Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Namaste & welcome to incredible Republic of India - one of the friendliest countries on earth, combining glorious architecture with a warm-hearted welcome.

With its sumptuous mix of traditions, spiritual beliefs, festivals, architecture & landscapes, your memories of India will blaze bright long after you have left its shores.

Arrive in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala's capital – still usually referred to by its colonial-era name, Trivandrum 

After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? - Trivandrum International Airport, subsequent to Immigration & Customs, you will be welcomed by The Journeys representative who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to the hotel. Assistance will be provided during Check-in He / she will provide assistance during Check-in & also discuss the program for the next few days.

One of the oldest cities in India, with periodic references in Greek & Roman literatures. Referred to by Mahatma Gandhi as the "Evergreen city of India", Thiruvananthapuram, is characterized by its undulating terrain of low coastal hills & busy commercial alleys.

With a tradition dating back to 1000BC, it lies on a small strip of land with plenty of coconut & palm trees, and it’s name means “City of Lord Anantha” (the serpent on which Lord Padmanabha / Vishnu reclines). It was a trading post for spices, sandalwood & ivory and is an easygoing introduction to urban life down south.

Trivandrum (once capital of the princely state of Travancore) has enough good food & intriguing sights - including a zoo, a Travancore palace & a cluster of Victorian Museums in glorious neo-Keralan buildings - to justify a stay.

Drive on to your hotel Somatheeram Ayurveda Village Resort located on the dreamy coastline of the Arabian Sea in Kovalam & Check-in.

*Check-in time is 02.00 pm. For earlier arrivals in the morning, we will request the hotel for a complimentary early Check-in but cannot be guaranteed unless reserved & paid for ‘immediate occupancy’.

The glistening Somatheeram Ayurveda Village Resort, a heritage property of 15 acres is built with recreated palaces & 'nalukettus' of vintage Kerala right on a pristine beach.

The Resort represents authentic, traditional Kerala architecture, with its quaint tile-roofed timber houses, which allow for a living in communion with all the elements of nature, in perfect resort ambience. Perched on a high cliff in a panoramic hinterland of about 8 acres which overlooks one of the best & widest beach strips in the country, lined by a canopy of green coconut palms, the view is absolutely breathtaking & will linger in the mind's eye of the viewer for a long time afterwards.

Kovalam is a small coastal town in the southern Indian state of Kerala, south of Thiruvananthapuram. Once a calm fishing village clustered around its crescent beaches & backed by a sea of cascading palms, Kovalam now competes with Varkala as Kerala’s most developed resort area.

Famous for its beaches, among the most pristine in India, Kovalam is extremely popular among westerners due to shallow waters & low tidal waves. It is also one of the oldest tourist enclave in India, which known among tourist circuit right in 1930s & shot into limelight in the early ‘70s with arrivals of the masses of hippies.

The touristed main stretch, Lighthouse Beach, is flanked by hotels & restaurants stretching back into the hillside from the shore; just north, Palm trees line up Hawa Beach & Samudra Beach (although neither beach could be described as pristine) which are usually crowded with day trippers heading straight from the taxi & bus stands to the sand.

At the southern end of Lighthouse Beach is a striped lighthouse with a viewing platform. Heading inland, Vizhinjam Juma Masjid mosque overlooks the busy fishing harbor.  A convenient & immensely popular place for fun by the sea; there are promising waves (& a surf club), as well as some charming guesthouses and a flourishing Ayurveda & Yoga scene.  Sagarika Marine Research Aquarium displays technology used in pearl production.

Balance of the day is at leisure or perhaps opt for one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions for “optional’ programs & make arrangements).

Overnight.  L D

Travancore’s Ayurvedic Centre boasts an extensive selection of Wellness treatments & therapies, designed to result in rejuvenating your body.

