Renting Motorcycles in Kochi

Renting Motorcycles in Kochi (Cochin) has never been easier.

Cheap and great condition motorcycles. Royal Enfield Bullet (500 and 350 ), Yamaha Fzs and Yamaha Ray.

Go to http://cochinmotorcycles.weebly.com/

or Call Mr Mathews KM at +91 9447379087

Driving in Kerala

Driving in Kerala can be quite hard, given the congested roads and unorthodox driving conditions. But that is what makes it more exciting. The rule of thumb when driving in Kerala is to look out for anything on the road, cyclist, dogs, people crossing the road, literally anything. As long as you are careful, you will be safe.

Most of the cities and tourist locations in Kerala are well connected by roads, and are usually well maintained.  Kerala has stricter laws when compared to other Indian states regarding speed limits, helmets, seatbelts, etc.  You should also look out for the occasional speed cameras usually on highways. 

Driving under the influence of Alcohol/Narcotics is a strict no-no. It is not only dangerous for the driver, but heavily penalised if caught by the police. The speed limit on most roads for motorcycles is 60km/h which is plenty considering the road conditions, and on 4 lane roads upto 70km/h. Cars can go upto 85km/h on highways. As a tourist you should expect to cover a maximum of 150-300km per day.

All these things don't matter when it comes to the astonishing natural beauty of Kerala. The ride through these places can be a little challenging, but the views and the feel will change your perspective of life. The endless tea plantations of Munnar with beautiful hills that touch the sky in the background, the vast beaches of Varkala, with red cliffs touching the sea, the backwaters of Alleppy in a houseboat, or the solemn and peaceful drive through the forest from Athirapally to Valparai through Sholayar Reserve will surely blow your mind and will give you inner peace.

The food is amazing in Kerala. Most of Kerala's delicacies are to die for. Some must try dishes are, Sadya ( Rice served on a banana leaf with a variety of special curries and desserts), Appam, Puttu ( steamed rice cake), and the world famous Kerala Porrotta. The best thing about visiting Kerala, is how nice people are. Most of the people in Kerala are proud of their place and will go out of their way to help you. The warmth of these people will surely melt your heart

Sholayar

Most of you may have heard about Athirappilly waterfalls. But after Athirapally and Vazhachal waterfalls, there is a place called Sholayar dam. The forest road from Vazhachal to Pollachi passes through a forest you cannot express in words. It as alternative road which passes through the majestic western ghats into Tamil Nadu.


From Kochi, it will take you around 3 hours to reach the beautiful Athirappilly waterfalls. Make sure to start early from Kochi as the forest road is only open from 6AM- 6PM. The ride till Chalakudy is mainly on 4 lane NH47 and will be covered in no time.. But from Chalakudy the road gets tricky with hairpin bends and hill climbing. On the way to Athirapally, you will have many tourist spots including a couple of water theme parks, bird watching centre and a river side park.Make sure to fill fuel at Chalakudy.


Once you reach Athirapally, the next stop is Vazhachal waterfalls which passes through dense forests. Both the waterfalls are amazing, and the view is unbeatable. At Vazhachal, you have to sign at the forest check post. The forest guards will check the vehicle for alcohol and plastic covers. Once you start the journey after the check post, the road is narrow but well kept. The traffic on the road is low, but you should beware of the occasional speeding vehicles especially on hairpin bends. 


The ride on this road will be unforgettable. Lush evergreen forests on both side, small streams and beautiful dams. You can also expect to see many monkeys and the occasional deers on the road side. When you reach Anakayam bridge (very narrow) you can expect to see some Elephants too. After travelling a bit more, you will reach a lake. The view from there is breathtaking. 


At this point you can either choose to go back to Chalakudi or go to Pollachi.  After 50kms from the check post you will reach the exit check post of Kerala. From there you can go through the Tamil Nadu check post and proceed towards Valparai.


The Vazhachal-Sholayar-Valparai road is any riders paradise. The beautiful views on the way is only beaten by the feeling you get when driving on this road. The cool air and twisting road along with some off-roading, It is definitely heaven for riders.

Kerala, everything you need to know

Kerala, 8º away from the equator has a tropical humid climate with unique geography and physical features. This unique geographical features has made Kerala one of the most bio-diverse places on Earth. The Majestic Western ghats on side, and the beautiful Arabian sea on the other side, makes Kerala’s climate and geography so unique.


Kerala is one of the most developed but pristine states in the country. The natural beauty of Kerala cannot be expressed in words. Large mountain ranges, deep valleys, golden sand beaches, backwaters, dams, rivers, waterfalls, temples, churches, palaces, forts and more. Everything you will ever want to see is here. All within just a 100-200 km radius.


As the slogan says, Kerala is indeed God’s Own Country. Not only because of the geographical features, but also because of the Religious unity in the state. Temples, Churches and Mosques all in the same street, you will not see this sight anywhere else in world. Keralites celebrate every religious festivals. Festival season in Kerala is a sight to see, with fireworks and cultural events it is an amazing sight. Not to mention the mouth watering food. 


Best season to visit?

Many people have asked me the same question, What is the best time to visit Kerala. And I would say any time.

The climate of Kerala is almost same throughout the year, except for Monsoon ( Raining season ) during June-Aug. But that season is known for rain tourism, a lot of activities you can do during the raining season is organized during this time of the year. Nov-Feb is peak tourist season, its a lot cooler than other months, but it never gets too cold unless you visit the hill stations. All other months are okay, hotels will be cheaper because of the non-tourist season. But generally avoid April-May. It gets hot.


What to pack for Kerala?

1. DEET: To prevent mosquito bites
2. Warm weather clothes, not too many winter Jackets
3. Flip flops for the beach.
4. nternational Driving Licence if you plan to drive in Kerala.
   
5. Sunscreen 
   
6. Umbrella ( or you can buy them cheaper in Kerala )

Currency
INR is the preferred choice, but some places do accept currencies such as USD, GBP and EUR, but they may charge a premium.

You can easily find an currency exchange centre anywhere in Kerala.


Travelling 
Kerala has 3 Airports. Main Airport is in Cochin (Kochi). From most places you can easily get a connecting flight via Dubai, or Singapore.Emirates, Air India, Singapore Airlines, AirAsia, British Airways have daily flights to Kochi.

Most of the tourists arrive in Kochi because it is well connected to international locations. And Kochi is the hub of Kerala. From Kochi you can go to anywhere in Kerala, because of the central location.

Kerala is well connected by roads, railways and sometimes waterways.
Renting a car: Can be done, but too much traffic on the road. Parking can be very difficult.

Renting a motorcycle: Easy and fast transport. Will give you the best visual of Kerala.

Railways: Cheap and fast. But can be very crowded and a little icky.

Buses: Same as railway.

Waterways: Very cheap, but not well connected.

Taxi: Fast and very clean. Might be a little expensive.

What to expect in Kerala?

Astonishing natural beauty and very warm hearted people. Great food, but can be a little spicy.




Have a great Kerala Trip!