Discover Kerala 6 nights & 7 days

Cochin – Periyar – Kumarokam – Alleppey - Cochin Summer Special Offer valid till 30 September’09

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Creative Travel New Delhi INDIA Fax :( 91-11) 2685886 / 6889764

Creative Travel Pvt. Ltd. Creative Plaza Nanakpura, Moti Bagh New Delhi 110021. India Tel: (91-11) 26872257 - 59, 26113918 Fax : (91-11) 26885886 / 26889764, USA Fax: +1-646-349-1614 Email:[email protected]

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DAY 01: ARRIVE COCHIN ; Arrive Cochin & transfer to Hotel. ; Welcome on Arrival. ; Transfer to Hotel. ; Overnight

BY: INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT

Arrive at Cochin International Airport late this evening. Welcome to India! Creative’s Airport representative will meet & greet the guests upon arrival at the airport as soon as they come out from the main hall after clearing all formalities of Customs & Immigration. Special welcome awaits at the airport with nice garlands of marigold flowers. Later transfer to the Hotel by air-conditioned Vehicle. Upon arrival check into the Hotel. DAY 02: IN COCHIN ; Breakfast at the Hotel. ; Morning city tour of Cochin. ; Evening enjoy Kathakali dance performance. ; Overnight stay at the Hotel. Cochin (also known as Kochi), by far the most famous historical cities of Kerala and the most important place in Kerala for a commercial traveller. Kochi is the business capital of Kerala. Cochin is also famous for its exceptionally beautiful backwaters and beaches. It has a fine natural harbour & is widely acclaimed as the " Queen of the Arabian Sea". The city spreads over several Island, the chief among them being Wellingdon, Mattanchery, Vipin, Gundu & Bolgaty. Morning after breakfast, proceed for full day city tour of Cochin. Visit the Jewish Synagogue (of 1568) which is the oldest synagogue in the commonwealth. It is an interesting little place with hand painted willow pattern floor tiles brought from Canton in China in the mid 18th century. The synagogue is located in an area called Jew Town which also is one of the centers of the spice trade in the region. Also visit the ancient Mattancherry (Dutch) Palace built by the Portuguese in 1557. Another stop is made at the St. Francis Church, the oldest European built church in India. Constructed in 1503 by the Portuguese Franciscan Friars who accompanied the expedition led by Pedro Alvarez Cabral He famed Vasco de Gama, the first European to reach India by sailing around Africa, died in Cochin in 1524 and was buried here for 14 years before his remains were transferred to Lisbon. Top off the day by a cruise around Cochin harbour at Sunset. Later this evening, enjoy Kerala's fascinating art form, at a Kathakali Dance Centre, where you will witness the 'Kathakali', a special dance form of Kerala, with its origins in the 'Theyyam', a ritual tribal dance of North Kerala and 'kalariyapattu', the martial arts practised by the high-caste Nayars. The striking and unique feature of this dance form is the art of putting make up and complete control of facial muscular movement and expressions. The Kathakali performers begin to train for their art at a young age, and their study continues for a lifetime. Return to your hotel for rest and overnight stay. Creative Travel New Delhi INDIA Fax :( 91-11) 2685886 / 6889764

