Thrissur Elephant Festive Tour – Kerala

Added in Festivals & Fairs

Destination Covered: Kochi, Trichur, Alleppey

Product Information

Duration: 4Days & 3Nights Tour

Duration: 4Days & 3Nights

 

Destination Covered: Kochi – Trichur – Alleppey

 

Thrissur Festival Timeline: May 2013

Thrissur Festival Details

This annual festival is referred to as Thrissur Pooram in Thrissur and is regarded as the festival of all festivals in Kerala. Though there are many festivals held in Kerala where elephants are involved in ceremonies and processions but the grandiose scale at which the Thrissur Pooram is held with its large gathering of decorated elephants and the sea of humanity that descends on Thrissur during the Pooram qualifies it to be termed as “The Elephant Festival” of Kerala, an opportunity not to be missed if you are planning to visit India or Kerala during this time of the year.

Thrissur Pooram is the biggest of all Poorams held in Kerala . Thrissur town plays host for 36 hours from the wee hours of the Pooram day to one of the largest gatherings of visitors, devotees and elephants. These richly decorated elephants, as seen during the Thrissur Pooram are now globally recognized as a symbol of Kerala.

The tradition of Thrissur Pooram is only about 200 years old. It was initiated by the then ruler of Cochin, Raja Rama Varma also known as Sakthan Thampuran who decided to break tradition and create a unified venue for the temples belonging to his region to celebrate their Pooram. Sakthan Thampuran unified the temples situated around Vadakkunnathan temple and organized the celebration of Thrissur Pooram as a festival for the masses. These temples were organised into two groups, Western group called Thiruvambady and Eastern group called Paramekkavu. The Pooram was to be centered around the Vadakkunnathan temple, with all these temples sending their processions to pay obeisance to the Shiva, the presiding deity the Vadakkunnathan temple. The fireworks display in the early hours of the next day, rival shows held elsewhere in the world. The entire experience of 36 hours of festivities, colour, paegentry, religious fervour make the Thrissur Pooram or the Elephant festival Kerala a must visit. Cochin is the nearest airport for visitors planning to visit Thrissur for the elephant festival.

 

Route Map:

 

Note : On tour Guests are requested to carry a Photo ID proof along with them.

<strong>Day 01 : Arrive Kochi </strong>

Arrive Cochin. Meet & assist at the airport & transfer to hotel. Afternoon proceed for sightseeing tour of cochin including .1. The Hill Palace Museum, a fully-fledged archeological museum and Kerala’s first ever Heritage Museum are the main attractions (closed on Mondays).2. Chinese Fishing Nets, this unique style of huge cantilevered fishing nets were erected between 1350 and 1450 AD by traders from the Court of Kubla Khan, a Chinese King.3. Santa Cruz Basilica, this historic church was built by the Portuguese and elevated to a Cathedral by Pope Paul IV in 1558. Pope John Paul II proclaimed the Church a Basilica in 1984.4. The Jewish Synagogue, constructed in 1568, this is the oldest Synagogue in the Commonwealth (closed on Saturdays & Jewish Holidays). The area around the Synagogue, called Jew Town, is the centre for Spice & Handicraft shops.5. Mattanchery Palace (Dutch Palace), built by the Portuguese in 1557 and presented to the Regent of Kochi (closed on Fridays).Return to hotel rest of the day free/ shopping at Ernakulam. Night stay in Cochin.

<strong>Day 02 : Kochi-Trichur-Kochi (Thrissur Elephant Festival) </strong>

Morning after breakfast drive to Trichur to witness the famous Temple festival of India. Thrissur Pooram is the annual temple festival of the town of Thrissur in Kerala, India. It is one of the most colourful temple festival of Kerala which attracts large masses of devotees and spectators from all parts of the State and even outside.

Thrissur Pooram is celebrated at the premises of the Vadakkunnathan Temple, situated on a hillock (Thekkinkadu maidan) right in the centre of the city, on the Pooram day in the month of Medom ((April-May) this year 12 May,2011). Processions of richly caparisoned elephants accompanied by percussion ensembles from various neighbouring temples culminate at the Vadakumnathan temple. The most impressive processions are those Thriuvambadi Bhagavathy from the Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple and the Paramekkavu Bhagavathi from Paramekkavu temple. The celebrations which last for over 36 hours includes parasol displays and firework shows.

This festival was introduced by Sakthan Thampuran, the Maharaja of the erstwhile Cochin State in the late eighteenth century. Perhaps, there is no other festival in Kerala that draws such an unbelievable number of people to a single event. However Vadakkunnathan is a mere spectator at this festival, lending its premises and grounds for the great event. The pooram festival is also well known for the magnificent display of fireworks. Fire works start in the early hours and the dazzling display last three to four hours.

