'Will never come to Kerala again'; Mumbai woman shares her ordeal in Munnar

IDUKKI: Travel vlogs shared by non-Keralites visiting Kerala often attract wide attention and appreciation on social media. However, a new video shared by a Mumbai native woman, who recently visited Munnar, has now sparked a debate. The video was shared by a woman named Janhvi, who works as an Assistant Professor. In the video, she shared her unpleasant experience with taxi drivers and police while travelling on an online taxi in Munnar.

After exploring Kochi and Alappuzha, Janhvi and her friends hired an online taxi to Munnar. However, upon arrival, they were stopped by a group claiming that online taxis were prohibited in the area due to a court order. The group insisted that only local taxis were allowed. When Janhvi sought police assistance, they supported the local taxi operators' stance. As a result, Janhvi and her friends were forced to switch to a local taxi, which ultimately led to them shortening their trip and returning.

"Everyone has a constitutional right to choose their mode of travel. The union taxi drivers demanded nearly three times the rate charged by online taxis. After sharing my experience online, several others from various states said they too faced similar issues in Kerala. Kerala's beauty and hospitality are truly admirable. I loved visiting the state. But I don't feel safe to travel to a place where I'm not free to choose how I travel," Janhvi said.