Essential Kerala

Today arrive at Cochin Airport. Meet and Greet by ‘Contento’ representative who will be waiting for you outside the arrival gate. The representative will assist you to the cab assigned for you. Your day tour in Kerala starts with your drive to Munnar. En route you may stop to visit a couple of small water falls namely Cheeyapara and Valara. On reaching Munnar, Check in at your hotel and rest of the day is at leisure. On arrival, by around dusk, check in at the hotel and rest day you can have a proper rest to get ready for the next day’s and visits. Overnight stay at hotel. On arrival get transferred to the hotel. Check in & Overnight stay at Hotel

This morning after breakfast, set off to explore Munnar. Your visits for the day will feature the below places. Eravikulam National Park (Closed during Feb & March) Hidden inside Munnar, lies the famous Eravikulam National Park, the home and sanctuary of the Nilgiri Tahr. This sacred haven for this exotic animal is a relief in a time when different species are disappearing off the face of the planet. Situated in the Devikulam Taluk of Idukki district, people also flock to this park to view the special Neelakurinji flowers that bloom once every 12 years. The next sighting is expected to be in this year – 2018. Tea Museum Tea has played an integral part in the history of Munnar. The plantations played a huge role in attracting people to the area. Tata Tea established a Tea Museum in 2005 which has photographs and machineries, which chronicle the journey of tea in the area. The museum set up at the Nallathanni Estate of Tata Tea ensures that the legacy of those who worked hard to ensure the tea plantations survived this long is recognised publicly. Mattupetti Dam Mattupetty Dam is a strong gravity dam which was constructed for power generation and water conservation. Located in the Munar hills near the Anamudi peak, the dam is situated 1700 meters high. The green valleys and pleasant ambience surrounding make up for a captivating site. Echo Point Located at an altitude of 600 ft. and at a distance of about 15 kilometres from Munnar, the scenic beauty of Echo Point is quite captivating. This picturesque destination is situated right in the lap of a quaint lake and lush green mountains, which makes it a visual treat for one and all. Later drive back to hotel. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Today morning after breakfast from the hotel, drive to Alleppey, also known as Venice of the East. Alappuzha – most still call it Alleppey – is the hub of Kerala’s backwaters, home to a vast network of waterways and more than a thousand houseboats. Wandering around the small but chaotic city centre and bus-stand area, with its modest grid of canals, you’d be hard-pressed to agree with the ‘Venice of the East’ tag. On arrival embark a private houseboat which will be waiting for you. Enjoy traditional lunch and dinner on board. The cruise today will be from 1200 noon to 1700 hrs. Houseboats in Kerala are huge, slow-moving barges used for leisure trips. Today, the houseboats boast of the same comforts of a good hotel including furnished bedrooms, modern toilets, cozy living rooms, a kitchen and even a balcony for angling. Overnight stay on board houseboat

This morning after breakfast from the houseboat, disembark and drive to Cochin. You can enjoy a short sightseeing tour of Cochin and below places can be covered. Jewish Synagogue (Closed on Friday, Saturday and on Jewish Holidays) Jewish Synagogue, situated at one end of the Jew Street in the Jew Town enclave of Mattancherry in Fort Kochi. This synagogue was built in 1568 by the Malabar Yehudans or Cochin Jewish community. It was built close to the Mattancherry Palace Temple on the land gifted by King Rama Varma, a former ruler of Kochi. The Dutch Palace (Closed on Friday) The Mattancherry Palace is one of the finest examples of the Kerala style of architecture mixed with colonial influences. The Portuguese built it as a gift to King Veera Kerala Verma. It came to be known as the Dutch Palace as it underwent major repairs at the hands of the Dutch. Chinese fishing nets Legend has it that the famous Chinese explorer, Zheng He, introduced the Chinese Fishing Nets to the fishermen in Kochi over 500 years ago. Even though he would leave, these would become staple sights in these parts. Francis Church (Closed on Sunday during Mass) It is here that the famous explorer, Vasco-da-Gama, was originally buried. His remains would be taken back 14 years later but to this day, the exact spot is clearly marked. Later continue to Cochin Airport and fly back home with sweet memories of the tour. Visits in Cochin on this day will be possible only if you have a departure flight in the evening.