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 the dynamic & vibrant city Chennai denoted as the ‘soul of South India’.  Its role is as keeper of South Indian artistic, religious & culinary traditions.

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

Check-in at the hotel.

*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’.

Chennai (formerly Madras) popularly regarded as the Gateway to the South, is the capital city of Tamil Nadu. The 400 sq km conglomerate of urban villages & diverse neighbourhoods making up Tamil Nadu's capital will pleasantly surprise you. Its role is as keeper of South Indian artistic, religious & culinary traditions.

The city grew up around the English settlement of Fort St. George & gradually absorbed the surrounding towns and villages. However, despite the strong British influence, Chennai has retained its traditional Tamil heritage and effectively blended it to create a unique synthesis of cultures. Retaining much of its traditional charm, this 350 year old city provides many a fascinating vignettes of southern heritage. In Chennai, you would find a modern metropolis with a clear skyline, long sandy beaches, parks and historic landmarks. It is a fascinating city with its ancient temples & unique culture and a marvelous tradition of music & dance. It is a city where the landscape of the past lives easily with recent history.

Among Chennai’s greatest assets are its people, infectiously enthusiastic about their hometown; they won’t hit you with a lot of hustle & hassle. Recent years have thrown in a new layer of cosmopolitan glamour: luxe hotels, sparkling boutiques, quirky cafes, smart contemporary restaurants & a sprinkling of swanky bars & clubs.

With its sweltering southern heat, roaring traffic & lack of outstanding sights, Chennai has often been seen as the dowdier sibling among India’s four biggest cities. But it is well worth poking around the museums, exploring the temples, savouring deliciously authentic South Indian delicacies or taking a sunset saunter along Marina Beach.

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

Morning, check-out & meet the Tour-guide in the Lobby at 08.00 am &  proceed for a sightseeing tour of the city.

You will visit the first Government-sponsored Museum in the country that opened here in 1851. Its collection of Bronzes & Buddhist antiques is among the best. Especially impressive are the Arms gallery, its pre-historic collection, its philatelic collection, its antique jewellery & the musical instruments collection. Stop by at the National Art Gallery, Fort St George and drive along the Marina Beach, St. Mary's Church, Wellesley House & Mylapore Temple.

Later, depart for Mahabalipuram to see two of the finest examples of ancient South Indian architecture - Kanchipuram & Mahabalipuram.

Enroute, you will stop in the Temple town of Kanchipuram. 

Along with Chennai and Mahabalipuram, Kanchipuram forms the famous Golden Triangle of the Coromandel Coast. This spectacular temple city is one of the seven sacred cities of India. It was, successively, capital of the kingdoms of the Pallavas, Cholas & rajas of Vijayanagar. The temples & gopurams are exquisite reminders of the beauty of Dravidian architecture, from the freshness and simplicity of the Pallavas' 7^th century Kailasanatha Temple through to the Vijayanagar Empire's 16^th century Ekambareshwara Temple. The latter covers nine hectares, has a 59m high gopuram, a 1000 pillared hall & a sacred mango tree said to be 3500 years old. Kanchipuram is also famous because of the wonderful craftsmanship of the Kanchi weavers, the makers of what is perhaps the finest silk fabric recognized for its gorgeous silk sarees all over the world.

Continue on to Mahabalipuram.

Check-in at the hotel on arrival by late afternoon. 

South of Chennai, Mahabalipuram is a world apart from that city's hustle & bustle. This unspoiled seaside village on the Bay of Bengal has miles of beaches, fine Indian seafood, exceptional art & intricately carved stone temples. The Pallava dynasty of Southern India, one of the major lines of kings to rule in India after the Gupta period, made this lovely seaside village their second capital. Today, the shore temple, the largest bas-relief in the world called Arjuna's Penance and the famous & beautiful mandapams has made this town famous. The carved carved scene depicts Arjuna, a mythical Indian hero, doing penance to the Lord Shiva. Surrounding Arjuna is a multitude of images, including snakes coiled in battle, jesters with drums & elephants in procession. 

Balance of the day free to relax or for independent activities (we would be happy to offer suggestions & make any arrangements).

Morning, meet the Tour-guide at 09.00 am & proceed for a 4 hour tour of Mahabalipuram.

