has climate that somewhat resembles of what we get in Malaysia
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
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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
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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
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weather / February 2015 :
Kochi - 35'C Max / 22'C Min ( approx. same as Malaysia )
Munnar - 25'C Max / 15'C Min
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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
