Kerala Houseboat Cruise 08 Days

A Kerala houseboat cruise is unforgettable. Cruising down on the scenic backwaters of Kerala, you can have the experience of a dream joy ride. You can have your choice, whether you would like to embark on a traditional Kettuvalam or a luxury boat. Cruising on a houseboat you can explore the water lilies, lush paddy fields, coir villages, rustic homes, temples and coconut groves.

The 900 kms backwater stretches of Kerala are formed by lagoons, lakes, canals, estuaries, and deltas of forty-four rivers. Kerala backwaters flow through the four districts mainly like Kollam, Alleppey (Alappuzha), Kottayam and Kochi (Cochin). The largest backwater stretch is Vembanad Lake which flowing through Alleppey and Kottayam empties into the Arabian Sea at Kochi harbor. The second largest backwater body is Ashtamudi Lake. The traditional houseboats of Kerala are known as Kettuvallam made up of wood and bamboo thatched roof.

Itinerary Details

Destinations Covered : Delhi - Kochi - Munnar - Thekkady - Alleppey - Trivandrum - Kovalam - Kanyakumari - Kovalam

Day 01: DELHI - ARRIVAL KOCHI
On arrival transfer to hotel, check in hotel and relax,

Proceed for a sightseeing tour of FORT COCHIN. A few interesting sites included in the tour are the Chinese fishing nets along the Vasco Da Gama Square, Santa Cruz Basilica, St. Francis Church, VOC Gate, Bastion Bungalow, Jewish Synagogue, Mattancherry Palace, etc. Learn the operation of the interesting Chinese fishing nets erected on teak wood and bamboo poles which work on the principle of balance. Records say they were first set up here between AD 1350 and 1450. Vasco Da Gama Square, the narrow promenade that parallels the beach, is the best place to watch the nets being lowered and pulled out of the sea.

Feel the essence of Kerala in Kath kali Dance in evening. Overnight will be at Cochin.

Overnight will be in Cochin.

Day 02: KOCHI - MUNNAR
Morning breakfast at hotel and drive to Munnar by road, most beautiful Hill Stations of Kerala, "Munnar". Munnar is famous for its manicured tea plantations and quiet colonial atmosphere. Check in the Munnar Hotel and spend

MUNNAR:
Munnar has an ancient history and prehistoric relics discovered around the area point to Stone Age civilization. However the written history begins from the 10th century onwards.

In Tamil, the word Munnar means three rivers and as it is at the confluence of three mountain streams, the name is apt. In the year 1790, the Duke of Wellington became the first European to visit the area and the Tamilians (known as 'Muthuvans') also migrated to Munnar and nearby places during this period. In the early 19th century, the headman of the villages of Anchanad, Kannan Thevar, held lands to the north of the high ranges, which belonged to the local Rajah of Poojar.

In 1877 said Poonjar chief, a subordinate of the Maharaja of Travancore, leased 588 sq. km of land around Munnar to a Mr. J D Munro, a British lawyer cum tea planter. This tract, henceforth called the Kannan Devan (Kannan Thevar) Concession Land, was completely undeveloped, largely unexplored, and covered with thick jungle.

Overnight in the hotel

Day 03: MUNNAR
Morning breakfast at hotel and full day excursion in Munnar,

Overnight stay at Munnar,

Day 04: MUNNAR - THEKKADY - ALLEPPEY
After breakfast proceed to Alleppey,

ALLEPPEY:
Aleppey 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 networks of canals provide Alleppey its lifeline. Alleppey 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 the 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.

The eventful history of this city began when a major flood in AD 1341 threw open the estuary at Kochi, till then a land locked region, turning it into one of the finest natural harbors in the world. Kochi thus became a haven for seafaring visitors from all over the world and became the first European town-ship in India when the Portuguese settled here in the 15th century.

Enjoy the boat ride in the harbour watching the dolphins playing and enjoying the city from the water.

Day 05: ALLEPPEY - TRIVANDRUM
At 8-30 am Breakfast and drive to Periyar the famous wild life sanctuary. On the way Morning after breakfast, proceed for Trivandrum by road, on arrival transfer to hotel check in hotel and relax,

TRIVANDRUM:
Thiruvananthapuram city and several other places in the district loom large in ancient tradition, folklore and literature. South Kerala, particularly the Thiruvananthapuram district, had in the early past a political and cultural history which was in some respect independent of that of the rest of Kerala. The Ays were the leading political power till the beginning of the 10th century A.D. The disappearance of the Ays as a major political power synchronised with the emergence of the rulers of Venad.

In 1684, during the regency of Umayamma Rani, the English East India Company obtained a sandy spit of land at Anchuthengu (Anjengo) on the sea coast about 32 km's north of Thiruvananthapuram city, with a view to erecting a factory and fortifying it. The place had earlier been frequented by the Portuguese and later by the Dutch. It was from here that the English gradually extended their domain to other parts of Thiruvithamcore (Travancore).

Overnight stay at hotel,

Day 6: TRIVANDRUM - KOVALAM
On arrival our company representative give transfer to kovalam, proceed to kovalam by road, on arrival transfer to hotel, check in hotel and relax,

KOVALAM:
Thirty years ago, Kovalam was a hippy idyll: a picture perfect tropical beach; a traditional fishing village providing fresh fish, fruits and toddy (coconut beer). Today this tiny beach is the focus of a multi-million dollar business, drawing thousands of tourists for a week dose of ozone, UV and a refreshing Indian Experience. Kovalam was brought to the public eye by the Maharaja of Travancore. Over the past three decades, the place has been well developed, and now figures prominently on the world tourism map. Kovalam is just sixteen kms away from Trivandrum. Today Kovalam beach is known as the "Paradise of the South".

Its scenic beauty and serenity is supplemented by the availability of excellent accommodation. There are a lot of restaurants which provide western style food as well as Indian, which is delicious. The grilled seafood items such as lobster, king prawns and kalamari are got fresh from the sea at Kovalam. Ayurvedic massage parlours, yoga centers and water sport facilities, makes Kovalam a popular haven for tourists from all over the globe.

Overnight stay at hotel,

Day 7: KOVALAM - KANYAKUMARI - KOVALAM
Morning breakfast at hotel and Proceed to Kanyakumari for day trip, Located at the Southern most part of India, it is a place at the confluence of the Indian ocean, the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian sea. The multicolored sand is an unique feature of the beach here. 400m off the coast, in a rocky island, stands a memorial dedicated to Swami Vivekananda, who meditated here in 1892. Evening after sunset, back to the hotel.

Overnight stay at hotel,

Day 8: DEPART KOVALAM
Morning after breakfast, transfer to airport to catch flight to onward destination with sweet memories of tour to India,

TOUR END