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DAY 03: COCHIN - PERIYAR (Drive: 185 KMS / 4½ hrs approx) ; Breakfast at the Hotel. ; Drive to Periyar. ; Evening visit Periyar wildlife sanctuary by boat ; Overnight Morning after breakfast drive to Periyar. The journey will take approx. 4- 5 hrs drive. Upon arrival check-into the Hotel. Thekkady, is one of India's most fascinating natural wildlife sanctuaries, where you can watch wildlife at close range. The vegetation, the flora and fauna and the birds of Thekkady are uniquely rich, vast and varied that it does not bear semblance to any other wildlife sanctuaries in the world. Even a casual visitor to this place will not fail to observe the special ecological pattern of Thekkady. This evening leave the Hotel for park visit by boat to see wild life around Periyar with the naturalist. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary occupies 777 sq. Kms. of the Cardamom Hills region of the Western Ghats centers around a vast artificial lake, created by the British in 1895 to supply water. It is very rare to spot a Tiger or Leopards but one can see wild elephants, sambar, wild pigs, gaur and over 260 species of birds. Notable among the denizens of Periyar are the tigers, the majestic Asiatic wild elephants and the distinctive Nilgiri langur. Other animals include the wild boar, wild dog, bison, bear and leopards. Amongst the avifauna, the most profuse are herons, egrets, darters, kingfishers and the great Malabar grey hornbill. A cruise through the waters of Periyar lake around which the wild -life sanctuary is situated, offers a soul - stirring pleasant experience. Return to the hotel for rest and the overnight stay. DAY 04: PERIYAR - KUMARAKOM ; Breakfast at the Hotel. ; Morning Spice Plantation visit in Periyar ; Drive to Kumarakom ; Evening enjoy backwater around Kumarakom ; Overnight

(Drive: 190 KMS / 4½ hrs drive)

Morning after breakfast at the Hotel, proceed to enjoy a Guided Walk to see Spice & Rubber Plantation. After Plantation tour come back to Hotel and later drive to Kumarakom. Upon arrival in Kumarakom check into the Hotel with rest of the evening is free to relax / enjoy backwater around Kumarakom. Situated on the bank of the Vembanad Lake, Kumarakom is the most beautiful and picturesque backwater destination of Kerala, a town very famous for its rubber plantations and 15th century ancient churches. It's an enchantingly beautiful little paradise of mangrove forests, emerald green paddy fields and coconut groves interspersed with enchanting waterways and canals. Overnight at the Hotel. Creative Travel New Delhi INDIA Fax :( 91-11) 2685886 / 6889764

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DAY 05: IN KUMARAKOM ; Breakfast at the Hotel. ; Full day free to relax in the Hotel ; Optional: Enjoy Ayurveda treatment at the Hotel ; Overnight Breakfast at the Hotel. After breakfast full day is free to relax in the Hotel or Optional enjoy backwater around Kumarakom as well as Ayurveda Treatment at the Hotel on own expenses. Ayurveda - A Natural Way of Feeling Better Ayurveda is a holistic approach to toning the body. A relaxing massage with herbal oils is highly rejuvenating. Ayurveda is an Indian system of medicine. Ayurveda means the science of life / health and employs naturalistic methods based on the theory of panchabhuta or five elements. Tone up the nervous system with the help of aromatic and medicinal oils used by expert masseurs. Ayurveda evolved around 600 BC in India. During the 500-600 B.C., knowledgeable philosophers such as Agasthya, Charaka, Sushrutha, Kashyapa churned from the vedas the references to all illness, diseases, drug-medicines and compiled the samhitas. It is from this samhitas that the physicians later absorbed the knowledge of Ayurveda and applied them for curing illness. Ayurveda is not only the ancient Indian science of preventative health and healing but also a philosophy of living. This new system of medicine stressed on the prevention of body ailments in addition to curing them. Followed by the Dravidians and Aryans alike, Ayurveda has been practiced ever since. Today, it's a unique, indispensable branch of medicine - a complete naturalistic system that depends on the diagnosis of your body's humours - vata, pitta and kapha - to achieve the right balance. DAY 06: KUMARAKOM – ALLEPPEY (Houseboat) ; Breakfast at the Hotel. ; Transfer to boat Jetty to Embark houseboat ; Full day is free to enjoy backwater on board ; Lunch / Dinner and overnight on Board Morning after breakfast at the Hotel, transfer to Boat jetty by small boat to embark houseboat. Start cruising through narrow lakes & Canals towards Alleppey. Enjoy backwaters on board. The coastal town of *Alleppey* on the Arabian sea, called as the Venice of the east for the numerous canals that meander through the town. This town holds a thrilling event of snake boat race every year during August. It is also known for its cashew nuts. The backwaters in Kerala is a network of 1500 kms of canals both manmade and natural, 38 rivers and 5 big lakes extending from one end of Kerala to the other. Before trucks became popular, the main cargo transportation was through backwaters by 'Kettuvalloms'. Kettuvallom means, ‘stitched boat’. Kettuvalloms or Houseboats (Riceboats) are country boats that were used in the early days for the transport of goods from the isolated interior villages to the towns. With the advent of roads, bridges and ferry services, gradually the Creative Travel New Delhi INDIA Fax :( 91-11) 2685886 / 6889764

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Kettuvalloms went off the scene. Now these kettuvalloms are back again as a major tourist attraction. A ride on a Kettuvallom is a fabulous way to explore the fascinating beauty of the backwaters.

