A culinary trip through southern India

Fans of Indian cuisine shouldn’t miss India specialist Colours of India’s 14-day culinary trip through southern India, 24 March – 8 April 2008.

The itinerary combines home-stays and former palace stays through Kerala and Tamil Nadu, with plenty of time in the kitchen, supervised by top TV celebrity chef Valentina Harris, and a host of local Indian cooks.

Just some of what you’ll experience includes a stay at Brunton’s Boatyard in Cochin, an elegant hotel overlooking Cochin Harbor, oozing old-world charm, and reportedly serving up the tastiest curry in all of southern India. In Alleppey, board a houseboat for a lazy meander through the backwater network of canals, streams and rivers, going as far inland as Kumarakom.

An authentic plantation home-stay in Kotamangalam is one of the highlights, with Valentina Harris and local chefs on hand to help you prepare and cook spicy meat, fish and vegetable dishes. Other lessons throughout the trip include how to cook with coconut oil and shavings, and how to prepare a Sadya, a traditional Keralan festival meal.

Other stays include legendary Spice Village in Thekkady in the Western Ghats, and Cardamom House, overlooking the Palani Hills, close to the remote, sleepy village of Athoor. In this traditional Indian village it’s very easy to spend the whole day watching the goings on of village life, little changed over the centuries.

Price for this 14-day celebrity-led culinary trip is from £2,636 per person, and includes international and domestic flights, home-stays and hotels on a B&B basis, many group meals, all ground transport, and all cooking demonstrations and lessons.

To book visit Colours-of-india.co.uk.