Duration: 7 Nights / 8 Days
Places to Visit: Cochin - Munnar - Periyar - Kumarakom - Houseboat - Alleppey - Kovalam
In the South West corner of India lays the
State of Kerala - ' God's Own Country '
- between the Western Ghats on the east and the Arabian Sea on the
west. Kerala, a peaceful and beautiful part of India, with its
palm fringed beaches, backwaters, rivers, bright green paddy fields,
endless coconut groves, spice plantations, ever green tropical forests
and beautiful people attracts travellers around the world.
Day 01: Arrive Cochin - The "Gateway of Kerala". Meeting & assistance at airport & transfer to Hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Day 02: Cochin/Munnar
- After breakfast city sightseeing of Cochin " the Queen of Arabian
Sea" due its strategic importance over the centuries. Visit the Dutch
Palace, Jewish Synagogue, Chinese Fishing Nets, St. Francis Church and
the Santa Cruz Basilica. After lunch, proceed for fascinating journey
to Munnar "the Gateway to Hills" (150 km- 4hrs.) enjoying the stunning
panoramic view of the Cardamom hills & green carpets of tea
plantation enroute. On arrival Munnar check in at Hotel. Dinner &
Overnight at hotel.
Day 03: In Munnar -
After breakfast explore Munnar - breathtakingly beautiful - a haven of
peace and tranquility - the idyllic tourist destination in God's own
country. Visit Eravikulam National Park where one can see the very rare
mountain goats locally called the Nilgiri Tahr, the Mattupetty Dam
& Dairy Farm, Old Munnar Town, the town market. Meals &
Overnight at hotel.
Day 04: Munnar/Thekkady - After breakfast proceed by urface to Thekkady (120 km-4 hrs) where located the
Periyar National Park & Tiger Reserve. On arrival at Thekkady check in at Hotel.
After
lunch at hotel, at late afternoon game viewing cruise on the Lake
Periyar by boat with naturalist. The variety
of wildlife, which include Elephants, monkeys, deer, wild
boar and very rarely, a Tiger. Quite a lot
of unique birds can also be spotted. Dinner
& Overnight at hotel.
Day 05: Thekkady/Kumarakom/House Boat
- After breakfast proceed by surface to Kumarakom on the
banks of the Vembanad Lake (120 kms. 3hrs.). On reaching
the Jetty, check-in to the
Kettuvallam (Houseboat) for overnight
cruise across the backwaters. The luxuriously
furnished Kettuvallam is made entirely of jackwood planks
tied (kettu) together with strong coir rope to form a
huge barge(vallam). The boat is constructed without using a single
nail and is coated with a special resin obtained from boiling
cashew kernels. Each a masterpiece of intricate craftsmanship,
the Kettuvallam lasts, not for years, but for generations.
Each House boat has furnished bedrooms (1 to 5 rooms AC or
Non AC), modern toilets, cozy living rooms, a kitchen and
even a balcony for angling, an open lounge and a crew comprising of an
oarsmen,a cook and guide. During the cruise on
Kettuvalam, & have a glimpse of the village life
at close quarters, an unique and unforgettable experience.
Enroute you can see any romantic beauty of the nature
which will remind you that you are in the "Gods Own Country".
You can view coconut palm fringed canals and
local people going for a fresh catch of the day &
Tapping of toddy (Local beverages) from palm
trees.Enjoy the sunset from House boat.
Lunch, Dinner & Overnight in House Boat
Day 06: House Boat/Alleppey/Kovalam - After breakfast disembark from the House boat at
Alleppey which is
one of the most important tourist centers in the state, with a
large network of inland canals earning it the sobriquet "Venice of
the east". These large network of canals provide Alleppey its
lifeline. Alleppey was one of the busiest centers of trade in the
past with one of the best known ports along the Malabar
coast. After a brief tour of Alleppey, proceed to
Kovalam (180 kms. 3.30 hrs.). where located the world famous Beach popularly known as "
Paradise of South". Upon arrival Kovalam check in at Hotel.
Rest
of the day at leisure OR go for ' God's own
Country's most popular Ayurveda Rejuvenation
Treatments/ Massages. Dinner
& Overnight at hotel.
Day 07: In Kovalam - After breakfast proceed for an excursion to
Kanya Kumari
(Cape Comorin) - situated 87 km away from Thiruvananthapuram, it
is located at a junction at the southernmost tip of India
where the three water bodies, namely, Bay of Bengal, the Arabian
Sea and the Indian Ocean meet. From here, one can see the sun rise
from the Bay of Bengal and set in the Arabian Sea. Take motor launch
for visit to Vivekananda Memorial, Gandhi Mandapa &
Kannyakumari Temple - a holy place for Hindus. While going to Cape
Comorin, on the way visit the Padmanabha Swami Temple.Return to hotel
in the evening. Meals
& Overnight at hotel.
Day 08
Kovalam/Trivandrum/ Depart - After
breakfast, morning free at leisure & relax on the beach
or experience the famous Kerala Ayurveda Rejuvenation
Treatments/ Massages.Lunch at hotel. Hotel check-out at 1 PM.
Late afternoon transfer from Kovalam hotel to Trivandrum airport
to connect flight for onward destination carrying sweet
memories of
Incredible !ndia.
HAPPY LANDING