Start with a visit to the Shore Temple, which symbolises the heights of Pallava architecture and the maritime ambitions of the Pallava kings. Visit Arunja’s Penance, a relief carving on the face of a huge rock which depicts animals, deities and other semi divine creatures as well as fables from the Hindu Panchatantra books.

Also visit the 5 Rathas. Carved from single pieces of rock, the 5 Rathas are low-laying monoliths that huddle in more ancient subtlety than grandeur. Each temple is dedicated to a Hindu god & named for one of the Pandavas, the 5 hero-brothers of the epic Mahabharata, plus their common wife, Draupadi.

Return to the hotel by afternoon.

Balance of the day free to relax or for independent activities (we would be happy to offer suggestions & make the arrangements).

Early morning, depart for Pondicherry.

Check-in at the hotel on arrival & relax.

The small union territory of Puducherry (formerly Pondicherry; generally known as ‘Pondy’) was under French rule until 1954 & was the largest French colony in India. It is also known as The French Riviera of the East (La Côte d'Azur de l'Est).

The city has a long and interesting history of trade & war. There is a strong French influence in the city, especially in the old quarters, with Rues & Boulevards lined with Mediterranean style houses & bakeries, although the city remains very much Indian. French is still understood & some people here still speak French (& English with French accents) and the whole city makes for rather pleasant mix of East & West.

If you have spent some time in Tamil Nadu or other parts of India & approached Pondicherry by land, you will very likely experience a mild culture shock on discovering French architecture & restaurants serving steak & good wine. Hotels, restaurants & ‘lifestyle’ shops sell a seductive vision of the French-subcontinental aesthetic, enhanced by Gallic creative types and Indian artists & designers. Thus Pondy’s vibe: less faded colonial-era ville, more bohemian-chic, New Age meets Old World hang-out on the international travel trail. Enjoy fabulous shopping, French food (hello steak!), beer (au revoir Tamil Nadu alcohol taxes), and plenty of yoga & meditation.

Pondicherry is very much a city with a dual personality: crossing from East to West of the central canal reveals two cities with very different characters. The older 'French' part of town (where you will probably spend most of your time) is full of quiet, clean streets, lined with bougainvillea-draped colonial-style townhouses numbered in an almost logical manner. Newer Pondy is typically, hectically South Indian.

The internationally famous Sri Aurobindo Ashram & its offshoot just north of town, Auroville, draw large numbers of spiritually minded visitors.

In the afternoon, proceed for a 4 hour city tour visiting the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. The Ashram was founded by the philosopher-saint Sri Aurobindo in 1926 to put into practice his ideals of a peaceful community. Its spiritual tenets represent a synthesis of yoga & modern science. You can also try some serious meditation at Auroville or enjoy a Bharatanatyam performance.

Also visit the Pondicherry Museum & see the Sacred Heart Church with its Gothic architecture & stained glass windows. Walk along the sea front to view the architecture, a legacy of the French, who governed this town until 1957.

Return to the hotel.

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

Inspired by the mix of Indian & French cultures, cultural activities abound here. You can attend Indian Dance classes (Bollywood & Bharata Natyam) and also exotic international dances like Ballet, Tango or Hip Hop. There is also the possibility to attend an Indian cooking class, Circus classes or Kalari Payat (ancient martial art from Kerala), Singing Bollywood classes or Voice Yoga to improve your voice technics. Or just while away the evening at the Rocky Beach.

Early morning, depart for Tanjore (aka Thanjavur) - called a city of temples, enroute visiting Trichy.

Trichy (Tiruchirappalli) considered as the geographic centre of Tamil Nadu, is an ancient city famous for its beauty of architectural monuments & culture. Universally called Trichy or Tiruchi, it isn’t just a travel junction, it also mixes up a heaving bazaar with some major temples.

It has a long history dating back to the centuries before the Christian era when it was a Chola citadel. Trichy may have been a capital of the early Cholas in the 3^rd century BC. It passed through the hands of the Pallavas, medieval Cholas, Pandyas, Delhi Sultanate & Vijayanagars before the Madurai Nayaks brought it to prominence, making it a capital in the 17^th century & building its famous Rock Fort Temple. The city & its Fort, as they stand today, were built by the Nayaks.

