As a student I had done my part and given all my exams on time and therefore during vacation time I could enjoy straight from the heart without any guilty pangs! I had been dreaming of exotic destinations far away but with my tight budget I could only stick to places close by. At last I settled on Kerala! What appealed to me most about the mysterious land of Kerala was the majestic Western Ghats and the many opportunities for trekking that came with it! So as soon as I landed in Cochin I made my way to a budget hotel called Ajantha Regency which I had booked earlier. With a little help from the hotel staff I managed to enjoy a trekking expedition.

Afterwards when I had had my fill of adventure and excitement I went street shopping. The streets of Cochin are filled with many small shops that sell almost anything and everything. The most common items in all of the shops were the handicrafts of Kerala. These crafts were so intricately designed that I stood mesmerised for quite some time! Before heading back to the hotel I made a stop at a restaurant to try some of the local cuisine and what I found was a portal to a whole new world! Kerala has always been famous for its seafood but most of us underestimate it. Only when I took a bite of the delicious seafood did I understand what I had been missing out on all of this time!

The night life in Kerala is a very exciting affair especially the Tandav Discos in the Le Meridien hotel. This is perhaps one of the most exciting places in the city and here I found myself having the best time of my life! There is so much to do in Kerala that just one holiday doesn’t seem enough! I will definitely be going back for more!

Hello, this is Ayushi Manroa, a vibrant young college student from Chennai. It was the end of the semester…the last exam was done. I left the College campus with a deep feeling of triumph and contentment. It was then that I felt an old familiar feeling stir within me and grow into an irresistible urge. Happy memories of the trekking expeditions and the beautiful drive up the Western Ghats washed over me. I sensed a passionate longing to pack my bags and escape to some place, far away from the rush and din of the city and imagined the joy of being swept up into the arms of Mother Nature. I hastily checked out on the money I had saved and realized that there wasn’t enough for a long trip. After a short time of googling…I decided to make a three day trip to Akkulam Village, a breathtaking tourist spot near the back waters in Thiruvananthapuram.

After a comfortable journey on the Trivandrum Express, I made my way to Hotel Prince Palace, a highly recommended budget hotel about 5 kms away from the splendid Akkulam Village. The tastefully decorated and neatly maintained rooms in the hotel and the friendly ambience that filled it made any visitor feel perfectly at home.  The well informed front desk and the travel desk that so efficiently guided the guests on sightseeing expeditions were a blessing beyond words. The multi cuisine restaurant that offered scrumptious meals was just what I needed on holiday like this. All this and more…at an easily affordable price…I truly felt blessed!

The gorgeous tourist village of Akkulam consisted of the Boat Club, the Children’s Park, the Swimming Pool and the incredible Anthurium Project. Believe me, it was nothing short of paradise to just relax in the swimming pool and let the cool waters wash all the strain of the semester away. The calm and serene atmosphere at Akkulam coupled with its exceptional beauty gave me memories to cherish for a life time. The picturesque lake and the joy rides offered by the Boat Club made it a perfect holiday…one could just not ask for anything more. So when the train chugged out of the Trivandrum junction and headed for Chennai, I could lean back, heave a sigh of relief and confess to myself that the mild adventure and the street shopping had made the holiday a dream come true!

After my previous visit to Kerala for my friend's engagement, I have visited the picturesque state several times. I love Kerala for its beauty and lush greenery. I always prefer to take a train to Kerala. I get the chance to click lovely sceneries and landscapes as the train moves. I have a camera with high pixilation that enables me to take high-quality pictures without blurring. I mostly use these photos in my travelogues and blogs. Last Year, I participated in a national level photography contest and won the third place. I had submitted photos taken in the farms of Kerala. As I sit in the train, I love to watch cranes fly across farms.

Scenic views of Kerala | Image Resources : azeemazeez.com, flickr.com/photos/81493566@N00/2239112650/

There is a lot of scope for street shopping in almost all states of Kerala. I have shopped ornaments like chains, earrings, and bracelets from the capital city-Trivandrum. I still use a stone studded bracelet that I got there for a fifteen rupee. The inexpensiveness of items fascinated me. I could shop a lot of things with a thousand rupee note which wouldn't have been possible had I shopped at a mall. I had visited Ernakulam recently where I bought lovely artifacts and showpieces. One showpiece worthy of mention is the 'Kathakali'. I bought two large showpieces of the Kathakali and have placed them in our living room. Kerala is the only place where I am able to shop things even when I experience a tight budget.

