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DAY
01 : ARRIVE MUMBAI
Arrive Mumbai in the evening. Upon arrival, you shall met &
assisted with your baggages at the airport by our executive and
transferred to your prebooked Hotel.
DAY
02 : MUMBAI
After breakfast, excursion to Elephanta - About ten kilometers north
east of Apollo Bunder lies the island of Elephanta, the glorious
abode of Lord Shiva. An epitome of Hindu cave culture, Elephanta
consists of seven caves of which the most notable is the Mahesa-murti
cave. It has a very impressive size with a main body of 27 meters
square supported by rows of six columns each. The main temple consists
of a large pillared mandapa (hall) and a freestanding square shrine
at the west end of the hall. The pillars and reliefs in the cave
are gigantic in scale. Set in various niches are a number of large
reliefs depicting different aspects of Shaivaite iconography. Around
the perimeter of the cave are sculptured compartments in this cave
with images from the Hindu mythology. They depict Lord Shiva as
Andhakasuravadha, impaling the demon of darkness, as Kalyanasundara-the
gentle loving god, as Ardhanarishwara, Shiva and Shakti, male and
female, Nataraja-Shiva as the cosmic dancer and as Ravana anugraha
-the destroyer of enemies
Afternoon,
half day city tour of Mumbai - The city was called Bombay for much
of the last four hundred years. The origin of the name is obscure,
but is often said to come from the Portuguese phrase bom bahia meaning
"good bay". The name Mumbai has been used in the main
local languages for as long, and is ascribed to the local goddess,
Mumba (ai means mother in Marathi). The name of the city was changed
to Mumbai by an act of the parliament in 1997.
Estimated to hold about 15 million people (a census is on in the
years 2000-2001), the city has grown dramatically in the last fifty
years. Mumbai is called the financial capital of India: the stock
exchange is the primary stock exchange of the country; most large
business houses have their corporate offices in this city. It also
the primary center for the arts and the entertainment industry.
DAY
03 : MUMBAI - COCHIN (FLIGHT)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport to board flight for Kochi.
Arrive Kochi and transfer to prebooked hotel.
Afternoon, half day sightseeing of Cochin including Asia's
best preserved Synagouge, the Dutch Palace and the oldest European
Church in India - the St. Francis Church where Vasco De Gama was
originally buried. A leisurely walk through the Fort Cochin area
which gives you a close look at the operation of the huge catileavered
Chinese fishing nets introduced by Chinese traders which is still
used in Kerala backwaters as a traditional way of fishing.
In the evening, witness Kathakali Dance Show.
DAY
04 : COCHIN - MUNNAR (140 KMS,04 HRS DRIVE)
After breakfast, leave for Munnar. Arrive Munnar and checkin at prebooked hotel.
Afternoon, sightseeing of Munnar. Visit the tea plantations,
a tea factory (subject to permission being granted), the Eravikulam
National Park - home of the endangered Nilgiri Thar (Ibex), followed
by visit to the Mattupetty dam, the Indo Swiss Dairy farm, the Kundala
Lake and other scenic spots. 
DAY
05 : MUNNAR - PERIYAR (100 KMS, 03 HRS DRIVE)
Morning, free.
Afternoon, leave for Periyar - Periyar has one of the world's
most fascinating Natural wildlife reserves noted for its geography,
diverse wildlife and scenic beauty. Arrive at Periyar and check
in at prebooked hotel.
DAY
06 : PERIYAR
After breakfast, leave for Jungle Walk The forest provides specially
trained guides who can be hired at the hotel for early morning treks
into the jungle. The treks are of a duration of 03-04 hrs. These
treks are an ideal way to really feel the forest and to experience
it closely.
Afternoon,
boat ride on the Lake Periyar where one can have a unique experience
of viewing wildlife at close quarters from the safety of a boat
on the lake. The greatest attraction of Periyar, however are the
herds of wild elephants that come down to play in the lake.
DAY
07 : PERIYAR - KUMARAKOM (140 KMS, 03-04 HRS DRIVE)- OVERNIGHT
BACKWATER TRIP TILL ALLEPEY
After breakfast, leave for Kumarakom in time to board houseboat
for overnight backwater trip till Allepey.
On
arrival in Kumarakom, commence an overnight houseboat cruise to
Allepey, which gives one a fascinating insight into the life of
a Keralan Backwater Village. As the boat glides along the backwaters
one can see the daily life in the backwater villages. On the narrow
strips of land, fisherman fishing, children swimming and playing
in the water, women doing their daily chores, mobile shops in tiny
canoes, the cultivation of paddy and it's harvesting (during harvest
season), huge country barges ferrying the coconuts, rice, coir etc.
Note
: The cruise commences at 1300 hrs with lunch served onboard and
continues till dusk. At dusk the boat will anchor in a wide waterway
or lake for the night. ( The
backwaters close to boat traffic at dusk as the fisherman lay their
nets in the backwaters. Other boats are not allowed to ply in the
backwaters after dusk.) On the following day the cruise commences
again after breakfast and you will be dropped at Allepey by 1000
hrs.
DAY
08 : ALLEPEY - KOVALAM (175 KMS, 04-05 HRS DRIVE)
Checkout from the houseboat and proceed to Kovalam - is a beach
town on the Arabian Sea in Kerala. The palm-fringed bays in secluded
coconut groves, promise a relaxed stay. The boundless blue waters
of the Arabian Sea and miles of white sands washed away by the surf
at the feet of the stalwart palms and the rocky promontories, makes
this beach paradise. Arrive Kovalam and check in at prebooked hotel.
DAY
09,10,11,12,13 : KOVALAM
Day at leisure
DAY
14 : TRIVANDRUM - MUMBAI (FLIGHT)
After breakfast, free. Afternoon, transfer to Trivandrum airport
to board flight for Mumbai. Arrive Mumbai and transfer to prebooked
Hotel.
DAY
15 : DEPART MUMBAI
Transfer to the airport to board flight back home.
This
itinerary can be modified as per your requirements. For any modification,
please mail
us
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