KERALA YOGA TOUR

Departure Date

Monday

Duration

10 Days/9 Nights

Views

971

10 DAYS & 09 NIGHTS

COCHIN, ALLEPPEY, KOLLAM, TRIVANDRUM & NEYYAR

“The Kerala Yoga tour bring you this transformative 10 day yoga tour through Kerala in Southern India. A fascinating healing journey through India’s tropical south, where you will experience its idyllic coastline, diverse architecture, captivating culture and warm people. As you soak in the natural beauty of Southern India, your yoga practice will become stronger and more spiritual. Kerala is well known for its elegant houseboats which travel along tranquil Backwaters as well as for transformative Ayurvedic treatments and incredible cuisine. Wild elephants, exotic birds, and the odd tiger call Kerala home – it’s hard to deny Kerala’s liberal use of the slogan ‘God’s Own Country’. Join us on this yoga adventure to small slice of paradise and give yourself completely over to the sounds, scents, and serenity of Southern India.”

Detailed Itinerary

Day 01Arrive/Cochin by International flight

Arrive Cochin Airport

Meet & assistance on arrival by our travel executive including a tour briefing.

Transfer to your hotel.

Kochi (colonial name Cochin) is a vibrant city situated on the south-west coast of the Indian peninsula in the breathtakingly scenic and prosperous state of Kerala, hailed as 'God's Own Country'. Its strategic importance over the centuries is underlined by the sobriquet Queen of the Arabian Sea. Informally, Cochin is also referred to as the Gateway to Kerala.

Overnight at hotel
Day 02Cochin

Morning yoga session in the hotel.

Breakfast in the hotel

Depart for sightseeing tour of Cochin visiting

Jewish Synagogue – built in 1568 the oldest synagogue in the commonwealth stands, adorned by hundreds of exquisite hand–painted Chinese tiles in blue, at the heart of what is locally called the Jew Town near Mattancherry palace. The synagogue is now a fascinating mixture of shops, warehouses and spice auction rooms. The Great Scrolls of the Old Testament and the Copper Plates recording the grants of privilege made by the Cochin rulers to the Jewish community are displayed here.

Dutch Palace

The Dutch Palace at Mattancherry was actually built by the Portuguese and presented to the Cochin Raja in AD 1555. The palace acquired its present name in 1663 when the Dutch carried out some extensions and repairs in it. The main attractions of the palace lie in its wall murals that depict the scenes from the Ramayana.

Chinese Fishing Nets

Chinese Fishing Nets, Fort Kochi The Chinese fishing nets (Cheenavala) are distinctly unique to Cochin. It is believed that traders from the court of the Chinese ruler Kublai Khan introduced these nets here. Oddly, these nets are found only in Kochi outside of China! Many fishermen earn their livelihood by fishing using these massive nets and a whole stretch of the coast along Fort Kochi and Vypeen are dotted with these nets.

St. Francis Church

St. Francis Church- it is the oldest church built by Europeans in India. On his 3rd visit to Kerala, Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese trader who reached India from Europe by sea, fell ill and died in Kochi. He was buried in the St. Francis Church and later his remains were taken back to Portugal. In spite of that his burial spot inside the church has been clearly marked out.

Optional late afternoon have a yoga session at Fort Kochi Beach or hotel garden or yoga room.

Kathakali Dance Drama

This evening from 5.00pm you will be invited to witness KATHAKALI – the ancient and traditional dance drama of Kerala. The drama shows different scenes from the epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana. To understand the entire process you must reach the venue an hour before the show and see the make-up being applied to the artists.

Enjoy dinner after the show at a local restaurant

Overnight at hotel
Day 03Cochin/Alleppey by road (60kms/1.5hrs) 

Morning yoga session at the hotel

Breakfast in the hotel

Drive to Alleppey, known as Venice of the East. A town with picturesque canals, backwaters & lagoons with a wonderful past & it owes its existence to the sagacious Diwan Raja Kesavadas in the second half of 18th century. The Kuttanad region, the rice bowl of Kerala, was well known even from the early periods of the Sangam age. History says Alappuzha region had trade relations with ancient Greece & Rome in the pre Jesus era. Alleppey is now the hub for backwaters tourism in Kerala.