Over 4000 years young, Ayurveda is the perfect ancient science of life. The word 'ayur' literally means life and 'veda' the science of knowledge. It implies to connected ideas, the science of life & art of living. Pioneered by renowned sages - Susrutha, Charaka & Vagbhata, ayurveda encompasses a world view that is ecological & eco-centric in spirit. It emphasises on the preventive rather than the curative aspect of therapy and orients itself towards a healthy & enlightened lifestyle. When Ayurveda lost its way in the other areas of India during the medieval period, due to foreign invasion, only in Kerala it was kept alive & consequently, Kerala developed its own Ayurvedic treatment techniques known as Keraleeya Panchakarma.

Turn in to watch a great tradition kept alive for you, in all its essence. A garden of rare & precious medicinal herbs nurtured under ideal condition, to give you the best of nature. The Travancore Heritage Resort offers a variety of therapeutic packages for you for all seasons, especially for the monsoon.

According to Ayurveda, monsoon is the most appropriate season for a thorough Ayurvedic medical care. The programmes include rejuvenation therapy, various clinical packages & beauty care which makes a sea-change in the way you look & feel. The Travancore Heritage Ayurvedic Centre has developed an Ayurvedic menu to suit your taste as well as your digestive special. You can also attend the lectures & join the tours to herbal gardens conducted by the Resort.

Full day at leisure to experience the 6 night Spa* treatments that are included to reinvigorate you (we will be happy to offer suggestions for “optional’ programs during your ‘free’ time & make arrangements).

*Spa Package inclusions - 6 nights

·         Ayurvedic diet & wellness consultation

·         Introductory Spa & Fitness Orientation Sessions with an initial spa consultation

·         3 General body massage with medicated bath & medicated steam bath

·         3 Njavarakizhi treatments

·         2 Pizhichil/Sarvangadhara warm oil sessions with massage

·         2 Shirodhara warm oil sessions

·         2 Podikizhi herbal powder massage

·         2 Ksheeradhara annointment sessions

·         Daily group yoga session

·         Twice daily herbal health juice/drinks

·         Daily  access to  hotel swimming pools, jacuzzi & health club 

Full day at leisure to experience the Spa* treatments that will reinvigorate you.

Follow the rejuvenating Ayurvedic regimen (we will be happy to offer suggestions for “optional’ programs during your ‘free’ time & make arrangements).

Full day at leisure to experience the Spa* treatments that will reinvigorate you.

Follow the rejuvenating Ayurvedic regimen (we will be happy to offer suggestions for “optional’ programs during your ‘free’ time & make arrangements).

Full day at leisure to experience the Spa* treatments that will reinvigorate you.

Follow the rejuvenating Ayurvedic regimen (we will be happy to offer suggestions for “optional’ programs during your ‘free’ time & make arrangements).

Full day at leisure to experience the Spa* treatments that will reinvigorate you.

Follow the rejuvenating Ayurvedic regimen (we will be happy to offer suggestions for “optional’ programs during your ‘free’ time & make arrangements).

Full day at leisure to experience the Spa* treatments that will reinvigorate you.

Follow the rejuvenating Ayurvedic regimen (we will be happy to offer suggestions for “optional’ programs during your ‘free’ time & make arrangements).

Morning, depart for the backwaters of Kumarakom, driving through the idyllic countryside & en-route stopping at a working rubber estate to see rubber tapping technique.  

On arrival, Check-in at Lake Song Resort & relax for an hour.

Kerala is best known for its backwaters & an extensive portion of Kumarakom's beauty lies in the panoramic stretches of palm-fringed backwaters.

Situated in the Kottayam district of Kerala, Kumarakom, or the 'Venice of the East' is a veritable paradise in the lush backwaters. The landscape basically consists of a cluster of island villages in & around the large "Vembanad Kayal", the largest freshwater lake.

Kerala’s heartland of lagoons, palm fringed lakes & paddy fields, inter-linked with hundreds of winding canals with the typical low slung country boats that carry everything from people to fish, rice & coconuts to the milkman & newspaper boy, local politicians & priests to wedding parties. A large number of coconut trees line the horizon to add the perfect tropical touch to the landscape.

