Kerala Backwater Tour

Duration: 11Days /10Nights
Places Covered:Cochin - Munnar - Periyar - Varkala - Cape Comorin – Kovalam - Kovalam - Alleppey -

Day 1: Arrive Cochin
You are met on arrival at the Cochin airport and transferred to your hotel. Cochin is one of the most interesting towns in South India. A trading port since Roman times, it was on the main trade route between Europe and China. Fort Kochi, a Portuguese fort, founded in 1503 is now in ruins. The Portuguese built the Mattancherry Palace in 1557 as a gift for the Raja of Kochi in exchange for trading rights and in 1663 the Dutch substantially rebuilt it. The cosmopolitan history is still evident as well as European intervention. The Jewish synagogue is in Mattancherry and the Jews claim to have settled here in 587 BC and some legends trace their origin to King Solomon 1030 BC. The earliest evidence of their presence and importance is a copper inscription dated AD 388.

Day 2: Cochin
Enjoy a guided tour in the first half of the day.
The city has three distinctive regions - Ernakulam, the modern region to the East, and the older districts of Mattancherry and Fort Cochin located on a peninsula in the west. The easiest way to get around is by ferry, or by walking through the narrow roads and over bridges.
Following your arrival in Cochin, you will spend today walking through the old sections. Your walking tour will take you to; Jew Town, including the Pardesi Synagogue; the Mattancherry Palace, known locally as the Dutch Palace; Fort Cochin, reminiscent of European streets and houses; the Chinese Fishing Nets on the northern shore of Fort Cochin; and St Francis Church, near to a typical English village green. A highlight is watching the fishermen working the nets (which operate on a weight system) as the sun is setting.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 03 : Cochin - Periyar
This morning you travel approximately 4 hours by private vehicle to Thekkady, the main entrance to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Upon arrival check-into The Spice Village Resort and stay in cottage. The rooms are quite spacious and comfortably furnished. There is a telephone, fan and en suite bathroom with hot running water. The resort's facilities include swimming pools surrounded by tropical trees and lawns and outdoor restaurants serving a wide range of traditional Indian and international cuisine - as you could imagine spices play a big part in the menu! Spice Village and Shalimar Spice Garden have exclusive Ayurvedic clinics, well equipped for treatments like Pizhichil, Njavarakizhy, Dhara and other natural therapies. During this trip there will be the opportunity to learn about the benefits of Ayurveda and the origins of this holistic Medical system
The name Thekkady, for those who have already visited this place, brings to mind images of elephants, unending chains of hills and spice scented plantations. Moreover, the flora and fauna of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is absolutely thrilling. The wild life sanctuary here is the natural habitat of a wide variety of animal species. The Periyar Lake is a paradise for the nature lovers. It gives you an opportunity to boserve the wild animals roaming in the jungle. The lake is also a birdwatcher's delight. The greatest attraction of Periyar Lake, however, it he herds of wild elephants that come down to play in the lake. Moreover, the sanctuary Watch Tower situated in the forest interior gives you a panoramic view of the park.

Day 04 : Periyar
What an idyllic way to start the day, an early morning boat ride on Lake Periyar. Covering an area of 300 square miles Periyar is one of the largest and most frequently visited wildlife reserves in India. It is part of the Project Tiger campaign and animals inhabiting the area include elephant, deer, pig, tiger, leopard, bison, monkeys and malabar squirrel. Whilst actually spotting an illusive tiger or leopard could prove difficult, the mix of wooded hills and valleys make it a wonderful place to enjoy the greenery.
Return to your resort for breakfast then a local guide takes you to view spice plantations of cardamom, pepper and other local specialties.
Overnight at hotel.

Day 5: Periyar - Kumarakom
This morning, proceed to Kumarakom, approximately 3 hours drive by private vehicle. An old rubber plantation set around the Vembanad Lake has been sensitively developed by the Kerala Tourism Department into a bird sanctuary. The Vembanad Lake with its majestic canals, streams and distributaries along its banks weaves an intricate and beautiful web. This area is a winter home for many migratory birds and species include the darter, little cormorant, night heron, golden-backed woodpecker, white-breasted water hen and many more wonderful birds. Arrive and check in at the backwater resort.
After lunch you visit the bird sanctuary with a local naturalist and if possible do your wildlife viewing by boat. Your overnight stay would be at the Kumarakom Lake Resort or the Coconut Lagoon, both heritage resorts, on the banks of Vembanad Lake. Your ethnic cottage is centrally air-conditioned and set amidst acres of garden. Overnight at the backwater resort.

