Those panoramic views of the verdant hills from that viewpoint of Parunthumpara indeed calmed us from our everyday stressful lives. This beautiful hilltop is located to the Eastern point of Idukki district in Kerala. We were travelling from Delhi to all the way down to Kerala, with the hope of spending all day long by any of their serene backwaters, for which they are known worldwide. However, fate brought us here and we would never regret that instead, we feel blessed to have reached this place. We got to see the verdant hills and the lush greenery of the state that are not much known to the outside world.
We started from our hometown in Delhi on sunny Sunday morning, as our whole team got gathered at the Airport. Our boss Mr Sharmaji as always was already present there and was busy talking with the tour executive of the tour operators with whom we were to travel up to Kerala. Moreover, they were our company’s former client. We had always maintained a good relationship even after the joint business continuously for some years. And when our team planned for such a trip this year, we had nothing else in our thoughts, but the Kerala based Dream Holidays and then their cool tour packages. It was them who suggested the hills instead of the backwaters for which we were a bit confused and ignorant initially. Nevertheless, I was personally pretty much sure that they would pick anyhow the best for us, and not any random or merely any cheap options.
After 3 and a half-hour of flying, we reached at the Cochin International Airport on a late afternoon. The climate there was hot, not humid as in Delhi, I felt so. We later went to cabs waiting there, around 3 of them parked outside the building. On our journey to Kuttikanam, where we were to stay for our trip, our driver pulled over at a place called Muvattupuzha for having that wholesome lunch. All of us agreed to order the traditional Kerala meal that is served in the long banana leaves. We were really surprised to spot so many curries served along with boiled rice, even more than we find in thaali meals. Here the age-old sayings went absolutely wrong, as the quality of the stuff was not affected by their mouth-watery taste. Each of them savoured indeed differently, whether it is the Sambhar, Beetroot Kichhdi or Pullissery. After satisfying both our heart and tummies, we continued our journey.
The lush greenery of the state was revealing more to us, as we were approaching our destination. Just before covering the hairpin curve, we again stopped near a waterfall. It was really beautiful and very startling to sight such a charming sight right at the turning of a highway. They were called Valanjangaanam. The water flowing was sumptuous as it was during the end of a rainy season. We got down from the car and took many photos in front of them. Later our cab stopped at a hill station called Kuttikanam. By the time we reached the resort, it was already evening. The resort that we stayed in was on the top of a hill. So the temperatures were already chilly even before the night. We were a bit exhausted after the long journey, so we ordered for a light dinner and after that dozed off quickly.
That chilling effect lasted up to the next early morning, so we did not even felt like waking up. But with the thrill of visiting new places and refreshing sights, we got ready immediately and travelled to the major destination of our tour, which was Parunthumpara. It took almost 45 minutes to arrive at that hilltop. Up to many a distance, there was nothing much, other than the little grown buses and some curvy roads. One of the ends of the hilltop was barricaded and there were some adorable shelters built at definite points. It was beyond these barricades that all the stuff was happening. Once all were clasped to those metal fencing, we got to witness that yet another beautiful side of Kerala. Those early morning rays were looking magical on this hilltop. A few meters below those barricades, we saw some people descending the hill. On looking further, we saw an unusually shaped cliff. Then the tour guide was replying to somebody from our team’s query that the name of this enchanting hilltop was given by the unique shape of that particular cliff. He said that in Malayalam, ‘Parunthu’ means eagle. On observing keenly, we would get to know that they are in the shape of an eagle’s head. Out of that excitement, some of us followed behind the people who were heading to that cliff. Our guide asked us to be very careful, as they are precariously perched on this side of the hill. He was right, it was indeed risky to even stand there steadily and click pictures. But it was more mesmerizing to behold at all those green hills nearby is yet another angle. Moreover, some of the screeching voices shouted out loudly were returned as echoes. Also, climbing back to the shelter was a bit strenuous. So after climbing up, we refreshed ourselves by sipping a diluted and spicy version of curd called ‘sambharam’ along with gooseberries and carrots dipped in salty juices. All of them were sold in fairly a cheap price.
After having lunch from a roadside restaurant, we headed to the next destination included in the packages, which was Panchalimedu. By that time, the sunny climate was gradually turning out to be a cloudy one. The curvy roads were now veiled under heavy misty. The vehicles coming from the opposite side were slowly approaching with their yellow lights on. Everything around us was looking heavenly then. Right from the moment, we arrived at the spot, we could experience the aesthetic beauty of this location planted with beautiful green lawns. And there were a few crosses erected at some definite intervals. The shelter here was also constructed very artistically. After spending a good amount of time we returned to our places.
We had lots of fun and excitement by this trip, for which we would always be thankful to our company and Dream Holidays for organizing them so systematically.
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