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Splendor Tour of Kerala and Kerala Splendor Tour |
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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.
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.
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
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.
Day 02 : Kochi - Munnar Tours in Kerala
On the second day tour of Splendor Travel Packages India - after breakfast transfer to the hotel in Munnar.
Munnar : 5000 to 8000 ft above sea level One of the
prominent hill stations in India and the summer resort of the erstwhile
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
:Splendor Tours Operator - 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
Day 03 : Munnar Tours in Kerala
On the third day tour of Kerala South India Tour Packages -
Breakfast. Proceed to Mattupetty for sightseeing.
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.
On
the fifth day tour of Kerala South India Tour Packages - After
breakfast proceed to Kumarakom.
Day 06 : Kumarakom - Alappuzha - Thiruvananthapuram - Kovalam Tours
on the sixth day tour of Kerala Splendor Tour, after breakfast proceed to Kumarakom boat Jetty. Board the private motor
boat launch and take the 4 hr backwater cruise of Alappuzha.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Disembark and proceed for lunch at the resort in Alappuzha. After lunch
disembark and proceed to Kovalam. Enroute sightseeing of Krishnapuram
Palace at Kayamkulam and Thiruvanthapuram.
Krishnapuram Palace : At Karthikapally in Kayamkulam, 47
km from Alappuzha en route to Kollam. The Krishnapuram Palace is a rare
specimen of the Kerala style of architecture, complete with gabled roofs,
narrow corridors and dormer windows.It also houses Kerala's largest mural
panels, the most famous of which is the one depicting the story of
Gajendramoksham - the largest single band of mural painting so far
discovered in Kerala.Other collections at the museum include rare antique
bronze sculptures and paintings.The palace, the erstwhile residence of the
rulers of Kayamkulam kingdom, was renovated in the 18th century, and is
today a protected monument.Visiting hours: 9 am to 5 pm on all days except
Mondays
Proceed to Kovalam and rest of the day is free.
Kovalam : 16 km south of Thiruvananthapuram .Kovalam, one
of the loveliest beaches of India, is an internationally renowned beach
resort with three adjacent crescent beaches. A favorite haunt of tourists,
especially Europeans, since the 1930s, Kovalam has miles of golden sand
segmented into four sheltered, palm-fringed coves by rocky promontories
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 07 : Kovalam tours- Kanyakumari - Kovalam
After breakfast proceed to Kanyakumari, Kovalam tours for full day
excursion.
Kanyakumari : Located at the Southern most partof India ,
Kanyakumari is a place at the confluence of the Indian ocean,the Bay of
Bengal and the Arabian sea. The multicoloured sand is an unique feature of
the beach here. Places of interest are:
Gandhi memorial : This striking memorial has been built on
the spot where the urn containing Mahatma's ashes was kept for public
viewing before immersion. It resembles an Orissan temple and was designed
so that on Gandhiji's birthday (2nd october) , the suns rays fall on the
place where his ashes were kept.
Swami Vivekananda rock memorial : This grand memorial to
the great Indian Philosopher Swami Vivekananda is on one of the twin rocks
jutting out from the sea about 200 metres offshore.There is a Dhyana
Mandapam where one can sit in a serene atmosphere and meditate.Ferry
services are available to reach the memorial.
Kumari Amman temple : Picturesquely situated overlooking
the shore, this temple and the nearby Ghat attract tourist from all over
the world. According to a legend, Devi did penance here to secure Lord
Siva's hand in marriage.When she was unsuccessful, she vowed to remain a
virgin (Kanya).The Diamond nose-ring of this deity is famous for its
sparkling splendour which is supposed to be visible even from the sea.
En route visit Padmanabhaswami Palace & Sucheendram temple.
Padmanabhapuram Palace : 52 km from Thiruvananthapuram, in
the neighbouring State of Tamil Nadu.This magnificent wooden palace of the
Rajas of erstwhile Travancore (1550 to 1750 AD) is a fine specimen of
Kerala's indigenous style of architecture. Some of the interesting sights
in the palace, replete with intricate rosewood carvings and sculptured
décor, include the 'Thaikkottaram' or the Queen Mother's palace, secret
underground passages, the royal four poster medicinal bed and mural
paintings. Visiting hours: 9 am to 5 pm on all days except Mondays.
Suchindram Temple : Suchindram is about 11 km from
Kanyakumari and about 7 km from Nagarkoil lying between these two towns.
Suchindram temple is unique in the whole of India in that it is dedicated
to three different deities represented by one image in the sanctum and is
called Sthanumalayan (Sthanu-Shiva; Maal-Vishnu and Ayan-Brahma) Kovil.
The temple is rich in sculpture and architecture and a visitor to this
temple is amply rewarded with the sight of such exquisite art of hundreds
of years
Return to the hotel in the evening. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 08 :
After breakfast proceed to Thiruvanthapuram for Departure
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