This afternoon you will ply the canals of the massive lake where you can witness the people going about their daily routine.

Early evening meditation walk or visit to a local temple.

Overnight on the houseboat

Day 04Alleppey/Kollam by road (175kms/5-6hrs)

Breakfast on the houseboat

Disembark the houseboat at Alleppey boat Jetty

Drive to Kollam and check in at Fragrant Resort for afternoon at leisure

Afternoon yoga session in the hotel

Dinner & overnight at hotel
Day 05Kollam

Morning yoga session in the hotel

Breakfast in the hotel

Today you will visit the Matha Amritandamayi Ashram (50 Km) and more detail on this visit will be provided approx late August when the ashram releases its visitor schedule.

En-route you can visit Oachira Temple & pilgrimage centre. The Oachira Temple is unique in the sense that it does not have covered structures for temples. People worship the Para Brahma - the original formless power who manifests as the three supreme forms of God (namely Brahma / Vishnu & Siva) under neatly preserved trees.

Afternoon Yoga Session in the hotel

Ayurvedic & Vegetarian cooking session followed by dinner at hotel

Overnight at hotel
Day 06Kollam

Morning yoga session in the hotel

Breakfast in the hotel

This morning, or this afternoon, enjoy the Shirodhara treatment - Ayurvedic Oil Therapy for the forehead. Take the remainder of the day at leisure.

Evening yoga session in the hotel

Dinner & overnight at hotel
Day 07Kollam/Neyyar area - Tamil Nadu by road (50kms/2hrs)

Morning yoga session in the hotel

After breakfast depart for Neyyar and en-route enjoy a sightseeing tour of Trivandrum including some time for shopping after lunch.

Trivandrum also called Thiruvananthapuram is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala.

It is an ancient city with tradition dating back to 1000 BC. Thiruvananthapuram became the capital of Raja of Travancore in 1750. The name is derived from 'Tiru Ananta Puram', the abode of the Sacred serpent Ananta, upon whose coils Vishnu lying in the main temple.

Padmanabhaswamy temple

Padmanabhaswamy temple is a famous Hindu temple of Lord Vishnu located inside the Fort in the city of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The Temple is one of the 108 divya desam, the holiest abodes of Lord Vishnu. The main deity, Padmanabhaswamy, is a form of Vishnu in Anananthasayanam posture (in eternal sleep of yognidra). Only Hindus are allowed to enter this South Indian Temple - the men are required to remove their shirt while entering the temple; however its architecture is worth viewing.

Napier Museum

Napier Museum is an art & natural history museum situated in Thiruvananthapuram. The architectural masterpiece was designed by Robert Chisholm, the consulting architect of the Madras Government and the construction was completed in 1880. Napier Museum is a landmark in the city with its unique ornamentation and architectural style with gothic roof and minarets. The Indo-Saracenic structure also boasts of a natural air conditioning system. The museum houses a rare collection of archaeological and historic artifacts, bronze idols, ancient ornaments, a temple chariot and ivory carvings.

Sri Chitra Art Gallery

Sri Chitra Art Gallery located near the Napier museum, the Sri Chitra Art Gallery of Trivandrum is an art lover's paradise. Only a true admirer of art will know the joy of visiting this beautiful art gallery that has some of the best paintings of famous painters of India. A very famous landmark in Kerala, Sri Chitra Art Gallery of Thiruvananthapuram has a vast collection of paintings not just from India, but also from countries like Japan, China and Indonesia.
Next time for shopping and lunch in a local restaurant before transferring for late check in at Anantya Resort.

Chendamelai traditional Kerala

Arrive to a Chendamelai traditional Kerala drum welcome and a debrief of your Anantya stay will explain all activities & schedules. For those opting for Ayurveda spa treatments a consultation with an Ayurveda Doctor will be offered for your personalized treatment plan (optional and extra cost).
Late afternoon yoga session at the resort

Kalaripayattu

6:30 pm: Kalaripayattu demonstration by the pool side followed by dinner at Svaad

Kalaripayattu is a truly dramatic 1 hr performance with 10 artists including different styles of combat finishing with “fire torches”

Overnight at hotel
Day 08Neyyar

Morning yoga session in the resort

Breakfast in the resort

This morning hike to Kalimalai, a beautiful pilgrimage spot and which offers local foods on a Sunday. Drive 25 mins from Anantya Resort through scenic lake countryside & rubber plantations, viewing the dam en-route, to the base of Kalimalai – the abode of Mother Kali for Hindus and Jesus Christ for Christians. Ascend the tropical pathway to the peak on foot. The altitude at the top is just over 800 metres. From your vantage point you will have splendid views (on a clear day) and can see the resort far below.

