Welcome to India Guru

“Kerala, God’s own country”
Cochin – Munnar - Periyar Wildlife – Kumarakom backwaters - Alleppey
6 nights / 7 days

Kerala is where India slips down into second gear, stops to smell the roses and always talks to strangers. A strip of land between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats, its perfect climate flirts unabashedly with the fertile soil, and everything glows. An easy-going and successful socialist state, Kerala has a liberal hospitality that stands out as its most laudable achievement.

Day 1 Arrive Cochin

Your flight arrives Cochin International airport at (TBA)
After clearing customs and immigration you will be met by a representative of “India Guru – Gainwell” in the arrivals area. A traditional Indian welcome includes tilak and fresh flower garland.
You will be transferred to your hotel in an air conditioned vehicle. Check into your hotel on arrival for overnight stay.

Day 2 Cochin – the gateway to the South

Breakfast at the hotel. Cochin or Kochi, the commercial capital of the South, spreads over several islands and boasts a fine natural harbour. A full day city tour includes the old Jewish Synagogue and the ancient Mattancherry (Dutch) Palace built by the Portugese. We also visit St Francis
Church, the oldest European built church in India. A sunset cruise on Cochin harbour rounds off the day.
Return to the hotel for dinner.
After dinner you will be transferred to the Kathakali Dance Centre for an evening performance of this special dance form. The most popular and sacred dance-drama of Kerala, Kathakali has evolved over the last 400 years. This classical dance requires lengthy and rigorous training to attain complete control of the body and sensitivity to emotion, portraying its nuances through facial expressions and hand gestures. Themes centre on the two great Indian epics - the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Drop off at the hotel.
Dinner recommendations / booking assistance will be provided by “India Guru – Gainwell”.

Day 3 Cochin to Munnar (145 kms, 4 hours). Tea anyone!

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out and drive to Munnar with comfort stops enroute. On arrival in Munnar check into your hotel.
A hill station at a height of 1525 metres, Munnar offers breathtaking views of rolling hills, carpeted by tea gardens. It is a quaint town that exudes the typical charm of an Indian hill station, with a few reminders of its colonial past in stone bungalows and picturesque churches. Beyond the rolling hills discover the rich tropical forests and Anamudi peak, the highest peak in the Western Ghats, South India.
The rest of the day is free to explore this picturesque town. A car and driver will be at your disposal to visit the tea plantations and the Tea Museum. The museum has an interesting collection of old photographs, machinery and curios.

Day 4 Munnar – Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (160kms, 4 hours)

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out and drive to Periyar.
The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary lies around the lake, on the cool hills of the Western Ghats, with its coffee, tea, pepper and cardamom plantations. It was designed as part of the Project Tiger program in 1973. Just some of the wildlife that life in the park includes elephants, bison, sambar, wild boar, spotted deer, owls, hornbills, and rarely tigers and leopards.
On arrival check into your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. Dinner recommendations / booking assistance will be provided by “India Guru – Gainwell”.

Day 5 Periyar - Kumarakom (185kms, 4 and ½ hours)

After an early breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a boat-ride on Lake Periyar to spot herds of wild elephants. The tropical jungle around Periyar Lake can be explored by foot, but we lounge in a motor launch, as we look for elephants, deer or bison coming to the shores of the lake for a drink. The area is famous for its wild elephants and boasts a large population of Gaur, Sambar, Cheetal, Sloth Bear, Wild Dog and many species of birds. During the dry season when water-holes within the forest are dry, leopards and tigers can be seen around the lake.
On your return to the hotel check out and drive to Kumarakom.
Perched on the eastern banks of the mighty Lake Vembanand is the sleepy little town of Kumarakom in central Kerala. At the heart of Kerala's famed backwaters, Kumarakom has changed little since the middle ages. It is the perfect jumping-off point for exploring the backwaters, especially for a first time visitor to this chilli-shaped state in the south-western tip of India endorsed by the National Geographic Traveller as one the 10 paradises on Earth!
On arrival check into your hotel for overnight stay.

Day 6 Kumarakom – Backwater country – Alleppey

Breakfast at the hotel.
This morning we drive to the jetty to board the private rice boat for a cruise along the backwaters to Alleppey. Accompanied by the Navigator, Engine Operator and Cook you will cruise through the Keralan backwaters, with breaks for lunch, dinner and a visit to Champakulam village. The boat drops anchor during the night.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Overnight: Traditional air-conditioned houseboat

Kerala's traditional houseboats, styled as per the norms of tradition, held together by coir ropes without a nail in sight, yet equipped with every luxury and every modern comfort, offer the opportunity to relax on the serene waters of the Lake Vembanad. Stay and truly experience the timeless beauty of life along the banks of Kerala.
Overnight on board.

Day 7 Alleppey – Cochin – departure

You disembark from the houseboat in Alleppey. A car will transfer you to Cochin International airport (approximately 2 hours drive) for your departure flight.

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