CRANGANOR TRAILS & THINGS TO DO
Heritage, river, backwaters, wetlands, culture, religion, art, village life, fishing, food, Ayurveda and more...
MUZIRIS LIFE & HISTORY TRAIL
Experience the captivating story of Muziris, the lost port brought to life through historical insights and local narratives. Imagine, as a 2000-year-old poem recounts, "the elegant vessels of the Yavanas [Westerners]" gracing the Periyar, Kerala's river, their passage marked by "white foam," bearing treasures of "gold" and returning with the prized "pepper." Our trail invites you to connect with this rich past.
SNAPSHOTS FROM THE TRAIL
The 17th-century Dutch-Kerala style Paliam royal manor.
Inside the family home of the premiers of Kochi, the Paliam.
The first church in India, established in 52 AD by St. Thomas.
One of the oldest and largest of Kerala's synagogues.
Thiruvanchikulam temple from the 8th century.
Screw pine weaving, a traditional craft practised by women.
Archaeological finds from the Indo-Roman port since BCE200
Coir making, a traditional craft of the backwater folk.
Rural markets that bear native and foreign influences.
Handloom weaving is integral to village life here.
Cheraman Mosque, the oldest in the Indian subcontinent.
Chendamangalam Synagogue built in 1420.
YOGA
GUIDED YOGA SESSION
(60 MINUTES)
Samathwa Yoga (Ashtanga)
₹1400
GUIDED MEDITATION SESSION
(60 MINUTES)
Avarthana Dhyanam (Cyclic Meditation)
₹1400
ON THE RIVER
RIVER CRUISE IN MOTOR BOAT
(60 MINUTES)
Upto 7 people in a fibreglass boat.
₹2700
KAYAKING
(1 HOUR )
Upto 2 people
₹2700
RENT A FISHING ROD
(60 MINUTES)
Rod and lure.
₹500
SPORT
RENT A BICYCLE
(60 MINUTES)
Easy to ride, gear-less bicycles..
₹1500
* All rates mentioned are exclusive of taxes.
DAY TRIP RETURN FARES
CHERAI BEACH
(DISTANCE 15 KM AWAY, 40 MIN DRIVE)
Seafront, a smattering of fishing villages and the backwaters just a few hundred metres away.
₹1500
FORT KOCHI
(DISTANCE-45 KM AWAY, 1 HR 30 MIN DRIVE)
Giant Chinese fishing nets, a 450-year old synagogue, Portuguese, Dutch and British era houses and cafes.
₹3500
KODANAD ELEPHANT CAMP
(DISTANCE-40 KM AWAY, 1 HR 15 MIN DRIVE)
One of the largest elephant training centres in Kerala, flanked by the high ranges and River Periyar.
₹3500
ATHIRAPALLY WATERFALL
(DISTANCE 60 KM AWAY, 1 HR 45 MIN DRIVE)
The most majestic waterfalls in Kerala, 80 ft tall and set amid lush greenery and stunning views,
₹4000
GURUVAYUR TEMPLE
(DISTANCE 60 KM AWAY, 1 HR 40 MIN DRIVE)
This Sree Krishna Temple is among the most revered, not just in Kerala but in the entire country
₹4500
THATTEKAD BIRD SANCTUARY
(DISTANCE 70 KM AWAY, 2 HRS 15 MIN DRIVE)
One of the richest bird habitats in peninsular India, an evergreen low-land forest, home to the Malabar Hornbill
₹5500
ALAPPUZHA
(DISTANCE 90 KM AWAY, 2 HRS 45 MIN DRIVE)
A network of waterways, houseboats and a thriving coir industry.
₹5700
4 hours waiting. 17 per extra km. 100 per extra waiting hour.
