09 NIGHTS / 10 DAY – TOUR 03

Arrival – Cochin International Airport – Munnar – Misty Hills, Spectacular Tea Plantations, Lakes, Flora & Fauna – (East Kerala)
Land of Misty mountains and spectacular tea plantation, Munnar. Tucked away in sunny, tropical Kerala is a cool green paradise away from heat and dust, state’s finest Tea plantations, the best hill station of Kerala. Watch the spectacular beauty of Tea gardens. Enjoy the nature, where the cloud turns into mist, which may touch you with a romantic feeling. It is located 1600 meters above the sea level. This hill station 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 and most wanted tourist place of Kerala. Among the exotic flora found in the forests and grasslands here is the Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana). Munnar is an idyllic hill station with its velvet lawns, exotic flora and fauna. Breathing of fresh, cool mountain air is a rare experience. Visit Kundale Lake, Eco Point, Mattupetty Dam.
Overnight Stay in Munnar.

Munnar
About 15 km from Munnar, the famous hill station of Kerala, is the beautiful Rajamala. The natural habitat of the Nilgiri Tahr (Hemitragas hylocrius), the Eravikulam – Rajamala region is now home to half the world Tahr population estimated at around 1300. But the Tahr is only one of the reasons to make a visit to Rajamala. The picturesque beauty of this mountain will make you want to tent here forever. Later visit Tea Museum and Blossom Park.
Overnight Stay in Munnar.

Munnar to Thekkady/Periyar – Thekkady – Periyar – Wild Life, Rain Forests, Spice Plantations, Forest lake Boating, Flora & Fauna, Adventure & Ecotourism – (East Kerala)
Thekkady, it’s a land of rainforests, wildlife and spices. Thekkady (Evergreen Forest’s Land with Spice Plants) the very sound of the word Thekkady conjures up images of elephants, unending chains of hills and spice scented plantations. In the Periyar Forest of Thekkady is one of the finest wildlife reserves in India, and spread across the entire district are picturesque plantations and hill towns that hold great opportunities for treks and mountain walks. This plantation town is situated on the outskirts of the Periyar sanctuary. Get ready with your camera for the wildlife scenario.
Overnight Stay in Thekkady.

Thekkady
Fill your eyes with the lush green spice plants blessed with cardamom and pepper plantations, a generous gift of ginger, clove and nutmeg and a variety of Ayurvedic medicinal plants, go for an exotic spice plantation visit. Optional activities like; Elephant safari, Kalari Payattu (A traditional Martial Art), Kathakali Show (A traditional performance-Art), Jungle Jeep Safari and Ayurveda Massages etc are available here in Thekkady.
Overnight Stay in Thekkady.

Thekkady to Alleppey – Alleppey – Alappuzha – Backwaters & Canals, Paddy fields, Palm groves, Boat Cruises /Stay & Beaches – (Central Kerala)
Mirror still lagoons, picture book lakesides, palm-fringed canals, shores bustling with glimpses from day to day life in the countryside. To label Alappuzha (The Malayalam name for Alleppey) The ‘Venice of the East’ might today appear a far-fetched cliche of travelogue writers, but this quaint little town is certainly the Venice of India. Nowhere else will you find, spread out across the center of town, a unique crisscrossing network of canals on which thatched country boats punt along leisurely. The proximity of lakes adds to the Venetian ambience. Places to visit at Alleppey are Krishnapuram palace, Ambalapuzha, Kuttanad, Alleppey Beach, etc.
Overnight stay in Alleppey.

Houseboat
Have you ever gone cruising in a houseboat on the backwaters of Kerala? If you haven’t, make sure you do. This one is really a wonderful and unforgettable experience!
Present day houseboats are huge, slow-moving exotic barges used for leisure trips, and are in fact a reworked version of Kettuvallams of olden times. The original Kettuvallams were used to carry tons of rice and spices. A standard Kettuvallam can hold up to 30 tons from Kuttanad to the Kochi port. By constructing special rooms to accommodate travelers, these boats cruised forward from near-extinction to enjoy their present great popularity. The backwaters of Kerala is a network of interconnected canals, rivers, lakes and inlets formed by more than 900 km of waterways. The backwaters have a unique ecosystem – freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea.
Overnight stay in Houseboat.

Alleppey to Kovalam – Kovalam (Thiruvananthapuram) – Beaches & Estuary Islands, Historical Temple, Zoo, Museums & Art Galleries – (SK)
Kovalam a haven of peace and tranquility, the idyllic tourist destination in God’s own country. Kovalam offers an excellent diversity with Kovalam beach to suit all desires and occasions. Three curve shaped beaches, alienated by stony outcroppings, from the major attraction of this coastal resort.
Overnight stay in Kovalam.

Kovalam
Trivandrum sightseeing, The Zoological Park: (10.00am to 6.15 pm- Closed on Mondays). One of the first Zoos in India, it is located in a well planned Botanical Garden, with huge trees, sprawling lawns and wildfowl swimming in the lakes which feel like a small jungle in the heart of the city. A reptile house with different species of snakes is also located in this premise. The Napier Museum & Sree Chitra Art Gallery: (10.00am to 04.45 pm- Closed on Mondays and Wednesday forenoons). Located near the Napier Museum, this art gallery displays paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, Svetlana and Nicholas Roerich and exquisite works from the Rajput, Mughal and Tanjore schools of art in India. The collection also includes paintings from China, Japan, Tibet and Bali. Lunch Break Science and Technology museum complex: The exhibits here are related to Science, Technology and Electronics (10.00am to 05.00 pm-Closed on Mondays), Priyadarshini Planetarium, (Daily shows from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm). Finish your sightseeing trip on and return back to Kovalam Beach. Enjoy the sunset and return back to the hotel.
Overnight stay in Kovalam.

Kovalam to Kollam – Kollam -Beaches, Lakes, Backwaters & Canals – (South Kerala)
Kollam or Quilon – The old port town situating on the coast of Arabian Sea is the centre of the country’s cashew trading and processing industry was once a famous port of International spice trade. Thirty percent of this historic town is covered by the renowned Ashtamudi lake – The second largest lake in Kerala, making it the gateway city to the magnificent backwaters of Kerala. Kollam, the capital of the erstwhile Venad, was a great centre of learning and culture. It attracted distinguished scholars from all parts of south India. The dance form of Kathakali in its new version of Ramanattam was the creation of Kottarakkara Thampuran, who also improved Krishnanattam by substituting Malayalam for Sanskrit. Ashtamudi Lake, Thangasseri, Kollam Beach, Munrose Island, Ashram Picnic Village, etc are the main tourist places to visit.
Overnight stay in Kollam.

Do the shopping at Cochin City as time permits, and drop at Cochin International Airport, where your memorable tour comes to an end. Do spare a few minutes to fill in the feedback form. Your valued suggestions will be most appreciated.