SPICE & CURRY KERALA

OVERVIEW

History knows that Kerala is the hub of spice trade in India and has maintained this status for thousands of years. The ports in Kerala aracted traders from all across the world for spice trade since centuries. The desire to control the spice trade from Kerala could also be termed as one of the primary reasons for the western colonizaon in India. Kerala connues to be a major contributor to the internaonal spice trade over the last decades.
Let us explore the world famous land of spices and know more and learn their culinary delight.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Travel to the famous ﬁsh and spice market of Cochin
Get introduced to the Indian style of cooking by aending a cooking class by expert chefs.
Enjoy a tradional “Sadhya” served on a banana leaf, an extensive meal usually served at weddings and other festivals
Explore the delighul spice and rubber estates, in Periyar
Spice plantaon tour and visit local spice market
Aend the cooking demonstraon to learn the art of preparing speciales of Kerala seafood
Visit a farm in Kumarakom and engage in an interacve cooking class
Traverse the charming backwater canals around Alleppey in the private comforts of a houseboat
Feel the soothing warm sand and rejuvenang waters on the shores of the Arabian Sea at Kovalam.

ITINERARY

DAY 1 - Arrive Cochin

Upon arrival meet and transfer to hotel Later city tour of Cochin , visit the maancherry palace, the nearby merchant houses and a ﬁne synagogue. Also visit Fort Cochin and St.Francis church, the oldest European church in india. In the evening learn about Kerala’s fascinang art form the Kathakali performers begin to train for their art at a young age, and their study connues for a lifeme you will enjoy a dance performance Overnight at hotel.

DAY 2 - Cochin

Morning visit to the ﬁsh market and later to the home of Mrs Nimmy Paul a renowned Keralan Chef. Nimmy will explain the tradions and history behind the dishes. Afternoon Nimmy will lead a cooking demonstraon in which you can parcipate in preparaon of special Indian dinner Overnight at hotel.

DAY 3 - Cochin - Periyar by road (142 kms / 4 hrs Approx)

Drive to Periyar. Later explore the Periyar wildlife sanctuary that is a Tiger Reserve. In the aernoon enjoy a boat cruise on the Periyar Lake. Return to your hotel to aend the class on cooking that will teach you the use of tradional spices in cooking. Spice Village’s master chefs share some of their skills at the evening cookery classes. Here you will learn the secrets of tradional Kerala and seafood cooking. Ovenight at hotel.

DAY 4 - Periyar

Begin your day with a guided walking tour to the spice plantaon. Get to know more about the uses of these spices and enhance your knowledge on the cooking skills followed by a tradional keralan meal (Sadhya) , Sadhya is a variety of pure vegetarian dishes tradionally served on a banana leaf. Evening walk through the spice market and you usually get the variety local spices to take back home. Overnight at hotel.

DAY 5 - Periyar - Kumarakom by car ( 145 kms / 4hrs Approx)

Drive from Periyar to Kumarakom. Evening enjoy the sunset on the backwaters of Kumarakom on a boat cruise. Overnight at hotel.

DAY 6 - Kumarakom

Morning explore the beauful island of Kumarakom. Later drive to Philip Kuy’s Farm, located on a small island in the backwaters by Vembanad. The farm is about 35 acres and is the largest farm on the island. Explore the farm on an escorted farm walk with one of the family members or staﬀ and learn about farming below lake level as well as the diﬀerent crops culvated. Afternoon attend the cooking demonstraon to learn the art of preparing speciales of Kerala seafood. This is the ﬁnal class of the tour and by now, you would have mastered quite a few Indian styles of cooking. Overnight at hotel.

DAY 7 - Kumarakom - Alleppey

Drive to the Jey to board Housboat around 1100 hrs. Enjoy sailing through the backwaters with your personal Chef preparing some special food for you. Overnight on board Houseboat

DAY 8 - Day 10 - Alleppey - Kovalam by car (161 Kms / 4-5 Hrs Approx)

Disembark the houseboat and drive to Kovalam. Days spent at leisure to venture into the depths of the countryside or linger on the marvelous golden sands of Kovalam beaches or you can extend your stay for some Ayurveda treatments or You could even journey southward to Kanyakumari, the Cape of Comorin. The Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean merge at the edge of the connent. The Kumari Amman Temple is a mixture of concrete stone and legend. Overnight at hotel.

DAY 11 - Kovalam-Trivandrum (12 Kms / 30 minutes Approx)

Transfer to Trivandrum airport to board the ﬂight for your onward desnaon. IMPORTANT : Synagogue is closed on Fridays & Saturdays.

NOTE:
lRoad distance and driving me are indicave and dependent on road / traﬃc condions. Addional me may be added for tea breaks, toilet stops, en‐route sightseeing etc.