kerala itinerary - public

7/25/2019 Kerala Itinerary - PUBLIC

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Kerala Tour 2012 Itinerary (10 days 10 nights)

10-Nov 03:15am reach Nagercoil. - Proceed to Kanyakumari - 30km

Pre-arranged taxi waiting at Nagercoil station.

Night halt - TTDC Hotel Tamilnadu, Kanyakumari Ph-04652-246257

11-Nov Morning 08:00 Travel Kanyakumari -to- Kovalam -85km

Kovalam -to- TrivendrumLunch- site seeing -15km

17:00 travel Trivendrum -to- Varkala Beach -55km

Night haltKera Theeram Beach Resort, Varkala Ph-94472 71382, 98461 38899

12-Nov Relax at Varkala - take body massage, Ayurvedic treatment

Night haltKera Theeram Beach Resort, Varkala

13-Nov Morning travel Varkala -to- Alleppey. -120km

Boat rides in back waters, Vembanadu Lake - Visit Pathiramanal Bird Sanctuary

Night halt atAshtamudi Homestay, Alleppey Ph-

99470 34999, 96050 80177

14-Nov EARLY morningvisit to Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary (30km from Ashtamudi)

11:00 Travel from Alleppey to- Thekkady -140km

Night halt - Woodlands Prime Castle, Thekkady Ph-04869-222077, 94479 90410

15-Nov Take FIRST boat rideto Periyar wild life sanctuary - Kumily Spice Village

Night halt - Woodlands Prime Castle, Thekkady

16-Nov Morning travel Thekkadyto- Munnar -90km

Munnar local site seeing (total for 2 days ---> ~145km)Night halt at - Theresian (BAD)Cottages, Munnar Ph-94958 79748, 94473 97720

17-Nov Munnar darshan. Relax Night halt at Theresian Cottages, Munnar

18-Nov Morning travel Munnarto- Valara and Cheeyapparato- Arhirappily -140km

Visit falls Night halt - Riverok Resort, Arhirappilly Ph-81293 87474, 0480-276 9140

19-Nov Morning travel Athirappilly -to- Guruvayur -90km

15:00 travel Guruvayur to- Thrissur (Trichur) Return journey by train

Summary Tips :

For budget tourist homestay is the best option. Just search internet for bed &

breakfast. Likewise taxi (Trivandrum/ Cochin) booking is also possible through internet.

Food : Saravana, Ananda Bhavan, Aryas and Srikrishna are PURE veg restaurant chains.

Oil massageis BIG humbug. After early childhood most people have NOT experienced

massage being performed by SOMEONE on their naked body. It may be a major novelty that

nobody likes to acknowledge. Ayurvedic herbs and oils are plus point in Kerala, but one

needs to find right experts and be willing to pay their premium fees. For entertainment (of

self and masseur!) it is OK to throw Rs500 for a session at a place where you have spare time.Visit to tribalsat Kumily/ Munnar/ etc is another humbug. Lay people dress-up in colorful

designer wardrobes to entertain tourists. Best way to know tribals is to take pain to walk in

to their area. REAL tribal will be happy to interact and may even offer tea/ coffee for free.


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Varkalais far better than Kovalam.

For STRICT budget tourists, do NOT pay for Kathakali or Kalaripayattuunless you

emotionally like to support these art forms. Quality video which are much more informative

are available on internet. For Kathakali -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkJ61sKVVR4

And for Kalaripayattuhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsUai4wt6Yk and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI6iNZ8Cfb0

Houseboatis avoidable unless you have lot of time and do not mind spending evening and

night in a stationary boat. Practical option is to stay in a hotel and go for long (5-6 hour

motorboat rides in Vembanad lake. Per hour charge is around Rs350 for a 6-10 seater boat.

Small boat would have better maneuverability and will take you right up to the end of

Venmanad lake where Chinese fishing nets are installed near Thanneermukkom Bund (salt

water barrier) that maintains water level for Kuttinad rice bowl.

Chinese fishing netsnear Cochin and Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary (near Thanneermukkom

Bund, salt water barrier on Vembanad lake).

Rubber plantationsare plenty just outside Kottayam (on the way to Kumily/ Sabarimala).

Ask for rubber processing unit and stop on the way. Locals will be happy to show you around.

Boating in Periyar lakeis NO NO unless special arrangements are made in small boats andyou begin boating before sunrise. Another good option for wildlife is morning jeep safari.

Spice gardensat Kumily are good only for those who are interested in their farming and

processing of farm produce. Kumily town is the best place for spice and herbs shopping.

Tea estatesare all around Munnar roads. Free. Visit Munnar Tea Museum to see tea leaves

processing.

Athirappillyis good ONLY during monsoon. In other seasons visit to Kurtalam Falls

(Tenkasi in Thirunelvely, TN)is also a good option. Access to good viewing location at

Athirappilly is an issue.