It is one of the main centers around which the wars of the Carnatic were fought in the 18^th century during the British-French struggle for supremacy in India. Under British control, it became an important railway hub known as Trichinopoly. It is a huge, crowded, busy city but Trichy has a strong character & with a long history, a way of overturning first impressions

Explore the city including its most famous landmark, the spectacular Rock Fort Temple perched on a massive rocky outcrop which rises abruptly from the plain to tower over the old city. The 83m high Rock Fort is the only outcrop in the otherwise flat land of the city.  344 steps hewn out of rock lead to the top where there are inscriptions dating back to the 3^rd century B.C. The Fort played an important part during the Carnatic wars & according to an inscription, mainly contributed to lay the foundations of the British Empire in India. 

Continue your drive to Tanjore.

Check-in at the hotel on arrival & relax.

Here are the ochre foundation blocks of perhaps the most remarkable civilisation of Dravidian history, one of the few kingdoms to expand Hinduism beyond India, a bedrock for aesthetic styles that spread from Madurai to the Mekong.

Thanjavur was the capital city of Chola kingdom from the 9^th to the 13^th centuries. A dizzying historical legacy was forged from Thanjavur - capital of the great Chola empire during its heyday. Thanjavur was the center of knowledge & culture which reached its peak between the 10^th - 14^th centuries, under the reign of the Cholas. There are more than 70 temples in Thanjavur, the most important being the famous Brihadeshwara Temple. Today Thanjavur is a crowded, hectic, modern Indian town - but the past is still very much present. It is also the granary of South India & is known as the rice bowl of Tamil Nadu.

Thanjavur is also the center of classical arts & music inspite of the advent of technology era. The performances by the classical musicians, percussionists & the Bharatnatyam dancers never fail to enchant. Then there is the exquisite Tanjore style of painting, which attracts innumerable tourists. The paintings are developed over multiple layers and are usually centered on the Hindu Gods & Goddesses.

Later in the afternoon, meet the Tour-guide & proceed for a 4 hour experience to explore the city.

First stop will be the fascinating UNESCO listed Brihadeshwara Temple built between 1003 & 1010 by Raja Raja I (‘king of kings’). The outer fortifications were put up by Thanjavur's later Nayak & British regimes. Every day thousands of people worship at the Cholas' grand Brihadishwara Temple.

You enter through a Nayak gate, followed by two original gopurams with elaborate stucco sculptures. You might find the temple elephant under one of the gopurams. Several shrines are dotted around the extensive grassy areas of the walled temple compound, including one of India’s largest statues of Nandi (Shiva’s sacred bull), facing the main temple building. Cut from a single rock & framed by slim pillars, this 16^th century Nayak creation is 6m long.

A long, columned assembly hall leads to the central shrine with its 4m-high Shiva lingam, beneath the superb 61m-high vimana (tower). The assembly hall's southern steps are flanked by two huge dvarapalas (temple guardians). Many graceful deity images stand in niches around the vimana's lower outer levels, including Shiva emerging from the lingam (beside the southern steps); Shiva as the beggar Bhikshatana (first image, south side); Shiva as Nataraja, the cosmic dancer (west end of south wall); Harihara (half Shiva, half Vishnu) on the west wall; & Ardhanarishvara (Shiva as half-man, half-woman), leaning on Nandi, on the north side. Between the deity images are panels showing classical dance poses. On the vimana's upper east side is a later Maratha-period Shiva within three arches.

The compound also contains an interpretation centre along the south wall and in the colonnade along the west & north walls, hundreds more linga. Both west & north walls are lined with exquisite lime-plaster Chola frescoes, for years buried under later Nayak-era murals. North of the temple compound, but still within the outer fortifications, are 18^th century neoclassical Schwartz's Church & a park containing the Sivaganga tank.

Continue on to Thanjavur Palace, a mixed bag of ruin & renovation, superb art & random royal paraphernalia.

