A refreshing trip to Kottayam

A refreshing trip to Kottayam with my family

My family-not yet complete. This is just a sample 

Kottayam is the land of latex and literature in Kerala. Last year we were literally stuck in Kottayam for a week and fortunately had a lot of fun visiting some amazing locations here. We had come on Kerala tour packages and had planned to visit Munnar, Allepey, Kochi and Kannur during our visit. But we had to cancel everything and stay in Kottayam which happens to be my maternal native place. My maternal grandparents live in a beautiful old bungalow amidst a rubber estate in Kottayam. We used to visit this place quite often when we were young. It’s been more than 10 years since I last came here and it has changed a lot.

Grandpa with my sisies.....  

There are high-rise buildings and shopping arcades where there used to be open grounds where we would play! I guess, Kottayam, being the educational hub of Kerala, wants to establish its improvements that are at par with Kochi city. We had landed in Trivandrum and came straight to Kottayam from there to see our grandparents. Our Kerala tourism packages plans were to visit them, stay with them for a day and then leave to the other places in the itinerary. But it all went in vain as we had to cancel our entire tour. The next day early morning as my mother was trying to switch roles as a cook come nurse to her parents, she slipped and hurt her ankle and was asked to take a week’s rest!

My uncle and Ammukutty 

Since we did not want to enjoy Kerala packages without her, we decided to make the most of the situation and roamed around Kottayam which was quite interesting too. Here’s an account of the places we visited during our week-long stay in Kottayam.

Elaveezhapoonjira

Of course me and my cousins.... bu ha ha ha ha 

We booked a car on hire for a week and took off to our first destination in Kottayam which was Elaveezhapoonjira. The name in Malayalam means a valley where no leaves will fall! Indeed, it was such a valley as there were no trees at all. A rather strange thing in Kerala as one tends to stumble upon a coconut or mango tree in every nook and corner of the state! The place was quite green though with shrubs and creepers along the ground. When we reached it was quite a clear view from the place. It is the catchment area of the Malankara dam and a very beautiful place. Within 10 minutes, it started drizzling and the entire place was covered with mist. There were a few cottages in the area which provided cheap accommodation for the tourists. We had never heard of this beautiful place earlier and this rather made up for the Munnar trip we missed during our Kerala holiday packages with personalized features.

Thangal Hill

A pic from my photo grid

You need a jeep to reach this place. Perfect for trekking though we were not prepared for it. The place reminded us of Mahabhaleswar, a hill station near Pune, we visited a couple of years back. From the top of the hill, all around you will see the mountain ranges only. Some rocky mountains and some others are green. It was a beautiful sight. We spent some time there just gazing at the mountains and soon it was the sunset. One of the best sunsets I have experienced in my life! It was amazing, I had seen sunsets in many beaches, but to see the sun hide behind the majestic mountains was a totally humbling experience. We helped a family on Kerala tour packages from Mumbai to take their pictures against the sunset and they were very happy!

Illikkal Kallu

My brother, he is always very funny... 

It’s truly surprising to see such places near the city of Kottayam! I mean you visit this place during your Kerala tour packages from Delhi and stay amazed that such a gorgeous place is located adjacent to the city. Illikkal Kallu is the perfect trekking spot and we went prepared this time. Though it can get very dangerous, ascending and descending the rock formations through the misty hilltops, we were used to bigger challenges and hence enjoyed this trek thoroughly. The road to the top is very good and the view from the top is breathtaking! A must-visit place during your Kerala trip if you are near Kottayam district.

Houseboat Cruise

Nothing to say about the setting sun!!! 

We didn’t want to miss the quintessential backwater cruise during our Kerala tour and Kottayam had plenty of options for that too. In fact, here it was more close to nature as the place was not yet popular as a tourist destination as Allepey was. We enjoyed our journey through the Kumarakom backwaters and even got a glimpse of Kuttanad’s paddy fields during the trip. Since we went by a private canoe instead of a huge houseboat, we could pass by smaller water channels that let us explore the stunning village beauty of Kerala. We stopped at one place and enjoyed a walk through the paddy fields bordered by coconut groves. It was one of the best experiences during our Kerala travel. We only hoped my mom too could have joined us! But she was used to all these and hence it was a stunner for us only!!!

Bay Island Driftwood Museum

Bay Island Driftwood musuem

Did you know that this was the only museum in the world which had a huge collection of painstakingly collected driftwood from the seashores of Andaman and Nicobar islands? Even we didn’t and it was a humbling experience to see the efforts paid off well with the entry into the Limca Book of World Records! You must not miss this amazing collection during your Kerala tours, and it’s available only in Kottayam.

