Kerala: Chamayavilakku Festival Tour with Munnar & Alleppey

Kochi, India
  1. Home
  2. Activities
  3. Kochi
Duration7 days
Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Private tourOnly your group will participate
Pickup offeredSee the meeting and pickup details below

Overview

Immerse yourself in the vibrant Chamayavilakku Festival at the Kottankulangara Sri Bhagavathy Temple in Chavara, Kollam, Kerala. This unique two-day event involves men dressing in female attire to carry traditional lamps in a procession as an offering to the goddess.

Join hundreds of men dressed as women lining up before the deity. As part of the main ritual, cross-dressed men carry traditional five-wick lamps to seek blessings from the Goddess. They line up in a ceremonial procession, with rituals continuing until midnight on both days.

Begin the festival at 3 a.m. with the deity’s procession from Kunjalummoodu while devotees stand in long lines from the temple gate with the lamp for the ceremonial arrival. After the ritualistic bath (aarattu) in the temple pond, the deity rests in a canopy made of coconut palm leaves (kurutholapanthal) erected in the temple courtyard. With this, the ritual ends and the festival is conducted with equal importance on both days.

What's included

  • Houseboat Exclusively booked with Lunch,Dinner and next day breakfast.
  • Entraces fee at National Parks, Museums, Monuments and attractions.
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Accomodation with break fast in a 3 star hotel/resort/homestay. And private house boat in Alleppey.
  • Optional
  • Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

What to expect

  1. Kochi (Cochin)
    5h
    Recieve you at Kochi. After relax to wipe of jetlag and previous travel go for seeing all attractions in Kochi
  2. Alleppey Backwaters
    12h · Admission ticket included
    Alappuzha, the secnd destination is for an overnight houseboat cruise in the backwaters.
  3. 1 day · Admission ticket included
    Experience the Chamayavilakku Festival in Kerala, where men dress as women to offer prayers. Explore Munnar's tea gardens and Alleppey's backwaters on this guided tour.
    Highlights
    Immerse yourself in the vibrant Chamayavilakku Festival in Kerala
    Witness the unique ritual of men dressed as women offering prayers.
    This unique two-day event involves men dressing in female attire to carry traditional lamps in a procession as an offering to the goddess. Join hundreds of men dressed as women lining up before the deity. As part of the main ritual, cross-dressed men carry traditional five-wick lamps to seek blessings from the Goddess. They line up in a ceremonial procession, with rituals continuing until midnight on both days.
  4. Munnar
    1 day
    Proceed to Munnar from Kollam ( the Chamayavilakku Festival)
  5. Munnar
    4h
    On reaching Munnar, after fresh-up proceed for a tour of Munnar to visit attractions like Tea Garden, Tea Museum, and Tea Factory etc., the checkin at a hotel for overnight
  6. Munnar
    7m
    This second Day of Munnar is used for visiting the Wildlife of Munnar at National Park.
  7. Kochi (Cochin)
    5h
    Next Day return to Kochi to conecct to your flight for your onward journey.

Meeting and pickup

Pickup details

In you are arriving by cruise ship we will pick you up from Cruise Terminal of Kochi Port.

If you are arriving to a hotel in Kochi we will pick you up from the lobby of that hotel.

If you are arriving by other means we will pick you up from a location mutually agreed.

Additional information

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Dress code is smart casual
  • Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
  • A minimum 01 person per booking.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
From
$1,150.00 per person
Check availability & book
  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts
  • Instant confirmation
  • You'll choose your date and travelers and pay on viator.com. Prices vary by date, group size and option.
Operated by Excel India Tours · Booked through Viator
More activities in Kochi
From
$1,150.00 per person
Check availability