Anniversaries are supposed to be special, but five years into marriage—with twin toddlers running wild—“special” had a new meaning for us. We weren’t looking for a candlelit dinner or a picture-perfect getaway. We wanted something immersive, something that mirrored our journey so far—beautiful, chaotic, full of love, and unpredictably magical.
So, we packed our bags, braced ourselves for adventure, and landed in Kerala—a place where luxury meets wilderness, where the mist kisses the mountains, and where time slows down just enough to let you breathe it all in. From the vibrant pulse of Ernakulam to the misty tea gardens of Munnar, the spice-scented trails of Thekkady, and the poetic stillness of Kumarakom’s backwaters, every turn unraveled a new chapter in our story.
In this travelogue, I take you through our six-day Kerala odyssey—right from planning to execution—sprinkled with travel tips, lessons learned, and moments that made us pause and smile. Ready to explore with us?
Date of Travel: 30 January – 4 February, 2025
Road Trip Distance: 560 Km
Planning the Itinerary
When traveling with toddlers, your itinerary can’t be an ambitious race to tick off every tourist spot. Instead, it’s all about being super selective and asking yourself: Do I want a relaxing break or an action-packed adventure?
Day 1: Ernakulam
Traveling with twin toddlers isn’t just a trip—it’s a full-blown expedition. After surviving a 2.5-hour flight from Mumbai (with equal parts excitement and chaos), a stopover wasn’t just a good idea; it was a survival tactic. So, we wisely picked Ernakulam as our first pit stop—a place to catch our breath, refuel, and prepare for the 115 km journey to Munnar the next day. Because let’s be honest, well-rested parents make for much happier travelers (and slightly less mischievous toddlers)!
Day 2&3: Munnar
Days 2 and 3 were dedicated to Munnar—the crown jewel of our trip and a long-overdue dream destination. I’d seen it everywhere—those postcard-perfect shots by landscape photographers, the rolling tea gardens drenched in mist, the golden sunrise kissing the hills. But filters and edits aside, I wanted to witness its magic firsthand, to breathe in the crisp mountain air, and most importantly, to see if Munnar’s beauty was truly as photogenic as they made it seem.
Stay: The Grand Cliff Resorts
Day 4: Thekaddy
We knew Thekkady isn’t the kind of place that would keep us on our toes for days—beyond the fierce Kalaripayattu warriors, the mesmerizing Kathakali performances, and the aromatic spice gardens, there wasn’t much to explore. So, instead of lingering, we gave Thekkady a well-planned, one-day spotlight—just enough time to soak in its charm, buy some authentic Kerala spices from the garden itself, without feeling like we were overstaying our welcome!
Stay: Amaana Plantation Resort
Day 5&6: Kumarakom
Choosing between Alleppey and Kumarakom felt like picking between two equally tempting desserts—but in the end, Kumarakom won, and for a very special reason. I wanted our 5th wedding anniversary to have that extra touch of luxury, and what better way than a stay at a Taj property? The idea was to recreate our memories from the 2nd anniversary at Taj Lucknow in 2022. The best part? Sonam had no clue—this little slice of indulgence was my surprise for her!
Stay: Taj Kumarakom
Alternative Itineraries
If you’re in Kerala for a high-energy adventure, you can shake things up! Swap Ernakulam with Athirappilly Falls for a dramatic start and trade Kumarakom for Alleppey.
Since we had only a few days, we focused on central Kerala, with Cochin as our entry point. But if you have more time, you can consider extending your trip to South Kerala. Think golden sands, laid-back vibes—Kovalam and Varkala are perfect additions! You can wrap things up in Thiruvananthapuram and fly out from there.
That said, I wouldn’t recommend cramming all of Kerala into one trip. This state isn’t meant to be rushed—the real magic lies in slow, immersive travel. If you’ve already explored central Kerala, why not plan your next trip around the southern coastline? Kovalam, Varkala, and even Kanyakumari await with their stunning beachscapes and breathtaking sunsets!
