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country - Kerala
The delightful south, almost untouched by invasions throughout its history, the Indian heritage is more intact here than in other regions of the country. It is a land of magnificently carved temples, a land of the devout to the green paddy fields and a unique network of rivers , backwaters and lagoons and the land of spices.
Duration : 11 Nights / 12 Days
This itinerary covers the following destinations : Chennai - Mahabalipuram - Cochin - Periyar - Kumarakom – Mararikulam.
Day
1 : Reach Chennai
Arrival at Chennai. Welcome with a Garland of flowers - Namaste…..! Transfer to the hotel.
Day 2 : Chennai / Mahabalipuram
The next morning, proceed for the city tour of Madras, which is now known as Chennai and is one India’s four metropolitans located on the Coromandel Coast, it is the gateway to south India and also an important harbour. Chennai has a blend of Dravidian and Gothic architecture in its buildings. It was the first citadel of the British. Tamil Nadu is a bastion of Hinduism, whose past endures into the present. Visit the St. George Fort built in 1640 A.D which now houses the Tamil Nadu State Legislature and the Secretariat, San Thome Cathedral, which is said to contain the remains of St Thomas and the famous bronze Museum. Thereafter depart for Mahabalipuram. Arrive and check in to the hotel.
Day 3 : Mahabalipuram
Depart for Kanchipuram, one of India's seven sacred Hindu cities. Historic capital of the Pallavas and thereafter the Cholas, also tagged the city of nearly one thousand temples, it has magnificent temples of unique architectural beauty that bear eloquent testimony to its glorious Dravidian heritage. Notable being the Kailasnatha Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, finest example of Pallava architecture. Kanchipuram is also famous for its silk saris.
Thereafter, visit Mahaballipuram, the ancient seaport city of Pallavas, known for its rock hewn temples with statues of gods and goddesses, monsters and angels, snakes, water nymphs and animals that crowd the rock to watch the descent of Ganges flow through Shiva's hair.
Day
4 : Mahabalipuram/ Chennai / Cochin (Flight)
After breakfast pack up for the Chennai Airport to catch your flight for Cochin and once you reach Cochin, you shall be transferred to the hotel. Cochin - with a fine natural harbour, has been Kerala’s centre of trade for innumerable centuries. With its beautiful setting on a cluster of islands, narrow Peninsulas and a long history, Cochin boasts of one of the oldest churches in India, 500 year old Portuguese houses, cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, the historical Palace built by the Portuguese, Jew town, complete with an immaculately preserved synagogues.
Day 5 : Cochin
Proceed for the serene beauty of Cochin starting with a visit to the Fort area including the Dutch Palace, the Church of St. Frances and the Jewish synagogue. Cochin - now called 'Kochi' is the commercial hub of Kerala and a town of great historical importance. It has one of the finest natural harbours and is called the "Queen of the Arabian Sea". Rest of the day at your disposal for the local market and later witness the Kathakali dance show in the evening. Return to the hotel later that evening.
Day 6 : Cochin / Periyar ( 3 hours )
Depart for Periyar. In the afternoon, get going for a spicy treat to the farmlands that grow Indian spices for which the French, Dutch, Portuguese and the British came to India. The spices found here are pepper, tea, cinnamon, clove, cardamom, turmeric, etc. Rest of the day at your disposal.
Day
7 : Periyar
The next morning, visit the famous Periyar wildlife sanctuary on a motorboat to see the wild Life - set high in the ranges of the Western Ghats of Kerala. Periyar - an artificial lake or reservoir created by a dam on the Periyar river, which is the heart of the 777 sq. km Wildlife Sanctuary. Apart from the wild elephant, one can spot an Asiatic Deer, Black Buck and Tigers.
Day 8 : Periyar / Kumarakom ( 3 hours )
Depart for Kumarakom. Once you reach Kumarakom check in to the hotel. Kumarakom slumbers on the banks of the famous Vembanad Lake, which is a part of Kuttanad ('granary' of Kerala). The Vembanad Lake with its majestic canals, streams and distributaries along it’s banks weave an intricate and enchantingly beautiful web. In the afternoon, proceed to visit the Vembanad bird sanctuary – on the southern bank of Kavanar river and bank opposite that river you would find the Coconut Lagoon, which is a small bird sanctuary where numerous species of birds, including Darters, Bitterns, Brahminy kites, Marsh Harries, Teals and several varieties of Herons roost are found sunbathing. For an inquisitive bird watcher, it is always advisable to carry their binoculars at all times. A five-minute boat ride from Coconut Lagoon, followed by a walk on the other side will get you there.
Day 09 : Kumarakom / House Boat
Morning at leisure. In the afternoon check in to the House Boat. Proceed for an overnight cruise towards Allepey. The journey will take us through the tropical countryside and the enchanting backwaters of Alleppey to Palm fringed narrow canals winding through the vast expanse of paddy fields and the neat tiny hamlets, typical villages and regattas (boats snakes) for which Kerala is well renowned.
Day
10 : House Boat / Mararikulam
Breakfast on board. Reach Alleppey and transfer to Mararikulam. Give yourself sometime to relax in the hotel.
Day 11 : Mararikulam
Day at leisure for independent activities or near the beach.
Day 12 : Mararikulam / Cochin (3 hours) / Next Destination
Start your day with the beach as your background and spend the day around. Evening pack up for the International airport in Cochin to catch your flight for your next destination.
