Day 01 BOMBAY / TRIVANDRUM /
KOVLAM
Breakfast at Hotel. Our representative will meet you at the
hotel at the appointed time and transfer you to the domestic
airport, which is located very close to the hotel. Assistance
for Check-In on the flight to Trivandrum. (Jet Airways flight
9W-334 Departure Bombay 1035 Hrs. Arrival in Trivandrum 1230).
On arrival in Trivandrum you will be met by our Chauffeur who
will wait for you on arrival at the airport. Transfer to Kovalam
Beach. Check-In at your Hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Car
will be at your disposal, should in case you decide to go to
Trivandrum. Overnight.
Day 02 KOVALAM BEACH
Breakfast at Hotel. Full day at leisure with car at disposal.
Sightseeing of Trivandrum would include the Padmanabha Swamy
Temple , dedicated to Lord Vishnu, built in Kerala and Dravidian
Styles of Architecture.
The Napier Museum (Open 1000-1700 Hrs except on Mondays (full
day off) and Wednesday (Open only in the afternoon). Built
in the 19th Century, Indo-Saracenic structure boasts a natural
air-conditioning system and houses a rare collection of archaeological
and historic artifacts. Return to Kovalam. Time at leisure
for Massage etc. Overnight.
Day 03 KOVALAM / PERIYAR
Breakfast at Hotel and long drive to Thekkady. Located 253
Kms from Kovalam, its 8 hours drive from Kovalam to Periyar.
This will be the longest drive of your journey.The Periyar
Wildlife Sanctuary lies close to the plantations in the rich
jungles of Periyar. It is one of the world's most fascinating
natural wildlife reserves. Spread across 777 Sq Km of which
360 sq.km is thick evergreen forest.
This is the only sanctuary in India, where you can have the
unique experience of viewing wildlife at close quarters from
the safety of a boat on the Lake. The greatest attraction
of Periyar, however are the herds of wild elephants that come
down to play in the lake. The entry to Periyar Sanctuary is
restricted from 0600 to 1800 Hrs. Check-In at the SPICE VILLAGE
. Overnight.
Day 04 AT PERIYAR
Breakfast at Hotel. Full day at leisure, with car at disposal.
Visit of the Plantations in Thekkady. The visit will cover
Cardamom, Pepper, Coffee and Tea Plantations. Return to the
Hotel for Lunch. A trek into the Periyar Jungle with a Naturalist
/ Guide is also possible. Around sunset, proceed on a boat
cruise on the Periyar Lake to view wildlife. The boat ride
will be booked on a common boat of the Kerala Tourism Department
with upper deck seats. Return back to the Lake Palace. Overnight.
Day 05 PERIYAR / MUNNAR
Breakfast at Hotel. Drive to Munnar. Located 110 Kms. It is
a 2.5 hours drive from Thekkady / Periyar. Munnar is situated
at the confluence of three mountain streams. 1600 m above
sea level, the hill station was once the summer resort of
the erstwhile British Government in Southern India. Sprawling
Tea Plantations, picture-book towns, winding lanes and holiday
facilities make this a popular resort town. Munnar could get
a little cold in Winters. Temperatures in February could range
between 5 to 10 degrees Centigrade. On arrival check-in at
the WINDERMERE ESTATE. Your hosts for the next two nights
will be Mr. Simon and his Family.
Afternoon visit of Pothamedu, located 6 Kms from Munnar and
which offers an excellent view of the tea,coffee and cardamom
plantations of Munnar. Devikulam, located 7 Kms from Munnar.
This idyllic hill station with its velvet lawns, exotic flora
and fauna and the cool mountain air is a rare experience.
Permission to visit any of the 26 factories of Tata Tea Ltd.
Can be had from the Regional Office at Munnar. The car will
be at your disposal to continue your visits. Dinner and Overnight.
Day 06 MUNNAR / COIMBATORE
Breakfast at Hotel. The whole morning will be at leisure to
continue your visits of the area and the car is at your disposal.
Drive in time to reach Coimbatore during day light. Located
165 Kms from Munnar, it's approximately 4 hours drive. On
arrival in Combatore Check-In at Hotel THE RESIDENCY. Overnight.
Day 07 COIMBATORE / METTUPALAYAM / CONOOR / OOTY
Early Wakeup and leave by 0545 Hrs for Mettupalayam Railway
Station. It's around 30 minutes drive. Take packed breakfast
and Mineral Water from the Hotel. On arrival our driver will
arrange for the tickets. Board the Blue Mountain and enjoy
your scenic ride through the Nilgiris on board this train.
