Bonding of Body & Soul

On arrival in Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India’s most cosmopolitan city, you are greeted with a traditional Indian welcome and escorted to hotel.

Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, is the capital of Maharashtra, and the commercial hub of India. It is the country’s most cosmopolitan city, an ancient port and trading center. This palm-fringed shore of the Arabian Sea was the British Empire’s entrance to its proudest “Crown Jewel.” A city of paradoxes, Mumbai is renowned as the country’s financial nerve center, and also an important center of theater, art, music, and classical dance. Although steeped in tradition is the premier city in India.

Overnight is at the hotel.

After an early breakfast, our representative will take you on a cruise across the harbor to the island of Elephanta.

The island rises near its centre into two conical hills. Rock temples were hewn out of the hill sometimes toward the end of the Buddhist period in India, probably in the eighth century. Explore the caves consist of several interesting sculptures including some depicting the marriage of Shiva and Parvati, Ravana the demon king, and lesser male and female divinities.

Cruise back to the main land, followed by an afternoon tour of Mumbai includes the City of Bombay, a blend of East and West.

Your tour of the city will include the British built arch "Gateway of India", Bombay's landmark, built in commemoration of the visit of King George the Vth and Queen Mary for the Delhi Durbar in 1911. See the Hanging Gardens, located on the crest of Malabar Hill, a welcome oasis of green and almost entirely concrete and cement. Visit the Prince of Wales Museum built between 1904 and 1914 which was used during World War I as a hospital. Also visit the affluent community of Malabar Hills, Dhobi Ghat, Marine Drive, the Gandhi Memorial Museum and Jain Temple.

Drive back to your hotel for overnight.

After breakfast you are transferred to the airport for our flight to Goa.

Flying south to the former Portuguese enclave of Goa we enjoy some fun in the sun. Goa is reknown for palm-fringed sandy beaches, exotic cuisine and heavy Portuguese influence in the form of white-washed, terracotta tile-clad architecture and Catholicism. Goa can be explored at ease with long sandy beaches in the south and Panaji - the old city in the north.

Upon arrival, you are met and transferred to your hotel.

Rest of the day is at leisure.

Overnight is at the hotel.

You wakeup to the sound of waves lapping the shore and after having a leisurely breakfast our representative is there to meet you and you then embark upon the old Goa sightseeing tour.

Visit the Convent and Church of St Francis of Assisi built in 1661 and the Basilica of Bom Jesus is famous throughout the Roman Catholic world, as it contains the mortal remains of St Francis Xavier who in 1541 spread Christianity among subjects of the Portuguese colonies in the east.
 
Late this evening you undertake a boat cruise on the river Mandovi which meandors through the city of Goa before entering the Arabian Sea.

Drive back to your hotel for overnight stay.

After breakfast, full day is at leisure on the beach. There are lot of water activities available, such as snorkeling, scuba diving, water scootering, water skiing, sailing, para gliding, just to name a few.

Overnight is at the hotel.

After breakfast, drive along the coast of Arabian sea for Gokarna. Located at a distance of 170 kms, which will take apprx. 5 hrs. Upon areaching check in at SwaSwara Spa resort.

Rest of the day is at leisure.

Overnight is at the hotel.

Breakfast is at leisure. Later indulge your self in the various Spa, Yoga sessions. You may also consult the resort physician for their various Ayurveda programs.

Overnight is at the resort.
After breakfast drive to Neeleshwar at a distance of 170 kms and will take apprx 5 hrs. Upon arrival check into Neeleshwar Hermitage resort.

Neeleshwar hermitage is an oasisthat combines tranquil & rejuvenating simplicity of a resort with the elegance of a first class hotel.

Rest of the day is at leisure to explore the resort/ consult with resort physician for their various ayurveda treatments.

Overnight is at the resort.

At Neeleshwar Hermitage and partake in various Spa & Ayurveda treatment offered by the resort.

Overnight at the resort

After breakfast at the resort drive to Kozikode at a distance of 160 kms which shall take apprx 5 hrs to reach. Upon arrival check in at Kadavu resort.

Kadavu, A 5 Star property having best of all facilities and comforts. A unique blend of Mappila and Hindu Culture, Aesthetically designed and decorated. The luxurious Resort cum business hotel is located in a sprawling nine acre plot along the side of the backwater, a charming location with groves of swaying,graceful coconut palms facing the dancing ripples on the water. Its unique and languorous backdrop makes it an idea gateway, a tranquil spot away from it all.

Rest of the day at leisure to explore the resort.

Overnight at the resort.

