Misty Hills to Serene Shores: Harikesh’s Kerala Trip Review with Thrillophilia
As my son flipped through our old wedding album one night, he asked me, "So, how was your honeymoon back then, Dad?" Sudha laughed softly, "Oh, it was lovely, but we haven’t had a trip like that in so long”. She sighed.
She was not wrong; our first trip together had faded into the past. I thought it was time to take some time for ourselves, and I wanted everything to be perfect and easy. I contacted Thrillophilia because I didn't want to deal with the stress of planning and booking everything. I wanted professionals to take care of the details so we could focus on each other on this trip.
I could tell right away that things were different when we landed at Cochin airport. A cheerful driver was there to receive us with a "Welcome to Kerala" sign. Before long, we were on our way to Munnar. The drive itself felt like a warm welcome, with mist swirling around the hills, fog covering narrow bridges, and waterfalls falling down green cliffs.
"Take my picture here, Harikesh," Sudha yelled as we pulled over to look at the view. She looked like a teenager again, and that one moment felt like the start of something we had missed years ago.
The mountain air in Munnar was fresh and welcoming. The balcony of our resort looked out over a green valley with hills. Every morning started with hot cups of chai, and a view that completely took our breath away.
We spent our days exploring tea estates, watching skilled artisans pick delicate leaves, and tasting teas that smelt so good that Sudha closed her eyes and said, "Now this is what heaven must smell like." A guide took us to the tea museum one afternoon, and I remember Sudha carefully packing some blends to take home. She said, "Every time we sip this, it will bring us back here."
Munnar was just as magical at night, we went to a cultural centre, where we saw Kathakali dancers paint stories with colour and movement. Their eyes were flashing, and their gestures were sharp. Later, martial artists lit up the stage with fire, swords, and flips. Sudha grabbed my hand and whispered, "This is unbelievable."
We drove from Munnar to Thekkady. The road wound through forests, and when we got there, the fog had turned into warm sunshine. The still waters of Periyar Lake looked like a painting, with trees that looked like they were half-submerged, birds gliding low, and the air was completely calm.
The boat safari was just what we wanted, we saw groups of sambar deer, flocks of colourful birds, and herds of elephants eating by the bank. Sudha said, "What if we had done this 15 years ago?" and leaned against me.
But the best moment was at Elephant Junction. I didn't expect to be able to bathe a baby elephant, but I did. Its trunk sprayed water all over the place, and Sudha stood far away, laughing and cheering. She teased me, "You've made a new friend!" as the elephant pushed me playfully.
We walked through spice farms at night, and our guide picked leaves and pods for us to smell. Each scent was stronger than the last: pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves. Sudha said, "This smells heavenly," and I couldn't have said it better.
If Munnar was poetic and Thekkady was exciting, Alleppey was all about love. We got on a traditional wooden houseboat, which moved through backwaters that looked like the sky. Coconut palms swayed, and little villages lined the banks. Children waved as we passed.
The captain let me steer at one point. It was awkward but a lot of fun. The backwaters turned golden by night. We sat on the deck and drank tender coconut water while fishermen threw their nets.
Dinner was simple but delicious: fluffy rice, spicy fish curry, crispy papad, and coconut chutneys. I leaned in close and whispered, "I love you," as the boat rocked gently under the stars that night. She smiled, just like she did when I first said it all those years ago. In that quiet, private moment, I knew Alleppey had given us something our honeymoon never had.
Kovalam was our last stop, and it felt like Kerala had saved the best part for last. As we walked hand in hand, the waves crashed at our feet on the endless crescent beaches. As Sudha looked out at the horizon, the salty wind blew through her hair, and she said softly, "I could stay here forever."
We climbed up the Vizhinjam Lighthouse, and every step echoed in the spiral staircase until we got to the top. The Arabian Sea looked endless from there, with the coastline curving gracefully and fishing boats dotting the waters below. Sudha squeezed my hand and said, "Worth every step."
We went to the Azhimala Shiva Temple one morning. A huge statue of Lord Shiva stood above the rocks, with the ocean roaring behind it. Then, we prayed at the Padmanabhaswamy Temple on our last morning in Trivandrum. The golden gopuram shone in the sun. Sudha turned to me and said, "Thank you for this trip," as we were leaving. I felt like I was getting married again.
At that moment, I knew that Kerala had finally given us the trip we had always wanted.
It wasn't just Kerala's beauty that made it special; it was also how Thrillophilia put it all together. Every transfer, guide, hotel, and meal went off without a hitch. We didn't have to worry about anything. We only had to hold hands, laugh, and enjoy the moments we hadn’t had for so long.
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