Sometimes, the best travel stories are not about going to faraway countries. Sometimes, they are about exploring nearby places with the people you care about. Recently, my old colleague and very good friend Faisal and I planned a special trip. Our plan was simple: we wanted to go to Palakkad to explore some beautiful tourist spots and meet a few of our old colleagues who live and work there. It had been a long time since we all met, so I was very excited.
My travel day started early in the morning. I began my journey from my home in Oorakam. First, I went to the bus stop and caught a local bus to Perintalmanna. Traveling by local bus in the morning is always a nice experience. The air is fresh, and you can see the world slowly waking up. When I reached Perintalmanna town, Faisal was already waiting for me. He had come to the city on his motorbike. We had a quick tea, smiled at each other, and started our real journey on his bike.
AISHABIL TRIP AT A GLANCE
- 📍 Destination: Palakkad, Kerala
- 📅 Date of Journey: January 7 , 2024
- 🚆 Transport Mode: Local Bus & Motorbike
- 👥 Companions: Faisal, Pramod, and Old Colleagues
The Long Bike Ride to Palakkad
Riding a motorbike gives you a feeling of freedom that a car can never give. You can feel the wind on your face and smell the trees on the side of the road. From Perintalmanna, Palakkad is about 60 kilometers away. The road was quite good, and we enjoyed the morning breeze. We talked a lot during the ride, remembering our old office days and laughing about funny things that happened in the past. After a smooth journey of about two hours, we finally reached Palakkad city.
Once we reached Palakkad, we called another good friend, Pramod. Pramod used to be our lab technician, and right now, he is working at the Palakkad Government Hospital. We were so happy when he said he could join us for a while. After a few minutes, Pramod arrived on his own motorbike. Now, we were three friends and two bikes, ready to explore the city.
Exploring the Giant Palakkad Fort
Our very first stop for the day was the famous Palakkad Fort. Even though I have visited Palakkad city several times before for different reasons, this was my very first time stepping inside this historical place. From the outside, you can see the thick, dark stone walls, but you do not realize how big it is until you walk through the main gate.
When we entered, I was truly amazed. The fort was much bigger than my expectations. It is a very large area covered with thick grass and old trees. We decided to walk and explore every single corner of the fort. We climbed the stone steps, walked along the high walls, and looked down at the deep moat (the water channel) that surrounds the fort. It felt like we were walking in a different century.
💡 ishabil fact
Palakkad Fort is also known as Tipu's Fort. It was built in 1766 by Hyder Ali, the father of the famous Tipu Sultan. Today, it is one of the best-preserved forts in all of Kerala!
While we were walking around the beautiful green lawns inside the fort, we noticed something very interesting. There were lots of young couples sitting under the trees and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere. Because the fort is so big, quiet, and green, it has clearly become a favorite hanging out place for lovers in the city. We spent a good amount of time here, taking photos and enjoying the fresh air before deciding to move to our next location.
The Wild Route to Malampuzha Dam
After finishing our walk at the fort, we drove our bikes towards Malampuzha. Malampuzha is very famous for its big dam and beautiful gardens. Most tourists go straight to the main gate, buy a ticket, and enter the garden area. But we wanted a different experience. We decided we would not enter the normal garden area right away.
Finding the Hidden Beauty of Kava
Instead of the main gate, we chose a special, hidden route that goes into the wild areas behind the dam. This place is the backside of the dam's catchment area, and it is locally known as "Kava". Let me tell you, this wild journey was simply amazing!
We rode our bikes through narrow, muddy paths surrounded by green trees and bushes. Suddenly, the area opened up, and we saw a huge expanse of water with big green hills in the background. We stopped both our bikes right there in the wild area to spend some quiet time. There were no tourists, no noise, just the sound of water and birds. The catchment area is very wide and incredibly beautiful.
Our big aim was to complete a full round of the catchment area on our bikes. But very soon, we realized that this was not going to be an easy task. Some areas had no proper roads. We had to cover large patches of loose sand. Riding a motorbike through thick sand is very hard, and the tires kept slipping. But we did not give up. We traveled many kilometers, stopping at different points to enjoy the beauty of the dam water touching the bottom of the green hills. It was an adventure I will never forget.
