Category: Places

“Nature itself is the best physician.”
~ Hippocrates

Did you know that taking time to get out into nature is sometimes all it takes to rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit? When Netflix and Chill fails, it’s time to embark on a nature trip – or should we say, it’s time to chill within nature!

Apart from taking a break from the daily grind of endless work meetings and other challenges that come with life, a nature vacation also doubles as an instant reset button for your brain that’s been bubbling with thoughts. Simply staying in a place that’s infused with nature, over the weekend will allow you to breathe out the stress and breathe in wellness – something that we busy bees take for granted.

Prescription: a dose of natural wellness.

Escaping the crush of urban life with a change of scenery will leave you in awe of what the world has to offer – a sea of clouds, a brilliant sunset and the soothing twittering of birds have been scientifically proven to help clear your head and lift your mood. Most times, all you need is a good dosage of nature, for wellness! Natural light, pure air and peace will give you enough energy to keep going for weeks or even months.

While the concept of mindfulness is thrown around a lot nowadays, it isn’t as difficult to practice mindfulness as people make it seem, especially when you’re sitting in the warm embrace of Mother Earth. Deep inside nature, among the trees and greens, is where you need to head to if you’re looking for a literal breath of fresh air.

Nature gives her gifts freely, why not take them?

Your work might give you a sense of productivity, but are you taking at least half the time to relax? Exchange your computer and phone screen for a one-on-one with nature. Are the calls from your boss leaving you overwhelmed? Go on a hike. Is your daily schedule jampacked to the tipping point? Do yourself a favour and book a scenic resort for the weekend. In today’s busy routine, it is impossible to stress how important it is to set aside some time to restore your senses, especially by being outdoors.

You might be truly surprised by how well a few hours or a weekend spent immersed in greenery can boost your ability to be more in the present and focus on what needs it. While it might just seem like you’re only resting and not doing anything “productive”, your body and mind will thank you for the time off – with a renewed sense of purpose and clear state of mind. Disconnecting from your devices helps you connect better with yourself, to breathe and to be.

The solution to feeling blue is a little tinge of green!

When it comes to mental health, nature is synonymous with healing. Nature is a potent and powerful cure-all, with an unmatched ability to alleviate symptoms of illness and other issues – and we’ve got the science to back it up! If you’re one to crank up audio of ‘soothing nature sounds’ or look at pictures of peaceful, green sceneries when you’re tossing and turning in bed at night, why not take the leap and head out into the real deal?

Now, let’s move on from the health benefits. Studies conducted have shown evidence that spending time immersing yourself in nature can boost creativity and memory. Getting over that sad old creative block is a walk in the park – literally! Sitting slumped over a desk or slouched on a chair isn’t going to help you find the inspiration to get those creative juices flowing. Opt for a change of scenery by taking a stroll or watching the sunset in all its colourful glory, and you’ll be back to feeling more exciting about your projects.

The essence of it all – a soulful journey

The bottom line? Nature travel is the best of all worlds. Whether you’re an adventurer or observer, whether you’re looking for a trip or just need a break, a nature trip gives you a memorable experience with maximum immersion at minimal effort, not to mention all the health benefits! Set your next vacation in the heart of nature, between the evergreen Kannan Devan Hills and Bison Valley Hills of Munnar, with SpiceTree. A unique mountain retreat, what really sets us much ahead of the league is the level of personal care and attention we offer to our esteemed guests – from garden villas to honeymoon suites and classic cottages, we’ve got everything you need to relax, recharge and rejuvenate.

Let’s end with a quote by American naturalist and philosopher Henry David Thoreau, that we’re sure will inspire your next nature adventure or retreat:

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”

We have looked into the details of some of the animals in Western Ghats and get to know about them in the first part of Wildlife of Western Ghats Escarpment, (if you haven’t click here) now lets look into some more.

Black Footed Gray Langur

The Black Footed Gray Langur are found in tropical rainforest, moist deciduous forest, sacred groves, gardens, and riparian forest. The major threats faced by the black footed gray langur today includes agriculture, human settlement, fragmentation, habitat loss, mining, deforestation, hunting, deliberate fires, and local trade for live animals and meat for food and traditional medicine. They are listed as Vulnerable by IUCN based on a predicted decline of at least 30% population over the next three generations.

