THRISSUR:
In a bid to make the most of the summer season travel plans of the people in the district and elsewhere, the Thrissur District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) has lined up alluring tour packages that would enable tourists explore a variety of destinations in Kerala and the neighbouring states.
As many as 14 tour packages and six circuits form part of the new line up. The Thrissur DTPC has on offer packages such as Eco-trip, Parambikulam Wildlife Safari, Thenmala Eco-Safari, Wayanad Safari, Muziris Heritage Tour, Backwater Safari, Munnar Hill Safari, Masinagudi-Ooty tour, Rameswaram-Dhanushkodi tour, Palani trip, Sea Trip, Mookambika-Murudeswar- Udupi tour, and Alappuzha Safari. The six circuits that are being offered are christened Blue Circuit, Brown Circuit, Orange Circuit, Green Circuit, Yellow Circuit and Red Circuit.
While the Eco-trip one-day package will come with an itinerary that starts at 8 am, and will cover destinations such as the Chimminy, Peechi, Poomala, Vazhani dams, the tomb of Evuprasyamma, and the Thukkoor Cave Temple. The DTPC has said that the cost per person, including two refreshments, would be Rs 600 for this package.
Other one-day packages as part of the Summer Holidays tour include the Parambikulam Wildlife Safari, Muziris Heritage Tour, Backwater Safari, the Dhyanalinga tour and the Palani trip. While the Parambikulam Wildlife Safari that begins at 8 am would cover trekking for an hour, forest trekking and an experience of travelling on the bamboo raft for a cost of Rs 2,210 inclusive of breakfast, lunch, dinner and also two snack breaks, those opting for the Muziris Heritage tour would be offered the experience of visiting heritage spots such as Kottapuram Fort, Chendamanaglam Synagogue, Paliyam Palace, the Paliyam Nalukettu, Kottackal Kovilakam, and Cheraman Juma Masjid for a cost of Rs 950 per person.
The cost includes lunch, tea and snacks. The Backwater Safari, which is also a one-day tour offered at a cost of Rs 950 per person, will cover visits to Vilangankunnu, Punnathoor Elephant Retreat, and a house boat ride from Enamavu to Chettuva. The cost will cover lunch, tea and refreshments.
The Dhyanalinga Meditation Centre and the Lingabhairavi Shrine on the foothills of the Vellinkiri mountains will be coveted as part of the one-day Dhyanalinga Tour that comes for Rs 1800 per person, inclusive of lunch and refreshments. Further, the Palani one-day trip that can be availed for Rs 1000 per person would enable tourists to enjoy a glimpse of the golden chariot at the famed Palani Hills temple. The cost would cover food and prasadam.
The Summer Holidays Tour plan also includes two-day packages that would take the tourists to various destinations. While the Wayanad Safari offered for Rs 3250 per person offers the tourists a roundabout tour of destinations such as Thamarassery ghat, Pookode Lake, Edakkal Caves, Wayanad Museum, Tholpetty Jeep Safari, Tirunelli temple, Kuruva Island, and the Banasurasagar dam. Food and accommodation have been included in the total cost.
The Thenmala Eco Safari, also a 2-day trip, could be availed for Rs 4225 per person. The trip to Kerala’s first ever eco-tourism project would cover trekking, and visits to the children’s park, adventure park, musical fountain, Palaruvi waterfalls, and deer park. The cost is inclusive of food and accommodation.
A two-day trip that would cover Rameswaram, Dhanuskodi and Madurai comes for Rs 3805 per person. The tour will cover Rameswaram temple, APJ Abdul Kalam memorial museum, and a visit to the Madurai Meenakshi Temple the next day. Food and stay are included in the cost. The Mookambika–Murudeswar–Udupi two-day trip would cover these three temples for a cost of Rs 4000 (inclusive of food, stay, special puja, full time guide, and AC vehicle) per person. Tourists would be able to have the three different darshans at Kollur Mookambika temple, after which they would travel to Murudeswar temple and then to Udupi.
The two-day Munnar Hill Safari offers visits to Eco-point, Kundala Dam, Mattupetty Dam, Top Station, Lockheart Plantations, and Anayirankal Dam, for a cost of Rs 2800. The cost would include that for stay, food, entry fees, and boating over the two days. The Masinagudi-Ooty trip would enable tourists to travel the forest route.
The first day will cover the Nilambur Teak Museum and the Tiger Reserve, while the second day will take them to Needle Rock, Shooting Point, boating expedition and the botanical gardens. The cost would be Rs 4335 per person and will include food, accommodation, and entry fees.
Also included in the Thrissur DTPC’s Summer Holiday tour plan is the Alappuzha Safari, where in tourists can experience a house boat ride along the backwaters of Alappuzha for a cost of Rs 2500 per person.
