7N-8D Kerala Tour Package: Tour of God’s Own Country

The tour starts from Trivandrum, the capital city of Kerala. You will be picked up from your hotel or airport and driven to Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of India. Kanyakumari is a coastal town that is famous for its spectacular sunrise and sunset views over the Indian Ocean. It is also a pilgrimage site for Hindus, as it is the confluence of three sacred rivers: Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati.

On the way to Kanyakumari, you will visit the Vattakottai Fort, a seaside fort built by the Travancore kings in the 18th century. The fort offers a panoramic view of the sea and the nearby hills. You will also visit the Our Lady of Ransom Shrine, a Roman Catholic church that is dedicated to Mother Mary. The church has a striking Gothic architecture and a 153-feet tall tower.

Once you reach Kanyakumari, you will check in to your hotel and freshen up. In the afternoon, you will visit the Arumigu Bhagavathy Amman Temple, one of the oldest temples in India. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Parvati, who is also known as Kanyakumari Devi. The temple has a beautiful idol of the goddess adorned with jewels and flowers.

Next, you will visit the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, a monument built in honor of Swami Vivekananda, a Hindu monk and philosopher who meditated on this rock in 1892. The memorial consists of two structures: the Vivekananda Mandapam and the Shripada Mandapam. The Vivekananda Mandapam has a statue of Swami Vivekananda and a meditation hall. The Shripada Mandapam has a footprint of Goddess Parvati on a rock.

You will also visit the Thiruvalluvar Statue, a 133-feet tall statue of Thiruvalluvar, a Tamil poet and philosopher who wrote the Thirukkural, a classic work on ethics and morality. The statue stands on a pedestal that represents the 38 chapters of virtue in the Thirukkural.

Finally, you will enjoy the sunset at the Kanyakumari Beach, which is also known as the Triveni Sangam or the meeting point of three seas: Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Indian Ocean. The beach is famous for its multi-colored sand and its view of the sun setting behind the horizon.

You will spend the night at your hotel in Kanyakumari.

You will wake up early and witness the sunrise at the Kanyakumari Beach, which is equally mesmerizing as the sunset. You will then have breakfast at your hotel and check out. You will drive back to Trivandrum, stopping at some interesting places on the way.

You will visit the Padmanabhapuram Palace, a magnificent wooden palace that was built by the Travancore kings in the 16th century. The palace showcases the traditional Kerala architecture and craftsmanship. It has several chambers, courtyards, halls, and museums that display antique furniture, paintings, weapons, coins, and other artifacts.

You will also visit the Suchindram Temple, a Hindu temple that is dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Brahma. The temple has a unique feature of having a single idol that represents all three gods. The temple also has a 22-feet tall statue of Hanuman, a monkey god and devotee of Lord Rama.

Once you reach Trivandrum, you will check in to your hotel and relax for some time. In the evening, you will go for a local sightseeing tour of Trivandrum. You will visit the Padmanabhaswamy Temple, one of the richest temples in the world. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu reclining on a serpent named Anantha. The temple has a massive gold-plated gopuram (tower) and intricate carvings on its walls.

You will also visit the Napier Museum, an art and history museum that was built in 1880 by Robert Napier, a British governor. The museum has a collection of bronze idols, ivory carvings, paintings, coins, and other artifacts. The museum also has a natural history section that displays stuffed animals, birds, and reptiles.

You will also visit the Sree Chithra Art Gallery, an art gallery that was established in 1935 by the Travancore king Chithira Thirunal. The gallery has a collection of paintings by Raja Ravi Varma, a famous Indian painter who was born in Kerala. The gallery also has paintings by other Indian and foreign artists.

You will spend the night at your hotel in Trivandrum.

You will have breakfast at your hotel and check out. You will drive to Alleppey, also known as Alappuzha, a town that is known as the Venice of the East. Alleppey is famous for its backwaters, which are a network of canals, lagoons, and lakes that run parallel to the Arabian Sea. Alleppey is also a hub for houseboat tourism, where you can stay in a traditional wooden boat and cruise along the backwaters.

On the way to Alleppey, you will visit the Vembanad Lake, the largest lake in Kerala and one of the largest wetlands in India. The lake is home to several migratory birds and aquatic animals. You will also visit the Marari Beach, a serene and secluded beach that is ideal for relaxing and sunbathing.

Once you reach Alleppey, you will check in to your houseboat and enjoy a welcome drink. You will then start your houseboat cruise and explore the beauty of the backwaters. You will see the lush green paddy fields, coconut groves, fishing villages, and temples along the banks of the waterways. You will also get a chance to interact with the local people and learn about their culture and lifestyle.

You will have lunch and dinner on board your houseboat and enjoy the scenic views of the sunset and the stars. You will spend the night on your houseboat.

You will wake up to the sound of birds chirping and water flowing. You will have breakfast on your houseboat and check out. You will drive to Thekkady, a town that is famous for its wildlife sanctuary and spice plantations. Thekkady is located in the Idukki district of Kerala, which is known as the spice capital of India.

