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DAY 01 MUMBAI
Arrive Mumbai from your home country by late night. Garland welcome, assistance & transfer to the hotel and relax. O/n Hotel.
DAY 02 MUMBAI TO CALICUT TO KASARGOD
After breakfast transfer to the domestic airport, board flight to Calicut.
Arrive Calicut, direct transfer to Kasargod (about 195kms/ 04hrs), check into the hotel.
Starting with Kasargod as the gateway to God’s Own Country will put you in memory with a different face of Kerala – classical, ancient, and gentle. Definitely touched by colonialism but not ravaged by wars and intensely aware of its roots and traditions. Kasargod is known as the land of Gods, forts, rivers, hills and beautiful seashores. O/n Hotel.
DAY 03 KASARGOD TO KANNUR
Morning after breakfast visit the Bekal Fort, the largest and the best-preserved fort in Kerala. You can savour the touch of history as you view the serene Lakshwadeep Sea from the tall observation towers of the fort, once huge cannon emplacements perched on hilltop. After sightseeing we will make a drive to Kannur (about 115kms/03hrs) formerly a major port area, this is now a city known for its handloom and beedi (local cigarettes) industries. Check into the hotel. Evening we make a short drive to Sree Muthappan Temple in Parassinikadavu (18kms). Temple stands on the banks of the Valapattanam River. This is the only temple in Kerala where Theyyam the ritual dance form of North Kerala is performed every morning and evening. The temple’s non-conformist nature is also evident in the unusual custom of offering dried fish and toddy to the deity. Back to the hotel. O/n Hotel.
DAY 04 KANNUR
Morning after breakfast we will make a short drive to the Payyambalam Beach, the long and clean beach of Kannur town is famous for its flat laterite cliffs that just into the sea. The well-laid gardens and the massive landscaped sculpture of ‘Mother and Child’ make it extremely captivating.
Also visit the St. Angelo Fort, this sea front laterite fort was constructed in 1505 AD by the first Portuguese Viceroy, with the consent of the ruling Kolathiri Raja.
Afternoon visit the Ezhimala about 55km from Kannur town, at a height of 885 feet is Ezhimala, an isolated but conspicuous cluster of hills. The foot of hills is a cave and an old burial chamber.The hills are noted for rare medicinal herbs used for Ayurvedic formulations. The combination of high hills and sandy beach make Ezhimala a beautiful spot. Back to the hotel. O/n Hotel.
DAY 05 KANNUR TO VYTHIRI
Morning after breakfast drive to Vythiri (about 160kms/04hrs) through Wayanad district with its peculiar and unique geographical positions is blessed with mist clad mountains and sylvan valleys. It is situated at a height of 700 to 1200 metres above sea level. The hills, which might have been thick forest once, are now plantations of coffee, tea and cardamom. There is luxuriant greenery all around. Check into the hotel. The rest of the day relax or explore the surrounding forests. O/n Hotel.
DAY 06 VYTHIRI
Morning we will do a trek to Ambakuthi Hills, there are the two Edakkal Caves, natural rock cut – out formation, formed by a large split in a huge rock roofed over by other large rocks, all fixed in position through natural processes. These caves have been made famous worldwide for their ancient carvings and pictorial wall inscriptions of human and animal figures with peculiar head – dresses and swastik forms and symbols. Back to the hotel, rest of the day to relax. O/n Hotel.
DAY 07 VYTHIRI TO CALICUT
Morning after breakfast drive to Calicut also knows as Kozhikode (about 75kms/02hrs), is famous in history as the capital of the Zamorin Rajas. It was one of the great ports on the west coast and is a port of call for cargo steamers even today. Check into the hotel. Afternoon we make a short drive to Kappad where Vasco-da-Gama set foot on the sands of Kappad beach, on 27th May 1498 AD. Enjoy the evening in the beach to watch the beautiful sunset. O/n Hotel.
DAY 08 CALICUT TO SHORNUR
Morning after breakfast drive to Shornur (about 125kms/03hrs), check into the heritage hotel located at the banks of ‘Bharathapuza’, a river of astonishing beauty, poetry and silence and close to the famed institute of arts - Kalamandalam. Evening we will make a short visit to Kerala Kalamandalam, responsible for the renaissance of Kathakali dance, was founded by the famous poet, the late Vallathol. It also imparts training in music, drama and dance, particularly in Kathakali, Mohiniyattam and Ottam Thullal. Visit the training sessions from 1530 to 1730hrs. Evening spend the time on the banks of the river to watch the beautiful sunset. O/n Hotel.
DAY 09 SHORNUR TO COCHIN
Late morning we drive to Cochin, enroute visit the Guruvayoor, also known as the Dwaraka of the South. Visit the Punnathur Kotta, an ancient fort which houses 40 temple elephants. Drive to Cochin (about 100kms/02hrs). Check into the hotel. The rest of the day free to relax or stroll around the antique street in Kochi. O/n Hotel.
DAY 10 COCHIN
Formed for its natural harbour, one of the finest in the world, Cochin has earned the sobriquet “Queen of the Arabian Sea”. Here you can see the oldest churches in India. The ancient temples, churches and synagogues. From time immemorial, Arabs, Chinese, Dutch, British and Portuguese sea farers followed the sea route to Cochin and left their impressions on the town.
