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| Thiruvananthapuram - Kovalam, Thekkady, Munnar,
Cochin |
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| Day 1 |
| Arrival at Trivandrum Airport / Railway station.
Transfer to a hotel at Kovalam. |
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| Day 2 |
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Day 3 |
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Get ready for a thrilling windy day.
Kovalam has become one of the most popular
beach hangouts in India. Kovalam means a grove of coconut trees
and truly the coconut trees along the beaches gives it a ravishing
look. The palm-fringed bays in secluded coconut groves, promise
a relaxed stay.
The boundless blue waters of the Arabian Sea and miles of white
sands makes this beach a paradise.
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The day is set to catch the beautiful
locales of the capital city of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram.
Here, you have a lot to witness through. From historical museums
to temples and palaces. The Padmanabhaswami temple with its
gopuram, soaring majestically upwards, is believed to be one
of the 108 shrines sacred to the Vaishnavites in India. Besides
this magnificent temple the city offers a great deal more.
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One can visit the Museum with its
profusion of gables and turrets. A repository of fine works
of art, the chief attraction here is the 250-year-old temple
car made for Lord Vishnu, artistically designed and ornamented.
Lying within the museum compound, Sri Chitra Art Gallery proves
to be an ideal place for art lovers. The piece de resistance
is the large section devoted to the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma,
an Indian painter of distinction in the history of the country's
modern art. |
| Overnight stay at hotel. |
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Stay at hotel. |
| Day 4 |
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Day 5 |
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Day 6 |
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From Thiruvananthapuram, we move towards
the backwater paradise of Kerala, Kumarakom.
A ride through the backwaters of Kerala is an unavoidable choice.
At Kumarakom, which is also called the 'backwater country',
you are off to explore the splendid spectacle of the town on
the shores of the enchanting Vembanad Lake.
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A long cruise in a House boat awaits
you. They carry furnished bedrooms, modern toilets, cozy living
rooms, a kitchen and even a balcony for angling. These house
boat will have a private sit-out. The boat cruise which helps
to see the rural Kerala which is preserved through the ages
& is also completely hidden from the busy roads which will
be a unique experience to the visitor. |
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After the memorable cruise through
the backwater we move towards Thekkady located
on the Western Ghats. In the rich jungles of Periyar is Thekkady,
one of the world's most fascinating natural wildlife reserves
- 'The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary'. Spread across 777 sq. km,
of which 360 sq. km is thick evergreen forest, the Periyar Wildlife
Sanctuary was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978. |
| Stay at hotel. |
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Stay in the House boat. |
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Stay at a resort hotel. |
| Day 7 |
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Day 8 |
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Day 9 |
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| A crusie along the splendid artificial
lake formed by the Mullaperiyar Dam across the Periyar river
adds to the charm of the park. This is the only sanctuary in
India where you can have the unique experience of viewing wildlife
at close quarters from the safety of a boat on the lake. The
greatest attraction of Periyar remains the large herds of wild
elephants that come down to the lake's edge. |
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After starting off the day with enjoying
the geo-morphological diversity of wildlife and scenic beauty,
we move on towards Munnar. It is a hillstation
situated at the confluence of three mountain streams -Mudrapuzha,
Nallathanni & Kundala. 1600 m above sea level, this hill
station was once the summer resort of the erstwhile British
Government in South India.
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In the crack of dawn, we set off
to enjoy the sprawling tea plantations, picture-book towns,
winding lanes and also take the pleasure of holiday facilities
that make this a popular resort town. Munnar also has the highest
peak in South India, Anamudi, which towers over 2695 m. Anamudi
is an ideal spot for trekking. |
| Stay at Thekkady |
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Night stay at a hotel. |
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Stay at a resort hotel. |
| Day 10 |
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Day 11 |
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In the morning we move to Cochin,
The Queen of Arabian sea.
A leisurely walk through the city is the best way to discover
historic Fort Kochi. An obscure fishing village that became
the first European township in India, Kochi has an eventful
and colourful history. The town was shaped by the Portuguese,
the Dutch and later the British.
The result of these cultural influences is seen in many examples
of Indo European architecture that still exist here. Fill your
eyes with these beautiful views of historic and natural gifts.
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This day is set aside for visiting
the boundless destinations of the land.
St. Francis Church:
Built in 1503 by Portuguese Francis Canfriars, this is India's
oldest European church.
Vasco House: Believed
to have been the residence of Vasco da Gama, this is one of
the oldest Portuguese residences in Fort Kochi.
Bastion Bungalow:
Built in the Indo-European style way back in 1667, the Bungalow
gets its name from its location on the site of the Stromberg
Bastion of the old Dutch fort. |
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Palace): Built by the Portuguese in 1557 and
presented to Raja Veera Kerala Varma of Kochi, the Palace
was renovated in 1663 by the Dutch.
Synagogue: Constructed
in 1568, this is the oldest synagogue in the Commonwealth.
Willingdon Island: This
Island is Named after Lord Willingdon, a former British Viceroy
of India, this man-made island is surrounded by beautiful
backwaters
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| Stay at a hotel |
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Night stay at a hotel. |
| Day 12 |
Departure from Cochin International
Airport / Railway station. |
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