Nedumkandam: A French couple engaged in a cycle expedition to learn about the local history of South India has reached Idukki district. Keen history lovers, Lancelot Pierre and Isabella from Nice in France hope to familiarize themselves with the life of the villagers here.
The couple has planned a three-month trip in South India and started the journey from Bengaluru a month ago. They covered Chittoor, Mahabalipuram, Puducherry, Thanjavur, Tiruchirappally, Pudukkottai, Thoothukkudi, Kanyakumari, Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha before reaching Kumali. Their next destination is Munnar.
Visiting only villages all along the way, the couple experience rural life and culture first hand. In addition, the local cuisine of each place is enjoyed. According to Lancelot and Isabella, their most memorable moment during the trip so far was at the pongal celebrations at Tiruchirappally.
The couple cycles around 60 km a day and feels that the Indian villagers are more humane in their approach to other people than their French counterparts. In France, nobody has time to meet or speak to others. However, the South Indian villages are a storehouse of love. This region is very rich as far as culture is concerned, say the visitors from France. Moreover, such strong cultural traditions exist nowhere else in the world, according to Lancelot and Isabella.
In Idukki, the couple plans to tour Kumali, Vagamon, Kattappana, Nedumkandam, Udumbanchola, Santhanpara, Adimaly, Munnar, Marayur, Kanthallur and Vattavada. The places are chosen based on the knowledge gained from Google Maps.
The French couple hopes to return to France by the end of March.
