Kerala with Kovalam & Guruvayur tour covers tourist attractions in Munnar, the appealing Kovalam beach, the Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple, which is one of the most revered and popular pilgrimage sites in India, Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in Thekkady, and the calming backwaters in Kumarakom and Alleppey.
On arrival at Cochin, you will be taken to hotel for check in.
Proceed for a half day sightseeing tour of Cochin.
Depart to JEW STREET which is famous for the Jewish Synagogue and Jew Town. Visit ST.FRANCIS CHURCH, first European church built in India in the early 16th century and the famed Vasco Da Gama was buried in this courtyard. Thereafter visit the DUTCH PALACE IN MATTANCHERY. (Jewish Synagogue – Open: 10.00 am -12.00pm, 3.00pm – 5.00pm. Closed on Friday /Saturday & Jewish holidays) (Dutch Palace – Open: 10.00am – 5.00pm – Closed on Fridays) Free time in the Jew Street. It is fascinating & vibrant Narrow Street with many shops selling handicrafts, souvenirs, Antiques & Ethnic Garments. Later visit SANTA CRUZ BASILICA, proceed to Fort Kochi and visit famous CHINESE FISHING NETS
If time permit spend some evening at LULU MALL Transferred to hotel for Overnight stay at the in Cochin
After breakfast at the hotel, drive towards the temple town of Guruvayur which is highly famous for its scenic beauty. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel. Guruvayur is famous for the SRIKRISHNA TEMPLE where thousands of devotees worship LORD GURUVAYOORAPPAN every day. Visit PUNNATHUR KOTTA; the Elephant sanctuary teeming with more than 60 elephants of different ages offered by the pious devotees of Lord Guruvayoorappan, the abode of the famous temple at Guruvayur. Overnight stay at Guruvayur
Post early morning breakfast at the hotel, check out and drive to Munnar, En route, you have option of visiting ATHIRAPALLY / VAZHACHAL WATERFALLS and KALADI Adi Shankaracharya’s birth place
At a distance of 73 km from Cochin, 100 km from Munnar, Athirapally Waterfall is a scenic waterfall situated at the entrance of Sholayar hill range in the Thrissur district. It is one of the best waterfalls in India, and among the most famous tourist places in Kerala. At a distance of 7 km from Athirapally & 75 km from Cochin, Vazhachal Waterfall is a breathtakingly beautiful waterfall situated very close to Athirapally – Valparai road.
Time Permit visit waterfalls like CHEEYAPPARA, VALARA AND ATTAKADU along with spice plantation
Arrive Munnar and check in at hotel, evening at leisure you can opt for add on experience
ADD ON KALARI EXPERIENCE @ Kalari Kshethra Munnar
Kalari kshethra is a center of Kerala Tradition. Which showcase Kalaripayattu and Kathakali
Kalarippayattu is the traditional martial art form of Kerala which originated around 3000 years ago. It is the oldest known combat style and is known to be the ‘Mother of martial arts’. Kathakali is the classical dance of Kerala
Kathakali show from 05:00 pm to 06:00 pm and other Kalrippayattu show form 06:00 pm to 07:00 pm, (Subject to operation Kindly check same with centre before going) Overnight at Munnar
After early breakfast we take you for a full day sightseeing trip of Munnar
Proceed to RAJAMALA. Visit the ERAVIKULAM NATIONAL PARK, the 97 sq km park with its irresistible grace and beauty is home to the endangered Mountain goats. Enjoy a guided short trek in the beautiful hill station. #Eravikulam National Park is closed during February and March every year due to breeding period
Visit TEA MUSEUM: – The museum set up at the Nallathanni Estate of Tata Tea in Munnar the Tata Tea Museum diligently portrays the growth of Munnar tea estates, veritably conveyed through some of the displays like the rudimentary tea roller to the modern fully automated tea factory. Visitors to the museum can satiate their curiosity on various stages of tea processing, and also learn a thing or two about the production of black tea
Later Visit the MATTUPETTY DAM, built in the mountains, you can enjoy boat ride at Dam Shola forest around the dam is ideal for trekking and home of Varity of birds. Later visit Echo point, a very popular place for the natural phenomenon the echo that reverberates after hitting the distant hills is fascinating. Later Visit KUNDALA LAKE, the famous Neel Kurunji flower which blooms in every 12 years blooms in valley and hills around Kundala than proceed to view the beauty of nature at TOP STATION. Overnight at Munnar
After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Thekkady. Enroute if time permit stop over at BLOSSOM PARK, POTHAMEDU VIEW POINT, SPICE PLANTATION.
Go for boating (on direct payment basis) at a scenic Periyar Lake, occasionally winning the glance of some rare varieties of birds and animals which include elephants, monkeys, deer, wild boar etc at Periyar National Park ( Sanctuary Boat Timings: 07:00; 09:30; 11:30; 14:00; 16:00; hrs Please note No advance ticket booking for boating can be done, guest should take tickets directly on arrival. Kindly cross check the boat timings once you reach as it may change; since only a few boats are available for cruise at Thekkady)
Later you can take an Elephant ride at Periyar wild life and rest of the day is at leisure.
ADD ON: Kadathanadan Kalari and Navarasa Kathakali experience Thekkady
Kathakali is the classical dance of Kerala and is translated as “story play” in Malayalam. It is used to tell stories from the Indian epics and interestingly, this dance style is a blend of different fine arts like literature, music, painting, acting and dance.
