Kerala Essence Tour
Duration: 07 Nights / 08 Days
Places Covered: Cochin - Periyar - Kumarakom - Mararikulam - Cochin
Day 01: Cochin
Arrive Cochin and transfer to the hotel.Cochin set on a cluster of islands and
narrow peninsulas, the port city of Cochin (Kochi) (Queen of Arabia) reflects
the eclecticism of Kerala perfectly. With a rich past and a bustling present,
it has been the business hub of the region from the very early days after Alleppey
(Alappuzha). Cochin consists of mainland Ernakulam, the islands of Willington,
Bolgatty and Gundu in the harbour, Fort Cochin and Mattancherry on the southern
peninsula, and Vypeen Island north of Fort Cochin, all was linked by ferry but
now some islands have bridges. The influence of Chinese, Jews, Arabs and Europeans
is evident in Cochin and its people. The oldest church in India, 500-year-old
Portugese houses, old tiled houses built in the Chinese pagoda style, the famous
Chinese fishing nets, a Jewish community whose roots go back to the Diaspora,
synagogues and mosques all tell the fascinating story of this harbour town.
The harbour is still at the heart of the city and pepper, sea food, rubber and
coir mats and matting are exported from here. Despite this, Cochin is an attractive
city with serene creak & lagoons overhung with feathery coconut palms and
picturesque islands. The older parts of Fort Cochin and Mattanchery are an unlikely
blend of medieval Portugal, Holland and an English country village grafted onto
the troppical Malabar coast. Cochin is one of India's largest ports and a major
naval base.
Day 02: Cochin
Morning city tour of Cochin. Afternoon at leisure. Evening enjoy a Kathakali
dance performance.
Day 03: Cochin-Periyar By Car /Coach
Morning drive to Periyar and on arrival, check in at the hotel. Late afternoon
enjoy a boat cruise on Lake Periyar to view wildlife.
Periyar: One of the well known wildlife sanctuaries in the south, Periyar
sanctuary attracts a large number of nature lovers every year. Also called the
Thekkady Wildlife Sanctuary, this place is ideal for watching the animals in
their natural habitat. The forest here, slopes into the manmade lake at the
bottom of the hill. This lake serves as the waterhole for the animals and they
come here to drink or take a dip. Elephants, Gaur, Sambhar and even tigers can
be spotted here. There are boat services which takes the visitor around the
lake. The best season to visit the park is between October and June. Spread
over 777 sq.km of the Cardamom Hills of Western Ghats, the Periyar sanctuary
is located 137 km from Madurai. Although an excursion on the splendid artificial
lake is the standard way to experience the sanctuary, you can also walk around
with the local guide in a small group. Wild Elephant herds come to the lake
to frolic in the water. Other attractions of the sanctuary are the Sambhar,
Bison, Spotted Deer, Tigers, Leopards, Malabar Flying Squirrels, Stripe necked
Mongooses, etc. There are over 260 species of birds here, including Nilgiri
Wood Pigeons, blue-winged Parakeets, White bellied Tree Pies, laughing Thrushes
and Fly Catchers.
Day 04: Periyar-Kumarakom By Car /Coach
Morning drive to Kumarakom and on arrival check-in at the hotel. Late afternoon
sunset boat cruise on Lake Vembanad. 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 its
banks weave an intricate and enchantingly beautiful web. The gorgeous green
of the fringed palms ripple in the blue waters and blend into wavelets. The
entire state of Kerala is blessed with plenty of rivers and the resources of
many are still untapped. The waterways of Kerala which play a main role in the
economy of the state links remote villages and islands with the main land. The
water ways provide a cheap and economical mode of transport. The water ways
of Kuttanad is now a big attraction for tourist. It is incredibly different
experience to cruise in the backwaters in country boats, absorbing the beauty
of Kerala villages. The scenery flashes up vivid contrasts of breath-taking
greens and deep blues. Boat rides are available for tourist and others at nominal
rates.
Day 05: Kumarakom-Houseboat
Late morning board the Kettuvalam (houseboat) and spend the day cruising through
the backwaters. Overnight on board the houseboat
Day 06: Houseboat, Mararikulam
Morning disembark the houseboat and drive to Mararikulam. On arrival, check
in at the resort. Afternoon at leisure.
Day 07: Mararikulam
Full day at leisure to relax at the beach resort or enjoy an Ayurvedic massage
at the resort. Marari originates from " Mararikulam ", one of the
local fishing villages, where life still goes on much as it did a hundred years
ago, with the men going out to sea each day to earn a living bringing in the
daily catch. Completely new to the holiday maker. Marari offers endless miles
of superb sand beaches backed by swaying palms, virgin territory where you can
experience the local charm and traditional Kerala Hospitality at its best. Not
that you need to spend the whole of your holiday in seclusion, you couldn't
be in a better location for exploring the marvellous backwaters, where the tranquility,
the stunning scenery and the feeling of being transported back in time, make
it a superbly relaxing and inspiring experience
Day 08: Mararikulam-Cochin By Car /Coach & Departure Cochin
In time transfer to the Cochin airport for onward flight.