VILLAGE TRAILS
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01 Walking Tour: Jews Of Chendamangalam
“My kingdom has different communities Only the Jews are absent
Of not less than ten members"
Thus spoke the King of Shingly, legend has it. The Jews, who had been regular visitors to Shingly since the time of Solomon, took the warm welcome to heart and set up home here. This trail follows the intriguing story of the Jews of Chendamangalam, who came here arguably 2600 years ago, how they set up home in a faraway land, how well-entrenched in Kerala society they were, yet how they held onto their unique identity. A community of more than 3000 people, 7 synagogues spread over 4 cities. Our trail begins at the synagogue right across the river. A ferry ride and a walk along a curving lane leads us right up to the Chendamangalam synagogue. Beautifully restored, this synagogue, functional till 1950, is now a heritage museum. 5 km away is the Parur synagogue, also a restored heritage museum. It is interesting to note how the intermingling of two cultures soaked into both. Appam, which is considered quintessential Malayali food, is said to be brought in by the Malabari Jews, and the language spoken by the Malabari & Cochini Jews, Judeo Malayalam, is a quaint mix of Hebrew and Malayalam.
02 Bike Trails: Monuments & Meadows
Ride across the river on the ferry to Chendamangalam and take the quaint winding road up to the synagogue. A little ahead, climb up the steep stairs to one of the oldest temples of the region and come full circle at the ruins of the Vypinkota seminary. There are rumors of a caved-in tunnel that would take you all the way to Kochi. The more adventurous could brave the dense undergrowth on the path leading to the cemetery of the Jews.
Or you could ride to the fields of Thazhanchira, lush green paddy fields now home to a few hundred migratory birds. Ride along the canal right up until the end where the family of ducks lives. Sometimes the fields are dotted white with a white lotus bloom spreading right up to the horizon. Right at the edge of the field, you can see the tiny old temple with the old oak tree spreading umbrella-like over it. Come monsoon, the fields are flooded, and you would see village women row in boats to the temple for its special monsoon festival.
03 Boat Tour: Life On The Water
Cruise along lazily on a large old vanji or rice boat, watching life unfolding on the banks - kids playing, women chatting. Still, like meditating Buddhas, the fishermen dot the waters. Fish eagles swoop, kingfishers dart, and you can hear the ferry in the distance as it dully thuds along the water.
You could learn the story of the famed land of Muziris (Muchiri, Muchiri pattanam, Shingly) as it unfolded along these waters – the footprints of the apostle St Thomas, the arrival of the Jews fleeing from the burning temples of Babylon, the vibrant bustling markets rich with pepper, nutmeg, ivory & peacocks for trade with the Arabs, Greeks, Romans & Moors, the arrival of the Dutch, the Portuguese, the British, these waters have seen it all. This is the site for one of the largest heritage conservation projects in the country. The story of the land of Muchiri that began 4000 years ago, played out in almost a hundred temples, mosques, churches, synagogues, markets, wharfs, forts & cemeteries that pepper the landscape. And the intangibles – the festivals, rituals, songs, cloth, food and art.
04 Boat Races
October is boat race season, and our river comes alive with excitement. Unlike the famed boat races of Allepey, these races are a more cozy version. Villagers throng both sides of the river to watch the races, but the actual excitement is in the water. Large rice boats, medium-sized vanjis, dug-out canoes, and all sizes of fishing boats are parked along the racetrack. In between races, there is much merry-making. Cheerleading is by way of synchronized backflips into the water. Boys float about in tires, tableaus float past with folk dancing to the latest hit songs, men perform tricks with oars, and Mahabali showers blessings on one and all from a rice boat. Commentators egg on the participants and urge the merry-making revelers to clear the track. As the race boats edge close, there is frenzy in the air, whipped up and up until it erupts at the finishing line, men jump over parked boats and flip with a whoop into the river.
05 Tuk Tuk Tour Of Kotappuram Market
Centuries old, this market is possibly one of the last living relics of the glorious city of Muziris. A wholesale market now, you can imagine pepper, nutmeg, betel nut, ivory, and even peacocks being sold from this ancient market. Trade with the port town of Muziris was so prized that the ancient Romans had a settlement here, complete with a temple to Augustus and a battalion of soldiers. Skull-capped Jews, turbaned Moors, proud Nair chieftains all roamed the bustling streets, negotiating with the Greeks, the Romans, the Dutch, the Arabs, and the Portuguese. The vintage architecture of the market reflects the influences of all those who came to trade but stayed and made it home. Cobblestone paths, crumbling balustrades, vintage wooden windows, and paneled shutters. The market is crackling and alive by early dawn; everything is sold here by the ton - pineapples, jaggery, vegetables, salted fish, tobacco, and spices. A quaint set of steps lead to a jaggery merchant’s shop, where he offers us a taste of his finest. There are piping hot snacks and tea.