The name Kumarakom was derived from the deity of its oldest temple Kumaran. Kumaran's Akam or place became Kumarakom. It was part of Vadakkancore kingdom. But in 1750 Marthanda Varma the King of Travacore conquered and annexed it to Travancore. The first Christian Church was built here in the year 1769 in the land granted by the King of Travancore.

The Backwater houses a variety of species of both fauna & flora. They are rich with marine life namely the exclusive 'Kumarakom Karimeen' (pearl spotted fish), Konju (tiger prawns), Njandu (crabs), Chemeen (prawns) & many more. 

Kumarakom is also well known throughout the world for its wide variety of houseboats. Apart from these, there are elegant special Snake Boats, which take part in the boat races around Onam time. More than 1000 oarsmen in boats of different sizes & shapes participate in this famous annual event. Even though Snake Boats participate in this race, the importance given here is for iruttukuthi, in which about 50 oarsmen row in a single boat. The annual Kumarakom boat-race is conducted in the big canal in the centre near the market.

After a short rest, accompanied by the Tour-guide, proceed for an excursion to Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary (also known as Vembanad Bird Sanctuary) spread out over 14 hectares in the Kerala Backwaters,

The Sanctuary is a favourite haunt of a variety of domestic & migratory birds during their respective migratory seasons & among the most popular bird watching spots in the country. Developed in a rubber plantation as a bird sanctuary by Englishman George Alfred Baker, the Sanctuary was formerly known as Baker’s Estate. The Kerala Tourism Development Corporation currently manages the Sanctuary & has opened an Interpretation Centre inside.

The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, an Ornithologist's paradise is a favourite haunt of migratory birds that flock in thousands, ranging from places like the Himalayas to even from as far as Siberia. One comes across numerous rare avian species in these parts. People get to see Waterfowl, Cuckoo, Owl, Water Duck, Siberian Cranes, Parrots, Garganey Teal, Larks, Flycatchers, Wood Beetles. Indian Darter, Little Cormorant, different species of Egrets, Herons, White Ibis & several species of Kingfishers, Osprey, Marsh Harrier, Steppey Eagle.

In addition, you can get thrilled of the native kingfishers ablaze in psychedelic colours, experience a walk under rookeries of egrets & night herons or lone golden-backed woodpeckers & even delight in the acrobatics of the paradise fly-catchers.

May to July is the breeding season for local species such as the Indian Shag, Pond Herons, Egrets & Darters, White Ibis & several species of Kingfishers.

Boating trips in the lagoons passing through quant little villages around the sanctuary are extremely relaxing. Bird lovers can also take a boat trip to the nearby Kaipuzha Muttu, Pathiramanal, Narakathara, Thollayiram Kayal and Poothapandi Kayal to watch local & migrant birdlife which could easily be more than a hundred species.

Return to hotel. 

Evening is free to relax or for optional activities (we would be happy to offer suggestions & make the arrangements).

The adventurous could indulge in water sports such as windsailing & water-skiing. You could even take a canoe out into the quite lakes & armed with a fishing rod, catch your own supper. Make sure you do not miss out on Karimeen & fresh toddy, the favourite fresh water food & the local wine

Morning, Check-out & drive a short distance to Alappuzha. 

Alappuzha - most still call it Alleppey - is the hub of Kerala's backwaters, home to a vast network of waterways, over a thousand houseboats & an important coir industry.

Alleppey is one of the most important tourist centers in the state, with a large network of inland canals earning it the sobriquet "Venice of the east". These large network of canals provide Alleppey with its lifeline & it was one of the busiest centers of trade in the past with one of the best known ports along the Malabar coast. Even today it retains its charm as the centre for Coir carpet industries and prawn farming.

Wandering around the small but chaotic city centre, with its modest grid of canals, you would be hard-pressed to agree with the 'Venice of the East' tag, & sadly, at research time a hulking new highway flyover was marring the beauty of Alleppey's popular beach.

But head out towards the backwaters & Alleppey becomes graceful & greenery-fringed, disappearing into a watery world of villages, punted canoes, toddy shops & of course, Houseboats. Floating along & gazing over paddy fields of succulent green, curvaceous rice barges & village life along the banks is one of Kerala’s most mesmerisingly beautiful & relaxing experiences.