Population Trend: Decreasing

Brown Palm Civet

For those who live in and around the western ghats will be familiar with the Brown Palm Civet, the carnivore restricted to the rainforest tracts of the western ghats. They are arboreal and nocturnal. Because the Brown Palm Civet does not appear to have any major threats and occur in high numbers across its conservation status of “least concern”.

Population Trend: Stable

Bengal Tiger

The Bengal Tiger is a subspecies of tiger, found across the Indian subcontinent. The Bengal tiger is considered to be the second largest species of tiger. It is the national animal of India. Majestic and lethal at the same time, these are one of the most graceful carnivores among the Indian fauna. Dry and wet deciduous forests, grassland and temperate forests, mangrove forests are the preferred habitats of Bengal tiger. By nature Bengal tiger are solitary and generally do not form packs. They are territorial and the size of their territories depends on the abundance of prey. Today, due to habitat loss caused by deforestation, and hunting by human poachers, the Bengal tiger is considered to be an endangered species.

Population Trend: Decreasing

Pangolins

Pangolins are the world’s most heavily-trafficked wild mammals. Each year, more than 100,000 pangolins are poached from the wild, world wide. The Indian pangolin is primarily threatened by hunting and poaching, for both its meat and scales at the local, subsistence level, but increasingly for illegal international trade.

The word Pangolin comes from ‘penggulung,’ the Malay word for roller – the action a pangolin takes in self-defense. Pangolins is the only known mammal with large, protective keratin scales covering their skin. There are eight species of pangolin. They are nocturnal, and their diet consists of mainly ants and termites which they capture using their long tongues.

Population Trend: Decreasing

Indian Wild Dog (Dhole)

The Dhole is a highly social animal, living in large clans. They hunt in packs. The Dhole is well-known for the vocal calls that it uses to communicate with it’s pack. The Dhole is an opportunistic feeder eating berries, fruit, insects, lizards, and mammals from small rodent to large deer size, including hares, wild boar, various ruminants, and even monkeys.

Major threats faced by the Dhole are depletion of prey base, habitat loss and transformation, persecution, disease and pathogens. The Dhole is listed as endangered by the IUCN as the population of Dhole are decreasing.

Population Trend: Decreasing

Gray Slender Lorises

The gray slender loris is a tree-dwelling species, nocturnal and hunts primarily using their vision and therefore has remarkable eyes that are adapted to this life. Although this species often forages alone, they sleeps during the day in groups of up to seven individuals, and interacts within the group throughout the night. Gray slender lorises inhabit forests and plantations, but they seem to prefer degraded forests instead of primary forest, often living in areas near human habitations. Major threats faced by gray slender loris is habitat loss, road kills, electrocution on un-insulated power lines, hunting for the pet trade and to be used for traditional medicines.

Population Trend: Decreasing

Sloth Bears

Sloth bears are extremely shy, seldom seen but will fiercely protect their young. This bear is only found in the Indian subcontinent with a subspecies in Sri Lanka, thus making it a rare and endangered species that enjoys the same level of protection as the tiger under Indian law. According to the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, capture of these bears is a punishable offence with a jail sentence of up to 7 years if convicted.

Population Trend: Decreasing

What are paddy fields?

The term “paddy” has been derived from the Malay word, which means the “rice plant”. The paddy fields depict a flooded field of arable land being utilized to grow semi-aquatic plants like rice and taro. The history of paddy fields dates back to the Neolithic rice-farming culture in Southern China. Paddy field is one of the tourist attraction spots for guests due to its greenery. From an eagle’s point of view, it feels like the Earth has been covered with green carpet. Paddy fields also offer some functions in balancing the local environment like climate mitigation, flood control, groundwater recharge, biodiversity, and ecosystem development.

Kerala and Paddy Fields

Kerala, also known as God’s Own Country, is famous for paddy fields. Here we can see land utilized for paddy farming. The new era of globalization created changes in the technique of farming. Humans are replaced with machines and the whole process of harvesting becomes much faster than before. The beautiful green paddy fields never fail to attract tourist attention. A stroll through this beauty surrounded by enchanting backwaters would undoubtedly be enthralling for anyone.

