India Directory of Tips, Stories, and Advice

Discovering What it Means to be Human by Nature in Kerala, India

When you visit a destination, what memories do you walk away with? Are they about the landscape? The food? The people? Or a combination of it all?

During our visit to Kerala in southern India, it was most certainly a mix of everything. But in thinking about it, the human element that tied everything together was a prominent feature in every destination we visited.

When Kerala Tourism reached out and asked if we wanted to be a part of their Human by Nature campaign, to share our experiences with the human side of visiting Kerala’s natural wonders, we were in. In thinking back on it, the human element was truly a big part of our trip to the state!

In this one, we wanted to share how the Human by Nature theme played a big part in a few of the destinations we visited.

Paneer Butter Masala Recipe – Straight From India

Before traveling to India, paneer butter masala was one of those enigmatic dishes that I always thought I could never replicate at home.

The spices and flavors just seemed too rich and complex to get exactly right. In fact, most Indian food feels that way to me- I love to eat it in restaurants, but every time I try to make it at home something is just not the same.

So, when we finally made it to India, I knew we had to take a cooking class and uncover the mysteries of Indian food, particularly of paneer butter masala – one of the very first dishes we had in India after crossing over to Varanasi.

Kerala Backwaters – Don’t Miss the Kayak Tour!

When exploring the backwaters of Kerala, India, renting a house boat is often the preferred activity. These large floating boats can include every amenity you'd expect from home, and unfortunately come with the price tag to match.

We knew going into our backwater tour of Alleppey that the house boats would be far outside our budget. Instead, we looked towards the more intimate tours on smaller boats that get into the narrow channels these floating houses could never dream of reaching.

Our mode of transportation for this journey? Kayaks.

Armed with our paddles and a trusty guide, we began to explore the backwaters to see what life is truly like in this part of the world in a way not many visitors get to experience.

Do Not Miss the Kolukkumalai Tea Plantation in Munnar, India

The Kolukkumalai Tea Estate outside of Munnar, India is the highest organic tea plantation in the world.

With plants growing at elevations of over 8,000 feet, it should be no surprise when we say it is not the easiest of places to visit.

After a rather lackluster government run tour in Munnar the day before, we decided to hire a private Jeep to take us to this incredibly remote facility as the views were supposed to be some of the best.

Even with the poorly run tour, we already knew that the region topped the Boh Tea Plantation in the Cameron Highlands, and going even higher for more beauty was something we couldn't begin to comprehend.

With blue skies above and none of Munnar's famous view-impeding mists in sight, our journey put us on the path to vistas we never thought possible.