|
DAY 01 KOCHI (COCHIN)
Arrive Kochi int’l airport by morning. Garland welcome, assistance and transfer to hotel. Further in the afternoon we start our sightseeing with Mattanchery Palace, built by the Portuguese (1557) as a gift for the Raja of Kochi in exchange for trading rights, it was largely rebuilt by the new occupants, the Dutch. Further visit Jewish Synagogue adjascent to the Palace. This gem of a synagogue dating from 1568 (rebuilt in 1662) at the heart of what is called locally Jew Town, now a fascinating mixture of shops (some selling antiques), warehouses and spice auction rooms.
Afternoon free to stroll around the beach area to visit St. Francis Church originally dedicated to Santo Antonio, the patron saint of Portugal, St. Francis Church is the first to reflect the new, European influenced tradition. Vasco da Gama died on the site in 1524 and was originally buried in the cemetery. Fourteen years later his body was removed to Portugal. Further walk to explore the huge Chinese Fishing nets line the entrance to the harbour mouth. Chinese traders are believed to have originally introduced them in the late 14th century although, today, parts of the nets are known by Portuguese names. Evening we watch the dance drama of Kerala – the Kathakali in a local theatre in Kochi. O/n Hotel.
NOTE: Mattanchery Dutch Palace remains closed on every Friday & Jewish Synagogue remains closed on every Friday & Saturday
DAY 02 KOCHI TO ALLEPPEY
After breakfast drive to Alleppey (about 65kms/02hrs), to board your houseboat that comprises twin beds, with attached bathrooms, running water, and a lounge area in which to relax and enjoy the sights on the shore. We start our sail through scenic backwaters, passing through one of the few areas in the world where farming is done below sea level. The houseboat will cruise through the Chambakulam area by mid-morning and anchor to explore the boat yard, which displays the traditional long snake boats used in races. Visit St. Mary’s Church, established by St. Thomas in 1721. In the evening, catch a glimpse of village life along the backwaters and experience a way of life unique to this region. The boat will pass through picturesque stretches of the backwaters of Alleppey and moor up for overnight in Vemabanadu Lake. O/n Houseboat.
DAY 03 ALLEPPEY TO MUNNAR
After breakfast drive to Munnar (about 205kms/06hrs), situated in the heart of the Cardamom Hills, at an altitude of 1700m, Munnar is surrounded by endless green, rolling hills and 30 of the India’s highest tea estates. Upon arrival, check into the hotel & free to relax. O/n Hotel.
DAY 04 MUNNAR
Today we set off for our Trekking to Silent valley.
Landscape and climate
The terrain is highly undulating with altitude ranging from 500 mts at Chinnar to over 2695 mts at Anamudi (the highest peak in Western ghats) the climate is described as tropical montane. Heavy rainfall during the southwest monsoons (June-August) the average annual rainfall is about 3000mm. January – March are relatively dry months.
Flora and Fauna
Due to the significant variation in altitude and rainfall, in and around Munnar has a wide array of habitat types deciduous forests, scrubs, riparian forests sholas and grasslands. It has about 1000 species of trees and flowering plants including well known repository of medicinal plants, endemics and endangered trees and plants and exceptionally rich in orchids and balsoms. The spectacular mass flowering of the scrub neelakurinji (Phlebophyllum Kunthianum) takes place in the grasslands in cycle of 12 years. And other important mammals found are elephant, leopard, gaur, sambar, spotted deer, common langur, bonnet macaque etc... , endangered animals like nilgiri tahr (Hemitragus hylocrius), Grizzled Giant Squrrel, Nilgiri langures etc... also we can find more than hundreds different species of birds and butterflies which include endemics like black and orange flycatcher, Nilgiri pipit, Nilgiri wood pigeon, white bellied shortwing, Nilgiri verditer flycatcher, Kerala Laughing thrush etc.....
The trek route
All the treks in and Munnar will take you through valleys and the mountain terrain of the great Western Ghats, consist of unique ecosystem like the rolling grasslands, montane forests, Shola forests (patches of ever green forests) valley of rhododendrons, wild flowers, gurgling mountain streams, tea plantations, tea estates and the villages etc...
