Cuisine Wildlife & Backwaters
Duration :13 Days 12 Nights
Destination :Cochin
- Kothamangalam - Kodanad - Munnar - Periyar - Kumarkom
Contemplating the true aspects of
Kerala culture, Wildlife & Backwaters, its cuisine has also been
influenced by numerous its unique tradition. Kerala cuisine
encompasses a stimulating combination of vegetables, meats and seafood
flavored with a variety of spices and almost always cooked in coconut
milk. Spices are used in Kerala to tone up the system and act as an
aid to the digestion. The Western Ghats of Kerala provides a natural
habitat to wildlife. Kerala has restored its wildlife and nature
through all these years inspite of plenty of hardships and
difficulties
Day 01 Depart London
Depart London via Dubai by Emirates
Day 02 Arrive Cochin
& Drive to Kothamangalam
Arrive Cochin by
morning met upon arrival and transferred to your hotel for wash &
change and for quick breakfast
After breakfast drive to
Kothamangalam (03 hours), where we are going to spent our next four
nights with Jose & Daisy at their Home stay and will learn some
Kerala cuisine
Arrive Kothamangalam and check in at Jose &
Daisy’s Home stay
This home stay is located at Pindimana,
a small village 7kms away from Kothamangalam junction. This is the
proverbial home away from home offering you the exclusive experience
of living in a plantation. Nestling in the virgin hills of the Western
Ghats, this home is a cluster of rubber, pepper and coconut
plantations, surrounded by tiny villages in an area of 104 acres. The
plantation will give you the opportunity to see the methods of tapping
and processing of rubber at close quarters.
Afternoon visit to
the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary (also
commonly known as the Thattekad Sanctuary) is located in the
Kothamangalam Taluk of Ernakulam district on the northern bank of the
Periyar River. The sanctuary was notified in 1983 based on a
recommendation made by Dr. Salim Ali many years previously. Ali
described Thattekad in the 1930's as the richest bird habitat in
peninsular India, comparable only with the eastern Himalayas. Since
then much of the forest has been diverted to cultivation and teak and
mahogany plantation but what survives gives a glimpse of the
phenomenal bird diversity of the once widespread lowland forests of
Kerala.
Day 03 Kothamangalam
Morning Birding at Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary
Cooking class with Jose and Daisy in the afternoon
Day 04 Kothamangalam - Kodanad -
Thattekad Bird Sanctuary - Kothamangalam
Morning
visit to the Elephant training camp at Kodanad (25 kms)
Kodanad,
set on the southern banks of the Periyar River amid the beautiful high
ranges near Perumbavoor, is one of the largest elephant training
centres of Kerala. Earlier elephants captured from the Malayatoor
forests (the forests in the east and north of Kodanad) were trained
here. Since the introduction of a ban to elephant capture Kodanad has
been reduced to a training centre.
This area is spread across 25 sq. km.
the sanctuary lies between the tributaries of the river Periyar like a
peninsula. Rare birds like the Crimson-throated Barbet, Bee-eater,
Sunbird, Shrike, Black Winged Kite, Night Heron, Falcon, Grey Jungle
Fowl, White-Breasted Water Hen, Hornbill, Ceylon Frog moth;
Rose-billed Roller and Blue-winged Parakeet live here.
Cooking
class with Jose and Daisy in the afternoon
Day 05 Kothamangalam - Thattekad
Bird Sanctuary
Morning Birding at Salim
Ali Bird Sanctuary
Cooking class with Jose and Daisy in
the afternoon
Day 06 Kothamangalam -
Munnar
After breakfast drive to Munnar
(04 hours)
Arrive Munnar and check in at your hotel
A
hill station at a height of 1525 mtrs., Munnar offers a breathtaking
view of the hills draped in folds of green carpet of tea gardens.