Route map for Kerala Tour - 2012 :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkJ61sKVVR4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkJ61sKVVR4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkJ61sKVVR4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsUai4wt6Ykhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsUai4wt6Ykhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsUai4wt6Ykhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI6iNZ8Cfb0http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI6iNZ8Cfb0http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI6iNZ8Cfb0http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsUai4wt6Ykhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkJ61sKVVR4


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Detailed Itinerary with site seeing places

1) 10-Nov Kanyakumari (1 night) Good - HOTEL TAMILNADU - KANNIYAKUMARI,

Light House main road, Near Sea shore, Kanniyakumari - 629702 Ph-04652-246257

Check In Time 10:00(24:00 hr) Check Out Time 10:00(24:00 hr)

For food: Best-->Hotel Saravana (Sannathi St), Gujarati Samaj (04652-246067). ALL

restaurants on Sannathi Street (Kanyakumari temple road) are PURE veg.Accommodation : Gujarati Samaj (6/605, Kovalam Road, Kottakarai04652-246205)

Kanyakumari was once referred to as the Alexandria of the east. This place has been a

great center for art, culture, civilization, and pilgrimage for years. It was also a famous

center for commerce and trade. During the early part of the eighth century AD Islam

entered the southern part of India through the sea route with traders and missionaries.

Through St. Thomas, one of the twelve Apostles of Christ, Christianity arrived in this

area in AD 52. Islam, Christianity and Jainism have greatly contributed to the

architectural wealth and literary heritage of this place. Kanyakumari was also under the

control of the Cholas, the Cheras, the Pandyas and the Nayaks who were great rulers ofsouth India. The architectural beauty of the temples is the work of these rulers.

The Bhagavathy Amman or the Kanyakumari Temple, located on the shore, at the

end of Sannathi Street, is dedicated to a manifestation of Parvati, the virgin goddess

who did penance to obtain Lord Shiva's hand in marriage. The temple and the adjoining

ghat, picturesquely situated overlooking the shore, attract tourist from all over the

world. The diamond nose-ring of the deity is famous for its sparkling splendor said to be

visible even from the sea.

Legend has it that Kanya Devi, an avatar of Goddess Parvati, was to wed Lord Shiva, the

destroyer in the Hindu trinity. But he did not turn up at the auspicious time and the

wedding never took place. The rice and cereals meant for the marriage remained

uncooked. Even today, one can buy stones there that look exactly like rice and cereals.

Local folks believe that they are the leftovers of the legendary marriage that could not

be solemnized. As for the princess Kanya Devi, she became a virgin goddess blessing

pilgrims and tourists alike.

Sunrise point (Good) and Sunset Point

Swami Vivekananda Memorial Rock : Two rocks reach out of the ocean, southeast of

the Kumari Amman temple. One of these is Sri Padaparai, where the footprints of the

virgin goddess are said to be imprinted on this rock, Swami Vivekananda is said to have

sat in deep meditation and here also stands the famous Vivekananda Rock Memorialbuilt in 1970. There is a dhyana mandapam where one can sit in a serene atmosphere

and meditate. Ferry services are available to reach the memorial.

Gandhi Mandapam: The striking Gandhi Memorial has been built on the spot where the

urn containing the Mahatma's ashes was kept for public viewing before immersion.

Resembling central Indian Hindu temples in form, the memorial was so designed that

on Mahatma Gandhi's birthday (October 2), the first rays of the sun fall on the exact

place where the ashes of the father of the nation were kept.

Wax Museum

Vattakottai (literally, circular fort) is an 18th-century fort overlooking the sea, locatedsix km from Kanyakumari.


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2) 11-12-Nov Varkala (2 nights) Good - KERATHEERAM BEACH RESORT,

Papanasam Cliff, Kurakkanni, Varkala, Mr. Priji. R - 9447271382, Mr. Sumanan. A -

9846138899, Mrs. Saji9946220283

Alternate accomodation: Mango Villa, Shiva Garden9349460261, MANY good

options for homestay.

Start from Kanyakumari and cover Kovalam/ Trivandrum on the way to Varkala

Kovalam Beach: 3 beaches separated by rocky outcroppings

Good for bathing. Popular because shallow waters and low tidal waves

Southernmost, known as Lighthouse Beach is the most popular of the three

Hawa Beach

The Northern most crescent, (with the different names Main Beach/Leela

Beach/Samudra Beach) - is crowded on weekends, is popular with the local

fishermen, day-travelers, and passing-by tourist buses.

Food: Bethel (A good vegetarian restaurant in Kovalam), Coconut Grove

(Lighthouse Beach), Suprabatham (200m away from Lighthouse Beach, acessible

via a path between German Bakery and Hotel Orion. One of the best vegetarian

restaurants in Kovalam)

Thiruvananthapuram:

Thiruvananthapuram name means "City of Lord Anantha" (the serpent on which

Lord Padmanabha/Vishnu reclines) in Sanskrit and Malayalam.

