Arrive 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 at Kochi.
This morning tour Fort Kochi in Kerala some centuries back served as a centre of power to some and for others as 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 Jew Town, where trade looks like it carries 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 Jewish Synagogue (closed on Fridays & Saturdays) built in 1568. Also visit the 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 one can still see the, nearly a century old Chinese fishing nets which are still in use. Evening is free for leisure. Overnight stay at Kochi.
After breakfast we 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 & Kudala - and is known for its clean, neat, and brightly painted ambience.
The beautiful landscapes, cosy weather, and the smell of tea leaves makes 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 & check in. Overnight at Munnar.
After breakfast proceed for sightseeing tour of Munnar, visit the Tata Tea Museum in the Nallathanni Estate tells 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. It provides the first hand experience to the tourists about the tea processing and the operations that go into the making of black tea. Some of the major items that are displayed at the museum are the original tea roller, used in earlier time around 1905, than the 'Pelton Wheel', which was used in the power generation plant in the 1920's, a rail engine wheel of the Kumdale Valley Light Railway.
Also visit Cinnamon Gardens is 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 - yes! 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 & Rajamala (Eravikulam National Park) - is known as the natural habitat of endangered Nilgiri Tahr. Evening is free for leisure. Overnight stay at 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 knows as the Backwaters this area is unique being made up of labyrinth of canals and lakes that stretch between the capital Cochin and Quilon in the south. Upon arrival check in. Overnight stay at 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 human being consists of the five elements, air, water, fire, ether & 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 this imbalance of the body - mind environment. Overnight stay at Kumarakom.
Bid farewell. Today we transfer to Kochi International airport (2 hrs) for onward flight
