Just the mention of Kerala is reminiscent of palm trees, houseboats and backwaters. Hence when I got a chance to experience backwaters during my recent trip to Kochi, I grabbed it with both hands. The Kerala Backwaters are a network of interconnected canals, rivers, lakes and inlets, a labyrinthine system formed by more than 900 km of waterways. Having read so much about backwaters and its scenic offerings I couldn’t wait to go for maiden backwater ride.
The Good Bad and Ugly truth of Chinese Fishing Nets of Kochi
You cannot talk about Kochi without mentioning its coveted Chinese Nets.
Colloquially called as Cheena vala, these nets are Kochi’s trademark and USP. And rightly so because Kochi is the only place in the world where you can find these nets apart from China. Hard to believe but it is true. Seeing the “Chinese fishing nets in Kochi” is all over the internet as one of the “must dos” when in Kochi. Needless to say, I was excited for my maiden visit to Kochi mainly to see these nets. The internet is flooded with captivating pictures of these ginormous nets with the backdrop of a perfect sunset. The silhouettes of these nets with balance hues of orange and red, just the thought this visual warmed my heart. But my expectation took a hike when I actually visited Fort Kochi beach to witness these popular Chinese Nets.
Swami Vivekananda’s Message at the Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameshwaram
I believe that things happen when you don’t make a big deal out of them. They tend to work out for you on their own. The same happened when I planned my trip to Rameshwaram. One thing leads to another and before I knew I was packing for Rameshwaram. It is one of the coveted chaar dhaams of Hindu Religion. I totally remember how it was such a big deal for my grandparents and how they always fancy visiting the temple someday.
Medical Tourism, My Recent Discovery
Medical Tourism in India
There are so many incidents and horror stories which make one feel unsafe and vulnerable. Rapes and molestation have become so common that not a day goes by without such incidents coming to light. Not to forget, so many of them don’t even see the light of the day and go unreported. India always finds a place in the list of countries which are not safe for women. The recent macabre incidents of rapes and killings made me wonder the world I am living in. At one point even the thought of settling outside the country crossed my mind. I am not proud of that but it did cross my mind. But just when I was about to hit the bottom, something happened during my recent trip to Kochi and it made me feel so proud of my country. To give a little hint, its something around Medical Tourism.
What to pack for Kochi
Before I left for Kochi I faced a mental block on packing. Something that I generally never experience. I spent quite a lot of time deciding what to pack for Kochi. I tried looking up on the internet but to my surprise, no help was available online as well. I looked up on Youtube and I did find some videos for reference. If you are travelling in India packing can get very tricky. What you would pack for Goa will not be the same as the stuff you pack for Rameshwaram.
My first encounter with the Port City Vizag
My first encounter with the Port City Vizag
My trip to Vizag aka Vishakhapatnam was in order before I could blink my eyes. Flights were booked the next minute and I was all set to add a new city to my repertoire of stories and experiences. Needless to say, I had no plans and no “Things to do” list in my hand. The Internet has been a saviour in this area and I took the plunge counting on it. I did download random web pages around Vizag to check during the flight. Thinking that gave me a fair idea as to what all I could do during my spontaneous 3 days trip to Vizag.
Mysteries around Padmanabhaswamy Temple
Padmanabhaswamy Temple
Padmanabhaswamy Temple, located in Trivandrum, dedicated to Lord Vishnu should definitely be on your “Places to see in Trivandrum” list. The temple is always in news for various mysteries associated with it. Be it about the secret vault or the unimaginable amount of treasure in the form of gold and silver, this temple has been the talk of the town for times more than you can imagine. I had my fair share of preconceived notions around the temple. But all of them seemed to vanish into thin air as I stepped inside the temple. The shrine is currently run by a trust headed by the royal family of Travancore.
Padmanabhapuram Palace: The Wooden Marvel of Travancore Kingdom
Padmanabhapuram Palace: The Wooden Marvel of Travancore Kingdom
Padmanabhapuram Palace is a bundle of surprises wrapped in wooden layers with intricate design carvings. To begin with, the palace is located in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu. But it is owned and maintained by the government of Kerala. Isn’t it a little weird? On my South India sojourn, I did a pit stop at Padmanabhapuram Palace while I was on my way to Kanyakumari. The palace is worth every bit of the trouble that I took to reach there. Around 65 kilometres from Thiruvananthapuram, Padmanabhapuram Palace, with its indigenous Kerala architecture, royally transports you to the era of Travancore kingdom.
Discoveries and Disappointments in Kanyakumari
Discoveries and Disappointments in Kanyakumari
My association with Kanyakumari was very blurred until this trip. I know the place from my geography book as the “Southernmost tip of the country”. Located in the state of Tamil Nadu, Kanyakumari is also popular as the “Land’s End” of the Indian subcontinent. I also happen to know that Kanyakumari boasts the best sunrise and sunset view. But did it ever occur to me that I should plan to visit the place? No, absolutely not. But then when I saw Kanyakumari lying peacefully on the route map of my South India trip, I couldn’t skip it. I decided to spend two days in Kanyakumari before I head to Rameshwaram.
The Magical Sunrise in Kanyakumari
I woke up to some quintessential South Indian melody. The alarm was yet to go off and me getting up before that doesn’t happen that often. Following the music, I opened the door that leads me to the balcony. It was way before the sunrise and I could see upset shades of blue and pink hues playing the charade with the clouds. It was too early for so many people to be on the streets but when in Kanyakumari Sunrise is something you cannot afford to miss. I took just a few minutes to put my affairs in order and I was out of the hotel to witness the most magical sunrise of my life. Apparently, there is a sunrise spot in Kanyakumari which boasts the best view and I didn’t have to try hard to locate it because in that ungodly hour I could see bunch and bunch of people going in one direction. I followed them without giving a second thought.