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Kerala - Human By Nature, Kerala Tourism, Indian Travel Blogger

Kerala – Human By Nature

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Kerala – Human By Nature

Hi guys,

I visited Kerala last year and it was one of my most special travel trips, it’s a place I can never forget. Although I had only 6 days and I divided it between Munnar and Varkala, there is so much more I wanted to see and experience and would definitely be going back again soon!

Munnar

Kerala, popularly known as God’s Own Country had evolved a way of life that is distinct from the rest of the country – a way of life that expresses a fascinating interplay of nature and humanity across the most diverse terrains one could imagine – all in a tiny green land. Here every human act is a way of connecting with everything in nature around them. Whether it’s the vast stretch of tea estates or taking a shower in the river with the elephants or spending a night in a house boat in the beautiful back waters, you would be one with nature everywhere in Kerala.

If you have been to Kerala, I am sure you will vouch for the amazing people of Kerala. They are so friendly, warm and helpful, they will go out of their way to help you. Different religions, different ideologies, different cultures or different food habits, they still mesh together and co-habit peacefully. And not only just humans, they co-habit with the nature and animals as well.

Humanity interconnected with nature is a way of life in Kerala that also drew from its history of trade and seafaring that led to it being a melting pot where the most diverse ideologies, faiths and cultures co-existed like no other place.

This video, Human By Nature, is drawn from real stories of the land. It is an ode to the people of Kerala whose everyday lives are, in a way, epic in scale. It emerged from continual conversations with travellers to Kerala, who over the years spoke of a fascinating human’scape’, beyond the stunning landscapes.

The vast, beautiful, lush green tea gardens at Munnar or the stunning sunsets at the beaches of Varkala, I just couldn’t have enough of Kerala and I wished to stay longer.

Varkala Beach

The food of Kerala is equally amazing, although I am a vegetarian there were so many new dishes to try. I tried Ela Ada, Idiyappam, Puttu, so many things for the first time in Kerala and absolutely loved them. I love to try and experience the local food, local culture whenever I am travelling and Kerala did not disappoint in the food aspect as well.

The culture of Kerala is a fusion of Aryan and Dravidian cultures, advanced and mixed for centuries, under inspirations from other parts of India and abroad. It is well-defined by its antiquity, relic and the organic continuity sustained by the Malayali people. Any time you visit Kerala, most likely there will be at least one local festival you can experience. Kerala trace its non-prehistoric cultural genesis to its membership (around the AD 3rd century) in a vaguely defined historical region known as Thamizhagom — a land defined by a common Tamil culture and encompassing the Chera, Chola, and Pandya kingdoms. Kerala has an opulent cultural heritage with its diverse ethos is influenced by three main religions of Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. Exquisite sculptures, music and dance forms can be seen in the historic growth of Kerala’s cultural traditions. Trissur Pooram, The traditions of Kathakali and Mohiniattam are highly developed art forms that have established from their folk origins into highly evolved classical dance forms.

Varkala Beach

We also got to watch the traditional martial art form of Kerala, Kalaripayattu and it was mind blowing. Kathakali show was also on my list but the timings didn’t match unfortunately. But I have so much more to experience in Kerala, that I am definitely going back. Alleppey, Wayanad, Kumarakom, so many places, honestly you need 15-20 days to experience Kerala.

Munnar

From the wildlife, to the nature, the mountains, the beaches, the people, Kerala is so warm and lovely and one of those places you can never forget once you visit and would want to revisit again and again.

See my previous post on Kerala HERE for more places to visit and things to do in Kerala.

Have you been to Kerala? Which is your favourite place? If not, which place is on your wishlist? Let me know your experience in the comments below.

P.S.: Sponsored post by Kerala Tourism

My Stay & Experience at B’Canti Boutique Beach Resort in Varkala, Kerala

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My Stay & Experience at B’Canti Boutique Beach Resort in Varkala, Kerala

Hi guys,

If you follow me on Instagram (@bhumika_t), you would know I was in Kerala last week. I stayed 3 days in Munnar and 3 days at Varkala, it was a pretty nice and relaxing holiday covering both the mountains and the beach.

Varkala is 1.5 hours away from Trivandrum airport.

At Varkala, we stayed at B’Canti Boutique Beach Resort which is a gorgeous property on the North cliff of Varkala, a short distance away from Papanasham Beach. They also have a seasonal beach attached to the property and you can get the beach view from your room and the restaurant.

