JOURNEY THROUGH KERALA (BIKES HIKES & BOATS)
Duration
: 16 Days
Places Covered : Mumbai - Cochin - Munnar -
Periyar - Changanacherry - Aranmula - Varkala - Kovalam - Trivandrum -
mumbai
Day
1: Arrive at Cochin
Breakfast would be at the hotel. Transfer to
airport for flight to Cochin.
Arrive Cochin and transfer to our
accommodation at Fort Cochin, the site of historic palaces, churches, an
ancient Jewish synagogue and architecture reflecting the visits of
Portuguese, British and Dutch traders.
Relax for the day.
Overnight
at Cochin.
Day 2: Arrive Munnar: By road in 4 hours
Breakfast
at hotel.
Transfer to Munnar.
Lunch on the way to Munnar
and dinner at the hotel.
Overnight at Munnar.
Day 3
and 4: Munnar
We have a choice of mountain walks depending on the
weather and changing restrictions. One option is to climb Chokran Mudi
(2179m), which takes us through forestry and tea plantations onto a high
granite ridge with dramatic views of the Western Ghats and beyond, over
mountains and ridges into Tamil Nadu. This is the toughest day on the
trip,
approx. 5-6 hours with some effort required, but the views on top will be
ample reward. Look out for eagles and kites and maybe tiger or bison
droppings, though we will be far too noisy for a close encounter with either
of the latter! Our other route is easier, in the Parvatti Hills. Pleasant
and varied, it starts in the tea plantations and leads through forest
inhabited by lion-tailed macaque monkeys and onto a broad grassy ridge which
is often shaded by trees. From the top, Ainimudi (Elephant Mountain, 2694m)
and Chokran Mudi look spectacular.
All meals for both the days
would be included in the tour.
Both the nights will be at Munnar.
Day 5: Arrive at Periyar: By road in 4 hours
Breakfast
at hotel. A four hour drive southwards over rolling hills and coffee
plantations to the PERIYAR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, one of the major wildlife
reserves in India. Indian elephants, wild boars, lion-tailed monkeys, ibex,
tigers, leopards and sloth bears are on the list. The park surrounds a
large, many-fingered lake and a dawn or dusk foray on one of the boats will
be a thrilling experience. It is from the lake rather than vehicles that the
wildlife is viewed. The sanctuary is rich in bird life. Great hornbills,
kites, darters, herons, egrets, owls and kingfishers are in abundance.
Surrounding the reserve are many small spice plantations and we spend an
absorbing afternoon searching for pepper, cardamom, turmeric, cloves,
nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon and betel.
Lunch and dinner will be
served at the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day
6: Periyar
Early breakfast and reporting at the boat landing on
Lake Periyar to cross over to the starting point of the trek. After about
two hours of hard walk, you hop on to a country raft (its just bamboo poles
bound together) paddled by tribal boatmen. Absolute silence is the secret
and soon you will be able to witness wild animals strolling down to take a
drink from the lake. If it's your lucky day, sightings could include
Elephants, Bison, Bore, Samba, Hyena and of course different bird species.
Tigers being very shy of humans are very rare sightings but one never knows…
After about three hours on the raft, head back to firm land and walk back to
civilization and your Village Resort. It's been a long day and you deserve
to put your legs up and enjoy a tall cooler. Lunch would be packed and
served in the jungle while a lavish dinner would be served at the hotel.
Overnight would be at the resort.
Day 7: Arrive at
Changanacherry: By road in 4 hours
Breakfast would be at the
resort.
A pleasant ride back out of the hills takes us to
Changanacherry, on the fringe of the coastal plain. We pass rice-fields,
banana, tapioca, rubber and coffee plantations, cross-waterways and nudge
our way through bustling small towns. We stop en route for an authentic
south Indian meal served on banana leaves.
