Trip Introduction
Kerala is a divine place lying peacefully in the lap of Western Ghats. With an area of about 600 kms as the beachside, this place has mountains covered with lush green pastures. Being showered upon by nature’s wealth, this magnificent locale has a laid back charm to offer to travellers.
This tour provides you an opportunity to lose in the spell bound beauty of Indian coastal state Kerala where one can explore industrial & commercial hub Kochi, Tea Estates of Munnar, tranquillity of backwaters & enthralling views of the untouched beaches. The land of coconut trees is a destination that has something for every kind of traveller. Whether you want to sail the glistening backwaters or lose yourself in the mystical coastal greenery, Kerala is an ultimate tourist destination to experience bliss and serenity. Kerala’s culture is influenced by three major religions of the state – Hinduism, Islam and Christianity. The state livens up during all the major festivals celebrated by the people of these three faiths. If you are the artsy traveller, Kerala’s art and culture will nurture your artistic soul.
Trip Highlights
Welcome to India
Brief Itinerary
Day 01 Arrive Delhi
Day 02 Delhi
Day 03 Delhi to Kochi (By Air)
Day 04 Kochi to Munnar (140 Kms/ 3.5 Hrs)
Day 05 Munnar
Day 06 Munnar to Thekkady (90 Kms/ 3 Hrs)
Day 07 Thekkady to Kumarakom (100 Kms/ 2.5 Hrs)
Day 08 Kumarakom
Day 09 Kumarakom to Kovalam via Jatayu Earth Centre (180 Kms/ 4 Hrs)
Day 10 Kovalam
Day 11 Kovalam – Kanyakumari – Kovalam (100 Kms/ 3 Hrs one way)
Day 12 Drop to Trivandrum Airport (15 Kms/ 0.5 Hrs) & Departure to Delhi
Day 13 Delhi Departure
On your arrival at Delhi airport, meet our representative (preferred language speaking) and greeted with a warm welcome with garlanding. Then our representative will escort you to the pre-booked hotel. Arrive hotel & fulfil check-in formalities. Spare little time with our representative to provide brief information about the tour.
Overnight stay at hotel.
This day introduces you with the city Delhi where you can witness a unique blend of the traditional and cosmopolitan styles. Delhi is a city that bridges two different worlds. Old Delhi, once the capital of Islamic India, is a labyrinth of narrow lanes lined with crumbling havelis and formidable mosques. In contrast, the imperial city of New Delhi created by the British Raj is composed of spacious,
tree-lined avenues and imposing government buildings. In Delhi, you will discover that the city is sprinkled with dazzling gems: captivating ancient monuments, fascinating museums and art galleries, architectural wonders, a vivacious performing-arts scene, fabulous eating places and bustling markets.
After breakfast gather at hotel’s lobby & proceed for guided city tour of Delhi including Jama Masjid followed by Rikshaw ride, Raj Ghat, Humayun’s Tomb – the first garden-tomb in the Indian subcontinent, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, drive past through India Gate & Rashtrapati Bhawan (President’s House), Akshardham Temple (closed on Mondays) – A Hindu temple which exemplifies traditional Hindu culture and architecture. 7000 artisans were involved in the construction of the temple aided by 3000 volunteers.
At last visit Qutab Minar to experience night view (visit permitted till 9 pm). The Qutub Minar is a towering 73-meter-high tower built by Qutub-ud-Din Aibak in 1193. The tower was built to celebrate Muslim dominance in Delhi after the defeat of Delhi’s last Hindu ruler. This tower is the highest tower in India, complete with five storeys and projecting balconies. The first three storeys of the Qutub Minar are made of red sandstone and the last two are made of marble and sandstone.
Apart from the tower, the Qutub Minar complex comprises of the Quwwat-us-Islam Mosque (the first mosque to be built in India), a 7-metre-high iron pillar, the tomb of Iltutmish, Ala’i-Darwaza and the Ala’I Minar. After sightseeing return to your hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.
After breakfast, check out from hotel & proceed for Delhi airport to board flight for Kochi, the capital city of Kerala. It often referred to as the Queen of the Arabian Sea and is a cluster of islands narrow peninsulas built off the mainland. After a brief period of rest, proceed for city tour of Kochi visiting The Dutch Palace at Mattancherry
(Closed on Fridays) is renowned for its wall murals depicting scenes from the Indian epic Ramayana. The Jewish Synagogue (Closed on Fridays & Saturday) is at the heart of what is locally called Jew Town. The St Francis Church is the oldest European church in India. The Santa Cruz Basilica was originally built in 1557 by the Portuguese. The Chinese fishing nets are huge cantilevered fishing nets believed to have been introduced to Kochi by the Chinese trade. In evening come to a local theatre to cherish a dance performance of Kathakali. Dancers with painted faces and equally vocal gestures would portray nice and inspiring art form of Kerala that happens to be one amongst the national dance forms of our nation.Overnight stay at hotel.
After breakfast check out from hotel & proceed for Munnar– a hill station located 1600 metres above sea level in Kerala, one of the Indian States. Once the summer resort of the erstwhile British administration in South India, it retains its colonial charm and is famous for its tea plantations, most of which are privately owned.
With its sprawling estates, rolling hills, sparkling waterfalls, picture postcard hamlets, and undulating valleys, Munnar is an ideal holiday destination.Arrive Munnar & check-in at hotel. After relaxing for some time, proceed to relish the captivating views of the town visiting Echo Point & Metupatty Dam. Overnight stay at hotel.
After breakfast proceed on a sightseeing tour of Munnar. Visit the Eravikulam National Park at the Rajamalai to spot the Nilgiri Tahr, a rare and endangered species of mountain goat endemic to the Nilgiri Hills and the southern portion of the Western Ghats in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Follow this with a visit to the Tea Museum, located in the Nallathanni Estate of Tata Tea.
