What would you suggest for the above - also where do you recommend getting on and off boat for the backwaters? Do I need a tourist boat or can I just take a local boat and see the same? Thanks
itinerary for 2/3 week trip in kerala
Backwaters: If your starting point is Kochi - you can do a 3 hr backwaters trip booked from Kochi its on a small boat. Alternately go to Allepey/Allapuzha and Kumarakom where you can actually stay on a houseboat or do a longer backwaters cruise. There is a bird sanctuary at Kumarakom. If your starting point is TRV, you can take a bus or train to Quilon / Kollam and take a public ferry boat on the backwaters for as long as you like. You can interact with the locals this way and observe actual community life along the backwaters. I did this about 10 years ago. I am sure that they also have tourist boats at Quilon now. Do remember to get yourself a tube of Odomos anti mosquito cream - cheap and easily available at any store in India.
Since you have 2/3 weeks, if you like wildlife, you could visit Periyar Tiger Sanctuary at Thekkadi periyartigerreserve.org - sightings guaranteed on the first boat and in the jungle walks. There are also spice gardens around Thekkady that you could visit. Munnar, a hill station with lots of tea estates is also worth a visit. A harbour cruise at Cochin is also nice, look out for dolphins. If you go to Trivandrum the famous Kovalam beach [ too commercial ] is close by as are the Ayurvedic resorts of Somatheeram and Manatheeram. Varkala, north of TRV is better than Kovalam. Ayurvedic spas abound in Kerala - do a google for full details. The authentic therapeutic ones are in the Palghat/Pallakad area. The Thrissur temple and the Padmanabhaswamy temple at TRV are worth a visit, as is the Padmanabhapuram wooden palace on the TRV Nagercoil road. Enjoy the excellent sea food cuisine of Kerala. You can buy Outlook Travellers ';Kerala and Lakshadweep'; it is a very useful guide book with good maps, photos and accurate information. Have a wonderful holiday.
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