Our
boat awaits and we begin a thrilling and colorful boat ride (3 hours)
through the 'backwaters' to Ambalaphuza, all sitting on the roof to see
more! The term 'backwaters' actually refers to the extensive network of
rivers, lakes, canals and lagoons that lace the coastal plain interior
coastline and stretch from Cochin almost down to Trivandrum. Small canoes,
elderly sailboats, coconut-laden barges, tiny skiffs full of school
children, Chinese-style Junks and thatch-covered country craft are common
sights.
Our accommodation for the night is a simple but idyllic
bungalow. (Very comfortable authentic heritage bungalow with attached
bathrooms).
Dinner would be laid out in the dining room of the
bungalow.
Day 8: Changanacherry
Rest, or go for a
walk along the waterside.
You can take part in a host of "Village
Activities" and off course they would be all under supervision of the
local helpful villagers. One such activity is to climb a coconut tree and
pluck your own one. You could also take a small raft and go out fishing with
local baits and handmade fishing rods.
Overnight would be again in
the Bungalow.
Day 9: Arrive at Aranmula
Leave after breakfast for another
memorable cruise down the backwaters to Chengannur. A short distance away
(10km) is Aranmula, set amid rice fields and coconut palms.
We
stay at a dance and arts centre in simple Indian Style Accommodation. A
French woman, who recognized that without arts and cultural program based in
South India, many of the old traditional musical and martial arts risked
dying out, set up the centre dramatic.
On our visit we will be the
special guests at a performance of music and Kathakali, the classical dance
drama of South India. A speciality at the centre is Kerala-style vegetarian
food served on banana leaves, delicately prepared and delicious.
Overnight
would be at the ARTS CENTRE.
Day 10: Aranmula
We join
workshops on dance, music, woodcarving, yoga and Kalaripayat - the martial
art of South India. To be an accomplished Kathakali dancer or to engage in
Kalaripayat at a high level takes many years of dedicated study, and this
introduction allows us to glimpse another world where priorities are very
different to the West. We can book a relaxing Ayurvedic body massage and
also watch the elaborate Kathakali make-up being painted on the evening's
dance performers.
All meals would be vegetarian. Overnight would
be at the ARTS CENTRE.
Day
11: Biking
We cycle along narrow rural lanes, linking small
villages. We will encounter some traffic when cycling through small towns,
but for the most part the roads are quiet and fairly flat. Often beyond the
palm trees there will be views of the Arabian Sea. It will be an exciting
new dimension and will bring many friendly encounters with the local people.
Each day, an early start (6.30am) to cycle for around four hours
before the sun climbs too high.
Overnight would be at a small beach
hotel closer to Aleppey. Lunch and dinner would be at the resort.
Day
12: Biking
A morning cycle ride to arrive at Varkala in time for a
dip in the Arabian Sea. Varkala is in a beautiful location and balanced
between traditional India and growing pressures of tourism. We stay in a
simple guesthouse with delicious delicately prepared Kerala food. There is
an important Hindu temple and bathing GHAT here and each new year a well
attended Hindu festival spread over several days dedicated to an enlightened
guru, Sree Narayana Guru, attracts thousands of pilgrims to a nearby
village.
Meals would be at the resort.
Overnight at a
GARDEN RETREAT.
Day 13: Biking
Spend the morning
cycling in the beach and meeting locals. Rest of the day would be spent
relaxing.
All meals will be at the resort.
Overnight at
the Garden Retreat.
Day
14: Reach Kovalam
The final day's biking through coconut palms and
small fishing villages ends just to the north of Trivandrum. A local taxi
ride completes the journey and we spend our last evening in Kerala in beach
bungalows by the Arabian Sea at Kovalam.
Lunch would be at
Trivandrum or Kovalam depending on the time.
Dinner would be a lavish
spread of SEAFOOD and LOCAL WINE.
Day 15: Departure
Breakfast
at resort.
Transfer to the airport of Trivandrum for flight to
Mumbai or Delhi.
