“It is not the destination but the journey that matters”
South India truly reflects this saying. The roads making its way through the green woods, amidst the wildlife will leave you wondering how beautiful nature can be.
Bollywood has definitely leveraged the beauty of South Indian roads and destinations and has given us a masterpiece movie like Karwaan.
Being a travel freak, Karwaan is one of my favourite picks but another reason to love the movie was the fact that I did the exact same trip even before the movie was released and coincidentally have been to the same places where some of the scenes were shot.
Here’s bringing to you a glimpse to my Karwaan :
Day 1 :
Kochi :
I started my journey from Cochin International Airport. Cochin is a major port on the Arabian Sea,and is one of the largest ports in India. Kochi is a place where you can find perfect amalgamation of different cultures, from Portuguese to Jews and Chinese. I stayed at a hotel in Fort Kochi and spent the day exploring the port city.
Top things to experience in Kochi :
1) Watch the Kathakali show
2) Visit Fort Kochi beach
3) Watch the fishermen use their Chinese Fishing nets
Day 2 :
Alleppey :
After spending a day in Kochi we drove towards Alleppey. First we visited Alappuzha beach after which we moved to the houseboat that we have booked. For me the first thing that comes to my mind when someone says Kerala are the Backwaters and Houseboats, so staying in a houseboat was a must do experience for me. But if you are on a tight budget you can explore the backwaters in a Canoe and stay in a homestay along the backwaters. Though I was staying in a houseboat I also wanted to experience Canoe so I went for a short ride in the canals and also visited the Canal where the movie Baghi was shot. Backwaters have this magic to make time stand still, you need to experience it to feel it.
Top experiences in Alleppey :
1) Overnight stay in a houseboat
2) Canoe ride across the narrow canals
3) Feasting on the famous backwaters fish- Karimen
4) Visit to the Alappuzha beach which is away from the maddening crowd.
Day 3 & 4 :
Munnar : After spending a night in a houseboat we traveled towards Munnar. The drive to Munnar is an absolute scenic one with lush green tea gardens everywhere. Munnar is nestled between hills and lush green tree plantations. It is a beautiful hill station, here you can treat your eyes to vast expanses of tea plantations,forests,valleys and mountains. If you are planning to visit Munnar then I would recommend you to stay in Hotel Grand Plaza Munnar, they organize morning walks in the Tea gardens and trust me that is an experience that you will cherish and remember forever.
Top experiences in Munnar :
1) Walk in the Tea Plantations
2) Visit to Tea Factory
3) Visit to Spice Garden
4) Shopping - picking up some handmade chocolates and Ayurvedic products
After covering all major attractions of God’s own country, we decided to move from Kerala to Tamil Nadu. Being a Mountain lover, the top hill stations of Tamil Nadu were in my Do to List.
Day 5 & 6:
Kodaikanal
The drive from Munnar to Kodaikanal is approximately 5 hours, which might sound tiring but the roads are impressive with spectacular views. The road journey was filled with amazing sights of the rolling hills, lush green forests, birds and if you get lucky you might even spot few wild elephants near the elephant crossing zone.
Top Experiences in Kodaikanal :
1) Boating and cycling in Kodai Lake
2) Visit to Devil's cave and Pine forest
3) Visit to Coaker's walk and Pillar rock
Day 6 & 7 :
Ooty :
Our second stop in Tamil Nadu was Ooty, which is also known as the "Queen of hills". Ooty is about 6 hours drive from Kodaikanal but the journey is undoubtedly the most scenic road trips in South India. I found Ooty little crowded as compared to the other hill stations. Though commercialization has hit Ooty but it has still been able to sustain its charisma.
Top experiences in Ooty :
1) Visit Doddabetta peak- South India’s highest peak.
2) Visit to Botanical Garden and Rose Garden
3) A ride in Nilgiri Mountain Railway - the heritage toy train which featured in the song Chaiyya chaiyya
Day 8 :
Coonoor :
Our next stop was this quaint and charming hill station near Ooty. Though not as famous as the other counterpart hill stations of Tamil Nadu but it definitely worth visiting. If you are someone who loves visiting serene yet less commercialized places then Coonoor is the perfect place for you.
Top experiences in Coonoor :
1) Visit to Highfield Tea Estate
2) Ride in Nilgiri Moutain Railway - which is a UNESCO World Heritage site
Last stop to my epic road trip was Coimbatore, from where we boarded our return flight. Those eight days in South India were filled with crazy experiences, every place that I visited was beautiful and unique in its own way. While returning my shopping bags were filled with handmade chocolates, handmade soaps , spices and Ayurvedic products and my heart was filled with memories and love for Kerala and Tamil Nadu and their spectacular roads and welcoming people.
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