BACKWATERS OF KERALA
Destination : MUMBAI
- COCHIN - ALLPPEY
- KOVALAM - TRIVANDRUM
Duration : 06 Days 05 Nights
DAY 01: MUMBAI
Met on arrival and transfer to the one night.
Afternoon enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city. Overnight at the
hotel.
The Gateway of India
Bombay or Mumbai
Mumbai, a cluster of seven
islands, derives its name from Mumbadevi - the patron goddess of the
Koli fisher folk, its oldest inhabitants. Once a "Portuguese
princess" dowry and later an adornment of neo-gothic British
architecture, Mumbai today, is more than just a metropolis. It is in
fact an enigma of mud huts and skyscrapers, age-old traditions and
high fashions, the industrialists haven and moviemakers Hollywood.
The sightseeing of Bombay includes a
visit to the Gateway of India, The Prince of Wales Museum, the
Victoria Terminus, Dhobi ghats and the hanging gardens. The Gateway of
India was built during period 1924-1927 to commem¬orate the visit
to India of King George V of England in 1911. Its the most enduring
symbol of the city. Next to the Gateway of India is the Prince of
Wales Museum built in 1911 - one of the biggest museum in the country.
The Victoria Terminus, popularly known as VT is the major railway
station and is considered the most beautiful edifice in the city. From
Nariman Point to Malabar Hill is a winding stretch of road along the
sea with tall build¬ings on one side, known as the Marine Drive.
DAY 02: MUMBAI-COCHIN
Morning transfer to the airport in time
connect your flight to Cochin (CD165 1040:1225 Daily). Met on arrival
and transferred to your hotel for one night. In the afternoon enjoy
guided sightseeing of the city including Dutch Palace and the quaint
Jewish Synagogue. Overnight at the hotel.
COCHIN
The Jewish
Synagogue, Mattancherry
St. Francis Church, Fort Cochin
The Dutch Palace
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 trad¬ing factories, the only ones still standing anywhere in
the world.
DAY 03:COCHIN-ALLPPEY
Morning Drive to Allppey (approx. 63
kms. / 11/2 hrs. driving time). Board a Private Riceboat for a journey
through the backwaters for two nights.
ALLEPPEY (ALAPPUZHA)
Alleppey is a pleasant easygoing market town surrounded by coconut
plantations and built on the canals, which serves the coir industry of
the backwaters. Rightly called the Venice of the East , Alleppey is
crisscrossed by a network of canals. One could laze around in the
boathouses to drift through the backwaters, in a journey, which takes
you through canals, paddy fields and water bound villages.
DAY 04: IN RICEBOAT
Full day is at leisure in RiceBoat enjoying the cruise along the
backwaters and observing village life.
DAY 05: QUILON TO KOVALAM
Morning drive to Kovalam
(approx. 60 kms. /1 ½ hrs. driving time). Stay at your hotel
for three nights.
DAY 06: KOVALAM
Full Day is at leisure
DAY 07: KOVALAM
Full Day is at leisure
DAY 08:
KOVALAM-TRIVANDRUM
Morning Drive to Trivandrum (approx. 13
kms. / ½ hrs. driving time). Later enjoy an orientation tour of
the city. You will be transferred to the airport in time to connect
your return flight to Mumbai (IC168 15:20 1715 Daily)
TRIVANDRUM
Sri
Padhmanabhaswami Temple
Napier Museum
Chitra Art Gallery
Also known as Thiruvananthapuram, Trivandrum is the gateway to one of
the most beautiful states in India - Kerala. Trivandrum opens the
gates to a world of beaches, mountains, backwaters, wildlife
sanctuaries and islands. The southern trip of India was in frequent
trade contact with foreign civilizations, especially from the West
Asian region. Cotton fabrics, spices, ivory and hordes of other goods
were exported from its ports. The beauty of the city is intact in the
wide-open avenues, in its parks and gardens, its cultural institutions
and its undulating countryside.
SRI PADHMANABHASWAMI TEMPLE devoted to
Lord Vishnu is the most dominating feature of the city. The profusely
carved seven story mandapam is a fine example of South Indian
sculpture. However like many other temples in Kerala, the entry to the
temple is restricted only to the Hindus and strict dress regulations
are enforced. The other sight seeing spots are the public park
situated in the centre of the city, NAPIER MUSEUM with a fine
collection of Kerala bronzes ornaments and costumes, CHITRA ART
GALLERY housing the famous collection of Raja Ravi Varma of Travancore
and other Mughal and Rajput miniatures.
A speciality of Thiruvananthpuram is
metal mirrors produced by mixing certain herbs with molten metal to
give it a highly reflective surface.
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