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364 Embassy, Koramangala, Bangalore. Ph: +91 9483958408, 9880388991, holiday@takeabreak.in, www.takeabreak.in

BEST OF KERALA

Cochin – Thekkady – Kumarakom Houseboat 6 Days / 5 Nights

(Block out Dates: 15th December to 5th January)

CCOCHIN

THEKKADY KUMARAKOM HOUSEBOAT

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Overview

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS Cochin: Chinese Fishing Nets, the Paradesi Synagogue, Fort Cochin, Jew Town & Folklore Museum Thekkady: Forest Safari & Plantation trails Houseboat: Sail along the pristine backwaters, visit the rural folks, experience staying overnight in the houseboat, test your taste buds over the local Kerala delicacies.

Day 1: COCHIN

Cochin

Serene Kochi has been drawing traders and explorers to its shores for over 600 years. Nowhere else in India could you find such

an intriguing mix: giant fishing nets from China, a 400-year-old synagogue, ancient mosques, Portuguese houses and the

crumbling remains of the British Raj. The result is an unlikely blend of medieval Portugal, Holland and an English village grafted

onto the tropical Malabar Coast. It’s a delightful place to spend some time and nap in some of India’s finest homestays and

heritage accommodation. Kochi is also a centre for Keralan arts and one of the best places to see Kathakali and kalarippayattu.

Mainland Ernakulam is the hectic transport and cosmopolitan hub of Kochi, while the historical towns of Fort Cochin and

Mattancherry, though well-touristed, remain wonderfully atmospheric – thick with the smell of the past. Other islands, including

Willingdon and Vypeen, are linked by a network of ferries and bridges.

Day Notes

Arrive Cochin Airport. You will be greeted by our chauffeur and drive to your hotel Check-in to the Hotel & rest of the day at leisure Overnight at Cochin

Included

BB

Day 2: COCHIN

Day Notes

After breakfast, proceed for sightseeing of Cochin Sightseeing of Cochin: Chinese Fishing Nets, the Paradesi Synagogue, Fort Cochin, Jew Town & Folklore Museum Return to the resort and rest of the day at leisure Overnight at Cochin

Destination Nights Basis

Cochin 2 BB

Thekkady Kumarakom

2 1

BB FB

RO: Room only I SC: Self Catering I HB: Half Board I B&B: Bed and breakfast I D, B&B: Dinner, bed and breakfast I FB: Dinner, bed, breakfast and lunch I FB+: Dinner, bed, breakfast, lunch and activities daily I FI: Fully inclusive

HB – breakfast & dinner

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Included

BB

Visit the below sightseeing points

Chinese Fishing Nets

Walk out to the ancient Chinese fishing nets to see how lanterns are used to attract and catch the fish at night. The contrast of

the endless Chinese fishing nets and the countless modern ships in the distance showcase the India of today – an eclectic

collection of tradition and modernity.

The Paradesi Synagogue

Also known as the Mattancherry Synagogue, the Paradesi Synagogue is located in old Cochin, formerly known as Jew town. It is

the oldest synagogue in all the Commonwealth Nations, and is the only one of the seven synagogues in the area still in use. The

complex has four buildings. It was built adjacent to the Mattancherry Palace temple on the land awarded to the Malabari

Yehuden community by the Raja of Kochi. The Mattancherry Palace temple and the Mattancherry Synagogue have a common

wall connecting them.

Fort Cochin

Moving northwest from Mattancherry Palace along Bazaar Road, you pass wholesale emporia where owners, sitting behind

scales surrounded by sacks of spices. Keep walking in a northerly direction, over the canal and then westwards into Fort Cochin.

The architecture of the quiet streets in this enclave is very definitely European, with fine houses built by wealthy British traders,

and Dutch cottages with split farm house doors.

Jew Town

The synagogue is smack-bang in the middle of Jew Town, a bustling port area and centre of the Kochi spice trade. Scores of small

firms huddle together in old, dilapidated buildings and the air is filled with the biting aromas of ginger, cardamom, cumin,

turmeric and cloves. These days, the lanes right around the Dutch Palace and the synagogue are filled with antique and tourist

curio shops rather than pungent spices. Look out for the Jewish names on some of the buildings.

Folklore Museum

Created in Keralan style from ancient temples and beautiful old houses collected by its owner, an antique dealer, the museum

includes over 4000 artefacts and covers three architectural styles: Malabar on the ground-floor, Kochi on the 1st, Travancore on

the 2nd. Upstairs is a beautiful wood-lined theatre, with a 17th-century wooden ceiling.