Deluxe Room

They have Deluxe, Super Deluxe and Superior Sea View Rooms. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, with all the necessary amenities.

View from the Room

One can also explore the nearby beaches, Kappil Beach and Varkala Beach. We loved both the beaches, they were so clean and well maintained. Another place to explore is the Golden Island, we didn’t go there as we just wanted to relax after all the travelling 3-4 days earlier.

B’Canti also has a separate Ayurveda & Yoga Wellness Ashram where you can get different types of Ayurvedic massages and/or herbal treatments. We got the Abhyanga massage on both the days which is a traditional Ayurvedic massage with a blend of oil and essential herbs, and is followed by a steam and bath with ubtan. My skin felt baby soft and body super relaxed, post the massage. It was a nice end to the vacation.

They also offer daily yoga sessions by the beach, if interested.

Their restaurant ‘The Bait & Hook‘ serves all types of cuisines from North Indian to South Indian to continental. The vegetarian food in Kerala doesn’t have many options apart from dosas and different types of rice, so The Bait & Hook was a welcome change and we loved the food here! Even the staff is very warm and courteous and was helpful throughout our stay. I loved the pasta, gajar halwa and aloo parantha and appam for breakfast 😀 The fresh fruits and fresh bread basket every morning for breakfast was what I looked forward to!

They even arranged a candle light dinner by the beach, for us, on our last night there. The set up was beautiful, with the pleasant beach ahead.

We had an early flight and they arranged for a quick, early breakfast for us before we checked out. They do provide airport pick up and drop facility as well, on request.

Overall, I had a great time and it was a really good holiday. If you are looking for a good hotel to stay at Varkala, you should definitely check out B’Canti Boutique Beach Resort. It has a perfect blend of good food, beach view, comfortable stay and ayurvedic massages. Check them out HERE

Have you been to Varkala? Let me know your thoughts on Kerala/Varkala in the comments below.

Kairali Ayurvedic Healing Village Experiential, Vlog

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Kairali Ayurvedic Healing Village Experiential, Vlog

Hi guys,

So last to last weekend I was in Palakkad in Kerala at The Kairali Ayurvedic Healing Village. Those of you who follow me on social media already know that and have been seeing the live updates.

Since there was no network and WiFi there, I couldn’t update much, but of course I captured everything for the vlog.

About Kairali: Kairali Ayurvedic Group’s signature resort ‘The Ayurvedic Healing Village’ is situated int Palakkad, just a few kilometers from the world’s biggest mountain pass between Kerala and Tamil Nadu. There is no better place to get inside nature and rejuvenate with natural medicine than the sweet scented forests of Kerala’s Pala trees. Time spent at this unique jungle paradise will allow you to experience the authentic healing practices of ancient India, while relaxing in the lap of modern holistic luxury.

They have different packages for different treatments, yoga therapy, yoga training, ayurveda training, etc. They get patients from all around the world for hypertension, anxiety, nervous breakdown, facial paralysis, weight loss, etc.

You can of course also go there to detox, relax and rejuvenate. A break like this is very refreshing.

We were welcomed with the sandalwood tikka, small white shawl like silk cloth and fresh coconut water. Once you check in, the first thing is consultation with the doctor as your stay, food and everything that will follow will be according to the doctor’s guidelines. The doctor checks your blood pressure, weight and asks for your entire medical history and specific concerns and issues.

Treatment/Massage room

She also prescribes ayurvedic medicines, if required. Apart from that, there are 1-2 massages/treatments everyday as per your package and medical requirement.

We had two massages and we tried Abhyangam on Day 1 and Shirodhara on Day 2. I absolutely loved the massages, they use warm oil very generously and each patient has two attendants and they both do it in perfect sync.

Abhyangam is massaging each and every body part with a lot of warm oil, from head to toe. Shirodhara as the name suggests is flow of oil on your head. They do start with the body massage at first, which is followed by Shirodhara. After the massage, we have to sit in the steam chamber for about 5-6 minutes, followed by the bath. They give a special ubtan (which has green gram powder) to bath with, it gets rid of all the oil without stripping any moisture from the skin. I did not require any moisturiser while I was staying there, because of the generous oil during the massage on both the days.

