Kerala 2026, a ride by RTW

08:49 Fort Kochi

Bike collected, paperwork done, chai in hand. #Kerala2026 starts now. First job: get out of Kochi traffic in one piece.

12:02 Neriamangalam

Lunch stop by the bridge. Meals on a banana leaf for 120 rupees and I could not finish it.

15:07 Cheeyappara Falls

The road starts climbing and the waterfalls start. Every bend has another one.

4 16:10 Munnar

Made it to Munnar before the rain. 1,600 m up and I needed the jacket for the last hour.

10:11 Tea estates near Munnar

Morning ride through the tea estates. Rows and rows of it, all the way up the hillsides.

6 11:26 Pooppara

Fuel stop. The attendant wanted to know everything about the bike, then told me the road ahead is "very nice, very many curves". He was right.

13:00 Bodimettu

Hairpins. So many hairpins. Lost count after 20.

15:22 Thekkady

Spice gardens and a quiet homestay at the edge of Periyar. Cardamom everything.

12:06 Periyar

Rest day. A walk in Periyar with a guide, and an elephant crossing sign that I really hoped would be true.

10 15:36 Kumily

Spice market in Kumily. Came out smelling of cardamom and pepper, with a bag I have no room for on the bike.

15:06 Kumarakom

Houseboats lined up three deep. The road ends at the water.

15:31 Near Alappuzha

Lunch at a toddy shop by the canal. Then the last stretch into Alappuzha.