Kerala is just about two colours , blue and green with its sublime backwaters, streams and acres of greenery. Well if want to be politically correct you can add the colour Red. And what makes a trip to Kerala enjoyable is the fact that , Kerala has got its tourism act together - the tourist is king here. No other Indian state provides as many facilities for tourists as does Kerala.
Our Best trip was to MUNNAR. A lovely getaway and a rendezvous with the natural world. The drive to Munnar is splendid with its fair share of blind corners and breathtaking views and the last 20 kilometres to Munnar takes you through splendid tea gardens. Munnar is all about tea , tea and more Tea, rolling oceans of green tea bushes, and if you are looking for a relaxing holiday , then Munnar will definitely be your cup of tea, the pun very much intended. The sight of hillsides covered with manicured tea plantations reaching out to the so-very-blue sky is a very soothing sight and highly relaxing, which is what vacation break should be.
Enroute to Munnar you can stop at Kumily. Kumily is a small and is best enjoyed if you stopover and explore it on foot. The little restaurants, tea stalls and quaint artefact shops will all be missed if you simply zoom past in your car. Kumily is the gateway to the famous Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary . We also had a great time cruising on a unhurried two-hour boat ride which takes sightseers down the river to view elephants and boars in their natural habitat, at the Sanctuary. The river around which is the game reserve is called the Periyar. The actual reserve, starting from the entry gate, is called Thekaddy. You can opt for the elephant ride but it is more for entertainment rather than any real wildlife viewing. If you are a real adventurous type you can spend the night in an observation tower or resthouse in the jungle to see wildlife. I cannot comment on this experience since we were not game enough to try.
Located at 1600 metres above sea level, Munnar is a very pleasant though you may require some warm clothing if you want to walk or trek early in the morning. As regards sightseeing there is the spot called the Top Station, which offers splendid views of the ghats. The kids enjoyed the visit to Rajamalai and the Eravikulam National Park, which houses the world’s rarest mountain goats - the Nilgiri Tahr. Also there is a lake where boating facilities are good and enjoyable.
What more can one ask for when you are one with nature , trekking, boatriding through lush greenery and sparkling waters , totally relaxed and never bored. If only one could afford it , both financially and social responsibility wise, you could stay there forever.