What Makes Bison Valley A Paddy Heaven

Bison Valley is one of Kerala’s most popular tourist destinations, and it plays an important role in the state’s history. What makes Bison Valley so popular are its spices, black pepper, and cardamom. There is one more thing that makes the space more interesting, and that is its paddy fields. Rice is the staple food of Keralites, and rice cultivation has long been a prominent part of the state’s rural economy.

The Bison Valley forests and the area have now been converted to villages like Rajakkad and Rajakumari, abundant with premium quality Black pepper and cardamom endemic to this specific environment. The outstanding quality of these spices was what compelled traders worldwide to sail for the shores of Kerala.

The beautiful green of Kerala’s rice fields is one of the state’s best attractions. Kerala’s ecosystem relies heavily on paddy fields. They act as natural drainage channels for floods, conserve groundwater, and are essential for the survival of a diverse range of plants and wildlife. Rice production is significantly influenced by paddy cultivation. The majority of the world’s population relies on the 480 million tonnes of rice produced each year to survive.

Paddy farming is carried out in many Kerala locations to enhance the region’s unique geographical and biological characteristics.

Guests at SpiceTree having a stroll through the paddy fields at Bison Valley

Paddy fields are the unique attraction of the Bison Valley, and it is one of the unique attractions for guests at SpiceTree Munnar. Our location is nestled between the evergreen Kannan Devan Hills and Bison Valley Hills in the picturesque heartland of Kerala. It’s a one-of-a-kind alpine getaway that’s an adventure in itself. Bison Valley in itself tells a lot about its beauty. The view of paddy fields covering the valley brings warmth to the guests at SpiceTree. It feels like the land has been painted green.

SpiceTree offers premium quality accommodation facilities and has added a new chapter and dimension to Kerala’s tourism prospects at Bison Valley. What we look forward to is connecting the guests to the local community to make it a mutually enhancing and educational interaction. We are also part of the broader vision to contribute to ‘Sustainable Tourism‘ by demonstrating social responsibility.

Our operations are unique in our treatment offered to guests and people living around us. To make our activities more responsible and sustainable, SpiceTree has chosen to support local farmers at Bison Valley. We purchase rice, vegetables, and fruits from the local farmers. This allows farmers to earn a living and helps us offer the best organically grown food to our guests.

Tourism in Kerala is back to normal and brimming thanks to the local tourists exploring ‘God’s Own Country’

It has been two years since we have all gone into hiding from society and now we are only slowly recovering and emerging stronger. The covid-19 may have affected us all badly, but one needs to find a way to relieve themselves of all the stress, anxiety and depression during the lockdown days. Yes, well surely Netfilx, Swiggy and Zomato was a life-saver. But, during those times when one needs a break to let themselves out and go on a vacation or travel to someplace new, the only option available was Kerala, it was during this time that we all fell in love with God’s own country not again, but forever!

Kerala, like any other state in India was gravely affected by the coronavirus. The initial year was the hardest, people wanted to release all that frustration and discomfort of being locked in and that is when they started travelling or going out for vacations and staycations. While going beyond geographical borders was strictly a big NO! People started to explore the far ends of their own homeland, which is when they started to realize that Kerala in itself is a natural beauty and a wonder worth seeing. It is quite sad that we all had to wait for the pandemic to realize this naked truth!

Kerala, A Wonder in Itself Worth Exploring

Tourism within the boundaries of Kerala is nothing but magnificent! Filled with sandy beaches, tranquil mountains and hill stations, valleys and greenlands, scintillating waterfalls, quiet backwaters, pristine forests, and amazing wildlife.

Kerala has it all; if beach life is what you desire, you can visit the following beaches in Varkala, Kovalam, Bekal, Kappad, Muzhappilangadi, Cherai, Fort Kochi, Marari, Alleppey etc.

If you prefer to be somewhere amongst the mountains enjoying the mystical view of the passing clouds and the beauty of the Western Ghats then an array of hill stations in Munnar, Vagamon, Wayanad, Nelliampathi, Peermade, Thekkady and Ponmudi awaits you.

