Namaskaaram! (Hello!)
Our history with Kuttikkanam and Rhapsody Holiday Villas go back almost 10 years. Ever since we went there for the first time, we’ve been in love with the place – both Kuttikkanam and Rhapsody. It is everything you want when you think of an escape from the sounds of the city life and the pressures of your professional life. This place offers what most places in the world can’t – peace and tranquility! Our father had to travel to another place due to his professional commitments and couldn’t join us on this trip. The rest of the family were available and we all went driving up the hill to Kuttikkanam. Beautifully nestled in the lap of the Western Ghats, Kuttikkanam has pleasant weather throughout the year. What stands out the most for us is that Kuttikkanam has not seen commercialization and is pristine to this day. Even the drive to Kuttikkanam can offer many breath-taking views of plush greenery and mist-clad mountains which can soothe anyone’s eyes.
We started the drive from our native place in the morning and stopped almost immediately in Kozhencherry to fill up the fuel tank. Once the car was fed, we started conquering miles quite quickly and before we even knew it, we were in Mundakkayam, the doorway to the hills of the Western Ghats. Our first stop in the hills was Panchalimedu (a separate write-up will be provided). Panchalimedu is a spot which has a very important role to play in Mahabharata. This is considered to be the place where the Pandavas, along with their spouse Panchali (Draupadi), stayed for almost a year during their exile. After our visit to Panchalimedu, we headed out straight to our destination – Rhapsody Holiday Villas.
The view from the entrance of Rhapsody is a visual treat. A long path with trees on either side welcoming you to exceptional location, warm hospitality, and finger-licking great food. We were provided with their recently renovated villa (cottage) right at the end of the property. This meant another great thing – we had a parking spot right in front of our villa. Each villa has 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a living room with a comfortable couch, chairs, TV and a dining table, and a kitchen with a refrigerator.
They have 4 well-maintained villas in the property, a huge parking ground, a dedicated spot for bonfire (Rs. 2,500) for casual gatherings and a cute children’s play area, which of course even the adults will be tempted to use. 😊
They also provide dormitory facility, which can house up to 10 guests. The tariff for the 10-bed dormitory is Rs. 7,000. The same dormitory can be converted into a make-shift conference room or auditorium for a private function with a maximum capacity of 40 guests.
We decided to avail the barbeque facility Rhapsody has to offer. Mr. Libi, who was the chef at Rhapsody previously, comes to the resort now on request when the resort is full. He is the person in-charge for arranging live barbeque, which is usually done right in front of the villas. This gave an opportunity for us to discuss many things with Mr. Libi, starting from weather to marination techniques. The whole barbeque set comprised of a full chicken, 10 Chappathis, Mayonnaise and Salad, and was decently priced at Rs. 850. Ishaan & Ahaan had a wonderful time seeing the charcoal burning and chicken get barbequed.
The weather throughout the year in Kuttikkanam is one of the biggest attractions for anyone to visit the place. We were informed by the Resort Manager, Mr. Najeeb, that it starts raining in the afternoon these days. From different sources, one can find out that the temperature in Kuttikkanam ranges between 10°C to 25°C. Moreover, the strength of the breeze increases as the day progresses and by evening, it becomes cool and pleasant. By night, the anyone who loves cold weather will have a wonderful time as the temperature dips below 20°C, coupled with strong breeze. Walking around the resort wearing a sweater at night was a memorable event as we had gone directly to Kuttikkanam from a furnace-like situation back home.
The speed at which the whole hill station gets engulfed in mist and fog is something that is so surreal that one must be present there to experience it thoroughly. While we had been seated at a wonderful restaurant (again, a separate write-up will be provided), the entire area became engulfed in thick mist and fog within a matter of minutes. Thankfully, it cleared up by the time we were finished with our lunch and made it easier for us to drive back to Rhapsody.
Finally, our article cannot be completed without mentioning about the service offered by the members of the staff at Rhapsody. Starting from welcoming us at the gate to seeing us off when we check-out, we’ve never seen any member of the staff doing anything without a smile. Always approachable and courteous, this group of individuals are attentive to the needs of not just the adults, but children as well. They clean and wipe off the dirt from the children’s play equipment to ensure that kids have a great time whenever possible.
We have personally recommended Rhapsody Holiday Villas to family members and close friends. We would go back to Rhapsody in a heartbeat just to enjoy the experience of being present in heavenly weather.
Appo kaanam! (See you!)
Love,
Vlogabonds
Reservations
For Reservations, call +91-9387464881 (Mr. Najeeb – Resort Manager). It is advisable to call first and reserve your villa as the resort can get booked out, especially on weekends.
Website: https://www.rhapsodyvilla.com/
Location of Rhapsody Holiday Villas
Rhapsody Holiday Villas is located near the main Kuttikkanam junction. One has to head up a side road for close to a kilometre before finally reaching the entrance of Rhapsody. Along the way, one gets a chance to see the Kerala Police’s Wireless Station and Police Camp, to which entry will most probably be restricted.
Google Map Link: https://goo.gl/maps/S7BTFxk64bFhdpwS6
Distance to Rhapsody Holiday Villas (via road in a car)
Cochin International Airport – Approximately 125 kilometres (3 hours’ drive)
Kottayam Railway Station – Approximately 73 kilometres (2 hours’ drive)
Chengannur Railway Station – Approximately 78 kilometres (2 hours 15 minutes’ drive)
Kumily Bus Stand – Approximately 35 kilometres (1 hour’s drive)
Mundakkayam Bus Stand – Approximately 23 kilometres (45 minutes’ drive)
Kozhencherry Bus Stand – Approximately 65 kilometres (1 hour 45 minutes’ drive)
Munnar Bus Stand – Approximately 100 kilometres (3 hours’ drive)
Please note that the distances marked are according to Google Maps for the best option (road facilities and traffic).
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