Kerala Tours
Duration : 06
Nights/07 Days Kerala Backwaters Tours
Destinations Covered : Kochi - Munnar - Thekkady -
Kumarokom - Alappuzha - Kochi
Day 01 : 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 in Kerala Tours.
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 in Kerala
Tours.
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
in Kerala Tours.
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 in Kerala Tour
Packages
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 in Kerala
Tour Packages.
Day 02 : Kochi - Munnar
After
breakfast transfer to the hotel in Munnar in Tours to Kerala India.
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 in Tours to Kerala India
Day 03 : Munnar
Breakfast. Proceed to Mattupetty for sightseeing in Tours to Kerala India.
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.
Day 04 : 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, Kerala Tour Packages, 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.
Day 05 : 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.
Day 06 : Kumarakom - Alappuzha
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 in Kerala Hill Stations Tours.
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 in Kerala Hill
Stations Tours.
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 in Kerala Hill Stations Tours.
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 in Kerala
Kerala Backwaters Tours.
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 in Kerala Kerala Backwaters Tours.
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 in Kerala Kerala Backwaters
Tours.
To confirm bookings for this special package call us on the following numbers
Phone Number : 0091-422- 2333922
Mobiles: +91-9786691904 / 9842255573 / 9965616661
Contact us on our Email id : info@southindia-tourism.net
Our Fax No: +91 0422- 2331605
End Tour/ Pearls tour
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