Food: Anand Bhavan (OK - Statue Junction, MG Road), Arul Jyothi (M.G. Road ph-

0471-2470240, delicious South food), Ariya Bhavan (Opp: Bus Stand, Thampanoor),

Arya Nivas(Very popular), Vinayak Vegetarian Restaurant (near Manjalikulam Rd)

Padmanabhaswami temple: The presiding deity in here is Lord Vishnu reclining on

Anantha the Serpent. With its gopuram (tower) soaring majestically upwards, isbelieved to be one of the 108 shrines sacred to the Vaishnavites in India. Within its

hallowed precincts, the main pavilion impresses with its 400 beautifully carved

pillars of granite. The 100-feet-high gopuram comprises seven stories with each

center. The stone basement of the tower is covered with elaborate sculptures and

the masonry above is replete with ornamental works of figures from the Puranas

and other ancient scriptures. Tapering towards the top, it bears the statue of

Garuda, the vehicle of Lord Vishnu. Inside the temple, the main shrine is well

guarded with a number of massive doors, and darshan (audience) can be had

through the three-door openings into the sanctum sanctorum

The Napier Museum: Built in the 19th century, the Indo - saracenic structureboasts a "natural" air conditioning system and houses a rare collection of

archaeological and historic artifacts, bronze idols, ancient ornaments, a temple

chariot and ivory carvings. The use of plastic is banned in the museum premises.

Sri Chitra Art Gallery: Located near the Napier Museum. It is an ideal place for art

lovers. The piece de resistance is the large section devoted to the paintings of Raja

Ravi Varma, an Indian painter of distinction in the history of the countrys modern

art. Besides him, the Indian section also contains works of Rabindranath Tagore,

Jamimi Roy, K. K. Hebar, miniatures from the Rajput and Mughal schools of

painting and the famous Tanjore paintings encrusted with semi-precious stones.The gallerys collection also includes paintings from Indonesia, China, and Japan.

The collection also includes paintings from China, Japan, Tibet and Bali.


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Museum: A repository of fine works of art, the chief attraction here is the 250-

year-old temple car made for Lord Vishnu, artistically designed and ornamented.

Besides this, objects carved out of wood, models of temple, antique jewelry, etc.,

make the museum worth a visit.

Kuthiramalika (Puthenmalika) Palace Museum: The palace was built by Maharaja

Swathi Thirunal Balarama Varma - the King of Travancore, who was a great poet,

musician, social reformer and statesman. This rare specimen of workmanship in the

traditional Travancore style of architecture also has exquisite wood carvings. The

palace museum displays paintings and various priceless collections of the royal

family and is located near the Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple.

Varkalais a pilgrimage centre for the devotees of Janardhana Swamy and Sree

Narayana Guru. It also is a seaside resort and spa. It is also an important Hindu centre of

pilgrimage. The final resting place of the great social reformer, Sree Narayana Guru, is

near Varkala, atop a hill called Sivagiri. High cliffs with mineral springs rise majestically

from the coastline. According to a myth, sage Narada was approached by a group of

mendicants who confessed to having sinned. Narada threw his valkkalam (cloth made ofthe bark of a tree) into the air, and the place where it landed was subsequently named

Varkala. The mendicants were directed by Narada to offer their prayers in the newly

created place by the seashore. The place where they prayed for redemption, came to

be known as the Papanasham Beach ( Papanasham means redemption from sins). The

2000 year old Sree Janardhana Swamy Temple and the Nature Care Centre are the two

main attractions here.Trivandrum Food : Hotel Pride/ Prime, Near Chaithram Talkies,

Mascot Square

http://goindia.about.com/od/beachesbackwaters/p/varkala.htm

http://wikitravel.org/en/VarkalaVarkala Food: Hotel Suprabhatham (Good, Pure vegetarian, in Varkala Town),

Ootapura (OK - Veg. near helipad), Passion Fruit (Pure Veg, South end of cliff)

Janardhana Swamy (2000yr old) temple dedicated to Vishnu and Hanuman, atop

the hill has brought a sobriquet for the region, Southern Kasi (Benares). Non-

Hindus are not permitted to enter the inner sanctum. It is also home to an old bell

that was taken from an ancient shipwreck of a Dutch Freighter.

Sivagiri Mutt : Sree Narayana Guru (1855-1928), saint, social reformer, philosopher

and leader of Ezhava community established Sivagiri Mutt. Samadhi located here.

'One Caste, One Religion, One God'.

Northern beach good for bathing. Dolphins and Sea Otters are occasionally.Southern beach for religious ceremonies and last rites. Mineral spring flows here.

Misc - Visit a martial arts centre (Kalaripayattu) and Kathakali dance. Do paragliding

and parasailing. Ayurveda treatment/ massage. Endless rows of huts lining the cliff

Misc - Varkala Tunnel (built by the British in 1880 ) and the Lighthouse. Fishing

Hamlets of Anjengo and its British Fort.

