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Day : 1 KOCHI
Arrival transfer to the hotel in Kochi.
Kochi: Area: 2407 sq. km. The commercial capital and the most cosmopolitan city of Kerala, Ernakulam (Kochi) was once called ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea’ because of her bewitching lagoons and backwaters. Having one of the finest natural harbours in the world, Kochi was once a major centre for trade and commerce with the Arabs, Portuguese and many others. The city also houses one of the earliest settlements of Jews in the country.
Check-in to the hotel, freshen up.
Lunch at the hotel.
Proceed for ½ day sight seeing of Kochi.
Bolghatty Island : Location: Few minutes boat journey from Kochi. A scenic island near the city of Ernakulam.The island is famous for its palace, the Bolghatty Palace, built by the Dutch in 1744. Once the residence of the British Resident of Cochin, the palace is now a hotel run by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation.
Dutch Palace : Location: Mattancherry, 10 km from Ernakulam.Built by the Portuguese in 1557 and presented to Raja Veera Kerala Varma of Cochin, the Palace was renovated in 1663 by the Dutch. The palace is built like the typical Kerala style mansion, the nalukettu - the home of the aristocracy, nobility and upper classes, with four separate wings opening out to a central courtyard. The double-storeyed building which stands by the panoramic Kochi backwaters has an exquisite collection of murals; also on display are royal paraphernalia like weapons, robes, and so on. Visiting hours: 10 am to 5 pm on all days except Fridays
Fort Kochi : Location: About 13 km from Ernakulam town .Fort Kochi, the first European Township in India and home to nearly 13 communities, is a historic town brimming with the tales of myriad traders. During 1660s, Fort Kochi peaked in stature as a prime commercial centre and its fame spread far and wide - as a rich trade centre, a major military base, a vibrant cultural hub, a great ship building centre, a centre for Christianity and so on. The town has innumerable interesting sights like Chinese fishing nets along the Vasco da Gama Square, the St. Francis Church, (Vasco da Gama was buried here and his remains were returned to Portugal 14 years later) and so on.
Jew Street : Location: In Fort Kochi, about 10 km from Ernakulam town. The Jew Street in Fort Kochi is lined with shops that sell curios, antique pieces of crockery, carved wooden furniture, bronze and brass sculptures, remnants of traditional houses, and jewellery. The antique sellers are the descendants of a fast dwindling population of Jews who settled here in AD 52. The Jewish synagogue here, a mark of exceptional architecture and history, has hundreds of visitors everyday. Though there are a few other Jewish settlements in the State, Fort Kochi with its synagogue and its popular antique shops is the most prominent.
Hill Palace Museum : Location: Thripunithura, 10 km from Ernakulam town. The Hill Palace, once the official residence of the Kochi royal family, is Kerala's first heritage museum and largest archaeological museum. Built in 1865, the palace complex consists of 49 buildings sprawled over 52 acres. Many fascinating royal exhibits are on display at the museum. Other exhibits include over 200 antique pieces of pottery and ceramic vases from Japan and China, kudakkallu (tomb stones), thoppikkallu (hood stones), temple models and plaster cast models of objects from Mohenjodaro and Harappa. The museum also houses a gallery of contemporary art. Visiting hours: 9.00 to 12.30 hrs & 14.00 to 16.30 hrs on all days except Mondays.
The Museum of Kerala History :Location: At Edappally, 8 km from Ernakulam town.The Madhavan Nayar Foundation also called the Museum of Kerala History showcases episodes of Kerala’s history from the Neolithic to the modern era through life-size figures. It is the best place for a quick glimpse of the history of the State. A gallery of paintings and sculptures displays over 200 original works by contemporary Indian artists. One-hour light ’n’ sound shows with commentaries in English and Malayalam are regularly organised. The Centre for Visual Arts here has a collection of reproductions of select world masters and larger than life mural reproductions of Indian art. Visiting hrs: 10.00 – 17.00 hours on all days except Mondays
Proceed for Kathakali performance in the local theatre
Kathakali: Kathakali is one of the oldest theatre forms in the world. It originated in the area of southwestern India now known as the state of Kerala. Kathakali is a group presentation, in which dancers take various roles in performances traditionally based on themes from Hindu mythology, especially the two epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.
Return to hotel, dinner and over night stay.
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Day : 2 KOCHI-MUNNAR
After breakfast transfer to the hotel in Munnar
Munnar: 5000 to 8000 ft above sea level One of the prominent hill stations in India and the summer resort of the ertswhile British Government in South India, Munnar has sprawling tea plantations, picture book towns, winding lanes and holiday facilities. Munnar is home to Anamudi, the highest peak in South India, towering over 2695 m. Among the exotic flora found here is the Neelakurinji, which bathes the hills in blue every 12 years.
Check-in to the hotel, freshen up.
Lunch at the hotel.
Proceed for sight seeing to Devikulam
Devikulam : 7 km from Munnar. This idyllic hill station with its velvet lawns, exotic flora and fauna and cool mountain air is a rare experience. The Sita Devi Lake here, with its mineral waters and picturesque surroundings, is a good picnic spot. The lake is also ideal for trout fishing.
Return to the hotel and freshen up.
Dinner at the hotel and over night stay
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Day : 3 MUNNAR
Breakfast.
Proceed to Mattupetty for sightseeing.