On the way to Thekkady, you will visit the Ambalapuzha Temple, a Hindu temple that is dedicated to Lord Krishna. The temple is famous for its Palpayasam, a sweet pudding made of rice and milk that is offered to the deity. The temple also has a mural painting of the Dasavatara, the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu.

You will also visit the Karumadikuttan Museum, a museum that houses a black granite statue of Lord Buddha that dates back to the 9th or 10th century. The statue is believed to have miraculous powers and is revered by the locals.

Once you reach Thekkady, you will check in to your hotel and relax for some time. In the afternoon, you will go for a local sightseeing tour of Thekkady. You will visit the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the largest and most popular wildlife reserves in India. The sanctuary covers an area of 777 square kilometers and surrounds the Periyar Lake, an artificial lake created by a dam in 1895. The sanctuary is home to several species of animals, such as elephants, tigers, leopards, deer, bison, monkeys, bears, and birds. You can enjoy a boat ride on the lake and watch the animals from a safe distance.

You will also visit the Mangala Devi Temple, a Hindu temple that is located inside the sanctuary at an altitude of 1337 meters. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Mangala Devi, who is also known as Kannaki or Durga. The temple is open only during the Chithra Pournami festival in April or May, when devotees from Kerala and Tamil Nadu flock to worship the goddess.

You will also visit some of the spice plantations in Thekkady, where you can see how various spices such as cardamom, pepper, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, ginger, turmeric, and vanilla are grown and processed. You can also buy some fresh and organic spices from here.

You will spend the night at your hotel in Thekkady.

You will have breakfast at your hotel and check out. You will drive to Wagamon, a hill station that is located in the Kottayam district of Kerala. Wagamon is known for its scenic beauty, pleasant climate, and green meadows. Wagamon is also a popular destination for adventure sports such as paragliding, trekking, camping, and rock climbing.
Wagamon, you will visit the Sanctuary Watch Tower, a wooden tower that offers a panoramic view of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and the surrounding hills. You will also visit Murikkady, a place that is famous for its spice gardens and coffee plantations. You will also visit Pandikuzhi, a scenic spot that has a waterfall and a stream flowing through the rocks.

Once you reach Wagamon, you will check in to your hotel and relax for some time. In the evening, you will go for a local sightseeing tour of Wagamon. You will visit the Tribal Museum, a museum that showcases the culture and lifestyle of the tribal communities in Kerala. You will also visit the Green Park, a park that has a variety of plants, flowers, and butterflies.

You will spend the night at your hotel in Wagamon.

You will have breakfast at your hotel and check out. You will drive to Munnar, another hill station that is located in the Idukki district of Kerala. Munnar is known for its tea estates, misty mountains, and waterfalls. Munnar is also a hotspot for biodiversity, as it has several endemic and endangered species of flora and fauna.

On the way to Munnar, you will visit the Elephant Lake, a lake that is frequented by wild elephants and other animals. You will also visit the Rose Garden, a garden that has a collection of roses and other flowers. You will also visit the Top Station, the highest point in Munnar, which offers a breathtaking view of the Western Ghats and the Tamil Nadu plains.

Once you reach Munnar, you will check in to your hotel and relax for some time. In the afternoon, you will go for a local sightseeing tour of Munnar. You will visit the Echo Point, a place where you can hear your voice echo back from the hills. You will also visit the Mangala Devi Temple, another Hindu temple that is located inside the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary at an altitude of 1337 meters. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Mangala Devi, who is also known as Kannaki or Durga.

You will also visit some of the tea gardens and plantations in Munnar, where you can see how tea leaves are plucked, processed, and packed. You can also taste some fresh and aromatic tea from here.

You will spend the night at your hotel in Munnar.

You will have breakfast at your hotel and check out. You will drive to Kochi, also known as Cochin, a port city that is located on the Malabar Coast of Kerala. Kochi is one of the oldest and most cosmopolitan cities in India, with influences from various cultures such as Portuguese, Dutch, British, Chinese, Jewish, and Arab. Kochi is also a hub for art, culture, and commerce in Kerala.

On the way to Kochi, you will visit some of the attractions in Kochi such as:

The Fort Kochi Beach, a beach that has a historical significance as it was the landing place of Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese explorer who discovered India in 1498.
The Chinese Fishing Nets, a unique fishing technique that was introduced by Chinese traders in the 14th century. The nets are fixed on bamboo poles and are operated by a system of ropes and pulleys.
The St. Francis Church, one of the oldest European churches in India. The church was built by Portuguese missionaries in 1503 and was later renovated by Dutch and British colonizers. The church is famous for being the burial place of Vasco da Gama before his remains were taken back to Portugal.
The Mattancherry Palace, also known as the Dutch Palace, a palace that was built by Portuguese traders in 1555 and later gifted to the Raja of Kochi. The palace has a museum that displays paintings, weapons, costumes, and other artifacts related to the royal family of Kochi.
The Jewish Synagogue, also known as the Paradesi Synagogue, a synagogue that was built by Jewish refugees who fled from persecution in Europe and settled in Kochi in 1568. The synagogue has a collection of antiques such as chandeliers, lamps, Torah scrolls, and copper plates.