Thrissur Pooram is called ‘the pooram of all poorams’ (festival). It is the biggest of all poorams held in Kerala state. The Thrissur pooram, is celebrated every year in the month of Medam (mid-April to mid-may) as per the malayalam calendar. While all poorams have a huge influence on surrounding neighborhoods and towns, few other festivals require their active involvement. Thrisur town plays host, for 36 hours from the wee hours of the pooram day, to one of the largest collection of people and elephants.
A resplendent festival celebrated with a grand display of caparisoned elephants, dazzling parasols, and percussion music, the Thrissur Pooram is a magnificent spectacle merging the spiritual and cultural essence of Kerala. Celebrated in the Malayalam month of medam (April-May), the pooram is held at the Thekkinkadu Maidanam in Thrissur.
Considered to be the mother of all poorams, this yearly temple festival was the brain child of Shakthan Thampuran, the Maharaja of Kochi, who organised the festival with the participation of 10 temples (Paramekkavu, Thiruvambadi Kanimangalam, Karamucku, Laloor, Choorakottukara, Panamukkampally, Ayyanthole, Chembukkavu, Neythilakavu).
The festival sports an enthralling line-up of vibrantly decked up elephants and is marked by the kudamattom ceremony. Involving swift and rhythmic changing of brightly coloured and sequined parasols, the kudamattom ceremony is one among the highlights and is a keenly watched event.
Day 01 Arrive Cochin (By Flight)
Fly to Cochin. On arrival in Cochin, you will be Greeted and Escorted by our executive to your Hotel.
On arrival at hotel check in. (Room will be available from 1200 Noon)
Cochin or Kochi, as it is called now, is till date influenced by medieval Portugal, Holland and England. The city displays a blend of different people and architecture and it is one place where you can see a Jewish synagogue, Portuguese churches, Dutch architecture, Mosques, Hindu temples and Chinese fishing nets all in one day.
Overnight at the Hotel.
Day 02 Cochin
After breakfast visit St. Francis Church built in 1503 by Portuguese Franciscan friars where Vasco da Gama was buried for 14 years before his remains were transferred to Lisbon. Nearby is the Mattancherry Palace or “Dutch Palace”. The central hall on the Ist floor was the coronation hall of the rajas of Kochi.
Evening enthrall yourself with a special presentation of the colorfully costumed Kathakali Dance Drama. This mask dance form is originally from Kerala and 1500 years old. This classical dance has 24 mudras expressing the nine emotions of serenity, wonder, kindness, love, valour, fear, contempt, loathing and anger. Usually performed by males
Overnight in the hotel.
Day 03 Cochin – Guruvayur (By Road) (95 Kms / 2 Hrs 30 Min Approx)
After breakfast drive to Guruvayur.
On arrival at Guruvayur, transfer to the Hotel and check in.
After some rest visit the Guruvayur Temple (From Outside as Non Hindus are not allowed inside the temple) which is unique, as it is not built in the typical South Indian style of temple architecture. For example, its architecture is not massive or grand but simple in keeping with the style of Kerala houses. Its four gateways lead to the main gopuram (where the idol is installed), protected by a slopping terracotta roof made of Mangalore tiles.
Later visit the Elephant Sanctuary, which is only one of its kinds in the World. It has 51 elephants now. These jumbos are the offerings of the devotees to the Lord. A large number of pilgrims and tourists visit this fascinating spot every day. Devotees of Lord Guruvayurappa offered all these elephants.
Overnight in the Hotel.
Day 04 Guruvayur – Thrissur (By Road) (27 Kms / 30 Mins Approx)
Drive to Thrissur.
Thrissur literally means “town with the name of Lord Shiva (“Tiru – Shiva – Perur”) and befittingly the town’s most prominent feature is the Vadakkumnathan temple with Shiva as the presiding deity. The city (two hours away from Cochin) had a chequered history and did the Dutch and the British follow developed first by the Zamorins of Calicut then Tippu Sultan of Mysore.
On arrival transfer to the Hotel. Overnight in the Hotel.
Day 05 Thrissur
After breakfast, small sightseeing of the Archeological Museum and the Art Museum. (Museum remains closed on Monday). The Museum holds many attractive woodcarvings and metal sculptures in addition to an interesting array of Kerala lamps. Today enjoy the Festival activities. Thrissur is famous the world over for its mesmerizing colorful Pooram Festival. This two-century-old festival is a festival of temple elephants decked out in their finest livery and percussion instruments – a 36-hour marathon event. One of the oldest temples in the state of Kerala is the Vadakkumnathan temple with decorative murals and works of art. It is where the Pooram festival, the biggest festival of the region, is celebrated (April/May).
