The Best way to reach Munnar from Bangalore
Best Holiday experience at Munnar
It was our first vacation after my brother came from the US and we really wanted to make it special. Since our previous vacations had covered almost all places of North India, this time, we decided to spend some leisure time in one of the southern states. Out of all the places that topped the search list, Munnar in Kerala won our hearts for its amazing scenery and the numerous activities offered. Without any hesitation, we began to check for the best-reviewed places to stay there. A number of hotels flashed by the screen when our eyes caught Blanket hotel which located in Pallivasal, Munnar. The hotel had an amazing view and all the amenities looked pretty good. We called up the reservation desk and enquired about how to reach Munnar from Bangalore. We were informed that we could take a train from Bangalore and get down at Aluva or Ernakulam station, which would take about 11 hours, and from there we could take a cab to Munnar. Or else we could take a direct flight from Bangalore and get down at the Cochin International airport in an hour and take a cab from there. If we were to come by bus, there were direct buses available which had daily service. They told us that the hotel would provide cabs which would be of course, additionally billed .All of our previous trips were in trains and buses and so this time, all of us urged for a road trip. So we decided to drive all the way from Bangalore to Munnar. We took the Palakkad – Coimbatore route and were engrossed in the scenic beauty of the fields and coconut trees on the way. The change of the landscape from the plains to the misty hills was indeed fascinating and in about 9.5 hours, We reached Blanket hotel and spa . It was 3 in the evening and we received a heartwarming traditional welcome with drinks . The rooms were exceptionally clean and comfortable and after a long nap, we woke up and had tea by 6 PM. Many tasty dishes were offered for dinner from their restaurant Belleza De Roca, out of which the seafood items stole my heart. We could see chefs preparing theirs specials in the chef’s corner. After dinner, we strolled through the well-lit beautiful gardens of the hotel and had a gracious family time joking around and chatting.
The next day we woke up to the chirping of birds and the hushing of the waterfalls. After breakfast, we went for a nature walk with a naturalist while my mom decided to remain for the meditation class that was being offered in the hotel. We spotted different species of birds and butterflies and visited the nearby village. It was pure bliss to feel the village vibes in our hearts and the place truly felt like a heaven on earth . We sat at the side of the waterfalls and came back to the hotel after a while. We enjoyed our best at the pool area which had breathtaking view on the other side, with the whole attukad waterfalls, cliffs and the valleys making a heart-throbbing landscape. We decided to give a treat to our exhausted bodies with a customized Kerala traditional massage that was offered in the hotel. The service was really good and the massage was indeed relaxing. After a cup of sizzling tea in the evening, we were taken for cultural performances. The culture of Kerala was indeed unique from what we had seen elsewhere. The unique dance performances and folk songs were one of a kind. After clicking a few pictures, we had dinner and slept peacefully.
The next day, we dedicated the whole time in discovering places near Munnar. We went to Eravikulam National park which had a diverse wildlife to explore, we walked through the tea estates and even got a chance to be a part of tea tasting. Then we visited to the Suicide point, walked through the Mattupetty dam, yelled each other’s names at the eco point, Spotted deer and Elephant at the Chinnar Wildlife sanctuary and saw the sandalwood plantations of Marayoor. It was fun to do street shopping and bought some homemade chocolates, tea and handmade souvenirs. After a long day dedicated to munnar sightseeing, we slept the whole night with the lullaby’s of the waterfalls. Finally, when it was time to leave, it was more like leaving a home away from another home. With heavy hearts, we packed our bags and left the hotel on those graceful hills. On the way back, we went via Cochin to Bangalore. We got down at Lulu mall and drove through the city. Our trip to Munnar was one of our best trips to date and with Blanket, it was ecstatic. We are looking forward to spending our next vacation there, of course with a stay in Blanket.
written by
Rajesh Roshan
