Kerala , located in Southern part of India at 8.5074° N latitude
    has climate that somewhat resembles of what we get in Malaysia

    Tea plantations in Munnar


    Putu ( similar to putu buluh in Malaysia )

    green tea and black tea

    Munnar town

    traditional Kerala Katakhali dance

    Kalaripayattu martial art

    Alleppey

    backwaters in Alleppey


    Kerala meals


    Jew Town

    Chinese fishing nets at Cochin Harbour


    travel plan :

    Day 1 : Karad to Mangalore by bus - 10 hours
                 Mangalore - Kochi by bus - 10 hours
    Day 2 : Cochin to Munnar - 5 hours / 140km
    Day 3 : Munnar
                 - Mattupetty Dam , Echo Point , Tea Museum , Munnar Town
    Day 4 : Munnar to Periyar / Thekkady - 4 hours / 110km
                   - Periyar Tiger Reserve , Kathakali Dance , Kalaripayattu Martial art
    Day 5 : Periyar to Alleppey
                   - boathouse in the backwaters
    Day 6 : Alleppey to Kochi via Kumarakom
                  - Kumarakom bird sanctuary , Jewish Synagogue , Jew Town
                     St. Francis Church ( Vasco Da Gama tomb ) , Cochin Harbour
                 Kochi to Bangalore flight
    Day 7 : Bangalore
                 Bangalore to Karad by bus - 12 hours

   ..........................................................................................................................................
   accommodations :

   Munnar
   Dream Catcher Plantation Resort | TripAdvisor review : click here
    - i really like this resort
    - has it's own tea plantation , spice and flower garden , orchard
      tree house , wifi
    - a bit far from Munnar town / 40 minutes

  Periyar
   Jungle Park Resort Thekkady | TripAdvisor review : click here
    - i like this resort too
    - located at the edge of Periyar Tiger Reserve
    - room has view of the Periyar Tiger Reserve
    - walking distance from Thekkady town

  Alleppey
  houseboat in the backwaters in Alleppey

  ..........................................................................................................................................
    
   travel costs :

   2015 currency exchange rate : RM1 = Rs18

   Approx. Rs10000 / RM530 per head
   for ground costs and accommodations in Kerala
   * i spent grossly Rs18k for the whole trip

   tour agent : Indian Panorama ( click here )

   Air ticket Kochi to Bangalore - Rs1500 AirAsia India

   entrance fees :

   Munnar
   Tea Museum in Munnar - Rs150 per head

   Rose Garden in Munnar - Rs20 per head
                                           - mobile / camera Rs20
                                           - professional camera Rs500

   Periyar / thekkady
   Spice Garden - Rs100 per head

   Periyar Tiger Reserve Entrance - Rs450 per head
   boat cruise in Periyar Tiger Reserve - Rs150
   night Jeep Safari - Rs5000 per Jeep ( can accommodate  6-7 people )
   Elephant ride in Periyar - Rs350
                                          - Rs350 + Rs750 bathing with elephant
   Kathakali Dance - Rs200
   Kalaripayattu Martial Art - Rs200

   Alleppey Backwaters
   - scampi / udang galah - approx Rs800-1500 per Kg

   Kumarakom
   - boat cruise at Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary - Rs 350 for 1 hour

   Kochi
   - Jew Synagogue entrance - Rs10 per head
   - Dutch Palace - Rs10 per head

   MISC
   - Kerala Meals - Rs120 - Rs250 per meal
   - Malabar biriyani - Rs120 - Rs250 per meal
   - vanilla beans at spice garden - Rs12 per gram
   - handmade ear-rings - Rs30 - Rs50
   - fridge magnet - Rs70 - Rs100

   ..........................................................................................................................................
   weather / February 2015 :
   Kochi - 35'C Max / 22'C Min ( approx. same as Malaysia )
   Munnar - 25'C Max / 15'C Min
  
   ..........................................................................................................................................
   tips :
   - I tried to speak Hindi but Kerala people doesn't understand it.
     Kerala people speaks their native language Malayalam.
     located at the border of Kerala-Tamil Nadu States ,
     they understands Tamil very well . very easy for Tamil speaking people
     to travel here.
   - they understands English very well.
     Kerala has highest literacy rate in India , that means most of the people
     are educated.
   - weather in Kochi is somewhat similar to Malaysia
   - we can buy seafood and cook ourselves in the houseboat
   - try Kerala meals with kerala rice / Matta Rice ( rounded grains ) instead of the
     conventional white rice
   - try Kerala Parotta
   - there are more Churches that Hindu Temples in Kerala .
     Mosques are not a difficult thing to find too.
   - Munnar is like Cameron Highlands in Malaysia , but on a bigger scale
   - if i would come to Kerala again , i would stay at Periyar longer ,
     and go for the wilderness activities there.
   - Elephant Ride and animal cruelty issues : click here
   - unlike houseboat in Kashmir that stays in one place , houseboat in
     Kerala is a moving boat , cruising through the backwaters.
     Houseboat in Kashmir : click here
   

    Kerala : God's Own Country
    February 2015