Kerala Cultural Sojourn (Trivandrum Kanyakumari Alleppey Cochin Cheruthuruty Calicut)

Duration: 9 days and 8 nights

Description: Specially designed tours for those looking to experience the vibrant and colourful cultures of Kerala. Tour includes stay in a beach resort, visit to temples and Historical Palaces, Traditional dances and martial art demonstration, Visit to boat building yards, and visit to an elephant sanctuary, Art centre visit and stay in the vibrant port town of Cochin.

Day 1 Arrival Trivandrum
Welcomed by representative at the airport and drive to hotel. The southernmost part of Kerala, Trivandrum is bound by the wooded highlands of the Western Ghats in the east and northeast, and the Arabian Sea in the west. A long shoreline with secluded, internationally renowned beaches, historic monuments, backwater stretches, hill stations and a rich cultural heritage are awaiting you here. After noon enjoy the tour of many cultural attractions in the city of the erstwhile rulers of Travancore like Napier Museum, Art gallery, Kuthiramalika palace. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2 Trivandrum-Kanyakumari Day Trip
After breakfast, visit Padmanabhapuram Palace, a wooden palace dating back to the 17th century and to Kanyakumari, the southern tip of India, where the three seas meet. Visit Suchidram temple and the Vivekananda rock. Evening after sunset back to Trivandrum. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3 Trivandrum- Alleppey
After breakfast, drive to Alleppey and embark on your private houseboat and cruise on the Backwaters, a splendid area full of canals, lakes and coves. Your houseboats or ‘Kettuvalloms’ are luxurious boats with well-appointed bedrooms and en suite bathrooms. You can sunbathe on the deck or observe the palm fringed landscape from your cabins. Apart from the mesmerizing surroundings, it’s the life along the coast that adds a touch of exotica to this experience. The locals travel in canoes and you will find vegetable sellers, fishermen and other traders bringing household goods, door to door in small wooden boats. As you cruise along the backwaters you can ask your captain to stop at villages, paddy fields and other places en route. Overnight on board. 

Day 4 Alleppey –Cochin
Disembark from your houseboat at Alleppey by 9am and drive to Cochin. A port town since early centuries, Cochin attracted traders and invaders from the world over. Needless to say, Cochin offers you some fascinating snippets of history and culture. Relax and unwind at the hotel. In the evening, you could go for a relaxing sunset cruise. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5 Cochin
Today you could go for a sightseeing tour to explore the many fascinating highlights of Cochin, which include – The Jewish Synagogue in what is locally called the Jew Town, St. Francis Church, which is the oldest European Church in India, the Santa Cruz Basilica built in 1557 by the Portuguese, the Dutch Palace, the Spice market and the 15th century Chinese fishing nets, believed to have been brought by Chinese traders. In the evening, visit Greenix village to watch the famous dance drama of Kerala, the Kathakali. This dance is characterized by some great story telling, amazing costumes and extensive make-up. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6 Cochin-Cheruthuruthy
After breakfast, drive to Cheruthruthy. En route, stop at Punathoor Kotta, an erstwhile palace that houses more than 60 elephants. Then later drive to summer palace of the Maharajas of Cochin, preserving the spirit of its illustrious past; the palace breaths history in every detail. On arrival, check into the resort. Day at leisure. Overnight at the resort.

Day 7 Cheruthuruthy
After breakfast, visit Kalamandalam. It is a center of learning founded with the objective of reviving, preserving and developing the ancient and traditional art forms of Kerala. Visitors can also spend a day with the masters and witness artists and teachers in action. Overnight at the resort.

Day 8 Cheruthuruthy –Calicut
After breakfast, drive to Calicut. On arrival, check into the hotel. Calicut was erstwhile capital of powerful Zamorins and a historical town. Calicut was a significant port for trade and commerce in the early centuries and the quality cotton, ‘Calico’, is believed to have originated here. In the evening, visit Hindustan Kalari Sangam, which imparts training in ‘Kalaripayattu’ the martial art of Kerala. Spend the evening at leisure. Overnight at the hotel. (Vehicle at disposal)

Day 9 Calicut
Visit the colorful streets of Calicut including the Sweetmeat street and its many colorful shops. You could drive to Beypore, one of the prominent ports and fishing harbors of ancient Kerala and visit the boatyards, which have been building vessels since early centuries for legendary seamen.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 10 Calicut Departure
After breakfast, departure transfer to Calicut airport for your return flight.