Kerala also has national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in Periyar, Wayanad, Parambikulam, Silent Valley and Eravikulam, if you wish to explore the wildlife and enjoy nature up close.

Backwater tourism is mostly seen in Alleppey, Vembanad, Kollam and Ashtamudi, if you wish to enjoy a houseboat ride amidst the vast network of rivers and lakes flowing silently.

Waterfalls in Athirapally, Vazhachal, Thommankuthu, Meenmutty, Palaruvi offer a magical view of the gush of water falling from the top amidst the mountains and dense forests.

Kerala Tourism is on the Path of Revival From the Pandemic

Tourism was one of the worst-hit industries during the pandemic. Kerala used to receive a diverse group of people from different countries who visited tourist destinations in Kerala. The influx of foreign and domestic tourists may have taken a big dip towards Kerala Tourism but local tourists have raised the graphs which have contributed towards a big relief. While things have not been back to normal, the government has advised everyone to follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) when planning to visit any tourist spot.

Guidelines to Follow When Travelling Within Kerala

Even in Kerala, one needs to follow certain safety protocols when travelling to a tourist destination. One has to mandatorily,

Wear a mask
Sanitize or wash hands often
Take both doses of vaccination prior to visiting the destination
Submit your vaccination certificate
Maintain social distancing

The resort managers are also supposed to follow strict covid-19 protocols and do a mandatory temperature check, validate vaccination certificates of the visitor, disinfect rooms and the hotel regularly and adhere to all safety parameters instructed by the government.

Aside from these, we need to keep ourselves healthy and hygienic and also take medication if we experience any flu-like symptoms similar to covid-19. If we guard and take care of ourselves, we can protect other people too from further spread of the virus. We, ourselves are responsible for our actions, no one else is to blame.

The Response of People in Kerala After Lockdown Relaxation

The surge of people flowing into tourist destinations is proof enough that the people of Kerala have welcomed the government’s relaxation rules with open arms. The response received has been tremendous, and has helped revive the tourism sector in Kerala. Most of the tourist destinations in Kerala are swarming with people and the resorts/hotels are mostly booked during the weekends and other holidays. People find solace in travelling and the new guidelines set by the Kerala government have helped them find comfort amongst their usual routine life.

The tourists are also taking the necessary precautions and following the norms prescribed by the government so that everyone can enjoy their holidays in a healthy and happy manner. The police are also taking extra efforts to ensure that the guidelines are met with.

The Most Trending Tourist Destination in Kerala Post Covid-19

While all tourist destinations continue to receive equal invasion of tourists, Munnar of all places receives the most number of visitors.

Munnar is a favourite amongst the people of Kerala,

Ask me why?

Well, Kerala has a hot and humid climate most of the months in a year with people experiencing a sweaty situation often. For which reason, Munnar is the big escape to experience some chilly and cold weather.

Munnar is fondly called the ‘Kashmir of South India,’ raised 1600 meters above sea level nestled amidst the Western Ghats, it is the most trending hill station in Kerala at the moment.

Britishers called Munnar their summer capital to get away from the heat and they were true for apparent reason, most picturesque landscapes, lush green meadows, tea plantations, exotic flora and fauna, forest and grasslands, picturesque waterfalls and lakes, mist covered hills and passing clouds is stunning scenery to wake up to in the mornings.

Munnar has some of the best resorts, hotels, apartments, cottages, tree houses and all types of adobes to make your stay more relaxing and fun. The 5-star resorts in Munnar are well equipped with all the amenities you require to make for a pleasurable stay. A good Munnar trip will be a refreshing experience for all, pleasing your heart and soul equally.

If you are lucky and plan accordingly, you can see the Neelakurinji flower in the Eravikulam National Park, which only blooms once every 12 years. Tourists flock in to see this natural spectacle of flowers engulfing the mountains and hills at a far stretch. Also, you can spot some elephants and the Nilgiri Tahr, an endangered mountain goat, and lots of monkeys which is often a common sight. Some other natural wonders in Munnar are Anamudi peak, the highest peak in South India, the Mattupetty dam, Chinnakanal waterfalls, Top Station which is 1700meters above sea level etc. Tourists can also visit the tea factory to see the tea-making process and experience a tea tasting session.

