Whispers of the Mist and Waterfalls: The Epic Valiyathodi Family Get-Together at Rockhill Resort, Nilambur
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 family travel stories on ishabil.com, you might remember our trips to:
- The misty hills of Kodaikanal
- The green tea gardens of Ooty
- The busy beach streets of Kochi
- The loud waterfalls of Athirappally
But this time, we wanted something different. A single day felt too short to talk, laugh, and spend time with relatives we had not seen for months. We decided to change our tradition. We wanted a special overnight stay at a nature resort where the whole family could live together under one big green roof. After many ideas and changes in plans, we chose a beautiful place near Wayanad—Rockhill Resort, located right near the famous Adhyanpara Waterfalls in Nilambur.
Checking the Place First: The Preparation
Planning a trip for a huge group is a hard task. Rockhill Resort was a little more than 60 kilometers away from our home area, deep inside the green forests of Nilambur. To make sure everything would be perfect for our big family, my cousin sister Fouzia and I took the responsibility to check the place first. One week before the main trip, we drove to the resort to see the rooms, check the facilities, and make sure our big group would fit comfortably.
The moment we entered the property, we knew we had found the perfect spot. True to its name, Rockhill Resort sits on a steep, high rock hill. From the main gate, a steep road goes up into a peaceful paradise away from the noisy world. The resort is not like a formal corporate hotel; it is a natural, green, and real escape.
The rooms were of many different types, built along a green slope that showed beautiful views of the wild nature around. To get complete privacy, we booked the whole resort for ourselves. This included:
- Unique A-frame Huts
- High Wooden Tree Houses
- Large Suite rooms
- The strong Rock House
- Big, comfortable Dormitories
After checking that every single corner was clean and ready, we told the family group the good news. The countdown had officially started.
Check-In, Biryani, and the Steep Hills
The big day finally came. We had a huge group of more than 55 people from 10 different family units. Instead of one tourist bus, we traveled in a long line of separate family cars, all driving toward Nilambur. The official check-in time was 2:00 PM. My family and I drove together with my cousin Nooru and his family. The cars were full of talking, games, and excitement for the weekend.
We knew that a hungry family is an unhappy family. So, before we even started our journey, we bought a huge, hot pot of delicious Biryani from our nearest familiar shop to take with us. Arriving at the resort was very exciting. Driving up that steep road from the gate felt like going up into the clouds. The cottages are built with good space between them. This gave privacy to each family but kept everyone close through nice walking paths.
We began giving rooms to each family. My family and Nooru's family got the Rock House. This is a strong, quiet building made of stone-style architecture. It stays very cool inside and has two large rooms connected to each other. It was the perfect shared space for us. The other families went into the beautiful A-frame huts and suites, while the young bachelors gladly took over the big dormitories. The best part was that every single room had a beautiful, clear view of the faraway waterfall and the green valley.
Once everyone was settled in their rooms, we gathered in the resort’s big main hall. We opened the huge pot of Biryani, and the nice smell filled the air. We sat together, shared our food, told stories, and laughed. This was the official start of the Valiyathodi mega get-together. After a heavy and delicious lunch, the resort became quiet as everyone went to their cool rooms for a good afternoon rest.
Sunsets by the Pool and a Secret Jungle River
As the hot afternoon sun went down, the resort became lively again. People chose different adventures for the evening.
The women and the kids went to the clear water of the resort's swimming pool. The pool was placed beautifully against the green valley. The kids splashed in the water right away, and the ladies enjoyed a relaxing swim while watching the sky turn orange and pink as the sun set behind the Nilambur hills.
At the same time, the men went out for a different adventure. We got into a few cars and drove a short distance to a nearby, quiet river. It was a beautiful place—a clean, clear stream running through a thick jungle. The riverbed was full of large, smooth rocks. The water was very cool and fresh. We spent the late afternoon walking over big stones, putting our feet in the moving water, and talking happily away from the modern world. We stayed there until it became completely dark.
A Rainy Night, Family Bonds, and a Generous Gift
Just as the men came back to the resort, it started raining heavily. In many places, a big rainstorm might ruin a holiday, but at Rockhill Resort, it made everything more magical. The rain hit the roofs loudly, creating a cozy feeling that made all 55 of us gather close inside the main hall.
With the rain falling outside, we turned the hall into a stage for a fun family talent show. Some of our older family members spoke beautifully about why family unity is important. They talked about the strength of our roots and why we need these grand get-togethers to keep the younger generations connected. Soon, the microphone was given to the kids and other talented family members. They sang beautiful songs, filling the room with music that made us forget the thunder outside. While the performances went on, we shared a continuous supply of snacks and fruits.
A Special Note of Thanks
In every big family, there are people who support everyone quietly. Our dear Mr. Samad Aliyan did a wonderful thing during this trip. He brought a huge amount of good snacks, fresh apples, and exotic longan fruits for the whole crowd to eat through the night.
But the biggest surprise came when it was time to pay the bills. Without telling anyone or wanting any praise, Samad Aliyanka quietly paid a very large part of the total resort rent as a surprise gift to the family. His great kindness touched our hearts. It showed the true spirit of the Valiyathodi family—helping each other and making everyone happy.
