Taking the Plunge: Tushar’s Kerala Trip Review with Thrillophilia
“What have you done for yourself?”
That one simple question from my partner, one that echoed louder in my head than any alarm or deadline.
It was 3 AM, I was drenched in sweat despite the air conditioner set at 18 degrees, and all I could feel was a weird churning in my stomach, like a flutter. The night before an office deadline, the all-too-familiar panic set in. I was going through my mental checklist for the hundredth time when my partner woke up, concerned and confused.
Over tea, she finally said: “You need to take a break.”
And as I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, it hit me: I hadn’t done anything for myself in a long time. That’s when I made an impulsive decision—I booked a Kerala tour.
Chapter One
The next thing we knew, we were on a flight to Kerala.
Our first stop: Munnar, the land where nature paints with every shade of green. From the moment we hit the road from Kochi to Munnar, the landscape started transforming, with rolling hills and endless tea plantations.
But the real magic started with the Valara and Cheeyappara waterfalls—massive cascades, tumbling over rocks, surrounded by lush greenery. We couldn’t resist stopping for a quick photo shoot (okay, more like 200 pictures). The sound of the water crashing down, the mist that hung in the air—it felt like nature was cleansing our souls right there.
We finally reached our hotel, a cosy little retreat nestled in the hills of Munnar. It was already late, and the chill of the mountains hit us, but for once, I didn’t mind. The exhaustion of work and stress started to melt away.
The next morning, we were greeted by misty skies and the freshest air I’d ever breathed. We decided to explore Munnar’s tea gardens, and that’s when the fun really began.
My partner, in her classic playful style, grabbed a tea-storing bag from a worker and placed it on her head, trying to imitate the tea pickers. I couldn’t stop laughing and clicked away, capturing her perfect mix of grace and goofiness.
She joked, “Well, if software engineering ever gets too much, we know we’ve got options!” It was the most relaxed we’d been in months.
The tea gardens felt like a scene from an old painting—rolling hills covered with vibrant green tea bushes, dotted with workers gracefully picking leaves. We toured the plantation, learning how tea is made, and of course, sipping the finest brew right at its source.
Chapter Two
Munnar was stunning, but Alleppey?
Oh, Alleppey was a different kind of magic altogether. This town is known as the Venice of the East, and after just a few minutes in one of its iconic houseboats, I understood why.
Imagine gliding through backwaters, surrounded by coconut groves, with nothing but the sound of birds and the gentle rippling of water. It was like floating through paradise. The houseboat itself was surprisingly luxurious—a floating cabin with all the comforts of a hotel room, but better because we had the whole backwater view right outside.
As we sailed through the canals, the sun began to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. The village scenes we passed by were straight out of a postcard—children playing, women washing clothes by the water, and men paddling small boats.
We stopped for a traditional Kerala meal onboard—spicy fish curry, rice, and coconut-infused dishes. We ate under a sky bursting with stars, yes! That’s true.
My partner looked at me and smiled, “You needed this,” she whispered. She was right.
The evening was magical. The boat docked, the stars seemed to multiply, and the silence? Oh, it was golden. We spent the night on the deck, talking, laughing, and watching the world float by. For the first time in forever, I wasn’t thinking about deadlines.
Chapter Three
Our last stop was Kovalam, the ultimate beach paradise. After a drive along the coastal highway, lined with palm trees swaying in the breeze, we reached our resort. We spent hours on the beach—waves crashing at our feet, toes sinking into the warm sand.
My partner convinced me to try jet skiing, which, let me tell you, was both terrifying and exhilarating. With every turn, I was holding on for dear life while she screamed in excitement.
“You’ll live, Tushar!” she shouted over the roar of the engine.
And, Kovalam - well it was more than just beach fun. We stayed in a treehouse for one night, fulfilling one of my childhood dreams.
Imagine waking up to the sound of birds chirping and the sight of the sun filtering through the dense canopy of trees.
It was like being in our own little tree-top hideaway. We spent hours just sitting on the balcony, drinking coffee, and watching the world from up high.
On our last day, we couldn’t leave Kerala without visiting the famed Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Trivandrum. The temple’s intricate stonework, set against a backdrop of palm trees and a serene pond, felt like stepping into another world.
As we stood there, admiring the carvings and soaking in the peaceful atmosphere, I realised how far we’d come—not just in the distance, but in spirit.
Kerala had given me something I didn’t even know I needed—a break, yes, but also a reminder that life doesn’t always have to be about the next deadline or the next goal.
Sometimes, you need to sit on a houseboat under a starry sky or watch your partner place a tea-storing bag on her head, just to feel human again.
Read More: Thrillophilia Kerala Reviews