A hill station without viewpoints is next to insipid. Even though Kumily is not entirely a hill station, its sinuous roads around low hills, does give the impression of one. So if you veer 5 km away from the main town of Thekkady, you are rewarded with exquisite views of cardamom, coffee and pepper plantations. The aroma greets you much sooner than the splendid views from here. The view is grand if you arrive early in the morning, to see the same busy plantations in a halo of mist. Thekkady usually finds tourists keeping time enough only for the national park, but it offers brilliant places and sightseeing options around to pace out travelling through Kerala. Murikkady viewpoint is one such opportunity. Apart from the excellent view of the lush plantations, Murikkady also gives an authentic sense of what Thekkady looked like before it became a part of the itinerary for many travellers to Kerala. Ensure that you stop by the roadside chai kadais (tea shops) for a hot cuppa and a chat with the locals to add a tinge of local flavour to your trip. You can often see plantation workers making their way in the morning, with large polybag coats and baskets for collecting the produce.