Misty Games, Shared Dinners, and Midnight Football
When the heavy rain turned into a light drizzle, nature changed again. A thick, white blanket of mist rolled over the rock hill. The temperature dropped, and the cottages felt cool and dreamy. With this nice weather, we went out to the beautiful outside area of the resort to play classic family games.
We played musical chairs, which became very funny as the youngest kids and the oldest aunties tried hard to win. Then came the most exciting game: the Balloon Blast.
We had hidden small pieces of paper with prize names inside many colorful balloons. The players had to blow up the balloons until they were full, tie them, and then pop them to win their hidden gift. The open air was filled with the loud sounds of popping balloons and happy cheers. The young members of the family had bought a large variety of gifts like chocolates, candies, and sweets of different prices. The lucky ones got the expensive treats, but everyone left with a smile and a sweet taste.
By dinner time, most of our stomachs were full from eating snacks, bakeries, traditional salted mangoes, and spiced pineapples. Instead of ordering a heavy dinner from the resort, we chose a simple, homemade meal. We had brought fresh Porottas and different delicious chicken dishes and curries cooked in our home kitchens. We laid them out with the remaining Biryani from lunch. Sharing this homemade food across the tables felt very warm and comforting.
After dinner, the night was still young for the energetic members. The men and kids decided to play a game of midnight football. The turf was not just near the resort; it was a little far away, located at a Madrasa where my cousin's son is studying. We got into our cars and drove there. Even though it was very late, we played an exciting game under the bright floodlights. It was a great time of sports and bonding.
The Midnight Safari
After the men came back from the football game, the women of the family went on a wild and exciting adventure of their own at exactly 12:30 AM!
They wanted some thrill, so they arranged for an open-top pickup truck that we came to resort. They climbed safely onto the back of the open truck and went for a late-night drive down the empty, misty streets around the hill. With the cool night wind in their hair and the foggy roads all to themselves, they turned up the music, sang loudly, and laughed into the night. It was a free, thrilling, and unforgettable midnight safari that became one of the favorite stories of the trip.
A Beautiful Morning at Adhyanpara Waterfalls
The next morning, I walked out of my Rock House cottage at dawn. The view was like a beautiful painting. The whole valley was deep green, partly covered under a moving blanket of white mist. The fresh morning air brought the loud sound of the nearby Adhyanpara Waterfalls. It was a morning that made the soul feel new.
We did not waste time and went straight to the Adhyanpara Waterfalls for an early morning visit. Because we went so early, we had the big waterfall almost entirely to ourselves. The water falling down the huge rocks was very cold and clean. The men and kids jumped into the safe pools of water to swim, splash, and let the water massage their shoulders. We spent a wonderful hour close to nature.
On the riverbanks and flat rocks, the ladies turned the beautiful place into a photo studio. With the morning light coming through the trees and the mist rising from the water, they recorded beautiful video reels, family portraits, and candid photos. They captured the happy energy of our family against the raw beauty of Nilambur. It was wonderful to see everyone enjoying themselves so much.
Breakfast, Hammocks, and Beautiful Photos
We came back to the resort very hungry. Rockhill Resort served us a delicious, traditional Kerala breakfast. We got:
- Soft, hot Dosas
- Fluffy Appams
- Traditional Nool Puttu (Idiyappam)
- Rich, tasty curries
We ate these along with some of our food from the night before. Just when we thought we could not eat any more, the kind Samad Aliyanka set up a spot in the morning sun. He started giving out another round of fresh fruits, crunchy cashews, and roasted peanuts.
With full energy from the heavy breakfast, the kids jumped right back into the swimming pool for one last morning swim. The rest of the family gathered in the resort’s nice open park area. The special thing about Rockhill Resort is its collection of different hammocks and traditional wooden swings (oonjals) hanging between the tall trees.
For the next hour, we just relaxed. The elders sat on the swings and talked about old times, while the cousins swung gently on the hammocks under the golden morning sunlight.
We used this time to take our final group photos. Using high-end iPhones and smartphones, the talented young people of our family took charge of photography. Thanks to the bright natural sunlight and the beautiful background of the rock hill, the photos looked amazing—sharp, colorful, and full of life. We really praised the great photography skills of our family's youth! We posed for many big group photos. The resort management liked our family's happy energy so much that they even recorded a professional video of us to show on their official Instagram page.
Farewell, Until Next Time!
At 11:00 AM, it was time to check out. Packing our bags and walking down that steep road back to our cars felt a little sad. In less than 24 hours, the Rockhill Resort had felt like a real home to the Valiyathodi family. We had walked up the hill as ten separate families, but we walked down as one big, happy, and close unit.
With thankful hearts, cameras full of beautiful photos, and minds full of sweet memories that we will keep forever, we said goodbye to the misty rocks of Nilambur. The Valiyathodi family get-together was a complete success.
Now, back at our daily routines, we are already looking at maps, discussing roads, and asking: Where will the Valiyathodi family bus go next? Keep checking ishabil.com to find out!
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