Mattuppetti : 13 km from Munnar. Altitude: 1700 m above sea level,Situated at a height of 1700 m, Mattupetty is known for its highly specialised dairy farm – the Indo-Swiss Livestock Project – where over 100 varieties of high-yielding cattle are reared. The Mattupetty Lake and dam is a beautiful picnic spot with boating facilities. Visiting hours at the farm: 09.00 to 11.00 hrs & 14.00 to 15.30 hrs.
Return to the hotel for lunch.
Proceed to Rajamala for Sightseeing.
Rajamala : 15 km from Munnar. This is the natural habitat of the endangered mountain goat – the Nilgiri Tahr (Hemitragas hylocres). Today, the Tahrs are reduced to small herds found in the Eravikulam – Rajamala region. Half of the world population of these mountain goats - about 1317of them - is now found hereReturn to the hotel. Rest of the day is free.
Dinner at the resort.
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Day : 4 MUNNAR-THEKKADY
After breakfast proceed to Periyar, Thekkady.
Thekkady: India's largest wildlife sanctuary, is a dream destination for any tourist visiting India. The 120 years old 'Surki' dam built across Peryiar, Poorna in vedic parlance, is a major tourist attraction. The Country's sole Tiger reserve, Thekkady, with its bountiful treasures of tropical flora and fauna is the ultimate reservoir of many an endangered species and a rich tribal culture. Thekkady is a pleasant heaven on earth for those who love nature in its wild manifestations.
Check into the hotel by noon.
Lunch at the hotel.
The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary: Lying close to the plantations, in the rich jungles of Periyar in Thekkady is one of the world's most fascinating natural wildlife reserves - the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Spread across 777 sq. km, of which 360 sq. km is thick evergreen forest, the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978. Noted for its geo-morphological diversity of wildlife and scenic beauty, the Reserve attracts visitors from all over the world. The splendid artificial lake formed by the Mullaperiyar Dam across the Periyar river adds to the charm of the park. This is the only sanctuary in India where you can have the unique experience of viewing wildlife at close quarters from the safety of a boat on the lake. The greatest attraction of Periyar remains the large herds of wild elephants that come down to the lake's edge.
Afternoon boat ride at Lake Periyar.
Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.
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Day : 5 THEKKADY-KUMARAKOM
After breakfast proceed to Kumarakom.
Kumarakom: Location: 16 km from Kottayam town. The village of Kumarakom – a paradise of mangrove forests, green paddy fields and coconut groves interspersed with enchanting waterways and canals with white lilies - is a cluster of little islands on the Vembanad Lake. The Kumarakom Tourist Village here, run by the KTDC, offers houseboat cruises and holiday packages. The Village has independent cottages built on stilts, set in coconut and banana plantations. Holiday packages on the houseboats made out of the traditional kettuvalloms, are an out-of-the-world experience.
Check into the hotel by noon.
Lunch at the hotel.
Laze out in the tranquil atmosphere of the resort.
Dinner and overnight stay.
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Day : 6 KUMARAKOM-ALAPUUZHA
After breakfast check into the Houseboat.
Houseboat: The kettuvallam or ‘boat with knots’- was so called because the entire boat was held together with coir knots only - not even a single nail is used during the construction. The boat is made of planks of jack-wood joined together with coir. This is then coated with a caustic black resin made from boiled cashew kernels. With careful maintenance, a kettuvallom can last for generations.
A portion of the kettuvallom was covered with bamboo and coir to serve as a restroom and kitchen for the crew. Meals would be cooked on board and supplemented with fresh fish from the backwaters. Today, the tradition is still continued and the food from the local cuisine is served by the Kuttanad localites, on board.
Today, the houseboats have all the creature comforts of a good hotel including furnished bedrooms, modern toilets, cozy living rooms, a kitchen and even a balcony for angling. Parts of the curved roof of wood or plaited palm open out to provide shade and allow uninterrupted views. While most boats are poled by local oarsmen, some are powered by a 40 HP engine.
Sightseeing on board after lunch.
Dinner and overnight stay.
Alappuzha : Alappuzha, the cradle of Communism in Kerala, is an immensely beautiful land of boat races, houseboat holidays and beaches. Once called the ‘Venice of the East’, the district with a shoreline bustling with deep-sea fishing and marine fisheries is a 'must see' location for those interested in water tourism. Alappuzha is also the hub of coir industries and oil mills and is famous for the signature handicrafts of Kerala like bell metal casting.
Kuttanad : Location: The heart of the backwaters.Kuttanad, called the rice bowl of Kerala because of her abundant paddy crops, is the most beautiful backwater region of Kerala. It is here that most of the snake boat races are conducted and a majority of the rice boat and houseboat cruises scheduled. Kuttanad is perhaps the only region in the world where farming is done 1.5 to 2m below sea level. Inland waterways which flow above land level are an amazing feature of this region.
Pathiramanal : In Vembanad Lake. Pathiramanal, a small, green island on the backwaters of Alappuzha, is a haven for hundreds of rare migratory birds from different parts of the world. Surrounded by the Vembanad Lake, stretching from Alappuzha to Kochi, and the Kayamkulam Lake, Pathiramanal is accessible only by boat, making it an ideal spot for a break while on a backwater cruise.
QST & R Block Kayals : In Kuttanad. A striking example of the indigenous agricultural engineering know-how .Here, cultivation and habitation are made possible at four to 10 feet below sea level by reclaiming land from the backwaters and building dikes around it. A leisurely cruise along the canals here is a memorable experience.
After Breakfast proceed to kochi for departure,
