Serene Kochi has been drawing traders and explorers to its shores for over 600 years. The port is a mix of giant fishing nets from China, a 400-year-old synagogue, ancient mosques, Portuguese houses and the crumbling remains of the British Raj. It is also a centre for Keralan arts.
Munnar is a town in the Western Ghats mountain range. A hill station and former resort for the British Raj elite, it's surrounded by rolling hills and sprawling tea plantations. It is home to Waterfalls, hiking trails and 2,700 metre tall Anamudi Peak. Among the flora found in the forests and grasslands here is the Neelakurinji.
Eco Farm Hotel Elephant Valley is a nature reserve, organic farm and plantation. It is located on 100 acres in the Palni hills, Tamil Nadu in the Western Ghats. It is known as one of the most important Biodiversity hotspots.
on the planet. The hill-station Kodaikanal is just 20 kms away. Elephant Valley is located on an old elephant migration route next to the border of the national forest which extends into the wildlife sanctuaries of Kerala. The journey here from Munnar is a motorcyclist dream.
Busy Madurai with its sublime temples is our next stop. We stay in the city centre and explore on foot. We continue to mix it up a bit with our stop over in Chettinad. The wonderful ‘Bangala Reisdency’ is our next destination. A former tennis club to the elite, it now serves as a meticulously run Hotel with french influence everywhere. We take a small detour to visit Rameswarem next. South east of Chettinad and on the coastline. We visit ‘Adams Bridge’ and ride out to the farthest tip of mainland looking straight to Sri Lanka.
The union territory of Puducherry was under French rule until 1954. Some people here still speak French. The older 'French' part of town is quiet with clean streets lined with bougainvillea-draped colonial-style townhouses. We take time to explore this remarkable town.