Kerala Unplugged
February 19th, 2004 | Published in Travel | 39 Comments
If you’re planning to visit the state in the near future, I’ve put together a few tips and pointers based on my recent trip. If I had the opportunity to spend a few more days, then I could have probably written a book :) But for now, here are a few suggestions. You can use what’s useful, and ignore the rest (as usual)!
- Unless you are planning to rough it out, plan in advance. Preferably get your hotel bookings beforehand too, since during the peak season, there are a lot of tourists! We found most of the hotels we’d short-listed full when we reached there.
- Nov-Feb is a nice time to visit. It is warm during the day, but cooler at night. The monsoons are avoidable for sightseeing, but the right time if you’re going for an ayurvedic treatment package. The damp rainy season is apparently the best for ayurveda.
- Because of the presence of a number of water bodies, mosquitoes abound in the state. Carry an insect repellant if mozzies like your blood!
- Be prepared for strikes in Kerala. Apparently they are a regular feature, like in West Bengal.
- Small resorts are comfortable, homely and the staff usually friendlier. We stayed at the Keraleeyam resort in Alleppey. We had some teething problems, but once settled in, I found the place quite comfortable. We also met a few of the other travellers during meals, in the patio, waiting to use the Internet! I got talking with a South African couple (of Indian origin) who invited me to their city (another one on my travel list now!). Larger resorts and posh places tend to be a little stiff and you are less likely to make acquaintances.
- Stay in a medium budget hotel (within 1K for 2) if you are planning to do a lot of sightseeing. If you are planning to chill out and enjoy life, then ones which offer more amenities would make sense. In Thekkady we stayed at Hotel Ambadi, which was reasonable (but pretty comfortable except for a strange smell outside!), compared to the more flashy/expensive resorts like Cardamon County, Spice Village, Taj Retreat etc. But, since we spent most of the day outside the hotel, it worked out well for us. Of course, if you’re on your honeymoon or have a lot of money to spend, then do indulge :)
- If you are on a package, make sure you get everything that’s included. We had quite a few problems with ours at Keraleeyam and though it was finally sorted out, we had to do quite a bit of negotiating! Also, extras like Internet access are not included. So make sure to ask before you spend hours before the computer. Steph thought Net access was free and was pretty annoyed when we were charged 75 bucks an hour at Keraleeyam.
- For a slightly more personalised experience, try homestays. Kerala is quite organised in terms of homestays and you can get a list from this site. They are usually comfortable and you are well taken care of. The food is cooked to order. And they also organise local sightseeing and are reasonably priced.
- State transport buses are frequent and towns seem well connected, but if you are travelling in a group of about 4, hiring a car to get around makes sense. At about 800‑1000 bucks a day, it is quite affordable when split. Most travel agents could organise hiring a car. Or you can contact Chaco Jose at Alleppey, who was very helpful and organised our transport. You can do a little bit of negotiating on the rates.
- A houseboat ride seems to be ‘the flavour’ of Kerala. The private ones will set you back by about 4-8K (a day and night). If you want a more reasonably priced one, you can try Kerala Tourism. Far Horizons India runs some comparitvely reasonable trips (2200 per night). Soma House Boats is another option and offers trips of different types. Meals are usually included.
- People around tourist areas and hotels are sometimes too friendly (and even over friendly). In Kumily, when we were walking outside our hotel, nearly every shop owner tried to coax us inside and asked us our name and where we came from. Either ignore them, or tell them you’re not interesting with a firm ‘no’. They are not as persistent as some other cities, but this I guess this is an annoying by-product of the town becoming a tourist hot-spot.
- Also, nearly everyone we met wanted to know our name, our city and if we wanted a massage (or a plantation visit or a houseboat side), exactly in that order depending upon the town we were in, so be prepared for that.
- Many tourist destinations (for example, Alleppey, Kumarakom, Kottayam) are all within a few kilometres distance from each other. A good idea is to make one your base and then do day trips to the other places by boat or road. We encountered quite a few scenic stretches by road.
- Carry a map of the state! It can be useful when traveling between cities.
- And of course, don’t forget to enjoy yourself while on the trip. You could be all worked up about the fact that the hotel guys did not get your orange juice the way you like it and miss the totally captivating sunset before you. I guess, as they say about traveling (like life), it’s not just about the destination, but the journey.
Mark Tully’s article in the Feb 2003 issue of Outlook Traveller points to an interesting quote by GK Chesterson, a 19th century writer: “The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land. It is at last to set foot on one’s country as a foreign land.”
The issue also has seven ‘incredible Indian journeys’ and if you like travel, don’t miss this issue.
