We should make one trip every year no matter what, the three of us had solemnly promised. Over a year had passed since our delightful escapade in Kumarakom, and the longing for another memorable girls’ trip was becoming irresistible. After exhaustive research, we zeroed in on Hills & Hues Resort in Thekkady. This enchanting gem of a resort had secured a coveted spot in the Top 10 properties list in South India. It achieved Instagram stardom thanks to numerous South Indian celebrities sharing snapshots of their luxurious holidays at this luxurious retreat.
Any mother planning a getaway with her girlfriends undoubtedly shares a common sentiment – guilt. I was no exception. My daughter was a mere 5 months old when I made the decision to join this adventure. Although I had a substantial reserve of stored breastmilk in the refrigerator, enough to sustain her during my absence, and a dedicated full-time nanny to cater to her every need. Yet it was the very first time I would be separated from my baby for four nights, and it was far from easy, but I pressed on with our plan.
So we boarded the train from Chennai to Kottayam, we chose to travel by train because we wanted to explore the lovely pink water lilies at Malarikkal. Just a few kilometers from Kottayam, Malarikkal are a beautiful blanket of pink lilies that appear on the backwaters of the Vembanad lake. Blooming on paddy fields that are spread over 100s of acres, they are best visited during the early morning hours from 6 -9:30, after which they start to wilt. Although the lilies are cleared during harvest, they still continue to bloom in shallower regions and are a pretty pink sight to marvel at.
So we boarded a shikara and got started with our boat ride for the next half hour. In no time the boatman led us through a pretty blanket of pink lilies. It truly was a beautiful sight to behold.
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These pink lilies are sold for just Rs.10 a bouquet by the lake. You can get yours and click those insta worthy pictures.
Following our beautiful detour to Malarikkal, our next stop was breakfast. After our quick hog, it was time to board the bus bound for Kumily. Little did I know that this bus ride would turn out to be the most thrilling adventure on four wheels I had ever experienced. With every twist and turn of the hilly road, I found myself oscillating from one end of my seat to the other, holding on for dear life.
As the rain began to fall, adding a touch of magic to the already breathtaking scenic landscape of lush tea estates. It was like a journey through paradise itself, albeit one that required every ounce of my courage to ensure we reached our destination in one piece. After a roller-coaster bus journey that lasted a nail-biting 3.5 hours, we finally arrived in Kumily.
As we made our way to the resort, we soon discovered that another adventure was in store. As the resort’s name, ‘Hills & Hues’ suggested, the hills we needed to get on top of, to savour the splendid colours of nature were extremely difficult to traverse. The tuk-tuk we had hopped into demanded that two of us de board at various intervals during our uphill ascent, in order for the vehicle to progress on the exceptionally steep road. After all the trials and tribulations we endured that morning, we could only hope that the resort would prove to be worth every bit of our effort.
It was 2:30pm when we finally checked into the resort. We had booked the Cavern room at Hills and Hues Resort for 2 nights at Rs.35,000. As we entered the room, we were met with a sense of spaciousness that welcomed us with open arms, promising a taste of luxury. The interiors were well done radiating an aura of elegance. The choice of lights were pretty interesting and gave the room a captivating allure.
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One of the most delightful aspects of hillside retreats is the natural coolness that envelops you. Additionally, the dressing table mirror in our room served as the ideal spot for capturing flawless mirror selfies, adding an extra layer of fun and glamour to our stay.
The private entrance to the room opens to this charming balcony with two inviting pieces of cane furniture, perfect to enjoy a scrumptious lunch while savouring panoramic green mountain views.
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The colossal mountains have a way of making you feel like a tiny speck in the grand tapestry of nature. But rather than succumbing to the feeling of insignificance, we decided to seize the moment. We ordered in lunch and savoured it enjoying the mountain views and ever-changing canvas of clear, drifting clouds in the boundless blue sky.
After a hearty lunch, we took a short break to recover from the morning bus journey and recharge for the rest of the day. We freshened up and got ready for a tea tasting activity at the resort restaurant.
