Coastal Journey of South India

Coastal Journey of South India: Complete Itinerary

Enchanting locations, picturesque unpolluted surroundings. Here lie the beaches of South India especially the beaches of Kerala strung along 550km palm fringed and sun washed coastline. A tranquil embellished with a vision of green, Kerala is tucked away at the farthest end of India. Coastline along state of Karnataka is secluded and less explored.

As a backwater land, Kerala is beautiful with its magnificent scenery. A maze of rivers, canals and lagoons weave through the inland and it is this palm shaded scenario that sets it apart from the rest of the country. Dazzling beaches dotted all along the coast are more than just pleasing. From the spectacular beaches of Kasargod, Kannur, Thallassery, Mahe, Kozhikode, the twilight spectacles of Kollam and the dramatic laterite cliffs at Varkala to the sheltered coves at Kovalam each unique in itself and are absolutely unforgettable.

Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of Indian peninsula, is the confluence of three seas, the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. Marvellous beaches with their multicoloured sands and spectacular sunrises and sunsets lure visitors who come here.

Day 01: Arrive Mumbai
Arrive Mumbai airport, meet and greet with our office representative assistance and transfer to hotel for check in.

Afternoon excursion to Elephanta Caves; The Elephanta Island is located 10km away from the Gateway of India at Mumbai. These caves house rock cut temples dating back to the 5th century BC. The rock cut temples dedicated to Shiva Mahadeva are rich in sculptural content. Motorboats take passengers from Appollo Bunder near the Gateway of India. The rock cut temples were created by carving out rock, and creating the columns, the internal spaces and the images. The entire temple is akin to a huge sculpture, through whose corridors and chambers one can walk. The entire complex was created through a process of rock removal. Some of the rock surfaces are highly finished while some are untreated bare rock. The island, located on an arm of the Arabian Sea, consists of two groups of caves—the first is a large group of five Hindu caves, the second, a smaller group of two Buddhist caves. The Hindu caves contain rock cut stone sculptures, representing the Shaiva Hindu sect, dedicated to the god Shiva. The rock cut architecture of the caves has been dated to between the 5th and 8th centuries, although the identity of the original builders is still a subject of debate. The caves are hewn from solid basalt rock. All the caves were also originally painted in the past, but now only traces remain. Overnight at hotel.

Day 02: Mumbai – Murdeshwar (overnight train)
Breakfast at hotel, city tour visit Gateway of India: which was conceived following the visit of King George V in 1911 and officially opened in 1924; Price of Wales Museum: designed in Indo Saracenic style and has sections for arts and paintings, archeology, natural history and an interesting collection of miniature paintings, bas reliefs from the Elephanta caves and Buddha images, Marine Drive: which runs along the shoreline, starting at Nariman Point and up to Malabar Hill, Hanging Gardens: laid out in 1881 these formally laid out gardens have a notable collection of hedges shaped like animals.

Evening transfer to railway station to board train Murdeshwar. Overnight in Train.

Day 03: Murdeshwar
Early morning arrive Murdeshwar, transfer to the hotel. Morning free to relax.

This picturesque place situated 116km from Goa has a gorgeous temple perched on a hillock by the shore. The temple, which embodies a linga, is believed to have erupted when Ravana flung the cloth covering the atmalinga at Gokarna while lifting it. As one ascends the hillock, there is a shrine of Jattiga seated on a horse. You will also find a huge fort behind the temple, said to have been renovated by Tipu Sultan. Bounded by the shimmering sea and rolling hills, this place is a favourite tourist place.

Late afternoon we will make a short visit to the Murdeshwar Temple. The rest of the day for leisure. O/n Hotel.

Day 04: Murdeshwar
The full day for leisure on the beautiful beach. O/n Hotel.

Day 05: Murdeshwar - Kasargod (Bekal) (300kms/ 6hrs approx)
Breakfast at hotel, drive in the early morning to Bekal (about 300kms/06hrs) takes you through the lush green fields swaying in the gentle breeze, little cozy houses with sloping, tiled roofs, temple towns echoing with morning prayers and providing the background music to these visual delights is the distant roar of the Arabian Sea. Check into the hotel.

Kasargod is the northern most district of Kerala, is known for its Coir and Handloom industries. Fishing is a prime source of livelihood.  A district with a rare and different beauty is known as the land of Gods, forts, rivers, hills and beautiful seashores. Evening we make a short visit to Bekal Fort, the largest and the best preserved fort in Kerala located in the Bekal beach. You can savour the touch of history as you view the serene Lakshadweep Sea from the tall observation towers of the fort, once huge cannon emplacements perched on hill top.

This fort belonged in ancient times to the Kadampa dynasty and later came under the Kolathiri Rajas. Sill later it became part of the Vijayanagara Empire. In the late 18th century Tipu Sultan captured it. An old mosque near to the fort is believed to have been built by him. After he was overthrown by the British, the fort came under the East India Company. Overnight at hotel.

Day 06: Kasargod – Kannur (115kms/ 3hrs approx)
Morning drive to Kannur  enroute visit the Ezhimala at a height of 885 feet, an isolated but conspicuous cluster of hills. The foot of hills is a cave and an old burial chamber. The hills are noted for rare medicinal herbs used for Ayurvedic formulations. The combination of high hills and sandy beach make Ezhimala a beautiful spot. Proceed to Kannur and check into the hotel. Afternoon we will make a short drive to the Payyambalam Beach, the long and clean beach of Kannur town is famous for its flat laterite cliffs that just into the sea. The well-laid gardens and the massive landscaped sculpture of ‘Mother and Child’ make it extremely captivating.

