KERALA KALEIDOSOPE

DETAILED ITINERARY

• Arrive Cochin International airport
• Overnight in Cochin

Our  representative  will  meet  you  in  the  arrival  area  of  the  airport  after  you  clear  all  immigration  and  custom formalities. Depart for your hotel and check in for your stay.

Kochi  (popularly  known  as  Cochin)  is  spread  across  islands  and  promontories  in  a  stunning  location  between the Arabian Sea and the Backwaters. The city was founded in 1341 when a flood created a natural safe port which became  the  principal  harbour  for  Malabar coast’s spice trade. Cochin was on the main trade route between Europe  and  China.  The  rulers  invited  people  of  various  religions  to  settle  here,  attracting  the  Jews  and  the Christians who built places of worship and their own communities.

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Moring explore Cochin
• Evening witness Kathakali dance show
• Overnight in Cochin

Begin your exploration of the city with a walk through the bustling harbor area and quaint backstreets to discover it’s rich and multifaceted  past.Kochi is  full  of  echoes  of  Kerala's  past  colonizers,  including  Hindu  and  Mughal dynasties,  Portuguese  and  Dutch  conquerors,  and  the  British  Empire -which  came  seeking  control  of  the lucrative  pepper  trade.  The  city  hosts  the  oldest  church  in  India,  500 year old  Portuguese  houses,  old  tiled houses built in the Chinese pagoda style, and a Jewish community whose roots go back to the Diaspora.

St.  Francis  Church ,  originally  named  after  Santo  Antonio  and  dedicated  to  him  as  the  Patron  Saint  of Portugal. Once a wooden building, it was replaced by the present stone building. Vasco De Gamma died on site in 1524 and was originally  buried in the cemetery. His  grave is still marked  with a  plaque and a  brass  rail, though his remains are back home in Portugal. Across, the four -century old Jewish synagogue was built in 1568 AD, it was  destroyed by  the Portuguese and rebuilt by  the Dutch a  century  later. We will explore the Jew-town, which abounds   with   fascinating   antique   shops   and   wares.   Looming   protect ively   over   the   synagogue   is   the Mattancherry palace , erstwhile home to the Verma kings and today a fine museum.

In  the  evening,  visit  a  local  theatre  to  experience Kathakali  performance.  Kathakali  literally  meaning  story dance"  is  the  pantomimic  dance  drama,  the  dancing  and  the  acting  being  blended  together  into  an  inseparable form. It is  a  combination of facial expressions  and body movements, which brings out the thought and emotion of the character.Upon arrival, you will witness the artists readying themselves up with the make up and this will be  followed  by  the performance.  Kerala  owes  its  transnational  fame  to  this  nearly  300  years  old  classical  dance form which combines facets  of ballet, opera,  masque  and the pantomime. Kathakali explicates ideas  andstories from the Indian epics and Puranas. Presented in the temple precincts after dusk falls Kathakali is heralded by the Kelikottu or the beating of drums in accompaniment of the Chengila (gong)

Cultural connection (Optional):

Walking Tour of Cochin:This walking tour is an eye opener to the minute details of the old town. It definitely pulls you back to 14th century.Fort Cochin is said to have formed in the 1340’s due to cataclysmic floods.

Fort Cochin being the natural gateway to the Kochi harbor grew in importance as travelers from far and wide came to Kochi -the Arabs, the Chinese, the Dutch and the Portuguese. The large rain trees, beautiful colonial buildings, streets lined with many shops, dining options, the Chinese fishing nets, the Parade G round, the Jain temple, the Jewish Synagogue, the beach area, St. Francis Church, the Vasco house, the narrow lanes of Mattanchery and the fruit and vegetable markets all make this an interesting area.

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Drive to Thekkady
• Afternoon visit the Spice Plantations
• Overnight in Thekkady

Morning,  drive  uphill  to  Periyar through  a  panorama of  cardamom,  coffee  and  pepper plantations.  On  arrival, check in for your stay.

Periyaris the ‘Land of the Spices’ Columbus was  seeking  when he stumbled on the New World; Kerala’s Malabar Coast is famous for its fabulous spice crops.

Afternoon,visit the spice plantation and see traditional plantation techniques while walking amidst the rows of vines creeping upwards on trellises. The correct time to pluck the peppercorns is when they are beginning to redden, just before they are completely ripe. Try your hand at it, but be sure to wash up before touching your eyes or nose! Walk past the rows of mats on which the plucked peppercorns are left to dry. The scent of pepper mingles with the fresh mountain air. This is the starting point of the centuries old spice trade and that delicious flavour which makes such a difference to foods worldwide.