Outside my villa

There are 30 villas in the Kairali property right now, I loved how each villa was at a distance and each villa had a nice verandah outside to relax and admire the surroundings. The entire property is lush green with a lot of different trees and waterfalls around. You can also find a lot of rare birds and butterflies.

Breakfast (Wheat Upma)

Food is all organic made with very little oil and less salt and spices. There is no sugar used in anything, you can get palm sugar if needed. All desserts had jaggery in it. You get fixed portions if you are here for weight loss program. But you get everything from soup, salad, roti, 2 veggies and one dal and rice, followed by dessert. They grow all fruits and vegetables in their own organic farm behind the property. Morning breakfast starts with a plate full of fresh fruits and fresh fruit juice, followed by one main dish and toast/butter.

The water served here is special herbal water. There is red sandalwood based pink water which everyone can drink, it tastes just like regular water. And there is Niranjal (not sure if this is the correct spelling :/) which is light yellow in color and meant for weight loss and increasing metabolism, it has a slight jeera water taste.

They also have a herbal garden which has one herb plant each, it is only for training purpose. Their main property where they grown all the herbs is near their factory. We also visited the factory where they make all Kairali products and saw the entire process how each product is made. We were allowed to click only in two rooms, hence the part you see in the vlog is only half of the process.

We also met the founders Mrs. Gita Ramesh and Mr. K.V Ramesh, it was so good meeting them. They were very warm and down to earth. We chatted for about 45 minutes with them. There was also a cooking demo by the main chef and an astrology session later on.

While you are staying there, each day 6.30 to 7.30 is yoga practice and 6 to 7 in the evening is meditation. In between you can have your breakfast, lunch, relax and get your massage treatments done. They also have an entertainment room where you can play a few games and a gym.

You get WiFi access only at the reception area and not in the rooms, so you have to come to the reception to use WiFi. I had no network, so was almost without internet the 3 days. I actually liked this small little break/detox. I am online 24/7, so it was difficult at the start but I was liking it after a day.

The only thing I would have liked better are the rooms. The interiors could have been much better, and same goes for the bathroom. Bathroom didn’t have proper drainage system. Since we were occupied on both the days and were out the whole time, it didn’t bother me much but if someone comes for the 7 days/14 days package, they have to be comfortable. I wish they work on the interiors and bathrooms, because everything else is just perfect!

Overall, I loved the experience and highly recommend going there for a treatment if you are suffering from something specific or just for a detox. Also for elders who are suffering from arthritis, diabetes, blood pressure, etc, it’s an ideal place to visit.

See more/book the place here www.ayurvedichealingvillage.com

We also got a few products during the factory visit. I have been using them since quite some days and I really like them. This Grapeseed and Almond body lotion was a part of the toiletries in the bathroom and had used it during the stay too. I absolutely love the smell. It looks rich but is water based and gets absorbed instantly.

I have used the Kairoil hair oil and the Kairkare body massage oil just once, so will update on that later. I absolutely loved the sandal soap, it smells really good and doesn’t dry the skin at all because of the glycerin in it.

Also the herbal powder for body wash is really good. It exfoliates the skin gently and does not strip the natural oils from the skin. The lemon anti-dandruff shampoo is refreshing and works on keeping the scalp clean and dandruff free.

The products are slightly expensive I would say, but since they are all herbal and natural and if they work, all up for it. Since I saw the factory and how the products are made, I would really love trying more of Kairali products and definitely will. Highly recommend them. I am looking forward to try Kaircin which is a facial oil for glowing skin 🙂

Products/Medicines/Oils can be bought here: www.kairaliproducts.in

P.S: I went to Kairali Healing Village as a part of Ayurveda Sutra Wellness Bloggers meet Edition 2

Have you been to an ayurvedic/health resort before? How was your experience?

Kerala Travel Diaries- Places to Visit, Things To Do

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Kerala Travel Diaries- Places to Visit, Things To Do

By Sanchita

Introduction –

Kerala, is popularly known as ‘Gods Own Country’, blessed with a scenic beauty of green landscape, a mélange of beautiful beaches, the serene backwaters and a tradition to speak for. It is considered one of the best tourist destinations in India and truly a beautiful one. Dotted with the stunning beaches along the Malabar Coast to the fantastic verdant hillside tea gardens in Munnar, the amalgamation of rich cultures, traditions and folk dances, a land of elephants and the unique local cuisine – Kerala has it all. Kerala is a narrow strip of land with Arabian Sea on one side and Western Ghats on the other side. This place is gifted to receive the monsoon showers first in the city and thus the growth of lush greenery with its radiance and rich fertile soil has also made the land extremely cultivable. Let us see in details about the must visit places in Kerala as well the things to do when you visit the Gods Own Country.

