8 Days South Kerala Tour

Breakfast at the hotel. Morning city tour of Cochin to discover the remnants left behind by many settlers in this portside capital. 

Jewish Synagogue: (Closed on every Friday & Saturdays)

The famous Kochi Synagogue (Jewish place of worship) is located at Fort Kochi, about 10 km from Ernakulam in Kerala. The Synagogue was constructed in 1568 and is the oldest in the Commonwealth countries. The synagogue was partially destroyed in a shelling during the Portuguese raid but was rebuilt two years later by the Dutch. 

Fort Cochin and Saint Francis Church: Fort Cochin is believed to be the oldest European Settlement in India and St. Francis Church was the first European Church to be built in India. The history of this Church reflects the colonial struggle of European powers in India, from the 15th to 20th Centuries. 

The Portuguese Vasco da Gama was the first European to discover the sea route to India. In 1503 Alphonso Alburquerque was given permission by the Rajah of Cochin to build a fort at the mouth of the river. Within the Fort they erected a church of wood, which was dedicated to St. Bartholomew.

Dutch Palace: (Closed on every Friday) Dutch Palace, Kochi is more popularly known as Mattancherry Palace. It is located at Palace Road, 10 km from Ernakulam city, Kochi. The palace was constructed by the Portuguese and presented to the then Rajah of Kochi, Veera Kerala Varma. The Rajahs of Keralas made subsequent renovations of the palace, giving it a Hindu texture. In fact, it has become one of the best testimony of the Hindu Temple Art.The Dutch Palace in Kochi is a two stored building built around a central courtyard. This traditional style of architecture is known as 'nalukettus' .

Chinese Fishing Net: A very unusual method of fishing, operated from the shore.

Chinese fishing nets are fixed land installations set up on bamboo or teak poles and is operated from the shores. Used for fishing, each net is at least 10 m in height and consists of a cantilever with an outstretched net suspended over the sea.  

Later proceed for a Harbor Cruise.

Sunset cruise will take you on the waterways of Kochi Harbour, offering picturesque seaside views of Fort Kochi, Bolgatty Island, Willingdon Island, the Kochi shipyard and the structurally impressive Chinese fishing nets.

Optional Cooking demo with Dinner: (not included)

Chef Nimmy Paul is a member of Kochi’s Syrian-Christian community, and grew up carefully watching her mother and grandmother transform local ingredients into delicious, highly flavored but not-too-fiery delicacies. The basics of traditional Syrian-Christian Keralan cuisine, which is not easy to find, much less learn to prepare, outside of India. This will certainly include the preparation of palappam, an impossibly thin and lacy rice pancake, served with meen molee, fish prepared in coconut milk with a masala (or spice mix) made of coriander, black peppercorn, cumin, turmeric and garlic. Another oft-taught dish is a slightly different version of the pancake called kallapam, which is made with grated coconut and served with spicy meats, such as a coriander chicken curry. The guest can learn how to use local traditional cooking equipment, such as the mun chatti, a cooking pot made from clay, as well as the proper way to serve dishes. For instance, the meen molee is plated on a delicate piece of banana leaf.

Overnight at Hotel.