Kerala Honeymoon Tour
Duration: 09 Nights / 10 Days
Places Covered: Cochin - Munnar - Periyar - Kottayam - Alleppey - Kovalam
- Trivandrum - Mumbai
Day 1 - Arrive Cochin
Late night, arrive Mumbai and transfer to the domestic airport for your flight
to Cochin by 9W 405 at 0545 hrs. On arrival in Cochin at 0730 hrs, assistance
at airport and transfer to hotel. Rest of the day free. Evening attend the Kathakali
dance performance. Overnight in Cochin.
Day 2 - In Cochin
Morning Guided city tour.Afternoon free. Cochin - the palmgreen commercial town
of Kerala has one of the finest natural harbours in the world. Overnight in
Cochin. 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 3 - Cochin - Munnar
Morning: Drive to Munnar enroute visit tea plantations. On arrival in Munnar,
check in at hotel. Afternoon: Boat ride in the lake. Overnight in Munnar.
Munnar is situated at the confluence of three mountain streams namely Mudrapuzha,
Nallathanni and Kundala. This hill station, located at an altitude of 1600 m
above sea level, was once the summer resort of the erstwhile British government
in South India. Sprawling tea plantations, picture book towns, winding lanes
and holiday facilities make this a popular resort town. Among the exotic flora
found in the forests and grasslands is the 'Neelakurinji'. This flower which
bathes the hills in blue every twelve years will bloom next in 2006 AD. Munnar
also has the highest peak in south India, Anamudi, which towers over 2695 m.
Anamudi is an ideal spot for trekking
Day 4- In Munnar
Full day free to visit the bazaars, plantations etc. Overnight in Munnar.
Day 5 - Munnar - Periyar
Early Morning: Drive to Periyar and on arrival, check in at hotel. Afternoon:
Boat ride in Lake Periyar to watch wildlife. Later visit Kumily spice market
to see and buy spices. Overnight in Periyar.
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 6 - Periyar - Kottayam
Early Morning: Drive to Kottayam (120 kms/03 hrs) and on arrival, switch over
to the House Boat and cruise along the backwaters, passing through paddy fields,
villages, market etc. Overnight on board HOUSE BOAT.
Day 7 - Arrive Alleppey - Kovalam
Morning: Drive to Kovalam and on arrival in Kovalam, check in at a beach resort.
Rest of the day to relax at the beach or indulge in Ayurvedic massages. Overnight
in Kovalam.
Alleppey: Alappuzha, formerly named as Alleppey, in Kerala is one of
the major backwater destinations. The thrilling boat race awaits you at Alleppey
or Alappuzha. Imagine to just lazing on a houseboat or enjoying fishing in Alleppey
Kerala. Kuttanad is also known as the 'rice bowl' of the state, Kerala India.
Alleppey is a captivating destination in Kerala India that provides backwaters,
traditional Kettuvallooms (house boats), beaches, boat race, swaying palms,
gourmet delight and many more.
Day 08 - Kovalam
Full day free on the beach. Overnight in Kovalam. Kovalam beach is known as
the "Paradise of the South". Kovalam is just 16 kms away from Trivandrum,
Kerala's capital city. Kovalam is an evergreen and pleasant climatic beach resort.
Kovalam is a dreamland for tourists all over the world. With high rock promontory
and a calm bay of blue waters, this beach paradise creates a unique aquarelle
on moonlit nights. Kovalam was brought to the public eye by the Maharaja of
Travancore. Over the past three decades, the place has been well developed,
and now figures prominently on the world tourism map. The warm and clean atmosphere
by the coconut trees and the white sandbed are perfect for relaxing holidays,
as the seabreeze gently plays with the waves.
Day 9 - Kovalam
Full day free on the beach. Overnight in Kovalam.
Day 10 - Kovalam - Trivandrum - Mumbai - Depart
Morning: Assistance and transfer to Trivandrum airport in time to connect flight
9W 335 at 1335 hrs to Mumbai. On arrival in Mumbai at 1535 hrs, assistance at
airport and transfer to city hotel for wash and change. Rest of the day free
for last minute shopping/packing. Evening: After farewell dinner, assistance
and transfer to International airport in time to connect your onward flight
home…. - check into hotel. Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of "God's
Own Country" - Kerala is also popularly known by its anglicised name Trivandrum.
Thiruvananthapuram , the southern most district of Kerala state is situated
to the extreme south of India. To the north of Trivandrum is Kollam district
and Thirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts of Tamilnadu are on the east and
south respectively. The district can be divided into three geographical regions
- highlands, midlands and lowlands. The major tourist attractions of Thiruvananthapuram
are its famous beaches, which are the best bet to relax after a tiring trip.