Poonjar Palace

Poonjar Palace 

Now we were starting to feel good about our actual trip plans getting cancelled. Being our native and having come here many times, we had never seen so much in Kottayam anytime before. And the best part was that all these places were even more exciting than what we would have seen in our planned tour otherwise. Poonjar palace was a popular destination on Kerala honeymoon packages and we did see a group of tourists with a guide exploring the beautiful place. The palace had an exorbitant collection of wood-crafted furniture and stone lamps that attracted many tourists here. The royal collection of lamps, handicrafts, jewel boxes, weapons, chandeliers, measuring tools and palm leaf engravings were quite enticing. We also visited a temple which looked exactly like the Meenakshi Temple in Madurai. We never knew such a replica existed! Our driver-cum-guide told us that the exotic Chuttuvilakku or stone cut lamp in the Sastha temple we visited nearby is a rare sight in India.

Mozart Art Gallery

Here we saw many foreigners on their honeymoon packages exploring the paintings and artifacts on display. It is an interesting place for those visiting Kerala for the first time as it showcases more about the culture and tradition of the state. As for us, we did not find it as interesting.

Wagamon

My cousins; pretty girls 

Wagamon was a beauty and there’s no other word to explain it. It was not very far from where we were staying. Since my mom was already feeling much better and had started moving around slowly, we decided to take her along and good we did. It was very refreshing for her, the perfect place to step out after a week’s house arrest! We had taken a foldable chair along so that she could sit comfortably and the driver was really helpful carrying our things so that we could concentrate on our mom. There were many young couples that made us realize it was a popular destination for honeymoon packages in Kerala. The green meadows were surrounded by the mighty mountains on 3 sides and there was a beautiful lake on the 4^th side which made the place looks heavenly.

Ha ha ha my selfie with friends 

 My mom was very happy she made it to this place to breathe in the fresh air and enjoy the greenery all around. We spent a few hours chitchatting and also enjoyed boating though my mom could not! We had our food at a resort nearby and found out that they offered good Ayurvedic massages which were very popular here. We took their number as the place was beautifully maintained and the rates were not too exorbitant. Next time we visit Kerala we have to spend a couple of days here relaxing for sure.

Our next family photo; yet incomplete 

Every time we would be back home after the day’s exploration we would be so excitedly telling our mom what we saw and certain places even amazed her! Good that we managed to take her to Wagamon or else she would have missed the most beautiful place we saw in Kerala this time. She got better in a week’s time and we managed to spend a couple of days exploring Kochi since our return flight was from Kochi. The next time, my mother has told that we have to take her to all these places without fail and also have to travel to those places we missed out this time!!!  See you soon Kerala! 

The Yummylicious Food you get in Kerala

Kerala is truly a paradise for a foodie. The cuisine of Kerala has a special link to the culture, tradition and the geographical location of the place. You will find ample reasons to indulge in the vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes as you enjoy your delicious Kerala tour packages. The dishes are prepared using fish, poultry, red meat and various vegetables accompanied by the typical boiled red rice that goes well with the platter. Kerala is a land of spices and hence, exotic spices are widely used in their cuisine that gives a magical aroma to the dish.

Mostly, all the dishes contain curry leaves, mustard seeds, tamarind, chillies, and asafoetida. The food is served on a banana leaf and a majority of the dishes contain coconut. Being the coastal region, seafood is a common diet in the region which you can try during your Kerala tourism packages focused on ethnic Kerala delicacies. Non-vegetarian meals include chicken, mutton and beef that are mostly served in the Malabar where meat is served as a common dish. Kerala has a variety cuisine ranging from a simple kanji (porridge) to a grand Sadya or the feast which has innumerable dishes served.

Rice Puttu with Gram curry 

A typical breakfast in Kerala consists of idli, dosa, puttu (steamed rice cake), idyappam, appam or upma served with different side dishes, particularly coconut chutney. Idli and Dosa are the most preferred breakfast in Kerala packages by most of the people and kids. They are served with the chutney made with coconut, tomato chutney, onion chutney or sambar. Puttu and idyappam are made with rice flour and both are oil-free healthy dishes. Puttu is typically made of rice flour and steamed in a long hollow bamboo or metal cylinder or in a hemisphere-shaped coconut shell with coconut layered in between. It is best served with banana or black chana curry with fried coconut gravy. Puttu can be made of wheat and corn flours too and they taste very good in those forms also. 

Idiyappam and coconut milk curry 

Idiyappam is made with rice flour in the shape of noodles. It is also called Noolappam usually served with sweet coconut milk curry.

