A carefully planned 10 nights / 11 days photography journey through Kerala and South India, covering Kochi, Alleppey, Munnar, Madurai, Tanjore, Pondicherry and Chennai. This tour is designed to experience coastal culture, backwaters, temples, hill country, colonial streets, local life and beautiful photographic moments.
Upon arrival in Kochi International Airport, you will meet your guide and transfer to your pre-booked hotel. Later in the evening we will go for a walk to witness a beautiful sunset. Overnight at the hotel.
(Room with Breakfast & Dinner only)
Morning we spend exploring the unexpected and isolated Jewish community. It was a main area for spice trading. Scores of small companies huddle together in old buildings, with the air filled with ginger, cardamom, cumin and clove scent. Local potters load carts of spices running up and down narrow lanes for transport.
One street-long area is the Mattancherry section, used to occupy virtually all Jewish homes, the oldest synagogue in the former British Empire. Cochin is one of the most fascinating cities of coastal South India. It is a city with indelible marks of Christian, Islamic, Hindu and Jewish traditions.
The true character of the city is to be found in the older part of Fort Cochin area, which remains as it used to be a thousand years ago. This part of the city reflects an unusual blend of medieval Portuguese, Dutch and English life grafted on to the tropical Malabar coast.
Later this evening we will go to see Chinese fishing nets. Chinese fishing nets are a type of stationary lift net in India and Indonesia. While commonly known as “Chinese fishing nets” in India, the more formal name is “shore operated lift nets”.
Evening we go to watch the famous Kathakali Dance Performance. Overnight at the hotel.
(Room with Breakfast & Dinner only)
After breakfast, transfer to Alleppey. Alleppey is famous for its breathtakingly beautiful backwaters and peaceful ambiance. The place is known as the Venice of the East because of its several waterways which form a channel of lakes and canals.
Upon arrival in Alleppey, check in to the exclusive houseboat. Your private boat will be facilitated with bedrooms, bathrooms, living area, sun deck, dining and beautiful corridor. Spend the rest of the day at leisure cruising through the beautiful and scenic backwaters.
While cruising, you will get to know about the lifestyle of the villagers living along the backwaters. Dinner and overnight stay will be on the houseboat. The Kerala houseboats are locally called Kettuvallom. This full day cruise will include all your meals and overnight stay on board.
(Houseboat with Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
After breakfast drive to Munnar. Evening is free to take rest.
(Room with Breakfast & Dinner only)
After breakfast enjoy the scenic beauty and marvelous waterfalls, high mountains with low flying clouds passing by. In the evening you can go for sightseeing of Munnar which includes Raja Malai, a top peak of Munnar where you can see Neel Thar mountain goats. We will also visit Tea Factory. Overnight at hotel.
(Room with Breakfast & Dinner only)
After leisurely breakfast drive to Madurai. On arrival in Madurai check in to hotel. Afternoon sightseeing tour of Madurai including Meenakshi Temple and Tirumalai Nayak Palace.
Madurai is one of the oldest cities of southern India. It has been a centre of pilgrimage for centuries. The Meenakshi Temple is the main architectural attraction here and an excellent example of Dravidian architecture, with gopurams and multi-pillared halls covered with colorful images of gods, goddesses, animals and mythical figures.
Tirumalai Nayak Palace was built in 1636 by King Thirumalai Nayak with the help of an Italian architect. The building you see today was the main palace where the king lived. The original palace complex was four times bigger than the present structure.
(Room with Breakfast & Dinner only)
After breakfast, check out from the hotel in Madurai and proceed for Tanjore, which is a three-hour drive. On reaching Tanjore, check into the hotel and rest for a while. In the afternoon, proceed for sightseeing. You will be seeing Brihadeeshwara Temple, Art Gallery, The Palace and Saraswati Mahal Library. Overnight in Tanjore.
(Room with Breakfast & Dinner only)
After breakfast drive to Pondicherry. Upon arrival check in to hotel. Afternoon visit Pondicherry. Visit Sri Aurobindo Ashram and see the marble Samadhi where Sri Aurobindo’s and The Mother’s remains are kept. Also visit Ecole Françoise d’Extrême-Orient and The French Institute. After visit, stroll on the road close to sea. Overnight at hotel.
(Room with Breakfast & Dinner only)
Free day to explore Pondicherry on bicycle. We will do a full day bicycle tour for you. Pondicherry, or Puducherry, was a French colonial settlement in India until 1954 and is now a Union Territory town bounded by southeastern Tamil Nadu state.
Its French legacy is preserved in its French Quarter, with tree-lined streets, mustard-colored colonial villas and chic boutiques. A seaside promenade runs along the Bay of Bengal and passes several statues, including a 4m-high Gandhi Memorial.
(Room with Breakfast & Dinner only)
After breakfast drive to Chennai. On arrival check in hotel. This evening we will visit the beautiful Kapaleeshwarar Temple and, as the city cools down, take a walk along the second-longest urban beach in the world. Last dinner of the tour at the beautiful restaurant.
(Room with Breakfast & Dinner only)
After breakfast drive to airport with sweet memories.
(Room with Breakfast only)
Join this immersive Kerala Photography Tour and experience backwaters, temples, colonial towns, hill country and coastal culture through your lens.
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