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"Munnar - Thekkady - Alleppey"

Duration:	4 Nights / 5 Days
Destinations:	Cochin - Munnar - Thekkady - Alleppey - Cochin

The Kerala Backwaters are a chain of brackish lagoons and lakes lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast (known as the Malabar Coast) of Kerala state in southern India. The network includes five large lakes (including Ashtamudi Kayal and Vembanad Kayal) linked by 1500 km of canals, both manmade and natural, fed by 38 rivers, and extending virtually the entire length of Kerala state. The backwaters were formed by the action of waves and shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range.
 

4 Nights / 5 Days Kerala Backwaters Tour Itinerary

Day 01 
Cochin - Munnar

Arrive Cochin International Airport/Railway Station. Meet and transfer to Munnar. On arrival check in Cloud 9 Resort. After lunch proceed for local sightseeing covering Tea Museum and Pallivasal falls and back to hotel for Overnight stay.

Pallivasal : This is the venue of the first Hydro Electric Project in Kerala and a place of immense scenic beauty.

Tea Museum and Tea Processing: Run by Tata Tea, the Tea Museum traces the evolution of the tea industry in Munnar from the 1880s. It houses an interesting array of relics and artifacts from the past as well as several historic photographs and pieces of period furniture. At the adjacent tea-processing unit, one is competently introduced to the various stages of tea manufacture and the intricacies of tea tasting. It is an insightful and educative experience for the laymen.

Day 02
Munnar

After breakfast proceed for local sightseeing covering Matupetty Dam, Lake, Echo Point and Top station. Back to hotel for Overnight stay.

Matupetty Dam: This 160 ft-high dam has a vast reservoir picturesquely extending several kilometers into the hills. A cruise here is an exhilarating experience, offering occasional sightings of Elephant, Gaur and Sambar as an additional bonus.

Top Station: An isolated outpost, Top Station perches precariously on a precipitous ridge in Tamil Nadu, 3 km from the interstate border. Its genesis dates back to the 1880s, when British pioneers accessed these hills from the plains of Tamil Nadu, working their way up a 7,000-ft range of mountains from Bodi in the foothills. They later carted equipment and goods up this 15-km bridle path, and women and children traveled either in sedan-chairs or an horseback. Known as the ‘Pioneers Path’, pack-ponies and mules still plod up and down the steep and tortuous track, bearing merchandise as they did 125 years ago. Another interesting site here is the ruins of the old ropeway station that linked the foothills to the tea estates. The aerial ropeway, considered an engineering marvel, transported tea chests out and provisions in, cutting costs sharply. From Top Station, one gets a stupendous view of the surrounding mountainous terrain as well as the plains taken to get there. Top station is ahead of Kundale Dam on Top Station Road.

Day 03
Munnar - Thekkady

After lunch proceed to Thekkady. On arrival check in hotel. Free day for relaxation. Overnight stay.

Optional visit to "Kathakali Show" at 1600hrs or 1900hrs

Day 04
Thekkady - Alleppey

Early morning visit Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and back to hotel for breakfast then proceed to Alleppey. On arrival check in House boat at Pallathuruthy. Enjoy the backwaters of Kerala. Overnight stay at the houseboat.

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary: The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is spread over 777sq.km, roughly half of which is dense evergreen forest, savannah grassland and moist deciduous forest. The sanctuary was declared a tiger reserve in 1978 under Project Tiger, and so the name Periyar Tiger Reserve is sometimes used to denote the place as well. Don’t bother to get confused – they all (including Thekkady) refer to the same destination. Periyar Lake itself is an artificial lake formed during the construction of the Mullaperiyar Dam in 1865. The dead tree branches you see sticking out of the water were submerged in the waters of the dam.

Day 05
Alleppey - Cochin

Breakfast. Check out at 0900hrs. Proceed to Ernakulam town for shopping or for own activities till connect train / flight to onward journey.