Gods Own Country

While in India, we made a quick visit to Kerala in the south, which the local authorities market as “God’s Own Country.” There’s some truth behind the slogan as this region is one of the greenest and most scenic parts of the country. And there’s some Hindu mythology behind it. As the story goes, Lord Parasurama, who was once an avatar of Vishnu, threw his ax into the ocean. From that spot emerged the land known as Kerala, or God’s Own Country. 

Our 10-day trip began with a flight into Kochi (the world’s first solar powered airport!), then visits to mountain towns in the Western Ghats and houseboat cruises on the coastal backwaters.

Tea, or Chai as it is called in India, has been cultivated in the area around the hill station of Munnar since the 1870s. Munnar also became a favorite resort for the British elite and continues to be popular among Indian honeymooners. 

In the hill town of Thekkady, we watched the traditional dance known as Kathakali, where so much of the story — typically based on Hindu epics — is communicated by facial expressions, which is why they call it an “eye dance.” 

We also enjoyed watching a demonstration of the very energetic Kalaripayattu, one of the oldest martial arts still in existence. 

We were amazed that all the places we shopped at in Kerala lacked plastic shopping bags. As part of a move towards banning single-use plastics, they use these bags made of jute. Now if a developing nation like India can do this, surely the rest of the world can, too?