Kerala India

Itinerary was made by Deva Travels

In Munnar we stayed at T&U Leisure Hotel
Madupatty Road, Munnar, Kerala


We did an aryudevic massage with oils

We watched a kathakali play

Bought some beautiful tops and clothes at
Cotton Collection in Cochin
S. Vijayan and Sons
Jew  Town Kochin
Tel 0484 2210 356

Beautiful crafts at a place called
Incredible Crafts
Items from all over the country
Lake Road, Kumily, Kerala, S. India


Itinerary of six days/six nights in my emails

Jonna's post

https://travelwithjonna.typepad.com/travel-with-jonna/india/

My blog posts

https://furnerfam.blogspot.com/2011/01/cruising-backwaters-of-kerala.html?fbclid=IwAR35aebAOeC1svO2gkuS6ySu6kFCJgLO1D-bSU5M-TLvkXVIwsB_xpo9ZMQ

We spent an afternoon, dinner, sleep, breakfast and lunch on the boat, so just under 24 hours.  It was the highlight of our trip.  People recommended we just go for a boat ride and not sleep on the boat but I wanted the experience and I am so glad we did! IT is magical on the backwaters, in fact, had we more time I would have done two nights.  We really liked the company we went with, professional and attentive, and excellent food.  I think my kids would have LOVED it had they been with me.  

We flew in and out of Kochi, we did five days, four nights.  First night in Kochi b/c we arrived late.  One night in the tea plantation area, one night in the Periywar Nature reserve, and one night on the boat.  We only saw Kochi for a couple hours before flying out that last day.  Seemed like there was more to see and do.

We used the company DEVA TRAVEL, I just found them online and they were very professional.  www.visitindiatravel.com They booked our driver and car (we had a Toyota minivan for the four of us), and all our hotels after I chose the itinerary I wanted/I created.  

We had the same driver/car the entire five days there.  Jonna did not put on her website our driver Shimaya's contact info b/c she's pickier than me and she thought that he was sweet/friendly, but not very knowledgeable of the area and she wanted more history/culture from a guide.  I thought he was very sweet, attentive to our needs, flexible with our schedule, good driver, stopped whenever we saw something we wanted to see etc.  I could dig out his name if that personality style suits your travel group.  You  could hire him through Deva Travel OR you could book him yourself and it would probably cost less (he told us this when we left).  You might not need Deva Travel if you have our driver and hotel recommendations.

I'd be happy to answer any other questions.  I'm sure you're already read GOD OF SMALL THINGS by A. Roy, I loved this book and appreciated that it took place in Kerala.