In time, proceed to the Jetty on the East side of Vembanad Lake to board the private Rice Boat for a totally different experience cruising along the canals in the Backwaters. The boat travels until sunset when it then anchors for the night.

These houseboats or ‘Kettuvalloms’ are luxurious boats with well-appointed bedrooms & en-suite bathrooms. You can sunbathe on the deck or observe the palm fringed landscape from your cabins.

Your house-boat has a private balcony with comfortable chairs. The rooms are fully furnished with attached bathrooms. The boat has a fully equipped kitchen and an experienced cook to prepare authentic Kerala cuisine with seafood specialties and fresh vegetables. This is your chance to pick up some fabulous cooking tips!

The boat cruise along the backwaters of Alleppey gives one first-hand experience of the life style; toddy tapping, fishing for small fry, Coir-making, prawn farming etc., which remains more or less unchanged over the years. These cruise boats offer a panoramic view of one of the most picturesque aspects of God's Own Country, travelling through palm-fringed backwaters, where you can see local villages located on the side of the canals.

After you are settled in & have enjoyed a calming sweet coconut, the Boat will take a round in the Vembanad Lake before entering the Canal system of what is called, the Kuttanad - the erstwhile rice bowl of Southern India. There is a vast arrangement of geometric rice paddies called Blocks that connect the ancient backwaters to the Lake & sea.

The Boat will stop at one or more of the canal-side fish markets to stock up on some fresh fish for the journey, which gives you a chance to suggest your preferences to add to the menu. You can embellish the Menu with lobster, if available in the market.

The Boat will cruise for short distances & stop periodically to give you the opportunity to get off & walk around the villages. The Boat will moor beside a paddy field for lunch. .

Lunch is actually a rich affair with quite a few dishes that include meat, fish & vegetable dishes, all cooked Kerala style. You will smell the aroma of grilling & frying from the galley at the rear as you cruise.

After lunch, the Boatman raises sail again as you start exploring the canals & byways of this unusual ecosystem. Without roads, all life in the Backwaters takes place on the stage of the canal bank - whether it is washing clothes & children, gossiping or buying fish & stuff from the itinerant boatmen.

You may hear their distinctive cries as they paddle down the canals. Each type of Salesman has a different cry. Later in the afternoon, you will see the children in school uniforms, returning from their schools Alappuzha, on the water ferries. As you travel through the backwaters you will see a wide variety of birds - both wild & domestic - duck farming is popular here & you will encounter flocks of over 1000 birds quacking along the canals.

The water of the Backwater is the reason why this area is so ecologically unique & interesting: the level is below high tide line so the waters are fed from two distinct sources - the sea & the rivers from the mountains and this makes the water slightly brackish & home to species that have evolved to survive this environment.

You will obviously not see below the surface the variety of aquatic life - fish, mussels, clams & prawns. But from the amount of fishing activity that you will see during the day & night - it will be obvious that they are there & in some abundance, too.

If you want to, you may dive in to the waters to come back up with mussels. CNN sends the likes of Anthony Bourdain to sample the mussels harvested here. The trick is to cook it well unlike the gourmet dishes of curing & flash cooking. Despite this, the masalas (spices) added bring out top quality mussel dishes that are quite a revelation. Experience the whole process from fishing to cooking & enjoying a Keralan mussel delicacy.

As the sun starts to set, the Boatmen will find their regular moorings & anchor for the night (usually around 6.00 pm). The Backwater houseboats all moor at the same time to free the waters for the night time Fishermen, who now paddle past quietly on their way to set nets or fish with lights.

This is your chance to enjoy a Sundowner (non-alcoholic) & take in the late afternoon activities of the local society. While you are relaxing in the bows, watching the world go by, the crew will be cooking dinner for you. 

This would be a good time to set out along the banks to discover the world of the Backwaters (one of the crew will be happy to show you around & ensure you notice the minute details of your surroundings which you will remember after you return).

