Kerala Calling

After a short break in Mahabaleshwar, Meghana, Mrunmay and I have been looking forward to a big break, which is our vacation around Anniversary. Coincidently, it also overlaps with Mrunmay’s vacation at his day care. After much deliberation, we decided to go to North. In fact, North was the obvious choice given the summer season, the deliberation was around where to go. Given vast number spots that North India offers, we considered almost everything from J&K to Bhutan, Sikkim.

Searching for a destination

Considering the Election Result Dates, which were overlapping with the vacation plan, we ruled out J&K for this year. We didn't want to do the usual circuit of Shimla-Kulu-Manali. While these discussions were ON, our kiddo put up a demand-cum-request to go to a place where he would get a lot of snow. His last encounter with snow was in Bangalore last year when we visited the snow city. Unfortunately, he hit with snow getting inside his shoes and had to abandon that adventure. This time he wanted to go out in the nature to enjoy the snow, more importantly to take revenge on both of us, who keep on preaching him on almost everything, by throwing snowballs at us!!

After a lot of enquiry, we realized that the only place where we’d get snow would be Ladakh, but unfortunately that place opens up for tourists only towards end of May or early June. The other option was to do Spiti Valley circuit, where there was a chance to get some snow. We almost zeroed in on this circuit. Itinerary chalked out, days decided. Our travel partner sent us the itinerary. And this is what hit us:

• Spiti to Manali road remains operationally open from 15 June till 15 Sep only.

Now, we had no clue why were we suggested Spiti Valley circuit if the road remains operational outside our travel plans!!

We then moved little towards north-east and started exploring Darjiling/Gangtok area. Looked promising, but while going through the terms and conditions, they appeared to be very complicated. E.g. 

• Due to shortage in space for parking, please inform the guest that they will have to be ready on time & wait in the lobby. Due to uncalculated situations the vehicle reporting may get delayed. We will request the guest to bear with us and as soon as vehicle arrives the guest will have to get in, within few seconds, before the policeman blow his whistle. 
• Due to vehicle-parking difficulty in the whole area, most of the areas are restricted to entry of vehicle & specific time is allotted for entries. Kindly request the guests to follow the time strictly as given to them. Incase of delays the vehicle will have to leave the hotel area without the guest & get parked in a parking area. In such a case, the guest will have to be transferred in a Maruti Van FOR WHICH THE COST WILL HAVE TO BE BORNE BY THE GUEST & WILL BE COLLECTED DIRECTLY.
• Incase the guest is opting for INOVA as per the unwritten syndicate rule, INNOVA will do the main transfer & sightseeing of Kalimpong & Darjeeling only.

By this time it was almost mid of April, and we were feeling the pressure of finalizing the dates and destination for not missing on the vacation entirely or for having to opt for not so interesting destination. This vacation marking a very special occasion for both of us, we decided to take on the South and chose an already visited circuit - Kerala. 

So it was Kerala...

Now there was no go back. Meghana was in full swing. Google and Google maps overworked that night and presented some good options which allowed Meghana to take some sleep!! 

Finally decided to start from Coorge (Madikeri) and end in Cochin. 13 days. 8 destinations. 



Kerala.. Here we come!!