Duration : 22 Nights / 23
Days
Day 01 : Cochin
Arrive Cochin from your home country, garland welcome, assistance and direct transfer to Shornur (about 90kms/03hrs). Check into the hotel located on the banks of Bharatapuzha (Nila) a river of astonishing poetry, beauty & silence, which was the summer palace of Maharaja of Cochin. Evening free to relax. O/n Hotel.
Day 02 : Shornur to Cochin
Morning visit the Kerala Kalamandalam, home of the renowned repository of the tradition of the Kathakali dance form. It is in this academy that the best of Kerala' s Kathakali performers get their rigorous training. Proceed to Cochin. enroute visit Punnathur Kotta, near Guruvayoor, the place where the temple elephants (numbering over 50) are take care of. Check into the hotel, rest of the day free to relax. O/n Hotel.
Day 03 : Cochin to Munnar
Cochin, a major port of call on the ancient trade route from China to Rome. The mixture of influences here is a heady brew. Chinese fishing nets dot the coast, the Mattancheri Palace was built by the Portuguese, the Bolghatty Palace by the Dutch, and Willingdon Island was created by the British. Here you will find Hindu Temples, Christian Churches, mosques, and a synagogue (the Jewish settlement dates from at least as far back as AD 400). Morning after breakfast visit famous monuments & churches. Afternoon we drive to Tripunithura, 9kms awa: to watch the spectacular procession :4thachamayam', that marks the beginning of the Onam festival. This procession is conducted in pomp and splendour, it displays a rare treasure house of folk and temple arts of Kerala performed by skilled artists, apart from caparisoned elephants and a variety of floats. Back to Cochin, O/n Hotel.
Day 04 : Cochin to MunnarMunnar River
Morning after breakfast drive to Munnar (about 140kms/04hrs), a major centre of Kerala's tea industry, and close to Anamudi (2695 m), the highest peak in South India.
Check into the hotel located amongst tall trees and cardamom plantation. Rest of the day free to relax. O/n Hotel.
Day 05 : Munnar
Morning after breakfast we drive 14 km northwest of Munnar to visit Eravikulam/Rajamalai National Park, set up in 1978 to preserve the endangered species Nilgiri Tahr (Ibex). This sure-footed wild goats live in herds on the steep black rocky slopes of the Anamudi Mountains. Explore the park by walking, the scenery is magnificent. Rest of the day free to relax or stroll in the tea estates. O/n Hotel.
Day 06 : Munnar to Thekkady
Morning after breakfast drive to Thekkady set on an attractive Periyar Lake side through Cardamom Hills. Check into the hotel. Afternoon at leisure or walk around the spice market of Kumily. O/n Hotel.
Day 07 : Thekkady
Morning explore the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, near the border with Tamil Nadu, is in a beautiful setting and designated a part of Project Tiger in 1973, though tigers are very rarely seen and its better known for its elephants. Bison, sambar, wild boar and barking deer are fairly common, in addition to 246 species of birds, there are 112 species of butterfly..
The sanctuary offers a lovely and comfortable way to see the animals via boat rides on the man-made lake, which the wildlife area encircles. Rest of the day free to relax by the pool side. O/n Hotel.
Day 08 : Thekkady to Kumarakom
Morning after breakfast drive to Kumarakom (about 140kms/04hrs) , a small village located on the banks of Vembanad~\ake. The road from the hills descend to the plains, through tropical evergreen forests, rubber and spice plantations. cardamom and tea plantations on the high land gives fall to pepper on low land. It is an interesting drive with superb views. Check into the hotel, rest of the day free to relax. O/n Hotel.
Day 09 : KumarakomKumarakom
Day at leisure. O/n Hotel.
Day 10 : Kumarakom to Mararikulam
Morning after breakfast drive to Mararikulam (about 70kms/02hrs), check into the hotel. Rest of the day free to relax on the quite, secluded beach. Visit the adjoining fishing village also. O/n Hotel.
Day 11 : Mararikulam
The day at leisure. O/n Hotel.
Day 12 : Mararikulam to Alleppey
Today is the biggest and most important festival of Kerala- Thiruvonam (Onam), a harvest festival, celebrated throughout Kerala in the month of Chingam (August - September). According to the legend, it is on the first day that the good Asura King Mahabali who once ruled Kerala, comes from exile to visit his beloved people; homes are decorated with flowers in preparation for his visit. On the later, a grand feast is held in every home. Onam also provides an occasion for family gettogethers for the Keralites. We will visit one of the houses to participate in the Onam celebrations with that family. O/n Hotel.