Day 6: Kumarakom - Alleppey
After breakfast you make a short trip to the ferry point where you board your houseboat. Depending on the number of travellers in your party you will be on a one or two room houseboat that travels until sunset when it then anchors for the night. Your boat has a private balcony with comfortable chairs (perfect for that G&T while the sun goes down!). The rooms are fully furnished with attached bathrooms. Each boat has a fully equipped kitchen and an experienced cook to prepare authentic Kerala cuisine with seafood specialities and fresh vegetables. This is your chance to pick up some fabulous cooking tips!
The entire state of Kerala is blessed with plenty of rivers and the resources of many are still untapped. The waterways of Kerala play a major role in the economy of the state as they link remote villages and islands with the mainland. It is an incredibly different experience to cruise in the backwaters in country boats, absorbing the beauty of Kerala's villages. Houseboats, also known as kettuvallam or rice boats, are today one of the major tourist attractions in Kerala, but these boats were used to carry rice bags in their earlier days. These houseboats are uniquely designed using local materials like bamboo poles, coconut fiber ropes, bamboo mats, carpets etc. and are a fabulous way to enjoy exploring the fascinating beauties of backwaters. With their languid grace and quaint design adding another dimension to your cruise in the shimmering blue waters. Overnight ON BOARD the houseboat

Day 7: Alleppey - Varkala
You will get up early today by chirping of birds and occasional ripples in the water. Your breakfast will be cooked before your eyes by your expert boat-crew. Enjoy a sumptuous breakfast while cruising quietly on the unending stretches of these backwaters. The boat will cruise through various canals and waterways giving you an insight into the rural life. Stop at any house and ask your boatman to take you to one of the houses to interact with local people and to witness their way of living. Later check out of the houseboat and switch over to your car for 4 hours drive to the hotel in Varkala. Check in at the hotel.
Varkala is a seaside resort and spa. It is also an important Hindu centre of pilgrimage.The final resting place of the great social reformer, Sree Narayana Guru, is near Varkala, atop a hill called Sivagiri. High cliffs with mineral springs rise majestically from the coastline. According to a myth, sage Narada was approached by a group of mendicants who confessed to having sinned. Narada threw his valkkalam (cloth made of the bark of a tree) into the air, and the place where it landed was subsequently named Varkala.The mendicants were directed by Narada to offer their prayers in the newly created place by the seashore. The place where they prayed for redemption, came to be known as the Papanasham Beach ( Papanasham means redemption from sins).The 2000 year old Sree Janardhana Swamy Temple and the Nature Care Centre are the two main attractions here
The beaches around this area are excellent. In the off season its really mellow and relaxed, swim and sleep and chill out. Only in December does it get really busy and prices start rocketing till January/February, when it starts to quieten down. Varkala has been a Hindu pilgrimage site since the 12th Century. The Janardhana Temple was built during this period and many Hindu's still visit Varkala to this day, for this very reason. The main beaches and tourist area are located at the cliff top, which is about 7 minutes walk from the Temple. The 'cliff-top' is where most of the hotels and restaurants are located, overlooking the Arabian Sea.
Spend the rest of the day exploring this beautiful quaint town.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 8: Varkala - Kovalam
Morning depart for Kovalam (Trivandrum). Stop enroute for a city tour of Trivandrum visiting the ancient temple of Sri Padmanabhaswamy - one of the major attractions in the city of Thiruvananthapuram. Move around the city and you get to see various picturesque spots besides the glimpses of the city's past. Some of the attractions that are not to be missed are the Napier Museum, Sri Chitra Art Gallery, Zoo, Observatory Hill, Science and Technology Museum, and Chacha Nehru Children's Museum.
Trivandrum is the capital of Kerala and a pleasant city built over gently rolling coastal land, retaining a rural air away from the crowded centre. Your free time can be spent exploring the busy bazaar area along the central MG Road. The old fort and the large complex of the Padmanabhasvami Temple are to the south near the bustling bus stand, while the artistic and cultural heart, exemplified by the Museum building, is to the north. The remainder of you day is free to settle in and start exploring Thiruvananthapuram, luckily commonly known as Trivandrum.
Continue your drive after the city tour to Kovalam and check in at the hotel upon arrival.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 09: Kovalam
The day is at leisure and free to explore the beautiful beaches of Kovalam. Also spend time at the Ayurveda Centre at the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 10 : Kovalam - Cape Comorin - Kovalam
In the morning, after breakfast, proceed for a full day return excursion to Cape Comorin. Located at a distance of about 87 kilometers from Thiruvananthapuram, Kanyakumari, as it is locally called, is the southernmost part of the Indian mainland. The place is the meeting point of the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. Kanyakumari has great religious significance for the Hindus. The place is dedicated to the Goddess Devi Kanya, believed to be an incarnation of Parvati, Lord Shiva's wife. Pilgrims come here to visit the temple and bathe in the waters here, as they are considered sacred.
One of the major tourist attractions at Kanyakumari is the Vivekananda Memorial. The memorial is built about 400 metres offshore. It was here that Swami Vivekananda meditated in 1892 before embarking on a journey to usher in the religious reforms throughout the country. The mandapam built here in his memory reflects the architectural styles from all over the country
Return to the hotel in the evening.
Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 11 : Depart Kovalam
In time transfer to Trivandrum airport enable board flight for onward destination. End of our services.