![[Sunset at Fort Kochi]](http://www.anitabora.com/pix/feb2004/cochin.jpg)
The sun setting at Fort Kochi. Photograph taken with a Sony handycam.
Some highpoints from the trip:
- Watching motor/house boats, ferries, canoes passing by from a little perch in front of our lake front cottage in Alleppey. A totally lazy and relaxing way spend an afternoon.
- Catching a sunrise on the first morning. The sky was clear and it made for a beatiful sight as the sun rose over the coconut trees and the water.
- The cruise around the Vembanad and Poonamadu lakes early morning.
- Prawn masala at Keraleeyam. Yummy!
- Boat ride in the Periyar lake. Unfortunately no elephant sightings. But the ride gives you great view of the wildlife santuary. Early morning and evenings are the best time.
- Visit to the spice plantation in Thekkady. Now I know the Eugenia caryophyllus (clove) from the Pimento dioica (allspice)!
- The ride from Kumily to Kottayam to Cochin. It takes you through tea and coffee plantations, spice plantations and then descends to the plains through more water, rice fields and coconut trees.
- The sun setting at Fort Kochi. It looks like an enormous orange biscuit being dipped an immense cup of dark coffee. As the golden ball dipped against the foreground of the Chinese fishing nets, I almost caught my breath. A beautiful spectacle. Not to be missed!
February 20th, 2004 at 2:30 am (#)
Excellent travel-writing Anita — Kerala is top of my priority list for next trip to India. Thank you for such an fascinating and inspiring series of write-ups!
February 20th, 2004 at 11:24 am (#)
Jag: Hey, thanks a lot! (Now, if I could find a magazine to publish my stuff ;) You must definitely visit Kerala when you come to India. And its quite a romantic place. Not to forget a trip to Mumbai :)
February 20th, 2004 at 11:46 am (#)
I’ve been following yr travels in “God’s own country” — very good reporting, Anita! Coincidently, I’ve been dabbling in Keralite cuisine from a recipe book called “The new tates of India” by Das Sreedharan, he owns the Rasa chain of restaurants in London. I enjoy their stews and coconut based curries…simply delicious!!
February 20th, 2004 at 1:48 pm (#)
Ritu: That sounds good! I quite liked the veg stew and even tried my own version for dinner yesterday :) Is the book available in India? I might dabble in some Keralite cooking!
February 20th, 2004 at 4:42 pm (#)
wish i could write like you… so kerala it is when i marry!!
February 22nd, 2004 at 9:24 am (#)
Hi Anita,
Nice summary, well I just started wondering that you can actually watch Sun Rising also in Kerala, I used think its on the west coast and you can only watch a nice Sun Set. Good to know.
February 23rd, 2004 at 6:20 am (#)
Hello Anita, We missed Kerala on our trip in the fall/winter of 2003. So, I don’t know if I am more envious of you or more thankful to you. Thanks for the great info!
February 23rd, 2004 at 9:18 am (#)
Ranjan: That’s a good plan! Now if only you could find that woman fast :)
Ramdhan: You can definitely see the sun rise!
Arjun: You must do it on your next trip. All the more incentive for you to visit us again now :)
February 24th, 2004 at 12:50 pm (#)
Loved the write up.
Please buy a good cam quickly. I wanna see more of tour beautiful pix :) Loved this one…
February 24th, 2004 at 7:33 pm (#)
hey!,
this is an absolutely amazing pic.….gr8 one!
February 25th, 2004 at 9:40 am (#)
Arun/Ganesh: Am in the process of putting up heaps of pictures!
March 2nd, 2004 at 9:50 pm (#)
Anita: Your writing is superb. Have you looked into submiting some of your writing to the Boston Globe here. The Sunday newspaper always has nice travel stories — similar to what you have. and every month or two, they have one india. The last one was on Gokarn, Karnataka. Check their website (BostonGlobe.com). With your background, that should be easy.
We are curently planning our trip to Mumbai in Aug/Sept and we were set on visiting kerala. Your experience just reinforced it. If you don’t mind, we may just follow your footsteps.
Regards,
.a.
March 4th, 2004 at 12:04 pm (#)
Arun: Thanks for that! Sounds like a nice idea. Will definitely give it a try :) If you need any other help when you go to Kerala, please do feel free to email me. And thanks for the lovely picture on email. I might put it up on my site with a link to yours, if that is okay with you!
March 6th, 2004 at 7:15 pm (#)
Hi, very nice write-up. Beautiful photograph. Looking forward to see more pics…
February 25th, 2005 at 8:59 am (#)
Beautifull kerala tours and travel by houseboat backwaters beaches countryboat see kathakali see mohiniyattom everything arranged by Sunil 0091 9349193495 or see http://www.vccck.com/kerala pls see Kerala is beauty of India
March 28th, 2005 at 11:15 am (#)
Excellent presentation of Kerala. very interesting. We expect some pics also
April 10th, 2005 at 12:13 am (#)
Hello friends!
