aromic kerala

DAY 01 : ARRIVE AT COCHIN

Day 01 : Cochin: Arrival Cochin Airport /Railway station, pick up and transfer to your hotel. Afternoon proceed to sightseeing of Cochin. You can visit Chinese Fishing Nets, St. Francis Church, Dutch Palace and Jewish Synagogue. Evening free for shopping, optional Sunset Cruise / Kathakali show.

Cochin : Once a much prized pawn between the Portuguese, Dutch and English, Kochi or Cochin in the Southern Indian state of Kerala has a history of being a premier port along the fabled "spice route" to the east. Fort Cochin was a great emporium of trade, a harbor filled with ships, streets crowded with merchants and warehouses stored with goods from every port of Asia and Europe. Beginning with the Chinese and Arabs in the 13th century, the Portuguese arrived in 1500 A.D. followed by the domination of the Dutch and British. A large number of trading communities exist with 14 different languages spoken at a time. The St. Francis Church, said to be India's oldest European-built church was constructed in 1503. Having died in Cochin in 1524, Vasco da Gama was buried here for 14 years before his remains were taken to Lisbon.

Afternoon at leisure. Evening, drive to the Cultural Centre where you can enjoy the Kathakali dance show. Overnight stay at Cochin.

DAY 02 : COCHIN - THEKKADY

After breakfast drive to Thekkady ( 5 hrs) . Arrive and check in to your hotel. Afternoon free for leisure /shopping.

Thekkady : is situated on the Western Ghats in Kerala; This spectacular and scenic drive takes you through gentle hills which are punctuated with vast expanses of tea , rubber and coffee plantations, meandering upwards to the aromatic forests where spice grows in abundance. The park has a picturesque lake in the heart of the sanctuary where herds of elephants and sambar, gaur and wild pigs can be spotted. Periyar also harbors the leopard, wild dog, barking deer and a variety of birds such as the darter, cormorant, grey heron and ibis. An early boat ride on the lake gives visitors an opportunity to experience the wildlife of this region.

DAY 03 : THEKKADY

Morning boating at Lake Periyar. Afternoon free for Spice Plantation Visit , Nature Walk etc.

DAY 04 : THEKKADY - KUMARAKOM

Morning drive to Kumarakom. Arrive and check in to the hotel/resort. Rest of the day free for Yoga/Ayurvedic Massage/ Bird Sanctuary visit etc.

Kumarakom : is a sleepy agricultural and fishing township blessed with a sanctuary for birds . Almost surrounded by the Vembanad Lake, Kumarakom is formed by the 40 odd rivers that flow down into the Arabian Sea from the cardamom hills in the west. The network of rivers, canals, and estuaries make it a beautiful expanse of verdant coconut groves and rice paddies. In Malayalam, the language of Kerala, this backwater region is known as "Kuttanad" or the land of short people.

DAY5 : KUMARAKOM - COCHIN

After breakfast check out from the hotel and proceed to Cochin Airport /Railway station for your departure transfer.