Street Shopping Kerala | Image Resources : flickr.com

When I go to Kerala, one thing that I don't miss out are the churches and temples. I visited a number of churches in the Kottayam district of Kerala. The churches are large and most of them that I have visited are Catholic churches. Temples of Kerala are yet another delight to visit. The intricate architecture of the temples are lovely. I like the sandal paste that they give devotees. I have been to Sri Padhmanabhaswamy Temple and a number of other temples near the East Fort and West Fort. I have trekked across certain hills in Munnar. I also had adventure and fun with my friends on a recent trip to Top Slip which leads to the Parambikulam Sanctuary. It was an unforgettable experience.

Sri Padhmanabhaswamy Temple & Parambikulam Sanctuary | Image Resources : flickr.com, hindudevotionalblog.com, wikimedia.org

Hi….this is Ayushi Manroa, an exuberant young girl of 23 with an insatiable passion for travel and adventure. Although a student, I grab every possible opportunity to make a quick trip to some beautiful place to satiate my undying thirst for sightseeing.  Trekking up the Western Ghats and taking a dip in the Ganges have been a part of these escapades. Last summer, at the end of a long year of academics, I found myself ravenous for another adventure trip. I noticed that the books, assignments, exams and project reports had taken the zing off my life. In order to put the punch back I decided on a trip to Kerala!

With the excitement of adventure and fun bubbling within me, I boarded the Trivandrum Express and settled down to enjoy the journey. A pleasant family with an adorable 10 month old baby was my companions on the train. Nestled in the corner seat near a window, I watched the cities and towns whizz past as the train sped along. With the baby gurgling in the background and the hum of passengers talking among themselves interspersed with the hollering of ‘chai’ by some passing vendor, I lost myself to memories of previous trips.

The night quickly passed and the morning saw me getting off at Trivandrum. Still a student, living on a tight budget saved sparingly from my pocket money, I found my way to Hotel Sea View, one of the recommended budget hotels in the city. Quelling my apprehensions, the hotel swept me into the warmth of its hospitality and comfort the moment I stepped in. The tender ambience and all the luxury at an affordable prize were far more than I had expected.

My persistent passion for photography and history drew me to places like the Kowdiar Palace, the Napier Museum, the Attukul Temple and the Padhmanabhaswamy Temple. The trip to the Thiruvananthapuram Zoo and the Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium were experiences by themselves. I spent hours relaxing on the beach drinking in the magnificence of the blue sea and grandeur of nature herself. Although Trivandrum does not have a night life, the dance performances in the city were simply adorable.  It was with utmost contentment that I bid farewell to Trivandrum when I boarded the train for my home-bound journey.

Description : Since we had a free day at Chennai we visited the Queensland Amusement park that is on Chennai-Bangalore trunk road. There are many rides and some water rides as well. It’s a good way to spend free time in Chennai with friends.

Hi…this is Ayushi Manroa…a 23 year old vivacious and enthusiastic college student from Pune. Ardently interested in fun and adventure, travelling around to different places has been one of my favorite past times. Having visited many places in the North, my attention shifted to interesting places in South India. I’ve always wondered why, but Chennai had somehow caught my fascination and I wanted to visit this Metropolis. In school I had learnt that this was the Gateway to Southern India, the capital of Tamil Nadu and a major port.

With the little pocket money that I had thriftily saved I finally decided to make a dream trip to this city. I enquired and googled on the Hotels in Chennai and found that the place had some nice budget hotels that could well accommodate young travellers like me. So parking aside my urge to go trekking up the Western Ghats and taking the sacred dip in the Ganges, I headed to Chennai.

After a comfortable journey with a lovely family that kept me good company I reached Chennai Central and made my way to the much recommended Ginger Hotel there. Living up to its reputation, Ginger Hotel swept me into its comfort and offered me a beautiful stay. The elegantly designed rooms and the soothing ambience were more than I could ask for. The Square Meal…the restaurant in the hotel offered delicious meals and kept me well fed right through my stay there. Hotels in Chennai like the Hyatt Regency, Spencer Plaza, Benzz Park and the Ambassador Pallava are luxury hotels in the city renowned for their hospitality and comfort.

The remarkable Marina Beach, the arcane Mahabalipuram, the beautiful malls and the theaters gave me a holiday beyond compare. The churches with their tall towers and spires pointing to the sky paraded a beauty beyond description. The Classical Recitals, the fascinating discotheques, the old museums, the modern Internet Centers and the latest fast food joints offering the most delightful dishes are good enough to make any one’s holiday worthwhile. Walking down the roads of this city of paradoxes, street shopping and haggling with the vendors in a language I did not know, added to my joy. So within my tight budget my holiday in Chennai was truly one of the best!

Image Resource : adarshh.com (Marina Beach), shwetachennai12.wordpress.com (Street Shopping Chennai)