Monsoon Travel

Munnar, Kerala

As grey clouds loom high above, followed by thunder and raindrops splatter the window, I gaze outside. My mind is brimming with joy as I sip hot tea, with my notepad in tow. This is one of my favourite times of the year.

With the summer crowds gone, it is also a great time to travel, especially for nature lovers. Here are some of my favourite monsoon trips (in no particular order):

1. Kasauli – I remember the mist seeping into our room through the wooden ‘jaali’ door at Birds View Resort, after a thundershower. The cool breeze interspersed with fresh, earthy smells of the surrounding forest is always refreshing. If you set out for a walk soon after, you can hear the call of the partridge and bird song around every bend. It is our family tradition to have an evening BBQ with old classics playing in the background, ending the night on a ‘high’ note.

2. Barot – My early memories of this beautiful hill station are from when I was about 10 years old. When I went back last month after ages, this picturesque hill station did not disappoint. The monsoon showers had hit Himachal Pradesh by then, turning this riverside retreat into a memorable weekend. I spent a lazy afternoon by the Uhl river, watching the rain fall as I lay there under an umbrella; while the gushing river provided the perfect background score.

3. Goa – Although monsoon travel seems to have caught on in this tiny state, I would still recommend visiting Goa during monsoons. South Goa is a great place to stay in as it’s less crowded. On a mid July afternoon, my friends and I roamed around a deserted Colva beach, enjoying the salty sea breeze as it poured. Peri peri prawns and beer in a beach shack tasted wonderful afterwards.

4. Munnar – Although it is a good idea to be anywhere in Kerala at this time of the year, Munnar is definitely worth a visit. Lush green hills, tea gardens, cool breeze and a hot Shirodhara massage make for a great combination. Driving through misty meadows, picking tea leaves or simply trying out one of the many varieties of tea make for an unforgettable trip.

A trek to the high altitude, glacial Kareri Lake

At Kareri lake

On the May Day weekend, I along with my brother decided to go on a trek to a relatively lesser known destination – Kareri Lake. We were a group of 12 people, a mix of solo travellers, friends and siblings (a rare pairing, as we learnt). What we all had in common was our eagerness to escape the humdrum of our city lives.

Aman and I

We were served a buffet breakfast at Kareri village, our starting point for the 15 kms trek, with a hearty serving of the snow clad Himalayas on the side. Our group leader, Ashish gave everyone some instructions on responsible travel and we were on our way. We trekked through green pastures, blooming rhododendron trees and broad leaf forests. Once the actual trail began, we were literally climbing up the river bed, traversing huge rocks in the process. A few lunges later, I could feel the muscles in my thighs awaken. We kept moving ahead, taking frequent breaks along the way.

The first stop was next to a small waterfall where we filled our water bottles with fresh, chilled stream water. Some people dipped their feet in the water while the more adventurous ones, their heads. I munched on chocolates and frooti along the way in order to keep my energy levels high. The clean air, flora and fauna were such a welcome relief from my busy city life. A black dog kept us company along the way, stopping as and when we would.

We were close to our base camp, Reoti village, when dark clouds set in. As thunder roared above our heads, we kept walking ahead. Light rainfall followed. We stopped for a late lunch at a small café set inside a cave. A short while later, we crossed over a metal bridge and reached Reoti village. Everyone took a moment to take in the beautiful scenery; sheep grazing on the mountains and the Nyund nallah flowing through.

Campsite at Reoti village

Our camp for the night was set in a deep valley; a bamboo bridge dividing tents on either side. Our tent had the most magical view, of the forest and the stream running through. Just when everyone was settling in, there was heavy rainfall. Aman, my brother and I listened to the Doors as raindrops battered our tent. Our evening snacks comprising of tea, popcorn and maggi were just what we needed to enjoy the lovely weather and scenery.

At night, everyone shared their stories huddled around a bon fire under the starry night sky.

One of the many ladybirds

Up the river bed

We embarked upon the remainder of our trek the next day, right after breakfast. Along the way, I took a dip in the icy cold waters, which was one of the trip highlights for me. Many others followed suit. The trail was tiring yet picturesque; I took frequent breaks to admire nature in all its glory. There were all kinds of ladybirds along the way, their body designs fascinating.  

As we reached the top of the valley, we could see the snowy mountains up close. The sight of the beautiful, fresh water Kareri Lake amidst snowy mountains made me forget all about the arduous journey that we had undertaken.

As we trekked up the rocky, sometimes steep trail, I was reminded of challenging situations that I had faced recently; the trick is to keep swiftly moving ahead.

A nightout at Siem Reap

The Sunday Tribune, 13 May 2018