God's own Country, Journey Part II

Thekaddy

Every corner of Kerala feels magical. We spent our first few days in Munnar, which was pure heaven—until we reached Thekkady, and somehow it got even better.

Thekkady is a charming hill town in Kerala’s Idukki district, best known for its proximity to the Periyar Tiger Reserve—a vast 777 sq km wildlife sanctuary tucked into the lush Western Ghats.

If (or rather, when) we return to Kerala, we’ll definitely carve out more time for Thekkady. We only had a day here, and it simply wasn’t enough. From serene boat rides on Periyar Lake and exploring the Wildlife Sanctuary to visiting spice plantations and diving into rich cultural experiences, Thekkady offers so much to see and do.

We spent most of our time here simply strolling through the city in the evening—it was absolutely beautiful. For a cultural touch, we caught a one-hour Kalari show, showcasing Kerala’s traditional martial art. There are also local dance performances available, but we opted for Kalari and loved it.

A short lesson on Kalari, it is a martial art form developed out of Combat techniques of the 11th-12th century battlefields with techniques that are unique to Kerala. The word Kalaripayattu is a combination of two Malyalam words - Kalari (training ground or battleground) and payattu (training of martial arts), which is roughly translated as “practice in the arts of the battlefield)

I highly recommend catching this show—it’s a great way to learn about one of the world’s oldest martial arts, and it’s super affordable at just 300 Rs (around $4) per person.

After the show, we indulged in some local ghee roast prawns with Malabar paratha and called it a night. The next morning, we set off for Alleppey—the iconic land of backwaters.

Aleppey

Alleppey, also known as Alappuzha, is a picturesque town in Kerala famed for its serene backwaters, lush paddy fields, and iconic houseboat cruises.

It is often called the “Venice of the East,” and offers a unique way to explore Kerala’s natural beauty through its intricate network of canals and lagoons. You can glide along tranquil waters, passing by coconut palms, traditional villages, and vibrant birdlife. Alleppey is also known for its annual Nehru Trophy Boat Race and beautiful beaches, making it a perfect destination to relax.

You have 2 options to explore the backwaters - You can stay the night on a waterboat OR you can take a day tour on the boat and go back to your accommodation in the evening.

We decided to stay on the boat and here is a short pro/cons of staying on the boat overnight:

Best Part	Could have been better
The staff was the kindest and really took care of us.	The boat actually docks in evening so you can spend the day on water but it will come back and dock at night.
The boats have rooms between 4-6 so its not over crowded like a cruise, the crowd is limited to the number of rooms they have.	There is no bar or alcohol served. We had carried a bottle of wine which they kindly kept in their cooler and served us.
The stay was decent, we had air-condition, comfortable bed with full bath.	The boat and room infrastructure is aging and dated.
A few hours into the ride, the boat stops at a local seafood market where you can hop off, pick your favorites—crab, lobster, prawns, fish—and have the onboard kitchen cook it just how you like. We chose some local fish and prawns, asked for a simple pan-fried preparation with local spices, and it was absolutely delicious.

One key takeaway from our trip: it’s totally worth booking the entire boat with friends. You get full privacy, more personalized service, and access to modern boats with better amenities.

Once the boat docks, you get an hour or two to explore before dinner. We hired a local tuk-tuk for 500 Rs (about $6) roundtrip to Alleppey Beach—and caught one of the most breathtaking sunsets we’ve ever seen.

It is a serene stretch of golden sand along the Arabian Sea coast. It has a historic 150-year-old pier extending into the sea, it’s a perfect spot to relax and watch the sunset.

The beach is perfect for leisurely strolls, picnics, and photography and offers a peaceful escape from the busy town.

We hung out and really enjoyed our time in the evening. The weather was perfect for a March evening.

This is one of the best sights for Sunset and I would highly recommend it.

After a few hours, we went back to the boat and they served us the dinner. The night was over as we enjoyed some Arabian breeze, fresh dinner and good wine.

We wrapped up our trip to Aleppey and drove back to Kochi. A few things to keep in mind:

From Thekkady, it took us good 4-5 hours and we only took 1 break in between so please plan accordingly if you are going from Munnar or Thekkady.
If you’re visiting during monsoon season (June-September), you might catch some unique festivals like boat races.
Aleppey Beach is not the only popular beach, if you have time, explore - Marari Beach, Punnapara and Thotapally beach. All are equally serene and worth spending time. We definitely will cover all of these.

On our way to Kochi, our final stop was to see the Mangroves and take a scenic boat ride.

Mangroves in Kochi, form a vital part of the region’s coastal ecosystem, thriving along the backwaters and estuaries.

These salt-tolerant trees act as natural barriers against coastal erosion and storm surges while providing a rich habitat for fish, crabs, and migratory birds.

Places like Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary in the heart of Kochi showcase the ecological importance of these lush green zones, offering a peaceful refuge for wildlife amidst the urban sprawl. The mangroves not only support biodiversity but also play a crucial role in carbon absorption, making them essential for climate resilience.

With this, we wrapped up our trip to Kerala and headed to the Airport for flight to Delhi. But before we wrap, no trip is complete without a wonderful shopping list :). I will create a seperate post on things to buy in Kerala becaus believe me, its worth it.

Nandhi, Thank you!