Kerala always holds the attention of tourists and holidaymakers because of its natural beauty and scenic backwaters. Filled with beautiful rivers, mountains, meadows, streams, valleys, and islands, it has a coastline of 1200 km.

As it is said: “Don’t listen to what they say, go see” you will have to visit Kerala for its mesmerizing beauty. And our next traveller is an assistant professor at KIIT School of Management, KIIT University who not only teaches the words but also acts upon them.

Assistant professor by career and a travel enthusiast by heart. He has his travel expeditions published in a variety of newspapers, travel magazines, web portals, and inflight magazines. Meet Sugato Tripathy from Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

Let’s travel along with the member of the International Travel Writers Alliance along with his wife and explore unseen Kerala!!

Day 1

Sugato and his wife flew from Bhubaneswar to Kochi via Bengaluru. Stayed at Taj Kumarakom Resort & Spa. The property is located on the banks of Lake Vembanad  (the longest lake in India) and also has a beautiful lagoon within its premises. 

Lake Vembanad is a major freshwater lake in Kerala. Situated in the Vembanad Lake Bird Sanctuary area, it is the 4th largest lake in the state. It is also a birdwatcher’s paradise with many endemic species.

Then, the couple had dinner at the Abad Whispering Palms.

Day 2

On a boat ride down the backwaters of Kerala, you get the feeling of being in something between a movie and an exotic vacation. And who wouldn’t want to be on a boat ride in Kerala?

Sugato opted for a beautiful boat ride which was complimentary in the Vembanad Lake, post breakfast and then, a traditional “chayakada” in the evening. For the newbies, chayakada also known as a tea shop is a scenic place for drinks where you can spend the evening amidst the paddy fields and enjoy.

Day 3

For the day Sugato drove to Munnar, which is famous for its tea gardens. While many people are aware of the lush green hills and vast tea gardens, they often don’t realize that Munnar is also home to many waterfalls. It is also famous as a “water lover’s paradise”.

On the way, they visited a spice garden although there are only quite a few on the road. One can buy authentic organic spices, tea, coffee, chocolate powder, ayurvedic oils, and much more. There are two beautiful waterfalls by the roadside. Cheeyappara waterfalls and Valara Waterfalls.

Talking about the beautiful Cheeyappara waterfalls. It is formed from the union of three branches of the river. On the other hand, The scenic beauty of Valara Waterfalls is well appreciated by nature lovers and devotees of spirituality alike. Amid the tea plantations and paddy fields, it stands majestically, the perfect setting for a visit. 

For the night they stayed at the Blanket Hotel and Spa. 

Day 4

Exploring Munnar is no easy task with so many destinations to cover. Sugato drove around Munnar amidst the resplendent lush tea gardens. These are well-known tourist attractions in Kerala, especially during the summer. The gardens are typically created through a series of terraces. 

The couple visited the Tea Museum by Kanna Devan Hills Company, an associate company of Tata Global. This tea museum, created by the company, is the first of its kind and allows visitors to experience the tea-making process firsthand.

Then they drove to the beautiful Lakkam Waterfalls. A wonderful example of nature’s magnificent work. The waterfall is located at a distance of about 10kms from the city of Cochin. It is created due to the extreme temperature difference between the freshwater of the river and the rainwater.

Day 5

As you know by now, Kerala has no shortage of splendid waterfalls. So, our travellers took a short morning walk to the Attukad Waterfall near the property and then, loitered in the lovely tea gardens for hours.

Attukad Waterfall is one of the highest waterfalls in Asia, at an altitude of about 1100 meters from the floor of the Kallada River. The waterfall is believed to be the source of a sacred river, the Kallada, that flows through Kerala.

Day 6

For the sixth day, Sugato drove to Taj Green Cove Resort & Spa Kovalam. It is surrounded by a lush tropical forest and has a natural pool set in the centre. Kovalam has some popular sea beaches in the area, as well as many small hotels, restaurants, and shops.

Day 7

Coming to the last day of a beautiful and refreshing journey. Sugato opted for boating in the backwaters. 

The backwaters are a vast network of inland rivers and canals that run deep into Kerala’s interior. They are navigable for several kilometres. It also runs into the sea near the island of Kannur and the northern tip of the state.

Today, people are travelling to Kerala to witness the beauty of nature and culture. You can enjoy the scenic beauty of Kerala, the warm hospitality of the people, and the excellent quality of food and services.

For more photos and videos, check out his Instagram page @lens_nirvana. 

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