Take the remainder of the morning at leisure and lunch is at the resort.

Padmanaphpuram Palace

After lunch drive to Padmanaphpuram Palace (along with a private historian) and Thiruvattar Temple; which has a strict dress code for men - no shirts allowed in the inner courtyard. For women Indian clothing only is permitted. Indian clothing appropriate for the temple visit is available at the Anantya resort.

Thiruvattar Temple

Thiruvattar Temple: A typical Kerala styled temple patronized by the kings of Travancore (erstwhile Kerala), this temple is the model on which the Padmanabhaswami temple – the wealthiest temple in the world in Trivandrum is built. This is a simple and yet grand temple for Adikesava Perumal god Vishnu. The sanctum sanatorium is placed within a building that is surrounded by long stone corridors with very high stone pillars and stone roof. As you walk down the corridor, you will notice the sculptures of the salabhanjikas (feminine forms holding a lamp) on both sides of the corridor. There are 222 of these and each one has a unique hairstyle!
Learn of the legends and folklore that surround this temple from the temple authorities.

Padmanabhapuram Fort

Padmanabhapuram Palace The palace which is inside the Padmanabhapuram Fort is the former capital of the erstwhile kingdom of Travancore. It is about 30 minutes from the resort. The palace complex is inside an old granite fortress around four kilometers long. The palace was constructed around 1601 AD. This non-ostentatious palace is a fine example of Kerala architecture. When you visit, you will be struck by the simple, but yet aesthetic appeal of the palace. Learn of the ways of the matriarchal Kerala society, which is unique, as Hindu families in other parts of the country are patriarchal. Hear the stories of the Travancore Kings.

Bhagavaty Puja

Return to Anantya and late afternoon witness the Bhagavaty Puja at the resort with a Brahmin priest. This ceremony starts approx 5pm and is optional or you can join in for some of the ceremony as need be.

Evening yoga session at hotel

Dinner & overnight at hotel
Day 09Neyyar

Morning yoga session in the hotel

Breakfast in the hotel

Visit the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Ashram, Neyyar Dam

Return to resort for lunch and this afternoon is at leisure

Late afternoon yoga session

After yoga session enjoy a north Indian themed barbeque dinner at “The Flat rock” in nearby Vaikundam plantations. The flat rock is a space within the rubber estate offering very different views from any point of the resort. Reach this area at around 6:00 pm just before sundown and wind up after dark with a campfire and some music alongside dinner.

Overnight at hotel
Day 10Depart/Trivandrum by International flight

Morning yoga session in the hotel

Breakfast at the hotel

Morning at leisure until room check-out between 10.30-11.00am

Lunch in the resort and afternoon shopping excursion to Trivandrum followed by dinner (at own expense) at a local restaurant.

Depart for Trivandrum International airport approx 7.30pm.

Bon Voyage.

Tour Includes

 

Share twin accommodation with breakfast
Transfers & sightseeing by Air Conditioned vehicle
all meals starting from Breakfast on Day 02 and finishing with dinner on Day 10
Kathakali dance drama ticket
Yoga sessions
Daily Spa at Anantya Resort (3 Nights)
Services of local English speaking guide in Cochin and Trivandrum only
Kalaripayuttu: A truly dramatic 1 hr performance with 10 artists including different styles of combat finishing with ‘fire torches’;
Mural painting Artist Interaction & Workshop
Temple Visit with puja ceremony
Present Applicable taxes as on 15th Jan, 2020

Tour Excludes

 

Entrance tickets to Monuments
International Airfare
Domestic Airfare
Visa fee & Insurance
Items of personal nature i.e. laundry, telephone, camera fee, drinks & tips etc
G.S.T if applicable at the time of operation of the tour
Ayurvedic treatment anywhere

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