Explore the Spice Capital of the world: Kerala
February 6th- February 16th 2012
Rekindling the Romance of a Bygone Era: Rajasthan & Agra
February 17th- February 27th 2012
If you love Indian food and or have always wanted to experience the real India first hand, here's your chance to go off the beaten path. The white sandy beaches, swaying coconut trees and turquoise waters of Kerala fulfill the criteria for most paradise seekers, but beyond this there is a rich culture and way of life accessible for those who are keen to add an extra dimension to their holiday in India.
Embark on an incredible journey of self discovery. All 5 senses will come alive here... Mornings will begin with yoga, meditation and a complete Ayurveda immersion. We will eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner as you deem fit! We will then explore the land and it's divine people. Each day will make you more proficient in Kerala and Ayurveda cuisine, its techniques and the use of it's prized spices. The same spices that Columbus went on a quest for almost 600 years ago, instead he discovered the Americas! All this, close to nature yet in the lap of ultimate hospitality and luxury.
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Route to India does not own or operate any of the companies providing lodging, transportation, entertainment, meals, or classes for this tour. We assume no responsibility for delays, losses, or accidents, or for damage to persons and property caused by any persons, firms, corporations, or other legal entity providing lodging and transportation during the tour.
For more details call 2123619477 or email nanusri@yahoo.com
Itinerary in Kerala :
Day 01: Arrival Cochin
Day 02: In Cochin
Day 03: Cochin – Munnar
Day 04: Munnar – Periyar
Day 05: Periyar – Kumarakom
Day 06: In Kumarakom
Day 07: Kumarakom – Mararikulam
Day 08: In Mararikulam
Day 09: Marari – Cochin airport
Day 01: Arrival Cochin
Day 02: In Cochin
Day 03: Cochin – Munnar
Day 04: Munnar – Periyar
Day 05: Periyar – Kumarakom
Day 06: In Kumarakom
Day 07: Kumarakom – Mararikulam
Day 08: In Mararikulam
Day 09: Marari – Cochin airport
Itinerary in Agra and Rajasthan: TBD
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"Any big trip I take has to be four things: extensive, authentic, educational and pampering. Sticking with these requirements I have been sailing in Perth, Australia, ridden through Paris at midnight on the back of a motorcycle, sipped champagne on the top of Schwartzman Pass in South Africa and most recently been taught cooking in Kerala, India.
I have always wanted to go to India. Opportunities for yoga retreats, temple tours or backpacking in India abound but none of these options fulfill my requirements. Finally, I discovered Route to India’s culinary tour to Kerala.
Route to India is the vehicle for Nalini Mehta to teach the science of ayurvedic cooking through tours to India and cooking classes in San Francisco. The trip to the southern state of Kerala, also known as “God’s Own Country”, offers travel to five locations, cooking lessons with professional chefs and teachers, exploration of mountains and coastal areas and provides accommodation in the luxurious properties
In the Southern state of Kerala, Route to India took us to five different locations. We were treated to cooking classes, spice market shopping, farm tours and romantic vistas of foggy plantation hills. Along the way we sampled delicious foods sometimes eating at fancy restaurants other times stopping for a quick snack at a roadside stand. The dishes were always tasty and cheap. My love for delicacies like idllys and sambhar growing by the day. At each place Nalini sought out the chefs and we would take a tour of the kitchen. Meals became a learning experience as we discovered strange new vegetables like the bottle gourd or requested demonstrations of how to use a particular type of coconut grater. Each time I left with my stomach and mind full of another aspect of Indian cuisine.
Our daily itinerary included scheduled meetings with local cooking teachers and famous chefs, but also offered time for spontaneous adventure. One day we discovered a temple festival at which we were the only tourists participating in the local tradition of deva worship and a performance of an ancient form of theater called Kathakali. That was a day I will never forget. Another morning a stop at a village roadside coffee stand lead to an impromptu cooking lesson over a wood-fire. Our final hours in India spent sightseeing in the Old City of Delhi was a contrast of urban chaos after the tropical pace of our time in the south.
The accommodation for the duration of the trip was with an environmentally-friendly hotel group. Each place we stayed was unique and luxurious for a surprisingly good value. In the city we stayed at a waterfront hotel filled with British antiques. On the coast our rooms were in their own small buildings in expansive resorts. The hospitality was gracious and friendly everywhere we went. Nalini hired a driver to take us from place to place. This turned out to be very wise given the state of the roads, the difficulty of driving, and the short amount of time we had in Kerala.
I would highly recommend one of Nalini's tours to my friends and yoga colleagues. Route to India managed to show us the sites, the scenes and behind-the-scenes for cooking. I came home with hundreds of pictures, dozens of recipes, some spices and a few new friends. Kerala is a special and peaceful region of India, not well-known by American travellers. Route to India is a perfect program to travel and discover southern India with Nalini Mehta."
Our daily itinerary included scheduled meetings with local cooking teachers and famous chefs, but also offered time for spontaneous adventure. One day we discovered a temple festival at which we were the only tourists participating in the local tradition of deva worship and a performance of an ancient form of theater called Kathakali. That was a day I will never forget. Another morning a stop at a village roadside coffee stand lead to an impromptu cooking lesson over a wood-fire. Our final hours in India spent sightseeing in the Old City of Delhi was a contrast of urban chaos after the tropical pace of our time in the south.
The accommodation for the duration of the trip was with an environmentally-friendly hotel group. Each place we stayed was unique and luxurious for a surprisingly good value. In the city we stayed at a waterfront hotel filled with British antiques. On the coast our rooms were in their own small buildings in expansive resorts. The hospitality was gracious and friendly everywhere we went. Nalini hired a driver to take us from place to place. This turned out to be very wise given the state of the roads, the difficulty of driving, and the short amount of time we had in Kerala.
I would highly recommend one of Nalini's tours to my friends and yoga colleagues. Route to India managed to show us the sites, the scenes and behind-the-scenes for cooking. I came home with hundreds of pictures, dozens of recipes, some spices and a few new friends. Kerala is a special and peaceful region of India, not well-known by American travellers. Route to India is a perfect program to travel and discover southern India with Nalini Mehta."
Gretchen Nadasky,Yoga practitioner, Stone Ridge, NY
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