The maze-like complex was constructed partly by the Nayaks who took over Thanjavur in 1535 & partly by a local Maratha dynasty that ruled from 1676 to 1855. Seven different sections of the palace can be visited but the important ones are the Saraswati Mahal Library Museum & the Art Gallery. There is an interesting hourly audiovisual display highlighting Thanjavur’s sights, history & traditions in the attached cinema room

Maharaja Serfoji Memorial Hall commemorates the enlightened Maratha scholar-king Serfoji II (1798 -1832), with a better collection overlooking a once-splendid, now crumbling courtyard;  Mahratta Dharbar Hall is where Maratha rulers gave audience in a grand but faded pavilion adorned with colourful murals (including their own portraits behind the dais) & sturdy pillars topped by arches filled with gods.

Royal Palace Museum contains a small miscellany of sculptures, weaponry, elephant bells & rajas’ headgears.  Perhaps Serfoji II’s greatest contribution to posterity, this is testimony both to the 19^th century obsession with knowledge accumulation & to an eclectic mind that collected prints of Chinese torture methods, Audubon-style paintings of Indian flora & fauna, world atlases, dictionaries & rare medieval books. Serfoji amassed more than 65,000 books & 50,000 palm-leaf paper manuscripts in Indian & European languages, though most aren’t displayed.

Art Gallery, set around the Nayak Palace courtyard behind the bell tower, contains a collection of superb, mainly Chola, bronzes & stone carvings; its main room, the 1600 Nayak Durbar Hall, has a statue of Serfoji II. From the courtyard, steps lead part of the way up a large gopuram-like tower to a whale skeleton that washed up in Tranquebar.

Return to the hotel.

Balance of the evening is at leisure.

 Morning, depart for Madurai.

Chennai may be the capital of Tamil Nadu, but Madurai claims its soul. Another temple city of South India & the second largest city of the state of Tamil Nadu.

Madurai is Tamil-born & Tamil-rooted, one of the oldest cities in India, a metropolis that traded with ancient Rome & was a great capital long before Chennai was even dreamed of. Situated on the banks of river Vaigai, it derives its name from the divine nectar (Madhu) that was showered from the locks of Lord Shiva according to a popular legend. The city has a rich cultural heritage which it has inherited from the great Tamil era, which is more than 2500 years old.

Once the capital of the great Pandya kings, Madurai was an important cultural & commercial center even as early as 550 AD. Today, Madurai is a well-known producer of some of the finest textiles in India and some of the best harvests of jasmine flowers. The city is also mentioned in Megasthenes' Indica. He was an ancient Greek diplomat & envoy to India in the 3^rd century BC, who wrote praises about this temple city. Madurai's glory reached its peak, during the reign of the Cholas & then during the Pandyas' regime in the 13^th century.

Madurai, perhaps appropriately given its age, captures many of India’s glaring dichotomies: a centre dominated by a medieval temple & an economy increasingly driven by IT, all overlaid with the hustle, energy & excitement of a big Indian city and slotted into a much more manageable package than Chennai’s sprawl.

It is famous for its temples, especially for the celebrated Meenakshi Amman Temple, a dazzling maze-like structure ranking among India's greatest temples.

Check-in at the hotel on arrival by noon.

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

Morning, meet the Tour-guide at 09.00 am & proceed for a 4 hour visit to explore the landmarks.

Visit Sri Meenakshi Amman Temple - a riotously baroque example of Dravidian architecture synonymous with the Sri Meenakshi, the consort of Lord Shiva. The gopurams that surround the temple are known for their stuccowork.

The colourful abode of the triple-breasted warrior goddess Meenakshi (‘fish-eyed’ - an epithet for perfect eyes in classical Tamil poetry) is generally considered to be the peak of South Indian temple architecture, as vital to this region's aesthetic heritage as the Taj Mahal to North India.

The existing 17^th century temple was mostly built during the reign of Tirumalai Nayak, but its origins go back 2000 years to when Madurai was a Pandyan capital. A 6-hectare complex with 12 tall gopurams, encrusted with a staggering array of gods, goddesses, demons & heroes (1511 on the 55m high south gopuram alone).

According to legend, the beautiful Meenakshi (a reincarnation of Parvati) was born with three breasts & this prophecy: her superfluous breast would melt away when she met her husband. This happened when she met Shiva & took her place as his consort.

The four streets surrounding the temple are pedestrian-only. Temple dress codes & security are airport-strict: no shoulders or legs (of either gender) may be exposed & no bags or cameras are allowed inside (but you can use phone cameras).

