Exotic Kerala Tour

Day 1

Kozhikode arrival & transfer to Kannur hotel (100 km/ 2 hr)

The auspicious land of Kerala, popularly and rightly termed as 'gods' own country', welcomes you on arrival. Optima Travels representative will meet you at Kozhikode (erstwhile Calicut) airport. Immediately after arrival, you will be taken to Kannur. On arrival at Kannur, you will be transferred to Kannur hotel to spend the day in leisure and have overnight stay.

Day 2

Kannur

Highlights of Kannur sightseeing will be observing Theyyam cult practices & traditional rituals, visiting tribal villages, evolved tribal heritage, cultural practices & lazing on sea beaches. Kerala is honeymooners' paradise, vacationers' dream-world, rejuvenation seekers' naturally luxurious abode and cultural enthusiasts' heaven. Kannur, a northern district of Kerala, is famous for its unique and rich cultural lineage.

North Malabar region of Kerala, comprising districts of Kasargod, Kannur, Wayanad and Kozhikode, is home to several thousand year old tradition and ritual form of Theyyam cult. The ritualistic performances of Theyyam, the folk religion of millions, are mainly performed by the lower class community. The cult is Theyyam and the deity is also called as Theyyam. The modern folk religion- Theyyam cult, an amalgamation of several primitive, tribal and religious worships, showcases the evolutionary phases in a beatific form. Worship of Mother Goddesses is easily perceptible and can be broadly categorized into three principal Goddesses- Brahmani (Saraswati), Vaishnavi (Lakshmi), and Shivani (Durga). The festival lasts from 12 hrs to 24 hrs and in some regions, Theyyam is performed at the interval of 12 years.

Overnight stay has been scheduled in Kannur hotel.

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Day 3

Kannur - Palakkad (225 km / 4 hr)

Having enjoyed breakfast in Kannur hotel, proceed for Palakkad. It takes about four hours to reach Palakkad from Kannur. On arrival at Palakkad, check in at Palakkad hotel. Post lunch, move for leisurely sight-seeing of Palakkad which primarily includes Palakkad Fort and Kalpathy Vishwanath Swamy Temple. If you are present on auspicious dates of November, you can be witness to Kalpathy Ratholsavam festival.

Palakkad, the land of palm, is located on the border of Kerala and Tamil Nadu and influenced by Karnataka as well. The so-called granary of Kerala, served as a corridor between Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Being a fertile land and thriving trade centre, Palakkad emerged as a pivotal connect between east and west coasts of peninsular India.

The prime tourist attraction of Palakkad is Palakkad Fort, built by Haider Ali in 1766. Palakkad Fort is still in a highly preserved state. Built of granite, modified by the British in 1790 and presently being looked after by the Archaeological Survey of India, Palakkad Fort is situated in the heart of the city.

The devotees and tourists throng at Kalpathy Vishwanath Swamy temple to celebrate annual Kalpathy Ratholsavam festival. Kalpathy Vishwanath Swamy temple is highly regarded shrine of Lord Shiva as it is the oldest Shiva temple in Malabar. The Kalpathy Vishwanath Swamy temple was constructed in 1425 AD by the then king Kombi Achan. Earlier the worship and rituals in the temple used to be performed by the Nambudiries, the most revered Brahmins of Kerala but now-a-days, the rites and rituals are conducted by the Tamil Brahmins. Kalpathy Ratholsavam festival, celebrated in November, is prominently performed in Kalpathy Vishwanath Swamy temple. During this festival, the deity from Vishwanath Swamy temple is placed on three chariots- the main deity Shri Vishwanath Swamy and Goddess Parvathy on first chariot, Lord Vishweshwar on second chariot and Lord Subramanya Swamy on third chariot.

Later in the evening, return to Palakkad hotel for overnight stay.

Day 4

Palakkad – Kochi (150 km / 3 hr)

After breakfast in Palakkad hotel, move for Cochin, the commercial capital of Kerala. On arrival at Kochi, check in at the hotel to relax for a while before moving for market place which is known worldwide for spices since centuries. Late afternoon, you will be taken for enjoying Kathakali dance performance in Cochin. Kathakali is a classical dance form of Kerala.

Overnight stay is scheduled in Kochi hotel.

