Last updated: 2012-04-17
Day by Day
Day 1
Gathering at our hotel in Chennai, (Madras), South India's largest city.
Day 2-5
Train to Salem and bus to Kolli Hills, home to theMalayalee, an ethnic group with a simple agricultural culture. The area is at 1000 m height and has an agreeable climate. You hike in a small group with a translator between the villages. The fourth day you take a bus down the mountains and south to Karaikudi. The first night in Karaikudi you stay at a hotel and the second with a middle class family. You get an insight to the everyday life and a chance to visit one of the nine Shiva temples in the area.
Day 6-7
You take the bus from Karaikudi to Madurai, the cultural capital of the state of Tamil Nadu. It is also one of South India's most famous temple towns and is known as the town of festivals. Meenakshi Sundareswarar, one of India's biggest temples, visited by thousands of pilgrim's everyday. Don't miss a visit at the Gandhi museum and the town's big market.
Day 8-10
Buss to Anamalai, a nature sanctuary situated in the Western Ghats, which has a beautiful wildlife of monkeys, deer, wild pigs, gaurs and elephants. You trek with guides in the sanctuary and sleep in tents or simple guesthouses. Food is included.
Day 11-12
With bus into India's "green oasis", the state of Kerala. The literacy rates are almost one hundred percent and the political consciousness is high. Kochi is an important seaport with an old history. You will find forts and palaces from the 17th century, a Jewish synagogue, Chinese fishing nets and lots of other things. In the evening there is a possibility to see the traditional dance kathakali.
Day 13-14
Bus to Alapuza, where you board the boat that takes you to Kerala's famous Backwaters, a network of canals, rivers and lakes. You stay at Coconut palms, a quiescent carefully renovated house. The ocean is close and the beach reaches the horizon. You can borrow a boat and paddle the canals or visit the temple close by. The sea is just 100 meters away and here you can swim. You can also see the local fishermen work from early morning to late evening. Food is included during the stay in Coconut Palms.
Day 15
Train to Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Kerala's capital. Why not visit the many bazaar are before you go home.
Day 16
The journey ends.