Munnar - the right royal resort lazily nestled in the verdant slopes
of tea country, is a quaint little town that exudes a rare old world
charm and strangely reminds one of the days of the Raj in its elegant
splendour. Beyond the rolling hills discover the rich tropical forests
abounding in exotic flora & fauna. It is here that you will find
the Anamudi peak, the highest peak in the Western Ghats, in South
India. Munnar’s serene atmosphere, silver streams and pleasant
climate welcome you to have a whiff of the cool mountain breeze.
Rest of the day at leisure
Stay at Hotel Windamere Munnar for two
nights
Windermere is where the manicured Tea
Garden merges with lush green Forests of Munnar. More of a family run
guesthouse than a hotel, Windermere has five exclusive double rooms, 2
units Coffee Cottages, an interacting room and a dining room serving
table d' hotel. The presence of a Planter's family next door ensures
you high range hospitality, security, and local advice, devoid of a
Hotel atmosphere.
Day 07 Visit To Eravikulam
Wildlife Sanctuary
Full day visit to
Eravikulam Bird Sanctuary
Eravikulam Wildlife Sanctuary is
a sanctuary set up for the preservation of the endangered Nilgiri
Thar. The sanctuary stands out for the stark beauty of its rolling
grasslands and sholas, spread over 97 sq. km of unblemished natural
splendour. Anamudi, the highest peak south of Himalayas, towers over
the sanctuary in majestic pride. The slopes of the hills abound in all
kinds of rare flora and fauna. The Atlas Moth, largest of its kind in
the world, is a unique possession of the park. The sanctuary was
declared as a National Park in 1978. The park is breathtakingly
beautiful and is easily comparable to the best mountain ranges found
anywhere in the world.
Day 08 Munnar -
Periyar National Park
After breakfast
drive to Periyar National Park (03 hours)
Arrive Periyar
National Park and check insss at your resort
Periyar National
Park is situated in the hills of the Western Ghats in the state of
Kerala in southwest India. The centerpiece of the park is the
5,500-hectare Periyar Lake formed by the construction of a dam on the
Periyar River in 1895. The dam submerged low-lying forest whose dead
tree-trunks still jut out of the waters. Along the fringes of the lake
are marshy areas with tall grasslands. This is one of the richest
habitats for large mammals, as it provides both excellent cover and
nourishment in the form of succulent shoots and grasses. Here it is
possible to see large herds of Indian Elephant with relative ease as
well as Nilgiri Langur near Aranya Niwas and the Liontail Macaque in
higher areas. The forests are tropical, a mixture of deciduous,
semi-evergreen, and evergreen ‘shjolas’, the last occurring
in the moist valleys and characterised by tall trees and a closed
canopy. The forests alternate with extensive patches of grasslands.
Periyar’s rich birdlife includes the Giant Hornbill, Cormorant,
Darter, Osprey and Racket-tailed Drongo. The Indian Python and King
Cobra are among the reptilian fauna. Periyar has a few Nilgiri Tahr,
good numbers of which may also be seen on a day excursion to nearby
Erivakulam National Park near Munnar.
Rest of the day Birding & Game
Viewing at Periyar
Stay at Spice Village for two nights
Spice village is designed as a native tribal village inspired by the
tribesmen of Periyar, the Oorali and Mannan, who lived in similar
dwellings. The rooms are spacious and furnished with simple
sophistication: terracotta tiled floors, wooden beds and chairs, and
whitewashed walls. There is also a telephone, a fan, an en suite
bathroom with hot running water, and an efficient laundry service. A
verandah runs round the entire cottage. At the centre of the village
is a swimming pool, surrounded by tropical trees and lawns.
Overlooking it is a buffet restaurant, which serves a wide range of
traditional Indian and international cuisine. Spice Village has an
exclusive well-equipped Ayurvedic clinic. The highlight, though, is
the garden itself, bursting with a rich array of spice trees, each
plant is carefully marked (giving the English and Latin names), and
there is a botanist at hand to answer any question.