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Experience Honeymoon Tourism in Kerala. Book a Honeymoon Package with us today.

Kerala is a land which gets a lot of rain. The major source of electricity is also water here. So also, there are many dams throughout Kerala for this purpose. But, many of them are not just places of electricity production. It is also very much spots of tourist attraction mostly because the areas they are situated in are are home to a wide variety of flora and fauna.

1. Mullaperiyar Dam

Located on the Cardomom Hills of the Western Ghats in Thekkady, Idukki it lies on river Periyar. This is one of the most controversial dams as there is a dispute regarding its ownership between the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu. Having nearly 120 years of history, this dam is known for its brilliant architecture. There are also facilities for speed boating through the dam. The dam is located around the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and is noted as an elephant and tiger reserve. Apart from this, you can also get a glimpse of live wildlife, birds and animals alike. The sight of submerged trees in Periyar Lake is one of a kind. The place is also home to many rare species of fauna. You will also be able to find teak, rosewood, bamboos etc. The tropical forest gives it a very peaceful and tranquil charm any person can enjoy.

2. Idukki Dam

Situated on Periyar itself, this is an arch dam that stands tall between two mountains called Kuravanmala and Kurathimala. Along with two other dams called the Cheruthoni and Kulamavu, they create an artificial lake. The dam is only open during vacation season. The Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary is located around it. The place is home to bisons, sambars deers, wild dogs, jungle cats, tigers, wild boars, elephants, and many types of snakes. There are also a wide variety of birds.

3. Thenmala Dam or Kallada Dam

The second largest irrigation project in Kerala, this dam is located on Kallada River in Thenmala, in the district of Kollam. The area in which the dam is located is the first planned eco-tourism destination in India. Thenmala attracts tourists both local and foreign because of the variety of attractions it provides. There is a boating facility on the lake. Rope bridge, biking, trekking, mountaineering etc are other attractions. There is also a waterfall called ‘Palaruvi’ nearby. A deer rehabilitation centre where the visitors are allowed to watch deers in their natural habitat is a major highlight. On both sides of the reservoir lies the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary. This tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forest is home to many endangered species like the lion tailed macaque.

4. Malampuzha Dam

Located in the Palakkad district of Kerala, this is the largest reservoir of Kerala. Lying on the Malampuzha river, a tributary of the longest river of Kerala – Bharathapuzha, and with the most beautiful view of Western Ghats in the background, this is one of the most popular tourist destinations. There is a boating facility available as well. Nearby the dam, there is a garden which offers a wide variety of services. If you happen to go on a weekend or on a public holiday, you will get to see the garden illuminated as well. The ropeway over the garden is a one of a kind experience. There is also a snake rehabilitation centre, rock garden, Japanese garden, freshwater aquarium and a children’s park located nearby the dam.

There are also other dams like the Banasura Sagar Dam in Wayanad, Neyyar Dam in Thiruvananthapuram, Peechi Dam in Thrissur etc. which also gives you fresh experiences. If you thought dams were only meant for storing water and producing electricity, Kerala is one of the best places to undo the notion.

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How much of Hyderabad can you see in a day? If my calculations are right, and if you have the energy, you can see a lot of it.

1. Sunrise at Moula Ali

Located around 10 kms from Secunderabad railway station, this suburb has a Dargah on top of a hill with steps leading to the most beautiful sunrise and sunset view in Hyderabad.

2. Breakfast at Ram ki Bandi

Around 12 kms from Moula Ali, situated opposite the Karachi Bakery near Mozamjhahi market, you will not miss this small place for the crowd it will have in front of it. Open from 3a.m to 8 a.m, they serve a variety of dosas including butter, paneer, cheese, and others. This is one of the most opted breakfast places of Hyderabad.