General information’s
These programmes are motivated for...
(ECO- TOURISM) Environment friendly sustainable tourism - Conserve the nature, traditions and culture
All the programmes are Eco- friendly.
All the programmes are conducted with proper permission from the related departments or through EDC of KFDC.
The first day
After break fast the wonderful journey will take you above the Silent Valley Estate of the Kanan Devan Hills Plantations where you will begin your trek.
This day’s trek will take you through a valley where the rhododendrons and pine forests grows wild. And in this day you will be on a trek to the top of Meesapulimalai at an altitude of over 8600 feet – the second highest peak in south Himalayas (Western Ghats). After reaching the peak stay for some time for relaxation and enjoy the nature and proceed to the campsite over night camp in comfortable tents by the side of gurgling mountain streams at Rhodo-valley with the beautiful natural brooks and the meadows of Western ghats. O/n Tents.
DAY 05 MEESAPULIMALAI TO CLIFF HUT
The second day
This day will be passing through the pine forests rolling grasslands and the scenic beauty of the mountain ranges and through the dense shoals of camp Malai to Palar / Yella patty Estate and reach the mountain cliff for overnight camp, the camp site which is surrounded by forests and the panoramic mountains with wonderful views where the clouds float under your feet. O/n Tents or Cliff House.
DAY 06 CLIFF HUT TO KORANGANI
The third day
After breakfast and refreshment we will start our trek to the village called “Korangani” is a low elevated village, in Tamil Nadu in this trek we will be able to see the ethnic villages and their life style of this mountain Tamil people, etc...
And over night camp in village side to have a closer experience of typical rural Tamil people. O/n Tents.
DAY 07 KORANGANI TO KUZHUKKUMALAI
The fourth day
After breakfast and refreshment we will start our trek to complete our unforgettable trek to Kuzhukkumalai the “highest tea growing estate in the world”
In this trek we will be climbing through the rolling grasslands and the forests with the vast view of mountain ranges, etc. O/n Tents.
DAY 08 KUZHUKKUMALAI TO BODINAYKANUR TO MADURAI
The fifth day
After breakfast walk downhill to the small picture book town bodinayakkanur to conclude our unforgettable trek and further straight drive to Madurai (about 110kms/03hrs). Check into the hotel and in the evening we visit Sri Meenakshi Temple designed in 1560 by Vishwanatha Nayak, the present temple was substantially built during the reign of Tirumalai Nayak (1623 – 55), but its history goes back 2000 years to the time when Madurai was the capital of the Pandya kings. The temple complex occupies the area of six hectares and the enormously popular and powerful goddess Meenakshi is the diety of this temple. Evening attend the ‘aarathy’ ceremony in the temple. O/n Hotel.
DAY 09 MADURAI TO CHENNAI ( Train)
Early morning transfer to railway station for express train to Chennai, leaving at 0645hrs and arriving at 1344 ( Breakfast and Lunch on Board). Arrive Chennai and transfer directly to Mahabalipuram (about 55kms/02hrs), check into the hotel and free to relax on the beach. O/n Hotel.
DAY 10 MAHABALIPURAM
After breakfast, we start sightseeing of this old port town by visiting the Shore Temple by the sea, which is surrounded by gardens designed according to descriptions of the original layout from ancient texts. The temple was built at the end of the seventh century by King Rajasimha, is unusual for its shrines to both Siva and Vishnu. Further visit the Rathas – these mid seventh century monolithic temples were influenced by Buddhist architecture, as they resemble the monastery.
Lateron Arjuna’s Penance - a bas relief sculpted on the face of two enormous adjacent rocks, 29 metres long and seven metres high, the Mandapas – are fairly shallow pillared halls or porticos excavated out of the rocky hillside, Also enjoy the walk through this small seaside village where carving in stone is still a living art; stone masons can be heard chipping away from dawn to dusk along the roadsides. Back to hotel and relax. O/n Hotel.
DAY 11 MAHABALIPURAM TO CHENNAI
Very early morning transfer to Chennai int’l airport to board flight to your onward destination.
End of Service
|
