Kerala
Trip
Duration of Kerala Trip: 15 Days
Places to Covered : Cochin
- Munnar - Periyar - Changanacherry - Aranmula - Kovalam
Day
1: Arrive at CochinBreakfast would be at the hotel. Transfer to
airport for flight to Cochin.
Arrive Cochin and transfer to our
accommodation at Fort Cochin, the site of historic palaces, churches, an
ancient Jewish synagogue and architecture reflecting the visits of
Portuguese, British and Dutch traders.
Cochin is a diverse and
colorful port/city, spreading over 4-5 islands and peninsulas. The main town
of Ernakulam is on the mainland. All the islands are connected by a
ferryboat network and therein lies the charm of an exploratory two days
here. Around the headland of Fort Cochin, a phalanx of cantilevered Chinese
fishing boats dip into the sea at high tide. In its back streets, there is
an aroma of ginger, cardamom and other spices, piled high in every nook and
cranny.
Relax for the day.
Overnight at Cochin.
Day
2: Arrive Munnar (By road in 4 hours) Breakfast at hotel.
Transfer
to Munnar.
Munnar is situated at the confluence of three mountain
streams - Mudrapuzha, Nallathani & Kundala. 1600 meter above sea level
this hill station was once the summer resort of the erstwhile British
Government in South India. Sprawling Tea plantations, picture book towns,
winding lanes, and holiday facilities make this a popular resort town. Among
the exotic flora found in the forests and grasslands here is the
Neelakurinji. This flower which bathes the hills in the blue every twelve
years, will bloom next in 2007 AD. Munnar also has the highest peak in South
India - Anamudi, which towers over 2695 m. Anamudi is an ideal spot for
trekking.
Lunch on the way to Munnar and dinner at the hotel.
Overnight
at Munnar.
Day 3 - 4: MunnarWe have a choice of
mountain walks depending on the weather and changing restrictions. One
option is to climb Chokran Mudi (2179m), which takes us through forestry and
tea plantations onto a high granite ridge with dramatic views of the Western
Ghats and beyond,
over mountains and ridges into Tamil Nadu. This is the toughest day on the
trip, approx. 5-6 hours with some effort required, but the views on top will
be ample reward. Look out for eagles and kites and maybe tiger or bison
droppings, though we will be far too noisy for a close encounter with either
of the latter! Our other route is easier, in the Parvatti Hills. Pleasant
and varied, it starts in the tea plantations and leads through forest
inhabited by lion-tailed macaque monkeys and onto a broad grassy ridge which
is often shaded by trees. From the top, Ainimudi (Elephant Mountain, 2694m)
and Chokran Mudi look spectacular.
All meals for both the days
would be included in the tour.
Both the nights will be at Munnar.
Day
5 : Arrive at Periyar (By road in 4 hours) Breakfast at hotel.
A four hour drive southwards over rolling hills and coffee
plantations to the PERIYAR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, one of the major wildlife
reserves in India. Indian elephants, wild boars, lion-tailed monkeys, ibex,
tigers, leopards and sloth bears are on the list. The park surrounds a
large, many-fingered lake and a dawn or dusk foray on one of the boats will
be a thrilling experience.
It is from the lake rather than vehicles that the wildlife is viewed. The
sanctuary is rich in bird life. Great hornbills, kites, darters, herons,
egrets, owls and kingfishers are in abundance. Surrounding the reserve are
many small spice plantations and we spend an absorbing afternoon searching
for pepper, cardamom, turmeric, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon and betel.
Lunch
and dinner will be served at the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day
6 : PeriyarEarly breakfast and reporting at the boat landing on
Lake Periyar to cross over to the starting point of the trek. After about
two hours of hard walk, you hop on to a country raft (its just bamboo poles
bound together) paddled by tribal boatmen. Absolute silence is the secret
and soon you will be able to witness wild animals strolling down to take a
drink from the lake. If it's your lucky day, sightings could include
Elephants, Bison, Bore, Samba, Hyena and of course different bird species.
Tigers being very shy of humans are very rare sightings but one never knows…
After about three hours on the raft, head back to firm land and walk back to
civilization and your Village Resort. It's been a long day and you deserve
to put your legs up and enjoy a tall cooler.
Lunch would be packed
and served in the jungle while a lavish dinner would be served at the hotel.
Overnight
would be at the resort.