Misc- Kapil Lake and Edava Beach (blue lagoon, where sea and backwaters running

parallel divided by a more-than-one km of straight road)

Daily Evening shows of the traditional Temple Dance Drama of Kerala -

KATHAKALI. ( north Cliff near Clafouti and Thanal Beach Resort in the VarkalaCulture Centre) Entrance fee 250 INR which includes the Make-up from 5pm - 6:45

and the show from 6:45 - 8:15pm
http://goindia.about.com/od/beachesbackwaters/p/varkala.htmhttp://goindia.about.com/od/beachesbackwaters/p/varkala.htmhttp://wikitravel.org/en/Varkalahttp://wikitravel.org/en/Varkalahttp://wikitravel.org/en/Varkalahttp://goindia.about.com/od/beachesbackwaters/p/varkala.htm


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Savasana Nature Tours give a chance to see some of the beauty and diversity just

outside Varkala. Day trips weekly. Contact [email protected]

Interesting tide pattern at Varkala. Papanasam Beach completely immersed in the

ocean during the monsoon season, while the black beach (in north) is accessible.

After the monsoon, this trend reverses with the black beach becoming engulfed in

water and Papanasam Beach open.

3)

13-Nov Alleppey (1 night) V Good - Ashtamudi Home Stay, West of S.D.V Central

School, Zilla Court Ward, Alappuzha Uma/ Subhash RaghavanThankappan Ph -

9947034999, 9605080177, 0477-2254212, 0477-6540216. Lot of mosquito.

Food: Hot Kitchen (Mullackal Rd, good food, bad env), Hotel Sowrashtra (Good), Hotel

Bharani, Aryas, Arun, Manishaben (0477-2245542)

Boating : Do it through Ashtamudi. Fix lond motor boat rides to village/backwater and

Vembanad Lake. Ballpark estimate - Rs.400/hr. "Venice of India". Explore the natural

beauty of Kerala, the paddy fields, narrow canals, coir villages etc.

Heard that there is very little to see at Pathiramanal Bird Sanctuary and Kumarakom

Bird Sanctuary.Early morning: drive to Muhamma boat Jetty. Take boat ride to Pathiramanal island.

It is about 1.5 km from Muhamma boat jetty. Roughly 10acre, 500mx500m. The name

Pathiramanal means Sands of night. The scenic beauty of both sides of the lake as

well as that of the island is mind blowing. It is home to many rare varieties of migratory

birds from different parts of the world.

Punnamada Kayal, is a famous place in Alleppey for its Nehru Trophy boat race held

during Onam festival celebrated in the month of August. The long boats, designed to

resemble snakes, can accommodate 120 people, making two rows of 60 each.

Backwatersare a network of lakes, canals and estuaries and deltas of forty-four rivers

that drain into the Arabian sea. The backwaters of Kerela are a self supporting eco-

system teeming with aquatic life. The canals connect the villages together and are still

used for local transport. Over 900 km of this labyrinthine water world is navigable. The

largest backwater stretch in Kerela is the Vembanad Lakewhich flows through three

districts and opens out into the sea at the Kochi Port. The Ashtamudi lake, literally

having eight arms, which covers a major portion of Kollam district in the south, is the

second largest and is considered the gateway to the backwaters.

http://www.cocohouseboatskerala.com/backwater_cruise_tours.html

Hammock and Coir Products: Benas Coir Shop (Thumpoly PO, 0477-2241463,

9847941463), There are many shops on same road selling similar productsKumarakom Bird Sanctuary15acre on NE of Vembanad Lake. Accessible by road.

Kumarakom: Kumarakom is on man-made land reclaimed from the vast Vembanad

Lake. It is part of the Kuttanadregion which is referred to as the rice bowl of Kerala

and one of the few places in the world where farming is done below sea level. History

of this exotic backwater village started with the arrival of the English farmer Alfred

George Baker in 1847. He reclaimed 500 acres of Vembanad Lake and made garden land

and paddy fields. He built the Baker House (also known as the History House). Mr Baker

was the beloved Kari Saipu (possibly an elision from Baker Sahib) of the locals. Four

generations of Bakers lived in the house until 1962. It is reported that they spokeMalayalam, the local language, and even wore the "mundu", which is the traditional

formal wear of the people of Kerala (a plain white dhoti, with golden silk lining). The

Baker Memorial School in Kottayam, was started around 1825, by members of the same
http://www.cocohouseboatskerala.com/backwater_cruise_tours.htmlhttp://www.cocohouseboatskerala.com/backwater_cruise_tours.htmlhttp://www.cocohouseboatskerala.com/backwater_cruise_tours.html


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family. The Baker House itself was in ruins, until it was taken over by the Taj Group and

restored into a luxury heritage hotel

Chinese fishing netsnear Alleppey (Thanneermukkom Bund is a salt water barrier,

~5km from Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary). "Thanneermukkom Bund" maintains water

level in Kuttinad region where farming is done below sea level. Chinese fishing nets

installed on fresh water-side. This is only a minor installation of Chinese Fishing Nets.

