Today marks the end of a deeply personal and soulful journey. After spending nearly two months in Kerala the longest I’ve ever stayed away from home I’m heading back to Ahmedabad with a heart full of gratitude and memories that will stay with me forever.
When I first came here, I thought it would just be a break, a chance to slow down. But it turned out to be much more than that.
Every journey I took whether it was a long bus ride through the Western Ghats or a bumpy ride in a local train gave me something.
Some gave me stories.
Some gave me inspiration.
And some just made me sit in silence and observe life as it passed by.
The people I met, the conversations I overheard, the smiles of strangers everything felt raw and real. There’s something about Kerala that humbles you. Maybe it’s the simplicity, maybe it’s the spiritual energy, or maybe it’s just the warmth you feel around you.
This journey also helped me reconnect with an old love; photography.
Somewhere between chasing deadlines and running through routines, I had lost touch with my camera and the joy it brought me. But here, amidst the calm backwaters and vibrant streets, I found that joy again. And it felt so good like catching up with an old friend.
And oh, the food that’s what I’ll miss the most.
From banana leaf meals to filter coffee in roadside stalls, from fresh coconut chutney to evening pazham pori (banana fritters) every bite had a story. Every meal felt like it was made with heart.
But the most powerful part of this journey was my visit to three sacred places:
Guruvayoor Temple
Shree Padmanabhaswamy Kshetram
Sabarimala Temple
These weren’t just destinations. They were manifestations places I had been dreaming of visiting for years.
I went there not just to pray, but to seek peace, forgiveness, and clarity. I don’t claim to have found all the answers, but I found something more important; a connection. A sense of grounding I hadn’t felt in a long time.
This trip reminded me of who I was and where I want to go not just in work or career, but as a person.
So today, as I pack my bags and prepare to leave, I just want to say:
Thank you, Kerala.
Thank you for the calm.
Thank you for the chaos.
Thank you for the reconnection.
This wasn’t just a trip. It was a journey inward and I’ll carry it with me, always.
