India tour and Malabar journey

Arrive at Kochi, formerly known as Cochin, in the coastal state of Kerala, with a natural harbour that has always been one of the finest in the world. On arrival check in. Overnight stay in Kochi.

This morning visit Fort Kochi: some centuries back it served as a centre of power to some and for others it was an ideal place to practice and follow their religious faiths. A mix of old houses built by the Portuguese, Dutch and British in these colonial periods line the streets of Fort Kochi.

Walk around the Jew Town, where trade seems to be carried on exactly the way it did 500 years ago. Stroll past the spice and tea merchants, peep through the old wooden doorways that open into tinier streets. Visit the Jewish Synagogue (closed on Fridays and Saturdays) built in 1568. Also visit St. Francis Church, established by the Portuguese Franciscan friars in 1503. Vasco Da Gama was buried in the courtyard of this European church built in India.

The tour also includes a visit to the seaside where you can still see the nearly a century old Chinese fishing nets which are still in use. Evening is free for leisure. Overnight stay in Kochi.

After breakfast drive to Munnar,  surrounded by lush green-carpeted tea and coffee plantations. It is a picturesque hill station situated in the eastern part of Kerala. The town is located at the confluence of three mountain streams, Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kudala, and is known for its clean, neat, and brightly painted ambience.

The beautiful landscapes, cosy weather, and the smell of tea leaves make Munnar one of the most sought-after destinations in South India. Munnar is situated near the Anaimudi Peak, the highest peak in the Western Ghats. The hills here are covered with a carpet of flowers in bloom. Also found here is an exotic plant called Neelakurunji that flowers just once in a 12-year period. Arrive and check in. Overnight in Munnar.

After breakfast proceed for a sightseeing tour of Munnar, visit Tata Tea Museum in Nallathanni Estate telling the eventful story of Munnar; its transformation from an uninhabited stretch of forest land to a plantation town. The highlights of the museum include old machineries used for tea processing, photographs and some other curious displays that throw light on the efforts of some adventurous planters who dared to conquer the wild with minimal equipment and little resource.

Also visit Cinnamon Gardens located just 13 km off Munnar town in the Cochin - Madhurai National Highway NH49. Unending expanse of tea plantations, pristine valleys and mountains, exotic species of flora and fauna in its wild sanctuaries and forests, aroma of spice scented cool air: Munnar has all these and more. The tranquil spice paradise attracts tourists and biologists from all round the blue planet.

Cinnamon Gardens, a rich abode of natural flora and fauna, unleashes the unending expanse of its treasured secrets of herbal farming before the keen enthusiasts. Mettupetty has an artificial lake built by a small hydroelectric project and Rajamala (Eravikulam National Park) is known as the natural habitat of endangered Nilgiri Tahr. Evening is free for leisure. Overnight stay in Munnar.

After breakfast drive to Kumarakom (4 hrs), an emerald peninsula of paddy fields, meandering lagoons and backwaters that juts out into lake Vembanad. Perhaps more famously known as the Backwaters, this area is unique being made up of a labyrinth of canals and lakes that stretch between the capital Cochin and Quilon in the south. Upon arrival check in. Overnight stay in Kumarakom.

Day at leisure. You might like to try a local Ayurvedic body massage that will leave you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. It is believed that the human being consists of the five elements, air, water, fire, ether and earth. Ayurveda, the traditional form of Indian medicine, was developed by ancient sages whose astute observations led to the development of constitutional medicine. It was the duty of the vaidya (physician) to harmonize the balance of the body - mind and the environment. Overnight stay in Kumarakom.

Transfer to Kochi International airport (2 hrs) for your onward flight.