Express News Service By

KOCHI: The serene beauty of paddyfields, mist of tea estates, a jungle safari and beautiful waterfalls-ever thought of experiencing all in a single trip? Here is a good option for you.

The Athirapally Tourism Development Committee (ATDC), Kerala Home Stay and Tourism Society (K- HATS) and District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) are jointly launching a two days and one night tour package which covers places such as Palakkad, border villages of Tamil Nadu, Valparai, Vazhachal and Athirapally with one night’s accommodation at a home stay in Athirapally.

K V Thomas MP will flag off the first trip on Tuesday at Fort Kochi. The journey starts from Fort Kochi at 8 am on alternate days. From Kochi, the bus goes to Palakkad and enters Tamil Nadu. Then it travels through Govindapuram- Chammanapathy in Tamil Nadu and enters Kerala at Valparai.‘’The bus will stop at certain points for passengers to have a look at the beauty of Kerala. The first day’s trip ends at Athirapally and passengers will be provided accommodation at home stays there. The next day, the trip is around Athirapally and Vazhachal with a walk through elephant path. Then, the bus will reach Kochi by 8 pm,’’ says K-HATS director M P Sivadathan. The cost per passenger, including food and accommodation, is `2,800.

‘’Though the package is aimed at foreign tourists reaching Kochi who wish to travel to other parts of Kerala, we expect domestic tourists and local people also to participate,’’ says Sivadathan.

ATDC has acquired a new 34-seater bus for this purpose only. Videos explaining the attractions of the places of interest in the course of the package will be displayed in the bus. Service of an experienced guide will also be provided on board the vehicle.