Major one is at Cochin.

It was earlier thought that the nets

might have been introduced by the Chinese

explorer Zheng He. Recent research shows that

these were introduced by Portuguese Casado

settlers from Macau

Chinese fishing nets have become a

very popular tourist attraction, their size and

elegant construction is photogenic and the slow

rhythm of their operation is quite hypnotic. Inaddition, catches can be purchased individually and

need be taken only a short distance to a street

entrepreneur who will cook it.

They are fixed land installations for an unusual form of fishingshore operated

lift nets. Huge mechanical contrivances hold out horizontal nets of 20 m or more

across. Each structure is at least 10 m high and comprises a cantilever with an

outstretched net suspended over the sea and large stones suspended from ropes

as counterweights at the other end. The system is sufficiently balanced that the

weight of a man walking along the main beam is sufficient to cause the net todescend into the sea. The net is left for a short time, possibly just a few minutes,

before it is raised by pulling on ropes. The catch is usually modest: a few fish and

crustaceansthese may be sold to passers by within minutes.

Each installation has a limited operating depth. Consequently, an individual net

cannot be continually operated in tidal waters. Different installations will be

operated depending on the state of the tide.

Kottayam: An hour journey from Alleppey, Kottayam is a major town of Kerala, the

rubber city. Kerala accounts for 90% of the Rubber productionin India, major part

being the contribution of Kottayam district. Each night a new cut is made on the rubber

tree causing a new flow of latex. A collecting cup is tied with a polythene wreathedaround the tree. After a few moments the latex begins to flow into the cup. The

accumulated rubber is collected the next morning and is carried to the processing unit.

Most of the trees had black cups tied to them and black latex flowing in them.

4) 14-15-Nov Thekkady (2 nights) Good - Woodlands Prime Castle, Thekkady

Road, Kumily, Idukki District- 685 509 Mr George - 04869-223469, 222077, 94479 90410

Food: Annapurna (Best, Pure Veg, KK Road), Gujarati ThaliPurohit Hotel (Good),

Hotel Krishna (Good), Hotel Aiswarya, Aayur Caf (Mas Lake Queen Hotel, Thekkady

Junction, Kumily),Spice tourto view the plantations of a wide variety of spices like cardamom, pepper,

tea, coffee, cloves, ginger, turmeric, cumin seed. Nedumkandam Chillies Spice Garden.


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Visited Mr Varghese (9447524062), Malanadu Spice Garden, Spring Valley, KK Road,

Rs100/head. Generally owners lose interest if visitors do not buy spices from them.

Boating at Periyar lake: AVOIDABLE unless you hire small boat and start before

sunrise. 24 sq km artificial lake formed by a dam across the Periyar river. Prefer UPPER

DECKin the boat. Reach early to get better seat. Organized by KTDC. Boat rides

offered on the Periyar lake provides the best chance of observing wild life in the

sanctuary. The timings for boating are 0700, 0930, 1130, 1400, 1600 hrs. Carry some

additional clothing during the boat ride in the morning as the morning time is much

cooler than the average day temperatures.

Periyar Widlife sanctuaryis spread across 777 sq km, of which 360 sq km is thick

evergreen forest, the Periyar Wiild Life Sanctuary was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978.

It is situated on the banks of the Periyar lake - an artificial lake, at Thekkady. Animals

may be seen from motorboats on the lake or from watchtowers. A special permission is

required to travel by boat to the source of the artificial lake, the River Periyar. Unique

experience of viewing wildlife at close quarters from the safety of a boat.

62 species of mammals, 320 species of birds, 45 species of reptiles, 27 species of

amphibians, 38 species of fish and 160 butterfly species.Elephant rides: 10am to 5pm. Anavachal Road, Thekkady,04869-322444,

9447019726, [1]. Elephant ride for 30 min (Cost approx INR 350) edit

Plantation Tours: Typically they will charge around INR 50 to 100 for showing you

around plantation & explain you.

Eveningyou can enjoy KathakaliDance (Behind Periyar Medows, Kumily. 1. Fabulous

show of Kathakali Rs150), martial art show, Shopping of SPICES(Organic garden fresh

spices like tea, coffee, vanilla, saffron, cardamom, pepper, cloves, nutmeg, nut maze,

star anise, honey, cinnamon, ayurvedic oils)

There are approximately 40 tigersin the area as per the latest reports. Herds of Indianbison (Gaur)and playful wild elephantshave made Periyar Lake their favorite haunt

for frolicking in the water. Scores of them can be witnessed bathing and swimming

here. The Indian female elephants do not possess tusks like their African relatives. They

are also not as swarthy as their African counterparts. Other inhabitants of Periyar

include the leopard, wild dog, barking deer, mouse deer, Nilgiri langur (a primate),

bonnet macaque, Lion Tailed Macaque, Striped-necked Mongoose, Nilgiri Marten,

sambhar, porcupines, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Small Travancore Flying Squirrel,