Houseboats (Kettuvalloms) of Kerela: The Houseboats of Kerala are giant country crafts, measuring up to 80 feet in length, retrieved from being lost to the State altogether. Once they ruled the backwaters, poled along by one or two men, heavily loaded with rice, coconut and other commodities. But in the recent times, the kettuvalloms have been replaced by more and modern modes of transport, relegating them to neglect and decay.It takes great skill and meticulousness to construct these giants by tying huge planks of jack wood together. Curiously enough, not a single nail is used in their making. There used to be an entire clan of artisans who were involved in kettuvallom construction. Today, an innovative holiday idea has restored these majestic representatives of a unique culture and with them their makers. The houseboats that cruise these emerald waterways are an improvisation on the large country barges which were an essential part the land's ethos in days gone by. Modified to meet a novel concept of holidaying, the kettuvalloms are comfortably furnished with an open longue, one or two bath attached bedrooms and a kitchenette, and are extremely eco friendly, merging smoothly into the panorama. Every boat is manned by a crew - usually a cook, guide and oarsman. Rest of the day free to relax on board. Lunch, Dinner & Overnight on board. DAY 07: ALLEPPEY – COCHIN

(DRIVE: 65 KMS – 2 Hrs Approx.)

; Breakfast on board ; Disembark the House boat and drive to Cochin airport ; Fly back home Morning after breakfast, disembark the House boat and drive to Cochin straight to the airport to board flight for onwards destination. Hotels envisaged or similar subject to availability: City

Hotels

Room Category

No. of Nights

Cochin

Brunton Boatyard

Standard Sea facing

02

Periyar

Spice village

Standard Villa

01

Kumarakom

Coconut lagoon

Heritage Bungalow

02

Alleppey

Deluxe Houseboat

Deluxe Houseboat

01

Creative Travel New Delhi INDIA Fax :( 91-11) 2685886 / 6889764

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Validity: the below prices are valid till 30th September’09 Per person price on twin sharing basis

All in EURO including taxes

02 Paying Pax

EURO 405 per person on twin sharing

03 Paying Pax

EURO 343 per person on twin sharing

04 - 06 Paying Pax

EURO 323 per person on twin sharing.

Single room Supplement

EURO 213 per single over & above Twin sharing price

Supplement for Entrance fee at all the EURO 20 per person EXTRA monuments including at the Periyar wild life sanctuary.

THE ABOVE COST INCLUDES: • • • • • • • • •

Six nights Accommodation on twin sharing basis with breakfast at all places except in Alleppey where the accommodation will be provided on full board – all 03 meals included here. All transfers, sightseeing’s & excursions using an Air-conditioned vehicle as per the program Services of a local English speaking guide at all the places of visits. All currently applicable Entrances fee at the monuments as per mentioned in the program. Park visit in Periyar wild life sanctuary by boat cruise ( entrance not included) Spice Plantation visit in Periyar Kathakali dances show at local theatre Basic Porterage at the airport & hotels (not tips). All currently applicable taxes.

ABOVE COST DOES NOT INCLUDE • • • • •

Any Expenses of personal nature such as table drinks, laundry, telephone calls, mineral water, tips, shopping etc. All applicable entrance fee ( Quoted separately) at the monuments including Park Any other meals / services not mentioned in the program. Any air fare or Airport tax. Any increase in Tax structure levied by the Govt. Of India in near future.

Creative Travel New Delhi INDIA Fax :( 91-11) 2685886 / 6889764

[email protected]