Cycle Kerala & Tropical India

Those on the group flight arrive in Bangalore and transfer by coach to

Mysore, breaking the 3.5-hour journey for light refreshments. If travelling

independently, you should meet us in Mysore. After checking into our hotel

there will be a short introductory briefing and time to relax (we may have to

wait until around noon if rooms are not ready). We will meet at lunchtime and

after lunch will have a short walk around the local markets. In the late

afternoon, there will be a bike briefing and fitting in the hotel courtyard.

In the evening there will be a full trip briefing before an optional group

dinner.

*Comfortable Hotel*

We start with a leisurely morning ride to Srirangapatna, the ruins of Tippu

Sultan's capital which were destroyed by the British in 1799 during their

final battle to secure control of southern India. The fortress stands on an

island in the middle of the Cauvery River, and once over the bridge we cycle

around the old ramparts, enter Tippu Sultans Mosque and the Ranganathaswamy

Temple before riding back to Mysore for lunch. Today for lunch you get your

first taste of 'thali’ - the southern Indian meal of rice and multiple

small portions of curries on a plate, or the typical south Indian ‘masala

dosa’, a thin pancake made with fermented rice and lentil batter. In the

afternoon we have a guided tour around Mysore Palace. Also known as the Amba

Vilas Palace, it is the official residence of the Wodeyars – the former

royal family of Mysore, which ruled the princely state of Mysore for over

seven centuries. The Wodeyar kings first built a palace in Mysore in the 14th

Century; it was demolished and constructed multiple times. The current palace

construction was commissioned in 1897, completed in 1912 and expanded later

around 1940. The décor is simply stunning, if a little bit over the top, and

the former maharaja is still in residence in his private quarters. 

*Comfortable Hotel*

We leave the hotel and cycle out of Mysore town up to Chamundi Hill to view

the huge 5m rock carving of Nandi, Shiva's celestial Bull. There are also

good views over the whole of Mysore. We then cycle back down the hill and

continue along the quiet backroads, along with the children riding a bike or

bus to school. We also share the road with herds of white oxen and women in

colourful saris carrying water pots on their heads. We arrive at the

important pilgrim centre of Nanjangud, home to the beautiful 9th Century

Srikanteshwara Temple dedicated to Shiva. We have a tea break here with the

chance to look around the temple whilst the bikes are loaded onto the bus. We

then drive for an hour along a busy road leaving the plains for the forested

foothills of the Western Ghats – once the hunting preserve of Mysore's

Maharajas, staying close to Bandipur National Park. We should arrive at our

hotel in the Bandipur National Park in time for lunch, but if not we will

have something en-route. In the late afternoon we take a jeep safari in the

park. We will see lots of peacocks, spotted deer and monkeys, with the chance

to see wild elephants, Indian Bison and of course the elusive tiger. These

can be spotted at certain times of the year. 

*Standard Hotel*

After breakfast we go for a short circular ride along the villages outside

the forest areas to witness the local farming village life. This ride is

followed by a tea break before we transfer by jeep to our resort. The

afternoon is free to  relax at our resort.  Later in the afternoon, there

will also be the opportunity to go on a village walk on the outskirts of the

forest and visit a local farmhouse, where you could join a local family for

Tea.

*Standard Hotel*



 

For some, today is the highlight of the trip, ascending 1251m to Ooty

(Ootacamund), an Indian hill station and the former summer capital of the

Raj. It’s a very steep ride up 36 hairpin bends with stunning vistas at

every turn, and there's an immense sense of achievement at the summit.

Although steep, there are plenty of photographic opportunities that provide a

resting spot. Alternatively, enjoy a relaxed morning and journey up the hill

in the support vehicle. After tea and cake at the top we have an undulating

ride into Ooty. Set at an altitude of 2177m, the cool climate of the Nilgiri

Hills gives us a break from the hotter plains below. Arriving late morning,

we take lunch in our comfortable hotel. The afternoon is free to explore the

town and to sample some of their famous cardamom tea. Ooty is called the

‘Queen of the hill stations’ and although it is now a busy little town

there is lots to see and do. Originally occupied by the tribal Todas, the

area came under the East India Company at the end of the 18th Century. The

British introduced tea to the area, and the hillsides around Ooty are covered

in tea gardens. The Nilgiri Hills are called the ‘Blue Mountains’, the

blue colour coming from the many eucalyptus forests surrounding the area.