Large Flying Squirrel, gaur (Indian bison), wild boar and sloth bear. The tigers, along

with the Nilgiri tahrs(a kind of a wild goat), are elusive creatures. Nilgiri tahrs are

found in the high altitude grasslands of Mangaladevi. However, an early morning visit,

with luck on your side, could yield results. Trekkers have also sighted pythons, king

cobras and flying lizards. Some 320 species of birdsare found at Periyar. These

include darters, cormorants, ibises, gray herons, mynas, flycatchers, orioles, wood

pigeons, kingfishers, kites, ospreys, thrushes, and an appreciable number of blue-

winged parakeets.

12.5km trek to the ruined Mangala Devi temple- a beautiful old stone temple situated

in the heart of the Thekkady forest.

Visit some tribal villages around Periyar. Tribal people are expert fishermen and

farmers. Some are still engaged in the traditional practice of collecting honey ofdangerous hill bees. They have built interesting tree dwellings. These dwellings do not

signify a perched existence. Quite the contrary, they are comfortable watchtowers for

taking note of any wild pig or elephant in the area that might ruin the cultivated fields.


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Nature Walk: The guided day trek. Different nature trails traversing diverse habitats

form the trekking routes, generally 4 to 5 km in length. This is an interpretive

programme offering excellent opportunity to watch birds, butterflies and other

wildlife. The trails often pass through evergreen and moist deciduous forests

interspersed with marshy grasslands. The programme is offered between 7AM and

10:30AM and between 2PM and 3PM and lasts for about 3 hours. A maximum of 5

persons can go for trekking at a time along each nature trail, accompanied by a trained

tribal guide.

The Periyar Tiger Trail: The programme is unique in being conducted by a team of

poachers who turned protectors of the forests. The team members are hardy and

dependable with an intimate knowledge of the forest terrain. The programmes are 1

night/2 days and 2 nights/3 days. The first days trek starts at 12 noon and ends by noon

in the second or third day. The team consists of a maximum of 5 visitors, 5 guides and 2

forest officials. Normally 20 to 35 km of trekking distance will be covered, depending

on the route chosen. Here, one may chance to encounter much indigenous wildlife like

Nilgiri langur, giant squirrel, elephant and who knows, even the tiger! The trek route

passes through hills and valleys with a variety of tropical plants and wide-open spaces.Enroute vegetarian meals will be prepared and served and country tents will be pitched

for holing up in the night. Trekking groups are accompanied by armed forest guards

with good communication equipments, and geared to face any emergency situation.

Remember to listen to unusual and strange adventure stories of the former poachers,

now your guides and protectors of the forests. Preconditions for joining the tiger trail:

Visitors who are medically fit and aged between 15 - 65 are advised to take the tiger

trail. Visitors should be serious nature lovers willing to sacrifice some of the luxuries

and comforts of a hotel. edit

Bamboo Rafting: This is a dawn to dusk range hiking and rafting programme through

some of the richest forest tracts of Periyar Tiger Reserve. Starting at 8AM from the

boat landing, a mosaic of habitats will be traversed before the party gets into rafts

made of bamboos. The forests are rich in bird life and arboreal animals like giant

squirrel and Nilgiri langur. The rafting is for about three hours and one gets a

panoramic view of forest-clad hills reflected on the lake. Animals like elephant, gaur

and sambar are sighted keeping close to the edges of the lake. The team hitchhikes

back to the boat landing by about 5PM. An armed guard and 4 guides will accompany a

maximum of 10 tourists. Tea, snacks and packed lunch will be served enroute

5)

16-17-Nov Munnar (2 nights) BAD -Theresian Cottages, Near Tea County 5 Star,Munnar-685612. Mrs Mary Andrews Ph - 04865-230351, 9495879748, 9447397720

Location and infrastructure is OK. Not happy with attitude of hosts. Dishonest.

Alternate accommodation: JJ Cottages, AIDA04865-230542, 9447584769

5000 feet above sea level

Munnar means three rivers. - Muthirapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. These 3 streams

confluence at the heart of the town

Food: Best ---> Hotel Saravana Bhavan (Pure veg, Opp Petrol Pump, MG Road), Good--->

Gujarati-Maravadi Hotel (Near Tea County), Patel Dining Hall (Near Post Office), Hotel

Annapurna (main market)Tea estates are all around roads. Free. Visit Tea Museum to see tea leaves processing.


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Site seeing places F, G, H, I are on the way Thekkady - Munnar.

Site seeing places L, M are on the way Munnar - Thrissur/ Cochin/ Ernakulam.Visit

these places on the way.

One day (upto 3pm) trip.First thing in the morning, start from Top Station view point.

In afternoon view point is covered in clouds and visibility turns zero. On return journey

visit Kundala Lake, Echo point, Speed boat point, Mattupetty Dam.

