Kind people of Munnar – Portraits from my trip in 2019

Portrait of a mechanic at work

Portrait of a mechanic at work

The camera shy half-smile and the direct gaze

The camera shy half-smile and the direct gaze

Devikulam knows Polos Chetta, who runs

Devikulam knows Polos Chetta, who runs "Anju's hotel", for his tasty beef curry, kadala curry and for his radiating smile…

I remember how the conversation started with Thomas Anna.

I remember how the conversation started with Thomas Anna. "Putham Pudhu Kaalai" was playing on the radio and I had…

Rajiv Chetta owns

Rajiv Chetta owns "Traffic Jam" Hotel in Devikulam. Since Polos Chetta's "Anju's" has only limited varieties of dishes, the only…

I left Munnar the happiest I've ever been in my life and Perumalamma is one of the reasons.

I left Munnar the happiest I've ever been in my life and Perumalamma is one of the reasons. "My dad…

If anyone staying in the hotels/homestays in Devikulam wants to

If anyone staying in the hotels/homestays in Devikulam wants to "partaay", their go to place seems to be Samuel Anna's…

A Aravind Akash look-alike who is also in the film industry

A Aravind Akash look-alike who is also in the film industry

Portraits of Rohit and Vanessa from Madupetty Dam

Portraits of Rohit and Vanessa from Madupetty Dam

Chinnathambi Anna, a very influential man at the Munnar town auto stand. However, all I could focus on was that

Chinnathambi Anna, a very influential man at the Munnar town auto stand. However, all I could focus on was that…

Chinnathambi Anna, a very influential man at the Munnar town auto stand. However, all I could focus on was that

Chinnathambi Anna, a very influential man at the Munnar town auto stand. However, all I could focus on was that…

Chinnathambi Anna, a very influential man at the Munnar town auto stand. However, all I could focus on was that

Chinnathambi Anna, a very influential man at the Munnar town auto stand. However, all I could focus on was that…

Why did I choose to go to Munnar? Because Munnar was the right mix of a vacation-chillin-town and an interesting history, topography and TOO MANY tribal villages for me to explore. I did a little bit of research and left the rest to the journey, to surprise me.  I remember standing at the Munnar town intersection, trying to get a jeep - THE ONLY JEEP - to Suryanalli Kudi (Suryanalli Tribal Community). But little did I know that a recent landslide has rendered the route unfit to travel. Mani Anna, an auto driver, walked up to me and asked what I was doing, where I am going etc. I later asked him to take me to Rajamalai to try my luck going into, the most infamous and reserved tribal communities living in the forest, Idumala Kudi.  What happened after this was something for which I'd thank the universe forever. Mani Anna helped me in ways I'd have never expected. Everyday, for the next 4 days, he'd take to some 40 to 50 kms, to and from, and he charged me just ₹500. To put it in Munnar's perspective, it should have actually cost me somewhere around ₹2000.

Why did I choose to go to Munnar? Because Munnar was the right mix of a vacation-chillin-town and an interesting…

The 2nd day of the trip, when I had to go to Kundala Kudi (Sandos Colony), Mani Anna couldn't accompany me and hence he sent his friend Nazeer along with me.  Nazeer took me to some really interesting places, on the way, which only the locals knew about.  But I'd remember Nazeer for being the best translator/co-interviewer in the places we went to in Munnar.

The 2nd day of the trip, when I had to go to Kundala Kudi (Sandos Colony), Mani Anna couldn't accompany…

Work, and now....

Work, and now....

Tea time!

Tea time!

Tea time!

Tea time!

Tea time!

Tea time!

Mary from Kuttiyar Valley

Mary from Kuttiyar Valley

Mary's fight here is something I would have never believed that someone living in Munnar would have had to face. Her fight is for water. Munnar has either a creek or a canal running parallel in almost all major streets. There's a canal even next to Mary's house, but the water, apparently, is unfit to drink.

Mary's fight here is something I would have never believed that someone living in Munnar would have had to face.…

Kuttiyar Valley is known for incidents and disturbances caused by bears and leopards. And with no proper road transport to these residential colonies, the government has been turning a deaf ear to the worries of the residents.

Kuttiyar Valley is known for incidents and disturbances caused by bears and leopards. And with no proper road transport to…

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