Detrain at the Conoor Railway Station. Our car and driver
will pick you up at the Conoor Railway Station and drive to
Ooty. 1 Hours drive. Check-In at the Taj Savoy Hotel. Afternoon
visit of the Botanical Gardens in Ooty.
Return to Hotel.
Day 08 OOTY / COCHIN
Breakfast at Hotel. Drive back to Cochin. 264 Kms. It's approximately
an 8 hours drive, taking you down hill upto Coimbatore and
to Cochin via Palakkad and Thrissur. You will pass through
some excellent countryside on this day. Lunch can be taken
enroute at Thrissur. Arrive at Cochin and Check-In at the
Hotel. Overnight.
Day 09 COCHIN
Breakfast at the Hotel. Morning at leisure. Afternoon tour
of Cochin by boat. The guide will report to you in the afternoon
to take you through Fort Cochin. You will stop to visit the
Mattanchery Palace built by the Portuguese in 1557, (Open
from 1000 to 1700 Hrs Closed on Fridays), The Synagogue (Open
1000 - 1200 Hrs and 1500 to 1700 Hrs, closed on Saturdays
and Jewish Holidays). A walk through the Jew Town. The are
around the Synagogue is a Centre of spice trade and curio
shops. Finish the tour at sunset at the CHINESE FISHING NETS.
Witness a show of Kathakali Dances at an auditorium in Fort
Cochin. Kathakali is a form Dance and Drama of Kerala, depicting
stories from Indian mythology. Return to Hotel and Overnight.
Day 10 COCHIN / KUMARAKOM
Breakfast at Hotel. Drive to Puthenengady Boat Jetty. 1 Hours
drive. Transfer by boat to the Coconut Lagoon Resort. Checkin
in a Bungalow. The rest of the day is at leisure. You could
visit the Kumaragam Bird Sanctuary or just relax and enjoy
your stay at the COCONUT LAGOON. Overnight.
Day 11 BACKWATER BOAT CRUISE ON BOARD A HOUSE BOAT KUMARAKOM
/ CHERUKALIKAYAL.
Breakfast at the Resort and time at leisure in the morning.
Your House Boat with a crew of three will report to you at
the resort around 12 Noon. Check-In and cruise through the
Vembanad Lake and reach Chithira Paddy field. (1.5 Hours Cruise).
Lunch to be served during crossing of Vembanad Lake.
Thereafter cruise through big rivers and various paddy fields
on both sides like R-Block, C-Block etc to reach Cherukalikayal
for Dinner and Night on board the House Boat.
Day 12 CHERUKALIKAYAL / PULLANGADI
Breakfast on board. Cruise through small canals and reach
Kainakary. Visit Chavara Bhawan - the birthplace of Fr. KURIAKOSE
who was blessed by Pope John Paul II, during his visit to
Kottayam. Continue cruise to Mooncomp and visit of the Bhagavathy
Temple. Lunch at Moonnattumugham. Continue cruise and arrive
at Champakulam. Visit the famous Champakulam Chundan Snake
Boat and the Champakulam Church, which is more than 200 years
old. Cruise to Pullangadi for Dinner and Night on board the
House Boat.
Day 13 PULLANGADI / MANKOTTA
After breakfast cruise continues through a canal to reach
Thakazhy and drop at Mankotta Islands around 9.30 AM. Installation
at family house of CHACKOS. Morning at leisure. Could be dedicated
to a walk in the village and see paddy fields etc. Lunch at
Mankotta House. After lunch drive to Haripad by Car. Distance
8 Kms.
Visit of the Haripad Snake Temple is very popular with the
people of Kerala. Couples come from all over to the Snake
Temple and pray for fertility and incurable skin diseases.
The trees and bushes in this area are totally untouched and
one can see a lot of old trees in the temple complex. After
sightseeing return back to Mankotta House. Dinner at the House.
Your host for tonight will be Laila and Jai Chacko.
Day 13 MANKOTTA / TRIVANDRUM / BOMBAY
After breakfast, transfer to the Trivandrum Airport. The Airport
is a 2 hours drive from Mankotta. Our driver will fix up the
timings with you the previous day itself and report to you.
On arrival you will check-in on your flight to Bombay. Jet
Airways flight 9W-336. Departure from Trivandrum 1335 Hrs.
Arrival in Bombay at 1535 Hrs.
On arrival you will be met by our representative and transferred
to a Hotel close to the Airport, where you will have a room
for Wash and Change.
At midnight our representative will pick you up at the hotel
and transfer you to the International Airport to assist you
for Check-In on your flight back home.
Day 14 BOMBAY / FLY HOME
Fly back home and arrive same day. |