Kerela in a Week: Allepey, the backwaters

THROUGH THE BACKWATERS

Allepey or Alappuzha as the area is now known, is a town with backwaters and canals. Marco Polo described it as the “Venice of the East” and I now know why.

Thekaddy to Allepey is about 180-200 km and takes a little over 5 hours. The last few days had been packed and we dozed on-off in the first half of our drive. Mid-day saw us out of tea and spice plantations and back among palm and coconut trees – sure sign that we were back around the coasts. When we reached, much of Allepey roads were in water due to the rains and the backwaters had risen above their usual level. We crossed into town and checked into our own houseboat around 2 in the afternoon.

ALLEPEY BEACH

DOCKED FOR THE NIGHT

Kerela in a Week: Periyar

PERIYAR RESERVE: FROM THE BOAT

Munnar to Periyar is about 4 hours drive and we headed there post breakfast to comfortably reach by mid-day. Periyar or Thekkady is a protected area and national reserve for tigers.  There are numerous spice plantations in the area and we stopped at one. There was a short tour where our “guide” pointed out to the various plants.. hibiscus leaves for great hair, herbs for muscle ailments and allergies, aloe vera for the skin and of course cardamom, star anise, coffee beans to name a few.

KALARI : WORSHIPPING THE GODS, FIRE AND WEAPONS AT ONSET

TREE HOUSE AT THE SPICE PLANTATION

Kerela in a Week: Munnar

CHEERAPAYA WATERFALLS: ENROUTE TO MUNNAR FROM KOCHI

Munnar, a hill-station, and yes the traditional tourist point was our next stop from Kochi. The 140 km long journey took us about 4.5 hrs including a quick lunch stop and on 2 en-route waterfalls. The drive was smooth as the roads are quite good- specially considering the battering from the rains. All along the way we noticed that the homes lining these roads were colorful and grand. Colors ranged from the usual crème and grey and red to the daring purple, bright pink and parrot green! Our driver told us that people in Kerela are very house proud- and spend much money on doing up their homes.

WILD ELEPHANTS: LUCKY FOR US THEY STRAYED FROM THEIR PATH!

COLOURFUL AND PRETTY



Kerela in a Week: Cochin




CHINESE FISHING NETS, FORT KOCHI

 Cochin greeted us with a bang. Bang! Bang! Bang! The rain went, bullets from a water pistol, as our flight landed at the Cochin airport. The downpour continued with as much gusto even an hour later as the taxi made twists and turns in Fort Kochi streets. Me and my husband, Sanjay were in Cochin, the starting point of our 11 day vacation - a week long tryst with Kerela before we headed to Goa.

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The Itinerary, October 16-16, 2010

Fly from Delhi to Cochin
Days 1 and 2:     Cochin
Day 3 and 4:       Drive to Munnar (4 hrs), Overnight for 2N
Day5:                 Drive to Periyar (4hrs), Overnight
Day 6:                Drive to Allepy (5 hrs), Overnight in houseboat
Day 7:                Drive to Cochin (2 hrs) and catch overnight Rajdhani reaching Goa at 11.00 AM
Days 8-11:         Goa
Fly back to Delhi
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EARLY MORNING, FORT KOCHI SHORELINE: ITS A FISH MARKET, LITERALLY!



OLD HARBOUR HOTEL: WE SPENT SOME GREAT TIME JUST CHILLING IN THE GARDEN.

TEAPOT: LOTS OF FAT TEAPOTS, SHORT AND STOUT, PICK FROM THE HANDLE AND POUR FROM SPOUT!