Mattupetty Lake and Dam(15 kms) : The beautiful hill station of Mattupetty is a 13 km

drive away from Munnar. The Mattupetty Lake and Dam is enroute to Top Stationand

is situated at an altitude of 1700 m. You will often see people enjoying a lazy picnic

here. Visitors love the panoramic view of the dam surrounded by wooden hills. Boatingis a popular activity here. The DTPC (District Tourism Promotion Council) Idukki has

good facility for boating and has a fleet of speed boats, row boats and pedal boats.

You will love trekking in the Shola forests around Mattupetty which is also home to a

variety of birds. Walk along small streams and follow its meandering path till it falls

down the hillside as a waterfall. The hill-side is dotted with pretty waterfalls that add to

the attraction of the place. The nearby forests are the best place to watch the

indigenous and exotic birds. The numerous mountain streams and waterfalls make it an

excellent trekking point and a picnic spot.

Echo Point (13km towards Top Station) from Munnar is a small lake set amidst rollinghills. Every loud call made from a spot on the lake embankment is returned manifold by

the echo from the surrounding hills. Young tourists throng to this place to listen to the

echoes of their friendship calls.

Kundala lakewhich we liked the most and children enjoyed a lot. Kundala Lake is

located at 28 km away from Munnar amidst a dense forest. A narrow road bifurcates to

the left to reach this place. The main road on the top of the dam offers a panoramic

view of the catchment area of the Kundala Dam.Kundala lake and its surrounding area

offer a calm and quiet atmosphere with quiet natural beauty. Huge oak trees around

the lake were magnificent. There was level area around the lake bank for children to

play. Several boats were parked there but at that moment boating has yet not started.

This lake is very beautiful amidst lush jungles. Hiring a pedal boatand exploring the

lake and its surroundings is an awesome experience. Except at the place you hired the

boat, dont expect to find humans around the lake as it is surrounded by scenic jungles


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and hills. Unless you know how to row a boat, prefer a pedal boat, each trip lasts around

30 min and will be closed at 4:30 PM

Top station(34 kms) : On the Kerala and Tamil Nadu border, has great views of the

Western Ghats. Top station is the top-tourist attraction. This place gives a real above

the clouds experience. Regular buses go to Top Station (1 hr) from Munnar. The area is

known for the Neelakurunji plant, which flowers only once every twelve years. The

flower is violet

Devikulam(14 kms) : This serene hill station is located seven kms from Munnar.

Devikulam literally means "the pond or lake of the Devi". As per the beliefs of the

people Goddess Sita had bathed in the waters of the lake in Devikulam. It has a host of

exotic flora and fauna. Situated amidst this hill station is the Sitadevi Lake, which is

renowned for its natural mineral water and the breathtaking surroundings.

Lockhart Gap Road(18 kms) : The Lockhart Gap is an awing destination offering

position view of Bison Valley and hilly places close to Thekkaddy. A best location for

picnic and leisure stroll, Lockhart Gap is just refreshing like any other piece of scene

loaded in Munnar. You can palm out whole of Munnar and eye the prettiness of its

surroundings from here. Well, driving over the Lockhart Gap from the south and takinga view from South is truly unforgettable. Days are beautiful here and evenings even

wonderful. Hills and its scenic beauty bedded with tea and its aroma can be best viewed

from Lockhart

Chinnakkanal Waterfalls(20kms) : Located amidst the scenic Western Mountains, the

Chinnakkal waterfall cascades from a steep rock that is 2000 m above the sea level.

Indeed it is a breathtaking view, which you can savour on the way to Periyar wildlife

sanctuary from Munnar

Anayirangal Dam( 25kms) : Surrounded by the Tata Tea plantations and evergreen

forests, the Anayirangal Dam is a picturesque place, which is 22 kms away from Munnar.The view of the reservoir is breathtaking and you can enjoy it by taking a boat trip.

Pothamadu view point(06 kms) : We were just lucky when we visited this place. 10

minutes after we reached this place the place was surrounded by clouds. The views

were just wow. But there are absolutely no facilities. And is just seven kms from

Munnar. It is a vantage point to enjoy the surrounding tea, coffee, and cardamom

plantations.

Tea Museum(2 kms from Residency) : TEA MUSEUMa mini tea factory run by the

TATA company, enrty fee is appilicaple, Mondays is a holiday.

Pallivasal Tea Factory, Attukad falls(12 kms) : Situated between Munnar and

Pallivasal, it is an ideal place for long trekking as it has many steep rocks and hill withnumerous waterfalls.

Chithirapuram(12 kms from Residency) : It was one of the favourite places of the

erstwhile British. Now a quaint place with cottages, bungalows, old playgrounds, and

courts it still exudes the old world charm.