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Half day nature walk and Boat ride in Periyar National Park
• Drive to Kumarakom
• Overnight in Kumarakom

This morning you will explore the park by taking a guided trek in the famous Periyar National Park. With 16 wildlife sanctuaries and 5 national parks nestled along the Western Ghats; Kerala is a hotspot wildlife destination. The Western Ghats –geologically older than the Himalayas –is one of the world’s most significantly bio diverse regions and has been given World Heritage Site status by UNESCO. The Forests of Kerala account for more than one - third of its terrain. Drive up to nearby Periyar National Park reserve, along the Cardamo m and Pandalam hills of the Western Ghats. From the entrance gate, take a guided nature walk for about an hour on a trail through the park towards Periyar lake. The ecosystem of the park is very interesting – the trees grow up to

40m, and the dense canopy above only allows in limited sunlight. Therefore at ground level, there are abundant ferns, orchids and air plants –plants that need little light to survive. Along with the Malabar giant squirrel, hornbills, woodpeckers, and several other species of birds are easy to spot within the reserve.

At the bank of the lake, take a bamboo raft and cruise through the scenic Periyar Lake for about 2 hours through many delights of the sanctuary. From the elephant and tiger to the nilgiri tahr sambar, wild dog, leopard smooth-coated otters and lion-tailed macaque –around 35 species of animals live here.

Around midday, disembark the raft, return to the gate and head back to the hotel.

Afternoon, drive to Kumarakom

Kumarakom , or the 'Venice of the East' is a veritable paradise in the lush backwaters of Kottayam. It is Kerala’s heartland of lagoons, palm fringed lakes and paddy fields, inter-linked with hundreds of winding canals with the typical low slung country boats that carry everything from people to fish,rice and coconuts to the milkman and newspaper boy, local politicians and priests to wedding parties.Rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy the resort facilities.

• Morning and afternoon game drive
• Day Cruise in Vembanad Lake
• Lunch on board Houseboat
• Overnight in Kumarakom

Wake up early for a session of yoga under the guidance of an expert yoga master (optional)

Midmorning, take  a  short  drive  to  Allepey to board Kettuvallam, a  traditional  houseboat  and  spend  several hours drifting through the backwaters of Kerala enjoying lunch onboard.

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.  While  most  boats  are  poled  by  local  oarsmen,  some  are powered by a 40 HP engine.

The backwaters  are a  network of canals, lakes, lagoons  and estuaries stretching  over almost 1000  square  miles. Here,  palm-fringed  narrow  canals  wind  through  a  vast  expanse  of  paddy  fields.  As  we  float  along,  enjoy  the picturesque hamlets that line the banks, migratory birds in abundance, water lilies and coconut groves.

Disembark the boat and return back to the hotel.

Rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy the resort facilities.

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Drive to Marari
• Day is at leisure
• Overnight in Marari

Post breakfast drive to Marari. On arrival, check in for your stay.

Maraikulam is a sleepy village, locked between the Arabian Sea and Lake Vembanad. The long, soft, sandy beach is ideal for launching traditional Keralan fishing boats which return to the shore with plentiful supplies for the local market. The area is a great place to unwind at the end of your trip – stretched out in a hammock with a book, strolling along the beach, exploring the quiet lanes on a bicycle or following a course of Ayurvedic treatment.

Rest of the day is at leisure.

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Day at leisure
• Overnight in Marari

Days at leisure, with time to relax, spend time at the beach, explore near -city sights or pursue independent activities.

Cultural connection (Optional) :

Explore the local beach and village : Begin the day early today with a morning excursion to a local beach, timing your arrival as the local fishing boats pull in with their catch for the day. There is a lovely auction on the beach with retailers and exporters bidding for the best catch of the day. Continue to a Christian host’s farm house to sample home -made breakfast.

Later, armed with a bicycle one can spend a somnolent morning exploring the surrounding village. The generosity of the villagers and the smiles and laughter that fill the village streets exemplify a richness of their spirit. After the adrenaline filled morning, drive further to see the coir yarning and mat weaving units and seethe industrious villagers busy making traditional coir (the fibers from the outer husk of the coconut, used to make ropes and mats).

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Drive to Cochin and fly to onward destination

Morning is at your leisure. Hotel check -out time 12 noon.

Depending on your post-trip plans, you may drive to Kochi and connect flight for onward destination

Tour Ends