Kerala

Diverse Travel Experiences for women powered by community, culture and a lifestyle of discovery.

Highlights Of The Journey

Walking tour of old Kochi.
Witness the beautiful Kathakali dance performance.
Sightseeing tour of Alleppey.
Visit the famous Coir Factory.
Visit and explore the International Coir Museum
Relax at Alleppey Beach.
Enjoy a visit to Mullackal Street, Chips Making centres, and Famous Johns Umbrella Shop.
Enjoy a day cruise on Kerala backwaters around Alleppey.
Visit Aymanam local Village and witness the village activities.
Drive past Ms. Arundhati Roy’s house - Aymanam House.

Day 1

Arrive at Kochi.

Arrive at Kochi in the morning, collect your bags and begin your quest for Gods Own Country. Meet the MERAKI representative right outside the airport and transfer to the hotel.

Upon arrival check in to your hotel, freshen up and let’s start to taste the flavours of Kochi

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. From time immemorial, the Arabs, British, Chinese, Dutch, and Portuguese have left indelible marks on the history and development of Cochin.

Let’s begin the journey with tasting Kerala on our plate.

After lunch we will explore Fort Kochi on a beautiful heritage walk.

One of the foremost trading centres on the west coast of India, Fort Kochi drew colonial interest with its aromatic spices. Along with traders from China, Portugal, Arab and Holland, in- came a cocktail of religions, cultural practices and diverse food. Kerala owes its cosmopolitan vibe to the traders who braved the seas to come to this land. One of the foremost trading centres on the west coast of India, Fort Kochi drew colonial interest with its aromatic spices. Kerala owes its cosmopolitan vibe to the traders who braved the seas to come to this land.

Fort Kochi is dotted with remnants of the past, which you can discover on foot. Step out to see the Basilica and the Famous Chinese fishing nets, which lie in a 2km radius.

Also visit Mattancherry (4km from Fort Kochi), which has an artistic vibe with its low hanging balconies, frayed homes turned into galleries, a sprawling antiques & spices market and some landmark monuments – the Pardesi Synagogue and Dutch Palace You can roam the narrow Jewish town streets, exploring small shops, eating joints and visiting the monuments.

Day 2

The Dutch Cemetery, which is now managed by the Church of South India. The Dutch Cemetery is among the most visited sites in Fort Kochi and is famous for its imperial inhabitants, voyagers who left their homelands centuries ago to propagate and expand their own empire. Consecrated in 1724, the Cemetery is today managed by the Church of South India. From here emanate stories that shaped the cultural mix of an entire coast.

During the walk visit spice dying yards, hidden art galleries, atmospheric cafes and boutiques.

We will stop at Café Du Mahe and enjoy a cup of coffee.

Walk around the harbour and witness the harbour activities.

Return to the hotel, freshen up and leave for evening activities.

Witness the beautiful Kathakali dance performance. Before the performance, indulge in seeing the making of these Kathakali masks.

India boasts many traditional regional dance forms, but kathakali, with its elaborate, colourful costumes and masks is undoubtedly one of the most distinctive. With roots going back to ancient Hindu temple plays kathakali, now the state dance of Kerala, evolved into its current dance-drama format in the 17th century, under the direction of the Raja of Kottarakkara, who took the performances out of the temples and palaces and directly to the villages. Founded in 1990, this centre honours kathakali—as well as Indian classical music, and other traditional arts—with nightly performances, 365 days a year.

The kathakali shows are usually about 90 minutes, and include an informative demonstration; come an hour early to watch the actors undergo the elaborate makeup and costuming process.

Dinner & overnight at the hotel.

Day 3

Breakfast at the hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Alleppey, best known for its houseboat cruises (kettuvallams) along the rustic Kerala backwaters, a network of tranquil canals and lagoons. Famous for its boat races, beaches, marine products and coir industry, it is a world-renowned backwater tourist destination of India.

En route visit a Coir Factory – Alleppey presently known as. “Alappuzha”, the manufacturing sector of the Coir industry. Where Coir Products are made, like Rubber Mats, Coir Products Cricket Matting for Indoor & Outdoor.

We will also visit the INTERNATIONAL COIR MUSEUM – Small Museum featuring exhibits on the history of the coir industry, plus unique coir-made objects. This is an international museum in Alleppey, which proved surprisingly interesting, and well-curated. Coir is coconut fibre, extracted from the outer husk of coconut. The museum sets out the history of the manufacture and uses of coir, such as beds, mats and carpets, which were still being made on the premises. It’s colourful, interactive, and engaging. This museum is a beauty spot in the tourist map of Alleppey. The museum also showcases the traditional processes and development of the coir industry, including retting and fibre extraction, advent of mechanization in the coir sector etc.

Later visit Mullakkal Street – Mullakkal Market and shopping street in Alappuzha is a bustling, colourful sight. It is quite popular for its stunning market. The street is a crowd-puller for the amazing collection of items it offers. Also visit the Chips Making centres & Famous Johns Umbrella Shop – a leading Manufacturer, Supplier of Metal Umbrella, Ladies Umbrella, Printed Umbrella from Kochi, Kerala, India. It has been in the umbrella making business for the past seventy years being one of the earliest Indian pioneers in the umbrella manufacturing industry.

Time to hop on to the most interesting activity of the day – backwater cruise on the Houseboat around Alleppey.

Cruising in Houseboat is a memorable moment of a lifetime. Seeing the endless lagoons, paddy fields, canals, and villages is an overwhelming experience.

Lunch on board.

Disembark from the houseboat in the evening & drive to Kumarakom for overnight stay.

Check in to your hotel

Dinner & overnight at Kumarakom.

Day 4

Breakfast at the hotel.

After breakfast, begin the day by exploring Kumarakom. Visit Aymanam local Village – Situated within the 10 km radius of Kumarakom. It is a tiny hamlet in the inner heart of Kottayam. Beautiful village in Kerala which has made its place in one of the bestselling books of all times, God Of Small Things. The village is surrounded by the mesmerizing and enchanting Lake Vembanad on the left and on its right is the soothing Rover Meenachi flowing in its full glory.You can drench yourself in the tranquillity and peace of the place owing to its natural beauty.

Afternoon drive past Ms. Arundhati Roy’s house. Aymanam, described in beautiful detail in Arundhati Roy’s Booker Prize-winning Novel, The God of Small Things, lies about 10 km from Kumarakom and about eight km from Kottayam. The quixotic beauty of the place as described in the novel is not merely the product of a highly imaginative mind.

Dinner & overnight at a hotel in Kumarakom.

Day 5

This is a hard moment for all of us to say goodbyes to all the wonderful ladies we traveled together with and a return to our routine lives. What we expect is to make new and long lasting memories, new friends and an everlasting discovery of your own self.

Our day starts with a Breakfast at the Hotel followed by departures back home.