about

Set on a magnificent estuary, serene Kochi has been drawing traders, explorers and travelers to its shores for over 600 years. Nowhere else in India could you find such an intriguing mix: giant Chinese fishing nets, a 450-year-old synagogue, ancient mosques, Portuguese- and Dutch-era houses and the crumbling remains of the British Raj. The result is an unlikely blend of medieval Portugal and Holland and an English village grafted onto the tropical Malabar Coast. It’s a delightful place to explore, laze in arty cafes and relax at some of India’s finest homestays and heritage hotels. It's also an important centre for Keralan arts (traditional and contemporary) and a standout place to see Kathakali and kalarippayat.

destinations

Kochi	day 1-2
Kumarakom	day 2-4
Mararikulam	day 4-7

tour inclusions

	hotels 5 star hotel
	transportation (Destinations)
	sightseeing (Destinations)

best time to visit

Kochi	October to March
Kumarakom	Aug to April
Mararikulam	October to March

time zone

India Standard Time (IST), UTC +5:30

your itinerary

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day 1

Arrive Cochin

Arrival at Cochin Airport , Meet with TSI Rep & proceed by surface to Fort cochin . Arrive Fort Cochin & Check in at the Hotel for an overnight . Later in the Afternoon ,proceed for Sightseeing Tour of Cochin ,covering the Old part of Cochin , viz Fort Cochin & Mattancherry. Visit includes St Francis Church and Chinese Fishing nets at Fort cochin & Dutch Palace and Jewish Synagogue in Mattancherry . The Palace was built and gifted by the Portuguese as a present to the king of Cochin around 1545. The Dutch carried out some extensions and renovations in the palace in 1663, and thereafter it was popularly called as Dutch Palace. Today, it is a portrait gallery of the Cochin Rajas and notable for some of the best mythological murals in India, The Jewish Synagogue ,also known as Paradesi Synagogue and is the oldest active synagogue, not just in Kochi but in the Commonwealth of Nations. The synagogue was constructed in 1567 . by Spanish- speaking Jews; therefore, it is also known as ‘Paradesi’ meaning ‘foreigners’. The synagogue could boast of its rare antiques including beautiful chandeliers, clock tower, brass railed pulpit, Chinese hand-painted tiles etc. and striking architecture. St. Francis Church in Kochi, which finely exhibits Portuguese architecture, was constructed in the 15th century by the Portuguese traders. Vasco-da-Gama, the famous explorer, was buried in this church when he died in 1524, on his third visit to India. His remains were moved to Lisbon after fourteen years but his gravestone is still present in the church. Chinese Fishing Nets ,popularly known as Chennawala are the most iconic and popular attractions of Kerala peculiar to Kochi. The Chinese Fishing Nets are basically vast fishing nets which are fixed on bamboo and teak poles. They are then let down into the sea through unique mechanisms and by weighing them down with large stones tied to ropes. These nets are left in the sea before they are pulled back again by tugging the ropes after collecting a significant amount of catch. Considered to be the ingenious way of fishing, these majestic Chinese fishing nets are operated by four to six fishermen and watching this spectacular process is in itself a spellbinding experience.

Highlights:

Evening : Witness Kerala Kaleidoscope – A Theatre show which is a medley of authentic dances of Kerala, especially Kathakali -the dance drama performance ,Mohiniattam,-dance of the enchantress & the folk traditional of Theyyam,

Dutch Bungalow - Heritage Hotel in Fort Kochi