Thursday, August 14, 2008

A MakeOver:)

It's been sometime since I decided to give my blog a new look.I think now is the time.Lately I have been travelling quite a lot which gives me the idea of a travelogue. Henceforth my blog will also feature my travel experiences along with other things.So here I am, taking my blog through this immense metamorphosis.
Travelling is something I like and look forward to.If at all something could kick-start my brand new travelogue,MUNNAR it will be-Hands down!For those of you who have never heard of or seen Munnar, here is an insight.
Munnar is a jaw-dropping,magnificent hill station in God's Own Country,Kerala.A four-hour drive from Kochi to Idukki district,Munnar owes its history to the Britishers who took refuge in the plush,green hills during
summer.You could call it the most peaceful hill station in the country,others being populated and frequented by tourists to an extent, that they have lost their charm and purity.Purity,according to me, is synonymous with the cool air you breathe in Munnar.A drive up the hill, early in the morning(as we did)presents the onlooker a spectacular view of the green tea estates on either sides,something which could be the sole speciality of only Munnar.I have been to Darjeeling before,but I bet it was not as blanketed with tea gardens as Munnar was.(Darjeeling is an enchanting destination,but that's another story). You could ask me why a comparison with Darjeeling here? It is because Darjeeling is also famous for its tea industry.
During my stay at Munnar,my camera got no rest; it was clicked continuously at every inch of Munnar I walked through.The picture in front of your of your eyes in so wondrously painted, that you are left in awe.Munnar is a green carpet,you just wont believe me unless you are there yourself.

We made our decision to stay at The Siena Village after going through the write ups about the resort on TripAdvisor.If the drive up the hill is amazing,the drive upto Siena Village is even more breath-taking.Green carpets on either side,this place was heaven for me.Siena Village is something i can never forget in my life.The resort is a beauty in itself.It is set across the mountains,with each cottage giving you a hill-side view.Here are a few pictures of Siena Village.

























Beautiful?
The Mattupetty Dam set across a lake, is a picnic spot that entertains youngsters with its speed-boat rides to get a glimpse of elephants across its banks.Then there is top station,the highest point where you can go trekking if you wish. There are botanical gardens with a variety of flowers where you can have photo sessions:)And of course lots of view-points in the mountains from where you can pretend to fall and ask your friend to click(make sure you don't really fall,that could be your last photograph:))
Of course loads of streams and waterfalls everywhere that make you go click!click!click!Erivakulam National Park is another place I can never forget.A bus takes tourists to the National Park along narrow roads on the hill-top to the park where you are pushed to the edge of your seats and some timid souls are even seen chanting silent prayers when another bus appears out of nowhere opposite to your bus and all your driver can do is steer the bus towards the edge(i mean the very edge) of the road to let the other bus pass.Phew,that's thrilling!(The pic is on the right).The National Park is another beauty that boasts of Shola grasslands with a wide variety of rare flora and fauna.

On the whole I would rate Munnar as one of the best hill stations that the South can ever offer. The best place for vacation to chill out with your gang or all alone too!

P.S:All pictures in the post are straight from my camera and will remain to be in future.