Route
: Bombay - Cochin - Periyar - Varkala - Poovar - Munar - Kumarakom -
Marari - Cochin - Bombay.
Day 01 Abroad / Bombay
Arrive
Mumbai International airport.
On arrival, the guest will be met by our
representative and transferred to hotel and check-in.
Overnight at
hotel.
Day 02 BombayMorning, one hour boat ride
across Mumbai Harbour brings you to the lush green Elephanta Island. Here,
visit some of the huge and intricately carved
Elephanta Caves that
date back to the 8th century. For rows of massive columns cut into solid
rock from three magnificent avenues, lead to the outstanding three-headed
sculpture representing Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver and Shiva
the Destroyer. Dedicated to Shiva, the beauty and power of these phenomenal
sculptures depicting the various manifestations of Shiva is overpowering
Afternoon,
City tour of Bombay - the great port city with its Victorian
Gothic buildings from the British Raj Era mingling with the modern. The tour
includes ‘
Gateway of India’ overlooking the Harbour, the ‘
Towers
of Silence’, ‘
Marine Drive’, the ‘
Colaba
Causeway’ - the commercial heart of Bombay and the
Dhobi
Ghat, the unique and colourful outdoor 'laundry'. Also visit
Mani
Bhawan, a small museum dedicated to the life and works of Mahatma
Gandhi, and the bustling Crawford Market.
Overnight at hotel
Day 03 Bombay – Cochin –
PeriyarMorning transfer to the airport to connect flight to
CochinLeave:
Bombay at: 0900 hrs by: 9W 401Arrive: Cochin at: 1045 hrsUpon
arrival, meet & transfer to the hotel for lunch.
Thereafter
drive to
Periyar (180 kms/ 4 hrs)
Upon arrival at
Periyar
- check into hotel
Periyar-
Sprawling across 777 sq. kms. of the Cardamom Hills of the Western
Ghats, Thekkady is the home to one of the largest wildlife reserves in
India. Alive with exotic flora and vibrant wildlife, it is the perfect
getaway tucked away among hills.
Overnight at hotel
Day
04 Periyar – VarkalaEarly morning
boatcruise on the Lake
of the famous Periyar wildlife sanctuary to see wild life. Periyar
an artificial lake or reservoir created by a dam on Periyar River is the
heart of the Wildlife Sanctuary wild elephants, Asiatic Deer, Black Buck and
even Tigers come to shores of the lake for a drink.
Return to hotel
for breakfast
Thereafter drive through the winding "Ghats" lined with
prosperous tea plantations & then arrive the fascinating seaside resort
of Varkala.
Varkala is a small seaside town in
Kerala, has been a Hindu pilgrimage site since the 12th Century. To this
day, the eight-hundred year old Janardhana Temple remains a popular
pilgrimage spot. Varkala is also blessed with an unspoilt, golden beach,
lapped by the waters of the Indian Ocean.
Visit the Portugese
church of Anjengo dated to the time of occupation, which maybe the
Elanchoros of the geography of Ptomempee (2
nd century A.D.).
Also visit the English Fort constructed in 1695 A.D. by the English 'East
India Company', which play an important role in the war of Mysore in 18
th
century.
Day 05 Varkala-PoovarLate morning drive to
the island resort of Poovar. (140 kms/ 4 hrs)
Poovar Island
is an unspoilt resort enveloped by the most serene backwaters, and opening
out to the sea and a dream golden sand beach. Poovar is truly a window into
paradise. The tranquility is punctuated by the sound of waves and the birds.
The acreage is abundant in well preserved local flora, with hundreds of
species of spices, exotic flowers, complete with banana and coconut groves.
Day 06 PoovarDay at leisure.
Day 07
Poovar-Munnar
After
breakfast drive to the beautiful hill station of Munnar (110 kms/ 4 hrs)
Munnarr
was the world’s highest tea-growing estates. Beyond these estates are
rich tropical forests that houses an assortment of wildlife such as Nilgiri
Langur, Sambhar, Gaur, Elephant and Lion-tailed Macaques.
Upon
arrival, Check-in at hotel.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 08 MunnarFull day
at leisure.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 09 Munnar-KumarakomAfter
breakfast drive to Kumarakom (120 kms/ 4 hrs)
Morning drive through
the winding "Ghats" lined with prosperous tea plantations &
then arrive the fascinating countryside of low-lying palms and paddy fields
to Kumarakom enroute visit the tea estates.
Kumarakom-is a
beautiful backwater village on the shores of the enchanting Vembanad Lake,
criss crossed with meandering waterways and ancient cottages.
Upon
arrival, check-in at hotel
Overnight at hotel
Day 10
Kumarakom-Houseboat Morning at leisure.
Afternoon board
the
traditional rice boats -
“Ketuvallam” and
begin your journey through the picturesque backwaters and small lakes
relaxing in the tranquillity of Kerala's beautiful scenery. Experience the
way of life and activity of the local people, the one bedroom house with a
lounge is exclusively for you, meals will be served with freshly bought
produce from the local markets and cooked on board.
Overnight on
board
Day 11 Houseboat - MarariBreakfast on board.
Sail
to Alleppey & disembark at Puthenagady Jetty.
On arrival proceed
directly to Mararikulam (30 kms/ 30 mins)
Mararikulam- is
one of the picturesque fishing villages that dot the lovely coast line of
Kerala. This private, shallow beach is fringed with unending lines of
coconut palms. Upon arrival, check-in at hotel.
Rest of the day at
leisure for own activities and enjoy the facilities of the Resort.
Overnight
at hotel
Day 12 MarariFull day at leisure for own
activities and enjoy the facilities of the Resort.
Overnight at
hotel
Day 13 Marari – CochinEarly morning, drive
to
Cochin (60 kms / 1
1/
2 hrs)
Arrive
Cochin & check into hotel
Late morning tour of
Cochin
or "Kochi" the palm green, commercial captial of Kerala is known
as the "Queen of the Arabian Sea". From time immemorial, Arabs,
Chinese, Dutch, British & Portuguese seafarers followed the sea route to
Kochi & left their impression on the town. Modern Kochi is thus a
splendid mosaic of these myriad influences. Visit the Dutch Palace,
the Jewish Synagogue, the Church of St. Francis, the Bolghatty Palace &
the famous Chinese fishing nets.
Evening witness the
Kathakali
dance performance + make up demonstration - Kathkali is a unique dance
which has a 2000 year old history with more than 100 different ‘mudras’
or gesture depicting deities, demons, heroes, heroines and kings - each
based on episodes from the Mahabharata and Ramayana, the two epic Indian
myths.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 14 Cochin-BombayMorning
transfer to the airport to connect flight to
CochinLeave:
Cochin at: 1120 hrs by: 9W 402Arrive: Bombay at: 1305 hrsUpon arrival, our representative would meet you. Transfer to
hotel for wash and change.
Day 15 Depart-BombayTransfer
to airport for your flight back home.
