Kerala Backwaters Tour

Duration: 10 Nights & 11 Days
Places to see: Cochin – Munnar – Periyar – Alleppey – Kettuvallam (Backwaters) – Agra – Delhi

Day 01: Home – Cochin

Arrive and transfer to city hotel in Cochin – is a beautiful city situated on the Western Coast of India facing the Arabian Sea, and rightfully called the ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea’. It has a rich network of backwaters and is the culture and heritage centre of Kerala. A cluster of islands, Cochin is the commercial city of Kerala and is one of the finest natural harbors in the world. On arrival in Cochin, check in at the hotel. In the evening have small city of Cochin. You will visit Jewish Synagogue, constructed in 1568, is the oldest synagogue in the commonwealth. It is closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays. Mattancherry Palace or Dutch Palace has fine collection of mural paintings depicting the scenes from the Hindu epics Mahabharatha and Ramayana. It is closed on Fridays. In Fort Cochin visit St. Francis Church, the oldest church built by European in India. Vasco da Gama was buried here in 1524 before his remains were moved to Lisbon, Portugal. The tombstone still remains. Also visit Chinese Fishing Nets that are the most efficient means of backwater fishing. You can enthrall yourself with a special presentation of the colorfully costumed Kathakali Dance Show in a local theatre. Kathakali is an ancient religious pantomime dance drama handed down through generations for more than 300 years and performed by dedicated families of Kerala Overnight in the Hotel.

Day 02: Cochin – Munnar

After breakfast drive to Munnar – is a serene hill station in the Kannan Devan hills. For those who do not want to be surrounded by crowds, Munnar is one of the best destinations that could be selected. The place has greenery, lakes, reservoirs and some of the highest tea estates in the world. The place also has good facilities for adventure sports. Munnar is located in the eastern part of Kerala at an altitude of 1524 meters. On the way to Munnar can see tea gardens spread like a green carpet over hundreds of kilometers, lust green hills, a place so difficult to describe, very low population too far from pollution. On arrival check in to the Hotel and Evening stroll through the tea estates. Over night stay at hotel.

Day 03: Munnar

After breakfast sightseeing of Munnar which includes the Raja Malai, a top peak of Munnar where you can see Neel Thar (mountain goats), Muttupetty dam, you can also enjoy boating in the Lake (optional / on direct payment basis). Return to the hotel for overnight stay.

Day 04: Munnar – Periyar

After breakfast proceed to Periyar – South India’s most popular wildlife sanctuary, encompassing an area of 777 sq. km. Though the sanctuary was made a part of Project Tiger in 1973, it is better known for its elephants. The park has a picturesque lake at the heart of the sanctuary. Formed with the building of a dam in 1895, this reservoir meanders around the contours of the wooded hills, providing a perennial source of water for the local wildlife. The dense forest cover and the variety of flora are also among the tourist attractions in Periyar. There are trees more than 100 years old and over 50 m high. On arrival in Periyar, check-in at the hotel. Overnight in the Hotel.

Day 05: Periyar

In the morning enjoy game viewing by boats, which carry you through the jungle along convoluted waterways. This biosphere reserve has a varied range of flora and fauna and you can set out for a tour of this exotic territory with camera in your hand and hope to capture the shy residents of the forest. The elephants are the most majestic among all the things to watch in Periyar. They can be spotted on the lake shores bathing and basking in the sun. However, you can come across many other mammalian species such as leopard, wild dog, barking deer, mouse deer, Nilgiri langur (an endangered primate), bonnet macaque, sambhar, porcupines, squirrels, gaur (Indian bison), wild boar, and sloth bear Overnight in the Hotel.

Day 06: Periyar – Aleppey

After breakfast departure to Aleppey and Check in at Punnamudi Backwater Resort. Afternoon at leisure and take speed cruise on the Vembanad Lake, Chinese nets, the old light house & night fishing for lobstar. Overnight stay will be at resort.

Day 07: Alleppey – Kettuvallam (Backwaters)

After Breakfast board at Kettuvallam (traditional rice boat) – It took great skill and meticulousness to construct these Houseboats by tying huge planks of jack wood together, without the use of a single nail. Today these are the most exciting tourism product in India, which usually has one or two bath rooms, an open lounge, deck, kitchenette and a crew comprising oarsmen, a cook and guide. Sail along the winding network of Kerala backwaters, see the unique water world and experience its myriad charms. Spot colorful insects and butterflies flitting over flower bunch that adorn the lush green vegetation on the banks of the Kerala backwaters. Let the swaying coconut palms on the water banks dance to the music of oars splashing against the otherwise still Kerala backwaters. In houseboats, traditional Kerala food will be served. Overnight at Houseboat.

Day 08: Kettuvallam (Backwaters) – Cochin

In the morning after breakfast disembark the boat, and drive to drive to Cochin. Overnight in the Hotel.

Day 09: Cochin – Delhi

Early breakfast in the hotel and transfer to airport to connect flight for Delhi. On arrival in Delhi, you will be welcomed by our executive and transferred to your hotel. New Delhi, the capital and the third largest city of India is a fusion of the ancient and the modern. Standing along the West End of Gangetic Plain, the capital city, Delhi, unwinds a picture rich with culture, architecture and human diversity, deep in history, monuments, museums, galleries, gardens and exotic shows. Comprising of two contrasting yet harmonious parts, the Old Delhi and New Delhi, the city is a travel hub of Northern India. Narrating the city’s Mughal past, Old Delhi, takes you through the labyrinthine streets passing through formidable mosques, monuments and forts. The imperial city of New Delhi displays the finely curved architecture of British Raj.

Day 10: Delhi – Agra

Morning drive to Agra – The city of Mughals offers you an opportunity to explore the massive monuments, majestic buildings, and the popular arts and crafts. The architectural splendor of the mausoleums, the fort and the palaces is a vivid remainder of the mausoleums, the fort and the palaces is a vivid reminder of the capital in the capital in the 16th and early 17th centuries. En route visiting Sikandra – The Mughal Emperor Akbar’s mausoleum. Visit Taj Mahal (Taj Mahal remains closed on Friday), a poem in white marble, built by Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaj Mahal. It took twenty-two years and hard toil of more than twenty thousand workers to construct Taj Mahal. The beauty of the Taj Mahal is enchanting and it reflects the marvelous beauty of architecture. Taj Mahal symbolize the richness of art and architecture of the Mughal period. After Taj Mahal visit Agra Fort; built by Emperor Akbar on the west bank of the river Yamuna and beautified with palaces and gardens by Jehangir, Agra Fort today dominates the centre of the city. The crescent-shaped fort with its 20-metre high, 2.4-km outer walls contains a maze of buildings that form a small city within a city. Overnight will be at hotel in Agra.

Day 11: Agra – Delhi Onward destination

Morning free. Late afternoon drive back to Delhi upon arrival, transfer to International Airport for flight back to onward destination.