Cochin, a commercial city of the state of Kerala, has one of the best natural harbours in the country. It is set amidst lagoons and backwaters with a romantic backdrop swaying coconut palms.

FORT COCHIN:
This is the old, imperial Cochin with its sea-front bunglows, marvel establishment, markets and old-word charm. The Mattancherry Palace was built by the Portuguese in 1955, later taken over by the Dutch (and so called Dutch Palace also) and finally handed over to the local Maharaja who added murals depicting scenes from the Ramayana on the wall of the some rooms. The building is low-slung and with gently sloping red-tiled roofs. Apart from the brightly colored murals there are some elegant ivory palanquins and the howdah, the saddle-seat for riding elephants.

KATHAKALI DANCES:
There are two places to see Kerala’s tradition dance form. At the see-India Foundation on Kalathil Parambil lane on at art Kerala, Kannanthodath Lane, Valanjambalan, both in Ernakulam. The dances date to the early days of temple workshop. The performers dip into an endless supply of story material from the epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata. The dance is extremely difficult and requires complete control over all muscles particularly the facial muscles. As a result, a dancer is trained for over eight years.

EXCURSION:

BACK WATER CRUISE:
A short trip by boat, 2 hours from Cochin, and those two hours will be bliss on the boat meandering through the backwater canals which are tunneled by bent palm trees. On both sides of the canal, People live in perfect harmony with the water.

ALLEPEY:
This town in the centre of boat traffic in Kerala. It is also the place where Keralities hold their snake boat races during the Onam festivals. Close to the huge backwater lagoon, Vembanad Lake, the sleep town with its coir industries and a good beach is a place to relax.

QUILON:
From Allepey to Quilon is Keralas’s best-known backwater cruise. It is a 7 hours trip and enroute the boat call on villages. At Quilon, you have arrived at one of the oldest port in the country and well- known for its Ashtamudi Lake, rimmed with palms and promontories. It was a very important port when the Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans called here for spices.

KOTTAYAM:
Again a four hour boat ride from Allepey is Kattayam, the literary capital of Kerala. It is also a foothill town at the base of the Nilgiris with coffee, tea and rubber plantations higher up. Old Syrian churches and a completely literate population await you.

STANDARD SIGHTSEEING TOURS:
Full day sightseeing tour of cochin visiting the Dutch Place, Jewish Synagogue, Chinese fishing nets, St. Francis Church and the Santa cruz Church. Also visits the Hill Palace Museum which displays articles of archeological importance.Full day motor launch excursion to Kottayam, a small town surrounded by rubber, tea , coffee, pepper and cardamom plantations.

BOAT CRUISE:
Boat cruise on the backwater which gives an opportunity to behold the great charm of this city that nature has endowed upon.

EXCURSION TO ALLEPPEY:
Full day excursion to Alleppey and Kottayam with Boat Cruise which starts from Alleppey. The backwater cruise takes off through a network of canals with a backdrop of villages and coconut trees on the shores. Colorful snake boat races are held here every August.