3. Charminar, Mecca Masjid, and Laad Bazaar

Bangles, Pearls, Charminar, and the Masjid

4 kms away from Ram ki Bandi is the architectural marvel of Charminar. And to its southwest lies the Mecca Masjid, one of the oldest mosques in Hyderabad. The three arched facades of the mosque were carved from one piece of granite, and it is a visually stunning sight with flying pigeons and the water pool.
If you are in Hyderabad, the city of pearls, you cannot go back obviously without pearls. You have shops on either sides of Charminar to get your favourite kind of pearl. To the west of Charminar is a 1 km strip of street called the Laad Bazaar where you will get bangles and other jewellery, shoes, clothes etc. for a very affordable rate.
If you have the time, you can walk to Chowmahalla Palace, which is under 1 kms away.

4. Lunch at Shadaab Hotel

The mouthwatering biriyani and Khubani ka Meetha at Hotel Shadab

All the walking and shopping might have tired you out, and yes, you had an early breakfast. So head to Shadab hotel, less than a kilometre’s walk from Charminar to have one of the best Hyderabad Biriyanis of the town. If you are in town during the Ramzan season, ask for the Haleem as well. And for dessert, order Khubani ka Meetha, a special sweet prepared with apricots.

5. Salar Jung Museum

The adobe of historical treasures – Salar Jung Museum

Less than a kilometre away from Shadab, along the sides of Musi river lies Salar Jung Museum, one of the three national museums of India. As the sun blazes outside, you can enjoy the Veiled Rebecca by the Italian sculptor G.B. Benzoni, the double sided wooden sculpture which features Mephistopheles and Margretta, an array of Raja Ravi Varma paintings, the wardrobe of Tipu Sultan, Aurangazeb’s sword among many, many other important things. You should also look out for the that special clock with an upper deck from where emerges a timekeeper to gong it the number of times as it is the hours of the day.

6. Refresh Yourself at Famous Ice Creams

Before heading to the next location, it will be completely worth it if you take a quick detour to Famous Ice Creams which is under 2 kms away from the museum. You get ice creams in seasonal fruit flavours like chickoo, musk melon, sitaphal etc. at a very cheap rate here.

7. Golconda Fort

Around 9 kms from Famous Ice Creams is the majestic Golconda Fort. This architectural marvel provides a great view of Hyderabad city, and if you are lucky enough you can catch the sun setting in the background of the city. Another interesting factor in the Fort is its brilliant acoustic engineering. If you clap at a particular point in the fort, it will be heard at the highest point of the pavilion which is at a distance of about a kilometre. There is also a light and sound show at the fort with the first show starting at 6.30 p.m.

8. Hussain Sagar

Nearly 14 kms away from the fort is Hussain Sagar, the artificial lake that separates the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The lit up necklace road around the lake and the lit up Buddha statue is a sight indeed. There are two parks – NTR Park and Lumbini Park situated next to it. From Lumbini Park, you will get boats to go into the small island in which the 18m tall monolithic statue is erected on a lotus pedestal. You can also catch a glimpse of the Birla Mandir around the Hussain Sagar area.

9. Eat Street

A long walk along the Hussain Sagar lake with a lot of choices for food!

Around 2 kms from NTR Gardens is Eat Street, a street full of restaurant outlets set against the background of the lake. Apart from Indian, fast food, desserts, and foreign cuisines, you can also find gift shops here. You can have your dinner enjoying the light breeze from the lake.

10. Prasads Imax

Just above a kilometre from Eat Street is this multiplex-mall housing 5 multiplex screens apart from the second largest IMAX 3D screen in the world. 72 foot high, 95 feet wide, this screen has a seat capacity for 635 people, and you can say the perfect goodbye to Hyderabad after catching the late night show around 10.00 p.m or 11.00 p.m.

Booked your tickets to Hyderabad yet?

Kozhikode a.k.a Calicut is famous for its unique food, culture, and the country’s most genuine auto rickshaw drivers. When it comes to sight-seeing in the heart of the city, there might just be the Mananchira Square, the Thali temple and a few other places. For shopping, you can just walk into the Sweet Market street (S.M. Street). But when it comes to food, it will become difficult to cover the specialties of Kozhikode in even a week, i.e. even after you eat different dishes three times a day, and then pack your Kozhikode special halwa and banana chips for your way back. These are with no doubt things you shouldn’t miss when you are in Calicut. But, if you want to know the pulse of the youngsters in Calicut town, you should certainly visit some of these below mentioned places.

