INDIA
Backwaters
KERALA & THE BACKWATERS
Kerala is known as ‘God’s own country’ and famed for its performing arts, therapeutic Ayurvedic treatments and delicious coastal cuisine. With hotels for all budgets and homestay experiences for those seeking a more personal insight, explore the busy colonial port of Kochi, enjoy the gentle pace of life on the backwaters or relax on palm-fringed beaches in what is India’s ultimate feel-good region.
KOCHI (COCHIN) The oldest European settlement in India, Kochi (formerly Cochin) is located on India’s south west coast. A rich fusion of European architecture, Indian colour and Oriental flair, the fort area with its narrow streets and spice merchants is wonderful to discover on foot and to watch the Chinese fishing nets draw in their catch.
PERIYAR NATIONAL PARK Set high in the ranges of the Western Ghats, Periyar National Park is a botanical delight surrounding the picturesque waters of Lake Periyar. The park is home to some 320 bird species and over 60 species of mammals including nearly 1,000 elephants.
KUMARAKOM & THE BACKWATERS Life amongst the labyrinth of channels that make up Kerala’s backwaters is very much dependent on the water. A stay in the region can be enjoyed both on and off the river, with family homestays, private plantations and delightful houseboats offering a wide choice of options to enhance your stay.
HOUSEBOAT BACKWATER CRUISES A cruise on a traditional houseboat is the ideal way to explore the narrow waterways that meander through this idyllic region. Whether opting for a day, overnight or longer cruise there is a wide range of boats to choose from. All will enable you to relax in this idyllic, watery landscape.
KERALAN CUISINE Keralan food is a rich, aromatic blend of seafood, coconut, tamarind and peppery spices that has evolved from the region’s diverse mix of cultural influences. Karimeen (fried fish) and fish moilee (curry) are two of the regions most famous dishes, whilst aappam (pancakes) and thoran are always popular choices.
WAYANAD The Western Ghats offer some of India’s most scenic walking country, with the verdant hills around Wayanad boasting some of Kerala’s most beautiful landscapes. A hike into the dense evergreen forests reveals a world of indigenous tribes, where you can interact with a people whose culture has changed little in generations.
KERALAN FESTIVALS Kerala offers up a feast of festivals throughout the year, from the famous Pooram Festival in Thrissur, the biggest and most colourful of the region’s celebrations, to the local Kathakali dance dramas and the ritualistic Theyyam dances, where villagers dressed in masks and hats become ‘possessed’ by the temple deities.
HOMESTAYS Homestays offer a great way to experience some of Kerala’s rich cultural heritage, in a unique way. They offer the chance to stay in a small family run guest house, plantation or farm and to have an authentic experience from that of staying in a hotel.
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Speak with a Travel Expert, phone 0844 488 0667
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