After dinner, the lights are often dimmed t enable you to simply enjoy the peace & calm of the night.

Spend the evening lying on the day bed in the bows puffing on a cigarette or a cigar. When sleep hits, retire to your cool cabin & fall asleep with the gentle rocking of the boat.

You will get up early today by chirping of birds & occasional ripples in the water.

Your breakfast will be cooked before your eyes by the boat-crew. Enjoy a sumptuous breakfast while cruising quietly on the unending stretches of these backwaters. The boat will cruise through various canals and waterways giving you an insight into the rural life.

The Cruise ends & you disembark around 08.00 am.

On the Pier, you will be met by the Journeys Rep / Driver & immediately proceed for Cochin.

Arrive in vibrant Cochin & proceed for a sightseeing tour.

Cochin's history is a bright tapestry - many coloured threads woven through centuries together present the fabric of the present. 

Popularly known as the “Queen of Arabian Sea”, Cochin (now known as Kochi) was traditionally a potpourri of various Indian & international communities and was highly influenced by historical trading partners, Portuguese, Dutch, Arab, Chinese & Japanese and was controlled by many empires over the centuries.

Set on a magnificent estuary, serene Kochi has been drawing traders, explorers & travellers to its shores for over 600 years. It was ruled by the Portuguese, Dutch & British and this resulted in a unique mix & match of traditional as well Western architecture & lifestyle. But despite being ruled by so many different domains, it still maintains its cultural identity & is fiercely proud of it.

The result is an unlikely blend of medieval Portugal & Holland and an English village grafted onto the tropical Malabar Coast.

Nowhere else in India could you find such an intriguing mix: giant Chinese fishing nets, a 450 year old synagogue, ancient mosques, Portuguese & Dutch era houses and the crumbling remains of the British Raj. Kochi is the seat of the Latin church of Kerala & has many Catholic churches & followers.

Modern day Kochi may be a busy port and shipping centre but it has many attractions for ordinary tourists. A delightful place to explore, laze in arty cafes & relax at some of India’s finest homestays and heritage hotels. It is also an important centre for Keralan arts (traditional & contemporary) and a standout place to see Kathakali & kalarippayat.

Informally, this lovely seaside city, also referred to as the Gateway to Kerala, is flanked by the Western Ghats on the east & the Arabian Sea on the west. Its proximity to the equator, the sea & the mountains provide a rich experience of a moderate equatorial climate.

Breathtakingly scenic & prosperous state of Kerala, hailed as 'God's Own Country'. Kochi is the arguably the ideal starting point for exploring the unfathomable diversity & beauty of Kerala, rated in the top three tourist destinations by the World Travel & Tourism Council and featured in National Geographic Traveler's '50 greatest places of a lifetime'. It is the seat of the Latin church of Kerala and has many Catholic churches and followers.

You will walk & drive across the Cochin Harbour to Fort Cochin, stopping by at the Dutch Mattancherry Palace, built by the Portuguese and known for its murals depicting scenes from the Ramayana & the Mahabharata, and portraits of Cochin's erstwhile rulers and the dresses & palanquins used by them.

Proceed to Old Cochin & the quarter known as Jew Town near to the Mattancherry Palace temple, on the land donated to the Malabari Yehudenor "Yehuden Mappila" community by the  Maharaja of Kochi, to visit the oldest active Paradeshi Jewish Synagogue in India & Commonwealth of Nations, built in 1568; it was destroyed by the Portuguese & rebuilt by the Dutch a century later with Chinese willow-patterned tiles & gold crowns and with ancient scrolls & a large number of copper plates inscribed in the Hebrew script.

Visit one of the oldest European churches in the country, Saint Francis Church, built by the Portuguese in 1503, an amalgamation of outside influences on local architecture. The Church has great historical significance as a mute witness to the European colonial struggle in the subcontinent & is well-known for its beautiful architecture & ambience. Admire the whitewashed exterior of the Santa Cruz Basilica & its beautifully painted ceiling. On his third visit to India, the great Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama fell ill & died and he is buried here.