Morning we make a short drive to visit the Mattancherry ‘Dutch’ Palace was built by Portuguese in 1557 and presented to the Cochin Raja, Kerala Varma. The glory of the palace lies in the murals which are in the best traditions of the Hindu temple art and the religious, decorative and stylised synagogue, afterthat move to the Jewish Synagogue, built in 1568. The great scrolls of the Old Testament and a number of copper plates inscribed in the Hebrew script are preserved in this synagogue. Later on to St. Francis Church, this Protestant church was built originally by the Portuguese in 1510 AD and it is believed to be the first church built by the Europeans in India. Vasco-da-Gama was buried here. Fourteen years later, his mortal remains were taken to Portugal. Evening visit the Fort Kochin, the entrance of the harbour is dotted by the Chinese Fishing Nets. There are large nets, which hang from teak posts and are still used by local fisherman in Fort Cochin to catch fish attracted by the lights suspended above the net. Silhouetted against the sunset, they present a spectacular sight of Cochin’s waterfront. O/n Hotel.
DAY 11 COCHIN TO MUNNAR
Morning after breakfast drive to Munnar (about 145kms/03hrs) is a beautiful, peaceful hill station covered with unending expanse of tea plantations, with an altitude ranging from 1600 to 1800 metres from sea level. It’s beauty further enhanced by great black roads that thrust upwards suddenly from amidst the thick vegetation and the winding lanes of the town are filled with heavenly fragrance of fresh tea wafting out of the innumerable tea processing plants. Check into the hotel. Afternoon drive to the nearby Eravikulam wildlife Sanctuary, the home of the largest population of Ibex existing in the world now. Evening stroll around the small town and also through tea plantations. O/n Hotel.
DAY 12 MUNNAR TO THEKKADY
Morning after breakfast drive to Thekkady (about 105kms/03hrs), the drive to Thekkady itself is enchanting as the road winds through rich plantations and thick jungles. Check into the hotel. Afternoon we will do a spice walk through various plantations. The rest of the day to relax. O/n Hotel.
DAY 13 THEKKADY
Periyar Wild Life Sanctuary is one of the India’s major sanctuaries, with elephant, monkeys and wild boar in abundance, as well as some other elusive but occasionally spotted species such as tigers. The sanctuary offers a lovely and comfortable way to see the animals, via boat rides on the man-made lake, which the wildlife areas encircle. The greatest attractions are the herds of wild elephants that come down to the lake to frolic on the waters, along with their young ones. Morning or evening we can explore the sanctuary by cruising. O/n Hotel.
DAY 14 THEKKADY TO KUMARAKOM
Morning drive to Kumarakom (about 140kms/03hrs), the drive gives you a breathtaking views laid out in its glory along the road which winds from Periyar to Kottayam through the tranquil countryside, plantations of rubber, tea, coffee, cardamom and pepper. Check into the hotel. The rest of the day relax to watch the daily engagements of the village peoples around your hotel or visit the Bird sanctuary nearby known for local varieties like the water fowl, cuckoo, owl and the water duck as well as migratory Siberian Strokes. O/n Hotel.
DAY 15 KUMARAKOM
Morning after breakfast we make a drive to Aranmula, the heritage village in India, is also famous for its metal mirrors and the only ritual snake boat race of Kerala, which take place every year during Onam season. Visit the Vijnana Kala Vedi, a cultural centre has been introducing foreign visitors into Indian arts since 1977, when it was created by Ms. Louba Schid, a European artist living in Kerala since 1968, studying and performing Kathakali. The objective of the Centre has been throughout to contribute to the preservation of traditional arts, not in creating a museum of the past, but in keeping alive the atmosphere, which gave birth and maintained their vitality. Aranmula is world famous for its metal mirrors, “Aranmula Kannady”, unique for its alloy and its ancient method “lost wax” and polishing techniques. The proportion of the alloy is a secret, known only to the manufacturers, i.e. only to the members of a family who had been passing on this secret from generation to generations. Vijnana Kala Vedi will arrange for visits to the metal mirror workshops and the school for traditional architecture and mural painting. Back to the hotel. O/n Hotel.
DAY 16 KUMARAKOM TO ALLEPPEY
Morning we make a small cruise towards Alleppey, washed by the silvery waves of the Arabian Sea, interlocked with a large number of canals and bridges. Board a houseboat from the Finishing point boat jetty, cruise through the enchanting backwaters and lagoons. O/n Houseboat.
DAY 17 ALLEPPEY TO KOVALAM
Morning after breakfast disembark from the houseboat, drive to Kovalam (about 180kms/04hrs) India’s most spectacular beach. Enroute visit the Napier Museum, an absolute gem of architectural exuberance, combining traditional Kerala styles with good doses of Chinese and Mughal influences. Visit the Padmanabhaswamy Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple is a sprawling complex with a magnificent gopurams or tower. Check into the hotel. The rest of the day to relax on beautiful beaches. O/n Hotel.
DAY 18 KOVALAM
The boundless blue of the Arabian Sea and the unwinding mile of fine sand washed by a surf which roars and hisses at the feet of coconuts palms, Kovalam is a sheltered natural bay. A sheet of silvery sand curves into an arc that is bordered on the one side by azure blue water and on the other by a never-ending spread of green palmgroves. You can sunbathe on the silver sands, the whole day on the beaches. O/n Hotel.
DAY 19 KOVALAM TO MUMBAI
Morning free to relax. Afternoon transfer to the Trivandrum domestic airport, board flight to Mumbai.
Upon arrival, we will have the dinner from a good local restaurant, transfer to the Mumbai International airport to board flight to your home country.
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