After breakfast, your private car, driver and in-the-know guide will be waiting to show you the historic landmarks of Cochin, hailed by long-ago seafaring merchants as the Queen of the Arabian Sea. Your exploration begins at the Dutch Palace. Also known as Mattancherry Palace, it was built by the Portuguese and presented to the Raja of Kochi in 1555. Inside, you can admire displays of royal costumes and lavish palanquins. Colorful murals depict scenes from the Ramayana, the ancient epic Indian poem. At the 16th-century Jewish Synagogue, you’ll see great scrolls of the Old Testament, hand-painted Chinese ceramic tiles from the 1700’s and other extraordinary artifacts.
Then visit historic St. Francis Church, where the great Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama died in 1524. Traveling along the harbor front, you’ll to see local fishermen at work with their traditional Chinese-style nets, a timeless scene that has played out for centuries along these picturesque shores. After sightseeing, your time is free to relax, enjoy and dine as you wish. Tonight, we’ll take you to a lively performance of Kathakali, a colorful and ancient Indian art-form that blends dance and dramatic storytelling. Meals B