An Authentic India Experience

9 March 2010
We travelled with Etihad Airlines via Abu Dhabi to Cochin. Service on board was excellent and the leg-room in the economy seats is quite generous.

10 March 2010
On arrival in Cochin we were met by the Mahindra Homestays representative. Our homestay in Cochin was called Noah's Ark. The accommodation is very basic but the welcome from the hosts was very warm and friendly. The room was perfectly adequate with two single beds, a desk, cupboard and a basic shower en suite. There was air conditioning which is essential in the heat! After a quick rest to recover from the flight, we set off to the Santa Maria Basilica (where Vasco da Gama was originally buried before his remains were taken back to Portugal). We then walked to the quayside and visited the fish market. Lunch at our respective homestays was excellent - this is one of the advantages of home stays in that the food is all freshly prepared and very good. In the afternoon we went to a Kuramathi Dance exhibition - this is a traditional dance form telling stories - we also watched the actors applying their make-up before the show as the make up and facial expressions do a lot of the story telling.

11 March 2010
Today we had a trip to the Antipally waterfalls which is about 3 hours drive from Cochin. Having flown in the day before, it was a long drive. On arrival back in Cochin late afternoon we had a stroll around the neighbourhood
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12 March 2010
This morning we left Cochin for our drive to Munnar. En route we visited the Kodinar Elephant sanctuary and watched the elephants having their early morning bath in the river. The drive to Munnar took approximately 5 hours and we arrived at our next home stay 'Royal Mist' early afternoon. The rooms were again basic but the hosts were so kind and eager to please. They served us an excellent lunch and in the evening we took a drive into Munnar itself to visit a tea and spice shop. This area is renowned for tea growing and the surrounding mountains are covered in tea plantations - very lush and green. We strolled around the local shops selling tea, spices and locally made chocolate which was surprisingly good.

13 March 2010
This morning we did an excursion to the Kolukkumalai Tea Plantation which is the highest plantation in the world. We changed our vehicles to jeeps half way as it wasn't possible to negotiate the road by mini-bus. The drive took about 2 hours and the scenery was spectacular. In the evening we had dinner at Ambady Homestay. Here the rooms are in cottages in the gardens.

14 March 2010
Today it was onwards to Thekaddy - about a 5 hour drive. Arrived at Pepper County Homestay - a lovely home with views over the spice plantations - rooms also very good. After another excellent lunch we were taken to our homestay called Koshy's which was in the village itself. The accommodation here was on the upper level of the house and there was a superb roof terrace with good views. In the afternoon we were taken on a spice plantation walk which was very interesting - amazing views over the valley to Tamil Nadu province.

15 March 2010
Early morning departure for a day trip to the Periyar Tiger Sanctuary - sadly we didn't see much game apart from some wild chickens, squirrels, an eagle and a few monkeys.

16 March 2010
After breakfast we left Thekkady for Kumarakom Lake - about a 4 hour drive and had lunch at the Lake Resort which is a hotel on the shores. After lunch we took a rice barge across the lake to our accommodation at Vembenad House. Wonderful setting - the house is an old homestead (about 150 years old) very beautifully furnished with local antiques. There are plans to build additional rooms in the grounds plus a spa.

17 March 2010
This morning we all had Ayurvedic spa treatments (the area is well known for this) before spending the rest of the day relaxing at Vembanad House. Late departure to the airport for our return flight.

Overall, accommodations can be basic but comfortable with some excellent food. Homestays are a different kind of holiday and ideal if you want to submerge yourself in the culture of a region.