Day 09 Periyar National Park
Morning and after Boat rides at Lake Periyar for
the game viewing and animal watch
Day 10 Periyar National Park -
Kumarakom
After breakfast drive to
Kumarakom (02 hours)
Perched on the eastern banks of the
mighty Lake Vembanad is the sleepy little town of Kumarakom in central
Kerala. The hartland of Kerala’s famed backwaters, Kumarakom has
changed little since the middle ages but for it’s string of
exotic resorts that makes it the perfect jumping – off point to
explore 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!
Arrive Kumarakom and check in at your hotel
Visit Kumarakom Bird
Sanctuary
KUMARAKOM BIRD SANCTUARY
There is no end to the number of exotic birds that visit this
picturesque little village by the side of the Vembanad Lake. Right in
the heart of lush tropical waterways, the peak time to visit the
Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is between November and March, when it serves
as a winter home for a wide range of migratory birds, most of them
from Siberia. Noteworthy species include the darter or Snake bird,
little Cormorant, Night Heron, Golden-backed Woodpecker, Crow
Pheasant, White breasted water Hen and Tree pie.
Stay at
Coconut Lagoon for tonight
Located on the backwaters of
Kumarakom, Coconut Lagoon is 10 kms from Kottayam, 14 kms from
Kottayam railway station and 78 kms from Cochin City. Coconut Lagoon
has 14 heritage mansions, 28 heritage bungalows and 2 pool villas
(with private swimming pools). The hotel has the facilities of
Ayurvedic Massages, Yoga & Meditation, swimming, fishing, rice
boat cruises and ethnic and international cuisine. Each
air-conditioned room has a telephone and a private bathroom with bath
and/or shower and toilet.
A well-run resort built in traditional
style. Highly recommended.
Day 11 Kumarkom – Back
Water House Boat
After breakfast drive
to Alleppey and board the Houseboat
Over night stay at the
House Boat
HOUSEBOAT
In addition to
scare-line fishing, watching people collecting lime and tapping toddy,
this tourist complex has unique houseboats, boat trains, motorboats
and water sport facilities. Here, visitors can hire houseboats for
cruises. The houseboats are simply furnished, with a small lawn,
living room, bedroom with attached bath and a raised central platform
where passengers can laze on cushions. Sections of the curved roof of
wood and plaited palms open out to provide shade and allow
uninterrupted views. Powered by local oarsmen, the trip is as quiet
and restful.
Day 12 Back Water House Boat –
Cochin
Disembark at Alleppey and drive
to Cochin (03 hours)
Arrive Cochin and check in at your
hotel
Half day guided tour of Cochin
Cochin - formerly
a princely state beckoned travelers from distant shores. This
commercial city, also called “The Queen of the Arabian Sea”
is famous for its exquisite designer Gold Jewelry. The Indian Navy,
the Port and the Airport share the largely man-made Willingdon Island.
The sightseeing includes the visit to Dutch Palace built by the
Portuguese for a local King in 1555 A.D. The famous Jew Street, a
cul-de-sac leading to the beautiful Parsi Synagogue built in 1568. A
walking tour of Fort Cochin will take you through the streets still
graced with traces of Portuguese, Dutch & British colonial
architecture, including a few old trading factories, the only
ones still standing anywhere in the world.
Kathakali Dance show
at evening
KATHAKALI DANCE
The most
popular and sacred dance-drama of Kerala, Kathakali evolved across the
last 400 years. This classical dance requires lengthy and rigourous
training to attain complete control of the body and sensitivity to
emotion so as to be able to render all its nuances through facial
expressions and hand gestures. Themes centre on the two great Indian
epics - the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. We suggest arriving early in
order to witness the artists putting on their make-up.
Stay at
Taj Malabar for tonight
The Taj Malabar is centrally
air-conditioned hotel. Each air-conditioned room is well appointed and
offers facilities like telephone, television and attached private
facilities. Other amenities include a swimming pool and an Ayurvedic
massage centre.
Location: Airport – 5
kilometers: Ernakulam Railway Station – 10 kilometers
Government
grading: Five-Star deluxe hotel
Our comments:
Five-star deluxe hotel – A part of the prestigious Taj Group of
Hotels
Day 13 Cochin
Departure transfer to the airport
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