1. Brown Town

Cheesecakes, truffles and red velvet cupcakes!

A sister cafe of the ever famous Paragon restaurant which serves brilliant appam, prawns roast, ghee rice, etc., Brown Town serves mouth watering desserts, pastries, and Indian sweets. There are two branches of Brown Town – one right opposite the Paragon restaurant on the Kannur Road, and the other at Focus mall, right outside M Grill, the multi cuisine version of Paragon. The best thing about this place is that you can afford these exotic food stuff. You can taste a variety of cheesecakes like blueberry, strawberry, kiwi, passion fruit, mango, and others like the Italian tiramisu or the Dutch truffle for under hundred rupees for a decent and sizeable portion for one. There are also Indian sweets like the besan laddu, gulab jamun, rasogolla etc. If you have a sweet craving, Brown Town is the answer.

2. Downtown

Situated near the fourth railway gate, this is a hangout point for youngsters and family alike. Open post midnight, this is ‘the’ hangout place of college students. The shakes and burgers are droolworthy, and so are the desserts. This deli is pocket friendly with great ambience. So, if you are in the mood for some steak, sizzlers, salad, and shakes, or if you want to just hangout with your friends, you know where to head to if you are in Calicut. They have also started a Downtown in the Thondayad bypass with interesting facilities like a library side by side the cafe.

3. Groove Shack

A walk from Calicut beach will take you to this cozy shack called Groove Shack, where you will be welcomed with food and music. The owner says that the only drug allowed in this place is music – all kinds of Indian music except Bollywood pop music. It is a different feel to enjoy your food with like-minded people jamming their soul in the backdrop of a beautiful beach sunset. Music lovers, head straight to Groove Shack, the All Indian Rock Cafe!

4. Crown Theatre

Crown theatre which started out as a drama house in the 1930s, later became the first to introduce 70mm cinema to the people of Malabar, and Dolby sound system to the Keralites. It used to be the only theatre which played English movies before R.P. Mall multiplex came along. However, Crown theatre management took it up on their shoulders to revamp the place to suit the preference of the upcoming movie buffs. It was upgraded to a two screen theatre with multiplex-like seats, Active 3D and a 3 way sound system. Earlier they used to have reservation for ladies in the back row, and still they continue the tradition for families. You can just call them up, and they will hold those seats for you!

5. Head Over Heels!

The staircase room gets a glitzy makeover!

This shopping hub of youngsters, is on the way to Calicut beach. Situated under a staircase, this is your mini-Delhi, Bombay, and lot more other places. Bringing the best of all worlds – from badges, chains, bags, scarves, tops, shoes, you will find all the fashionista stuff at a very affordable price here. You will surely fall head over heels in love with this place, and be amazed at how much cool stuff one can store in such tiny a space!

Other places include the Focus Mall, where one reunion takes place every other day. There are a number of branded shops near the fourth railway gate, native ones like Biba, W, Label’M etc., and also foreign ones like Pepe Jeans, Levi’s and others. You will also find an exclusive Manchester United football club store in Focus Mall. Thondayad bypass is becoming another hangout place with a number of cafes on both sides of the road like Choco Tree, Coffee Lounge etc. There is also a 24 hour Cafe Coffee Day in the premises of Cradle Hospital. And if you want to go for an early morning jog, or spend a quiet evening, just make a move to Sarovaram Biopark, go boating, talk till your heart’s content to your dear ones enjoying the preserved nature.

Go on and make the most of it at Kozhikode!

My passion for travelling made a special place for Munnar in my mind and it remained as such even after visiting several times. The cliffs, narrow and curly roads, misty climate, and the taste of garden fresh tea and the scenic beauty of tea plantation which are spread all over the hills kept my thirst -to visit Munnar-unchanged. When I decided to join the Team Spicetree Munnar, I was so excited because it is my first job and moreover it is a golden opportunity for me to work in my dream destination – Munnar.

