PLACES: COCHIN | PERIYAR | KUMARAKOM | MARARIKULAM | THALASSERY | KANNUR | CALICUT The cuisine of Kerala, like their culture, has evolved over a period of time. People in Kerala are a mix of many cultures and creeds. This is reflected in their food habits too. Since coconuts are abundantly available, they are inevitably the main ingredients along with rice. Proximity to the sea has included sea food in diet. Beef unlike other parts of India, is not taboo in Kerala. The hills of Kerala produce pepper, cloves, cardamom, Nutmeg, cinnamon, all of which go into the suitable flavours in this local food. These dishes are made with traditional recipes inherited from grandmothers to mothers.. to daughters. Syrian Christian Cuisine: The Syrian Christians of Kerala can trace their lineage back almost two thousand years, when St. Thomas, brought Christianity to the Malabar Coast. Each religious and cultural section has its own unique preparations and traditional recipes. Arrive Cochin – Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to hotel. Depending on the arrival time, we shall take the opportunity to explore old Cochin. Evening, enjoy the sunset cruise around Cochin harbour. Dinner and overnight at Hotel. Breakfast at hotel, proceed to Nimmy & Paul Kerala home in Cochin, Syrian Christian cooking demo with 3 different varieties (She is a renowned cooking teacher and recently travelled to USA for cooking classes). Lunch (Home Food) with the family. Afternoon visit to local shopping areas and later proceed to Kathakali Dance show. Overnight at Hotel. Breakfast at Hotel. Morning proceed by surface to Periyar. After lunch in Spice Village Resort, we proceed for the boat ride at Lake Periyar. In the evening, time to enjoy some classical music/dance performance in the resort. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. No cuisine can be learned without knowing what to cook with. After quick and early breakfast at the hotel, the day session starts with a visit to vegetable farms in Cumbum valley, which is nourished by the waters of Periyar Lake. As the day proceeds, we take a walk at the local vegetable market to see, feel and buy the vegetables the way a Kerala housewife would. Harvest Fresh Farms | organic farm visit and stay near cumbum | Phase 1 | A Square explore | – YouTubeLater, we take you on a fascinating and informative visit to a neighbouring spice plantation/gardens whose owners pride themselves on their adaptation of organic farming methods, including the use of methane gas produced from cow dung to provide energy for their household needs. A must for anyone who cares of taste and flavours, the spice plantation visit enables you to get a deeper understanding of how the spice used in everyday cooking throughout the world are grown, harvested and processed before they find their way to your local supermarket. The visit also provides you with a first-hand idea on the wonderful world of spices and its history, cultivation, medicinal values and economics, etc. In the afternoon, the time to apply for theory! Each one of you is at a personal cooking station where the chef guides you into an absorbing cooking lesson. The knowledge from the spice interpretation from the earlier day, unfolds in front of you in the form of dish cooked by you. Suddenly it all makes sense when spice combinations to curry magic is born from your hands. The chef is invited to have dinner together with you tonight. On the table the experiences of the new knowledge are discussed and debated, friendships are extended and strengthened and memories of faces and smiles at Spice Village. Overnight at Hotel. Breakfast at Hotel. Morning proceed to ‘Nedumudy Jetty’ in backwater to experience the cruise thru the narrow canals on board a houseboat (known as Kettuvallam). Lunch on board the houseboat. The cruise ends up at Kumarakom. On arrival check in at Hotel. Overnight at Hotel. Breakfast at Hotel. Today we concentrate on cooking demo on ‘Vegetarian Sadya” specially served on a plantain leaf and eaten with hand, sadya is the traditional feast of Kerala, a three course meal, includes 40 vegetarian delights. This is at end rounded off with different varieties of Payasams (sweet deserts). Afternoon free for Ayurveda massage. Overnight at Hotel. Breakfast at Hotel. Morning proceed by surface to Mararikulam, on arrival check in at hotel. Afternoon visit the Arthungal Church by local bicycles. Evening, cooking demo on Sea Food Grill, Marari Fish/prawn curry or “Meen Pollichthathu”… fish cooked/baked with banana leaf and difference spices. Overnight at Hotel. With Packed breakfast from hotel, transfer to Cochin Railway station to connect train ‘Inter-City Exp’ at 0645 for Thalasseri. Arrive Thalasseri at 1215 hrs and proceed to ‘Ayesha Manzil’ home stay (known to be International Cookery School run Ms.Faize Moosa) and enjoy the home cooked food with Mr/Mrs Moosa. This coastal strip is famous for its fish, caught daily in the warm waters that lap the heavenly Malabar Coast and sold right off the boat on the local beach. It is here that a particular style of Indian cooking developed, quite different from elsewhere on the subcontinent. Named after the ‘MOPILLAS’ or ‘MUSLIMS OF NORTH KERALA”….. “Mopilla cuisine is the tradition that Faiza Moosa teaches in her home kitchen. After enjoying wonderful home cooked meal, time to explore Thalassery by visiting Muzhappilangad Beach (the best 4 Kms. drive-in beach of Kerala), Beedi Factory, and handloom weaving Centre followed with local fish market. Group 11, Grouped objectOvernight at Ayesha Manzil in Thalassery or Kairali Resort in Kannur (depending on the strength of the group). Early morning (0630hrs) visit to nearby temple to witness the oldest ritualistic temple art form in India and one of the most spectacular in terms of artistry and symbolism… Theyyam. Theyyam literally means a form or shape, which is usually the representation of a divine or heroic character from mythology. Return to hotel for breakfast. After check out we proceed to Ayesha Manzil to join Mrs. Moosa for culinary lessons on Mopilla cuisine followed with lunch again. After the lunch we proceed to Mahe, French Colony within the British India (now comes under Pondicherry), visit to local school where we see the medium of language is French, visit to St. Theresa’s (Mother of Aliva) Church and later proceed to Calicut. Overnight at Hotel. Again early morning this particular day, we choose to visit to experience “CVN Kalari Payuttu”, where you will witness one of the oldest martial art forms training, unique to Kerala. Return for breakfast at your resort, later check out and proceed Kapad Beach to see the famous landing point of greatest navigator ‘Vasco Di Gama”, touched its shore in 1498. Later visit to Beypore boat building yard followed the visit to Malabar banana chips cottage industry enroute to have lunch in Taj Residency, Calicut. Salt Flavour Banana Chips, Packaging Type: Packet, Packaging Size: 1 KgC V N KalariAfter the lunch, you are transferred to railway station to connect train Intercity Express for Cochin – 1610/2005 Hrs – Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to Hotel. Overnight at Hotel. In time transfer to airport to connect flight for onward journey.
Itinerary
