Kerala Curries (Calicut – Kochi – Kumarakom – Kottayam – Trivandrum)

Duration: 13 days and 12 nights

Description: Kerala was always famous all over the world for its spices. People from different cultures came to Kerala for trade and enriched the regional cuisine with exciting variety resulting in a harmonious fusion of many cultures. The best Kerala dishes are a clever blend of exotic spices and delicate herbs served with vegetables, fish or meat. It is with this awareness that we make itineraries covering the various geographical areas, cultures and cuisines of Kerala. The ambience for savouring these delectable recipes is also unique. We have also drawn a panel of high priests of cuisine who are among the best. Here, we embark on a mouth-watering, lip smacking and experience-sharing culinary tour to different temples of gastronomy.

Kerala Cuisine varies from the north to the south, from hills to backwaters and from community to community. Moplah (Muslim), Syrian (Christian) and different Hindu sects have all evolved their district styles and tastes when it comes to cooking.

The innumerable rivers and abundance of water have resulted in a society of people who are clean in their food habits. Cooking, to the older generation, was a ritual with no short cuts or substitutes. Utensils were earthenware or stoneware and the storing was done in China jars. Cooking was done with firewood over open stoves using sweet water drawn from deep wells. Even a simple meal was a treat fit for a king.

Even today, traditional and tasty meals are made with a lot of care and delicate effort. Good food requires the right blending, ingenuity, knowledge of food, experience and very careful handling by experts. In this process also lie the experimentation, the mysteries and the discoveries.

For the sake of brevity, surprise and exclusiveness we are not detailing the subtleties and unique features of the tour. The tour could also be tailored both area wise and period wise to suit your interests. Our expert team could guide you in this.

Day 1: Calicut (Arrival)
On arrival, you will be picked up from Airport and will be transferred to the hotel. Half day visit featuring various streets, markets and other places of interest. Visit Mittai Street (Sweet Meat Street), home to famous Calicut Halwa.

Sweet Street (Mithai Theravu) is one of the busiest places in Kozhikode and it is a major shopping hub. You can find many authentic Kerala items along with spices here in the little shops lined along the street. Sweet Street (Mithai Theravu) is dotted with several shops selling traditional Kerala sweet delights – specially the locally famous Halwa. A walk down the narrow lanes here is like going 600 years back in time to the days of the European traders when these lanes were abuzz. Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 2: Calicut
Morning after breakfast, drive to Ayesha Manzil.
Ayesha Manzil is a beautiful, old colonial style mansion overlooking the blue Arabian Sea. This bungalow was built in 1862 by Murdoch Brown, an Englishman who came to Thalassery as a trader. Formerly known as “Judges Bungalow”, the house was renamed as “Ayesha Manzil” in 1900. Check in followed by first session on cooking. Later lunch with Moplah delicacies. Evening outing to local fish and spice market and Parassinikadavu temple. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3: Calicut
Morning breakfast on a small island at sea. Later proceed for sightseeing which includes visiting monuments and a drive through Muzhappilagadi beach. Muzhapilangad is a small coastal village in Kannur district which is featured on the tourist map owing to the long pristine 5-km shoreline housing a host of entertainment and recreation facilities. It is famous as Kerala’s first drive-in beach and located at a distance of 15 km from Kannur and 8 km from Thalassery. Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 4: Calicut – Kochi
After breakfast, you will be driven to Kochi. Check into the hotel. Relax or go in for an ayurvedic massage. Dinner at an exclusive seafood restaurant.
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5: Kochi
After breakfast sightseeing around Kochi. A port town since early centuries, Cochin, also known as the spice coast of India, attracted traders and invaders from the world over. Needless to say, Cochin offers you some fascinating snippets of history and culture. Evening, enjoy Kathakali at the Greenix village. Overnight at the Hotel.

Day 6: Kochi – Kumarakom
On arrival check into the hotel. Visit Philip Kutty’s farm. Staying at Philipkutty’s Farm is an excellent opportunity to enjoy the real Kerala experience in a fascinating location, with a caring family to look after you. It is a special place, as it provides something different, especially for those who prefer small and friendly places, and, could just be, the perfect hideaway for the bespoke traveller. Lunch followed by cooking session. Evening free and overnight at the hotel.

Day 7: Kumarakom
Morning board houseboat. Enjoy cooking session and food of the boat people. Kerala is known for its panoramic backwater stretches, lush green paddy fields, highlands and beaches. A major backwater stretch lies in Kottayam district, where a network of rivers and canals empty into the great expanse of water called the Vembanad Lake. Overnight at the houseboat.

Day 8: Kumarakom – Alleppey – Kottayam
After breakfast, disembark from the houseboat and drive to Kottayam.
On arrival check in at exclusive Hill Bungalow amidst rubber plantations. Later you can enjoy cooking session – Introduction to Syrian Christian Cuisine. Overnight stay at the bungalow.

Day 9 : Kottayam
Morning after breakfast, explore the plantation and the hillside. Later enjoy cooking session. Overnight at the bungalow.

Day 10: Kottayam – Thiruvananthapuram
After breakfast, drive to Thiruvananthapurm. On arrival check into the hotel.
Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 11 : Thiruvananthapuram
Morning cooking session followed by half day sightseeing. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 12 : Thiruvanathapuram
Cooking session and Ayurveda followed by traditional vegetarian meal in exclusive Travancore ambience. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 13 : Thiruvanathapuram
After morning breakfast, visit historic and architectural venues. Trivandrum is very popular for its Historical Places. A few historical places in Trivandrum are the Napier Museum, which is located at Thiruvananthapuram and has a good collection of bronzes, ivory carvings, ancient musical instruments and life-size figures of Kathakali dancers. The art collection at the Sri Chitra Art Gallery contains paintings of the Mughal, Tanjore and Rajput schools and a special section, devoted exclusively to the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma. There are also works of art from, Bali. The Zoological Gardens are said to be one among the well-planned zoos in Asia. The Botanical garden within the zoo consists of almost every tropical tree. The Observatory, located on the highest point of the city, is one of the impressive architectural landmarks of Thiruvananthapuram. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 14: Thiruvanathapuram (Departure)
After breakfast, transfer to Trivandrum airport for return journey.