Cultural Kerala

The tour starts in Cochin on Day 1. To arrive in Cochin on Day 1, we suggest the following flights:

LHR – DOHA – COCHIN

QR 16 LHR-DOH (2130 hrs / 0710 hrs)

QR 4782 DOH-COK (0820 hrs / 1515 hrs)

Arrive in Cochin where you’ll be met on arrival by our representative and transfer to your hotel situated in Fort Cochin area.

This evening we go to watch the famous classical Indian dance-drama Kathakali in dance centre to enjoy the Kathakali dance show followed by Dinner.

Kathakali is a stylized classical Indian dance noted for the attractive make-up of characters, elaborate costumes, detailed gestures and well-defined body movement presented in tune with the anchor playback music and complementary percussion.

Walking tour at the Fort Cochin. Head to Mattancherry and visit the Jewish Synagogue at the heart of the Jew Town, and the Dutch Palace with its beautiful mural paintings from the 17th century.

Learn the art of Henna painting. This ritual holds cultural significance in Indian traditions and is one of the most important pre-wedding ceremonies (Duration : 1h)

Visit Heritage arts, the treasure house of antiques and artefacts. Take short break with a light lunch at the Ginger House housed in the same premises facing the waters.

Post lunch, visit “Paper Trail’, a business initiative by a woman for empowering women. Diwia realised, “As a skill, I only knew how to make a good paper bag”. Diwia began by collecting old newspapers door-to-door. She began teaching making bags to disadvantaged women—single, widows, divorcees, abused, teenage mothers, rape victims, women in rehabilitation centres—who were keen to make a living and get back into the mainstream. Diwia’s motivational talks empowering women led to her speaking at TEDx. Here, you can learn to make a newspaper bag, a gift bag with gift tag in handmade paper & a paper pen with a seed in it. There will be a screen printing table where you can choose from several patterns & print the choice of design on the bags you have made.

Later in the evening join a cooking demo followed by dinner.

Enjoy a full day tour of Muziris – offering an introduction to the many faiths and cultures of the Malabar Coast.

Muziris was an ancient port city on the Kerala coast, an hour’s drive north of Cochin. The city traded in spices, silk, and precious stones; with exports to Rome, Greece, Egypt, etc. Enriched by trade contacts, Muziris became a melting pot of world cultures.
The earliest Jewish settlers in India landed on the Malabar Coast and flourished in Muziris. Muziris is where St. Thomas the Apostle is said to have first landed in 52AD, bringing Christianity to India. The first ever mosque in India was also built here.

After nearly 1000 years of thriving trade, the port of Muziris was damaged in a major flood, and Cochin took its place as the most important trading port in Kerala.
However, the Muziris area –covering Kodungallur and Paravoor –continues to be as multi-cultural as ever.

Old churches, synagogues, mosques and temples attest to the great confluence of cultures that Muziris was. In a world full of strife, the monuments and bazaars of Muziris stand as beacons even today, a testament to the harmonious co-existence of multiple faiths on the Malabar Coast.

On this tour, we will visit the following:

• Kodungalloor Bhagavathi Temple: A Hindu temple to Goddess Bhadrakali in existence since ancient times and rebuilt over the years.

• Chennamangalam and Paravoor Synagogues: Old synagogues of the Malabar Jews, constructed using Keralan building traditions, but adapted to suit Jewish ritual and liturgical requirements. Near the Chennamangalam synagogue is also the first Christian Seminary and the first printing press in India.

• Kottakavu Church: A church of the Syrian Christian community of Kerala, believed to be the one of the seven original ones established by the Apostle St. Thomas
• Paliam Dutch Palace (Museum): The residence of the Paliath Achans, the prime ministers to the Rajas of the State of Kochi.

• Cheraman Juma Masjid: The first mosque in India, built after the Chera king of Kerala met the Prophet Muhammad. It has been renovated several times since then.

Local bazaar: We will also walk through an interesting and colourful local bazaar. Those who are interested can also visit the excavation site at Pattanam. This is a small archaeological site which contains some artefacts which were traded between Muziris and the rest of the world.

Drive to Vaikom Village (45 minutes’ from Kochi). A reception will be arranged in a traditional house, and you can enjoy watching the village life on a backwater cruise through narrow canals for 3 hours with a local guide.