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DAY 3: COCHIN - THEKKADY (157kms/4 ½ hrs drive)

Day Notes

After breakfast, check-out from your Hotel and drive to Thekkady Arrive Thekkady and check-in to the Hotel Rest of the evening at leisure. You may wish to take up an evening Jungle Safari in Periyar Tiger reserve. (optional & at

additional cost) Overnight at Thekkady

Included

BB

DAY 4: THEKKADY

Day Notes

After breakfast, you may wish to take up the Jungle Safari or relax and enjoy the resort amenities Pl Note: if you wish to take up the forest Safari, please inform the reception or our coordinators 24hrs prior to make the

needful arrangements Return to the hotel and overnight at Thekkady

Included

BB

DAY 5: THEKKADY – KUMARAKOM (122kms/3.30hrs drive)

Day Notes

After breakfast, check-out from your Hotel and drive to Kumarakom Arrive in Kumarakom and check-in to the Houseboat Rest of the day at leisure to enjoy the activities on the houseboat Overnight in the Houseboat

Included

FB

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KUMARAKOM

A labyrinth of backwaters with shimmering water, the brilliant green of mangrove forests, coconut palms lining the embankments, blue skies, flocks of migratory birds skimming the water – that is Kumarakom, a veritable dreamland!

Every year, more than seven million tourists visit Kerala, a place that the National Geographic Magazine has described as one of the must-see places in a lifetime. Kumarakom is an important stopover for a majority of these tourists. This famous tourist backwater hub is a cluster of islands on the eastern banks of Lake Vembanad. Compared to adjacent villages, the lake has its maximum length and breadth near Kumarakom - about eight km. With the huge lake on one side and with a network of calm canals running through it, Kumarakom, a masterpiece created by man and Nature together, enjoys a unique position on the map of Kerala.

DAY 6: KUMARAKOM – COCHIN AIRPORT (81kms/2.30hrs drive)

Day Notes

After breakfast, check-out from your Hotel and drive to Cochin International Airport for your flight back to hometown

Included

BB

-------------------------------------------------------------------End of your Vacation------------------------------------------------------------

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PRICE: Starts from USD 496 per person

INCLUSIONS

Accommodation on double occupancy in well rated 3*properties

Breakfast Plan on all days in Cochin & Thekkady

All Meal Plan (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner) in Kumarakom Houseboat

Transportation by chauffer driven vehicle as per the itinerary

Sightseeing as per the itinerary – (final Itinerary will be shared one week prior to the travel date)

Usage of Resort/ Hotel facilities

All Govt. Taxes as on date

EXCLUSIONS

Airfare

Expense of personal nature

Meals not specified in the inclusions

Additional guest requests, orders and services

Additional Activities taken up at the resort

Transport for personal use

Exigency cost – in case of emergency

Travel Insurance

Entrance fees at points of interest

Gratitude & Portage

NOTE

- Above cost is calculated based on minimum 2 adults travelling together. Any change in the total no. of guests travelling with

result in change of rates.

- Most of our programs are customised and we work in line with the requirements of our clients and hence the final detailed

itinerary is prepared 5 days prior to the travel date based on the weather conditions and feasibility of visiting places during

sightseeing.

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Add-on Program (at additional cost) – USD 188 per person

2 Nights Munnar

MUNNAR Munnar is situated at the confluence of three mountain streams - Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. 1,600 m above sea

level, this hill station was once the summer resort of the erstwhile British Government in South India. Sprawling tea plantations,

picture-book towns, winding lanes and holiday facilities make this a popular resort town. Among the exotic flora found in the

forests and grasslands here is the Neelakurinji. This flower which bathes the hills in blue once in every twelve years, will bloom

next in 2018. Munnar also has the highest peak in South India, Anamudi, which towers over 2,695 m. Anamudi is an ideal spot

for trekking.

Munnar Sightseeing: Visit TATA Tea Museum, Pothamedu View Point & Cheeyappara Waterfalls

TATA Tea Musuem

The Tea Museum opened by Tata Tea at Nallathanni Tea Estate in Munnar, is a tribute to the pioneers, whose toils and

commitment transformed Munnar in to a major tea plantation centre of Kerala. Tata Tea Museum showcases pieces of

antiquity. The most prominent among them is the burial urn excavated from the vicinity of Periakanal Estate, which can be

dated back to 2nd century BC. Rotorvane of 1905, Pelton Wheel used at Kanniamallay Estate in 1920s, a rail engine wheel of the

Kundale Valley Light Railway used in between 1900 – 1950, etc. are some of the items exhibited here. Tata Tea Museum

portrays the genesis and evolution of tea plantations of Munnar. There are many curios, photographs and machineries displayed

at the museum each of which depict the milestones achieved by the tea estates of the region.

Timings: 10.00 am - 5.00 pm

Pothamedu View Point

Pothamedu (Pothanmedu, Potamed) is a small village six kilometers away from Munnar. The extended area has vast tracts of

tea, coffee and cardamom plantations. Like other parts of Munnar, Pothamedu is blessed with its share of mighty green hills. It is

destination of most of the trekkers. The visitors can reach here from Munnar, which is just 6 km away. Look for Zigzag roads and

high altitude viewpoints.

Cheeyappara Waterfalls

Cheeyappara waterfall is located between Neriamangalam and Adimali around 10 km on the Kochi - Madurai Highway. The

Cheeyappara Waterfall cascades down in seven steps. This is also a great place for trekking. Waterfalls is around 42 km from

Munnar via Aluva-Munnar Rd.