CULINARY TOUR OF SOUTH INDIA
A cultural tour of India

Rich in cultural heritage, it is but natural that Indian cuisine is multifarious, offering a delight to both the eye and palate. Its myriad flavors and cooking traditions find their roots in its historical influences. From ancient days, the people who revere vegetables, Indians have influenced the art and taste to vegetarian meals that no other nation has. The coming of the Moguls influenced art to Indian cooking with their delectable "biryanis", (an exquisite oven preparation with vegetables or meat, herbs and seasonings), "kormas" (a spicy meat or vegetarian preparation), kebabs and tikkas (vegetables and meat cooked in small pieces, usually on skewers) made in a "tandoor" (oven made of mud and heated by a slow charcoal fire).
In India, cooking is an art and a tradition handed down from generation to generation, from mother to daughter. Until the advent of cookbooks, all cookery instruction was oral and practical and, whereas certain items like dals, flour and rice were measured, important flavoring ingredients (like spices and masalas) were added according to individual judgment. This culinary tour teaches us the real art to cooking, Indian cooking, from understanding how the ingredients are grown, nurtured, cut, cooked, presented and ate all with the master of Indian food – Chef Jose Madappilly of Vancouver’s popular Indian specialty restaurant SALAM BOMBAY - “Good food is always my weakness. I am a purist which means I make every sauce from scratch with home ground roast whole spices and I love to present my food well and do take great pride of my Kitchen.” This says it all.

Tour Summary	Map
Day Place 01 Home city / Mumbai 02-03 Mumbai 04 Mumbai / Trivandrum / Kovalam 05 Kovalam 06 Kovalam / Kumarakom 07 Kumarakom / Phillipkutty’s Farm / Periyar 08 Periyar 09 Periyar / Cochin 10-11 Cochin 12 Cochin / Calicut / Thalassery 13 Thalassery 14 Thalassery / Mysore 15 Mysore / Bangalore 16 Bangalore / Chennai 17 Chennai 18 Chennai / Mamallapuram / Chennai. 19 Chennai / Home	Incredible !ndia

Day 01 (THU) Sep 09, 2010: Home city / Mumbai
Our exciting culinary journey begins as we take off on the elegant Cathay Pacific, for Mumbai – the city that is everything about India.

Day 02 (FRI) Sep 10: Arrive Mumbai
Namaste! We are welcomed the traditional Indian way with hands clapped together. After airport formalities, we are transferred to our hotel. Balance of the day is free to recoup from the long flight.
Overnight: Hotel Fariyaz Mumbai (2 nights) (D)

Day 03 (SAT) Sep 11: Mumbai
Our Indian experience starts with the famous landmark, the Gateway of India - Mumbai's most famous monument, built to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary, from here we visit the famous Hanging Gardens and then explore the bustling 1871 built Crawford Market. This wholesale market exhibits mountains of fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, cheese, and chocolates all with their specialised sections. Here we get our first orientation to the vide variety of ingriduients there are available to make food. The next stop is to the mind-boggling Dhobi Ghats – the world’s largest outdoor laundry. We culminate the tour with a visit to the Prince of Wales Museumn and the Victoria Terminus a train station, which looks more like a Gothic cathedral – a World Heritage site. (B, D)

Day 04 (SUN) Sep 12: Mumbai / Trivandrum / Kovalam
A short morning flight gets us to Trivandrum – Kerala’s famous seaport. Afternoon we start with our first site training on Kerala cooking using all the main items of fish, poultry and meat. After the session we have time to either relax on the beach or enjoy a rejuvenating Ayurvedic Massage with compliments of Bestway Tours & Safaris.
Overnight: Soma Palmshore Hotel in Kovalam (2 Nights) (B, D)

Day 05 (MON) Sep 13: Kovalam
The day is free to enjoy. Kovolam offers many attractive activities including visiting the coconut groves at the beach, stroll or swim on the beautiful beaches, visit India’s most southern point, Kanya Kumari which is also famous for the sunset scenery, participate in Yoga or engulf yourself with one of the many different Ayervedic treatments available at the hotel or places close by. (B, D)

