Kerala Packages- 15

Cochin-Guruvayur-Alleppey-Ambalappuzha-Thiruvananthapuram-Kovalam-Thiruvananthapuram (6 Days/5 Nights) (With Temple Visits)

Day 01: Cochin Arrival at Cochin Airport/Railway station. Our representative will be there to welcome you and then to take you to hotel. As per mythology land of Keralawas reclaimed from the sea by Parasurama, the great warrior sage, and many ancient temples now stand on this gift of god - Gods own country. The first item in the itinerary is a city tour covering Dutch Palace, Antique shops, Jewish Synagogue, Jew Street, Santa Cruz Basilica and Chinese fishing nets. Evening visit to Chottinikkara Bhagavathy temple. Thousands throng the temple each year; it is one of the most visited Hindu shrines in South India and is dedicated to the Goddess Bhagavathy who is worshipped as Saraswati in the morning, Lakshmi during the day, and Durga in the evening. The Chottanikkara Bhagavathy amman (goddess) is worshipped as the healing goddess and a worship of the deities in this temple is believed to cure even chronic life-threatening diseases. The idol in the lower temple (Kizhukkavu part of Temple),Bhadrakali is the patron goddess of exorcists. A 41-day worship of the Goddess is believed to cure the worst of mental diseases and supernatural possessions by evil spirits. Overnight stay at Cochin.

Day 02 : Kodungallur-Guruvayoor (108km) After breakfast proceed to the famous Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple which is on the way to Guruvayoor. The presiding deity of the temple is Bhadrakali (Goddess of Kali). It is in this temple that Kannaki Amman the heroine of Ilango Adigal's Tamil story Silappathikaram attained salvation. She came to Kodungallur, prayed to Bhadrakali of Kodungallur and became absorbed in the murti. Five Sri Chakras', said to have been installed by Adi Shankaracharya are believed to be the main source of the powers of this deity. In the afternoon visit Punnathoor Kotta, the famous elephant training centre. In the evening visit the Sree Krishna Temple at Guruvayur, believed to be the ‘Bhuloka Vaikuntham’(Holy abode of Vishnu on earth). It is one of themost sacred pilgrim centres in Kerala. Then visit Mammiyoor Siva Temple at Guruvayur, famous for its large murals. This temple dedicated to Lord Shiva adds to the lore of Guruvayur. Every pilgrim completes his pilgrimage by visiting this temple located just 500m from Guruvayur temple housing the shrines of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. Overnight stay at Guruvayur.

Day 03: Alleppey(140km) After breakfast proceed to Alleppey. By noon check in at the houseboat in Alleppey for a 20 hour houseboat cruise through the legendary backwaters of Kerala. On the way you will witness a full range of life styles and activities, unique to Kuttanadu. The picturesque place is quite mindboggling. Houseboats are fully furnished with spacious bath attached bed rooms, hygienic kitchen, dining area and private deck to capture the beauty of the backwaters. Overnight stay in the houseboat.

Day 04: Kovalam(180km) After breakfast proceed to Kovalam International Beach. On the way visit SreeKrishna Temple at Ambalappuzha, built in the typical Kerala architectural style. This temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna. It is famous all over India for the Palpayasam, a daily offering of deliciously sweet milk porridge. This temple also has a majestic display of paintings depicting the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu ( Desavatharam). Afternoon at Kovalam. You can spend the rest of the day in the cool beach flanked with coconut grooves on one side and the Arabian sea on the other. Kovalam is extremely popular among westerners due to the shallow waters and low tidal waves. Its beaches are among the most pristine in India. Overnight stay in the beach side hotel.

Day 05: Trivandrum(15km) After breakfast proceed for a city tour in Trivandrum the capital city of Kerala, covering Napier Museum,Palace and Sri Padmanabha Swamy Temple believed to be built in the 8th Century or earlier. This famous temple, richest place of worship in the whole world, is dedicated to lord Vishnu and located inside the East Fort in Thiruvananthapuram. It is revered as one of the seven Parashurama Kshekthras. The temple is blend of the Kerala and Dravedian styles of architecture. Aternoon in leisure. Overnight stay in the beach side hotel at Kovalam.

Day 06: Trivandrum After breakfast proceed to Trivandrum for a bit of sight-seeing and shopping and move to Airport/ Railway Station for onward journey.