The Museum’s collection of memorabilia and artefacts takes you back to the 1880s, an era when the tea industry had just begun to make its presence felt in Munnar. Browse the museum for its array of curios, photographs, and machinery, each depicting important events that contributed to a flourishing tea industry. A demonstration room for tea tasting is another attraction where one would come across different varieties of tea. One can taste some of the most exotic varieties of tea available around the world here. It has steadily turned into a must-visit spot for those who wish to delve into the soul of Munnar. Return to hotel for overnight stay.
After breakfast check out from hotel & proceed towards Periyar National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary (Also known as Thekkady). Your journey takes you to the Western Ghats, a lush mountain range that rises parallel to India’s Arabian Sea coast.Arrive Thekkady & check-in at hotel.
Later, visit a local spice plantation where you enjoy the sights and smells of fresh spices and learn about their cultivation process. Later this evening, witness a famous martial art form of Kerala “Kalaripayattu” in a centre. Kalarippayattu is a Dravidian martial art from Kerala. Possibly one of the oldest fighting systems in existence, it is practiced in Kerala and contiguous parts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka as well as north-eastern Sri Lanka and among the Malayalee community of Malaysia. It includes strikes, kicks, grappling, preset forms, weaponry and healing methods. Overnight stay at hotel.
After breakfast check out from hotel & proceed for Kumarakom. This enchanting backwater destination of Kumarakom is a small village that is a cluster of little islands on the Vembanad Lake in Kerala. Kumarakom strengthens Kerala’s reputation for being God’s own country with its unbelievably beautiful mangrove forests, coconut groves and emerald green paddy fields interspersed with enchanting waterways and canals adorned with while lilies.
It is a breath-taking bout to experience a solitary and calm glide through this network of waterways.
Arrive Kumarakom & check-in at hotel. Rest of the day at leisure to relax & to joy the nature’s bounty beauty of this destination. Overnight stay at hotel.
After an early breakfast, proceed to visit Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. Thereafter, you will board a local houseboat right from boat jetty and sail through mysterious canals and dancing waves of Kerala backwaters. Experiencing this unique travel on an exclusive wooden houseboat or Kettuvallam, you will cherish a delicious lunch time in the backdrop of hills and paddy fields. With winds accompanying you on this ride,
you will revive your very self with the nature’s healing bliss. It would be a great experience to observe the peace and love nature has bestowed upon this small place on earth. Explore myriad shades of life while sailing through the backwaters lying between Periyar to Kumarakom.
Disembark houseboat in evening & Overnight stay at hotel.
After breakfast check out from hotel and proceed for Kovalam. During your road journey to Kovalam, take a stop at Jatayu Earth Centre. Situated in Chadayamangalam, this rocky hilltop is unique with its amalgamation of artistic brilliance, mythological history, innovative technology, culture, adventure and leisure.The park located near the town of Chadayamangalam (Jatayumangalam), which was named for Jatayu.
Jatayu was a demi-god in Ramayana (a Hindu epic) who had the form of a vulture. According to the Ramayana epic, Ravana abducted Sita to Lanka. Jatayu had tried to rescue Sita from Ravana while Ravana was on his way to Lanka. Jatayu fought valiantly with Ravana, but as Jatayu was very old, Ravana soon defeated him. Rama and Lakshmana while on the search for Sita, chanced upon the stricken and dying Jatayu, who informed them of the battle with Ravana and told them that Ravana had headed South. Legend says that Jatayu fell on the rocks in Chadayamangalam, after his wings were clipped by Ravana. This is where you get to see the world’s largest bird sculpture. To quench the curiosity of the visitors, a virtual reality museum and a theatre is also set up here that showcases the story of the mythical bird Jatayu and its era. After finishing this phase of sightseeing proceed towards Kovalam.
Kovalam beach is the world famous Indian tropical beach, boarded by blue waters and lush coconut gardens, is a western cultural dot on a traditional and orthodox Kerala physique. Blue water and favorable climate make Kovalam a favorite year-round spot for swimming. Sea, here, is pacific and shallow where you can take a dip in the saline waters. The warm and clean atmosphere by the coconut trees and the white sand bed are perfect for relaxing holidays, as the sea breeze gently plays with the waves. Arrive Kovalam by evening and check-in at hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay at hotel.
After breakfast proceed
for sightseeing tour of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple & Napier’s Museum at Trivandrum. Thereafter proceed for Poovar Beach, located 30 km from Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), here one gets to see a slice of life in a coastal village. It offers one a wonderful view of the formation of the backwaters. The golden sands are home to some of the best picnic spots in the area.
After breakfast, enjoy an excursion to the southernmost tip of India and visit some of the historic temples and monuments. Stop at Padmanabhapuram Palace (closed on Mondays) on the way. The palace was constructed around 1601 CE. After the palace, next stop is Suchindram Temple. Continue to Kanyakumari and after reaching there, visit the most famous monument – Vivekananda Rock Memorial.
Back on the mainland, visit the Gandhi Memorial & the ancient Kanya Kumari Temple. The last stop is the beautiful Kanyakumari beach. Return to Kovalam by evening. Overnight stay at hotel
After breakfast check out from hotel & proceed for Trivandrum airport to board flight for Delhi. Arrive Delhi airport, greeted by our representative & transfer to hotel pre-booked for you. Rest of the day at leisure or if time permits you can go for shopping.
Overnight stay at hotel.
This is the last day of the tour & it’s time to say Goodbye to India. The morning is at leisure. Your escort and vehicle are at your disposal. Later, depending on the time of your international flight you are assisted with your transfer to the airport for your homebound journey.