SIGNATURE TRAILS
01 GUIDED WEAVING & HERITAGE TRAIL
About: Kerala has a rich handloom and basket-weaving tradition, one where families worked together. Each family would do its own spinning and had one or two pit looms where the weaving was done. Usually, the less strenuous jobs of winding the yarn, knotting the threads fell to the younger ones, or they would chip in when the older folk took a break. This meant that by the time they grew up, they were expert weavers who knew every painstaking detail of weaving. In many ways, the weaving co-operative societies of today are just larger versions of the family unit. We visit two co-ops by the river, where the head weaving master will take you through the entire process step by step. On some days, you can head down to the fields to watch them stretch the yarn and prepare to tie it on the warp. We then head over to the Kaithari Project studio where you can see these fabrics being converted to clothes. The trail will also make a couple of quick stops at some heritage locations en route.
The Route: The trail will commence from Cranganor by boat. The first stop will be Kotappuram Muziris Heritage Market Jetty (35 mins by boat), and after a quick visit to a few old shops….the jaggery trader, spice trader and tobacco trader, you will be transferred by car to the Kotappuram basket weaving center (10 mins by car) and then back to the jetty. From there, the boat will transfer you to the Paliam Ancestral Home & Palace Jetty (30 mins by boat), and after a visit to Paliam, you will be transferred to Chendamangalam weaving society and weaving center (10 mins by car) and back to the jetty by car. From the jetty, you will arrive by boat back to Cranganor (20 min by boat). There will be an icebox on the boat with some beverages and sandwiches. Apart from visiting the said places, the trail will also be a leisurely river cruise and will drive through quaint verdant village streets.
4 hours
-
Up to 5 people, Rs 8750
-
Up to 12 people, Rs 12000
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02 GUIDED JEWISH HISTORY TRAIL
About: "My kingdom has different communities. Only the Jews are absent. Of not less than ten members”. Thus spoke the King of Shingly, legend has it. The Jews who had been regular visitors to Shingly since the time of Solomon, took the warm welcome to heart and set up home here. This trail follows the intriguing story of the Jews of Chendamangalam, who came here arguably 2600 years ago, how they set up home in a far away land, how well entrenched in Kerala society they were yet how they held onto their unique identity. A community of more than 3000 people, 7 synagogues spread over 4 cities. Our trail begins at the synagogue right across the river. A ferry ride and a walk along a curving lane leads us right upto the Chendamangalam synagogue. Beautifully restored, this synagogue functional till 1950 is now a heritage museum. 5 kms away is the Parur synagogue, also a restored heritage museum. It is interesting to note how the intermingling of two cultures soaked into both. Appam which is considered quintessential Malayali food is said to be brought in by the Malabari Jews, and the language spoken by the Malabari & Cochini Jews , Judeo Malayalam, is a quaint mix of Hebrew and Malayalam.
The Route: The trail will commence from Cranganor by boat. The first stop will be Chendamangalam Synagogue Jetty (10 mins by boat). The boat will then amble through a backwater canal to Paravur Synagogue Jetty (40 mins by boat) from where you will walk through Jew Street to the Synagogue and then to Paravur Muziris Heritage Market. After a cup of Kerala filter coffee at a local cafe, you will be transferred back to Cranganor (40 min by boat). There will be an ice box on the boat with some beverages and sandwiches. Apart from visiting the said places, the trail will also be a leisurely river & backwater canal cruise and a walk through quaint verdant village streets.
3 hours
-
Up to 5 people, Rs 7500
-
Up to 12 people, Rs 11400