Day 7 : Arrive at Changanacherry (By
road in 4 hours) Breakfast would be at the resort.
A
pleasant ride back out of the hills takes us to Changanacherry, on the
fringe of the coastal plain. We pass rice-fields, banana, tapioca, rubber
and coffee plantations, cross-waterways and nudge our way through bustling
small towns. We stop en route for an authentic south Indian meal served on
banana leaves.
Our boat awaits and we begin a thrilling and
colorful boat ride (3 hours) through the 'backwaters' to Ambalaphuza, all
sitting on the roof to see more! The term 'backwaters' actually refers to
the extensive network of rivers, lakes, canals and lagoons that lace the
coastal plain interior coastline and stretch from Cochin almost down to
Trivandrum. Small canoes, elderly sailboats, coconut-laden barges, tiny
skiffs full of school children, Chinese-style Junks and thatch-covered
country craft are common sights.
Our accommodation for the night
is a simple but idyllic bungalow. (Very comfortable authentic heritage
bungalow with attached bathrooms).
Dinner would be laid out in the
dining room of the bungalow.
Day 8 : ChanganacherryRest,
or go for a walk along the waterside.
You
can take part in a host of "Village Activities" and off course
they would be all under supervision of the local helpful villagers. One such
activity is to climb a coconut tree and pluck your own one. You could also
take a small raft and go out fishing with local baits and handmade fishing
rods.
Overnight would be again in the Bungalow.
Day 9
: Arrive at AranmulaLeave after breakfast for another memorable
cruise down the backwaters to Chengannur. A short distance away (10km) is
Aranmula, set amid rice fields and coconut palms.
We stay at a
dance and arts centre in simple Indian Style Accommodation. A French woman,
who recognized that without arts and cultural program based in South India,
many of the old traditional musical and martial arts risked dying out, set
up the centre dramatic.
On our visit we will be the special guests
at a performance of music and Kathakali, the classical dance drama of South
India.
A speciality at the centre is Kerala-style vegetarian food
served on banana leaves, delicately prepared and delicious.
Overnight
would be at the ARTS CENTRE.
Day
10: Aranmula We join workshops on dance, music, woodcarving, yoga
and Kalaripayat - the martial art of South India. To be an accomplished
Kathakali dancer or to engage in Kalaripayat at a high level takes many
years of dedicated study, and this introduction allows us to glimpse another
world where priorities are very different to the West. We can book a
relaxing Ayurvedic body massage and also watch the elaborate Kathakali
make-up being painted on the evening's dance performers.
All meals
would be vegetarian. Overnight would be at the ARTS CENTRE.
Day
11: Biking We cycle along narrow rural lanes, linking small
villages. We will encounter some traffic when cycling through small towns,
but for the most part the roads are quiet and fairly flat. Often beyond the
palm trees there will be views of the Arabian Sea. It will be an exciting
new dimension and will bring many friendly encounters with the local people.
Each
day, an early start (6.30am) to cycle for around four hours before the sun
climbs too high.
Overnight would be at a small beach hotel closer
to Aleppey. Lunch and dinner would be at the resort.
Day 12:
Biking A morning cycle ride to arrive at Varkala in time for a dip
in the Arabian Sea. Varkala is in a beautiful location and balanced between
traditional India and growing pressures of tourism. We stay in a simple
guesthouse with delicious delicately prepared Kerala food. There is an
important Hindu temple and bathing GHAT here and each new year a well
attended Hindu festival spread over several days dedicated to an enlightened
guru, Sree Narayana Guru, attracts thousands of pilgrims to a nearby
village.
Meals would be at the resort.
Overnight at a
GARDEN RETREAT.
Day 13: Biking Spend the morning
cycling in the beach and meeting locals. Rest of the day would be spent
relaxing.
All meals will be at the resort. Overnight at the Garden
Retreat.
Day
14: Reach Kovalam The final day's biking through coconut palms and
small fishing villages ends just to the north of Trivandrum. A local taxi
ride completes the journey and we spend our last evening in Kerala in beach
bungalows by the Arabian Sea at Kovalam.
Lunch would be at
Trivandrum or Kovalam depending on the time.
Dinner would be a
lavish spread of SEAFOOD and LOCAL WINE.
Day 15: Departure Breakfast
at resort.
Transfer to the airport of Trivandrum for flight to
Mumbai or Delhi.
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Boat
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