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A gracious lady on staff presented us with an exquisite tea experience, meticulously grinding fresh farm ingredients in a stone device before artfully infusing the blend into a steaming glass of water, creating a sensory journey from farm to cup. We ground different teas according to our taste and enjoyed in sips the flavours.
Sitting on the restaurant porch, whiled away the rest of the evening embracing the tranquil ambiance until the night clouds took over the sky. We then got back to our room and placed our dinner order and decided to head back to the restaurant a couple of minutes later for a delightful evening feast.
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The interplay of fancy lighting against the white interior of the restaurant cast a spellbinding aura, elevating the dining experience. With live music on the violin being played on songs of our request, we enjoyed a good dinner.
We then head for the bonfire. It was just the right kind of atmosphere. Cool winds blew and the warmth of the bonfire comforted us. After spending a good time in the snugness of the star lit sky with our favourite music in the background, we returned to our room. We spend the next couple of hours updating each other of our personal lives and hit the sack.
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The next morning, we woke up to the sound of crickets chirping. Quickly freshened up and looked at each other’s suitcases to pick what to wear for the day, just like the olden days. The other person’s wardrobe always appeared to be more interesting. We then head for breakfast and after a good morning meal, we walked around the resort and did our insta favourite thing, i.e., click pictures.
Here’s another picture from a photo-op near the reception.
Another one here – the mandatory back pose overlooking the hills.
And here’s one picture with the best highlight of the resort. An infinity pool open to sky and surrounded by the most stunning views of the hills. As we walked into this area of the resort, we were just blown by the beauty and we vowed to come back and enjoy a good swim a little later.
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One with the three of us <3
Here’s one from when we came back, which was pretty soon after. That’s me feeling like the queen of the world ruling these mountains. As much as you may want to believe that it is an AI generated pic, it is not.
One more here, and that would be proof enough to why the name – hills and hues.
After a good pool time, we got back to our room, ordered in lunch and enjoyed a scrumptious meal and took a short nap a while after. At around 4 pm, we joined in for an activity that the resort arranged for. It was a nature trail walk.
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So interestingly, the resort is situated on the border of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. And the activity involved crossing the border and entering Tamil Nadu (crossover through a gate within the resort that remains closed for the rest of the day as some approvals need to be sought). The views were similar with hill views that stretched to infinity. And here’s what we felt for pure nature we were surrounded by – LOVE.
And some randomness that doesn’t make sense to look back in time and laugh at. 😀
Stopping by this beauty again, coz take it all for as long as you can.
After our quick nature walk, we decided to drive down to the city center to watch the famous Kalarippayattu show. One hour of absolute thrill and a lot of rooting for the talent of the performers. Some of the stunts were awe-inspiring, and I only wish more people would embrace this traditional Indian martial art. It was a riveting experience and I highly recommend it to everyone who visits Thekkady.
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In the same complex, the next show was Kathakali, Kerala’s famous traditional form of classical dance. Again another hour of storytelling through a zillion expressions and talent galore. It is a must have experience while in Thekkady to get a feel of the local art and culture.
We stopped by a local restaurant for dinner post our activities for the day and got back to the resort. The next morning, after breakfast, we packed our bags and enjoyed our final hours at the resort before checking out.
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Yes, this background was just dreamy and deserves a picture in every costume of our stay. Haha!
These flowers bloom was hard to ignore.
After checking out, we chose to visit Jenis Grape Garden in Cumbum, as our bus to Chennai was in the late evening, giving us the afternoon free. And oh boy! what a fun experience it was. It was our first time ever, visiting a vineyard.
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It was really fascinating to see clusters of grapes some ripe, some semi-ripe hanging from the branches.
I really appreciate the photographer for the picture below, good creativity there, don’t you think?
We also relished some. And chopped a couple of bunches into carton boxes to buy and take them home.
Overall, it was a memorable first-time experience visiting a vineyard, exploring, plucking, and enjoying the delicious grapes.
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We were dropped back to Kumily after our little tour, where we spent the rest of the evening snacking at a nearby restaurant, shopping stuff for our kids back home and praying for our next trip to be sooner and this time somewhere far – may be Maldives?