The Pooram Festival is celebrated by two rival groups representing the two divisions of Thrissur Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi vying with each other in making the display of fireworks grander and more colourful. Each group is allowed to display a maximum of fifteen elephants and all efforts are made by each party to secure the best elephants in South India and the most artistic parasols, several kinds of which are raised on the elephants during the display. Commencing in the early hours of the morning, the celebrations last till the break of dawn, the next day.

An elephant carrying Thidambu during Thrissur Pooram festivalThe procession but also quite enlivening. The marvellous as well as magical effect of the Panchavadyam, a combination of five percussion and wind instruments is to be felt and enjoyed. Among the varieties of festivals celebrated in Kerala, Thrissur Pooram is the most thunderous, spectacular and dazzling. There are three temples participating in the event. It is an expression of popular fascination for sound and colour, and because of the pageantry, it appeals to all people. The images of the deities from all temples of the village are taken on elephants to the main temple. The climax of the festival is the exhibition of thirty elephants and the famous fireworks at 2.30 am local time. Evening drive back to Kochi. Overnight at Kochi.

<strong>Day 03 : Kochi – Alleppey ( Houseboat) </strong>

Morning after breakfast Check out from hotel and Check into Houseboat for a day and night cruise in the famous backwaters of Kerala. Lunch will be served at the time of check in. The backwater cruise in a country boat is the best way to explore the villages and rural life. In Alleppey you will be taken aboard your floating houseboat, a different boat with a bedroom and en-suite rest room for your comfort. Enjoy unlimited surfing on backwaters, sip a coconut, get disturbed by only the chirping of birds and occasional ripples in water and savor mouthwatering delicacies prepared in front of you by your Kitchen crew. Spend the night on board the houseboat. Enjoy a cruise on the backwater through a maze of canals and lagoons and enjoy freshly caught fresh water fish cooked to your taste on board. Overnight in Board.

<strong>Day 04 : Alleppey –Kochi </strong>

Morning after breakfast check out from houseboat and drive to Kochi Airport to connect flight back home.

 

<strong>Tour Inclusions</strong>

Tour Includes :
  • Accommodation on twin sharing basis for the duration of the tour in the itinerary.
  • Meals as mentioned in the itinerary.
  • Coach transfers from First day meeting point of the group to the last day of the dropping point of the group of the tour.
  • All entrance fees of the sightseeing places mentioned in the itinerary.
  • Services of the Tour Manager from the first day of meeting point to the last day dropping point of the tour.

<strong>Tour Exclusions</strong>

Tour Excludes :
  • Cost of Rail or Airfare to and from the meeting and dropping place of the tour except Airport to Airport Tours / specifically mentioned in the tour itinerary.
  • Cost of any individual Airport / Railway station transfer
  • Any Increase in the Airfare / Hotel tariff charges.
  • Any Increase in the fuel surcharge or any kind of taxes levied by the respective government or statutory bodies.
  • Cost of extension of the validity or deviation from the route of the tour in case of Airport to Airport tours.
  • Porterage(Coolie charges), laundry, wines & alcoholic beverages, mineral water (unless specified), telephone charges, shopping, all items of personal nature and also food and drinks not forming the part of the group menus.
  • Cost of Insurance
  • Extra stay pre/post tour.
  • Any extra expenses incurred for changing the route due to any unforeseen circumstances, forced majuire instances, natural calamities, political disturbances, strikes etc.
  • Extra cost incurred due to illness, accident, hospitalization or any Individual unforeseen cost incurring incidence.
  • In case of Pilgrimage tours cost of horse back, Doli, Helicopter (unless specifically mentioned), chopper etc.
  • Any private transfers taken to move from one place to another instead of coach
  • Additional extra topping if taken
  • If any activity/sightseeing done twice
  • Any add-on sightseeing/activities along with transfers if done other than mentioned in the tour program.
  • Fur coats/Jackets to visit snow point or any special attire required to visit any particular sightseeing place.
  • Any upgradation in the room category or air line class
  • Extra photographs clicked other than group photographs
  • Extra water bottle charges
  • Premium seat charges
  • Medicines required if any
  • Service or Government taxes as applicable from time to time
  • Anything not specifically mentioned in ‘Your Tour Price Includes Column’.

 

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*** Although we pride ourselves in constantly maintaining our programm the above mentioned programme is subject to change without prior notice. ***