Tour Duration – 13 days
12 nights – Hotel Stays
SYNOPSIS – Variety is the spice of life is what we learn while traveling through the most beautiful part of India – Her southern side. The tour is set to experience the varied landscapes, distinct architecture, ancient traditions and rich heritage – not to mention its people.
KERALA – Witness the greenery put up by the land of the gods. The culture and the flawless natural creations will make sure that the person, who seek for it, is gifted with an experience of a lifetime . Kerala, being very close to equator, has a tropical climate.. Known for its backwaters, mountains, coconuts, spices and art forms like Kathakali and Mohini Attam , they bring out a lot of variety into the arena .
TAMILNADU – Tamilnadu is the homeland of one of humanity’s living classical civilizations, stretching back uninterrupted for two millennia and very much alive today in the Tamil’s language, dance, poetry and Hindu religion. When the hot chaos of Tamil temple towns overwhelms, escape to the southernmost tip of India where three seas mingle or to the splendid mansions sprinkled across arid Chettinadu. Its all packed into a state that remains proudly distinct from the rest of India, which also being among the most welcoming.
ATTRACTIONS
Arrive Trivandrum. Meet with our representative who will assist for your transfer to the hotel. Thiruvananthapuram is known as the City of temples, Museums, Institutions and land of Art and Culture . The city being the capital is the center spot for the political activities of the State. Thiruvananthapuram is a unique Indian City, where greenery and modernity co-exist and is home to one of the most renowned beaches – Kovalam. Rest of the day free .Overnight stay.
An early morning Exploration to the village life; proceed to Mukkola, get the feel of its typical Kerala fish and vegetable market lying ahead. Look out for some truly vast tuna, octopus or Kerimeen, Kerala fish specialties and observe a handful old men selling fresh mussels out of straw baskets in the alley leading down to it. Peep into Vizhinjum Harbour, one of the busiest fishing harbour of Trivandrum, with the sight of hundreds of fishing boats, women taking head loads off to local markets and fishermen gliding into the sea.
Get fun watching the day’s catch being brought in from this harbour. Rest of the day free for sun, sand and surf. Overnight stay.
Enroute visit Balaramapuram Take an oppportunity to observe the Balaramapuram Handloom village, famous for the unique production of traditional varieties of handloom textiles, known for its purity and simplicity. Learn about the skills of handloom weaving – In this village they produce some of the most beautiful, elegant and exquisite sarees famous across the country. Reach Kanyakumari – The southernmost tip of India. Visit Vivekananda Memorial by boat; Visit Kanyakumari Devi Temple. Overnight stay
Breakfast at hotel and check-out.. Drive to one of the vibrant city of Tamil Nadu, Madurai. Madurai is one of India’s oldest cities dating from the 6th century BC. and today an important cultural, religious and commercial centre of South India. Upon arrival check-in at your hotel. Later the day enjoy a tuk tuk drive to attend the night ceremony at the Madurai Meenakshi Temple, when the temple bronze of Lord Shiva is carried to the bed chamber of Parvati. Overnight stay.
Go on a half day sightseeing. Go visit the sprawling Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal – 17th century palace of the emperor of the Nayak dynasty and capture its hybrid Dravidian-Islamic style. Also visit the biggest flower market in the southern region which transacts as much as 10 tons of flowers in a day, mainly the reputed Madurai malli (Jasmine). Rest of the day free for independent activities. Overnight stay.
Breakfast. Check out and drive to Periyar. It is South India’s most popular wildlife sanctuary, encompassing an area of 777 sq. km. Though the sanctuary was made a part of Project Tiger in 1973, it is better known for its elephants. On arrival at Thekkady, take on a Spice Plantation Tour into the tropical fields of the Cardamom Hill reserve where you can touch, smell and taste almost all the spices seen worldwide. Overnight stay.