Day 06 (TUE) Sep 14: Kovalam / Kumarakom (Drive 175 kms/5 Hours)
After breakfast a scenic drive to Kumarakom - an unbelievably beautiful paradise of mangrove forests, emerald green paddy fields and coconut groves interspersed with enchanting waterways and canals adorned with white lilies. Situated on the Vembanad Lake one comes across an abundance of traditional country crafts, boats and canoes that can take into the heart of the scenic lake. The resorts offer comfortable accommodation and exclusive leisure options like an Ayurvedic massage, yoga, and meditation, boating, fishing, angling and swimming.
Overnight: Golden Waters Hotel, Kumarakom (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 07 (WED) Sep 15: Kumarakom / Phillipkutty’s Farm / Periyar – (Drive 150 Kms/4 hours)
After breakfast we cruise down to Phillipkutty’s Farm, which is specialized in traditional Christian dishes of backwater area of Kerala. They conduct only one class in a day followed by either lunch or dinner. Three dishes (one fish, one meat and one veg item) will be demonstrated and taught in this session.
After Lunch we drive to Periyar to check in to our Hotel. Set high in the ranges of the Western Ghats, Periyar is famous for its National Park and Tiger Reserve. The park has a picturesque lake at the heart of the sanctuary, which was formed with by building of a dam in 1895. This reservoir meanders around the contours of the wooded hills, providing a perennial source of water for the local wildlife. While cruising by launches on the lake we can see herds of elephant and sambar, gaur and wild pigs wandering down to the lakeside. Very often elephants can also be seen bathing and swimming in the lake. What fun it is to watch them.
Overnight: Muthoot Cardamon County, Periyar (2 Nights) (B, D)

Days 08 (THU) Sep 16: Periyar
Early morning we visit Periyar sanctuary by boat. Also known as the Thekkady Wildlife Sanctuary, it attracts a large number of nature lovers. The place is ideal for watching the animals in their natural habitat. After breakfast at our hotel we visit a spice plantation farm where we are introduced to the cultivation of spices like Black Pepper, Cloves, Ginger, Turmeric, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Vanilla, Nutmeg, Lemon grass, herbal tea and Coffee. Another highlight is a visit of the local spice market where one can buy various types of spices.
Evening we have a cooking class conducted by our hotel chef. We get to see how the dishes are made. The Kerala fish curry, appam, avial, etc. have a very exotic flavor. The method of preparation is very different making Kerala cuisine very distinct and delicious. Here we can also try our hands on the earthenware pots and pans and make our own variation of the Kerala savories. (B, D)

Day 09 (FRI) Sep 17: Periyar / Cochin (Drive 180Kms/5hours)
Another rural scenery as we drive to Cochin. After checking in to our 300 years Old Heritage Hotel, we proceed on an afternoon tour of Cochin, the commercial capital of Kerala. Cochin has one of the finest natural harbors in the world attracting ancient mariners from Arabia, China, Holland, Britain and Portugal who all left their mark on this beautiful island city, often referred to as the Venice of the East. We visit the oldest European Church in India "St. Francis Church". Vasco Da Gama was buried here before his remains were taken back to Portugal some 14 years later. One can see the winding streets with mosques, 500 year old Portuguese houses, cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, a Jewish community with ancient roots, a 16th century synagogue, and a palace built by the Portuguese for the Raja of Cochin. Evening we are treated to a Kathakali dance performance over dinner.
Overnight: Soma Kerala Palace, Cochin (3 nights) (B, D)

Day 10 (SAT) Sep 18: Cochin
Today after breakfast we visit the House of Mrs. Nimmy Paul, a very famous figure in the culinary world. Here we spend full day, starting with a cooking demo (4 recipes) followed by lunch, which is normally the Sadhya (traditional banana leaf lunch), all the dishes are vegetarians and are served along with 2 payasam (sweets). Late afternoon we have another session with three non-vegetarian recipes cooking demonstrating how western culture has influenced local food habits. These dishes have been in the family for generations. At the end of the session we are presented with a recipe book to try back home. (B, L, D)