📌 ishabil tips
If you want to visit Kava on a bike, make sure your tires have good grip. The sandy parts can be tricky. Also, carry some drinking water with you because there are no shops in this wild area.
Lunch, Heights, and Souvenir Hunts
After successfully completing our full round of the Kava catchment area, we rode back to the main Dam area. By this time, the adventure had made us extremely hungry. We quickly found a nice local restaurant near the dam. We ordered simple meals with fresh fish fry. Because the fish was caught locally from the dam lake, it tasted absolutely delicious. We ate like kings and felt completely relaxed.
The Thrilling Ropeway Ride
With our stomachs full, we decided to finally try something touristy. We went to the garden area and bought tickets for the ropeway ride. This ropeway takes you high up in the air in small cable cars. It was an amazing experience! Looking down from high above, the entire dam, the colorful gardens, the swimming pool, and the big water reservoir looked completely incredible. It felt like looking at a beautiful painting. I highly recommend everyone to try this ride when visiting Malampuzha.
After the ride, I walked around the local shops near the entrance. As a travel blogger, I always like to buy a small fridge magnet or a little souvenir to remember the places I visit. I checked many shops, asking for a magnet with "Malampuzha" written on it. Sadly, I could not find even one. This made me realize something interesting. Even after so many years, there are almost no changes in Malampuzha. The facilities, the types of toys they sell, and the food stalls look exactly the same as they did many years ago. It has an old-world charm, but they definitely need some modern upgrades.
Meeting Old Friends and Sweet Memories
After finishing our Malampuzha visit, we drove back to Palakkad town. Our next stop was the Government Hospital lab where Pramod works. We went inside to see his workplace. Because he works in the lab, he very kindly arranged a basic health lab test for us just to make sure we were healthy. It was a very caring thing to do.
Once his shift was over, Pramod invited us to a famous cool bar nearby. He ordered their special butterscotch milkshakes for all of us. The milkshake was thick, cold, and so tasty! We drank our milkshakes, thanked Pramod for his wonderful hospitality, and sadly said goodbye to him.
But our friend reunions were not over yet! Later, we drove to a nearby village in Palakkad to visit Mr. Mohandas, another old colleague of ours. He worked with us on the Taj Polyclinic. We sat with him for about an hour. We digested so many old memories, talked about our old office jokes, and shared stories about what everyone is doing now. It is always a heartwarming feeling to see that real friendship never changes, no matter how much time passes.
The Long Journey Back Home
As evening slowly turned into night, it was time to start our return journey to Perintalmanna. I sat on the back seat of Faisal's bike once again. Now, let me be very honest with you. Traveling as a rider is fun, but sitting on the back seat of a bike for more than 60 kilometers is not an easy job!
😂 ishabil fun
After exploring forts, walking through sand, and riding all day, sitting on the small back seat for the long return journey made my back cry! I had to shift my sitting position every five minutes just to survive the ride home.
On our way back, we had one final surprise. We met Mr. Haris, another wonderful old colleague. We stopped the bike, had a quick and happy chat with him on the road, and then continued our journey in the dark. The cool night air helped us stay awake. Finally, late at night, we reached Perinthalmanna town safely. I hugged Faisal, said a big goodbye, and thanked him for driving all day.
From Perinthalmanna, I caught a late-night bus to Malappuram. I was so tired that I almost fell asleep on the bus. When I reached Malappuram, I took a local auto-rickshaw to my home in Oorakam. I entered my house with aching legs, a tired back, but a very, very happy heart. This trip was not just about seeing Palakkad Fort or Malampuzha Dam. It was about riding together, finding hidden wild paths, eating good food, and most importantly, refreshing old bonds with wonderful friends.
Ikbal Valiyathodi is the founder of Ishabil.com, a travel blog sharing budget-friendly travel stories, stopover hacks, and real experiences from around the world. He believes travel should be simple, honest, and possible for everyone.
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