While at Kozhikode (READ Kozhikode: Fun Under the Sun), we traversed the Thamarassery Ghat, which is one of the entry points to the upland district of Wayanad. Thamarassery Ghat has winding roads and nine hairpin bends! We had to hold on at every turn as we went up to our next destination for the Kerala Blog Express Season 4. Not only the altitude and activities were our challenges for this leg of the trip but we also had to surpass the state-wide transport strike during the time we were in this district.
Before we embarked for the Kerala Blog Express, all 30 of us were asked whether we would want to go for adventure or heritage. The former would be more of zip-lining and river rafting while the latter was a trek to the Edakkal Caves, although it’s not really a cave but more of huge stones on top of the other and prehistoric writings are found on its walls. We casted our votes before the entire trip began but things changed along the way.
After our Munnar trip (READ Munnar: Chilling in the Mountains) wherein we trekked to the Phantom Head, no one seems enthusiastic about hiking to Edakkal Caves. Almost all of us were keen on doing the zip-line.
We arrived at Vythiri Village wherein we would be distributed into six to seven groups as we were billeted in different accommodations. Our lunch was in our respective resorts or hotels and then the afternoon adventure began, which was coordinated by MuddyBoots.
Zip-lining Over Tea Fields
MuddyBoots’ Pozhuthana zipline is the longest in Kerala and I braved it. Truth be told, there are so many ziplines back in the Philippines – in a mall complex, between mountains, over a lake, by a beach – but I haven’t tried them. Never had I imagined that I would do my first in Kerala, India. I’m usually afraid of falling from a high altitude but the breathtaking view of the tea plantation was just so reassuring.
So I buckled up and without blinking an eye, just zipped past over the tea fields. It was a liberating experience, like I was flying over them. But it went pretty fast that before I could even capture the entire thing, I was done and I was nearing the end. I would have wanted to do it all over again, if only I had the luxury of time, which we didn’t as we needed to go to our next stop.
From the end of the zipline, we walked through the tea fields, crossing a small creek, passing by an archery target, until we got back to the starting point where our jeeps were waiting for us.
Bamboo Rafting
From the Pozhuthana zipline, we proceeded to a portion of the Vythiri River. We donned our life vests before we got on the bamboo raft. But as we got to the river, it was shallow and very peaceful. Still, MuddyBoots is not taking any chances and safety is foremost in all its activities, which is a good thing.
I was expecting some wild adventure, somewhere along the lines of our raft having a contest with a strong water current. But what we did was the exact opposite – serene, slow, and very safe. Not that I didn’t like it. In fact, it was quite a relaxing experience. It was just that I was entertaining a different picture in my mind.
Our guide held a pole that helped steer our raft to the direction we wanted. Midway, some of us took over the role and tried their hands at it. We spotted some birds along the way. Some locals were bathing and washing by the river banks. Interesting plant species grow on those banks as well. We came at a certain spot wherein we had to turn around and go back to the river bend where we started.
Biking
Although I was not able to bike, there were some from our cast that were able to do it because they started their activities a bit earlier. They biked through the highway, passing through some tea plantations, still part of the MuddyBoots Adventure. If we had plenty of time, I would have also tried biking in Wayanad.
Swimming and Fish Spa
Since some still went biking, our batch were the first to arrive at Vythiri Village for the dinner. The sun was still up when we got there so we asked the hotel staff to take us to their pool so we could still go for a dip.
It was a bit of a walk from the reception lobby to the pool. We passed by a number of the resort’s amenities, including a zipline. The resort in itself offers many attractions that you wouldn’t want to leave the property. We crossed a hanging bridge to get to the pool, where a man-made waterfalls flows beside it. The pool is by the side of an elevated portion, providing a good view of the hanging bridge and the rest of the resort below.
There we waited for the sun to set a bit before we headed back to the main lobby for the dinner. But not without trying the fish spa found at the end of the hanging bridge. We had a great laugh while the fishes nibbled on our toes.
Fun-filled Dinner
Vythiri Village hosted a fun dinner for us and its guests. But first, we were brought to their huge theater that can has a seating capacity of up to 1,500 people. This is the largest hi-tech convention center in the southern India while it has the second biggest Video Wall in the whole of India. With its built-in lighting and state-of-the-art sound system, it is a great venue for your MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions, events) needs.
Dinner had a wide array of food, from local Indian cuisine to international flavors. Traditional performances were also provided but we were allowed to have our own fun time as one of our bloggers, Indra from Indonesia, took center stage and sang us some of our favorite songs.
There was also an open bar, much to the delight of everyone. Cocktails and other drinks were served for free. It was a night to remember and one that we didn’t want to end.
As much as we want to stay longer in Wayanad, we had to keep going as the day after calls for another adventure in another part of Kerala.
This article is part of the over-arching post First-time in Kerala: God’s Own Country where you will find the list of my blog posts related to this trip. Get updates on the Kerala Blog Express at the http://keralablogexpress.com/ and check #keralablogexpress #tripofalifetime and #liveinspired in social media channels like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.