Day 11 (SUN) Sep 19: Cochin
Our escort chef Jose Madappilly has designated today as a day of surprises. (B, D)

Day 12 (MON) Sep 2: Cochin / Calicut / Thalassery (Drive 270 Kms/6-hours)
After breakfast we drive to Calicut also known as Kozhikode. It is the third largest city of Kerala. Vasco De Gama, the first European to land on the Indian coasts, landed here in 1498 AD. A port city located amidst the lush green spice Plantations and picturesque beaches with ancient palaces. The prime attractions at Kozhikode are its numerous temples and mosques containing interesting sculptures and inscriptions. Famous among them are the Tali Temple, Thiruvannur Temple, Azhokodi Temple, Bhairagi Madam Temple Varakkal Temple and Bilathikulam Temple.
We visit some of the temples and Calicut beach and then continue our drive to Thalassery. On arrival in Thalassery we check in at Ayisha Manzil a Heritage Home of The Moosa’s. Ayisha Manzil is a sumptuous colonial guesthouse once known as “Judges Bungalow”. Ayisha Manzil was built in 1862 by Murdoch Brown, a tradesman from the East India Company, and bought in 1900 by the Moosas, a local timber trader family of Muslims who still runs it today. Experience the warm hospitality, traditional cuisine with emphasis on the fresh seafood and local culture of Tellicherry.'Ayisha Manzil' oozes history.
Overnight: Ayisha Manzil, Thalassary (2 nights) (B, D)

Day 13 (TUE) Sep 21: Thalassery
We begin our day with an early morning shopping trip to the local traditional fish and spice market. Here we see the wide variety of fish and spices and how they are presented and sold. A cooking class at the Ayisha Manzil follows this where we learn how to prepare indigenous sea, meat and vegetable dishes with rice, bread and desert. Time permitting, we take a stroll on the 6kms long tropical beach and visit the local fruit markets or drive to the cinnamon plantation. (B, L, D)

Day 14 (WED) Sep 22: Thalassery / Mysore (Drive 154 kms /4.5 hours)
An early morning drive to the Sandalwood scented city of Mysore. The city of Dusserah, palaces and parks, Mysore is one of the few places in India, which still breathes the air of medieval country splendor. In addition to its beauty, tranquility and equable climate, Mysore offers a convenient base for a number of interesting excursions, making it a very popular resort. Mysore Palace, once the capital seat of power of the ruling Wodeyars, is one of the largest of its kind in India and one of the most splendid.
This Indo-Saracenic building has, among other things, stained glass chamber ceilings, a carved silver door, a solid gold throne and a gallery of exquisite paintings. Just outside the city are the Chamundi Hills and halfway up is the Nandi Bull, a 4.8meter monolith. Right on top is the 2000-year-old Chamundeswar Temple, dedicated to the patron goddess of the royal family. Then there is the Krishna Raja Sagar Dam and the Brindavan Gardens famous for its dancing musical fountains. Afternoon is free to enjoy the tranquility and palace the city offers.
Overnight: Hotel Sandesh, Mysore (1 night) (B, D)

Day 15 (THU) Sep 23 Mysore / Bangalore (Drive 150kms/3hrs)
Our morning tour of this majestic city includes the majestic Mysore Palace before we proceed to Bangalore. En-route we visit the island fortress of Srirangapatnam. It was once the capital of the warrior kings Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, the Tiger of Mysore. We also visit some of Indo-Islamic monuments that dot the town, such as Tipu Sultan's palaces, the Darya Daulat and the Jumma Majeed. The town takes its name from the celebrated Ranganathaswamy 9th Century Temple, which dominates the town, making Srirangapattana one of the most important of pilgrimage in South India.
Overnight: Hotel Ramada, Bangalore (1 night) (B, D)

