Kerala’s Agricultural Tapestry

Upon reaching Cochin airport, you will be greeted by our office representative and transferred to your hotel. Check-in will be arranged upon arrival, with standard check-in time at 12 noon; early check-in depends on room availability. In the evening, enjoy a guided walk through Fort Kochi, where you can see the Chinese fishing nets and visit St. Francis Church, the earliest European settlement in India. Afterwards, attend a Kathakali cultural performance at a local theater. Stay overnight at your hotel in Cochin.

After breakfast, head to Pizhala Pokkalai Farm. The paddy grown in coastal regions here is known as Pokkali paddy, recognized for its exceptional resistance to salt. This rice variety features the tallest stalks and some of the largest grains found globally. Pokkali’s genetic traits are utilized by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to develop new rice varieties suited for coastal farming. Pokkali rice is valued for its health benefits, being rich in iron, zinc, potassium, and antioxidants. In 2008, the Government of India granted Pokkali paddy Geographical Indication status, making it Kochi’s only GI-certified paddy crop.

The farm operates an integrated and fully organic system, alternating between rice, prawn, fish, and crab farming without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Each year, Pokkali paddy is cultivated from June to October, followed by fishing activities from November to May, ensuring the land is always in productive use. The area is also a haven for bird enthusiasts, with various water birds and cranes visible throughout the year. Lunch will be provided en route. Return to your hotel in Cochin for an overnight stay.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before heading to Thrissur. On the way, stop at Clayfingers, a renowned pottery studio. Pottery is an ancient craft, with its roots reaching back to the Neolithic period; in India, it flourished during the Indus Valley Civilization, originally created to meet everyday needs. Clayfingers is known for its unique offerings such as mural tiles, functional ware, hand-painted decorative pieces, and terracotta items. Upon arrival in Thrissur, check in to your hotel for an overnight stay.

After breakfast, depart for a visit to Mannuthy Agricultural and Veterinary University. Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), located in Vellanikkara, Thrissur, is the state’s main institution for developing skilled professionals, knowledge, and technology to support sustainable agricultural growth. Its focus covers all land and water-based production activities, including crop cultivation and forestry, by integrating education, research, and outreach in these fields.

The next stop is the Information and Sales Centre (I&SC) at Mannuthy, established in 1993 under the Directorate of Extension at KAU. The Centre was created to serve as a single-point access for farmers to KAU’s information and resources. Effective coordination with production units has enabled the I&SC to function as a comprehensive technology transfer hub.

Continue to the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, founded in 1955 and incorporated into Kerala Agricultural University in 1972 as a constituent college. The campus spans 147 hectares and is situated along National Highway 47, about 5 km from Thrissur. The college is dedicated to teaching, research, and extension in veterinary and animal sciences.

Research facilities at Mannuthy include the Livestock Farm (cattle and buffalo), poultry and duck farm, pig farm (with an All India Coordinated Research Project on pigs), goat and sheep farm, and rabbitry. After the visits, return to the hotel for an overnight stay.

After breakfast, head to Pollachi. Thanks to its location near the Western Ghats, Pollachi enjoys a mild and pleasant climate year-round. The town is well known for its bustling markets, particularly those trading in jaggery, fresh produce, and livestock. Pollachi’s jaggery market is the largest in Asia, while its cattle market ranks as the biggest in Southern India. Later, take time to explore the village, where you’ll find rows of modest homes. You can visit a local artisan’s house, stop by a village temple, or simply enjoy casual conversations with the villagers. Stay overnight at the hotel.

Begin the day with breakfast at your hotel before heading to Munnar. On the way, stop at Maryoor and Kanthalloor. Marayoor is home to a natural sandalwood forest with about 65,000 trees, renowned for producing some of the finest sandalwood. Here, you can visit the Sandalwood Regeneration Experimental Plot to learn more about these fragrant trees, and the State Forest Department’s depot where visitors can witness sandalwood processing.

Marayoor and nearby Kanthalloor are also well known for ‘Marayoorsarkara’, a premium solid molasses with a high sugar content of 97 percent. The unique taste and quality are attributed to the area’s distinctive climate and soil pH, as Marayoor lies in a rain shadow region.

