Backwater and Beach

When you arrive at Trivandrum Airport, you will be greeted by our representative, and then we will drive for about 15 minutes to Kovalam, one of the most visited destinations in Kerala. Being blessed with an abundance of attractive beaches and natural scenery, a large number of newlyweds choose to spend their honeymoon here. Check in at the hotel.

► Afternoon Suggestion
Kovalam is located in the southwestern coastal of Kerala, with beautiful beaches and tea plantations scattered along the long coastline. Between the mountains and the sea are vast tropical rainforests and crisscrossing inland rivers. The BBC calls it one of the most beautiful places in India, and National Geography has also named it as one of the top ten tourist destinations.

For your afternoon, it is good for you to spend your time on the beach near the hotel, or have fun in the hotel's swimming pool or relax at the spa center. The rocks on the beach are the best place for sunset view. If you enjoy surfing, a 10 minute drive can take you to Hawa Beach to enjoy the fun of surfing. You also can have a panorama of the whole beach at the top of the lighthouse.

If you plan to have dinner outside the hotel, then you can try other Indian dishes at Black Cat Restaurant or Cafe Spice Garden. There are still some other restaurants, café and bars, we believe that you will definitely find a place that satisfies you.
Accommodation: Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Resort, Kovalam

After breakfast, private transfer will take you to Thiruvananthapuram, formerly known as Trivandrum. Where you will visit a Hindu temple built for Lord Vishnu, Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. Followed by the visit to Puthenmalika (Kuthiramalika) Palace and Napier Museum, from where you can see many antiques and cultural artifacts about Kerala. The last stop for today is the Sree Chithra Art Gallery. Kovalam is bustling with bars and restaurants, enjoy the rest of the time free at the beach or at bars.

A Secret Chambers That No One Can Open:
The history of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple can be traced back more than 5000 years and is renowned for its unimaginable wealth. These treasures have been accumulated for thousands of years and donated by rulers and merchants from different Indian dynasties, as well as Mesopotamia, Jerusalem, Greece, Rome, and even further regions. When India was invaded by foreign tribes, many small temples transferred their wealth here for protection.

From 16th century, this temple was guarded by the royal family. In 2009, a Hindu appealed to the Supreme Court of Kerala, suspecting that the royal family was not managing the temple well. He demanded that the government revoke the royal family's management and dispose of and protect the property inside the temple. In June 2011, the Supreme Court of India ordered the exploration of six underground chambers beneath the temple, in which unimaginable wealth was discovered. Among them are various gemstones and precious metals, ancient cultural relics, especially gold.

It is surely one of the largest treasure discoveries in history, and the most exciting part of it is not just these. Out of the six secret chambers, only five have been fully opened. The last chamber is exquisitely decorated like a temple, yet slightly eerie. There are two huge cobras carved on the door, said to deter anyone who wants to open it and reveal the secrets inside. There are no locks, bolts, or even keyholes on the door. Hindus strongly oppose it and even sit in front of the temple to prevent the government from opening the sixth chamber. They believe that opening it would bring curses and disasters. So it still maintains its original appearance to this day. Follow our guide to figure out more secrets of this temple.

Meals: Breakfast

On the way to Kanyakumari, we will have a visit to Padmanabhapuram Palace built in the 15th century. Arrive at Kanyakumari before noon and then board a boat to Vivekananda Rock memorial (400 mts off-shore). Next, visit Kanyakumari devi temple, Gandhi memorial and the charming scenery of Kanyakumari, it is the meeting point of the three seas - Arabian sea,Indian ocean and Bay of Bengal. Once finishing the visit, come back to your hotel in Kovalam.

Encountering the Tricolor Sea in Kanyakumari
The southernmost point of the Indian Peninsula, also known as Land's End, this place is called Kanyakumari, also known as Cape Comorin. With a few huge rocks emerge from the water, this is known as the confluence of the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea, and the Bay of Bengal. Due to differences in lighting, depth, and other factors, the Indian Ocean is dark blue, the Arabian Sea is emerald green, and the Bay of Bengal is azure blue. Therefore, this confluence area is called the Tricolor Sea. It is said that Kanyakumari is the only place in India where one can see both sunset and sunrise at sea, so many Indians come here for pilgrimage.

