Actress Anu Sithara's travel diaries are a good read

Malayalam actress Anu Sithara is equally passionate about acting and travelling, and both are inseparable for her. The actress, who had essayed many a role with great finesse, loves to visit places bathed in natural beauty and the pristine charm of the countryside. In a freewheeling chat Anu shares her memorable trips with Onmanorama.

Travel is life

Anu makes it a point to hit the road along with her husband Vishnu whenever there is a breather from her hectic work schedule. Wayanad is simply an awe-inspiring destination for the actress and she never gets bored with this high-altitude lush green region. “Travelling provides a treasure trove of cherishing memories. Touring is a great stress buster and a welcome break from work,” she says.

Mother Nature a friend

The actress has an instant liking to nature and it may be because she hails from Wayanad. More than the city life, she is bowled over by green paddy fields, sparkling rivers, bustling birds and sleepy walkways of the rural landscape. The wonderful sights of the countryside make life fuller for Anu.

“The happiness and calmness one experiences while reaching home after a foreign trip is beyond words. I have great fondness for my homeland. Whenever friends call on me, I take them for trips to Muthanga. The sights while driving from Muthanga to Gundlupet are out of the world,” the actress notes.

Nothing like Muthanga

The picturesque and rustic Muthanga in Wayanad district is very close to Anu’s heart. Moreover, Muthanga is the pride of the residents of Wayanad and the drive through wilderness on the rubberized highway is an experience of a lifetime. The majestic tall trees, verdant bamboo forest, fresh air, soothing breeze, plodding elephants, chirping cuckoos, resplendent peacocks, elegant deer and the mischievous monkeys can only create a surreal world for the visitors.

“I frequent Muthanga whenever time permits as a trip to this forest village has a calming effect. Muthanga has influenced me a lot and I have fond memories of travelling to this pleasant place,” says Anu.

Muthanga trip with Nimisha

Anu fondly remembers the journey she, along with her younger sister, undertook with actress and friend Nimisha Sajayan and her sister. Nimisha travels a lot and is always consumed by wanderlust.

“As Nimisha is an avid traveller I was sceptical while planning to tour Muthanga along with her. But she enjoyed the trip a lot,” Anu notes.

An archetypal Karnataka hamlet greets one as you pass the Muthanga wildlife sanctuary and moves towards Mysuru, and after reaching Gundlupet the landscape presents heart-stopping visual treats. There are many farming villages on both sides of the road from Muthanga to Gundlupet, and the small houses in these hamlets are eye-catching as they are awash in green, yellow and blue paints.

The sights of farmers sweating it out on the fields and tractors are reflections of life in a village. The hamlet has a bunch of hardworking farmers who are also pure at heart, she says. It is amazing that the ryots give different hues to the vast expansive land with red mud with great determination and grit.

“Undoubtedly, the vistas are surreal. We had spent lot of time near the agriculture fields and had great fun while trying to touch the curved horn of a bull,” the actress remembers.

‘Vishnu gave wings to my travel dreams’

Though the popular actress doesn’t have many travel dreams, she is passionate about travelling. Even a short trip is welcomed with glee and she used to enjoy her short journey from her home to Kalpetta town. “I started travelling extensively after marrying Vishnu. My husband gave a new dimension to my travel plans and we toured many places. After entering Mollywood, I further got opportunities to go on journeys on a regular basis,” Anu notes.

Anu and her husband are on the same page when it comes to visiting places as they love each other’s presence while hitting the road. The actress loves to stay put in a place for a while to know it inside out and delve into its uniqueness.

Manali next stop after pandemic eases

The spread of coronavirus was a shock to people across the world, and the pandemic had poured cold water on the actress’ travel plans too. “After the epidemic eases, we are planning to visit Manali in Himachal Pradesh. Vishnu and Nimisha have shared wonderful stories about their separate trips to Manali and that created an interest in me to travel to this famous tourist destination. I also have a dream to undertake a road trip with my husband in our vehicle,” she adds.