Rajamalai/Eravikullam National Park(approx 25 kms). Visit if time permits. See Nilgiri

Thar (Hemitragas hylocres)an endangered species of mountain goats. VERY few

people have been able to see any wildlife. Costly bus ride in to the park after long

queue wait avoidable. Atlas moth (largest in the world), lion-tailed macaque, leopards,

tigers, The Kurichi or Neelakurinji flowers turn the hills of Rajamalai blue every 12 years.The next bloom will be in 2018. One can actually debate if going to the high peak just to

see some goats is worth all the effort or not. However, the walk along the park is very

romantic and has some breath taking view.


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Anamudi Peakinside Eravikulam National Park : Good for trackers.The highest

peak (2695 m) south of the Himalayas, towers over the sanctuary in majestic pride.

The slopes of the hills abound in all kinds of rare flora and fauna. The Atlas moth,

the largest of its kind in the world, is a unique inhabitant of the park. Other rare

species of fauna found here are the Nilgiri Langur, the lion-tailed macaque,

leopards, tigers, etc. An ideal place for trekking, facilities are provided here and

tourists are allowed to go on foot up to Anamudi.

It is estimated that half of the world population, which is around 1300, is found

here. The Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary is an attempt to preserve this rare species of

the goat family, which is fast approaching extinction. In Kerala, this sanctuary has

one of the richest collections of flora including a large collection of herbs, shrubs,

trees, and climbers. There are also many birds, reptiles and other kinds of animals,

Rajamala Wildlife Sanctuary is a haven for nature lovers.

Nyamakad falls(15kms from Residency) : Located between Munnar and Rajamala,

10km away from Munnar. This place is renowned for the breathtaking waterfalls and is

situated 15 kms from Munnar. Here, from the Nyayamakad waterfalls, waters falls from

a height of 1000 meters, which makes it a breathtaking locale. It is also an excellentspot for trekking.

6) 18-Nov Athirappilly ('Indian Niagra') Good - Riverok Villas, Kannankuzhi,

Athirappilly, (via)Chalakudy, Thrissur-680 721 Mr Nair- 0480-2769140, 8129 387474

Food may be as issue here. Inquire for suitable pure vegetarian restaurants.

Valara and Cheeyappara waterfalls: (approx. 25km from Munnar towards Athirappily)

It is located between Neriamangalam and Adimali on the Kochi-Madurai highway.

Cheeyapara Falls is a great trekking spot with waterfalls that cascades down in seven

steps. Valara surrounded by woods has many waterfalls, which make it a scenic place.The main attraction of this place is Valara waterfalls. Which is in the Deviyar river, a

small river originating from western ghats, passing through Adimali Grama Panchayath.

It is considered as one of the major waterfalls in Kerala state. The Thottiyar Hydro

Electric project, the upcoming project by Kerala State Electricity Board is very close to

this waterfall.

About half way (Munnar-Athirappilly) is Thattekad Bird Sanctuarywhich Salim Ali, one

of the best known ornithologist, has described as the richest bird habitat on peninsular

India. The literal meaning of Thattekad is flat forest. Some of the families living here

(inside the sanctuary) are also running homestay facilities.

Athirappilly is BEST in monsoon. Otherwise OK.It is located on the Chalakudy Riveramidst thick forests and the surrounding jungles are home to some endangered species

of birds and many plants. The waterfall is around 80 feet in height and a cool moist

spray of water can be experienced up to a certain point. The river is filled with gigantic

rocks. Distance of 5 km to the hill station (valparai) which has one of India's highest

elephant density. There is quite a walk from the entrance till the falls - first on a flat

area and then a sharp and tricky descent on loose soil.

Film shooting: This waterfall has inspired many film makers, especially the

legendary Mani Ratnam, to shoot some part of their film here. Some of the most

popular Hindi films to have been shot here are Guru, Dil Se and Raavan, Barso resong of recent fame


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Though one can have a view of the waterfall from the roadside itself, Visitors can

go near the top of the fall for an entrance fee. Time: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Entry Fee

- Rs.15 per person. Parking charges Rs. 15 for vans and Rs.10 for cars.

Vazhachal Waterfallis located around five kilometers from Athirapally Waterfalls and

it is easily accessible. It is also part of the Chalakkudi river. The waterfall is gentle and

looks more like a long chain of rapids. Vazhachal is also popular for its flora and herbal

plantations (medicinal herb garden maintained by the forest department). Visiting

Time: 7.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. Entry Fees: Rs.15 per person. Parking charges of Rs. 15 for

vans and Rs.10 for cars.

The fall is right next to the road and can be easily enjoyed.

The lesser-known Charpa fallsare situated to the east of Athirapally. It is right on the

road side. This one is taller and has less water compared to Vazhachal. The water

plunges on to the road in the monsoon, so be ready to get drenched if you are visiting it

in the rainy season.

7)

ThrissurFood :BEST--->Hotel Bharath (nr Hotel Elite), Manapuram Hotel (nr KSRTC bus stand)

kerala itinerary - public

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