Handpicked (Alternative) Stays
Munnar & Athirapally
Thekkady
Budgeting the Trip
Curious about the ideal budget for a six-day Kerala trip? Well, that totally depends on how fancy you want to get! If you’re in the mood to splurge and soak in the best of luxury, set aside around ₹1.25 lakh. That should comfortably cover premium stays, top-notch experiences, and the kind of service that makes you feel like royalty.
Background Work
We did a little window shopping on MakeMyTrip—packages floated around ₹80-90K, covering flights and stays. Tempting? Yes. But could we do better? Absolutely!
With a slightly higher budget, we realized we could swap standard stays for premium properties and craft a more personalized experience. Of course, adding Taj stays and a dreamy houseboat ride nudged us over budget, but some indulgences are worth every penny. And let’s just say, I put my negotiation skills to good use—directly haggling with hotels and scouting every competitive deal to make sure we got the best bang for our buck!
Choosing the Stay
The game plan? Keep our stays under ₹10K per night—well, except for Taj Kumarakom, where I happily stretched the budget for a well-deserved anniversary splurge. Totally justified, right? Here’s how it all added up:
- Taj Vivanta, Ernakulam – ₹7.8K per night
- The Grand Cliff, Munnar – ₹10K per night
- Amaana Plantation Resort, Thekkady – ₹10K per night
- Taj Kumarakom – ₹20K per night.
All stays were for one room, two adults, and included breakfast. The grand total? ₹58K for five nights.
Travel & Commute
Our round-trip flights from Mumbai to Kochi set us back around ₹30K. Courtesy Air India, we had the meal complementary.
For our road trip across Kerala, I had an ace up my sleeve—my wife’s contact from her previous Kerala adventure. He quoted ₹11.7K for six days (600 km cap), covering everything from fuel and tolls to parking and even the driver’s food and stay. A solid deal, no haggling needed! I locked it in with a ₹1K advance without a second thought.
Grand total for flights and cab? ₹42K—not bad for a smooth, hassle-free journey through God’s Own Country!
Food & Experiences
Beyond flights and fancy stays, our wallets took the biggest hit from two things—food and experiences (because what’s a trip without indulging in both?).
We happily devoured our way through Kerala, racking up a ₹18K bill on food and drinks—totally worth every bite! But the real splurge? A dreamy 3-hour private houseboat ride on Vembanad Lake, featuring an authentic Kerala lunch served on a banana leaf.
Since it was our anniversary, we went all out, booking through Taj for ₹12K + taxes to ensure a seamless, no-stress experience. Was it a little extra? Yes. Was it 100% worth it? Absolutely!
Day 1: Ernakulam
We arrived in Ernakulam around lunchtime after a 35km ride from Cochin Airport. Though just a stopover, staying at Taj Vivanta turned out to be a great choice—its prime location gave us direct access to Marine Drive, offering stunning views of Vembanad Lake.
Photographs Above: As a photographer, I’m always chasing the perfect light—or sometimes, it just magically finds me. This was one of those serendipitous moments! While waiting for our white sauce penne pasta, I spotted a scene too good to ignore from the restaurant window. With little Iti in one arm and my phone camera in the other, I juggled parenthood and photography like a circus act, trying to steady my shots. Somehow, amidst the chaos, I managed to snag a few keepers—worthy additions to my street photography collection.
Sight-seeing in Ernakulam
A quick internet search led me to Fort Kochi as the main attraction in Ernakulam. Steeped in history, it boasts landmarks like Santa Cruz Basilica, St. Francis Church (Vasco da Gama’s first church), the Dutch Seminary, and the iconic Chinese Fishing Nets. Sadly, we couldn’t explore Fort Kochi, but with twin babies in tow, it was a practical trade-off we didn’t regret.
