Arrive Kochi – the queen of Arabian Sea (flight details to be advised).
You will be met and transferred by road to Kumarakom (approx. 03 hours drive)
Hotel check in at the 1400 hours.
Upon arrival check in at the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
21 Mar 2025 (Fri): In Kumarakom
Breakfast at the hotel.
Enjoy the pool and lagoon surrounds, and hotel activities. Be sure to sign up for the complimentary sunset cruise. (B)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Check out from the hotel and transfer by road to Alleppey (approx. 01 hour drive)
Upon arrival in Alleppey, check in at the houseboat.
Alappuzha, formerly known as Alleppey, is one of the exotic backwater destinations in Kerala. It is a pleasant easygoing market town built on canals and surrounded by coconut trees. Caressed by the Arabian Sea and interlocked by a number of canals and bridges, this stunningly gorgeous 'Venice of the East' has more than the boat races, houseboats, beaches, marine products and the coir industry; Alappuzha is also home to diverse animal and bird life and is dotted with temples, highly revered not only in the state but also throughout India.
Upon arrival, you will embark on a Kettuvellom – a traditional boat used to transport rice paddy and other goods from and to isolated towns and villages, has taken a shape of houseboat where you can enjoy your stay while sailing on the serene and tranquil backwaters of this beautiful God’s own country!
Now converted to beautiful dwellings, they are accommodated with fully furnished bedrooms with attached bathrooms, sundeck, open lounge, kitchenette and a crew comprising of a chef, guide and oarsmen. Float through the placid waters passing palm fringed canals, lakes and villages and have the time of your life.
Fringing the coast of Kerala and winding far inland is a vast network of lagoons, lakes, rivers and canals. These backwaters represent a unique geological formation and are the basis of a distinct lifestyle. Tranquil and alluring, they offer you the experience of a lifetime. Travelling through the backwaters of Kerala is a marvellous experience with the simple, unique pleasures it offers. Life on your houseboat will be interrupted by delightful surprises. Flocks of graceful ducks; small restaurants on the banks which offer delicious kapa (boiled tapioca) and fried karimeen (a kind of fresh water fish); women in little canoes selling tender coconuts; the song of the cuckoo; the heady fragrance of rich green paddy fields - A journey with no traffic jam! An experience to breathe life back into your engine!
Observe the preparation of your lunch by one of the boatmen who also doubles up as an expert cook on board the `kettuvallam'. A typical prepared meal onboard the kettuvallam would consist of kootu, a coconut gravy-based dish using lentils and snake-gourd, topped with black mustard shreds; drumstick and dal curry; thoren, another Keralan vegetarian specialty; and a variety of grilled seafood, including fish (when available) and local prawns succulently prepared with lime, pepper and other spices. Enjoy lunch that will be served piping hot.
Note: The houseboat becomes stationery after 6 pm and is docked at a place because the Houseboat union has a mutual agreement with the local fishermen union on this so that they can lay their nets in the evening to catch fish on the Vembanad lake to earn their livelihood.
All three meals are included today and the Lunch & Dinner will be cooked and served onboard.
Overnight on board.
Post breakfast on board, at around 0930 hrs, you will disembark and proceed on a beautiful walking to tour of Alleppey.
Alleppey Heritage Walk, conducted by The Preserve Alleppey Project was started by the Lion Ladies Club of Alleppey in 2000. The realization that there was an urgent need to preserve the character of the town was the motivating factor. The potential of tourism could be tapped to achieve this end.
The Preserve Alleppey Society conducts tours of the town. It starts with a presentation of the history and unique features of the town and ends at the Society's gallery where light refreshments are served. It is partly driving and walking through the Gujarati quarter, the canal banks and an old wholesale market with a guide.
The experience ends at a home where you savour your taste buds with home cooked meal which is brought by these ladies – each lady contributes a dish or assists in some way to make the lunch experience memorable!
Later, you will drive to Kochi (approx. 01 hour 30 mins drive) and check-in to your hotel.
The commercial capital of Kerala and the most cosmopolitan of the state’s cities, Kochi (earlier Cochin) have long been eulogized in tourist literature as the ‘Queen of the Arabian Sea.’ Strategically located on the east–west sea route, Cochin is Kerala’s major port, boasting of one of the finest natural harbours in the world, which forms the hub around which the city revolves. With its wealth of historical associations and its setting on a cluster of islands and narrow peninsula, the city of Kochi perfectly reflects the eclecticism of Kerala. Apart from being a major commercial hub, Kochi is also a major tourist attraction in southern India. Main attractions are Fort Kochi, Mattanchery Palace, and Synagogue.
Cochin served as a very important seaport and centre of trade with the Chinese, Arabs, Phoenician, Romans and Greeks. One is able to catch a glimpse of the past through the old colonial churches, tiled houses built in the Chinese pagoda style, the famous Chinese fishing nets, colonial buildings, synagogues and mosques - all narrating fascinating tales of this enriched harbour town.
After breakfast, you will enjoy a tour of Kochi include visit to St. Francis Church see the Chinese Fishing nets, besides visiting the Synagogue and Dutch Palace.
You will first proceed to Mattancherry, where you will visit one of the oldest Jewish Synagogues in India – Paradesi Synagogue (closed on every Fridays and Saturdays) built by a thriving Jewish community in 1568 A.D. Now the community has dwindled in numbers, however the synagogue is beautifully preserved. You can see the religious scrolls and the beautiful hand-painted tiles from China, which decorate the synagogue. Its fascinating interiors include 19th century Belgian Chandeliers, a ladies gallery and an elegant brass pulpit.
The Dutch Palace (closed on Fridays) at Mattancherry was built in 1555 and its coronation hall and murals at Ramayana are noteworthy features. From Jewish Synagogue you will visit Chinese fishing nets. The cantilevered fishing nets line the entrance to the harbour mouth. The long rows of Chinese Nets silhouetted against the sunset present a spectacular sight of Cochin's waterfront. These are large nets, which hang from bamboo or teak posts, still used by the local fishermen of Fort Cochin.
Continue your tour to the St. Francis Church (closed on Sunday during Mass), originally named after Santo Antonio and dedicated to him as the Patron Saint of Portugal. Five Portuguese priests who arrived with Albuquerque built St. Francis church in 1510. This church, said to be the oldest European church built in India, was the original burial site of Vasco da Gama in 1524.
In the evening, explore a unique live dance performance of India – Kathakali. This is one of the major forms of Indian Classical Dances and you could easily relate it to Kerala when you see the mask. You could also witness the behind the scenes of this dance form, starting from the make-up session (preparation for the show) at the back-stage till end of the live performance in a theatre.
It is another "story play" genre of art, but one distinguished by the elaborately colorful make-up, costumes and facemasks that the traditionally male actor-dancers wear. Kathakali primarily developed as a Hindu performance art in Kerala. The fully developed style of Kathakali originated around the 17th century, but its roots are in temple and folk arts, which are traceable to at least the 1st millennium CE.
