This was my long-awaited travel experience after the pandemic; Kerala – God’s Own Country and Tamil Nadu – a perfect blend of everything a traveler would want.
Day 1: From Cochin we set out by road, it was raining so you can imagine the scenic drive got even better to Thekkady, a town near Periyar National Park, an important tourist attraction in Kerala.
On the way we even spotted an elephant being transported to another location in a vehicle ! Lunch was at the Niramaya Hotel, a beautiful boutique property located in the midst of a forest. What an adventure ride it was to reach the hotel in small jeeps. We reached our location soon enough; Thekkady, a haven for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts.
Our first stop was a visit to the spice plantation. It is from Thekkady that India gets a major part of their spices. Therefore, a visit to the plantations is a must to explore these aromatic plants in their natural form. Staying at the Spice Village by CGH is a seamless extension of the verdant landscape around and a celebration of all things spice!
Day 2: From the mountains to the plains, we drove towards Tamil Nadu; our journey to Madurai had some interesting enroute stops, one of them was a visit to a handmade brick making unit. A short hill climb up was our venue for lunch in Madurai, The TAJ Gateway a delicious spread of food. When in Madurai the Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace and Meenakshi Amman Temple renowned for its astonishing architecture, is a must visit. Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace is a visual treat as it portrays the grandeur of royal era.
We called it a day at the Heritage Madurai hotel that rings with historic charm and architectural finesse.
We had a grand welcome at this 5 star heritage resort, set in the prime location of Madurai. Food was the highlight of the evening, with a variety of local specialties coupled with a glass of wine.
Day 3: After exploring Maduria we headed to the historical town of Chettinadu to explore some the hidden secrets of this region. We visited the Chettinadu Mansion which has stories to tell right from its entrance gate to the backyard.
The Mansion is spread over a sprawling 80,000 square feet in area. The owners of the resort live in, to give you an account of the village and the Mansion from the 1900s to the present day. It is interesting to see how old customs & traditions are still being followed by the locals here. Next we stopped for a traditional banana leaf meal, there is something so comforting to eat on a banana leaf – it is so pure. Our foreigner friends tried their hands or rather fingers at it too ! We visited the Athangudi Handmade tile unit, the Chettinadu palace, saw the Chettinadu traditional weaving unit and finally called it a day checking into our hotel, Visalam by CGH – a true mansion experience.
Day 4…..
As we set off on Day 4, driving towards Thanjavur, we stopped on the road side to see the vendors getting the cashews out from the fruit using their own simple techniques. As we entered the city of Thanjavur the majestic big temple tower welcomed us in all its glory. The city is an important agricultural centre and is known as the Rice bowl of Tamil Nadu. We visited The Brihadeeshwara Temple ( also known as BIG Temple locally), one of my favourite places to visit. This temple is one of the largest temples of India, and one of supreme brilliances of Indian architecture.
Day 5: Breakfast was a Dosa, crisp savoury pancake. coupled with Kumbakonam Filter Coffee which is a must try. Today we set off to Pondicherry, a former French colony. Pondicherry is ideal for exploring on foot. A canal broadly divides the city into two parts—the French and Tamil Quarters—with compact layouts which are best explored by cycle or walking or by cycle rickshaws as they cruise through the streets very easily. And that is how we explored the beautiful architecture of the town as well. Pondicherry was a French colony, and this has been the most enduring influence on its built heritage, its language and food.
Day 6: From the French quarters we went to visit Mahabalipuram. Popularly known for rock-cut caves and ancient temples, Mahabalipuram is located on the Coromandel Coast along the Bay of Bengal. The town is famous for the UNESCO World Heritage Sites Group of Monuments, which are architectural wonders and known for their intricate carvings. We ended the day by driving to Chennai.
Day 7: Being the last day of this tour, we had planned first half for sightseeing and second half for some shopping around the bazaars in Chennai. We visited the Kapaleeshwara Temple in Mylapore where we were lucky to witness a wedding ceremony. Next we visited the Santhome Bascillica, we took a ride along the Marina Beach, fishermen’s village alongside and drove through colonial buildings. We stopped at the Bronze Gallery in the Government Musuem which houses a rare collection of bronze idols/statues, a real representation of art, culture, history of the bygone era. We ended the day with a shopping spree at T.Nagar a popular shopping hub in Chennai.
And that was how 7 days passed, so quickly actually; this trip had everything to offer be it the landscape, architecture & history in various heritage sites & in temples, people & their customs, cuisine and so much more. Happy to see that we are back to travelling now and it is always good to welcome our friends from around the world back to India. See you soon.