Early morning, enjoy Boat ride on Lake Periyar. The Periyar wild life sanctuary, is the only one of its kind in India where one can watch wildlife at close quarters in natural habitat from the safety of a boat. check-out and drive downhill to Kumarakom. En route stop at the home stay Madukakunnu Bungalow to experience a typical Syrian Christian lunch, On arrival meet with the hostess who will take you around the Spice and Runbber plantations in the premises, followed by Lunch. This ancestral home was built around 400 years back and is located in the midst of a lush green estate. Continue your tropical journey towards Kumarakom, a backwaters village located on the shore of vast Vembanad Lake – Kerala’s largest lake. This town slumbers on the banks of the famous Vembanad Lake, with its majestic canals, streams and distributaries along its banks, weave an intricate and enchantingly beautiful web.almost all the spices seen worldwide. Overnight stay.
Indulge in to the Musings of Aymanam Village home of Arundhathi Roy’s novel ‘The God of Small Things’. Start your local immersion with a ride on a traditional canoe cruise through the narrow, winding canals and catch the scenic daily life of the bordering houses. Follow with a walk in the heart of this typical Kuttanad village surrounded by paddy fields and identify the snakes abodes, sacred to earliest habitants. Be invited to a Kathakali master’s house who will introduce you to this traditional theatre form, which adapts styles of ancient Sanskrit with visual presentations of human expressions. Rest of the day free for resort activities. Overnight stay.
Breakfast. Depart hotel by 0830hrs to reach Alleppey on time. On arrival embark your private houseboat. These boats are a reworked version of kettuvallams of olden times. These original kettuvallams were once used to carry tons of rice and spices. They are today converted into comfortable floating accommodation offering enchanting cruises through the backwaters. Enjoy a Sumptuous Lunch on board. Further cruise through the palm fringed canals enjoying the beauty of Kerala rural life. After tea and traditional snacks we disembark by evening and proceed to Marari Beach. Overnight stay.
Marari Beach is dotted with a string of tranquil fishing villages along the coast. This beach in Kerala is eternal with coconut palm trees and golden sands. The beach is quite charming and the name ‘Marari’ arises from ‘Mararikulum’, which is a local village on the Arabian Sea Coast Rest. The serenity and tranquility of this beach take beach lovers backwards in time. Day free for sun, sand and surf.overnight stay.
Morning Free. By noon check out and proceed to cochin. On arrival check in at the hotel. Cochin , metropolitan city in the federal state of Kerala, is one of the most popular cities in India and also has the name the “Queen of Arabian Sea” as it was an important spice trading centre on the Arabian Sea coast from the 14th century.
Later the day start your walking tour with the visit of the famous Chinese Fishing Nets of Cochin. The huge cantilevered Chinese fishing nets that droop towards the waters with the backdrop of a setting sun is a bemusing sight. Next visit is at the St. Francis CSI Church, the oldest European church in India built in 1503, where the Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama was originally buried and the Santa cruz Basilica,one of the finest and imposing churches in India; End your tour with witnessing a Unique Dance Drama of Kerala – Kathakali. Overnight stay
Breakfast at the hotel. Proceed on an Ethnic Tour of Cochin. Take a tuk tuk– the most popular mode of transport among the localities, to visit the Dhobi Khana (laundry station), once throbbing with activity, and now a picture of slow extinction. Continue through the small streets of Mattanchery, and arrive at the Fruit market on Palace road where locals get a variety of fresh and organic produces at bargaining prices. Stop for a refreshing tea at one of the tea shops where you get the “one meter” tea. There is now an opportunity to interact with a Brahmin Family. The Brahmin are the highest of the four Hindu castes, made up of priests and scholars of Vedic literature and their traditional occupation is to conduct rites at marriages, births, deaths and other auspicious occasions. Then visit the Jewish Synagogue at the heart of what is locally called the Jew Town, and finally the Dutch Palace with its beautiful mural paintings from the 17th century. Back to hotel. Rest of the day free for independent activities. Overnight stay.
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer on time to connect your flight out bound.
| PLACE | NO. OF NIGHTS | DELUXE HOTELS | |||
| KOVALAM | 2 | The Travancore Heritage | |||
| KANYAKUMARI | 1 | Sparsha Resort | |||
| MADURAI | 2 | Heritage Madurai | |||
| THEKKADY | 1 | Green Woods | |||
| KUMARAKOM | 2 | Backwater Ripples | |||
| MARARIKULAM | 2 | Marari sands | |||
| COCHIN | 2 | Eighth Bastion |
Tour Cost: On request