There are several legends and myths behind the festival of Pooram, which literally means a meeting. It was believed that every year the gods and goddesses of the area met together for a day of celebration on Pooram. In the evening of Pooram two lines of 15 elephants from opposing temples face each other. Each elephant apart from being decked up has an umbrella holding priest, a peacock fan carrier and a yak-tail flywhisk wielder. Between the two lines of elephants stand percussionists and a traditional wind orchestra playing the panchvadyam. As they reach a crescendo a new display of brilliant ceremonial umbrellas blossoms over the elephants. This competition of the swift and rhythmic changing of the parasols goes on till the sunsets and the elephants return home. A magnificent fireworks display then lights up the night sky. Devotees and visitors come to Thrissur in thousands for the Pooram. It is a spectacular event and one that lives on in one’s memory forever.
Overnight in the Hotel.
Day 06 Thrissur – Munnar (By Road) (104 Kms / 4 Hrs Approx)
Today in the morning also enjoy the festival activities as attended the previous day, since the activities go on till afternoon.
Later drive to Munnar.
On arrival transfer to the hotel Munnar, the Kashmir of South India is a part of Kerala. A misty, lush green hill station up in the Annamalai range of Kerala, Munnar is a tea plantation centre. Tea gardens, some of the highest in the world stretch up the sides of the hills and are interspersed with pockets of forest rich in wildlife. Later visit the Tea gardens.
Overnight in the hotel.
Day 07 Munnar – Periyar (By Road) (124 kms / 4 Hrs Approx)
After breakfast drive to Periyar. Periyar National Park is a unique wildlife sanctuary and is about 780 sq. km centered around an artificial lake fed by the Periyar River.
On arrival check in at the hotel Evening free to explore the market.
Overnight in the hotel.
Day 08 Periyar
After breakfast visit the Elephant Camp and Spice Plantation at the Periyar.
Overnight in the hotel.
Day 09 Periyar – Backwater (By Road) (155 kms / 4 Hrs Approx)
After breakfast drive to the jetty to board Houseboat (Kettuvallom) on the World famous
Backwaters of Kerala.
“Kettu” literally means to tie up and “Vallom” means “boats”. The boats played a major role in the economic development of ancient Kerala, moving cargo and men from the very nook and corner of otherwise unreachable area, cutting across the length and breadth of the land.
Enjoy your overnight stay in Kettuvallom.
Day 10 Backwater – Kumarakom (By Road) (51 kms / 1 Hrs 30 Min Approx)
After breakfast board down the Jetty and drive to Kumarakom.
Kumarakom is undoubtedly the most invigorating, fascinating paradise in Kerala, God’s own country.
The slender coconut palms standing here, there and everywhere, its never ending paddy fields, meandering lagoons and backwaters, mangroves nesting birds of a hundred
varieties can peacefully calm and invigorate your mind with renewed inspiration for your vocation and life. That is the pristine beauty of Kumarakom.
The fresh water of the lake runs into the mainland making a labyrinth of lagoons, brooks, canals and waterways. The backwater houses a variety of species of both fauna and flora. They are rich with marine life namely the exclusive ‘Kumarakom Karimeen’ (pearl spotted fish), Konju (tiger prawns), Njandu (crabs), Chemeen (prawns) and many more.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 11 Kumarakom – Cochin (By Road) (90 kms / 2 Hrs Approx)
After leisurely breakfast drive to Cochin. On arrival transfer to the hotel.
Overnight in the hotel.
Day 12 Depart Cochin (By Flight)
On time transfer to the International Airport to board the flight for onwards journey.
| City | Night (s) | 5* Standard | 5* Deluxe |
| Cochin | 02 | Trident | Le Meridian |
| Guruvayoor | 01 | Krishna Inn | Krishna Inn |
| Thrissur | 02 | Kaddapuram Beach Resort | Kaddapuram Beach Resort |
| Munnar | 01 | Tall Tree Resort | Mountain Club |
| Periyar | 02 | Shalimar Spice Garden | Elephant Court |
| Backwaters | 01 | DLX Houseboat | DLX Houseboat |
| Kumarakom | 01 | Zuri Kumarakom | Kumarakom Lake Resort |
| Cochin | 01 | Trident | Le Meridian |
– Welcome on arrival with fresh flower garlands.
– Meet assist at airport / hotels by our office representative.
– 10 Nights hotel accommodation as per the program
– 01 Night Houseboat accommodation as per the program
– Daily breakfast and dinners
– Full board on House boat.
– Entrance fee to monuments as per itinerary.
– All transfers, sightseeing and excursions as per itinerary by private AC vehicle.
– Local English / French / German / Italian / Spanish / Chinese / Russian Speaking Guide.
– Transport, Parking, Gasoline & Toll ways.
– Kathakali dance show in Cochin.
– All taxes.
– Tips
– International Air Fare
– Visa Fees
– Travel Insurance
– Personal expenses and drinks.
– Accommodation in good hotels.
– Check-in / out time is 12 noon at most of the hotels.
– Extension to other places is also possible with a minimal extra cost.
– Additional nights are available at each place with minimal supplement.
– A visa is required and must be obtained prior to your departure from your Country.
– If quoted hotel is not available, we will provide one of a similar category and standard.
– 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.
– In Asia, 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.
– In Case of issuing Domestic or International air tickets, SGV is not responsible for any refund if the flight is delayed or cancelled, as it is the responsibility of airline.