The Spices, Wildlife, Beach and Backwaters of kerala- The Gods Own Country

	Download Kerla India Tour Itinerary	£	1475
	Email Enquiry		Dates
	Booking Form		15 Days

Day 01 Depart London

Day 02 Arrive Cochin.
Upon arrival in Cochin you are met and transferred to your pre booked Hotel.
Kochi (Cochin) - the Queen of the Arabian Sea, is situated on the west coast of India in the beautiful state of Kerala. Kochi can be regarded as the commercial and industrial capital of Kerala. Kerala is one of the most prosperous state of India, flanked by the Arabian Sea on the western side and the Western Ghats on the eastern side.Roughly speaking Kochi is 10 º North and 76 º East. Kochi is the most important city in Kerala. It is the second most important city (after Mumbai) on the western coast of India

Day 03 Cochin
Morning Sightseeing tour of Cochin includes the visit Bolghatty Palace - This Dutch palace is situated on the Bolghatty island. At present it is being used as hotel. The island has a fine golf course and the panoramic view makes it an attractive picnic spot. Frequent boat service is available from the mainland.

Chinese Fishing Nets -The chinese fishing nets found here are the only ones of its kind in India. It is believed that traders from the court of the Chinese ruler Kublai Khan introduced these nets here.

Dutch Palace -The Dutch Palace was originally built by the Portugese. Later, in 17th century, the Dutch modified it and presented to the Raja of Kochi. Coronation of many Rajas of Kochi were held here. The place has a fine collection of mural paintings depicting the scenes from the Hindu epics Mahabharatha and Ramayana

Fort Kochi beach - A stroll along the beach, particularly at sunset with the chinese fishing nets and sailing ships in the background, is a fine experience. Many European style bungalows can be seen along the shoreline.

Jewish Synagogue - The synagogue ,magnificently decorated by Chinese tiles and Belgian chandeliers ,was built in 1568. Giant scrolls of the Old Testament can be found here. It is located near the Dutch Palace.

St. Francis Church -It is the oldest church built by European in India.On his 3rd visit to Kerala, Vasco da Gama, the Portugese trader who reached India from Europe by sea, fell ill and died in Kochi. He was buried in the St. Francis Church. Later his remains were taken back to Portugal. In spite of that the exact place where he was buried has been marked out inside the church.Evening you can witness the traditional dance of Kerala Kathakali in the Private Auditorium.

Day 04 Cochin - Munnar (by surface 130 kms time taken 3 hrs)
Post breakfast drive to Munnar. Upon arrival at Munnar check in at Hotel.

Munnar is one of the major centers for tea trade of Kerala, a state also called 'the Gods' own country'. Situated at an altitude of 1520 meters, in the eastern part of the state, it's a well know hill station. Surrounded by almost 30 tea gardens that give it a picturesque view, Munnar is near Anaimudi, the highest peak of the Kerala Western Ghats. The hills around Munnar are covered with the rare Neelakurunji plant giving it a wonderful look, especially when the flowers bloom to cover the entire mountain range. It is said that this exotic plant flowers every 12 years and the next scheduled flowering time is the year 2006. Situated at the confluence of three mountain streams called Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala, the small town of Munnar is characterized by
the clean, neat and brightly painted ambience inside the city. Beautiful landscape, cozy weather and wonderfully scented tealeaves are some of the other aspects that make this place a much sought after destination in Kerala. Moreover, it used to be one of the favorite summer resorts of the British during their reign in the country.

Day 05 Munnar
Post breakfast go for sightseeing of
Mattupetti -Located at a height of 1700 m, Mattupetty is famous for its highly specialised dairy farm, the Indo- Swiss live stock project. Over 100 varieties of high yielding cattle are reared here.Visitors are allowed into three of the eleven cattle sheds at the farm. The Mattupetty Lake and Dam, just a short distance from the farm, is a very beautiful picnic spot. The sprawling Kundala tea plantations and the Kundala Lake are other attractions in the vicinity. DTPC Idukki provides boating facilities on the Mattupetty Dam. Speed Launch and slow speed motor boats are available on hire.

Eravikulam National Park is 15 km north of Munnar. The sanctuary was declared as a National Park in 1978. Anamudi at 2694mt, the highest peak south of the Himalayas, is on the southern side of the Park. This is one of the wettest areas of the world. The sanctuary stands out for the stark beauty of its rolling grasslands and sholas, spread over 97 sq.kms of unblemished natural splendor. The slopes of the hills abound in all kinds of rare flora and fauna. The Atlas Moth, largest of its kind in the world, is a unique possession of the park. The animals found here are the tigers, panthers, wild dogs, civet cats, jungle cats, sloth bears, Nilgiri langurs and wild boar. Half the world population of the Nilgiri Tahr live here. An ideal place for trekking, facilities are provided here and tourists are allowed to go on foot up to Anamudi.