You can either plan your holiday on your own or go for Kerala Tourism Packages.

10 Best Places to see in Kerala –

1. Backwaters of Kerala – You want a romantic and serene destination with your partner? Or, a quiet and peaceful experience for a holiday with the family? The backwaters of Kerala is the most tranquil and relaxing place that you have to visit. The sunset along with the incandescent changes in the sky and experiencing that from a houseboat along the palm-fringed Kerala canals is the best moment one can have. Also, the delicious Indian food and chilled beer on board the boat make the experience even more gratifying.

2. Tea gardens in Munnar – Munnar is the famous hill station in Kerala situated at the confluence of the three rivers Madhurapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundaly. Another must visit place in Kerala is the Tea Gardens of Munnar. This place is well-known for its extensive tea plantations where tea is being picked and processed, and you can also try fresh tea straight from the gardens. The land is truly a blessed beauty with winding lanes, misty hills, and forests full of exotic plants and wildlife. If you are an adventurer, try the trekking to Anamudi, the highest peak in south India or go rock climbing and para gliding.

3. Athirapally Falls (Athirapally) – Athirappilly Falls, known as the largest waterfall in Kerala, is situated in Athirappilly panchayath, Chalakudy Taluk in of Thrissur district. It stands tall at 80 feet. And just a short drive from Athirapally, the Vazhachal waterfall is close to lush green forests that are home to many endangered and endemic species of flora and fauna. The wild beauty is just as fascinating as enchanting over there.

4. Varkala Beach – Considered to be one of the best beaches of India, the amazing picturesque Varkala beach provides a relatively peaceful alternative to the now commercialized Kovalam. The long stretch of cliff and views that extend over the Arabian Sea is simply breathtaking. There is a paved footpath runs along the length of the cliff, dotted by coconut palms, beach shacks, hotels. Do not miss the uninterrupted view of the sun as it slowly sinks down the horizon.

5. Folklore Museum (Kochi) – If you are a history lover, you have to visit the Folklore Museum in Kochi. It has been built in true Keralan style from ancient temples and beautiful old houses. It includes over 4000 artefacts and covers three architectural styles: Malabar on the ground-floor, Kochi on the 1st, Travancore on the 2nd. Upstairs is a beautiful wood-lined theatre, with a 17th-century wooden ceiling. The Museum is a treasure trove that showcases the rich heritage of Kerala through its numerous art and dance forms.

6. Kovalam Beach (Kovalam) – this is another top rated beaches in India and one of the prominent feature of the Kerala Tourism. The relaxing sun, the Ayurvedic treatments and powerful strong deep massage on the shacks along with the local cuisine is the best thing to ask for. The crescent shaped beach has a light house on its southern side, which provides an excellent view of the city especially the moon-shaped beach and the Vizhinjam mosque. Kovalam which is derived from coconut trees is 16 kms away from Trivandrum. The rocky formations amalgams with the calm blue bay to turn the bay into a special aquarelle on moonlit evenings.

7. Vadakkunnathan Temple – The ancient temple with unique architecture – Vadakkunnathan Temple has been declared as a national monument by the Indian government, under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act. It is one of the oldest Hindu temples in Kerala, situated in the heart of Thrissur city and the temple is devoted to Lord Shiva. It is believed that the Vadakkumnathan temple was built by Parashurama. The temple exhibits the classic architectural style of Kerala. The interior of the temple is beautifully decorated with murals depicting the episodes from Mahabharata.

8. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (Thekkady) – the Periyar Wildlife sanctuary is one of the popular wild life sanctuary preserving various species of animals including elephants, tigers, sambars, gaurs and the very rare lion tailed macaques. The amazing cenic beauty along with its wildlife has been attracting tourists and visitors from all over the world for years and thus considered as one of the must visited place of Kerala. Take a boat trip to Thekkady Lake to experience it like never before.