My crush with Munnar gradually developed. On my maiden trip to Munnar, I started bit earlier from Kottayam and reached Adimaly by 12 noon. After lunch from Adimaly,I took bus to Bison valley which is the nearest town in the valley down to Spice tree Munnar. While travelling through the village I realized that this village having a different “Face” of Munnar – An unexplored face of Munnar… My memory clips included: villagers cultivating crops like rice, cardamom, pepper, nut meg, coco, banana, coconut and even rubber in the valley and the particular climatic conditions- sunny days, misty evenings, freezing nights and the sudden rains. All those images were a trailer to what I was about to explore a different Munnar here in Spicetree.

When Rajeev (a native of Bison valley was guided during initial days in Spicetree) told me about Muniyaras (Dolmens) in Munippara(The Dolmen Hills), I decided to visit the sight; because I read about the Muniyaras in Marayoor (A local village near to Munnar), that are the remnants of Megalithic age and moreover they are the historical symbols of a bygone era of the western ghat. As the discussion with Rajeev proceeded, I realized that the presence of Dolmens in Munippara near to Spicetree is not familiar for the outer world. So I decided to explore the place.

After tea, I went for an evening walk to Dolmen hills in the company of Rajeev and Mukherjee. Mr. Mukherjee was one of our guests who is a well known civil engineer from W. Bangal. But he is really interested in trekking and excavation practices. The walk through the cardamom plantations has always been a great experience. The chirping of birds and cricket (Cicadas) was the only sound breaking the silence and the canopy of the tall trees like Jambolan and Rosewood made a cool ambience in the dense cardamom plantation. After a 20 minutes walk through the plantation trails, we passed some village houses and then reached Munippara (Dolmen hills).

The cool breeze welcomed us there….. The swift (a common bird in munippara) was roaming in the sky….. The hills were wet and slimy because of the regular water flow through the rocks….. A huge collection of lemon grass all over this hill makes them greenish. In between those grasses there were a number of rattle pod (Crotalaria sp.) plants which were covered with a flock of Blue Glassy Tiger Butterflies (Ideopsis vulgaris). Rattle pods are the host plant of these particular type of butterflies on which they lay their eggs and metamorphose into beautiful butterflies. Those butterflies were very inviting, even after I went very close to them; they had given a great treat for my camera. The aroma of lemon grass, the gentle breeze and those beautiful butterflies made the dolmen hills a fairy tale place. The view of Bison valley from dolmen hills was simply incredible. The paddy fields appeared just like rectangular patches having different hues of green. The view of Spicetree Munnar from the Dolmen hills was indeed exceptional! The cottages located on the cliff edges overlooking the valley would give an outstanding experience for any traveler.

As I was mesmerized in the beauty of Dolmen hills, Rajeev pointed to the Dolmens that are in a group of four and surrounded with lemon grass. I realized that those Stone -age remnants are a great piece of art along with back up of a perfect engineering work. Each and every Dolmen house is made out of five pieces of rock that meant for four walls and a cap stone. At a closer look, I realized that there was a gigantic effort and team work behind the creation of those monuments.

Rajeev started to explain about the local belief of this village about the origin of Dolmen houses. According to them, those hills were the habitat of Yogis (Hermits) who lived there in meditative isolation. Since those surroundings had a regular visiting of wild animals those people were in need for a shelter, so they constructed the dolmens in those hills. But Mr. Mukherjee could not accept that story and he strongly opinioned that those are the remnants of Stone ages and which were used as a burial place. He also informed that those wonderful creations have been narrated in “Akamnanooru” and “Puram nanooru” (Two classical Tamil poetic works of Sangam Literature (1000 BC – 300 AD). We sat on the cliff edge rocks and continued the chat about the dolmens as we enjoyed some ethnic snacks.

As our discussion continued, the crimson red sun slowly disappeared behind the foot hills of Chockanmudi Peak. It was turning dark and a strong wind blowing from the valley made a particular whistling sound as it caressed the clusters of lemon grass. And a flock of Hill Mynas flying back to their nest reminded us that it is indeed dusk, time to walk back to our shelter too – Spicetree Munnar…..

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