My Way On Highway: Day 38, Matupetty Dam, Mint Drink & More

Highway On My Plate

Don’t think I have talked about Kerala meals in my previous posts spanning the MyWayOnHighway Road Trip. Well, I do not have any pretty images to support the experience because a) there weren’t any palatable opportunities; b) was too hungry to grab my camera. The thing is that the highways in Kerala are postcard gorgeous but they do not have any eating options. So the husband and I often take a detour towards the city and park ourselves at the first local hotel we see. The host greets us in broken English and we somehow manage to communicate our order for two meals. Lo and behold! We are served with a heap of Kerala thick rice on a plate for each to dig in. Accompanying it is a small platter of at least 4-5 types of chutneys and veggies and then there are the steel bucketful’s of sambhar and a curd curry. I begin with a little hesitation, worried that I may waste food but boy, 30 minutes later my plate is polished clean. Burp!

Feeling Munnar-esque

We reached Munnar last evening and after the much-needed hibernation were all charged up next morning. Our beautiful hotel Grand Plaza has been a real treat from MakeMyTrip. Nestled amidst green hills and overlooking a placid lake, our room is the perfect base for an ideal vacation. And the charming staff is always there to oblige our requests. Kudos to the innovative mint drink with a hint of green chilli that the creative kitchen here revved up!

Dam Good!

After facing disappointment at the Idukki Dam yesterday, we were in for a real treat today as we went to not one but two dams! The first one was the Matupetty Dam situated some 15 kilometres from Munnar, extending in to a charming lake. Speed-boating there was definitely on the cards for us and our new friends from Patiala. What a thrilling ride we had courtesy our navigator Pratap who never hesitated from steering steep to make the boat sway and splash like how! The second one came another 10 kilometres later and went by the name of Kundala Dam. This one was less exciting than Matupetty but offered picturesque views nonetheless.

Echo-Tourism

The Echo Point is located about 5 kilometres from the Matupetty Dam and can be reached after crossing the much-talked-about ‘off limits’ Indo-Swiss cattle project, run by the Kerala Government. Of course we tried to convince the guard as he stood by the electric fences but to no avail. Any who, we plodded off to Echo Point which is basically a scenic valley that cradles a small lake and is surrounded by tall Evergreen trees. Just shout out loud and hear your voice returning to you again and again. A fun experience that gets better if the lake is filled to the brim.

Top Of The World

The beauty of Munnar is such that it inspires the poet in you, even if you aren’t one! Driving towards Top Station in the Kannan Devan hills, roughly 16 kilometres away from Echo Point we think we may have caught a glimpse of heaven.

The sky in his shiniest blue had the sunlight glistening on the jungle green tea leaves that formed a cover on the hills. I concede there were many occasions when we just stopped the car on an impulse and wondered how generously lush the flora around us was. One could see horses and cows grazing without a care in the world. And just as easily we transitioned from Kerala in to Tamil Nadu in search of Top Station. About 1 kilometre from Top Station, we stopped to witness a view of the towering mountains that had entangled themselves in cotton-white clouds against the stunning sky.

Next we reached Top Station. Previously used as a tea transshipment location, the place now attracts travellers who come here to soak in the breathtaking views. These hills are also known for the rare Neelakurinji flowers that bloom once in twelve years. The last bloom was in 2006. A word of caution: Skip the Sky Tunnel view point as you can get better views from other spots.

The day ended for us with a visit to the market in Munnar town. We discovered this tiny shop called Arackal Spice Garden (Mobile: 9447222423), tucked in the corner near Calinivas Building and bought tea and spice souvenirs for friends and family back home. Really liked the sweet staff and the fair prices.

I am done for the day. Will share more adventures tomorrow!(Photo Credit: Tariq Khan)