Cochin, INDIA
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Traditionally, men have dominated the ancient art form of Kathakali (a dance-drama originating in Kerala), but things are changing now, with women writing new rules of the game. During this tour, you will interact with lady artists who have found fame in Kathakali. Learn about the interesting heritage of Kathakali in this gender-bender tour in Cochin as part of your Kerala holiday.
Kathakali (or story-play) is a classical dance-drama, with origins in the 16th-17th centuries. Known for detailed and vivid make-up, unique face masks and elaborate costumes worn by dancers, the movements of this art form have distant overtones of ancient martial arts and athletic traditions native to the area. While the footwork is excellent, it is no match to the facial and hand expressions, which complement the beat of the music and vocal performance. From being enacted exclusively in Sanskrit at courts and temples, when Kathakali performances adopted Sanskritized Malayalam, they achieved mass appeal and became a popular art form in the state of Kerala.
Since its beginnings, Kathakali has been restricted to male artists, even for the portrayal of female characters, but slowly the gender boundaries are fading. Meet a group of women Kathakali artists who have achieved new heights of excellence in what was has been an all-male domain for four centuries. Recognized for their craft by the President of India in 2017, these inspirational women will take you on a journey to understand the art form of Kathakali and will provide a lecture demonstration without any make-up and costume. This could be the highlight of any tour in Kerala.
Transport: Walking Tour 
Activity level: Easy to Moderate
Accessible to wheel chair: Yes 
Kid friendly: Yes 
Languages: English and Local Language 
Inclusions: A refreshing drink with light Kerala snacks 
Exclusions: Add-ons: Exclusive 30-45 mins Kathakali performance; Exclusive 30-45 mins temple percussion music performance Personal Expenses and Souvenir. 
Gratuities: Not included in tour cost;payable at guest's discretion 
Meet up location: Kalikotta Palace, Tripunithura, Kochi 
End of tour location: Kalikotta Palace, Tripunithura, Kochi Duration: 2 Hours Price: upto 2 adults ₹2400 | Price upto 2 adults | : ₹2,400 |
| Children | : Complimentary for children below 10 years |
25% of the total cost will be charged, if cancelled 15 to 10 days prior to the tour date.
50% of the total cost will be charged, if cancelled 9 to 5 days prior to the tour date.
No refund if cancelled less than 5 days prior to the tour date.
For group size more than 4 adults, write to us at info@footprintholidays.com
We can arrange other language speaking guides based on your request and availability
The tour can be customised to suit your needs like change of time, change of pick-up point, etc. You can write to us to info@footprintholidays.com customise your tour as per your preferences.
I will begin by saying that I had a FANTASTIC time in India. It was one of the best trips I've ever taken and I'm truly looking forward to hopefully having you book other trips for me in India.
I must say everything was planned to perfection. Each guide in every city was knowledgeable; especially the guide you arranged for us in Udaipur. We really enjoyed getting to know our guides Musheer and Kishore. We experienced the real India and appreciated the detailed itinerary your team created for us. The hotels were fantastic! In every hotel, the chef paid us a visit to make sure that we had meals suitable for us. We also enjoyed all the extra shopping excursions that were suggested.
The trip was a mega success and your team did a great job. Thanks to Footprint for everything. The entire family had a great time! The exclusive kalaripayattu demonstration was absolutely engaging and we loved every bit of the special private stand-up by Alex Babu (of Alex in Wonderland fame).
Thank you for a great trip! We especially enjoyed driving through the desertland into Jaisalmer; we also thoroughly enjoyed Bikaner, its Havelis and the Fort. Catching the daily life in Mumbai was a unique and eye-opening experience! All the hotels chosen are excellent with wonderful staff. Thank you!
Thank you for a wonderful trip to Kerala. We loved the village life walk and Fort Cochin walk. The backwater cruise in a traditional country boat was an incredible experience. A meal with the local family, living on an island in the backwaters, offered us an excellent opportunity to interact, learn and share. We loved every minute of our holiday! Thanks!
As a solo traveller, I felt safe and was exceptionally well taken care of. The cooking class in Jaipur was extremely enjoyable. The food, chef, and his wife were all exceptional and made for a lovely evening. Also, our expectations were definitely exceeded at a private residence, spending time with the elephants and lunching. Thanks!!
I loved India and thank you very much for arranging everything. It was a fabulous trip. Big kudos to you and your team. The tour guides and drivers were excellent. I loved the artisan walk, discovering the artistic treasures of Udaipur, meeting local potters and painters.
Thanks for arranging everything to precision – it was super smooth and we had a very good darshan!
Thanks for organising a great trip to Lucknow and Varanasi. The hotels at both the places were excellent; we had a great guide in Varanasi who went beyond the designated tour route and showed us around. The food tour in Lucknow was amazing and re-discovering the Awadhi Cuisine was a great experience – the kebabs were out of the world!
It was a terrific experience to spot the King of the jungle in all their glory at Gir. We had a very good experience overall.
It was a perfect leisure getaway – thanks for organising this! We loved the French Connection Trail; the guide took us through the French quarter sharing some incredible stories from the colonisation. We enjoyed the hotel and the service!