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Kerala Honeymoon Day 1 - Arrival Bangalore You will be met on arrival and transferred to Hotel Taj West End.
Bangalore is the capital of Karnataka located on the Deccan Plateau and is India's third most populous city and fifth-most populous urban agglomeration. Though historical references to the city predate 900 CE, a modern written history of continuous settlement exists only from 1537, when Kempe Gowda I, who many regard as the architect of modern Bangalore, built a mud-brick fort at the site and established it as a province of the imperial Vijayanagara Empire. During the British Raj, it became a centre of colonial rule in South India. The establishment of the Bangalore Cantonment brought in large numbers of migrants from other parts of the country. Today, as a large and growing metropolis, Bangalore is home to some of the most well-recognized colleges and research institutions in India. Numerous public sector heavy industries, software companies, aerospace, telecommunications, and Defence organisations are located in the city. Bangalore is known as the Silicon Valley of India because of its preeminent position as the nation's leading IT employer and exporter. A demographically diverse city, Bangalore is a major economic hub and the fastest growing major metropolis in India. Day 2 - Bangalore – Nagarhole After breakfast, you will drive to Nagarhole via Mysore. Here we stay in the newly opened and very charming Orange County in the midst of the Nilgiri biosphere. Enjoy the wild life experience and be a part of the vibrant social tapestry of the local Kadu Kuruba tribe. Steeped in local lore and culture, and inspired in design by the Hadis (tribal villages), this picturesque resort of sweeping panoramic vistas is bordered on two sides by the Kabini River.
Nagarhole National Park was the exclusive hunting reserve of the former rulers of Mysore; the park has rich forest cover, small streams, valleys, and waterfalls. It stretches over 640 km², protecting the wildlife of Karnataka. The place derives its name from Naga meaning snake and hole referring to streams. Set up in 1955, it is one of the best-managed parks in the country. The climate is tropical; summer is hot and winter is pleasant. The park has a healthy tiger-predator ratio, and tiger, bison, and elephant are much more populous here than in Bandipur. The park is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
The result is a resort architecture that has a tribal 'kadu kuruba' leitmotif, where each of the guest huts bespeaks a happy marriage of traditional craft and modern luxury. From the outside, the dwellings subtly incorporate the colours and textures of the landscape in every detail; while within, the sumptuous interiors reflect a vernacular sensitivity that goes beyond mere lip service. From the ethnic furniture and luxury fittings, through the tribal patterned furnishings and drapery, to the little touches like the 'bottle gourd' lamp shades, the sum of the parts is a harmonious whole. Day 3 - Nagarhole For a closer understanding of this unique ecosystem, you can take either a boat or jeep safari with a Naturalist who would be happy to share with you the secrets of the forest. You also have a choice of studying the Asiatic Elephant along the riverbank or doing a guided birding trip or enjoying a coracle ride down the River Kabini.
Day 4 - Nagarhole Another day of enjoying the activities of the lodge and understanding their responsible tourism practices. The lodge does water conservation, solid waste management recycling, energy conservation, as well as plantation of local trees etc.
Kerala Honeymoon - Logistics Inclusions:
Exclusions:
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Day 10 - Houseboat – Serenity at Kanam Estate Serenity at Kanam Estate is an intensely private villa hotel with only 6 rooms, surrounded by rubber estates and tropical spice gardens. Thoroughly designed, yet retaining the heritage ambience, this dream come true 1920s estate bungalow blends into an unspoiled rural setting.
Day 11 -Serenity The service at Serenity is a one to one experience in an unspoiled tropical setting, there is plenty to explore. You can go on a cycling tour or an escorted walk in the surrounding spice plantations or spend a day with the elephant. They also have bullock cart excursions.