Walk around the scenic spots and the sea, what will impress you the most maybe the colorful houses and small boats. These colorful houses can provide a clear direction for fishing boats. Although the houses are old, these colors give people a sense of tranquility, warmth, and freedom, allowing them to relax from the bottom. The wind can be strong sometimes, please take care of your hat or scarf once you are here.

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, we will set out for Kumarakom by a private drive, it takes about 4 hours on the road. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel. 

In the afternoon, we will head to Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, a heaven for the bird lovers. It is inhabited by divers migrant birds from Himalayas even Siberia. Mesmerizing by the elegance of the egrets, as well as the haunting acrobatics of darter and kingfishers, you will indulge in the exploration of this picturesque sanctuary by yourself. 

An India That Is Different From What You Know
The three major religions in Kerala are Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity, and the name of the Kumarakon comes from a Muslim temple. Compared to the north, English is almost the mother tongue for people here. In India, each province has its own language, with a total of 23 different languages. Apart from the local language, almost everyone here can communicate in English. How incredible!

Due to the integration and sedimentation of language, religion, political power, and culture, Kerala is full of hope and beauty. The God of Small Things, written by Arundhati Roy, won the Booker Prize and the The National Book Awards, is a novel written against the backdrop of the religion, society, and history of the small village named Ayemeem near Kumarakon. The author presents the desolation and joy of reality through the subtle and sensitive eyes of children. There is a discussion about who should be loved in the strict caste system and what the love is. Although people live in humility and constraints, the power of the small things and a nobody cannot be ignored. This may also precisely reflect the mystery of this land, which constantly attracts people from all over the world to explore.

Kumarakon is rich in bananas, mangoes, jackfruit and other fruits, the lush green covers rice fields and coconut forests and waters extend to all directions. It is praised by National Geography as one of the 50 Places You Need To Visit In Your Lifetime. Come here with us and spend a marvelous holiday.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Lake Song, Kumarakom

Today, we'll proceed to Alleppey (aka Alappuzha). A private drive will transfer you to this peaceful town. Upon arrival, you will enjoy a houseboat cruise around Alleppey's backwaters. It is a very relaxing and enjoyable way to escape from the busy city life. The cruise will also give you insights about the traditional village life on the banks of the backwaters. In addition, your houseboat is full board, the chef will cook you delicious Kerala cuisines.

What Does A Houseboat Look Like?
The houseboat is actually a rework of Kettuvalllams from olden times. Initially, Kettuvalllam was used to transport rice and spices, but now it is used to entertain tourists. A large houseboat can bear a weight of 30 tons, so there is no need to worry about safety issues. These boats are covered with thatch and then roofed with branches of betel nut trees, soft boards, and coconut shell fibers. Then apply a layer of black resin to prevent corrosion. Coir mats and wooden planks are used for floor and beds are made of coconut trees and coir. If all these materials are carefully maintained, Kettuvalam, or what we call houseboat now can be used for generations.

There is a kitchen on the boat, where chef carefully prepares food with Kerala characteristics, the freshly caught fish will definitely be a highlight. Toilet and shower are available with the water from the river you are sailing on. The houseboat travels slowly on the backwater, allowing visitors enjoy the scenery in a cozy pace. Tables and comfortable chairs are placed aft and all passengers onboard can take nice pictures for women who are doing chores or cleaning their cloths as the boat will pass by several villages along the river. No matter who you take photos of, they will smile friendly at you. Sailing here is truly a pleasure. The boat will dock at night and you can enjoy the moonlight, but remember to take anti-mosquito measures.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Lakes & Lagoon, Alleppey (Houseboat)

In the morning, we will drive to Periyar. After checking in at the hotel, you will have some time to explore a famous spice plantation on your own. The exotic spices will offer you a mind-blowing experience. 