Kalaripayattu the mother of all martial arts requires the knack and skill which can be performed only by well trained masters. Crafted in ancient South India drawing inspiration from the raw power and sinuous strength of the majestic animal forms – Lion, Tiger, Elephant, Wild Boar, Snake, and Crocodile, Kalaripayattu laid down the combat code of the Cholas, the Cheras and the Pandyas
KALARI Daily Show: 6 pm to 7 pm KATHAKALI Daily Shows: 5 pm to 6 pm & 7 pm to 8 pm, (Subject to operation Kindly check same with centre before going)
Return to hotel for an overnight stay.
Today enjoy your breakfast, check out and head to the backwater town of Alleppey for the most anticipated experience in Kerala: the houseboat. The ‘Venice of the East’ as Alleppey is called supports a vibrant village life along the shorelines with paddy fields and palms.
OPTION A: HOUSE BOAT STAY
Set out on an enchanting overnight backwater cruise in traditionally decorated houseboats. Glimpse of backwater life after traditional lunch on your private houseboat, the cruise will take you through splendid waterways of narrow canals.
You will get opportunities to explore village life and the country side. Afternoons are best spent sunbathing on the deck or lounging in the shade while socializing with your crew. As we drift along you will be amazed by the life by the water side and witness a spectacular sunset.
Please note Kerala backwater House boat stay is wonderful life long cherished experience however house boat have limited capacity of resources , it cannot be compared with hotels, lunch dinner and breakfast is provided on house boat on fixed Menu, Air Conditioner AC normally facilitated between 9 PM to 6 AM, Cruising Hours (5-6 hours) on the first day & 01 hour on the second day morning with Lunch Break halt of 1 hr 30 Minutes on day first , Check in time is 12 Noon and check out time is around 8:30, houseboat is anchored at approx 5: 30 evening and there would be no cruising in late evening or night as fisherman set down the fishing nets
OPTION B:
Check in at the resort. Later proceed to visit Alleppey backwaters. Take a cruise (Own Cost) through the rich and splendid backwater. Just relax at the boat. It will be a unique and exclusive experience in your lifetime. You will be cruising along the village sides and paddy fields witnessing the core life of the Kerala villages.
Overnight stay at HOTEL or HOUSE BOAT at Alleppey/Kumarakom
After breakfast check out from your resort and drive down to the southern coastal town of Kerala- Kovalam
Add on Optional Enroute visit JATAYU EARTH CENTRE for cable car ride up and down and Jatayu sculpture visit (. You can also do adventure activities and nature walk at JATAYU PARK on supplementary cost.
Arrive kovlam and check in at hotel rest day at leisure Evening enjoys the beaches in Kovalam
Kovalam has three incredible beaches. The lighthouse beach, Hawah beach and Samudra beach. The three beaches together form the famous crescent beach with a coastline length of 17km. The iconic Lighthouse Beach is the kind of beach with a lighthouse, straight out of a picture book.
With its red and white painted tower structure standing tall above a hillock at a height of 118 feet, the beach is loved for its soft expanse of sand and calm waters. Ideal to idle away. Hawah Beach with its rocky cape is preferred for swimming and sun bath. You can also spot fishermen in action on their catamarans. Samudra Beach is a calm and secluded beach which is less visited by tourists. This beach is mostly preferred by honeymooners for its privacy. Overnight stay at Kovalam
Breakfast at hotel, you have Day at leisure
OPTIONAL KANYAKUMARI EXCURSION
Morning proceed for an excursion to Kanyakumari, enroute visit PADMANABHAPURAM PALACE, once the capital of Thiruvananthapuram during 1600 to 1790. Constructed with wood and stone in Kerala’s indigenous style of architecture this palace is surrounded by 4km stone fort. Contained within the complex is a collection of 14 palaces and 127 beautiful royal rooms, many of which feature ornate wood carvings. The carved ceilings of the palace depict 90 varieties of flowers. Paintings, hundreds of years old and stone statues, some over 1000 years old, are on display on the palace grounds.
Arrive at Kanyakumari (literally means the virgin, the cape owes its Indian name to Hindu mythology.) and proceed for a sightseeing tour. At the Cape Comorin – the southernmost tip in the sub-continent, the three mighty oceans viz. the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea meet. Significant landmarks include the KUMARI AMMAN TEMPLE dedicated to the Goddess Parvati, the Gandhi Memorial where an urn containing the Mahatma’s ashes are kept, the VIVEKANANDA MEMORIAL – built in memory of Swami Vivekananda exuding a calm and peace rarely found elsewhere the STATUE OF THIRUVALLUVAR on the rock and the Church of our Lady Ransom starkly etched against the beautiful shoreline. If time permit see the sun setting at sea and drive back to Kovalam. Overnight stay at Kovalam
Half Day City Tour and Airport Drop
After breakfast check out from hotel and set out on a sightseeing tour to Trivandrum
Tiruvananthapuram, earlier known as Trivandrum, is the capital city of Kerala. The name literally splits into “Tiru”,”Anantha””puram” meaning “the town of Lord ANANTHA”. This is really true since the temple is at the heart of the town and for generations, the kings have called themselves “Padmanabha-Dasa” or the “servants of LORD Ananthapadmanabha”, and ruled the state as the representatives of LORD Anantha-Padmanabha.,
City tour of Trivandrum will include places of interests like Museum, Padmanabhaswami temple, and renowned for its towering gopuras and temples arts and paintings. The main pavilion of the temple stands impressive with 400 marvellously granite carved pillars and other attraction
Drive to Trivandrum airport/railway station for your onward journey.
