Senast uppdaterad: 2011-11-22
Itinerary
Day 1-2
You should change money at the airport before you transfer to the hotel. Thiruvanathapuram (Trivandrum), is the capital of Kerala with 800 000 inhabitants. It is also the political and administrative centre of the state. This is a nice Indian city, where it is easy to find your way around. For a first meeting with India, why not visit the vast bazaars! There are also interesting museums to visit. Perhaps most worthwhile a visit is the Napier museum close to the zoological garden. During the second day in Trivandrum you will go to a cycle shop to buy a bicycle. It will cost around Rs 4000 (around 650 kronor). You stay in a hotel in central Thiruvanathapuram.
Day 3
After an early check out from hotel, you will go by car to the outskirts of Trivandrum. From here, you will cycle for about three hours on the village roads to Varkala. From Trivandrum to Kochi, a mini-bus will take your luggage. Do not worry about your luggage while cycling! You only bring a small backpack for the things you might need during the day - and don't forget to bring a big bottle of water. Varkala and Kovalam are the only places that could be called beach resorts in Kerala, even though there are fantastic beaches along the whole coast. There are less tourists in Varkala than in Kovalam. The hotels in Varkala are situated on a cliff with the beach below. Overnight at Varkala
Day 4
You start cycling in the morning from Varkala towards Kollam, also known as the cashewnut-town. You will cycle on the coastal road and arrive around lunchtime. See this ancient town and the port. Or why not go to the cinema. India is the country producing most films in the world. Overnight at Kollam.
Day 5-6
By bus from Kollam to Vallikavu. From there you will bike to Thottapally (earlier called Quilon). This will take approximately 4 hours. On the way, stop at Matha Amrithanandamayi ashram. It is one of few ashrams led by a woman Guru. Amma is a famous and popular guru and she has visited Sweden several times. In the evening, you reach Coconut Palms, situated by the coast in the famous Backwaters. It is an old traditional house that has been carefully renovated. Straw mats cover the floors and you will sleep on mattresses placed directly on the floor. It is situated in a quiet and green environment. Breakfast lunch and dinner, South Indian style, are included when you stay at Coconut Palms. There is a famous temple nearby called Mannarsalia SnakeTemple, the only snake temple in Kerala. You can make an excursion to the temple on bicycle. Nearby coconut Palms there are small country boats available for yourself to paddle around or try your luck in angling. Coconut Palms is situated only 100 meters from the seashore - a vast stretch of sand as long as you can see. You can go swimming anywhere. But do care to dress properly! This is not a place that is visited by tourists or foreigners. This implies that women cannot wear swimming suits when there are local people around. All along the shore there are fishing villages. Do not hesitate to ask if you can come along in the beautiful boats that are still operated without engines.
Day 7
In the morning you leave Coconut Palms and cycle for Thakazi. From Thakazi there will be a three hours boat ride on the Backwaters to the family stays in Pulinkunnu, Chenagiri and Chamabakulam. You will stay with a local family and they will accommodate you for one night. At least one person in the family speaks some English. You will also have your meals with them. We encourage you to be curious, ask questions, to get the most out of the time with the families.
Day 8
Early morning cycling to the outskirts of Kottayam, passing through rubber, spice and pineapple plantations. The area called Backwaters is a water system of canals, rivers and lakes and people live and work on small pieces of the intensely green land, surrounded by half submerged paddy fields. Transport is mainly on the lakes and on narrow canals where coconut palms are leaning over the water almost touching each other. The villages are surrounded by coconut groves and criss-crossed by canals with a busy traffic, passenger ferries as well as dugout palm trunks. Everywhere there are lots of people. Kerala has 750 inhabitants per km2, which makes it the most densely populated state in India. About 100 meters from the coastline the backwater starts. From Kottayam you will go by bus to Thanneermukkom where you will stay in a guesthouse.
Day 9
In the morning you start cycling from the hotel to Thalayolaparambu town, from where you will take a bus to Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, also commonly known as the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary. The sanctuary gives a glimpse of the bird diversity of the once widespread lowland forests of Kerala. Thattekad is located on the northern bank of the Periyar River around 70 kilometers from Kochi. The sanctuary is small, consisting of 25 sq kilometers but has over 500 species of birds. Many of them are very rare. There are also elephants and leopards and snakes to be seen in the sanctuary. You will visit the sanctuary in the late afternoon.
Day 10
By Bike to Kodanad. Stay at guest house on the riverfront of river Periyar, the elephant training camp and the famous Malayattur church is located nearby.
Day 11-12
By bike to Chalakudy. From here you go by bus to Kochi. Together with its twin city Ernakulam, Kochi is the largest port and industrial centre of Kerala. The city has a very interesting history. In Kochi you can visit the Dutch Palace and the Synagogue. Another attraction is St. Francis Church were Vasco da Gama was first buried in 1524. Later they moved his remains to Portugal. You can sell your cycle in Kochi. You can also give your cycle to Rotary (through your tour leader) who sees to that it is given to the poor and deserving.
Why not let one of Kochi's many unusually happy rickshaw drivers take you around. You can go from Ernakulam to Kochi by ferry. In the evening you can watch the highly stylized Sanskrit dance drama, Kathakali, in Kochi.
You will also visit a development project that is trying to preserve the mangrove forest.
Day 13-14
In the morning you will leave Kochi by train to Kannur. To travel by train in India, is fascinating. Watch the beautiful landscape slowly pass by outside the window, talk to your fellow passengers and try the different drinks and food that are offered to you along the way. After arriving in Kannur, check-in at the hotel for two nights. Kannur has for a long time been an important spice-trading port, and had a glorious era during the days of the Kolathiri rajas. Also the colonial powers, the British and the Portuguese, have influenced the city and its buildings. Today, the town has almost half a million inhabitants, and is a popular base for many circus-performers (!) You will visit Günter Bungalow and surrounding places in Kannur. There is also a beautiful beach where you can go swimming. In the evening enjoy the spectacular, ritual temple-dance "Theyyam" at the Parassinikadavu Temple.
Day 15
Drive from Kannur by private bus to Wynad National Park located in the slopes of the Nilgiri mountains. In India you are seldom allowed to walk by foot in a wildlife sanctuary. In the evening you will go for a drive in jeeps to see some of the parks wild life. With some luck you may see chital, elephants, gaur (Indian bison), sambar, monkeys, wild boar etc. There are even tigers and leopards in the reserve but you would be very lucky if you would spot one. You will stay in a small guest house near the forest.
Day 16
Leave Wynad for Coorg (Kodagu) in the Western Ghats Mountains. You will stay in the small village of Kakabe approximately 20 km south west of the region capital, Madikere. In Kakabe you will stay for two nights. In Coorg you are free to explore the mountains and the beautiful, calm surroundings on your own. Why not trek through the lush vegetation and the coffee and cardamom plantations? The Coorg district is inhabited by a people called Kodava and is known to be a very friendly area.
Day 17
Morning trek to the Thadiyente Mol Mountain, the highest peak in Coorg.
Day 18-19
By bus to Padana, located at Kerala's northern coast. Not many tourists come here. Here you can go to the beach or visit Bekal Fort. You will be staying in area known for mussel farming. Your Guest house is located by the side of the Backwaters and close to the sea. Here you can see the process of mussel farming and enjoy the traditional dishes served to you from the guest house kitchen run by the family.
Day 20
In the early morning you leave for Mangalore airport by train.
Tour ends, departure for Sweden. From Mangalore, you can either go by train to Madgoa in Goa, or fly to Mumbai and then home. You can fly earliest at 14.30.