Appam and Stew

Appam is made by soaking rice for some hours and ground with coconut and kept for fermentation and cooked in a specifically shaped vessel and served with vegetable stew, egg curry or duck curry savored with coconut milk. Though all these are made of rice, they are all healthy and filling breakfast for Kerala holiday packages in luxurious way.

Lunch in Kerala offers a wide range of dishes. Sadya is the main course of Kerala. It usually consists of vegetarian dishes which vary from place to place. The dishes have the mix of sweet, spicy and tangy tastes. Sadya is the traditional feast served for marriage functions, special occasions, and festivities. The sadya has sambar, errisery, aviyal, parippu, kalan, olan, stew, pachadi, kichadi, thoran, puli inji, mango pickle or lemon pickle, plantain chips etc. and Payasam that is served in the end. Avial is a mixed vegetable curry with a blend of coconut and green chillies. Kalan, Pachadi and Kichadi are yogurt-based curries. Plantain chips are a favorite snack item for everyone on a flavorful Kerala tour packages from Mumbai.

Malabar Biriyani 

Malabar Biriyani is a famous dish in northern Kerala. Biriyani is a special cuisine of Malabar. They are mostly served as a special dish in feasts as well as a simple lunch. Usually, Chicken is the main ingredient in Biriyani or else mutton and egg or even fish are used. Kallummkaya or green mussel is also one of the common dishes in Malabar. 

Pathiri and Curry 

Pathiri and chicken curry is also a popular dish in Northern Kerala. Fish is an important aspect of a meal in Kerala.

Fish Molly 

Fish molly prepared in coconut milk is a favorite Christian delicacy you must try on your Kerala tour packages from Delhi. Fish curry prepared using brindle berry or even fresh tender mango is a perfect curry to eat with rice. You will find fish curry and fish fry in the daily menu of most of the houses in the coastal regions in Kerala.

Kerala Chemeen Curry

 Kerala prawn curry is also a signature dish of Kerala. It is a blend of fenugreek, black mustard, fennel seed, coconut milk and green chillies. This dish gas a special ingredient called the ‘kodampuli’ or pot tamarind or brindle berry, which adds to the flavour of the fish curry. You must try this during your Kerala trip in search of tasty food and you will become a fan of this dish.

Karimeen Pollichathu 

 Rice and Karimeen pollichathu is one of the favourite combinations of the people of Kerala and even among the tourists. Karimeen or pearl spot fish marinated with savoured spices and coconut milk, wrapped in a banana leaf and steamed is served with red boiled rice.

Kappa and Fish Curry 

 Kappa (tapioca) and fish curry are also served as a special dish on houseboats for the tourists on Kerala tour. Karimeen is usually found in the fresh waters of Alleppey and Kollam and hence, are mainly served as a dish in boat houses where one can get fresh catch right from the backwaters.

Kozhikode Halwa 

Kozhikode halwa is a popular sweet in Kerala and it comes in all the beautiful colors like green, red, black, yellow, orange etc. It is one of the most popular sweets in the Malabar area in the streets. 

Payasam - ada pradhaman 

Parippu Payasam 

Payasams are served along with the Sadya for major occasions like marriages and festivals. A variety of payasams includes palada pradhaman, palapayasam, ada pradhaman, jackfruit payasam, ney payasam, pazham payasam (banana), parippu payasam, godambu(wheat) payasam etc. They taste so amazing that you will fall in love with the place during your Kerala tours.

Pazhampori 

 

1 metre Kerala style tea  

Pazham pori or banana fritters are sweet banana dish, parippu vada (fried lentil patty), uzhunnu (urad) vada, ulli vada etc are some other snacks available in Kerala served with tea and coffee.

Porotta and Beef Curry 

Porotta and beef curry are considered the unofficial dish of Kerala, as most people prefer to have it as dinner or lunch. Kerala parotta is different from the north Indian paratha. It is made purely with maida and is very common in most parts of Kerala, as you can see it any hotels on the street. You can try this out during your Kerala travel at the good restaurants where they serve wheat parotta with chicken curry or beef fry. Tapioca or kappa is one of the popular choices of the people of Kerala. The kappa is cooked with shallots, red chillies and garlic and is served with fish curry. This is a typical native dish and is only available in very few restaurants.

Pani Poori 

Vada Pav

You can even have steamed and seasoned tapioca with crushed green chilli, garlic and shallots and it will taste simple and yummy. It goes well with even with dosa, rice and idli too. With many migrations from other parts of India settling in Kerala, even the cuisine is getting a blend of the north Indian style. Nowadays, we can spot even Pani puris and vada pav in the streets of Kerala. Even the common household in Kerala prepare chappati and poori which were typical north Indian cuisine. Though a little rare to find in the hill stations where people go for Kerala honeymoon packages, chappathi has become a regular dinner dish in here. Even though all these have changed, the common Kerala food is forever healthy and tasty. Tourists coming on holiday packages enjoy the famous cuisine of Kerala.

