God's Own Country

Last month I'd been to Wayanad, Kerala on a short vacation. Calling Kerala 'God's Own Country' is an understatement.

Technically this is my fourth visit to Kerala and this is the first time I actually got to see the real Kerala. First time was when I was a kid, I'd been to Malampuzha with my family. Second time I almost made it the border with some friends and the guy who was supposed to arrange accomodation screwed up so ended up going to Mudumalai instead. In the third attempt I stayed in a hotel in the middle of a town and eat in the hotel's restraunt and came back (Thanks to a great ass who was in my team who supposedly knew every nook and corner in Wayanad).

Finally on my fourth visit to Kerala, I was able to experience the REAL KERALA. We found an amazing home stay accomodation (luxurious at the same time affordable and had a great host Mr. Saji Chaco - http://www.tropicalforrest.in/) and drove down for the weekend. The home stay was situated on top of a small hill in the outskirts of this small town called Lakkidi. When we got closer to the town we called the host and asked him for directions, he said "Keep coming straight, when you find mist on the road, just stop and give me a call. I'll come there and take you to the homestay. That's one of the weirdest landmarks I've heard of (besides 'you'll see a cow eating grass, take a left after that') but you know with that landmark you can never miss that place. We witnessed mist only in that area over the next two days we spent there. Amazing!

We took up an entire villa (build in accordance with the authentic Kerala architectural style), the villa and the locality was so good that we didn't want to go out anywhere. When you drive down to Kerala from either Karnataka or Tamil Nadu, you can feel the difference the moment you cross the border and enter God's Own Country! When you drive down, you'll see dry masses of lands, one or two trees here and there, horrible roads, garbage dumps, etc and then as you enter Kerala all of that will change!

You'll know you've entered Kerala,

• The moment everthing around you turns completely green.
• The roads get narrower but better than anyother road you would have driven on.
• When you feel the cold breeze.
• When you hear birds chirping.
• When you hear leaves brusing against each other due to the wind.
• If you see football posters or flags of countries that play football.
• Small tea stalls that also serve beef and toddy.
• Men with lungi's.
• = / > 15 people in a jeep.

Wayanad is filled with stunningly beautiful landscapes, some nice places to visit, great roads to drive on and amazing food. Talking about the food, you should try out the traditional beef fry, if you ever get a chance to stop by in a small road side hotel that serves Kerala - go for it and most of all you have to have to try the buttermilk from a roadside shop. I don't know how they manage to make everything so delicious but you must never miss these things when you are in Kerala. Don't plan on visitng 100 places during your vacation but a select few and enjoy the drive and the mesmerising beauty of God's Own Country!


Some of the places I'll personally recommend: Banasura Sagar Dam, Edakkal Caves, Chembara Peak, Kuruva Island and Soochippara Waterfall. Especially the drive us the coffe estates to Chembara Peak is amazing! Here are some of the pictures of God's Own Country from my recent visit. I'll leave the rest for you to experience when you go there.....

Below are the pictures taken during our drive up to Chembara Peak.

And the Legendary Jeep rides of Kerala....

All in all you'll thoroughly enjoy Kerala if you stay and roam around in the right places. You'll only wish it wasn't as humid as it was else you'll not have any complaints.