Chasing The Monsoon in Kerala Again

A tribute to Alexander Frater
Words & Photography: Mohit Sharma // Additional Photography: Amanda. F

In the heart of Kerala, the monsoon became my guide, leading me through a tapestry of rain-soaked memories and conversations that linger like the scent of wet earth. Travel to Kerala in monsoon felt nothing short of magical, with the rains softening the landscape, slowing time to a gentle rhythm, and turning every path into a story waiting to be discovered. As the rain fell across the state, I felt myself changing too, becoming part of the rhythm of life that pulsed through every conversation, every moment.

The monsoon in Kerala, India is more than just a season; it’s a cultural symphony. Its arrival is celebrated in songs, immortalised in films, and inspires festivals, music, and art that capture the beauty and intensity of the rains. From Bollywood classics to traditional paintings, the monsoon symbolises renewal, romance, and the rhythmic pulse of life that defines the Indian soul.

As I set off on this journey across Kerala, I felt the spirit of adventure that had been inspired by Alexander Frater’s Chasing the Monsoon. The prospect of chasing the rains in this land rich in history and culture fascinated me. I began in Cochin, where the ancient port city still whispered tales of the Silk Route, where merchants from far-flung lands once exchanged spices and stories.

Walking through the narrow lanes of Fort Kochi, I stopped at a small eatery recommended by a local. The aroma of freshly cooked fish curry filled the air as I engaged in a lively conversation with the owner, an elderly man who had seen the city change over decades but held onto the stories of old traders who once docked at its shores.

I met a Dutch couple at the table next to mine, visiting Kerala for the first time to experience Ayurveda during the monsoon season when the rains make the land and the body most receptive to healing. They were captivated by the charm of Cochin, intrigued by how the monsoons transformed the city into a lush, green paradise. We shared stories of our travels over fish curry and appams, laughing at the unpredictability of the rain that had a way of drenching us right when we thought we were safe. They were on a quest similar to mine—following the rain as it traced its ancient path across the landscape.

“Travel to Kerala in monsoon felt nothing short of magical, with the rains softening the landscape, slowing time to a gentle rhythm, and turning every path into a story waiting to be discovered.”

The road to Munnar was winding and misty, the rain a constant companion. The tea plantations rolled out like green carpets, drenched in the monsoon’s embrace. I spent a day with a tea picker, a woman named Lakshmi, who shared her life story while we stood among the tea bushes, the mist swirling around us. She spoke of how the monsoon was both a blessing and a challenge, nourishing the land but also making the work tougher.

Her laughter echoed through the hills as she recounted tales of picking tea in the downpour, a necessary ritual that bonded the workers to the land.

Periyar brought a different kind of beauty—one that was wild and untamed. The rain here seemed more primal, drumming against the dense canopy of the forest. I joined a group of locals for a trek, and as we walked, they pointed out the various plants and animals that thrived in this season. One of them, a guide named Arun, shared stories of the elephants that roamed the area, their movements more secretive during the rains. We sat by the lake in silence, the rain a soft background to our thoughts, the water rippling in response to the downpour.

“In the rhythm of the monsoon in Kerala, I found the pulse of a land both ancient and alive, where every drop of rain carried a story waiting to be told. As the monsoon embraced the land, it washed away the boundaries between the earth and sky, revealing the soul of Kerala in every conversation, every journey, and every downpour.”

The backwaters of Alleppey, a highlight of the monsoon in Kerala, were where the pace of life slowed to a tranquil drift. The houseboat rocked gently as we floated through narrow canals, the rain creating a soft symphony on the water’s surface. I spent an evening in a small bar on the water’s edge, sharing drinks with locals who spoke about life on the backwaters. They talked of how the monsoon in Kerala is both a blessing and a curse—nourishing their crops while sometimes threatening to flood their homes.

Finally, Kovalam, where I gave in to the healing powers of Ayurveda. The rain here was softer, more of a whisper than a roar. The treatments were soothing, drawing out the tension of the journey. One evening, I conversed with a local Ayurvedic doctor, who spoke of how the monsoon was the best time for treatments, as the body is more receptive to healing.

Throughout this journey during monsoon in Kerala, the rain was more than just a backdrop; it was a character in its own right. It connected me with the land and its people, their stories as fluid and powerful as the monsoon in Kerala itself.

"Every drop of rain in Kerala whispered secrets of the land, and in the echoes of those whispers, I found stories that transcended time and place. During monsoon in Kerala, these stories unfold slowly, carried on rain-washed winds and rooted in the rhythms of everyday life."

This is an excerpt from the personal journal of Smith & Party’s 2024 Kerala trip, graciously shared for our Immersive Experiences Series.

Words & Photography: Mohit Sharma

Additional Photography: Amanda. F

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