Malarikkal, the Kerala village that comes alive with lilies

Kerala is one of those places in India that you cannot get enough of. Yet, if you have been to the beautiful tropical state before and are craving for a place that is off the popular tourist route, we have a little secret for you. In this offbeat sojourn, we take you to Malarikkal, a quaint hamlet in Kerala's Kottayam. Even in its nonchalance, the hamlet makes for a very fascinating sight; fascinating because it is home to 650 acres of paddy fields that come alive with pink and white water lilies and lotus flowers every September and October.

Read more: Beautiful unseen photos from Kerala
While Kochi, Alleppey, Trivandrum, Munnar are the most popular choices for places to visit in Kerala, we urge you to go offbeat and let Kottayam's beautiful roads lead you to Malarikkal. The flooded fields that see lakhs of flowers during its peak season have been capturing the fancy of locals for more than a decade now, but have stayed elusive to tourists. The places even hosts its own Malarikkal Water Lilly Fest.

Read more: This is where Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things was based
Tourists can visit the lily fields in small boats for around INR 100 per person but no trespassing is allowed since the fields are a private property.
The wonderful blooms might have stayed unknown to the world if not for social media, and it attracted people from all over the state after some visitors posted its photos online. One can even choose to get a photoshoot in the beautiful settings here.
The best time to visit these fields in the blooming season in around sunrise. If you remember the settings of Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things, you would know what to expect here. The Booker winning work was based in the lush settings of Kottayam and the place is definitely more than what one can imagine by reading about it.

Drop us a comment if you have been here and tell fellow visitors about your experience.