The serene backwaters of Kerala are simple irresistible, but do take notice of the superb coconut grooves by the sides and the beautifully decorated boats that will take you into a journey without any jerk. This tour package includes the best sought after places that need no extra introduction in Indian tourist map. These houseboats are good, if not better than those of Kashmir are. The cruise is immensely recommended for the peace lovers and the people who have liked the TITANIC, or is that too much to ask for? To know, visit Kerala Backwaters.

Day 01: Arrive Bombay
Assistance and transfer to the hotel.

Day 02: Bombay-Cochin flight 0840/1025 hours
Transfer to the airport for flight to Cochin. On arrival, transfer to the hotel. Afternoon sightseeing tour of Cochin, Kerala's commercial centre, which has a fine natural harbor. Cochin (Kochi) is famous for the Mattanchery Palace, St. Francis Church, Wellington Island, Bolghatty Island, Chinese Fishing nets and Jewish Synagogue. Cruising on the back-waters provides glimpses of the rural life, fine view of the harbor and three islands.

Day 03: Cochin-Munnar drive, 125 km
Drive to Munnar and on arrival, check-in at the hotel. Rest of the day free. Largely blanketed by tea plantations, this little hill resort offers breath-taking scenery. Situated at an altitude of 1525 m, Munnar has a local bracing climate. The atmosphere is fragrant with extensive tea and cardamom plantations. There are enchanting high ranges, lakes and streams and lovely views of low flying clouds and mist filled valleys.

Day 04: Munnar-Periyar drive, 100 km
Drive to Periyar and on arrival, check-in at the hotel. Periyar sanctuary spread over an area of 777 sq km, has about 35 tigers and leopards. However, sighting a tiger in Periyar is a rare occurrence. The park encompasses a 26 sq km artificial lake and is the home of sambars, wild boars, elephants and antelopes, which can be occasionally seen on the banks of the river during a boat cruise. Periyar, otherwise, blessed by Nature has enormous tea, coffee, pepper and cardamom plantations and has lush green hills. Afternoon boat cruise on Lake Periyar to view the wildlife. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 05: Periyar-Kumarakom, 156 km (via Kottayam)
Drive to Kumarakom via Kottayam. Kottayam, 64 kms from Cochin, is another commercial center of Kerala. Dotted with churches and covered with rubber plantations, Kottayam is just 16 km away from Kumarakom and Vembanad Lake. To the city's west are delightful backwaters and to its east is the most fertile and scenic part of the Western Ghats having rubber, tea, coffee, pepper and cardamom plantations. On arrival, transfer by ferry to backwater Resort. Rest of the day free.

Day 06: Embark on Houseboat /Thottappally village-Houseboat
After breakfast, board a Kerala Houseboat, popularly known as 'Kettuvalam'. Today cruise through Pallathuruthy Canal, Karimpavalavu village, Karumady canal - a long stretch of narrow canal - to reach Thottappally village for night stay. Enroute you can visit Karumady Kuttan (a statue of Buddha and a Temple). Evening witness the sunset through the coconut palms. Dinner under a million stars. Sleep and dream with the pleasant roll of the backwater. Overnight stay on the houseboat.

Day 07: Arrive Alleppey/Kovalam
Early Morning wake up to the tunes of lovely birds and watch sun climbing over the palm trees. Have Breakfast and enjoy your cruise, seeing the simple life of the village people along your cruise route. You can also see good being bought and sold or bartered by men plying boats in the water. Travel back to Alleppey jetty and disembark after breakfast around 0930 hours. On arrival, drive to Kovalam for overnight stay at the beach resort

Day 08: Kovalam-Kanyakumari-Kovalam
Day trip to visit Kanyakumari.(OPTIONAL): The Southernmost end of Tamil Nadu, the land's end of India or the point where three seas meet. Cape Comorin or Kanyakumari is at its best during Chitra Pournima (full moon day in April) when the sun and moon are face-to-face at the same horizon at the confluence point of Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. The Vivekananda Memorial built on the rock in the sea where the great philospher guide Swami Vivekananda went into meditation that transformed him into one of the most charismatic spiritual leaders of the century, is a place worth visiting.

Suchindram, 13 km from Kanyakumari is dedicated to a deity who is the representation of the combined forces of Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. The temple has a beautiful gopurarm, musical pillars and an excellent statue of the monkey god Hanuman. Enroute visit Padmanabhapuram, 45 km. It was the capital of Travancore until 1333 and is known for its fort, which encloses among other buildings a palace and a temple. The palace has some important art relics while the Ramaswamy temple has exquisitely carved panels depicting scenes from the Ramayana.
Return to Kovalam for an overnight stay.

Day 09: Kovalam
Day at leisure on the beach. Stay overnight at your hotel in Kovalam.

Day 10: Kovalam-Trivandrum-Bombay
Morning sightseeing tour of Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala, built over seven forested hills. The Padmanabhaswamy Temple, a seven-storeyed stone structure is the most impressive landmark. This temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu contains several inscriptions and excellent murals, innumerable intricate stone carvings adorn the temple. The Napier Museum of Arts and Crafts completed in 1880, was an early experiment in what became known as the Indo-Saracenic style. It house a priceless collection which includes 15th century wood carvings of Kerala, Gold necklaces and belts, ivory work, a carved temple chariot and wooden models of the famous temples of Kerala and 14th century Vijayanagar bronzes. Sri Chitra Art Gallery has a collection of splendid paintings from the Rajput, Moghul and Tanjore school, as well as China, Tibet and Japan. The most impressive of all is the beautiful treatment of Hindu mythological themes in the oil paintings of Raja Ravi Varma exhibited here.

Later transfer to the airport for the flight to Bombay. Assistance on arrival and transfer to international airport for your onward flight.

This program is flexible . You can add more cities/days, and start the program any day you wish. The road travel is by private chauffeur driven cars.

Tour Ends

KERALA BACKWATER TOURS RESERVATION FORM

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