Taj Vivanta Amenities
Though Taj Vivanta is a hotel, it offers resort-like amenities—a large pool, well-equipped gym, spa, lake-view rooms, and direct access to Vembanad Lake. It also organizes activities like complimentary boat rides on weekends and rooftop dinners, adding to the experience.
Staff & Management
The staff and management at Taj Vivanta Ernakulam went above and beyond to make our stay truly memorable, creating an experience we will cherish for years. Their exceptional hospitality set the tone for a wonderful journey, culminating in a spectacular anniversary celebration at Taj Kumarakom a few days later.
Areas of Improvement: The only area we felt could be improved was kid-friendliness—a small play area and a dedicated kids’ pool section would have made the stay even better for families.
Culinary Experience
From the moment we arrived at Taj Vivanta Ernakulam, it was clear that this place takes its food seriously—and deliciously so! Our culinary journey kicked off with a perfectly crisp Masala Dosa for a late lunch, setting the tone for what was to come. By evening, we switched things up with a bowl of creamy white sauce penne pasta, proving that comfort food knows no boundaries.
And for our tiny food critics—our 17-months-old twins—the hotel’s complimentary baby food was a winner! Fresh, hygienic, and just the right balance of flavors for their delicate taste buds, exactly what you’d expect from a five-star experience.
But the real showstopper? The grand breakfast buffet the next morning at The Bubble Café! While the spread had all the familiar comforts of an English breakfast, it was the authentic Kerala delights that truly stole our hearts. From the soft, fluffy Puttu paired with flavorful Kadala Curry to the delicate, lacy Idiyappam soaking up the rich Naadan Kozhi Curry, every bite was a love letter to Kerala’s rich food culture. If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, Taj Vivanta made sure it was also the most unforgettable. 🍽️✨
Photographs below: With no set plans, I decided to let the morning unfold on its own terms. So, I set off on a solo stroll along Marine Drive, camera in hand, chasing the quiet charm of early street life and the serene beauty of Vembanad Lake. No rush, no agenda—just me, the morning light, and a quest to capture simplicity at its finest. ✨📸
Photography
For this trip, I put my faith in my iPhone 15 Pro for photography—because let’s be real, hauling around a professional camera and lenses with twin toddlers is a logistical nightmare. But reality hit fast: iPhones aren’t built for serious travel photography.
Shooting in RawMax mode, my storage filled up way too quickly. Capturing a scene against the sun, I had to give up on the composition, forget about sun star effect. However, despite these limitations, I did my best to document the trip—albeit with a lesson hard learnt that no smartphone can ever compete with a traditional camera for serious travel photography.
The adventure is far from over! Up next in this Kerala trip series (Part II), I’ll take you through the misty hills of Munnar and the laidback road journey to Thekkady, packed with stories and photographs you won’t want to miss.
And just when you think it can’t get any better, we’ll wrap up with a serene escape to the backwaters of Kumarakom (Part III). Stay tuned—things are only getting more exciting from here! 🚀🌿📸
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Creative Genes 
What a beautifully crafted post! I was especially drawn to the greyscale photography featured throughout your journey in Ernakulam – the way you’ve turned familiar scenes into monochrome moments gives them such thoughtful, timeless character. Each image feels quiet yet evocative, capturing not just the place but the mood: the stillness of lake-side reflections, the subtle textures of stone and water, and the soft interplay of light and shadow.
Your skill in using greyscale here adds depth to the travel narrative, making me pause and appreciate the details I might otherwise overlook. It’s a wonderful balance of professional technique and personal – almost diary-like – observation. Thank you for sharing these moments; they’ve inspired me to look for the quieter, more contemplative sides of travel too. Looking forward to Part II and more of your photographic insights!
Dear Thomas, your kind words of genuine appreciation really means a lot to me. This just made my day! I am very happy that my photographs could stir something inside you and inspire you! If you love photography, please do connect or DM me on Instagram @vivekverma0909. I can possibly share more with you and would love to know more about your journey as well. My email id is vivekvermavisuals@gmail.com