Summer always besides the heat quotient in India, connects to travel and vacations. Our country heat map necessitates that schools be closed for few months as the temperatures in some parts can be in the early 40 to 45 degrees Centigrade and normal activity is pretty much disrupted whether it is study, work or play. Kids dominate the scheduling of the break and even when they grow up the summer months and vacations still go together. With more liberal spends, increasing knowledge and ease of travel, the vacations have not been restricted to the Indian shores though through Covid years International activity came to a complete halt. It is restarting now but the activity is nowhere near what it was pre covid. So the focus in the last few years has shifted to discovering the domestic circuits again. Also with communication channels, internet becoming reliable the WFH (Work from home) as an option has really taken off benefiting domestic travel as well as hospitality. So where to this summer..?

Of course being in a cool place in summers is a preference so mountains come to mind, but one also wants the sea, unspoilt green cover or perhaps near a forest, good connectivity, a little history and fabulous staying places. Too much to ask..? Not really as India is well endowed in that respect… though finding the right location as well as the connectivity can be challenge sometimes. For me for some years now Kerala …yes God’s own land, has been the perennial favourite. A prosperous as well as an educated state has really picked up its infrastructure quotient with good connectivity by air, excellent roads, and proactive approach to tourist facilities. It is also the production hub for Spices, rubber, teak, banana, tea as well as coffee and of course the backwaters,forests as well as greenery being breathtaking makes it the real deal. So Kerala it was this time too..!

We have travelled extensively over the years in Kerala ….have been to Kochi, Coorg, Munnar, Alleppey, ashtamudi, and other coastal as well as temple towns in Kerala. Each with its own tapestry, beauty, customs and character, they all have been outstanding leisure locations. This time the destination was a tiny mountain destination of Thekkady in the Idukki district. The nearest airport is either Madurai or Kochi and is well connected to all the big cities in India. Thereafter its taxi or car ride of around 4 hours from Madurai or 5 hours from Kochi but on excellent roads specially the one from Madurai though the one from Kochi is more scenic. Thekkady is located at the edge of Periyar Tiger Reserve or Sanctuary and also therefore at the edge of a thick forrest. The proximity to the forrest, being at a height and also close to a manmade lake within the Periyar range makes for ideal weather, relatively cool in the winter months and presently in the 19 to 25 degrees range with rains. It’s a small town best known for spices, banana, tapioca, the Ayurveda inspired medicine as well as treatment, tea and to some extent coffee. More than 70% of the commercial activity is around these products. It’s biggest tourist pull however,is the Periyar Tiger Reserve and the artificial lake situated with in the range itself. So predictably a surfeit of jungle safari options and boating which to some enthusiasts are the reason d taire to visit this place. The total tiger population of the reserve is 47 spread over 27 sq kilometres which makes a chance sighting of tiger very rare but not impossible. But there are elephants, bison and deer which one does see during the safari trips… perhaps not the experience one may expect in better safari destinations but certainly the lovely ride in the forest as well the anxiety of actually seeing something keeps the interest alive…

Though tourist related places are an attraction, what really pulls you to a place like this is the relative quiet, awesome weather and the resorts built around the typical Kerala architecture with abundant greenery, thatched roofs which bring that Kerala experience to you.. We had the pleasure of visiting ‘Spice Village’ run by Casino Hotels and the Club Mahindra property which was earlier a Taj Hotel. Spice Village is in fact the residence of the first warden of the Periyar Tiger Reserve now converted into a luxury resort. Both designed to bring the forest as well as experience of staying in a safari resort very close to you… along with typical Kerala cuisine. Very different experience from the hill stations in the North which to my mind without being demeaning, are not well kept, are crowded and give you a feeling of being in a bazaar rather than in a naturally cooled, visually superlative place with medicinal benefits. Only one downside though is the limited understanding of language which can be a boon too for sometimes ignorance is bliss..!

Writing about this trip is pure therapy as the discourse whether in the world or in India is toxic at present and certainly does not give you the joy than what this piece gives you. It allows you to wander in your thoughts and recognise the many wonders we have been blessed with… Think Kerala if you are looking for a break… not the party kind but the type which appreciates the environment as well as its bounties, gives you chance to introspect and enjoy the time with close friends or family!