Day 5

Kochi

After breakfast, proceed for full day sightseeing which includes visit to prominent historical places like St. Francis Church, Kochi Fort, Santa Cruz Cathedral, Jewish Synagogue, Dutch Palace etc. Cochin showcases subtle vestiges of Portuguese, Dutch, English and Jewish influences. Since the ages, Cochin (also known as Kochi) has been a major trade centre of spices. Being closer to wharves, railway station and airport and being a thriving trading port has earned it the title of "Queen of the Arabian Sea". Having visited historical monuments, explore local market and taste uniquely salubrious cuisines. Later in the evening, return to Cochin hotel for overnight stay.

Day 6

Cochin-Munnar (140 km / 3 hr)

After delicious breakfast in Cochin hotel, proceed for Munnar, the highest hill station of Kerala. Upon arrival at Munnar, check in at the hotel. Amazingly beautiful travelling course from Cochin to Munnar is a treat to eyes as the meandering road heads towards the hill station of Kerala. Enjoy scenic vistas of natural beauty during the whole drive. Dense jungles, pepper cardamom gardens, rubber plantations and lovely waterfalls will surely seduce your mind for romance. Enjoy stimulating hot coffee prepared especially from fresh beans and tea leaves. Later at night enjoy the cozy stay at the hotel.

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Day 7

Munnar

Munnar is the best hill station of Kerala and known for its salubrious atmosphere. The lush green setting rejuvenates a traveler. Have delicious breakfast in Munnar hotel and proceed for leisurely sightseeing of Munnar. Tea plantations and Echo Point are prime attention fetchers. Later in the afternoon return to Munnar hotel and spend the day in leisure.

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Day 8

Munnar-Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary

Periyar is a wildlife sanctuary and was declared a national tiger reserve in 1976. After breakfast in Munnar hotel, proceed for Thekkady. Throughout the road travel, the panoramic view will keep enticing you. On arrival at Thekkady, check in at the pre-booked jungle resort. After some rest, you shall move for exploring the dense forest, rich in flora and fauna. There are three ways to explore and enjoy jungle and wildlife. First, you can enjoy jungle scene, experience the beauty of the surrounding areas and see varied species of wild animals and colorful birds while having a boat ride in Periyar Lake (Optional). Second, you can opt for Plantation Eco Tours to be conducted by the District Tourism Information Office at Thekkady in Kumily. The Plantation Eco Tours offer a deeper peep into cardamom, pepper, coffee and tea plantations, tea factories, tribal settlements and the surrounding hill regions (Optional). Third way to explore Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is to have half an hour elephant ride in the jungle. The elephant ride/ safari is organized by the forest department, Thekkady. The elephant rides can be taken during 10:00 to 17:00 hrs (Optional).

Later in the evening, come back to jungle resort to have overnight stay in the jungle.

Day 9

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary- Kumarakom (125 km / 4 hr)

After breakfast in Periyar resort, drive for Kumarakom. Kumarakom, now a thriving tourist destination of Kerala, used to be an unknown hamlet on the banks of Vembanad Lake. On arrival at Kumarakom, representative of Optima Travels will ensure your smooth check in at Kumarakom hotel. Kumarakom is known for the bird sanctuary spread in a 14 acre vast island within Vembanad Lake. The island can be approached by local boats, called 'kettuvalam'.

The day is reserved for relaxing in luxury hotel on the banks of the Vembanad Lake. Enjoy watching activities of a variety of birds, including migratory birds from Siberia.

Enjoy local cuisines and watch lush natural beauty. Overnight stay has been planned in Kumarakom hotel.

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Day 10

Kumarakom - Alleppey

After breakfast, drive to Kottayam, about 12 kms from Kumarakom. Board a houseboat from Kottayam to lead to Alleppey. While boarding luxuriously equipped houseboat with modern amenities and sailing to Alleppey, view the scenic manmade islands and beautiful sights of coconut and paddy fields. Observe rural lifestyle while enjoying sumptuous sea food cooked onboard. Lunch, Evening Tea/Coffee with snacks, dinner and breakfast will be available on the houseboat itself. Overnight stay will be onboard houseboat.

Day 11-18

Alleppey-Kovalam - Ayurveda Rejuvenation Therapy

You are required to follow the routine and regimen prescribed by the Ayurveda therapy centre in Kovalam. Kovalam is a beach town of Thiruvananthapuram. During your rejuvenation herbal therapy of seven days, do enjoy beach life as well. The rejuvenation therapy will essentially comprise of daily Ayurveda treatments, standard/ deluxe room, Ayurvedic vegetarian full board meals; initial, daily and final consultation with the doctor; free medicines during the treatment package period (07 days), composition of Ayurveda diet menu for each individual, daily one Yoga session in the morning; German, Italian, French and Russian interpreters.

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