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April 21st, 2005 at 11:53 pm (#)
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May 3rd, 2005 at 3:34 pm (#)
well this is agr8 site. I LOVE KERALA.. This is really “GODS OWN COUNTRY” BUT.
I would say “Gods Own Country” and Devils Own People” hahaha..
Love this place.. everything is special.
May 3rd, 2005 at 3:46 pm (#)
Well Friends.
Well we have a 3star clasified resort in Munnar.
Pls do e mail if if I can be of any help you can e mail me at sundeep@deshadan.com . bye and have a lovely day.
August 5th, 2005 at 9:08 am (#)
hallo,
this is very good site
September 30th, 2005 at 11:21 pm (#)
Nice neat tips and to the point. I was running a search on my url which was published recently and came onto your page. Let me know if you require any logistical support in Kerala, would be happy to be of assistance.
By the way there lot of unknown and interesting destinations waiting to be explored in Kerala.
shailesh
http://www.keralunplugged.com
January 7th, 2006 at 10:14 am (#)
Congartulations.
Great Tips Anita,
We all love kerala for it’s beauty.
Mukthar
March 29th, 2006 at 12:52 pm (#)
Kerala is a Land of Great beauty and the steady climate is a added advantave for the travellors travelling at anytime they want, House boats and tourists places arranged by http://www.evergreenkerala.com are very nice , pls Conatct Mr.Sunil 0091 9349193495 for all your travel needs in Kerala
May 16th, 2006 at 8:41 am (#)
I hope u try to make to Palakkad the next time .Please vist my site at www. tharavad.info
to experience the village life of Kerala this is where to be.
June 22nd, 2006 at 6:26 pm (#)
Very good site. i want that you promote our site.
November 6th, 2006 at 2:42 pm (#)
Ecogreen Home Stay, a Deluxe class accommodation, is located 21 kms from Cochin International Airport, 2 kms from Railway Station and 150 Meters from National Highway — 47. Ecogreen Home Stay is the ideal Deluxe Homestay residence for tourists to Kerala
November 11th, 2006 at 12:49 am (#)
mappilassery mansion is a heritage home stay in aleppey in kerala .the history of mappilassery dates back to the history of snake boat races in the backwaters of kerala.vist http://www.mappilasserymansion.com
March 3rd, 2007 at 12:59 pm (#)
Holley monkey!
June 16th, 2007 at 12:34 pm (#)
Kerala is truly God’s own country! Amazing and breathlessly beautiful!
October 18th, 2007 at 11:14 am (#)
Hi Anita!
You are really a keen traveller and you must have found Kerala to be one of the greenest places on the planet.
I had been to the state in November 2005 to visit the backawters and the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. On the houseboat (traditionally known as kettuvallom),I was provided with deliciously food that was cooked with fresh vegetables bought during the cruise.
October 27th, 2007 at 5:46 pm (#)
Are you back? Waiting for your response.
October 27th, 2007 at 11:49 pm (#)
hi prospective travellers to kerala and south india ,
check our website out and send us a mail.
we organise tailormade and small group tours in the region
very good write up anita , u have captured the essence of the region!
simon
October 28th, 2007 at 2:59 pm (#)
and btw our web id is http://www.otbtpukkaholidays.co.uk
September 14th, 2008 at 8:56 pm (#)
Excellent Review of Kerala.
Thank you very much, it will help me in organizing my trip in Dec this year
Sameer
March 26th, 2010 at 10:30 am (#)
Great post, you’ve helped me a lot
April 9th, 2010 at 9:30 am (#)
hi,
i am planning a trip in june end.
And am very keen to see the landscapes, back waters, and see the place in general.
Is it a good time to visit?
Can we roam around in june end.
I read somewhere of home stay in kerala.
Has anybody had any exp of this?
thanks
Preeti
November 16th, 2010 at 2:59 pm (#)
Hi,
I’m thinking about a ayurvedic treament week at Keraleeyam and was wondering if you had any other insight into the Resort. I have read so many mixed reviews and would love to hear all about from osomeone that has been there. Is there a spot to do yoga? The food? The accomodations? treatments? The staff?
Please.…do tell
Thanks so much
July 26th, 2011 at 3:33 pm (#)
If you are someone who loves the sea, enjoys the gentle sea breeze and the benign roar of the waves, likes to stroll on the beach under the evening sun, come to Sea Breeze and experience your moments. The calm and serene atmosphere at Sea Breeze resort in Varkala takes you into a different plane altogether, helping you to make most use of your leisure time.