Top 5 weekend ideas around Kochi

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Any idea to escape the stressful and fast metro life is too tantalizing to turn down but the variety of options available around the city of Kochi is a bigger relief for anyone who loves travelling and experiences. Best Places to visit in Kerala include the rather well known options like Munnar, Alleppey, Kumarakom, Thekkady , Cherai , Marari and so on and these are the usual suggestions to any discerning traveler from Kochi which may put them Off. I wanted to illuminate on some options other than these usual places which can offer a memorable experience for families and youth.

1) Stay in a Treehouse in Munnar

Around 4-5 hours drive from Kochi, treehouses in Munnar at natureZone resort is the quietest and most scenic of locations in Munnar. In simple sense tree house is a house built on top of a tree or trees where two people can comfortably stay and which comes with all amenities and an attached toilet. Treehouses are constructed using eco-friendly materials such as coir mats, bamboo poles, hay- straws and live trees. This is a modern version of Erumadom which were used by tribal people to hunt animals in the forests.

Away from the hustle-bustle of the town surrounded by trees and the chirping of a variety of birds, this is an ideal location if you are looking to take a break from your routine life and spend time with your family or friends in a treehouse or a tent. You can also go for soft trekking near the tea gardens around the resort. Those who desire peaceful stay amongst nature and serenity and who want to attain relaxation can prefer this option for weekends.

2) Stay in a Private Pool Villa in Marari

If you want to opt for a private eco luxury weekend experience then a private pool villa in Marari may be the ideal choice around Kochi. Few things can match the special joy of a lap in your own private swimming pool in a secluded courtyard, open to the sky with only your friends or family for company.

These villas are located in Marari beach resort which is around 2 hours drive from Kochi. But mind you, this is a really expensive option for a weekend which you need to experience at least once in life where you will be have a totally private experience in your own pool and private green spaces. In the evening you can opt for a visit to the butterfly garden (Butterfiles come only at those places without pollution) or go for a stroll in the marari beach which is still among the pristine and blue beaches in Kerala.

3) Hiking the Malayattoor Mountain

Malayattoor conjured up the image of a church established by St:Thomas on the top of a mountain where scores of people come from across South India during the easter weekend. However this small village with the wchurch established by St:Thomas (Disciple of Christ) on the top of a mountain is one of the best off beat destinations around Kochi. The drive from Kochi to Malayattoor is around 1 hour and it will take 45 minutes to reach the top after hiking the mountain for an amazing view across verdant mountains and to take rest aided by the single priest on the church at the top of the mountain. The Church has a life-size statue of St. Thomas and the imprint that is believed to be of the feet of the Apostle on a rock. Attractions on the top of the mountain include The Ancient Chapel – Struck By The Elephants, Sannidhi which is a chapel, which serves as a place of worship on the hill top, Marthoma Mandapam where the relic of St:Thomas is preserved which is carved in accordance with the blending of Indian archaeological traditions etc. This is a pretty nice option for an one day trip in and around Kochi which can be completed in a day.

4) Jeep Safari to Gavi

The Scenic beauty of mist-filled Gavi had been captured in the recent Malayalam movie ‘Ordinary’ and the best option to travel to Gavi is by having an overnight stay in Thekkady. The jeep safari to Gavi, the place portrayed in the film is the major off-the-track destination ideal for a wilderness retreat replete with trekking, birding, canoeing and facilities for boarding.

Drive to Thekkady from Kochi takes around 5 hours and unlike what is being portrayed in movie there is no village called Gavi. It is a thick forest; there are no shops and tribals live there. There is only one bus service from Pathanamthitta to Gavi and the journey is what the movie is about. There are some restrictions in travel to Gavi as this place falls inside Periyar Tiger Reserve .

Spread across Periyar Tiger Reserve, Gavi is a beautiful forest with magnificent wildlife and over 320 species of birds and you can alos proceed to Gavi thorugh Angamuzhi in Ptahnamthitta which is a long drive. However, entry to Gavi from Angamuzhi has now been banned and only 100 visitors per day will be permitted togo up to Anathodu from Angamuzhi and that too on the condition that they come back to Angamuzhi from the forest area.

5)  Village Tours in Vaikom

There are lot of villages around the Kochi metro region and life in these villages of Kerala moves at an amazingly slow rate which will be a differenet experience for anyone who goes for a weekend trip from Kochi. One of the nearest villages is Vaikom which is around 2 hours drive from Kochi through Tripunithara and you can opt for a village tour in Vaikom to appreciate a differenet style of less pacy lifestyle .The visitors are taken on a tour around the vaikom village, where you can see many artisans at work. Stone cutting, carpentry, inlay work, textile block printing, potters at their wheels – such rare sights which offer nostalgia and a little bit of joy for anyone from Kochi.

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2 Comments

1. 

   Kerala Tourism

   You have shared good information on destinations around Kochi. There are many good places to visit in Kerala which have breath taking scenes. One should go to Kerala once in lifetime to enjoy the nature of the place.

   on July 18th, 2012
2. 

   K K Ramya

   I dont know where to write it but thought this is a good forum to write how much impressed I was with the holiday in kerala provided by Iris holidays in kochi as I booked the holiday after stumbling upon this weekend ideas post while searching for good weekend breaks from Bangalore. As luck would have it, I chose Iris Holidays on the internet, and luck is the right word. The service, helpfulness and charming efficiency of the managing director, Mrs: Jain and her staff were of the highest level and exceeded all my expectations and were always willing to offer help whenever we required for a big group of 25 people from our extended family.I had searched a lot for economic packages and the total cost of the trip by 30 – 40% compared to the estimates of the other travel agents I contacted in Kerala. Kudos to your team and glad that we had a wonderful Kerala experience.

   on August 5th, 2012