Enroute visit coconut farms, coir villages, spice and herbal farms, bird watching and other village activities.

The main occupation of the villagers is making ropes with coconut fibre, mat weaving with leaves of wild pineapple, pottery, traditional coconut processing, collecting sand from river-bed, fishing, farming, etc.

The cruise will be through narrow canals. 4 feet deep and the boat passes under the coconut palm canopy, providing a cool atmosphere. We conclude this excursion by enjoying a ‘Sadya’ -solemn lunch served during Kerala’s Onam festival and Hindu marriage functions.

After Vaikom village, drive to Kothamangalam (60 kms / 1.5hours). Check in at Jose & Daisy Home Stay (Mundackal Home Stay). Rest of the day at leisure or spent time in the spice gardens around the home stay.

After a relaxed breakfast enjoy the day visiting tea gardens, rubber plantations and spice gardens with Mr. Jose.

Enjoy cooking session with Daisy who is a world renowned expert on Kerala cuisines

After breakfast drive to Vagamon (70 kms / 2.5 hours), arrive Vagamon and check in at your beautiful art deco heritage tea estate bungalow.

The lodge is family run, and is a haven nestled in the scenic region of Vagamon. Mavady Hills is a pioneering plantation offers you an opportunity to relax and explore the spectacular surroundings,

Have lunch and relax for a while.

Late afternoon, enjoy a walk to the plantation looking for exotic birds, and butterfly species.

An early start today for a guided nature walk in the lush surroundings.

Back at the lodge, enjoy an hour long yoga session.

Enjoy full day visiting the Tea Estate and enjoy the beauty of Vagamon

After breakfast, relax at the lodge. After lunch visit the Tea Plantation and nearby monastery on the hill top, on a jeep drive.

Explore scenic meadows, lush pine forests, and majestic waterfalls. With a variety of sightseeing spots and activities, there’s something to captivate every interest and make your stay truly unforgettable.

After breakfast drive to Thekkady-Periyar Tiger Reserve (60 kms / 02 hours) and check in at your hotel.

Relax in the afternoon. In the evening, enjoy a Kalaripayuttu show (Kerala martial art which inspired Kung Fu).

After dinner, go on a night patrolling walk in Periyar with a forest guide and guard to observe nocturnal animals and the jungle in the night.

Enjoy a full day jeep safari to Gavi Forest which is the part of Periyar Tiger Reserve where jeep safaris are allowed. Start early with a packed breakfast, lunch will be served inside the forest.

In the evening, relax in your resort.

This morning, you’ll start early for a dawn boat ride in Periyar Tiger Reserve. The lake looks ethereally beautiful in the morning mist, and you’ll have another chance to spot wildlife from the comfort of your boat.

Back at the hotel, after breakfast, you’ll drive to Kumarakom (125 kms / 3.5 hours),

Here, board your houseboat and explore the network of lakes, lagoons and canals with its unique ecosystem on a relaxing backwater cruise. Modern boats are modelled on the traditional riceboats (kettuvallams) once used to carry rice and spices to Cochin.

You’ll spend the night on your houseboat, moored on the lakeside. The crew will serve lunch and dinner cooked on the boat, often using freshwater prawns and fish caught on the lake itself.

In the morning, your houseboat cruise will bring you to Allepey, where you’ll disembark and drive to Marari Beach (01 hour).

Check in at your beach resort and enjoy rest of the day at leisure.

The whole day is at your leisure, to enjoy as you please.

Relax at the uninterrupted stretch of white-sand beach with a book or try an Ayurvedic massage. If you are feeling active, you can hire bicycles at the hotel to explore the surrounding quiet lanes of the quaint fishing village and get to see local life at your pace.

A great optional excursion is to the 16th-century St Andrew’s Basilica, 6km north in Arthungal. The church was built in the 1580s and has a fascinating history. It is a great example of how faiths have always intermingled here – there is an ancient tradition followed to this day by the devotees of the Hindu deity, Lord Ayyappa, that they pay homage to St. Sebastian as they return from pilgrimage at Sabarimala, the abode of Lord Ayyappa.

Departure transfer to Cochin International airport, connect flight back home.

We suggest the following flights:

COK-DOH (QR 4783 1640 hrs / 1905 hrs)

DOH – LHR (0120 hrs / 0550 hrs)