Ishabil.com

  They say the best views come after the hardest climbs, but sometimes, the best views are hiding right in your backyard, waiting to be discovered. This is exactly how it feels to visit Oorakam Hill , a hidden treasure tucked away in the Malappuram district of Kerala. Imagine standing 2,000 feet above the ground, where the wind whispers in your ears and the clouds feel close enough to touch. This isn’t just a hill; it is a place where history sleeps and the modern world looks like a toy set below. The Journey Begins The adventure starts on the Malappuram-Vengara State Highway . You leave the busy town traffic behind and turn off at a spot called Oorakam Poolapees . For the next 4 kilometers, you travel along a winding path. The road here is what you might call "medium" —it isn't a silky smooth highway, but it isn't a rough off-road track either. It is a manageable drive that most vehicles can handle with ease. As you dr...

The Valiyathodi Family Tree A big family is like a large, old tree. Even though most of us live in the same district, the family tree continues to grow, and its strength comes from its deep roots. For the Valiyathodi family, those roots start with our beloved Grandfather and Grandmother. Our grandparents had a big, busy home with five sons and five daughters. Time has passed, and out of those ten siblings, only three dear daughters are alive today to guide us. However, their family has grown beautifully over many years. Today, the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren have become a huge, lively group. We had to make lots of phone calls and have many discussions to arrange this grand get-together! Keeping such a big family close needs more than just daily chats. It needs shared trips and shared time. For a long time, we have made it a tradition to pack our bags, hire a large tourist bus, and go on one-day trips together. If you read our famil...

The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) introduced an incredible initiative: conducting budget tour programs to various tourist destinations within the state. When we heard about this, we knew we had to try it. I quickly contacted them and booked a one-day family trip covering three beautiful spots in the high ranges of Kerala: Malankara Dam, Illikkal Kallu, and Ilaveezhapoonchira . Pack your virtual bags, because I am about to take you on a 20-hour journey filled with winding roads, misty mountains, off-road jeep rides, and unforgettable family memories! The Early Bird Catch and the Highway Party Our day started long before the sun came up. We reached the Malappuram KSRTC bus stand at 4:30 AM in the morning. The air was cool and crisp, and the excitement was palpable. There were three KSRTC buses lined up, all dedicated to the exact same route. Our travel squad, proudly known as the Ishabil Team , consists of myself, my wife Sabee...