Kerala

Kerala, nature, spices of life and Ayurveda

CalicutSightseeing including visit to local market, temple streets, Sweetmeat Street andsurroundings, learn Uru making in Beypore.
CochinVisit Fort Cochin area, the Dutch Palace, Jewish synagogue St-Francis and Mattancherry. In evening witness making of a kolom in front of a Brahmins House. Also visit the house of Konkini Family and explore the local markets of Mattan cherry. Watch the boatmen bringing in their fresh catch of fishes for auction and see a Kathakali dance performance.
MunnarWith a Munnar local guide take a leisure walk through tea plantations with Picnic lunch and tea culture guided tour, see plantation & picking methods. Visit Tea Museum and vegetable & fruit markets.
AlleppeyIn Alleppey Town embark on the houseboat famously known as Kettuvalam to experience an overnight stay in the backwaters. Special premium mansions are perched at the edge of 120 ft. cliff with the most magnificent views of the Arabian Sea. Sightseeing of Trivandrum including Padmanabha Swami Temple (non Hindus cannot enter), Kuthiramalika Palace near to Temple, Napier Museum (Closed on Mon/Wed mornings), Sri Chitra Art Gallery (Closed on Mon/Wed mornings), the Zoological gardens and Reptile House, and the Observatory followed by the Vizhinjam Port.
PeriyarIn Periyar enjoy Kalaripayattu – the oldest of martial arts form and experience the village life around Kumily and discover a variety of vegetables, flowers and spices grown locally.
WayanadVisit a Shiva Temple & a local tea shop to have “Suliemani Tea”, walk down further to Uravu an NGO to see working of women with bamboo and artefacts. Visit Thrikkaipetta village and have a lunch made with locally grown vegetables. Visit the Heritage and Tribal Museum. Head to Govindan’s house to try tribal archery.
PalakkadFamily home stay, see the cocoa plantation and the full
transformation process from the culture to the shipping stage of the chocolate factory.
Visit Green Valley Oils, a coconut oil extraction plant and learn about the transformation process.
KumarakomLunch at Evergreen Kootickal estate with an interactive session with Mr. George Abraham, planter and author of the book “Path to the Hills” and Gentleman’s Train to Western Ghat. Then continue visiting Churches of Valiya Pally & Cherriapalli near Kottayam and the Butterfly garden within the hotel periphery. Enjoy a free day to explore to indulge yourself in an Ayurveda rejuvenation therapy at the hotel. Trivandrum – Kanyakumari visit Suchindram Temple dedicated to the Monkey God, Lord Hanuman, see the Kanyakumari Devi Temple and Gandhi Memorial and Vivekananda Memorial Rock.

Among the so many Indian spices of life, which where a major attraction to foreigners centuries ago, there is this beautiful cardamome seed widely used that you might be able to taste in its freshest flavor, green and undried….so fresh ans flavorful.