South India is a tropical paradise of palm fringed beaches, winding lush green inland waterways and rolling hills cloaked in dense forest. It is home to ayurvedic medicine, the science of rejuvenation and purification through natural remedies. The journey includes unique experience of sailing on the quite backwaters on “traditional houseboats” Kettuvallom (Rice barge) – the extraordinary boats which have plied for hundreds of years on the backwaters, weighed down with cargo. Get an opportunity from your vantage point, on board, to see the rural life from close quarters.

This odyssey offers you the mosaic of lifestyle & culture taking you through to Jewish synagogues, Chinese fishing-nets, Portuguese churches, Dutch palaces, tea and cardamom plantations and onto the famous “city of sandalwood”- Mysore.

Cochin – Mankotta Island – Rice Barge – Cheruthuruthy – Wynad – Mysore - Bangalore

Day 01- Arrive Bombay or Chennai or Bangalore  / Cochin - Meeting and assistance on arrival at international airport and transfer to domestic airport in time to connect flight to Cochin.
_______________________________

Day 02 - Cochin /  Mankota Island - Morning drive (2.5 hrs ) to haripad then take a short motor launch  journey to Mankotta Island, and stay at a farm house in the backwaters to enjoy the hospitality of traditional Kerela home stay. This is one of the most idyllic backwater properties, situated on a riverbank and a complete gem of a house. Guests eat together in the hosts personal dining room.

_______________________________

Day 03 - Mankotta Island - Spend the day at leisure or exploring the backwater country.

_______________________________

Day 04 - Mankotta Island  / Rice Barge - Board your rice barge or Kettuvallom that will arrive from Alleppey. Kettuvallom are Kerala’s magical answer to the caravans of the West to experience the labyrinth of life on the backwaters as your boat gently glides past.

_______________________________

Day 05 - Rice Barge - Full day cruise through the backwaters. You can also swim or do fishing. Your catch could be prepared by our on board cook for your meal.  Enjoy a traditional meal at a local village house.

_______________________________

Day 06 - Rice Barge / Cheruthuruthy - Morning drive to Cheruthuruthy (5.5 hours).

On arrival stay at The River Retreat. It is a Old Palatial house built by the Maharaja as a summer retreat about 200 years ago.  It has been recently converted into a hotel. Afternoon visit Keraleeya Ayurvedic Samajam Ayurvedic center.  It is one of the oldest  Ayurvedic research and therapy center. Later visit the Old Kalamandalam, situated on the banks of the Nila river, is the place of Vallathol Samadhi. It started functioning from 1927. Poet Vallathol's house, situated near has  been reformed into a museum called 'Vallathol Museum. Then visit the Kerela Kalamandalam campus it is a center for revival of traditional dances. It specializes in teaching traditional music, drama, Mohiniyattam and Ottam Thullal dance in addition to famous Kathakali.

_______________________________

Day 07 - Cheruthuruthy / Wynad - Morning drive (5 to 6 hrs) to Wynad region, driving through picturesque western ghats (Hills) covered with tea, cardamom, rubber and pepper plantations. The route is also dotted with grand churches among the trees, while the numerous jazzy roadside shrines of St. Francis or Virgin Mary could have been designed for 1950’s sci-fi movies - a charming Kerala blend of ancient and modern.

On arrival stay at Plantation Hideaway – Tranquil. “TATLER "TOURISM GUIDE 2001" A Popular Travel Guide, Features "101 Best Hotels of the World"  Tranquil features in the 101 best hotels in the world on page No. 22. The magazine describes tranquil as a magical six bedroom bungalow in the heart of the beautiful kupamudi coffee estate in Kerala.Afternoon take nature walk in the plantation with your host Mr. Dey 

_______________________________

Day 08 – Wynad - Morning trek to Edakal Caves, one of  the most important caves in South India. Explore engravings dating back to the New Stone Age (2500 B.C.)

______________________________

Day 09 - Wynad / Mysore - Morning drive to Mysore (3 hours). On arrival stay at Southern Star.Mysore, famed as the ‘Sandalwood City’, is a splendid city of palatial buildings, gardens and broad tree-lined boulevards. It is a major centre for the manufacture of incense, the air here is fragrant and sweet with the perfume of musk and jasmine, sandalwood and rose. Afternoon visit the Palace of the Maharaja built in 1911-12. The palace is of harmonious synthesis of the Hindu and Saracenic styles of architecture  Later drive upto Chamundi hill to see Chamundeshwari Temple and a panoramic view of  Mysore, visit the Nandi Bull.

At an additional cost stay at Lalitha Mahal Palace – a heritage hotel. It was built by E.W. Fritchley in 1920 to accommodate Royal guests of Sri Krishna Raja Wadiyar, Maharaja of Mysore

______________________________

Day 10 - Mysore / Bangalore – Road to Bangalore (4.5 hours) takes you via Srirangapatnam. Visit the Fort & Palaces of Tipu Sultan and his dome at Srirangapatnam. Arrive Bangalore and take orientation drive of city. Later transfer to airport in time to board flight to Bombay / Chennai.

End of tou