Straight up Heaven

Start point atA - ERNAKULAM SOUTH RAILWAY STATION, Ernakulam South, Kochi, Kerala, India,Kochi, KL

End point atJ - ERNAKULAM SOUTH RAILWAY STATION, Ernakulam South, Kochi, Kerala, India,Kochi, KL

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Day : 1 - To the hills of Kerala

Night stay at B1 - Suryanelli, India
Distance from days start -154 Kms.

Hotel - Eagles Nest Resort

Star Rating of Hotel :

Halt B1 - Suryanelli, India
Distance from days start -154 Kms.

Activities - Kolukkumalai Offroad Jeep Drive

Factors at the Halt include : Hills,Treks,Great Views,Adventure.

On day 1 of the trip, we shall head to the green hills of Kerala through the mighty Western ghats mountain ranges. The scenery as we ascend to Munnar is spectacular and the weather dips to a pleasant single digit or so towards the evening. We have enough time to explore Munnar before we retire for the night in a beautiful resort with some amazing views of the hills around.

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Day : 2 - A day in Munnar

On Day 2 we have an exciting day around the Kannan Devan Hills of Munnar. Munnar is a hill station in Kerala that is situated at a height of 1600 meters above Sea Level and ranging up to 2695 meters above sea level in the Anamudi peak region. The hills of Munnar are the tallest it gets in the mountain ranges south of the Himalayas. Munnar experiences pleasant weather due to its high altitude across the year and in the winter the temperatures even plummeting to subzero temperatures. Our day in Munnar is packed with as much as we can cover in 1 day. We can begin with going on a drive to the Top station region along the way passing through the Lake district of Munnar. In the Mattupetty dam region, we can do boating and a short elephant ride too. After that, we can drive further up the road along which we shall come across more waterbodies that the region is famous for and can continue the scenic drive up to the top station where the regular road ends. From the top station, we can return and visit the Eravikulam national park and the Rajamalai region where we can view the endangered Nilgiri Tahr a species that is a mix of Deer and that of a mountain goat. By afternoon we can proceed to Suryanelli from where we can hire a 4 wheel jeep for an exciting offroad drive to reach the Kolukkumalai. Kolukkumalai viewpoint is situated at a height of 2200 meters above sea level and the sceneries are nothing short of spectacular. A narrow 3 - 4 meter wide path separates the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu on both sides of the hills and the walk through the path with just astounding scenery on both sides will definitely be one of the most memorable parts of this trip for you. After finishing the Kolukkumalai trip we can return to our hotel where you can relax for the evening in the misty surroundings.

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Mattupetty lake
Elephant Safari
Kundala Lake
Boating in Mattupetty lake
Views of Eravikulam National Park
Views of Eravikulam National Park
Nilgiri Tahr at Eravikulam National Park
Offroad jeep drive to Kolukkumalai
Views en route to Kolukkumalai view point
Kolukkumalai View Point
Kolukkumalai View Point
En route to Top Station Munnar
Munnar Sceneries
Munnar Sceneries

Day : 3 - Chettinad tour

Night stay at D1 - Kanadukathan, Tamil Nadu, India
Distance from days start -344 Kms.

Hotel - Chettinadu Court Resort

Star Rating of Hotel :

Halt D1 - Kanadukathan, Tamil Nadu, India
Distance from days start -344 Kms.

Activities - Visit Chettinadu Heritage palaces and streets

Factors at the Halt include : Rural / Ethnic Stay,Palace / Monuments stay,Cultural / History,Unique Experiences.

On day 3, we head to Tamil Nadu from the hills of Kerala and we shall head to the Chettinad region and stop over at the KanaduKathan village. At Kanadukathan we will do a circuit tour of the ancient palaces and mansions of the Chettinad region. Chettinad (also known as Chettinadu) is a region located mainly in the Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu. The Chettinad region is well known for its 19th-century mansions, whose wide courtyards and spacious rooms are embellished with marble and teak. Construction materials, decorative items, and furnishings were mostly imported from East Asian countries and Europe. The marble was brought from Italy, chandeliers and teak from Burma, crockery from Indonesia, crystals from Europe and wall-to-wall mirrors from Belgium. Many of these mansions were built using a type of limestone known as karai. Local legend has it that the mansion walls were polished with a paste made out of egg whites to give them a smooth texture. The full splendor of the Chettinad mansions can be enjoyed by travelers as we drive through the neatly laid out grid lanes of the KanaduKathan village. The entire afternoon can be spent exploring the Chettinad mansions before we spend the night in a resort there.

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Chettinad Mansions
Streets of Chettinad
Palaces of Chettinad
The Mansions

Day : 4 - Rameshwaram, Dhanushkodi and around

Night stay at E1 - Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu, India
Distance from days start -113 Kms.

Hotel - Hotel Fortune Beach

Star Rating of Hotel :

Halt E1 - Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu, India
Distance from days start -113 Kms.

Activities - Visit Ramanathapuram temple, Rameshwaram, Visit Dhanuskkodi, Ram Setu

Factors at the Halt include : Beach,Spiritual,Cultural / History,Small Boats / Canoes.

On day 4 we drive from Chettinad to the stunning beaches and sea locales of Rameshwaram, which is just a 2 hour drive. In Rameshwaram, we shall visit the spectacular Rameshwaram temple known for its splendid long corridors (Known to be the longest corridor in a religious place in the whole world). Towards the evening we shall go on a thrilling drive through the sea to the Dhanushkodi island and see the Ramasethu strait there. In Dhanushkodi we can also explore the remains of the old town which had been washed away by the Tsunami. The drive through the coastal road that runs literally through the middle of the sea, with the sea on both sides of the road clearly exhibiting different characteristics, colors, and nature, will surely be an experience to cherish for a lifetime. We will spend the night in Rameshwaram in a hotel that overlooks the calm waters of the beautiful Bay Of Bengal sea.

