Day 01
Arrive Bombay late PM. Met and transferred to your hotel.
Day 02 Bombay / Calicut / Cannanore
We take a domestic flight to Calicut in North Kerala and then drive approximately two hours to Cannanore. This was the centre of the Moplah community a group of Arab descent. Early evening we visit the very attractive Moplah town round the bay and watch the sunset from Payyambalam beach. We have an early night today in preparation for a very early rising tomorrow. Overnight at the Kamala International.
Day 03 Cannanore / Calicut
We have to rise very early this morning for a very special occasion. To visit the Parassinikadavu Temple to watch a performance of the Theyyam dance. Theyyam, the term a corruption of the word deivam or God is a ritual tribal dance form of North Kerala. It is from this dance that the steps of the more common classical Kathakali dance is derived. This performance which we watch with local devotees is performed at sunrise for the deity Shiva who is also offered unusual gifts of toddy and dried fish. We return to the hotel for breakfast and a rest and then after lunch drive to Calicut stopping enroute at Tellicherry to watch the fishermen unload their catch and spread them out on mats to sell. We arrive early evening at Calicut and stay at the Taj Garden Retreat.
Day 04 Calicut / Thrissur
In the morning we visit a local Cashew factory which is the main local industry of this area. On the road to Thrissur we will stop at the famous Kerala Kalamandalam, a school for Kathakali dancers on the river bank which led to a revival of this dance form. Kathakali which takes its steps from the Theyyam and the 1000 old martial art Kalaripayyatu is a sacred dance drama which has evolved over the last 400 years and is usually the preserve of the male dancers. Traditionally performed all night to the accompaniment of drums and cymbals, the performers use mime and dramatic makeup to relate tales for the great Indian epic. Tonight we stay at the Casino hotel.
Day 05 Thrissur / Cochin
This was an important route into peninsular India since pre-Roman town and has been variously ruled by the Zamorin of Calicut, the Portuguese and finally the Dutch. Thrissur also has the unique and quirky Elephants Owners Association. We will try and get permission to visit the Vakakkunnathan Temple which is usually open only to Hindus and will visit the Old Nair Tharavadus or farm houses. The Nairs according to legend were among the first inhabitants of Kerala, brought in by the Indian deity Vishnu when he created this state, to act as servants and bodyguards to the Brahmins.
In the afternoon on the road to Cochin we stop at Kodungallur where St Thomas is supposed to have landed in 52 AD. The spot is marked by a commemorative shrine. This is a place of many religions and we visit the Jama Masjid which is associated with arrival of the first Muslim on Indian shores, the Syrian Orthodox Church which blends early Christian architecture with Hindu traditions, and the fascinating Bhagavati Temple which is the focus of Shakti worship. We sleep at the Malabar House which served as a residence for wealthy traders for over three centuries. Now restored with great care and attention to detail, and each room is decorated with priceless antiques and local art.
Day 06 Cochin
Cochin or Kochi as it is known today has been a centre of trading since Roman times. The various foreign traders who passed through left their mark resulting in Cochin being a one of the few cities in Southern India which is blend of Indian and foreign cultures. Our sightseeing is done by boat and we begin at the Jewish Synagogue the oldest in India. It is set in an area called "Jew Town" surrounded by an aromatic spice market and antique shops. It is the synagogue of the white Jews that we visit and we will see the great scrolls of the Old Testament and the copper plates on which privileges were granted to the Jewish Community. Our next stop is the Mattancherry Palace built by the Portuguese for the Raja of Kochi in exchange for trading rights. Designed in the traditional "nalukettus pattern, this wooden palace has the finest collection of Kerala art in existence. The highlight is the royal bedroom, the ceilings and walls covered in about 45 late 16th century paintings illustrating the Ramayana.
In the evening we visit the theatre for a performance of the classical Kathakali dance. A highly stylised dance form which draws its steps from the 1000 year old Kerala martial art, Kalaripayattu and Theyyam a ritual dance form of north Kerala, the dance is the domain of men and uses mime and very dramatic make up to relate tales from the Indian epics the Mahabharat and the Ramayana. We arrive early at the theatre to watch the dancers prepare for the performance.
Day 07 Cochin / Thekkady
We drive through very scenic countryside passing rubber, pineapple, tea and coffee plantations to Periyar National Park. Dominated by Lake Periyar, surrounded by thick forests, this picturesque park is the home of the Asian elephant. We stay overnight at Spice Village and sleep in original Kerala wooden houses surrounded by an aromatic spice garden.
Day 08 Thekkady / Kottayam
Rising early we tour Lake Periyar to view the wildlife which visits the bank of the lake. We return to Spice Village for breakfast and drive to Kottayam to begin our overnight tour of the backwaters of Kerala which we do in Kettuvalloms, houseboats made entirely of natural material.
Day 09 Alleppy / Mankotta or Kayaloram
We arrive in Alleppy early morning and drive to Mankotta Island a private home on the backwaters. We stay as guests of the owners. Day 10 Mankota or Kayaloram
We have a leisurely morning and in the afternoon visit Mannarsala to see the Nagararja Temple in the forest. Snake worshippers usually build their temples in snake groves and this is the largest of its kind with 30,000 images of snake gods along the path. We stay tonight at Mankotta Island. For larger groups we stay at the Kayaloram resorts. Day 11 Mankotta / Trivandrum
We began our journey in the northern most part of Kerala and today we stay at the southern most tip, at Trivandrum the capital of the state. We spend the next two nights at the Surya Samudra Ayurvedic Beach Garden, a deluxe resort which offers the best of Kerala. Accommodation is in Kerala wooden cottages with bath gardens in place of the conventional bathrooms, overlooking the Bay of Bengal. We have time to try a relaxing and "rejuvenating" Ayurvedic massage or take basic lessons in yoga. And in the evenings we are entertained to by local musicians while enjoying a meal of freshly caught fish cooked Kerala style. Day 12 Trivandrum
The southern most point in India where the three oceans meet is Kanniakumari, a very sacred pilgrim spot for the Hindus. It is marked by the temple dedicated to the goddess Devi Kanya who took a vow of celibacy when Shiva turned down her proposal of marriage. She is the "protector of Indian Shores" and has an exceptional diamond in her nose which is supposed to shine out to sea. We will also take a boat out to Vivekananda rock where the Bengali religious leader and philosopher, Swami Vivekananda, came as a simple monk and devotee of the Devi, to meditate. It was after his visit here that he gave his famous talk on Hinduism and universal tolerance at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago. We have the rest of the day to perhaps try a relaxing Ayurvedic massage or take advantage of the beach. Day 13 Trivandrum / Chennai
We take our flight to the busy metropolis of Chennai and stay at the Taj Coromandel. In the evening we have a typical Tamil meal served on banana leaves and watch a classical dance performance at the Rain Tree restaurant.
Day 14 Chennai
Mid morning we drive along the coast to Mahabalipuram. Mahabalipuram is an extraordinary experience. This open air museum of art in living rock is the work of students under the patronage of the Pallava rulers. Strewn along the coast are some outstanding examples of 7th century sculpture - cave temples, an enormous bas-relief depicting an episode from the Indian epic the Mahabharata, and an amphitheatre of chariot shaped temples. The landmark of this marvellous collection is the shore temple, a world heritage monument, and the only surviving one from a complex, the other's having been claimed by the sea. We return to Chennai late afternoon and transfer to the airport for our flight to Bombay to connect our flight home
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