Note:- Price on Demand
Backwater Journey
The delightful south, almost untouched by invasions throughout its history, the Indian heritage is more intact here than in other regions of the country. It is a land of magnificently carved temples, a land of the devout to the green paddy fields and a unique network of rivers , backwaters and lagoons and the land of spices.
Duration : 11 Nights / 12 Days
This itinerary covers the following destinations : Chennai - Mahabalipuram - Cochin - Periyar - Kumarakom – Mararikulam.
Day
1 : Reach Chennai Arrival at Chennai. Welcome with a Garland of flowers - Namaste…..! Transfer to the hotel.
Day 2 : Chennai / Mahabalipuram
The next morning, proceed for the city tour of Madras, which is now known as Chennai and is one India’s four metropolitans located on the Coromandel Coast, it is the gateway to south India and also an important harbour. Chennai has a blend of Dravidian and Gothic architecture in its buildings. It was the first citadel of the British. Tamil Nadu is a bastion of Hinduism, whose past endures into the present. Visit the St. George Fort built in 1640 A.D which now houses the Tamil Nadu State Legislature and the Secretariat, San Thome Cathedral, which is said to contain the remains of St Thomas and the famous bronze Museum. Thereafter depart for Mahabalipuram. Arrive and check in to the hotel.
Day 3 : Mahabalipuram
Depart for Kanchipuram, one of India's seven sacred Hindu cities. Historic capital of the Pallavas and thereafter the Cholas, also tagged the city of nearly one thousand temples, it has magnificent temples of unique architectural beauty that bear eloquent testimony to its glorious Dravidian heritage. Notable being the Kailasnatha Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, finest example of Pallava architecture. Kanchipuram is also famous for its silk saris.
Thereafter, visit Mahaballipuram, the ancient seaport city of Pallavas, known for its rock hewn temples with statues of gods and goddesses, monsters and angels, snakes, water nymphs and animals that crowd the rock to watch the descent of Ganges flow through Shiva's hair.
Day
4 : Mahabalipuram/ Chennai / Cochin (Flight) After breakfast pack up for the Chennai Airport to catch your flight for Cochin and once you reach Cochin, you shall be transferred to the hotel. Cochin - with a fine natural harbour, has been Kerala’s centre of trade for innumerable centuries. With its beautiful setting on a cluster of islands, narrow Peninsulas and a long history, Cochin boasts of one of the oldest churches in India, 500 year old Portuguese houses, cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, the historical Palace built by the Portuguese, Jew town, complete with an immaculately preserved synagogues.
Day 5 : Cochin
Proceed for the serene beauty of Cochin starting with a visit to the Fort area including the Dutch Palace, the Church of St. Frances and the Jewish synagogue. Cochin - now called 'Kochi' is the commercial hub of Kerala and a town of great historical importance. It has one of the finest natural harbours and is called the "Queen of the Arabian Sea". Rest of the day at your disposal for the local market and later witness the Kathakali dance show in the evening. Return to the hotel later that evening.
Day 6 : Cochin / Periyar ( 3 hours )
Depart for Periyar. In the afternoon, get going for a spicy treat to the farmlands that grow Indian spices for which the French, Dutch, Portuguese and the British came to India. The spices found here are pepper, tea, cinnamon, clove, cardamom, turmeric, etc. Rest of the day at your disposal.
Day
7 : Periyar The next morning, visit the famous Periyar wildlife sanctuary on a motorboat to see the wild Life - set high in the ranges of the Western Ghats of Kerala. Periyar - an artificial lake or reservoir created by a dam on the Periyar river, which is the heart of the 777 sq. km Wildlife Sanctuary. Apart from the wild elephant, one can spot an Asiatic Deer, Black Buck and Tigers.
Day 8 : Periyar / Kumarakom ( 3 hours )
Depart for Kumarakom. Once you reach Kumarakom check in to the hotel. Kumarakom slumbers on the banks of the famous Vembanad Lake, which is a part of Kuttanad ('granary' of Kerala). The Vembanad Lake with its majestic canals, streams and distributaries along it’s banks weave an intricate and enchantingly beautiful web. In the afternoon, proceed to visit the Vembanad bird sanctuary – on the southern bank of Kavanar river and bank opposite that river you would find the Coconut Lagoon, which is a small bird sanctuary where numerous species of birds, including Darters, Bitterns, Brahminy kites, Marsh Harries, Teals and several varieties of Herons roost are found sunbathing. For an inquisitive bird watcher, it is always advisable to carry their binoculars at all times. A five-minute boat ride from Coconut Lagoon, followed by a walk on the other side will get you there.
Day 09 : Kumarakom / House Boat
Morning at leisure. In the afternoon check in to the House Boat. Proceed for an overnight cruise towards Allepey. The journey will take us through the tropical countryside and the enchanting backwaters of Alleppey to Palm fringed narrow canals winding through the vast expanse of paddy fields and the neat tiny hamlets, typical villages and regattas (boats snakes) for which Kerala is well renowned.
Day
10 : House Boat / Mararikulam Breakfast on board. Reach Alleppey and transfer to Mararikulam. Give yourself sometime to relax in the hotel.
Day 11 : Mararikulam
Day at leisure for independent activities or near the beach.
Day 12 : Mararikulam / Cochin (3 hours) / Next Destination
Start your day with the beach as your background and spend the day around. Evening pack up for the International airport in Cochin to catch your flight for your next destination.
Note:- Price on Demand