Despite this, the temple has a happier atmosphere than some of Tamil Nadu's more solemn shrines &  is adorned with especially vibrant ceiling & wall paintings.

Some areas are off limits to non-Hindus. However, anyone can wander round the Golden Lotus Tank, where a small pavilion jutting out at the western end has ceiling murals depicting Sundareswarar & Meenakshi's marriage.

Leave the temple via a hall of flower sellers & the arch-ceilinged Ashta Shakti Mandapa - lined with relief carvings of the goddess' eight attributes & displaying the loveliest of all the temple's elaborately painted ceilings, this is actually the temple entrance for most worshippers.

Also visit the Gandhi Museum dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi’s life & work, which is housed in the 300-year-old Mangammal Palace. It has a collection of Gandhi’s personal memorabilia, books and letters, a fine exhibition of South Indian village industries, handicrafts and a huge open-air theatre.

Take a peek at Thirumalai Nayak Palace a gracious building, built in 1636 in the Indo Mughal style, famous for its 15 domes & arches are adorned with stucco work. Its Celestial Pavilion, an arcaded octagonal structure, is curiously constructed in brick & mortar without any supporting rafters.

Return to the hotel.

Every evening at 9.00 pm, a frenetic, incense-clouded procession carries a bronze icon of Sundareswarar (Shiva) to the bed chamber of Parvati (Meenakshi's shrine) to spend the night. The procession is accompanied by religious prayer & temple music. Visitors can follow along. If you want to, you can revisit the Temple (on your own) to attend the Ceremony.

Check-out in the morning & depart for Periyar ‘Land of the Spices’ Columbus was seeking when he stumbled on the New World; Kerala’s Malabar Coast is famous for its fabulous spice crops.

Drive on the scenic route dotted with plantations of rubber, cardamom, cocoa, green pepper and areca nut.

Check-in at the hotel on arrival by noon.

Thekkady is a town near the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border & encompasses Periyar National Park, India’s largest Tiger Reserve. Kumily is another adjacent town, with hotels, restaurants & Kashmiri emporiums. Confusingly, when referring to the Reserve, people use Thekkady, Kumily & Periyar interchangeably.

Close by is the village of Pattumalay (Pattumalay literally means hills draped in silk) known for its lofty peaks, little streams, tea plantations & tea factories. One of the major attractions of this region is a famous pilgrim center - the Velankanni Matha Church built entirely from granite, situated atop a hill.

Pattumalay is also home to one of the biggest names in the tea production sector - Harrisons Malayalam limited. The Tea Factory here is a major producer of Orthodox tea. The Pattumalay Estate was established in 1931 & the Tea Factory is the oldest Orthodox factory with a capacity of 16000 kg per day.

Afternoon, meet the Tour-guide & proceed to the neighbouring Pepper Plantation to observe traditional plantation techniques walking amidst the rows of vines creeping upwards. This has been the center of the spice trade for centuries. Thekkady is considered a haven for natural spices such as black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, nutmace, ginger & clove. The spices which make such a difference to foods worldwide, is sold domestically & exported

Return to the hotel.

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

With 16 wildlife sanctuaries and 5 national parks nestled along the Western Ghats; Kerala is an excellent wildlife destination. The Western Ghats – geologically older than the Himalayas – is one of the world’s most significantly bio diverse regions and has been given World Heritage Site status by UNESCO.

South India’s most popular wildlife reserve, Periyar, encompasses 777 sq km, including a 26 sq km artificial lake created by the British in 1895. This vast expanse - which became Kerala's first tiger reserve in 1978  

The greatest attractions of Periyar are the herds of about 2000 wild elephants, deer, bison wild boar, gaur, sambar, lion-tailed macaques, Nilgiri langurs & 35 to 40 hard-to-spot tigers that come down to drink in the lake. Periyar also happens to be the habitat of the elusive Nilgiri Tahr, which is rarely to be seen.

The birdlife comprises of Darters, Cormorants, Kingfishers, the great Malabar Hornbill and racket-tailed Drongoes. The reptilian population boasts Of Monitor Lizards that can be spotted basking in the sun, on the rocks along the lakeshore. Visitors who trek into the Park often see Pythons & sometimes even a King Cobra.