After breakfast at the resort, drive to Cochin, aka Kochi, at a distance of 175 kms which shall take apprx 6 hrs.

Arrive and check in to your hotel. Cochin, one of the most picturesque places in Kerala.  Its past is so rich that it could lay a valid claim to being a museum city. 

Cochin has a beautiful all weather harbor and a grand seascape, one of India’s largest port and a major naval base. At dusk you can see the dim silhouettes of huge merchant ships patiently awaiting their turn for a berth in the docks. The influence of Chinese, Jews, Arabs and Europeans is evident in Cochin and its people.  The older parts of Fort Cochin and Mattanchery are an unlikely blend of medieval Portugal, Holland and an English country village grafted onto the tropical Malabar Coast. Despite this, Cochin is an attractive city with serene backwaters, lagoons overhung with feathery coconut, palms trees and picturesque islands.

This evening you will enjoy a presentation of the colorfully costumed Kathakali dance drama.

Kathakali is a ritualized dance form native to Kerala; elaborate costumes and makeup, as seen here, are the norm. Male dancers portray both male and female roles.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel brgins the tour of this incredible city.

Visit the Portuguese St. Francis Church, considered the first European Church in India, built in 1562 by St. Francis; this is India’s oldest European-built church.  Continue on to Mattanchery Dutch Palace, a double-storied palace built in the classic The most important feature of Mattanchery Palace is the murals in the bedchambers, which depict scenes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata These murals are some of the most beautiful and extensive, one of the wonders of India. 

Proceed to the Jewish Synagogue, which was constructed in 1568 and is the oldest in the Commonwealth.  A stone slab from the Kochangadi synagogue (built in 1344, and has disappeared), inscribed in Hebrew, can be found on the inner surface of the wall.  At the Cochin Harbor, you can watch the fishermen using strange Chinese fishing nets to catch.

Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast drive to Kumarakom, located 70 kms and will take apprx 2 hrs to reach.

Located in the Kerala Backwaters, Kumarakom is a haven of peace and tranquility. Explore the intricate backwater by boat and witness a way of life that is in complete harmony with nature.  Your afternoon is at leisure.  Perhaps take advantage of the rich waters with a bit of fishing, or just relax and soak in the rich atmosphere of your surroundings. 

Overnight is at the hotel.

After breakfast you will drive to Allepey which is 35 kms and apprx will take 40 minutes and board your private houseboat.

And cruise through the series of canals and lagoons snaking your way through several tiny villages and tropical vegetation.  Not only do the backwaters of Kerala link the state together, they are an integral element in maintaining ecological balance and creating harmony with nature.

Lunch, dinner & overnight on board houseboat.

The boat cruise takes you to small islets & you get glimpses of village at the best of its serenity and innocence. Watch village girls picking mussels or laundering clothes or pots on the small ponds in front of their house, while men folk are busy plucking cocnuts, dates from the trees. Watch the village folk make the golden fiber called coir from coconut husk and transform it into various coir products. Rustling coconut groves abound. So stop over to drink calm fresh coconut water from the kernel and watch the toddy-tapper tap at work. You can see birds like kingfishers, pheasants, cormorants, drogues, wood pecker, Bee-eater & kite.

All meals and overnight is on board houseboat.

After breakfast you get off your houseboat and drive to Thekkady which is 165 kms and will take apprx 2 hrs.

India’s largest wildlife sanctuary is a dream destination for any tourist visiting India .This sanctuary is spread over an area of 777 Sq.Kms, surrounded by an artificial lake over an area of 25 Sq.Kms.

Arrive and check in at your hotel.

Thekkady, with its bountiful treasures of tropical flora and fauna is the ultimate reservoir of many an endangered species and a rich tribal culture. Thekkady is a pleasant heaven on earth for those who love nature in its wild manifestations. The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the best places for viewing wild animals on elephant back or riding a boat. Boating through the Placid Lake provides a rare opportunity to watch wild animals at close quarters.

Upon arrival you will check into your hotel for overnight stay.

After breakfast, your naturalist will accompany you to the pier, where you will board our specially designed game viewing boats for wild life sight seeing tour.

In Periyar Tiger Reserve there is a rich diversity of vertebrates. The diverse forest types supports hundred of species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes & butterfly. Among the mammals, many are rare, endemic and endangered. Periyar is prime elephant country and large herds are often sighted at the lake fringes.

Return to your hotel for overnight stay.

After breakfast you will be driven to Cochin airport which is 220 kms and will take apprx 7 hrs, in time to board your onward flight.