EXCURSION: Private
EXCURSION TYPE: Cultural, Scenic, Shopping
FOOD/BEVERAGE: Snacks, Bottled Water Included
ACTIVITY LEVEL: Easy
This phenomenal half-day journey begins upon spotting your name on a placard held by an English-speaking guide. After driving through Kerala’s commercial capital, Ernakulam, you’ll reach Tripunithura to visit the former Maharajah of Kochi’ (Hill) Palace. A village selling hand-made pottery then hosts you, prior to seeing Cochin’s ornate temples venerating Vishnu. Next, you’ll visit the phenomenal fishing nets positioned on the seashore, left from Kublai Khan’s day, before visiting the revered St. Francis Church. For travelers interested in a quality cultural expedition and the natural beauty of vintage India, this panoramic tour is it.
Driving through Ernakulam, you’ll note the hustle and bustle of the commercial center of Kerala. For hundreds of years, it fostered trade focusing on spices. Soon, you’ll reach Tripunithura to tour the Hill Palace. Built in 1865 by the Maharajah, today the complex consists of 49 buildings, including the largest archaeological museum in the state.
A lucrative and vital port since Roman times, Cochin feature Dutch, Portuguese, British, and Jewish influences that continue to make the city appealing today. En-route to Cochin, you’ll visit a location where local villagers sell home-made pottery, snacks, and bamboo products, then see a few spectacular temples dedicated to Vishnu, one of three Hindu deities.
Thereafter, your expert guide will show you the intricate Chinese nets local fishermen have used for nearly 1,000 years since their introduction by Kubla Khan’s peers. Immediately following, you’ll have free time for lunch on your own at a traditional Indian restaurant.
Recharged, you’ll visit the charming village nearby, noting it is laid out in the manner of an English village, resulting from English colonization during the 19th century.
Then, you’ll arrive at the Church of St. Francis, originally built in 1503 by the Portuguese. It is the oldest European church in India – and perhaps one of the more quaint, yet beautiful. Missing the intricate tiling at its main passageway is impossible.
On the returning coastal drive, you’ll encounter a few more inspirational temples and markets with opportunities to stop and engage. Reserve this Cochin tour if your goal is to encounter vintage Indian beauty and culture.
• Welcome with fresh flower garlands.
• Meeting and assistance by our representative.
• Entrance fees to the monuments.
• Private guide throughout your journey.
• Covering all main / major monuments and tourist attractions in each city.
• All Transfers, Sightseeing and Overland drive as per the itinerary by private air-conditioned Transport.
• All taxes.
• Domestic and International Flights.
• Personal Expenses.
• Camera / Video Camera Fees.
• Medical Aid.
• Tips.
• Travel Insurance.
• A visa is required and must be obtained prior to your departure from your Country.
• Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability.
• In case the government changes presently applicable taxes, increase in airlines prices, fuel surcharge our rates will need to be adjusted accordingly.
• Sometimes, there is no relevance between the distance and time of travelling, as it depends upon the condition of the roads and congestion of the traffic.
• While every effort will be made to maintain the itinerary, in view of local strikes etc that are beyond our control all schedule and itineraries are subject to last moment changes.
• Clients must be fully insured, as the company cannot accept liability for loss or damage to client’s property, medical emergencies or any other loss suffered by them whilst on tour.