Day 06 Munnar – Periyar (by surface 120 kms time taken 3 hrs)
Post breakfast drive to Periyar (Thekkady),
one of the most fascinating wild life sanctuaries in India, noted for elephants and scenic beauty. Periyar, best known for its wildlife, is a must-see for all visitors to Kerala. The Periyar Lake lies at the heart of the sanctuary which is a veritable paradise for all wildlife lovers. Where else can one view the animals in their natural surroundings while cruising on the lake, or better still come within a few feet of a herd of wild elephants and still be at ease! The majestic gaur, deer, wild boar and the distinctive Nilgiri langur are often spotted along the lake as also water birds.

Periyar's wildlife variety includes the tiger, sambar, barking deer, mouse deer, the Nilgiri tahr, wild dog, porcupine, lion tailed macaque, Malabar squirrel and sloth bear. The reserve has also attractions for the bird watcher as varieties of birds like the hornbill, blue winged parakeet, whistling thrush, flycatcher and water birds are to be seen here.

Observation towers are set about the reserve for the more enthusiastic of nature watchers and a cool summer palace of the former Maharaja of Travancore is a hotel run by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation Ltd

Day 07 Periyar
Morning go for boat cruise in the lake to watch wild animals, Afternoon visit spice plantations like cardamom, pepper, tea etc. Overnight stay in Periyar

Day 08 Periyar – Kumarakom (by surface 90 kms 2 hrs)
Kumarakom – Start 01 Night House Boat
After breakfast you are transferred to Kumarakom Jetty to board House boat. Cruise through the back water of Kerala, on the way you can see traditional Kerala village life remind unchanged for many years you also witness the merchants selling vegetables in a boat while the village people await at the bank of Vembanad Lake. Here your crew will prepare delicious Keralian meals from freshly brought vegetables from the market. Overnight stay at Houseboat

Day 09 House Boat disembark at Alleppey
House Boat disembark and proceed for Alleppey.
Alleppey - One of the exotic backwater locales of India’s southern state of Kerala, the town of Alappuzha, or Alleppey as it was called, is famous for its annual boat race that draws thousands of tourists from all over the country and world. Alappuzha is also the headquarters of Kerala’s coir industry and an important place for cashew nut processing. The town is bound by Kochi and Kanayannur in north; Vaikom, Kottayam, Changanassery Thiruvalla, Kozhencherry and Adoor taluks in east; Kannathur and Karunagappallyin in south and Lakshadweep islands in its west.

The Portuguese were the predominant rulers of this place before the Dutch took over. It was only during the reign of Maharaja Marthandavarma that the town of Alappuzha became a busy commercial place.Alappuzha has a humid climate. The winters are relatively more pleasant and ideal time to visit this place. Alappuzha is a pleasant and easygoing destination. A trip to this place during mid-December enables you take part in the festivities at the town temple. A walk through the streets makes you familiar with the Kerala style of architecture. The major destinations in the town include Kuttanad, Alappuzha Beach, Sea View Park, and
Pathiramanal.

Day 10 Alleppey
Day at leisure

Day 11 Alleppey – Kovalam (by surface 200 kms time taken 4 – 5 hrs)
After breakfast leave by surface for Kovalam. Upon arrival in Kovalam check in at your pre booked Hotel.

Kovalam - This building, designed in the English Gothic Style, was built in 1878. The main structure rises 54.2 m in height and is surmounted by statues representing Justice and Mercy. Beautiful Kovalam, endowed with a sheltered bay making it safe and pleasant to swim in during the off-monsoon months is no doubt, one of the best places to be. Food, rest, Ayurvedicmassages and long walks with the inevitable shopping will make your visit here memorable and a true vacation.

Day 12 Kovalam
Day at leisure

Day 13 Kovalam
Day at leisure

Day 14 Kovalam
Day at leisure

Day 15 Kovalam - Trivandrum.
You are transferred to Trivandrum airport to board flight for onward Journey.

COST
Per Person on Twin / Double Room Basis
Sterling Pounds 1475 (Inclusive Of International Air Fare)
( Single Room Supplement Sterling Pounds 575 )

Accomodation
Place		Hotels
»	Cochin	Trident / Casino
»	Munnar	Tall Tree
»	Periyar	Spice Village
»	Houseboat	Non A/C Houseboat
»	Kovalam	Travancore Heritage
»	Alleppey	Lake Palace

Departure Dates - Guaranteed Group & Price Departure even if we have just 2 Persons
Group Code		Departure Dates
»	SWBBK 01	16 September 2007
»	SWBBK 02	14 October 2007
»	SWBBK 03	25 November 2007
»	SWBBK 04	20 January 2008
»	SWBBK 05	17 February 2008
»	SWBBK 06	30 March 2008