Covid has kept us all stuck at home for such a long time, and getting married during the pandemic didn’t give us a chance to take a proper honeymoon. So, we decided to embark on a spontaneous road trip. Without making any major plans, we got in the car with snacks and simply traveled, embracing the adventure ahead.
Day 1 : The Sweet Story of Unniyappams and Ganesha: A Temple Tradition
Our first stop was an easy choice—Chinnu, being a devoted follower of Lord Ganesha, couldn’t resist the pull of a temple famous for its unique offering of Unniyappams. While the temple’s presiding deity is Shiva, it has become widely known as a Ganesha temple, thanks to a fascinating story that intertwines devotion and tradition.
When the idol of Ganesha was first installed, the temple priest was unsure what offerings would please the deity. Many offerings were made, but none seemed to be accepted. One day, while preparing Unniyappams for Lord Shiva, the priest noticed something unusual—each Unniyappam he made disappeared. It soon became clear that it was Lord Ganesha himself consuming the sweet treat. From that moment, Unniyappams became the most beloved and popular offering at the temple.
Today, devotees continue this tradition, buying Unniyappams as a symbol of devotion and gratitude to Lord Ganesha.
Snacking Our Way to Payyannur
Our journey continued through the winding roads of Kerala, flanked by makeshift tea stalls and tempting Manthi restaurants. While the drive through Thrissur was fairly smooth, things got busier as we headed north. We hit a traffic jam in Koyilandi that held us up for nearly 45 minutes.
But the roadside treats kept us going—refreshing tender coconut juice, crispy vada, spicy puffs, sweet pazhampori, and juicy oranges. The entire day was spent driving, snacking, and soaking in the sights until we finally reached Payyannur in Kannur, where Nayana’s place awaited us for the night.
Day 2: Sweet Beginnings, Spicy Stops, and a Serene Temple Visit
Day 2 began on a sweet note, quite literally. Nayana’s mom had packed us a delicious treat for the road, with more love than sugar in every bite. Energized by this thoughtful start, we left Payyannur early and entered Karnataka by 8 AM. Our first pit stop was for a classic breakfast: spicy Mysore masala dosa, drenched in ghee and served with fiery chutney—just the kick we needed for the day ahead.
The roads in Karnataka were a pleasant surprise—wide, smooth, and traffic-free. It was a stark contrast to the narrow, crowded roads we had faced in Kerala. As we approached Kundapura, I braced myself for what used to be the most tiring part of the trip—mountain roads in poor condition. To my surprise, the entire stretch had been upgraded to a well-maintained route. What used to take hours, we breezed through in about 45 minutes, allowing us to enjoy a Karavalli-style vegetarian lunch and still squeeze in a refreshing afternoon siesta.
Our destination? The revered Mookambika Temple in Kollur. As a longtime devotee of Mookambika Devi, I used to make quarterly trips to this temple pre-COVID. However, with travel restrictions, it had been quite some time since I last visited. This trip felt like a long-awaited reunion with the goddess, and with fewer crowds due to ongoing restrictions, it was a unique opportunity to experience the temple’s full glory.
In the evening, we were blessed with a peaceful darshan at the temple, making the entire journey feel deeply fulfilling.
We managed to book a last-minute stay at Jyothis Residency, which turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The rooms were spacious, clean, and comfortable—ideal for a restful stop. The only downside was the lack of room service at the in-house restaurant, a small letdown as we were hoping for a cozy meal in our room.
Day 3: From Mookambika to Murudeshwar and a Movie Night
Day 3 began with one more visit to the temple, where we had the chance to see Mookambika Devi in her serene morning attire. After checking out, we hopped into the car without a set destination in mind. As we drove, I shared memories with Chinnu of a previous trip to Mookambika and other nearby temples with Jayan Maman. I reminisced about our visits to Murudeshwar, Dharmasthala, and Udupi, and mentioned the giant Shiva statue overlooking the beach in Murudeshwar. This piqued Chinnu’s interest, and just like that, we had our next destination.
Murudeshwar is famous not just for its massive Shiva statue, but also for the story behind it—where Ganesha and Vishnu tricked Ravana into making a prathishta of the revered “AtmaLinga” of Shiva. The town itself has been developed into a devotional-tourism hub by the renowned businessman RN Shetty. However, the atmosphere felt somber, as Shetty had just passed away the previous week, and the town seemed to be mourning the loss of its patron.
Aware of the long return journey ahead, we decided to turn back, but not without taking a peaceful stop at the stunning Maravanthe Beach. By evening, we arrived in Mangalore, checked into a hotel, and spontaneously made plans to watch Wonder Woman 1984.
This was special—our first movie together, especially since theaters were still closed in Kerala due to the pandemic. As movie buffs, we had been missing the big-screen experience. While the film itself was mediocre at best, just being back in a theater felt incredibly refreshing, and it ended the day on a high note.
Day 4: A Challenging Journey to Coorg
Day 4 was a bit of a rollercoaster. It started with me feeling under the weather—an upset stomach and fever had me down. The night before, we had made ambitious plans to head to Coorg, and despite my condition, we decided to press on. Gathering what little energy I had, we checked out later than expected and began the journey, fueled mostly by tender coconut water.
By the time we reached Coorg, a new challenge emerged—finding a place to stay. It was Christmas Day, and with Coorg being a popular tourist destination, almost every resort, hotel, and homestay was fully booked. We went from place to place, but most were either unavailable or didn’t meet basic cleanliness standards.
After a tiring search, we finally managed to find a resort with a pool where we could stay. It wasn’t the day we had planned, but we spent the rest of it resting and recovering. While uneventful, the downtime was much needed after all the traveling and challenges we’d faced so far.
Day 5: A Serene Escape to Nisargadhama
Day 5 took us to Nisargadhama, a peaceful park nestled around the Kaveri River. I was particularly excited to return, as it reminded me of a previous visit (with Benoy Sir) and the possibility of reconnecting with the tranquil beauty of Ma Kaveri. Chinnu, on the other hand, had a blast exploring the shallow parts of the river. The smooth pebbles and rocks made it easy for us to wade in and play without any worries. It was a relaxing day, with the gentle flow of the river and the fun of being close to nature.
Day 6 : Beans, Trunks, and Surprises: A Day of Coffee and Elephants in Coorg
Day 6 was all about two things Coorg is famous for—coffee and elephants. We started by visiting a coffee farm, where we got to explore the plantation and even pluck a few coffee cherries. To Chinnu’s surprise, the raw coffee cherries looked nothing like the ground coffee we drink, sparking a fun discovery. It reminded me of a past adventure at Joshua’s farmhouse on a rather eerie New Year’s Eve—but that’s a story for another blog post!
Day 7: The Great Return Journey
Day 7 turned into quite the adventure with our return journey. As I write this, we’re on a bus heading to Wonderla for a New Year’s amusement park day with family. I’m a bit worn out from the writing, but I’ll make sure to update this post later with all the details of our wild return trip.