Healthy Kerala dish  

Tender Coconut 

With Organic food getting popular in the cities of Kerala, there are organic restaurants where only organic food is prepared and served that too without any preservatives. You can eat fresh, simple and tasty food from these restaurants during your honeymoon packages in Kerala with special honeymoon dishes. It will keep you light and will not upset your stomach. You will get typical Kerala style food here, unadulterated.

Healthy Ayurvedic Food 

 Ayurveda is practiced widely throughout Kerala and hence, you will find some spice and herb shops in the villages from where you can buy some authentic herbs and spices that help you make healthy food and give it a surprising twist in taste too.

Couples dining with Kerala food 

Black pepper, turmeric, cloves, green cardamom, nutmeg etc are cultivated in the hill stations of Kerala that has fertile soil as well as a pleasant climate that make them the preferred destinations for healthy honeymoon packages with the goodness of Ayurveda also. I would suggest that you always order fresh food from the local specialty restaurants and ask the restaurant manager what they would suggest as the local delicacy. It works best to let you taste the best food of one region.

Ayurvedic Massage 

If you are travelling in a group, let each person order a different food and everyone can try everything that has been ordered. This way, you will all be able to taste a variety of dishes without feeling guilty of consuming so much of calories too! After all, you only tasted the food, never ate it. You have to come prepared to gain some weight during your Kerala holiday packages as the food here truly awesome, full of aromatic spices that invigorates your taste buds and  flavorful.

Full set to taste the authentic Kerala food 

On a shopping spree in Kerala

Kerala is not only about beautiful landscapes and tourism. There’s a lot of shopping you can do here too. From the latest trending fashion to the most antique handicrafts, you get anything and everything classy in this beautiful land of coconuts on your Customized Kerala tour packages. Retail is one of the flourishing sectors of the economy in Kerala and tourism is one of the main reasons for this booming trend.

 You will find the most exotic garments, jewelry, and handicrafts in this God’s Own Country any time of the year. There are seasonal handicrafts too, those are created totally from organic stuff like coconut shells and husk. These cure over a period of time and hence are seasonal, though some of the city emporiums stock it in advance to cater throughout the year. Kerala tourism packages that take you through a shopping spree would be a great way to explore the locales and the native craftsmanship of the people here. It is not just about culture or craft; you can shop for a variety of exotic spices and flavorful snacks too in Kerala.

You get to taste and buy some rare and exotic dishes that stay unspoiled over a month or even more sometimes. Chips, pickles, jams and a variety of such savoriness and some exquisite and meticulously made sweets such as halwa are the specialties of Kerala. As you visit each part of the state in your Kerala packages on Kerala Delicacies, you can get to know more about the culture and traditions there by talking to the locals and enjoying a walk around the main roads of the place.

Shopping for Fashion in Kerala

You will be astounded to find the fashion sense of Kochi which is at par or far advanced than that of Bangalore or Mumbai which are considered the biggest fashion hubs of India. One main difference you may find in the fashion sense here is that people prefer less revealing clothes as unlike the western fashion prevalent in the other metros. Kerala holiday packages are the best excuse to get some trendy garments and fashion jewelry from this part of the world. We have some of the best designers who can get you the trendiest looks that make sure you look chic and elegant too. It may seem a little expensive, but the outcome is priceless!!!

For the same reason, you will find almost all the popular branded apparels having their showrooms in Kerala, particularly in Kochi. Another astounding fact is that Thalassery and not Kochi is considered the most fashionable place in Kerala. It is observed that the latest fashion in clothes and accessories land in Thalassery first before they reach the ubiquitous Kochi. You can also grab some elegant traditional clothes and jewelry from here during your Kerala tour packages from Mumbai, for those special occasions. The hand looms garments made here are very airy and comfortable for summers.

Shopping for Precious Jewellery in Kerala

Kerala’s love for gold is very famous. Both women and men love this yellow metal significantly and that is one reason you find at least 10 to 15 jewelers in every market in Kerala. The number will only increase as you reach the major towns and cities! You will love the antique and trendy designs of precious jewelry you get here on your Kerala trip. Though silver is not as fondly considered for jewelry in Kerala, you may still find a couple of shops dealing in silver jewelry in the cities like Thrissur and Kochi.

