Bonding Over the Backwaters: Harikesh’s Review for Kerala Trip with Thrillophilia
Sudha and I were watching Kumbalangi Nights one night, and that's how it all started. She sighed and said, "I want to go to Kerala," as the credits rolled and the music faded away. She had talked about it before, but this time it felt different. We had been putting off making travel plans for years because we were always busy with work, family, or the thought of "someday."
I started looking at options in the next few days. We wanted this trip to be easy, with no last-minute ticket searches, hotel confusion, and endless Google searches about what to do. That's why we called Thrillophilia, who took care of everything for us. It felt like someone had taken the stress of planning off our shoulders, leaving us free to just enjoy ourselves.
As we got off the plane at Cochin Airport, a friendly driver from Thrillophilia met us with a smile, and before we knew it, we were on our way to Munnar. The drive itself felt like the beginning of our trip. As we drove away from Cochin, the busy streets gave way to quieter places with rolling hills, bridges covered in silver mist, and waterfalls that seemed to have been waiting for us to arrive. Sudha jumped out of the car at Cheeyappara Falls like a child, and her laughter mixed with the sound of the water. I tried to take pictures of her, but some feelings just don't fit in a frame.
Sudha's eyes were shining with excitement by the time we got to Munnar. The town looked like it was straight out of a storybook, with tea gardens and fog all around it. We started our mornings slowly, drinking tea on the balcony while the sun rose over the green hills. Those quiet times were like therapy, reminding me of how peaceful life could be if I let it. We spent our evenings learning about the local culture. Sudha was mesmerised by a Kathakali show. She leaned forward, fascinated by every move and painted expression that told an ancient story without a single word. I was just as captivated by the performance as I was by the happiness on her face.
We walked hand in hand through huge tea estates, smelling the fresh, earthy smell of the leaves, and learning how to brew tea at the Tata Tea Museum. We both laughed like kids at Echo Point when our voices bounced back from the hills. The wide-open spaces at Yellapatty Grasslands made us stop and think about how small we are in the grand scheme of things.
We moved on from Munnar to Thekkady. Munnar was peaceful and dreamy, but Thekkady was full of excitement and adventure. As we rode across Periyar Lake on the boat, we were surrounded by silence. In the distance, we could see elephants grazing, groups of kingfishers darting above the water, and deer quietly drinking at the banks. It was like a painting coming to life right in front of us.
The best part of Thekkady, though, was at Elephant Junction. I never thought I'd be scrubbing the back of a baby elephant, but there I was, splashing water while Sudha cheered me on from a safe distance. We walked through spice plantations later, where the strong smells of cardamom, clove, and pepper filled the air. Sudha stopped walking, closed her eyes, and whispered, "This place smells like heaven” she wasn't lying.
The Alleppey backwaters were the part Sudha had been looking forward to the most. Getting on our houseboat felt like entering a different world, one where time had stopped just for us. The boat moved smoothly through the water, passing coconut groves, fishermen casting their nets with ease, and kids waving from the banks with big smiles. We had a traditional sadhya for lunch, and every bite was like an explosion of flavours in our mouths.
One of my favourite parts was driving the houseboat for a short time. I was clumsy with the navigation, but Sudha's laughter made it all worth it. We then sat on the deck under a blanket of stars that night while the boat was anchored. The candles flickered, and the water reflected their light. We didn't talk as much, but we didn't need to, we were getting to know each other again in the quiet.
Kovalam was our last stop, and it was a place where we could have fun and think. The beach was full of life, waves crashing, kids running across the sand, and vendors selling bright shells. I went parasailing and flew high above the Arabian Sea. Sudha stayed on the beach and built sandcastles with a smile that made her look years younger. We climbed the Vizhinjam lighthouse together to see the whole coastline, and later we were amazed by the Azhimala Shiva Temple. The huge statue of Shiva seemed to be watching over the land and its people from the ocean.
We went to the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Trivandrum on our last morning. We prayed for our family's health and expressed our gratitude while surrounded by its tall gopurams and holy chants.
Sudha smiled softly and leaned her head on my shoulder when our flight finally took off. She said, "We should do this again next year." And she was correct. It gave us the break we had been looking for, the chance to connect through laughter, and new experiences.
It's not just the places we saw that made this trip unforgettable; it's also how easy Thrillophilia made everything. They took care of everything, from smooth transfers to planned activities, so we could focus on what was important: being together. Kerala gave us memories that are like a kaleidoscope of colours, smells, and feelings. It told us to take it easy, breathe deeply, and most importantly, fall in love again.
Read More: Thrillophilia Kerala Reviews