Day 13 : Alleppey
Morning after breakfast board a houseboat from the finishing point jetty, cruise from Alleppey, which is hailed as the Venice of the East, because of its intricated maze and backwaters, canals and bridges. Take a cruise through small canals and lagoons will be a memorable experience. O/n Houseboat.
Day 14 : Alleppey to Kollam
Morning disembark from the Houseboat, drive to 11 Aranmula to visit the the Vinjana Kala Vedi Cultural Centre if founded by Louba Schild, a French scholar. The centre il offers residential training courses in Kerala's traditional arts and crafts like Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Bharta Natyam, Kalaripayattu, Music and Wood Carving etc. We will have a Kerala style lunch in banana leaves. Proceed to Payipaad to be a part of Snake Boat race conducted there.
Snake Boat Race: It is in the month of August and September
that the moist, rain-drenched earth and the glorious overflowing backwaters
burst into song together, as over hundred thousands men and women gather on
the banks to witness a spectacular water ragetta -the Snake Boat Race. Boat
race crews begin to practise for the race months before the great day. They
live together, eat together, and toil together to work themselves into a smooth,
co-ordinated team. On boat race day, the Chundan Valloms as the greatest racing
boats are called - are slicked down with a special oil to make them glide
effortlessly through water. The crews then visit a shrine carrying the stroke
and largest steering oar with them. And having offered prayers to the Almight}"
they are now ready to war "with their fellow men. The air crackles with excitement
as the best of the 130 feet Chundan Valloms, each manned by over a hundred
rowers. fly through the waters at petitive spirit that marks the event and
the spectators lusty oars. Large and spectacular churidans glide towards the
finishing line like meteors in the sky with water splashing violently on the
both sides like streaks of lightning. An unforgettable and truly special scene.
The fund of energy, spirit of competition and unerring co-ordination makes
this sport one of the most dynamic,
After watching the competition, proceed to Kollam (about 120kms/03hrs), check into the hotel located on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake. Rest of the day free to relax, O/n Hotel.
Day 15 : Kollam to VarkalaKollam Backwater
Morning after breakfast drive to Varkala (about 20 kms), check into the hotel. Afternoon visit the beach, backed by high reddish cliffs, is an excellent place to unwind, and the sea here is very enticing. O/n Hotel.
Day 16 : Varkala
Day at leisure. O/n Hotel.
Day 17 : Varkala to Kuttalam
Morning after breakfast drive to Kuttalam, the 'Spa of South' is situated at an elevation of 16"' mts. in the Western Ghats. Its waterfalls are known for their curative properties. Enroute visit the Thenmala Eco Park across the Thenmala Dam. Check into the hotel with basic facilities. O/n Hotel.
Day 18 : Kuttalam to Kanyakuamri
Morning after breakfast drive to Tiruchendur Murugan i Temple (about 99kms/03hrs) , is situated right on the beach adding glory to the beach, Afternoon drive to Kanyakumari, the land's end of India, at the confluence of the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, Check into the hotel. Evening visit to Vivekananda Rock and Kumari Amman Temple. Evening enjoy the sunset, O/n Hotel.
Day 19 : Kanyakumari to Poovar
Morning watch the sunrise, after breakfast drive to Poovar (about 90kms/03hrs) Enroute visit the Suchindram Temple with musical pillars, also visit Padmanabhapuram Palace, was once the capital of the State of Travancore contains I i' and 18" century murals and some fascinating architecture and paintings. Check into the hotel. rest of the day free to relax. O/n Hotel.
Day 19 : Poovar
Day at leisure at Poovar Island Resort located on 12.5 acres of lush green coconut gardens alongside the beach, sea and backwaters at Poovar. O/n Hotel.
Day 20 : Poovar
Day at leisure. O/n Hotel.
Day 21 : Poovar to Kovalam
TrivendrumMorning after breakfast drive to Kovalam, check into the hotel. Rest of the day free to relax on beach. O/n Hotel.
Day 22 : Kovalam
Day at leisure. O/n Hotel.
Day 23 : Kovalam to Trivandrum
Morning after breakfast drive to Trivandrum International airport to board flight to your home country.
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