Both the Botanical Gardens and the Rose Gardens are a short walk from our

hotel. In the town there are many shops selling locally grown tea and oils

and homemade chocolate. If there is time and it is running, there is

sometimes the chance to go for a ride on the UNESCO listed Nilgiri Mountain

Railway, a steam train built by the British (your leader will give you

details at lunchtime if this is possible). 

*Comfortable Hotel*

After breakfast we have a stunning ride across the rolling Nilgiri Hills, the

backdrop for many Bollywood movies, before starting the dramatic descent,

dropping 2000m through the hills and tea-covered slopes of the Western Ghats.

The ride offers fantastic views over the hills below and there are some

viewpoints that should not be missed. 54km later we reach Gadalur, a typical

Indian town with one long high street selling everything, its shop-fronts

covered with colourful adverts and cheap children's toys. Here we have a tea

break before heading towards Kerala with the final 20km descent through

tropical rain forest and bamboo covered slopes to our end point at a typical

Keralan roadside restaurant. The bikes are loaded whilst we enjoy lunch and

then transfer to Guruvayoor (3.5 hours) to avoid busy roads. (Please note

that although the road is not very busy the road surface today is probably

the worst of the trip. There are many potholes and the road surface is not

even. Please take care and concentrate whilst cycling). Arriving in

Guruvayoor, we have time to relax before wandering into town to sample

delicious Keralan street food and have an evening stroll outside the temple,

which comes alive at night. It is one of the most important places of worship

for Hindus in Kerala and the fourth largest temple in India. The town is

filled with devotees dressed in traditional Keralan costume who come here in

their thousands to offer rice, flowers and gold to Lord Krishna, an

incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The ritual starts with bathing in the temple

pond, then lighting an oil lamp on the huge 7m-high pillar of light, just in

front of the heavy temple doors – a truly beautiful spectacle. Only Hindus

are allowed beyond this point.

*Standard Hotel*

Today we cycle by the Shree Krishna Temple. A few kilometres further is

another religious centre, Palayur Church, which is one of the oldest churches

in India and founded by the apostle St Thomas, who landed in India in AD 52.

From here we head towards the coast, cycling along country roads lined with

mango and coconut trees. There are plenty of photo opportunities as we

observe traditional life. Later, we board a ferry to Vypin Island, arriving

at Cherai Beach early afternoon. The rest of the day is free to enjoy this

stunning location and swim in the Indian Ocean. Cherai is known for its

mouth-watering fresh seafood, so for dinner, you could try the Jhinga Kachcia

Aam Kari, a speciality dish from Kerala made with green mango and prawns

simmered in coconut milk and spices. 

*Comfortable Hotel*

We set off from our beach location towards the coast to Cochin, cycling south

and passing through small fishing communities with their colourful boats

hauled up along the sands. Turning inland, we see grand houses built with the

remittance money from the Gulf States workforce, as well as older houses

constructed during the British colonial period. Please bear in mind that the

traffic levels are high for the last 8km as we arrive at the main road to

board the ferry to Fort Cochin (Kochi). This town has a unique place in

Indian history, and to soak up the atmosphere we spend the next two nights in

Fort Cochin. After check-in at the hotel, we wander down to one of the

restaurants in the old harbour area of Kochi for lunch. Those wishing to

visit the Indo Portuguese Museum should do so today as it is closed on

Mondays. 

