My first trip to India will definitely not be my last – Few travel experiences will match Southern India.
A blend of ancient cultures, modern day technology, vibrant palettes of colour, scents of the spice markets, lush landscapes, beautiful kind people and the most delicious food I have ever tasted. This is not the India that I imagined with the bustle and frenetic pace of the big cities of Northern India and their iconic temples and palaces, but a more laid back sublime experience, rich in cultural diversity. It soon became apparent this region was about the people, their beliefs, traditions and their incredible culinary food on offer.
Escorted by Natural Focus Safaris I visited the majestic city of Bangalore, the beautiful Chamundeshwari Temple in Mysore and cruised the tranquil backwaters and lagoons of Kerala by houseboat, after experiencing Kochi.
There are many luxury hotels in Southern India and one of my new favourites is The Brunton Boatyard. A haven from the busy streets of the city of Kochi, I discovered a private sanctuary overlooking the Arabian Sea with lush tropical splendour and refined luxury accommodation of global standard.
And its gets better – Spending the night on a house boat on the Kerala Backwater is something you will never forget. The peace and quiet of the waterways combined with luxury of the house boat is just exquisite. Kick back relax and let the crew bring the drinks and cook authentic Keralan food – it will evoke all your senses, true bliss.
Cuisine – the Southern Region of India is famous ñ and rightly so, for its unique curries, savouries, mouth-watering spices, abundance of seafood and delicious vegetarian dishes.
The complex but balanced mix of spices used in the dishes, will have me coming back for more for a long time to come, as seemingly without effort the locals can combine a perfect mixture of oils, seeds, spices, curry, chillies combined with perfectly cooked rice to create the most fantastic tasting sensation. I decided since I would never be able to match this combination it was my duty to try as many of these dishes as possible and I would order many courses at each meal to ensure I gave myself every chance to try all varieties. Also you can expect music with your food everywhere in Southern India adding a special ambiance to your dining experience.
During my time in Southern India I learnt about the traditions, the religion and was told amazing stories about the real India, its people, their lives, their quest for a better India moving forward whilst maintaining many of their fine traditions. I was told how the current generation is upholding their religious beliefs but are also changing with the modern world by embracing and promoting social justice and human rights. It’s definitely worth noting that at no time during my travels did I ever feel unsafe!
India is a country with over one 6th of the world’s population; it is rich in people, places and culture and with so much to explore it is definitely worth adding to any bucket list.