But the unofficial emblems of Kerala’s backwaters, & perhaps the most photographed, are the half-dozen giant cantilevered symbolic Chinese Fishing Nets on Fort Cochin's northeastern shore, known locally as cheena vala, near the harbour's entrance.

The famous Chinese Fishing Nets are a legacy of traders from the AD 1400 court of Kublai Khan. These spiderlike nets for fishing are 10 metre tall & 20 metre wide contraptions fixed on land, resting on teak or bamboo poles & requiring five or six people to operate their counterweights at high tide.

Modern fishing techniques are making these labour-intensive methods less & less profitable, with nets like these slowly disappearing from Kerala's coastline. Smaller fishing nets are dotted around the shores of Vembanad & Ashtamudi lakes; some of the best are just east of Cherai Beach on Vypeen Island.

Final stop will be the private Kerala Folklore Museum - a cultural hub to promote & preserve the culture and heritage of South India. It was started & still being managed by a local philanthropist couple Mrs & Mr. George Thaliath, with the aim to preserve the culture, heritage & folk art education for future generations.

This wooden Temple of Art was developed with the help of 62 skilled traditional carpenters working for over 7 years, culling the wood & artifacts from 25 ancient heritage structures and compiling into a single building. The displays show works from traditional architecture to ancient sculptures, wood work, terracotta, Indian bronzes, stone work, paintings, ancient jewelry, utensils, agricultural equipment, coins & all other ethnic artifacts connected with the rural & tribal life of South India. The Museum aims to provide art education to the young generation as well as providing opportunity to the tourists from around the globe to experience the unseen Kerala under one roof. It is a ‘must see’ place for tourist as well as students & researchers of Anthropology.

The sightseeing concludes & you are transferred to the hotel,

Check-in & freshen up for the next adventure.

But the day has not ended yet.

Later in the afternoon around 04.30 pm, meet the Journeys Rep / Driver & proceed to the Cochin Cultural Centre to enjoy a 90 minute performance of traditional Kathakali Dance form of Kerala and the impressive facial expressions, hand gestures & dance moves will leave one spellbound.

A Kathakali performance, like all classical dance arts of India, is a blend of music, vocals, choreography, hand and facial gestures to tell familiar stories in Indian culture. Kathakali performances tell stories in an artistic manner. It is one of the most complex and highly stylized Indian art forms.

The story in ‘Kathakali’ is communicated to the audience through amazing footwork & impressive gestures of face and hands complimented with music and vocal performance

It is basically a dance drama, noted for its heavy & attractive larger-than-life make up, elaborate costumes, detailed body movements synchronized movements, synchronized eye-hand movements & thematic presentation of stories.

Traditionally performed by male dancers, the art developed in courts & palace dance halls of Nair noble households & temple festivals, contrary to other Indian classical dances which predominantly developed in Hindu temples & monastic schools.

The dancers wear intricate & vivid makeup, unique face masks & costumes that reflect the age-old martial arts and athletic conventions prevalent in Kerala and surrounding regions.

Before the performance (if we are able to reach there early enough by 4.30 pm) you will have the opportunity to see the preparation & dressing of the artists, which is an experience in itself. You can watch the elaborate make-up session for an hour (usually these sessions can take up to 3 hours!) followed by an introductory lesson (15 minutes) when each facial & hand movement is explained (welcome, anger, love, envy, joy).

The Show ends and you come back to the hotel

Balance of the evening is at leisure to relax or for independent activities.

Alas, the blissful sojourn in ‘Gods Own Country’ comes to an end today. Time to say good-bye to incredible India  & go home. But, we sure hope that you may want to discover a bit more of this multi-ethnic kaleidoscope that 1.2 billion people call home, on your next visit.

Check-out of the hotel by 12:00 noon (if the departure time is later in the evening, we will request the hotel to allow you to use the hotel facilities & leave the luggage at the Bell Desk). 

In time, you will be met by a Journeys Rep, who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to Terminal? – Trivandrum International Airport, for your onward journey.  B

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