Day 01 Arrive Cochin Arrive at Cochin airport - meet & greet by presentable representative of Recreation Travels with special welcome. This evening a Boat Trip along the Palm Fringed Lakes & Backwaters of the Area; we enjoy this extraordinary excursion today. As we sail along the shady canals we see cantilevered Chinese fishing nets. From our launch, we enjoy use of narrow produced – Laden dugouts & the everyday life of families living on narrow spits of land between the waters. Later we attend the performance of the Kathakali, one of India’s most famous Classical dances. Overnight stay.
Day 02 Kochi – Alleppey 56 Kms After breakfast drive to Alleppey to meet your way own floating hotel in the famous backwaters. Kettuvalam - An Authentic Kerala Houseboat - the moving master piece, have been plying the inland waterways of southwest India for untold centuries and originally used as cargo rice boats. The fully furnished and palm covered boats (single & double) bedrooms with attached bath, sit out, kitchen and living room made of traditional wood. In each houseboat, there are 3 men staff (crew), comprising a cook and two well trained punters throughout the cruise. A canoe expedition via an intricate network of canals, through backwater villages where daily continues unaltered, as it has for centuries. You will see lush palm groves and stretches of rice fields. Overnight stay.
Day 03 Alleppey – Periyar 125 Kms Drive to a tranquil hill retreat, the Spicy Village. Along the way we pass through Tea, Cinnamon, and Clove & Cardamom plantations –beautiful to see & smell! Our hotel is set in a Spicy Garden & has been molded after the Tribal dwellings of the area; each Cottage has thatched roof & a deep, Airy Verandah. This evening we visit the nearby Periyar Game Sanctuary; Game viewing here is like no other Safari experience. We simply relax in a Motor Launch & sail along as heard of Elephant & Bison come into view. During the dry season Tigers & Panthers come down to the Lake shore for a drink – be sure to have plenty of film on hand. Overnight stay.
Day 04 Periyar - Madurai 135 Kms After breakfast drive to Madurai - is a colorful city to see its moods walk around the streets. The main city area revolves around Meenakshi temple, with its baroque example of Dravidian architecture & the four tall Gopurams (Pillars) with multi colored Gods, Goddess, Demons & deities. Madurai is surrounded by Coconut Grooves & Rice Paddies. Later we visit to Nectar City of Madurai – Meenakshi temple where Dravidian Temple architecture may be seen in its exuberant baroque phase. Its hall of thousand pillars is fabulous & is filled with worshippers at all hours of the day, another terrific photographic opportunity. Also visit the Tirumal Nayak’s Palace, which is in a highly decorative monument. Its enormous roofed arcade supported by 48 - foot high stone pillar, still stands. Overnight stay.
Day 05 Madurai – Kanyakumari 240 Kms Morning drive to Kanyakumari – is India’s Land’s End where waters of the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal meet. It is one of the Pilgrims centres of India. A fine beach landscape with stands of different of colors is another interesting aspect of Kanyakumari. Palm leaf utility articles of Kanyakumari are very famous upon arrival check in hotel. Sunset : Everyday people gather here to watch the Sunset. But to watch the Sunset & the Moonrise on full moon day is an experience that lives in one’s memory for life. Overnight stay.
Day 06 Kanyakumari - Kovalam Beach 104 Kms Morning visit to Gandhi Memorial – in memory of the father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, and a mandapam has been erected near the temple. Our sightseeing continues to Vivekananda Memorial – there are two rocks projecting out of the ocean, south east of Kanyakumari Amman temple. These rocks provide an ideal vantage point for visitors desiring to view the land’s end of India. It was one of these rocks that Swami Vivekananda set in long & deep meditation. On this rock stands the “Vivekananda Rock Memorial” built in 1970 – a blend of all the architecture style of India. Later drive to Kovalam Beach your home for next two nights. Stay at beach resort for rest & relax.
Day 07 Kovalam Beach Rest and Relax at Kovalam beach resort.
Day 08 Kovalam – Kochi 235 kms After breakfast drive to Kochi upon arrival check in hotel. Overnight stay.
Day 09 Kochi - Onward Destination Morning Say Goodbye to newly become friends of this fascinating land and transfer to Airport to board the flight for onward destination.
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