9. Mattancherry Palace – Built by the Portuguese in the year 1557, Mattancherry Palace was presented to Raja Veera Kerala Varma of Kochi, the Palace was renovated in 1663 by the Dutch. It is a Bhagavathi Temple in the central courtyard is built like the characteristic Kerala style mansion – the Nalukettu – the home of the aristocracy, nobleness and upper classes, with four separate wings opening out to a central courtyard. It has the view of the panoramic Kochi backwaters and the gorgeous collection of murals collectively covering over 300 sq ft of its walls. There are some display of royal paraphernalia like weapons, swings and furniture which offer a glimpse of the lifestyle of the royal family.

10. Padmanabhaswamy Temple – the richest Hindu temple in the world, Padmanabhaswamy Temple is located in Thiruvananthapuram and is built in an intricate fusion of the indigenous Kerala style and the Dravidian style of architecture associated with the temples located in the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu, featuring high walls, and a 16th-century Gopuram. It is In terms of assets gold and precious stones, it is by far the wealthiest institution and place of worship of any kind in the recorded history of the world, with an estimated $22 billion worth of gold and jewels stored in underground vaults. However it is said that only 5 of the 6 underground vaults had been opened and explored.

Things to do in Kerala –

  • To have a look at the lush green landscape, take a house boat in Alleppey to travel through the tranquil backwaters is just as amazing as it is made out to be.
  • Visit the Eravikulam National Park because of Neelakurinji, which blooms once in 12 years and this rare view is a fascinating experience.
  • You can also having a nice trekking experience to the peak of the hill and get to see the Nigiri Thar, an endangered mountain goat.
  • Go for a Shikara rides in Alappuzha which has to offer some stunning views of the backwaters and the array of beautiful birds along with the nurturing of nature.
  • Watch the Colorful Snake Boat races during Onam festival in Alappuzha, Kerala which is held from July to September particularly during Onam festival.
  • Kerala is famous for spices. Visit the spice plantations or gardens in Munnar, Thekkady or Wayanad and experience some authentic black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon and the exotic vanilla and explore the farms on a nature walk.
  • Stay at a coffee plantation resort or homestay and it would include all the activities like trekking, night safaris, camp fire and plantation walks.
  • Watch Theyyam, a dance form staged in various temples of North Kerala, usually in front of the village shrine.

Culture –

The culture of Kerala is a fusion of Aryan and Dravidian cultures, advanced and mixed for centuries, under inspirations from other parts of India and abroad. It is well-defined by its antiquity, relic and the organic continuity sustained by the Malayali people. Any time you visit Kerala, most likely there will be at least one local festival you can experience. Kerala trace its non-prehistoric cultural genesis to its membership (around the AD 3rd century) in a vaguely defined historical region known as Thamizhagom — a land defined by a common Tamil culture and encompassing the Chera, Chola, and Pandya kingdoms. Kerala has an opulent cultural heritage with its diverse ethos is influenced by three main religions of Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. Exquisite sculptures, music and dance forms can be seen in the historic growth of Kerala’s cultural traditions. Trissur Pooram, The traditions of Kathakali and Mohiniattam are highly developed art forms that have established from their folk origins into highly evolved classical dance forms.

Cuisine –

Kerala is known as the “Land of Spices” and have a unique culinary experience, thanks to its wide variety of spices. The cuisine offers a crowd of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes prepared using fish, poultry and red meat with rice a typical supplement. Food is customarily served on a banana leaf and almost every dish has coconut and spices added for flavor, giving its cuisine a sharp spiciness that is heightened with the use of tamarind. Seafood is the main diet in coastal Kerala, whereas vegetables are the main diet on the plains. Meat is served as the main course in tribal and northern Kerala. Dishes range from simple ‘kanji’ (rice gruel) to extravagant feasts or ‘sadyas’.

Conclusion –

Thus, there are a million reasons to visit Kerala. From the serene view of beaches to the lush greenery, relaxing backwater and hills amalgamated with rich heritage of the land true makes it God’s own country. Unique culinary experiences combined with Land of Ayurvedha and Spices, Kerala is a must visit for everyone.

Editor’s Note: I absolutely loved this post Sanchita, so detailed! Kerala is also in my bucket list

Image Source: Google

Have you been to Kerala? If not, after reading this, I am sure you want to 😀