Another Feather on Kerala's Cap. Review on Cherai Beach

Kerala has been for eons now regarded as “Gods own country”… a state that has the gift of nature’s bounty. But honestly, Kerala has never been my dream travel destination. Maybe, because I have been there a couple of times, thanks to the pilgrimage trips I have made with my parents… but more importantly because of the weather. Kerala is hot, humid and sultry most times of the year. And if not hot and humid, it pours like there is no tomorrow. Not my ideal travel choice. Our visit to Cochin this April was also a pilgrimage trip. We were visiting three very famous Shiva temples in the vicinity of Cochin – Vaikkom, Kadatiruthy and Etamaanoor. It is considered to be auspicious to visit all these three temples on the same day before 12 noon. We started from Coimbatore on Friday afternoon. Cochin is about 4 hours by road from Coimbatore. The drive was superb. The roads are in excellent condition and if you are a driving enthusiast, its a thrill. Cochin and Ernakulam are considered to be twin cities.

There is roaring commercial activity in these cities due to Cochin port. We reached Ernakulam by 4 in the evening. April is definitely not the one of the best months to visit this state. We had arranged to stay in Hotel Dwaraka in Ernakulam. This hotel is on MG Road, which is a popular commercial area in Ernakulam. Since we had time to kill in the evening, we decided to explore Ernakulam/Cochin. There is not much that these cities have to offer. But you can definitely visit Fort Kochi, Mattanchery Palace, the Chinese fishing nets(honestly its disappointing. Most travel guides tend to hype this so called attraction). We then went to the famed Jews Street. This is a narrow road with shops on either side selling antiques of every form and nature. Meant primarily for foreign tourists, it’s a treat for one's eyes.

We also visited the Jewish Synagogue. It was a nice experience. The next day dawned really early for us. We started out at 5.30 in the morning to cover all three Shiva temples. It was a 60 Km drive to cover all these temples. But we came back exhausted. The heat can take a toll on you. We had planned to leave Cochin the same day back to Coimbatore. That was when one of the hotel staff suggested we visit Cherai beach. Since it was late and were tired to our bones, we took a spur of the moment decision to stay back. On Sunday morning, all excited to have fun at the beach, we started at 7 in the morning.

Cherai Beach is about 25 Kms from Cochin. We had an opportunity(thanks to some misguided directions by locals) to traverse the narrow roads bordering the backwaters of Kerala. This was an experience by itself. Can you imagine how it would feel to drive on a narrow stretch of land with the backwaters on both sides. God Bless the locals who misguided us. The drive was out of the world. Beautiful!!!

Cherai is probably one of the untapped, virgin beaches Kerala has to offer. We were on the beach at 7.45 am. We only had the skies, the birds and roar of the waves for company. There was not a soul in sight. The beach is clean and the water sparkling and clear. If you stand on the beach you can find shells of every shape and size. We even managed to see octopus and crabs. Its an experience I will never forget. It makes you feel light and carefree. There are no hawkers or vendors pestering you to buy their wares. There are no crowds to make you feel uneasy. The best part is there is no filth on the beach. We were on the beach until about 10 am. It was starting to get hot and humid.

Cherai is easily accessible by road and there are amenities like changing rooms, a restaurant and even beach houses on rent. Since Cherai has been open to the public only from 2002, the beach has managed to retain its serenity and beauty. I am sure its only time before this pristine beach will succumb to the crowds of holiday makers and tourists. Therefore, my suggestion is visit this place before it loses its charm. Best Months to Visit : After September Please remember to travel light and carry a lot of cotton clothes with you. A sunscreen is a must, though you will anyways come back tanned.