Kanthalloor village is famous for its expansive orchards, where apples, apricots, plums, oranges, pomegranates, guavas, gooseberries, peaches, and passion fruit are cultivated. The area also grows a variety of vegetables with minimal use of chemical fertilizers, resulting in abundant yields. This lush region, set against a backdrop of wilderness, is truly a rich source of fruits and vegetables. End the day with an overnight stay at your hotel in Munnar.

After breakfast, embark on a sightseeing tour of Munnar, often called a paradise for nature enthusiasts. Journey through the scenic landscapes of Munnar, a favored destination for those seeking a peaceful retreat. The area is enveloped by vibrant tea plantations and is renowned for its diverse plant and animal life. The itinerary includes a visit to the Tea Museum, located at the Nallathanni Estate, followed by an exploration of a tea plantation. The museum, established by Tata Tea, showcases the evolution of tea production in Munnar, featuring exhibits that range from early tea rollers to advanced automated machinery. Guests can observe the different stages of tea processing and gain insights into how black tea is made. The day concludes with an overnight stay at a hotel in Munnar.

After breakfast, set out for Lower Camp in Thekkady. Along the way, enjoy a guided spice plantation tour, where you’ll explore fields growing cardamom, pepper, vanilla, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, and Ayurvedic herbs. Upon arrival, check into your farm accommodation at Harvest Fresh Farm, an organic fruit estate located in the tranquil Cumbum Valley. Just 15 minutes from Kumily in Thekkady, Kerala, the farm sits in Lower Camp, near the renowned Periyar Tiger Reserve. Harvest Fresh Farm primarily cultivates pomegranates, with papaya and passion fruit also grown extensively. The property features a variety of animals, including cows, geese, turkeys, ducks, and hens, as well as a well-maintained vegetable and medicinal herb garden. The farm offers a peaceful retreat for those seeking a connection with nature and a focus on wellness. Spend the night at Harvest Fresh Farm.

Escape to our organic fruit farm in Lower Camp, set in the verdant Cumbum Valley where hills touch the clouds and streams wind through orchards, vineyards, and vegetable fields, all cooled by gentle valley breezes. Enjoy a memorable bullock cart ride through fields at different stages of harvest, cross lively streams, and pass by mango, papaya, and banana orchards. With crops rotated throughout the year, each visit offers a new variety of fruits to discover.

Join a guided walk across the farm, exploring pomegranate and papaya groves, picking grapes in the vineyard, and observing bees at work in the apiary. Discover how young plants are nurtured in the nursery and learn about composting in dedicated yards. Visit the livestock area to meet cows, feed chickens and ducks, and interact with other farm animals. Explore the herbal garden to identify plants and their medicinal uses. Climb the watchtower for sweeping views of the misty hills and valley, breathe in the pure air, and take in the tranquil scenery. Conclude your day with a delicious lunch featuring local dishes made from fresh, homegrown or locally sourced ingredients, bursting with flavor. Enjoy an overnight stay at the farm for a complete rural experience.

After breakfast, set out for Alleppey, stopping along the way at a plantation bungalow for lunch and to explore the surrounding estates. During your visit, you can walk through extensive fields of rubber, coffee, pineapple, and spices, witnessing firsthand the daily activities such as rubber tapping and coffee harvesting. Alleppey, often called the Venice of the East, is renowned for its lush paddy fields, vibrant boat races, scenic backwaters, inviting beaches, and thriving coir industry. Upon reaching Alleppey, check in at your hotel and spend the night there.

After breakfast, take a brief stroll through the village. By midday, step aboard your private traditional houseboat to discover and appreciate the charm of rural village life and the scenic backwaters. Your houseboat awaits to guide you through a network of canals, lakes, and inlets—a breathtaking landscape where daily life unfolds on the water. Residents are so accustomed to this environment that you’ll often spot them chatting while immersed up to their shoulders. Vendors deliver goods by boat, and water serves as the main route for public transport. Numerous water birds linger nearby, hoping to catch their next meal. The journey meanders through Kerala’s lush, green backwater region. Enjoy an overnight stay on the houseboat.

Check out from House Boat by 0900 hrs. Transfer on time to cochin international airport for your flight back home.