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Dhanushkodi End point
The Rama Sethu
Ramanathaswamy temple, Rameshwaram
The Pamban bridge, Rameshwaram
The ruins of Dhanushkodi village
The road through the sea to Dhanushkodi

Day : 5 - Madurais splendour

Night stay at F1 - Kumily, Kerala, India
Distance from days start -238 Kms.

Hotel - Felicita Homes

Star Rating of Hotel :

Halt F1 - Kumily, Kerala, India
Distance from days start -238 Kms.

Activities - Wildlife Boat Safari at Thekkady

Factors at the Halt include : Forests,Rivers / Lakes,Hills,Treks,Small Boats / Canoes,Adventure,Wildlife.

On day 5 we head to Madurai city which is a 2.5 hour drive from Rameshwaram to visit the famous Madurai Meenakshi temple. Meenakshi Temple is located on the southern bank of the Vaigai River in the temple city of Madurai. Madurai is also the third largest city in Tamil Nadu. It is dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi, a form of Parvati, and her consort, Sundareshwar, a form of Shiva. The temple is at the center of the ancient temple city of Madurai and it is mentioned in the Tamil Sangam literature, with the goddess temple mentioned in 6th-century-CE texts. The temple is famous for its beautiful corridors and carvings. After visiting the temple we shall head on another long 3 hour drive to reach Kumily / Thekkady, the hill town set on the border of Kerala state. Once in Kumily, we shall check into our resort where you can relax after the long drive.

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A closer look at the temple
The temple interiors
Madurai Meenakshi temple complex
Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple
Madurai Meenakshi temple complex
Beautiful views en-route to Kumily from Madurai
The hills of Kerala greeting you again
Views around Kumily

Day : 6 - Periyar Wild life sanctuary

Night stay at G1 - Kumily, Kerala, India
Distance from days start -0 Kms.

Hotel - Hills & Hues

Star Rating of Hotel :

Halt H2 - Thekkady Boat Landing, Thekkady, Kumily, Kerala, India
Distance from days start -4 Kms.

Activities - Periyar Boat Safari

Factors at the Halt include : Treks,Small Boats / Canoes,Wildlife.

The next day at Thekkady boat landing we shall take a boat ride through the Periyar lake. If you are lucky you stand some chance to spot some wild life during the boat ride. However with or without the wild life spotting the boat ride sure is an exciting experience that is not to be missed while in Thekkady. After the boat ride we shall check into our luxurious resort where you can unwind in luxury and have great views of the forests and valleys beyond for a true relaxation experience in the hills.

Day : 7 - Fort Kochi

Night stay at I1 - Fort Kochi, Kochi, Kerala, India
Distance from days start -162 Kms.

Hotel - Old Lighthouse Bristow

Star Rating of Hotel :

Halt I1 - Fort Kochi, Kochi, Kerala, India
Distance from days start -162 Kms.

Activities - Fort Kochi Heritage Tour

Factors at the Halt include : Beach,Cultural / History.

The journey from Thekkady to Kochi takes approximately 3.5 hours. At Kochi, we shall begin by checking into our hotel in Fort Kochi. A charming seaside area, Fort Kochi is known for its Dutch, Portuguese, and British colonial architecture, and the Chinese fishing nets at Fort Kochi Beach. St. Francis Church was the original burial site of explorer Vasco da Gama. Upscale eateries and chic cafes serve European as well as Kerala specialties. Heritage buildings in Tort Kochi today house contemporary art galleries and museums turned restaurants. We have included a pit stop for lunch at the famous Kashi Art Cafe. The streets and promenades around the restaurant are worth exploring a bit with the spice and souvenir shops. We shall also visit the Mattancherry bazaar street and the Jew street, all of them still retain the look and feel of the bazaar from the original spice trade days centuries ago. The last evening of the trip can be spent taking in the beautiful sea views from the hotel's sea-facing restaurant and bar.

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Chinese Fishing nets in Fort Kochi Beach
Fort Kochi streets
Bazaar road in Mattancherry
The quaint streets of Fort Kochi
Fort Kochi and around
Shopping in Jew street
The colorful buildings of Mattancherry

Day : 8 - Kochi city & theIslands

On the last day of the trip, we shall explore the Mainland and the commercial area of Kochi, which is called Ernakulam city, and the surrounding islands that make up the city of the Kochi. Ernakulam city is just about 14 km north of Fort Kochi beach and the city is as commercial and packed as most big cities in India. Other than the city tour of Ernakulam what will make it more interesting would be the islands tour and a seafood lunch from a very famous Eatery in the city. Then we can go on a drive through the Coastal Road on the periphery of the city which is otherwise called the Container Road a very attractive and scenic road by itself. From there towards the later half of the day, we shall head on to visit the island of Kadammakudy, Mulavukadu, Vallarpadam, and Bolghatty islands. Among the islands, Kadammakudy is quite unique with a fairy tale feel with its narrow roads, cute bridges, and winding waterways across the island.

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Ernakulam City Views
Ernakulam City Views
View of Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary
View of Islands
The Scenic Container Road
Kadammakudi Islands
Kadammakudi Islands
Ernakulam City Views
Ernakulam City Views
Ernakulam City Views
Ernakulam City Views
Kadammakudi Islands
Views from Container Road
Vypin Island