Diamonds and other precious stones are also greatly admired by the people of Kerala. This is one place where you will find fashionable jewellery for men in gold and platinum with and without precious stones. Kerala tour will be a great excuse to shop some precious jewellery that’s trendy and elegant and pure.

 Shopping for Handicrafts in Kerala

Kerala is abundant in natural resources and the people here are very artistic. Though many of them have taken upon modern ways of living, there still are a handful of people who continue creating what their ancestors have taught them. Hand-looms are still flourishing in some parts of Kerala and you can buy some of the most beautiful hand-woven sarees and dhotis and tailor made shirts made of this fabric during your Kerala tour packages from Delhi. Allepey is one of the popular places where you can buy some beautiful carpets and bags made of Coir and Jute. Coconut shells are used to make utensils and crafty items and even handbags.

Seashells are also used to make beautiful handicrafts that can adorn your wall. Precious handicrafts made of ivory and sandalwood can be purchased from government authorized emporiums. Brass lamps and vessels are also crafted beautifully in Kerala. Other popular buys for tourists on Kerala travel are the Kathakali and Elephant motifs made of wood. In this God’s Own Country, Elephants are also adorned with handcrafted jewelry called Nettippattom. While the original ones used in temples are made of brass which is gold plated, they are extremely expensive. You can get its imitations made of less precious metals or plastic in smaller sizes that can decorate your walls beautifully.

 Shopping for Exotic stuff in Kerala

During your shopping spree in Kerala tours, don’t forget to get some exotic stuff like Mural paintings, Aranmula Kannadi, Onavillu, Spices and the Ayurveda medicines and herbs for beauty and general wellness. Mural paintings adorn the temple walls and use only vegetable and organic colors. Aranmula Kannadi or mirror is a full-metal mirror which is created using a special mix of metals which is known to only a family who creates them traditionally. It is considered very auspicious and a prized possession for the women. Onavillu is a Bow shaped wooden frame which is painted with the 10 incarnations of Vishu (Dasavathaaram) or other mythical stories, with vegetable colors only.

You can hand this as a decoration in your living room or adorn your pooja room with it. Kerala has always been an exporter of the flavorful spices like black pepper, cardamom, vanilla, nutmeg, mace, and ginger. So don’t forget to buy some while you are on your Kerala honeymoon packages with Ayurvedic Massage. Kerala’s Ayurvedic clinics offer some exquisite treatments and massages for wellness and beauty. You can enjoy an invigorating massage during your stay in Kerala while enjoying the hospitality of the people here. Some people even visit Kerala for long-term Ayurvedic treatments for lifestyle diseases and even arthritis.

Shopping for Food in Kerala

Walking through the local streets, you will find some of the best places and most tasty food than what you can get in the most expensive restaurants in Kerala. Sometimes, you may come across a famous joint where you get the best of local juices or milkshakes which you must try during your honeymoon packages in Kerala. Sometimes, the snacks are the specialties such as Vada, Dosa, Chat and a variety of other savouries. There are roadside temporary joints called Thattukada, that open late in the night, where you get the best dosa, chutney and omelette. The food will be fresh and hot as they get completely sold out within a few hours of opening every day!

 You must try out the varieties of Chips you get here that stays fresh if stored in an air-tight jar. The most famous are plantain chips, but you must try chips made of tapioca, potato, yam, jackfruit etc too. They taste as yummy or more than the packed ones you get anywhere else in the world. You can see the store frying the chips fresh in the hot oil and then packing them as customers demand. You can just grab a couple or packs of these fresh chips to munch on during your honeymoon packages here and buy some on your way back to share with your friends and family back home. Some of the best sweets you can buy from Kerala are Neyyappam or Unniappam, Jackfruit Jam and Calicut Halwa. The foodies will love everything about the Malabar area as the cuisine there is extremely delicious. While you shop for these snacks and sweets to pack and take away, don’t forget to indulge in the delicious seafood varieties offered in Kerala.

While you enjoy your shopping spree, don’t forget to enjoy the beautiful locales and cuisine of Kerala. The mountains, valleys, lagoons, beaches and backwaters are as or more precious sights than the jewelry, handicrafts and designer garments you buy on your Kerala tours. Enjoy the rains, take a dip in the lagoon, and enjoy a stroll through the beaches and a romantic sunset, the cool misty hilltops and the enchanting forests all while you are in this blessed land. Enjoy the performing arts live which will take you one a different era altogether. Breathe in some fresh air at the tea gardens or hilltops and savor the greenery that cools your eyes as well as the mind. A Kerala tour can be the most refreshing holiday destination in terms of relaxation and excitement. Now you also know that there’s a lot of scope for shopping too in Kerala.