*Standard Hotel*

Today is a free day to explore the town of Cochin (Kochi) with its bazaars

and old harbour area. Merchants began trading spices such as pepper and

cardamom with the Chinese, Arabs and Portuguese more than 600 years ago. The

Portuguese established a base here, followed by the Dutch, who were forced to

hand it over to the British in 1841. A potpourri of Indian and international

communities, it is now the bustling commercial capital of Kerala and consists

of several islands connected by ferries. Most of the major sights are close

by on Fort Kochi and Mattancherry. Warehouses filled with the smell of tea

and spices are lime-washed bright green, yellow and blue; rickety old bikes

and hand-painted trucks piled high with goods fill the narrow streets and

food stalls stand on every corner. St Francis Church is close to the hotel

– built by the Portuguese in 1503 it is the burial place of Vasco de Gama

and his tomb is inside the church. Further along, you come to Mattancherry

and the Dutch Palace. Constructed by the Portuguese in 1568, it was gifted to

the Maharaja of Kochi before the Dutch took it over. Close to the palace is

Jewtown and the Paradesi Synagogue. Built in 1568 for the Jewish members of

Kochi’s trading communities, it is adorned with hand-painted tiles from

China and elegant Belgian chandeliers, all donations from wealthy merchants.

The area around the synagogue, Jew Street, is a heritage zone with many

antique and handicraft shops and is excellent for shopping. For a culinary

experience, you should try the fish market near the Chinese fishing nets,

where you can buy the day's catch and have it cooked to your own taste. There

are also plenty of shopping opportunities here.

*Standard Hotel*

Riding out from Fort Cochin we pass 500 year old Portuguese villas, a

striking contrast to the tiny fisherman's huts dotted along the beach road

with their long wooden boats pulled up under the palm trees and nets hung out

to dry. Many of these fishing villages are Christian; at Arthungal the old

stone church dominates its surroundings and is best viewed from the shade of

a coconut tree whilst we have a tea break. Continuing along the coast road we

head to Muhamma, famous as the start point for backwater trips. We spend the

night in a backwater resort overlooking the lake. The tranquil gardens are as

relaxing as the Ayurvedic massage and treatements on offer to its guests. In

the afternoon and early evening, relax on the veranda as backwater life

unfurls before you. 



*Comfortable Hotel*

After a lie-in you can enjoy an optional 22km bike ride to explore the

village, or alternatively, you can relax for the morning. Around midday we

board a fabulous backwater houseboat for an unforgettable trip to

Trikunnapuzha. These converted rice barges have 2-berth cabins with en-suite

bathrooms and come with their own cook. With our bikes stacked on the side of

the boat you won't see the saddle for another 19 hours, so just relax and

watch the world go by. Vessels of all sizes use the lakes and canals that

make up this fascinating network of waterways. The smaller boats ferry

passengers and goods between tiny hamlets perched on narrow spits of land. On

one side of the canal vast paddy fields of iridescent green stretch as far as

the eye can see; on the other are fishing nets and coconut trees. As the sun

begins to set, the boats are moored together and we gather on deck for

sundowners. 

We have breakfast on the houseboats as they move from their overnight mooring

point to our disembarkation point. Here we meet the support vehicle and set

off along a quiet coastal road to the Valaazhikal ferry crossing. We load the

bikes on a local fishing boat to cross the river estuary and pass by

Amrithanadamayi Ashram, better known as the Hugging Mama Ashram, a spiritual

retreat overlooking the backwaters. We then join the main road to Quillon and

have lunch at a seaside guesthouse: the fish is bought fresh from the market

and cooked in mild spice and served with Poratta, a favourite Keralan bread.

After lunch we are back on quiet roads for the last 30km to Varkala, a small

laid-back community with coffee bars and yoga schools perched along its

cliff-top. We spend the next two nights here. 

*Standard Hotel*

Today is a full free day to relax and enjoy the beachside location. There are

a number of beach shack restaurants for lunch which serve excellent seafood.

Try some of the Tandoori dishes – the clay ovens give a more authentic

taste to breads and curries. The last night's meal is generally at the hotel

with a fusion of all your favourite Keralan dishes.

*Standard Hotel*

Those on the flight inclusive package will be transferred to Trivandrum

airport early in the morning for the daytime flight back to London. Land Only

arrangements will finish after check-out from the hotel.