speakingroads

The beginning of the road to Kolukkumalai Peak in Munnar The home of the world's highest organic tea plantation. I don't think we need a better introduction to the place. It is a group of mountains in the Western Ghats, with tea leaves sprawled out across thousands of acres of these gorgeous hills. The young tea leaves spread out like a soft blanket over the landscape gives it a mesmerizing and soothing effect.  A jeep coming down the winding roads of Kolukkumalai Peak, Munnar The road that takes you to Kolukkumalai from Munnar is scenic in all senses; it is flanked by endless waves of tea leaves and colossal mountains. That morning we set out at dawn to conquer this hill in our Maruti Suzuki Zen. The vegetation was fresh from the morning dew where we halted for a refreshing Kolukkumalai Tea. We surpassed the majestic Chokramudi Peak-a place that in the future would give me an unmatched experience of nature’s fury- en route to Suryanelli. By the time we reac...

Pullu Padam in full bloom; paddy is young and tender green at the beginning of the season Where? Situated at a distance of 12.5 kilometers from Thrissur town,  Pullu Padam  is a beautiful set of paddy fields. It is a part of the Pullu village which is divided into Thekkan Pullu and Vadakkan Pullu. The place has a unique rural personality that makes visiting the place a memorable experience. It shakes you awake to the simple beauties of rural Kerala such as vast green expanses of paddy and several lives who depend on the harvests for a living. A farm worker returns home after his daily toils in the fields of Pullu Padam What? Come here to witness the slow peaceful life of the villagers. Summers will give you a visual treat of vast green oceans. in the monsoon, the place turns into a paradise with water filling up most of the fields making them look like lakes.  The islands and roads will welcome you to the waterlogged landscape. You will stop and appreciate...

The shrine at moon peak aka Chandashila It was a completely unexpected meeting and I am convinced it was divine intervention. I turned a corner and the whole Chandrashila peak revealed itself for the first time. The trail snaked its way up to the top and the whole route till the Chandrashila Peak could be seen from that point. I was panting and slightly out of breath. So, the moment I saw a pipe I decided to take rest. I  removed my jacket, for I was sweating profusely, and gulped down a lot of water which tasted amazing. However, within 5 minutes, the whole scenario changed. I started shivering, for such was the cold. Just when I decided to start moving, someone called me from behind. I saw a very old man, probably in his eighties. He asked me if I wanted to have tea. I obliged and went back to his small shack. Anand Singh- a man who spent his entire life in the mountains near Chandrashila; selling tea in his shack to pilgrims and travelers I ordered a tea and a string o...

Spiti valley is a cold desert located in the Himalayas. It stands out from the other Himalayan regions due to its stark landscapes and unique culture. Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places in India, make sure you visit Spiti Valley at least once in your lifetime. Read along for my recommendations on the best things you can do while in Spiti. A breathtaking view from nearby Dhankar Village in Spiti Valley Dhankar-the ancient capital of Spiti Valley Starry nights Spiti is located at an altitude of 12,000 feet above sea level. It is literally perched in the sky. This makes the stars and the night sky appear absolutely clear and gives you a visual treat. You can trace constellations and spot the galactic center of the milky way if you are visiting at the right time. Try to keep count of the shooting stars you spot if you can... The Roads that touch the sky The roads in Spiti valley are quite beautiful. As you move through the thin tarmac roads amidst the surroundi...

I had been hearing about this somewhat secret route for a long time and recently an opportunity came knocking at my door and I dived right in. The breathtaking Poondi. The so-called escape route is the trail that connects the remote villages between Kodaikanal and Munnar across the border between Kerala and Tamil Nadu. This travels from Top station all the way to the Berijam Lake near Kodaikanal. The route we took, however,  is a trade route between the two hill-towns of Koviloor and Kilavarai. It is used by the people who inhabit these villages, mainly for carrying their agricultural produce. The vegetables see fluctuating prices across Kerala and Tamil Nadu. This trail acts as a savior as it allows farmers to sell their goods in the State where they get paid better. Terrace farms of Poondi. Far beyond those hills at the back lies Kerala We happened to visit Poondi village where we stayed for a couple of days. We were preparing to leave and when we thought about it, the...

Darkness is a friend of light                 Shadows are not simply voids. There's much more than darkness in there. There is a world of intangibles disguised as darkness. There is an ocean of energy out there, invisible to the eyes. It was a usual Saturday evening and I decided to go to my favorite spot in Sanjay Vann to watch the sunset. I found a few friends at the usual spot and I realized they were from Himachal Pradesh. We chilled for sometime as the Sun slowly dipped. It was a great vantage point where you could see up to long distances all around. One of the guys was into trekking and we talked in length about the Parashar Lake trek and also another secret spot near Kasol. After we were done, we started walking back towards the entrance. But a long way from the entrance, I stopped in my tracks and bid them goodbye. I wanted to spend some quality time alone. I turned in my new happiness and walked to the edge of the f...