Though it is a Tiger Reserve, tourists come here to view the huge herds of elephants in the act of ablution & playfulness by the Periyar Lake.

Periyar Tiger Reserve, one of the 27 tiger reserves in India, is an example of nature’s bounty, with great scenic charm, rich bio diversity & providing veritable visitor satisfaction. Set high in the ranges of the Western Ghats, in God’s Own Country, Kerala, the Tiger Reserve has a picturesque lake at the heart of the sanctuary amidst dense evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist deciduous forests & savanna grass lands. Formed with the building of a dam in 1895, this reservoir meanders around the contours of the wooded hills, providing a permanent source of water for the local wildlife.

Visitors can enjoy a scenic lake cruise & bamboo rafting in the catchment area of Mullaiperiyar Dam & hiking (& also a night trek with a tribal villager or an ex-poacher) in the midst of the wilderness.  Popular for its good eating joints, you can also enjoy its vast stretches of spice gardens & various adventure sports.

The early morning ride in the boat within the Sanctuary is an extremely awesome experience & visitors may spot wild elephants, bisons, wild boars, various kinds of birds, etc.

Another area is Chellar Kovil with a lot of picturesque waterfalls & cascades. Mangala Devi Temple, located at an altitude of 1337m opens only on the Chitra Pournami Festival

Early morning, meet the Tour-guide & drive to Periyar National Park along the Cardamom & Pandalam hills of the Western Ghats.

From the entrance gate, embark on a Walk, accompanied by a Naturalist, for about an hour, on a trail through the park towards Periyar Lake. Later on the bank of the lake, board a bamboo raft & cruise for about 2 hours through many delights of the sanctuary. Although it is unusual to see many animals from the boats, still you spot a family of Elephants, Wild Boar, and Sambar Deer by the water's edge.

Return to the hotel & Check-out

Proceed to drive downhill towards the backwaters of Kumarakom, en-route stopping at a working Rubber Estate to see rubber tapping techniques.

Reach Kumarakom by afternoon & Check-in at the hotel.

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).

 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.

Alleppey is an ideal headquarters for backwater tourism as well as for visits to the lovely church filled town of Kottayam, and the town of Aranmula, famous for its historic Aranmula Snake Boat Race which is an annual event. It is excitement all around as snake - boats, each manned by over a hundred oarsmen, cut through the waters like wind. The event is a tremendous success with tourists and the local population alike.

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.

It took great skill & meticulousness to construct these Houseboats by tying huge planks of jack wood together, without the use of a single nail. It usually has one or two bath rooms, an open lounge, deck, kitchenette and a crew comprising oarsmen, a cook & guide. These boats offer a panoramic view of one of the most picturesque aspects of God's Own Country.

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 backwaters of Kerala form the lifeblood of beautiful Kerala and played a main role in the economy of the state. Rice Boats and small ships used to ply in these waters, carrying coconut, rubber, rice and spices to various trading centers of Kerala. Even today, these waterways link remote villages and island with the main land .It is an incredibly different experience to cruise in the backwaters in country boats, absorbing the beauty of the villages.

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. .

Stop by and visit the village bazaars that are flooded with coir products, coconuts and other village produce. You can also interact with the local population see their lifestyle. Although practically surrounded by water, they still manage to keep cows, pigs, chickens and ducks and cultivate small vegetable gardens, prawns and fish.

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.

Eat spiced & baked rice cakes on board the floating rice barge, fish for fresh catch and have the cook onboard cook a traditional delicacy for you, lie down on the deck and count the glittering stars that garland a clear moon with crickets making pleasant sounds as your barge floats along the unending network of Kerala backwaters.

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).

Evening, enjoy a candlelit dinner on board and the night you spend on the Houseboat will long be remembered as the highlight of your South India experience

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 & Check-in at the hotel.

*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’.

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.

Balance of the morning free to relax by the pool or venture out on your own.

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.

Morning, meet the Tour-guide at 09.00 am & proceed for a 4 hour sightseeing tour of the city.

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 back to the hotel,

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. B 

Alas, this wonderful experience comes to an end. 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 transferred to Cochin International Airport for your onward journey.  B

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