KERALA
VACATION PACKAGES
Shimmering Kerala - House Boat Cruise Duration :8 Days/ 7 Nights
Destination
Covered: Trivandrum, Allepey, Cochin, Munar, Periyar, Kumarakom,
Kovalam, Trivandrum
Day
01 : TRIVANDRUM-ALLEPEY
Arrive Trivandrum and transfer to
Changnnaserry Jetty (156 Kms 4 hrs). Arrive and board the House boat. 900
kms. of dappled, green waters. Fringes of dense tropical greenery. Clear
skies shimmering through coconut canopies.The largest
backwater
stretch in Kerala is the Vembanad lake which flows through
three
districts and opens out into the sea at the Kochi port
Overnight on
board the House Boat.
Day 02: ALLEPEY-COCHIN
Morning drive from Allepey to Cochin 63 Kms/01:30 Hrs. Arrive Cochin and
Check-in at Hotel.,Rest of the day at leisure.
Evening, witness the
Kathakali dance performance, performed by various artists. Kathakali is a
traditional dance form, depicting Indian epics (Ramayana and Mahabharata).
The dancers are dressed in very colorful and elaborate costumes. Their faces
are painted to depict various characters of these epics. This dance has a
lot of facial expressions and brisk, yet articulate body movements.
Overnight stay at the Hotel
Day 03 : COCHIN
Morning , sightseeing tour of Cochin. Visit the Jewish synagogue
(closed on Saturdays), built over 400 years ago. It contains beautiful
Belgian glass chandeliers and is paved with hand painted tiles from China.
Later, visit the "Dutch Palace" (closed on Fridays) with its
wonderful murals depicting the entire story of the Ramayana. Proceed to see
the St Francis Church (closed on Sundays), the first European Church built
in India.Rest of the afternoon at leisure to explore the SPICE
market.Overnight stay at the Hotel.
Day
04 : COCHIN-MUNNAR
Morning drive from Cochin to Munnar (145 Kms 4
Hrs). Afternoon Visit Munnar, headquarter town for the area of Western Ghats
known as the "High Ranges", which is responsible for a good
portion of South India's tea production. Opened up more than a century ago
by planter pioneers, the region is described by a State Manual as having
been "unexplored region, covered by thick, beaver-haunted forests, the
abode of elephants, tigers, bison and leopards". Visit includes The
Kundale Tea Plantation, Eravikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajamalai Park and
The High Range Club.
Overnight stay at the Hotel
Day 05: MUNNAR-PERIYAR Morning drive from Munnar to Periyar (90
kms 2.30 hrs) Arrive Periyar and check-in at the Hotel Afternoon cruise on
the Periyar Lake, in the cool surroundings. The panorama spreads into
tropical jungles, wild Elephants, Indian Gaur, Monkeys, spotted Deer,
Barking Deer, Wild Boar and birds of myriad varieties. Encompassing an area
of 777 sq kms, the wildlife sanctuary lies at an elevation of between 914
meters and 1828 meters above sea level on the Periyar Lake in the hills of
Western Ghats. Overnight stay at the Hotel
Day 06 :
PERIYAR-KUMARAKOM Morning drive from Periyar to Kumarakom(115 Kms
3.30 hrs). Arrive Kumarakom and check-in at the Hotel Afternoon Activities
will be mostly water based, a canoe expedition via an intricate network of
canals, through backwater villages where daily life continues unaltered, as
it has for centuries. You will see lush palm groves and stretches of rice
fields, while daily traffic, on the broader canals, of regular ferries and
cargo boats will serve to emphasise to economic importance of these vital
waterways. Overnight stay at the Hotel.
Day
07 : KUMARAKOM-KOVALAM
Morning drive from Kumarakom to Kovalam (270
kms 6/7 Hrs)Arrive Kovalam and Check-n at the Hotel.Rest of the day at
leisure.Overnight stay at the Hotel
Day 08 :
KOVALAM-TRIVANDRUM Transfer in time from Kovalam to Trivandrum
Airport to connect your onward flight to Colombo
Book This Kerala House Boat Cruise
Temples
With Gods Own Country Duration :15 Days/
14 Nights
Destination Covered: Bombay, Banglore, Mysore,
Madras,Tanjore, Madurai, Periyar, Kumarakom, Cochin, Bombay
Day
01 : ARRIVE BOMBAY
Arrive Bombay Transfer to Hotel. Overnight at
Hotel.
Day 02: BOMBAY Morning Sightseeing of Bombay.
Visit the Prince of Wales Museum (Monday closed) here you will see its
extensive collection of fascinating 18th & 19th century miniature
paintings; elegantly carved ivory artworks; and a rich collection of
Nepalese and Tibetan art, among other fine works of art. Also visit the
Gateway of India overlooking the Harbor; and the Dhobi Ghat, the unique and
colorful outdoor 'laundry'. Drive upto the Malabar Hill to the lovely
Hanging Gardens and the Kamla Nehru Park from where you will get a wonderful
view of Bombay and the Arabian Sea spread out before you. Also visit Mani
Bhavan, a small museum dedicated to the life and works of Mahatma Gandhi;
and the bustling Crawford Market. Overnight at Hotel.
Day
03: BOMBAY- BANGLORE - MYSORE Morning transfer to airport to
connect the flight to Bangalore, on arrival Drive to Mysore. Enroute
visiting Srirangapatnam once the summer palace of Tipu Sultan, is known for
its fortress and tomb of the famous Warrior King. (closed on Friday)Check-in
at Hotel .Overnight at Hotel.
