Overview
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. Thrissur town plays host, for 36
hours from the wee hours of the pooram day, to one of the most largest
collection of people and elephants.
The richly decorated elephant, as
seen during the Thrissur pooram, is now globally recognized, and its association
with Kerala. On the pooram day, fifty (50) or more elephants pass through the
very center of Thrissur town, the Vadakkunnathan temple. The main features of
the pooram (festival) are these decorated elephants with their nettipattam
(decorative golden headdress), beautifully crafted kolam, decorative bells and
ornaments etc.
27th April 2012: Cochin Arrive
Fly to Cochin. On arrival in Cochin, you will be Greeted
and Escorted by Indo Asia Tour
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.
28th April 2012:
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.
29th April 2012: Cochin - Guruvayur
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. All these elephants were offered by devotees of Lord
Guruvayurappa.
Overnight in the Hotel.
30th April 2012: Guruayur - Thrissur
After breakfast visit Kalamandalam Dance School, which is undoubtedly the best
institution in India imparting training and conducting performance of Kathakali,
Mohiniyattam, Panchavadyam and Thullal. Beside the regular courses, Kalamandalam
also offers crash courses in different art disciplines. Here the guests will
enjoy the Dance Performance perform by the students.
IMP: Kalamandalam remains closed on Saturday and Sunday. Timings: 1000 hrs to
1600 hrs.
Later 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 was developed first by the
Zamorins of Calicut then Tippu Sultan of Mysore followed by the Dutch and the
British.
On arrival transfer to the Hotel. Overnight in the Hotel.
01st May 2012: 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.
02nd May 2012: Thrissur - Munnar
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.
03rd May 2012: Munnar - Periyar
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.
04th May 2012: Periyar
After breakfast visit the Elephant Camp and Spice
Plantation at the Periyar.
Overnight in the hotel.
05th May 2012: Periyar - Backwater
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.
06th May 2012: Backwater - Kumarakom
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.
07th May 2012: Kumarakom - Cochin
After leisurely breakfast drive to Cochin. On arrival
transfer to the Hotel.
Overnight in
the Hotel.
08th May 2012: Cochin Departure
On time transfer to the International Airport to board the
flight for onwards journey.
End of Services
TOUR LODGING INFO:
11 Nights Hotels
| Place |
Nights |
Hotel |
| Cochin |
02 Nights |
Holiday
Inn |
| Guruvayoor |
01 Night |
Sopanam Heritage Hotel |
| Thrissur |
02 Nights |
The River Retreat |
| Munnar |
01 Night |
Eastend
Munnar |
| Periyar |
02 Nights |
Muthoot Cardamom County |
| Backwaters |
01 Night |
AC House Boat |
| Kumarakom |
01 Night |
Back Water Ripples |
| Cochin |
01Night |
Holiday
Inn |