Day 16 (FRI) Sep 24: Bangalore / Chennai (Drive 350kms/5hrs)
An early morning tour of Bangalore, the science and technology center of India. We visit the Vidhana Soudha the Legislative Chambers of the state government. This imposing edifice built almost entirely of dressed Bangalore granite is a tribute to temple architecture. Then we go to Cubbon Park built in 1864 by Lord Cubbon, the then viceroy of India. Today, it is an oasis of greenery in the heart of Modern Bangalore. We also visit Tipu Sultan’s Palace, now a museum. This two-storied ornate wooden structure is a mine of information and is one of the most remarkable Islamic buildings in the city. The 240n acre Lal Bagh (gardens) is an expanse of greenery making it India’s most beautiful botanical gardens. It was built by Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan, who laid out an 18th C paradise with rare trees brought from far off Persia, Afghanistan and even France. Late afternoon we are transferred to the railway station to take a comfortable train ride to Chennai. Upon arrival we are transferred to our hotel.
Overnight: Hotel Radha Regent, Chennai (2 Nights) (B, D)

Day 17 (SAT) Sep 25: Chennai
After breakfast we proceed to the Institute of Hotel Management. Here we are given another demo of cooking followed by special certificates presented to the successful chefs. Late afternoon we take a brief tour of Chennai. Evening, we are treated to a gala dinner followed by a performance of South Indian cultural dances. (B, D)

Day 18 (SUN) Sep 26: Chennai / Mamallapuram / Chennai.
Today we take a full day excursion to the World Heritage Site of Mahabalipuram. This group of sanctuaries, founded by the Pallava kings, was carved out of the rock along the Coromandel Coast in the 7th and 8th centuries. It is known especially for its rathas (temples in the form of chariots), mandapas (cave sanctuaries), giant open-air reliefs such as the famous 'Descent of the Ganges', and the temple of Rivage, with thousands of sculptures to the glory of Shiva. On our return we tour Chennai, culturally one of the richest cities of India. We visit the Kapaleeswarar, the ancient Shiva Temple, Santhome Church and the bazaar. After an unforgettable culinary & cultural tour of South India, we bid farewell as are transferred to the airport for our flight home. (B, D)

Day 19 (MON) Sep 27: Chennai / Home
Depart Chennai by early morning Cathay Pacific flight home via Hong Kong arrive home city the same day.

---

Departure Dates
2010 English Speaking Departures Sept 09, 2010
Inclusions
Tour Price Includes Tour Price Does Not Include International & Domestic Airfare Airport departure taxes (Approx $235.00) Accommodation as mentioned or similar category Insurance & Visas Meals as indicated (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) Camera / Video Camera Charges payable at National Parks and Monuments of visit All transfers and sightseeing as per itinerary Tips & Gratuities Cooking sessions, shows & demonstration by Jose Madappilly and other chefs   Services of local English speaking driver/guide   Entrance Fees   One complimentary Ayervedic Massage in Kovalam   Boat Ride at Kumarakom & Lake Periyar & Cochin   Visit to Spice Plantation -Periyar   Kathakali dance Performance at Cochin   Gala dinner & Cultural show at Chennai
Tour Price
We accept payment in US $ (US Dollars), CA $ (Canadian Dollars) or equivalent EURO (for clients outside North America). Bestway Tours & Safaris offers conversion rate protection. Once full payment has been received, and no modification has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour that rate. For complete payment procedures, please download Bestway_Payment_Info.pdf Note: to read this file you must have Adobe Acrobat.
Departure Double Occupancy Single Room Supplement 2010 US $ 4995 US $ 925
Estimated International Airfare - International airfare is included in this tour
Canada - West Coast N/A USA - West Coast N/A Canada - East Coast N/A USA - East Coast N/A
Participants
This tour operates with a minimum of 15 participants. (Fully Escorted)
Notes - General Conditions
Supplement for departures from other gateway cities West Coast $200 East Coast $350
Customised Itinerary If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you. Foreign Language Departures Please contact us for information on French, German, Italian and Spanish speaking departures. You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call us at 604.264.7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1.800.663.0844.