Day 04: MYSORE
Half day you will visit the beautiful city of Mysore, that is known for its
fine craftsmanship in wood, ivory, sandal-wood, and for its silk. Visit the
Maharaja's Palace which is lavishly decorated in a mixture of styles. Also
visit the Zoological Garden, Mysore Arts & Crafts Center and then
proceed to the Chamundi Temple on a hill high above the city. Evening drive
to the Brindavan Garden, beautifully illuminated daily, truly a pleasure
garden. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 05: MYSORE- MADRAS Morning Transfer to Railway
station to board shatabdi Express to Chennai. On arrival check-in at
Hotel.Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at hotel.
Day
06: MADRAS Fullday Mahabalipuram & Kanchaipuram.
Kancheepuram, known as the Golden City of a Thousand Temples. This is one of
India's sacred cities. Many early styles of temple architecture may be seen
here. Visit Ekambareshwar Temple, Kailashnath Temple, Kamakshi Temple, the
Vaikunthaperumal Temple, all built in the 7th and 8th centuries.
Kancheepuram has also long been famous for its silk weaving.
Mahabalipuram - an ancient coastal port - south of Madras. Here you will see
many sculptures and temples of typical South Indian architectural design;
the Five Rathas - a group of monolithic monuments and animal figures carved
out of solid rock; the Shore Temple, lashed by the waves of the sea; and the
huge frescoe, "The Penance of Bhagirath".
Overnight at hotel.
.
Day 07: MADRAS-TANJORE 334 KMS 7 HOURS Morning
Drive to Tanjore.On arrival Check-in at Hotel.
Afternoon Temple Visit
temples built during the 10th and 14th centuries. Later it became part of
the Vijaynagar Kingdom, then passed into the hands of the Marathas and went
to the British. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 08 :
TANJORE-MADURAI 197 KMS 05 HOURS
Morning
Drive to Madurai enroute visiting Trichy. The Rock Fort rises abruptly to a
height of 273 ft. A steep staircase cut into the rock leads up to the Fort.
The next storey is the Mathrubhuteshwarer Shrine dedicated to Shiva. Finally
at the top of the hill, the Ucchi Pillayar Koil- a Ganesh Temple offering a
commanding view of the city. On arrival check-in at hotel. On arrival transfer
to hotel
Overnight at hotel.
Option: Late evening visit
Meenakshi temple to witness the Pooja cermoney (a procession of God/goddess
in gold chariot inside the temple premises).
Day 09 :
MADURAI City sightseeing tour of Madurai, visiting the Meenakshi
Temple where Dravidian temple architecture maybe seen in its exuberant
baroque phase. Its Hall of a Thousand Pillars is fabulous and is filled with
worshippers at all hours of the day. Also visit the Tirumal Nayak's Palace
which is in a highly decorative monument. Its' enormous roofed arcade
supported by 48-foot-high stoned pillars, still stands. Overnight at hotel.
Option: Dinner at Chaitnnad Mension.
Chettinad, located about 2
hours drive east of Maldurai, is an area settled by the Chettiars. The
Chettinad mansions are wonderful construction, built in traditional style,
consisting of vast reception room, dining room, a series of about 3
courtyards surrounded by rooms and Kitchen. What makes these vast houses
special is the use of materials like Burmese teak for pillars, ceiling,
granite for pillars and floors, Italian marble and tiling, ornate carving on
doors and highly polished Chettinad plaster etc. Chettinad temple.
Day 10 : MADURAI-PERIYAR 148 Kms 04 Hours Morning
drive to Periyar.On arrival check-in at Hotel Periyar Lake in the cool
surroundings and the panorama spreads around - tropical jungles, wild
elephants, Indian gaur, monkeys, spotted deer, barking deer, wild boar and
birds of myriad varieties. With an area of 777 sq km the wildlife
sanctuary lies at an elevation of 914 to 1828 meters above sea level on the
Periyar Lake in the hills of Western Ghats.
Afternoon game viewing.
OVERNIGHT AT THE HOTEL.
Day 11 : PERIYAR-KUMARAKOM 125 KMS 04 HOURS Morning game
viewing by boat, followed by visit to Spice plantation.
Later, drive to
Kottayam (90 kms/2.5 hrs) from where you will travel by boat for Kumarakom.
On arrival check-in at Hotel.
Relax at the waterfront, with the
occasional native row boat gliding silently by, and the air so calm, you can
reach out and touch the sky with your fingertips. Overnight at hotel.Guest
can also opt for Ayurveda therapy and Ayurvedic massage on direct payment
basis.
Option: 3 hours backwater cruise in the narrow canal where one
can see natural life style of local inhabitants. With Candle Light Dinner
Day 12 : KUMARAKOM Day at leisure at Kumarakom
spent time exploring nearby area. Overnight at hotel
Day
13 : KUMARAKOM-House Boat Today board the houseboat. Overnight on
House Boat.
Day
14 : HOUSE BOAT / COCHIN 85 Kms 03 hours
Morning disembark the Boat
and drive to Cochin (80 kms / 2 hrs) and. On arrival check in at Hotel.
Afternoon, sightseeing tour of Cochin, visiting the Jewish synagogue (closed
on Saturdays), built over 400 years ago. It contains beautiful Belgian glass
chandeliers, and is paved with hand painted tiles from China. Visit the "Dutch
Palace" (closed on Fridays) with its wonderful murals depicting the
entire story of the Ramayana on its walls. See St Francis Church, (closed on
Sundays) the first European Church built in India. Overnight at hotel.
Option: Witness Kathakali dance performance (traditional dance of Kerala)
Day 15 : COCHIN / Bombay 9W-402 1055/1240 Hrs Transfer to
airport to airport to connect the flight to Bombay, on arrival transfer to
Hotel near the airport. Late night transfer to International airport to
connect the flight for onward destination.
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