In the afternoon, you will take a cruise on the beautiful Periyar Lake located in the Periyar Tiger Reserve. You can spot a great variety of wildlife, including tigers, leopards, elephants, wild boar, antelopes, many rare bird species etc. Then the rest of the day is free for your own arrangements, or we can take you to enjoy the Kalaripayattu martial art show (at your own expense) if you want. It is one of the oldest fighting performance which combined many kinds of martial art forms. 

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Elephant Court, Periyar

After breakfast, we will check out of the hotel and drive to Munnar. Situated at the confluence of the Madhurapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundaly rivers, Munnar is a hill station in south India featuring natural beauty, serenity and cool climate. We will help you with the check-in procedures and then, you may spend the rest of the day wandering around the town.

Go into Munnar with Movie - Life Of Pi
The 3D film "Life Of Pi" released in 2012 achieved a score of 9 out of 10 on Douban. It helped the director Ang Lee win the 2013 Academy Award for Best Director, also received multiple nominations for Best Cinematography and Best Visual Effects. In addition to the captivating plot, the scenery is really stunning.

Munnar, one of the shooting place of this film, is full of beach, coconut grove, shipyard, vast tea plantation, fairytale town, winding alleyways, free wildlife and church. In the movie, it is the place selected by Pi's father for the whole family to spend their summer vacation, also the place where the story begins. In real life, it is popular among couples for their honeymoon trips. Please do not forget to try the black tea when you are here.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Devonshire Green, Munnar

After breakfast, we will head to Eravikulam National Park. You will be able to see the endangered Nilgiri Tahr (mountain goat) and other wild animals and marvel at the supreme natural landscape consisting of rolling hills, vast prairies and flower fields, and clear ponds. Next, we will visit a Tea Museum to learn about the production of tea and the history of the tea plantation in Munnar. Later, we will move to the Top Station to enjoy a picturesque panorama of Munnar. En-route we will stop at the scenic Echo Point to explore the mystery of the natural echo phenomenon. Our last stop today is Mattupetty, a hill station where you can get totally relaxed by strolling around the peaceful Mattupetty Dam. 

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, we will continue this trip to Kochi (formerly known as Cochin) by a private drive and check in at a local hotel. Facing the Arabian Sea, the port city of Kochi is crowned as the 'Queen of the Arabian Sea' for having become a busy seaport over the last centuries. The group of traditional Portuguese, British and Spanish architectures and European churches make up a distinctive landscape. You may spend the rest of the day wandering around and taking pictures of these distinctive buildings.

► Afternoon & Dinner Suggestion:
The private drive from Munnar to Kochi takes about 6 hours, once you arrive at Kochi, a shower and a break should be taken to refresh you. Nearby the hotel, there are some restaurants that you can try, such as the Little Flower Church, only 7-minutes walking from your hotel. As for dinner, if you are tired with the Indian dishes, then you can try Southeast Asian cuisine at restaurant called Ali Baba And 41 Dishes or Asia cuisine at Ratna Vilas.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Radisson Blu, Kochi

After breakfast, we will set off to take a walk along the Jew Town (closed on Fridays, Saturdays, and Jewish holidays), where the buildings in the architectural styles of various countries sit peacefully. Then we will move to the Mattancherry Palace, a Portuguese palace famous for the Kerala murals portraying the Rajas. Next we will go to St Francis Church, the oldest European church in India. After visiting the 16th-century Jewish Synagogue, we will proceed to the Kochi Harbor, and see the Chinese-Style Fishing Nets that were introduced by a Chinese diplomat in the 14th century and are still in use today. Before returning to your hotel, you can choose to watch the performance of Kathakali (at additional cost), a traditional Indian dance form with a history of over 400 years. 

What is Kathakali?
Kathakali Show, an Intangible Cultural Heritage with a history of over 400 years in South India, It's a fusion of mime, music, and dance, interpreting the stories of the famous Indian epic Mahabharata with exaggerated makeup, eyes, movements, and poetic paraphrasing. The show time is from 17:00-19:30 every day, our driver can take you there if you are interested in this traditional drama.

Meals: Breakfast

It is the last day of your Kerala honeymoon packages. After breakfast, your driver will see you off at the airport for your departure flight. We wish you a nice journey home! 

Meals: Breakfast