for over three hours, to chance upon a mangrove nest of bats and to even fall into the sea while pulling our kayak out of a sandbar, all of this make some great memories for a non swimmer like me!
Quad Biking at Muzhappilangad Beach
A four kilometre stretch of inviting white sand calls out to you when you reach Asia’s longest drive-in beach. Zooming along the water, uninterrupted, on a quad bike..well thats something. ?
And to come back to a shack fringed with coconut trees and cool down with water from fresh cut coconuts, is the perfect conclusion to a well ‘lived’ morning.
Payyambalam Beach
A local favourite, Payyambalam Beach is known for its laterite cliffs, expansive gardens and the sculptures there.
There is also the #KannurEye for the Instagram-mers on the beach.
St. Angelo’s Fort
This sea front fort constructed by the first Portuguese Viceroy of India, offers delightful harbour views. The chapel, remnants of a secret tunnel out to the sea and the waves crashing into the rocky edge of the fort are some of its interesting features.
Drive Time: 10 Hours. Kochi is 370 kilometres from Kasaragod.
* Fine tune the itinerary instead of adding an extra day. (We took a night train instead.)
Muthappan Theyyam at a village temple in Kasaragod
Explore, See, Do in Kasaragod
Cruise on the Valiyaparamba Backwaters
North Kerala’s answer to the South’s celebrated Alappuzha Backwaters, the Valiyaparamba Backwaters is a scenic setting too, to cruise on the backwaters of Kerala. Verdant islands of tall coconut trees, tranquil green waterways, luxurious houseboats, all make for a more offbeat houseboat experience here.
You can book your houseboat for a cruise on the Valiyaparamba Backwaters with The Lotus.
Witness Muthappan Theyyam
One of the oldest ritualistic forms of worship in Kerala, Theyyam is primarily performed in the village temples of North Kerala, particularly in the Kasargod and Kannur regions. The dance of Theyyam can take on many forms, there are as many as four hundred. What we were witness to is the Muthappan Theyyam, where the dance was an invocation of Muthappan, a popular local god.
Pit Stop: Bekal Fort Drive Time: 20 Minutes. Bekal Fort is 17 kilometres from Kasaragod.
Beach views from Bekal Fort
Overnight on The Malabar Express to Ernakulam.
Day 14: Explore Kochi
Chinese fishing nets of Fort Kochi against the setting sun
Explore, See, Do in Kochi
Shop at Broadway
One of the oldest shopping streets in Kochi, they say there isn’t anything you cannot find here at Broadway. This bustling two kilometre stretch of car free shopping alley has been around for over a century.
Bolgatty Island |Sunset Cruise from Bolgatty Palace
The Bolgatty Palace on this island is the perfect spot to spend an afternoon and catch the sunset cruise out towards the harbour mouth and Fort Kochi, like we did. This elegant dark wood palace with its painted ceilings and Roman columns is the oldest Dutch Palace outside Holland.
Ride the Kochi Metro
We took a short ride on the Kochi Metro. What catches your eye though on this whole journey are the stations, each of which is done up in a theme relevant to the local culture. So if it is the wildlife of Kerala in one, then there are murals of the state’s classical performing arts in the next. It is the first metro in the country to extensively use solar panels and also the first Government agency to officially employ transgenders.
Drive Time: 15 Minutes. Fort Kochi is 7 kilometres from Kochi.
St Francis Church in Fort Kochi where Vasco da Game was originally buried
Explore, See, Do in Fort Kochi
Jew Street
A personal favourite for great street finds (well, I found a whole lot of jewellery with elephants!), Jew Street is a great place to hunt for antiques and quaint little curios for your home.
Mattancherry Palace
Built by the Portuguese in 1555 for the King of Kochi, Raja Veera Kerala Varma as a gesture of good will, the Mattancherry Palace, today, serves as a portrait museum. Here you will find carefully preserved and displayed coronation robes of the erstwhile Maharajas of Kochi, their portraits, palanquins, ornate wooden cradles et al. But the most striking feature of the Mattancherry Palace are the exquisitely vivid murals that tell the story of the Ramayana and more in artistic detail.
St Francis Church
Vasco Da Gama rested here for fourteen years before his remains were returned to Portugal. You can see his gravestone towards the southern wall, as you sit down by the aisle inside the church. And yes, the St. Francis Church was built by the Portuguese friars over five hundred years ago making this India’s oldest European church.
Kerala Blog Express ended here and I flew out of Kochi the next morning.
* To fine tune the itinerary a little, I would suggest skipping Sargaalaya Arts & Crafts Village on Day 11, getting to Kannur early and spending the day there. Later, using this extra day to drive back to Kochi from Kasargod.
** In certain places I haven’t mentioned where to stay for the day. This is because I would not recommend those particular hotels – that I had stayed at – to my readers. Staying there was definitely not a pleasurable or a comfortable experience.
Planning your Kerala Itinerary & have some questions?
Feel free to let me know in the comments below and I will get back.
Modern yet with a personality that is all old school elegance, The Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty truly lives up to the Grand Hyatt’s motto of #livegrand.
Classy and understated, Grand Hyatt’s newest luxury hotel on the Bolgatty Island in Kerala’s port city of Kochi is set to open its doors on the 29th of this month.
Here is an exclusive sneak peek
The Presidential Suite & Others
Swanky.
Straight out of Gossip Girl, I could imagine living here in this super sumptuous condo style Presidential Suite while my penthouse in the city was being redone for the 100th time !!
This mini home that comes at a price tag of roughly a lakh of Indian rupees a night, definitely made for one of the most fun property tours I have been on.
There are four waterfront villas too that sit serenely away from the main building.
The standard rooms too are done up tastefully and offer beautiful panoramic views of the city and its backwaters. Thoughtfully designed furniture like the table that does double duty as a work desk and for in-room dining, only adds to the snugness.
The Colony Club & Its Wall of Whisky
The club is atmospheric and inviting. What with its dark wood panelling and gold trimmings, the plush velvet cushions and travel inspired vintage decor set against the backdrop of the tranquil Vembanad Lake.
The pièce de résistance of this old world gentleman’s club though is the Whisky Wall. Here is where members can store their whisky bottles for the future, to be reopened only for them.
I only rue not getting to watch the sunset from the rooftop sit out while sipping ona tall glass of super cold ice tea.
Food, Coffee & The Restaurants
Thai Soul
Hands down the best Thai Street Food I have ever had. Having been a vegetarian all my life I usually find it difficult to eat Thai Cuisine because of the lingering smell of sea food that literally kills my appetite. But here the vegetarian fare is so clean and delicious that not once was I uncomfortable or unsure about trying something new.
From the tangy raw papaya salad to the stir fried spicy noodle, the food was just the right amount of spicy and delectable with all the flavours distinctly enjoyable.
Also having the first taste of mango this season might have sweetened the experience just a little bit! ?
Malabar Cafe
That pretty blue ceramic serve ware. *sigh*
But yes the coffee was good too.
Clubhouse Grill
I Did not really get to try out anything at the Club House Grill, but from what we had elsewhere in the Hotel, I can vouch for it.
. It was feature loaded for its time and still is amongst one of Nikon’s bestsellers. & then sometime last year as I was shooting a night wedding, outdoors in a low light setting (totally out of my depth here) it suddenly stuck me that it was time for a Full Frame.
.
for my D810. Extreme weather conditions, far out places lacking access to electricity call for these.
+ 