Also visit the St. Angelo Fort, this sea front laterite fort was constructed in 1505 AD by the first Portuguese Viceroy, with the consent of the ruling Kolathiri Raja. Overnight at hotel.

Day 07: Kannur - Calicut (98kms/ 2hrs approx)
Morning drive to Calicut, Enroute visiting Muzhuppilangad Beach, Thallasseri, Mahe and also Kappad Beach where Vasco-da-Gama first landed in 1498. Check into the hotel.

Calicut was one of the great ports on the west coast and is a port of call for cargo steamers even today. A big centre of timber industry, has busy boat-building yards. Late afternoon visit the Beypore (11kms), is a small coastal town for centuries as a ship building centre and still famous for its country crafts called ‘Uru’ built by the traditional shipbuilders known as Khalasis. Beypore is still a favourite destination among Arabs shopping for large boats. Evening stroll around the Halwa Bazaar. Overnight at hotel.

Day 08: Cochin (230kms/ 5hrs approx)
Morning after breakfast drive to Cochin. Enroute visit the Punnathur Kotta – elephant camp (approximately 40 to 45 elephants can be seen here at a time if no temple festivals is on). Proceed to Cochin, in-between we will have a small break in Kodungalloor, formerly called Muziris. This was in olden times the premier sea port on India’s West Coast. St. Thomas is believed to have landed at Muziris in 52 A.D. Have a small visit to the Bhagavathi Temple and proceed to Cochin, check into the hotel. The rest of the day free to relax. Overnight at hotel.

Day 09: Cochin
Formed for its natural harbour, one of the finest in the world, Cochin has earned the sobriquet “Queen of Arabian Sea”. Here you can see the oldest churches in India. The ancient temples, churches and synagogues. From time immemorial, Arabs, Chinese, Dutch, British and Portuguese sea farers followed the sea route to Cochin and left their impressions on the town.

Morning we make a short drive to visit the Mattancherry ‘Dutch’ Palace was built by Portuguese in 1557 and presented to the Cochin Raja, Kerala Varma. The glory of the palace lies in the murals which are in the best traditions of the Hindu temple art and the religious, decorative and stylised synagogue, afterthat move to the Jewish Synagogue, built in 1568. The great scrolls of the Old Testament and a number of copper plates inscribed in the Hebrew script are preserved in this synagogue. Later on to St. Francis Church, this Protestant church was built originally by the Portuguese in 1510 AD and it is believed to be the first church built by the Europeans in India. Vasco-da-Gama was buried here. Fourteen years later, his mortal remains were taken to Portugal. Evening visit the Fort Kochin, the entrance of the harbour is dotted by the Chinese Fishing Nets. There are large nets, which hang from teak posts and are still used by local fisherman in Fort Cochin to catch fish attracted by the lights suspended above the net. Silhouetted against the sunset, they present a spectacular sight of Cochin’s waterfront. O/n Hotel.

Day 10: Alleppey (60kms/ 2hrs approx)
Morning after breakfast drive to Alleppey washed by the silvery waves of the Arabian Sea, interlocked with a large number of canals and bridges. Board a houseboat from the Finishing point boat jetty, cruise through the enchanting backwaters and lagoons. Overnight in Houseboat.

Day 11: Alleppey – Varkala (120kms/ 3hrs approx)
Morning after breakfast disembark from Houseboat, drive to Varkala (about 120kms/ 03hrs). Check into the hotel, Afternoon visit 2000 year old Sree Janardhana Swamy Temple. The rest of the day enjoy in Papanasam beach. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 12: Varkala - Kanyakumari (140kms/ 3hrs approx)
Morning drive to Kanyakumari, Enroute visit the Padmanabha-puram Palace, set in an area of six acres and with a rich museum in its compound. The museum houses epigraphic records and stone sculptures and contains 17th and 18th century murals. After that we will visit the Sucheendram Temple with its beautifully curved sculptors. Proceed to Kanyakumari, check into the hotel. The rest of the day free to relax on the beautiful beach to see the spectacular sight of sunset. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 13: Kanyakumari
Kanyakumari is India’s ‘land’s end’, the southernmost tip of the mainland. It is at the confluence of the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. On an offshore rock, in memory of Swamy Vivekananda, the Indian philosopher who had meditated contemplate here, stands Vivekananda Rock Memorial. Kanyakumari is the only place in India where one can watch the sun set and moon rise simultaneously on a full moon evening.

The legend reveals that virgin goddess Kanyakumari has watched over the land since the beginning of time, standing at the tip of the country, as if, an unending vigil, with the waters of the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal drawing to her feet. It is believed that here Goddess Parvathi in her incarnation as Devi Kanya practised penance so that she could marry Shiva. A temple stands here today, dedicated to the virgin goddess. Visit the Vivekananda rock by boarding frequent ferry service. Evening stroll around the bazaars or in the beaches. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 14: Kanyakumari – Kovalam (95kms/ 3hrs approx)
Morning after breakfast drive to Kovalam check into the hotel. The rest of the day to relax on the beautiful beaches. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 15: Kovalam
Kovalam – the beach paradise with boundless blue of the Arabian Sea and unwinding miles of fine sand washed by a surf which roars and hisses at the feet of coconuts palms, Kovalam is a sheltered natural bay. You can sunbath on the silver palmgroves. The full day for leisure. Overnight at Hotel.

Day 16: Kovalam - Trivandrum
Morning free to relax. Late evening transfer to the Trivandrum International airport, board flight to your home country.