Day 7 - Wayanad – Calicut 2 hours. Flight to Cochin. You'll drive to Calicut to take your flight to Cochin and check into the boutique hotel of Malabar house in the heart of historical Fort Cochin, opposite St. Francis Church and 3 minutes walk to the Chinese fishing nets. It is ideally located for sightseeing, shopping and backwater cruises. Jew town with its vast curio & antique market is 3 km away; the Vembanad Lake just an hours drive. The Malabar House is part of Fort Cochin's historical fabric. Its recorded history dates back to 1755, when Jan Herman Clausing, a Dutch, bought the property from Mathew Henrich Beyls. Subsequently owned by spice traders, tea traders and bankers, it became 1996 Fort Cochin's first boutique heritage hotel. Designed to the last detail and furbished with select antiques and art, The Malabar House seamlessly combines tradition and contemporary design. The feel is small, cozy and personal, a heaven amidst this vibrant yet historical harbor city.
Cochin is one of the most interesting towns in South India. A trading port since Roman times, it was on the main trade route between Europe and China. Fort Cochin occupies the South promontory on the seaward side of the Bay. Willingdon Island was created in the 1920s by dredging the bay to increase the depth of the entrance to the harbour to over 11m. Fort Kochi, a Portuguese fort, founded in 1503 is now in ruins. The Portuguese built Mattancherry Palace in 1557 as a gift for the Raja of Kochi in exchange for trading rights. In 1663, the Dutch substantially rebuilt it. The Jewish synagogue is in Mattancherry and the Jews have claimed to have settled here in 587 BC and some legends trace their origin to King Solomon 1030 BC. The earliest evidence of their presence and importance is a copper inscription dated AD 388.
The Chinese fishing nets are worth a visit at dusk and the fishing cantilevered fishing nets line the entrance to the harbor mouth. Day 9 - Cochin – Houseboat From Malabar House, you'll proceed to the Discovery houseboat, a luxury boat propelled by electricity. Discovery offers the ultimate cruise in the fabled backwaters of Kerala. The traditional hull of a rice barge is blended with contemporary tropical architecture, creating the space for an air-conditioned suite. The sundeck above becomes your grandstand as the fascinating life along the waterfront passes by. The boat is propelled by an electric motor. All systems are eco-friendly, leaving zero contamination in the fragile eco system.
Day 12 - Serenity - Privacy Privacy at Sanctuary Bay offers a secluded and personal setting right on the shore of Lake Vembanad. Here too there are mountain bikes or a country boat to explore the village life in the lakes and lagoons.
Day 13 - Privacy – Cochin After a few days of a balmy atmosphere and relaxation, you'll return for your last night at the eclectic Malabar house serving fusion cuisine and a fitting farewell for your unforgettable honeymoon!
Day 14 - Cochin departure
Day 5 - Nagarhole – Wayanad After an early breakfast, you will have a long journey to Wayanad. Here you'll check into the Tranquil Plantation Hideaway, a private coffee and Vanilla plantation nestled in a picturesque 400 acres within the remote and lush rainforest. If you are looking for a calm and quiet vacation within an environment of exquisite ecological beauty and unending relaxation, Tranquil Resort with just 8 rooms and a Luxury Tree house is a home-stay experience like none other.
In the midst of a massive rain forest lies a little slice of plantation life for you to enjoy. For the discerning traveller, interested in eco-tourism with an exclusive flavour, Tranquil and its surroundings are unparalleled. Your hosts, Victor & Ranjini Dey create a unique ambience where your every need is met. Indulge yourself in moments of lazy quiet or energize your mind and body with the daily business of coffee production. Or pamper yourself with a therapeutic Ayurveda massage.
Day 6 - Wayanad You will have another day to enjoy the charms of the Tranquil resort and take a walk in the coffee plantations understanding their planting techniques.
Wayanad has a salubrious climate with an average rain fall in this district of 2322 mm. The flora of Wayanad is characteristic of the Western Ghats and the plantation crops grown in the cool climate. A major portion of the district is covered by coffee. Trees of the wild type like rose-wood, anjili (Artocarpus), mullumurikku (Erthrina), several species of caussia and many other varieties are still preserved here to give shade to the coffee plants.
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