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Major attraction in KERALA
Munnar, Thekkady, Kovalm, Athirapally, Idukki, Cochin, Kumarakom etc......
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ENCHANTING BEAUTY OF BACKWATERS
The backwaters of Kerala stretch over 1900 kms, providing drinking water and irrigating paddy fields. Backwaters refer to the large inland lakes of Kerala, consisting of the entire network of lakes, canals estuaries and curious water formations.
The waterways of Kerala helped the state to develop its economy. Rice boats and small ships were used for carrying coconut, rubber, rice and spices to various trading centre’s of Kerala. Even today, these waterways link remote villages and islands with the main land. It is an incredibly different experience to cruise in the backwaters in country boats, closely observing the enticing beauty of Kerala villages.
A beautiful backwater spot, Kumarakom, slumbers by the Vembanad Lake. The scenery flashes up vivid contrasts of breath – taking greens and deep blues. As the boat glides along, the gorgeious green of the fringed palms ripple in the blue waters and blend into silvery wavelets.
You can have an enthralling and intensive experience on the backwaters if you spend about nine hours to undertake a journey on a ferry boat from Quilon to Alleppey. But if you are less adventurious, there are short cruises arranged by private boat-owners in greater comfort. A cruise between Alleppey and Kottayam could be an unforgettable experience. You can also travel upto Cochin via these waterways. On a boat voyage to Alleppey through the Kuttanad, you can find yourself travelling along canals where the level of the water is often higher than that of the green fields on either side.
Murikkan, a farmer, dearly referred as Krishi Raja, meaning King of farming had literally constructed Bunds around in almost 1800 acres of the lake and pumped out water to make it suitable for farming. Agriculture was the main occupation of people in Kerala in earlier times. However it has now become a losing proposition. A variety of cash crops are produced in Kerala that find a ready export market but the state depends on other states for its quota of rice. In subsequent years rubber displaced other crops, including paddy. The countryside is dotted with paddy fields and rubber groves providing a unique scene of intermingling shades of greenery.
BOAT – RACES
Backwaters host many events during August-September. The electrifying races by carved wooden boats set the backwaters on fire. The ‘Nehru Boat Race’, named in honour of the late Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, is the most exciting of all the boat race.
During the “ONAM” festival, many boat races, including the spectacular Aranmmula boat-race, are conducted in the Alleppey region.
ARANMULA boat race linked to the VISHNU temple at ARANMULA, located on the banks of the Pampa River, another sacred river. The boats of ARANMULA are legendary – graceful, with prows shaped like a bird; in homage to GARUDA- the vehicle of VISHNU (most Gods in the Hindu pantheon have their own vehicles, like the bull of SIVA, the lion of PARVATHI the peacock of MURUGA or the rat of GANAPATHI). These dreams on the water can cleave the waves with an ease and felicity which is at once captivating and arresting. There are also the 130-feet-long, low-prowed snake-boats, with 20-feet-high sterns, which are permanent motifs at boat races in Kerala.
Alappuzha
Its criss-crossing canals and once busy waterways inevitably evoke comparisons with Venice. A prosperous trading town of yesteryears, which exported coir products to different parts of the world, Alappuzha relinquished its commercial position to other towns, notably Kochi, in later years. Today, tourism has appeared as its new saviour. Old settlers have left behind architectural treasures - numerous old mansions and trading houses built in a unique style. These buildings, along with the quiet streets and winding canals, lend this quaint town its distinctive allure.
Situated at the south-western tip of India's longest lake, the Vembanad, Alappuzha lies sandwiched between the lake and the Arabian Sea - a sliver of land barely 4 km wide. It attracts tourists throughout the year for that singular experience of backwater cruising, especially in the Kuttanad region, a vast area of partly reclaimed land, covered in emerald green paddy fields and separated by dikes from waters that are actually a few feet higher.
Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple
The reigning deity of this temple is the infant Krishna. Paintings of the 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu adorn the inner walls of the chuttambalam or circumambulatory. The annual festival in April draws thousands of devotees, who also gather here for a feast. The Pallipana ritual held once in 12 years, witness’s performances by sorcerers. The temple is also renowned for its offering of palpayasam, a milk and rice pudding. Kunjan Nambiar's ottan thullal, a satirical art form, was first performed here.
Chakkulathukavu Bhagavathi Temple
Sandwiched between the two rivers, Pamba and Manimala, and located on the border of Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts, this shrine is open to people of all religions. Goddess Vanadurga's (the presiding deity) affinity for women and children has made the temple particularly popular with women devotees.
St Mary's Church, Champakulam
Located on the site at which St Thomas is believed to have built one of his seven churches the shrine draws hundreds of devotees, especially during the annual feast in October. The feast of St Joseph in March is also an important event. Wooden statues of Christ, made nearby, are exported to various countries.
Chavara Bhavan
Chavara Bhavan, 6 km from town and accessible only by boat, is situated in Kainakary, a small village in the backwaters of Alappuzha. It is the ancestral home of Father Kuriakose Elias Chavara, one among the three Malayali candidates under consideration for sainthood by Rome.
Bhagavathi Temple
Located in Chettikulangara, it houses the largest stone lamp in the country - 11 ft high, with 13 tiers. The deity, an incarnation of Bhadrakali, is supposed to possess miraculous powers and legends abound about favours conferred on devotees. The annual Kettukazhcha festival witnesses spectacular processions with bright effigies on decorated chariots. An all-night Kathakali performance marks the conclusion of the cultural events.
St George Orthodox Syrian Church
This Syrian church has been constructed partially with portions of an old 13th century church located at Haripad, 44 km north of Kollam. Its porches and porticos follow typical temple architecture. Biblical frescoes showing the art forms of the early medieval period adorn its walls.
Subrahmanya Temple
This temple dedicated to Sree Murugan (Subrahmanya) is renowned for its architectural splendour - the tall flag mast, the large temple tank, and the kootham- balam, or theatre, with its exquisite wooden carvings on the ceiling.
Karumadi Kuttan
The deity of Karumadi Kuttan, which stands by the side of the public canal to the west of the Kamapuram temple, is a black granite Buddha, said to belong to the ninth or 10th century. The idol has now been installed in a smaller shrine to protect it. Kerala's Ay kings were patrons of Buddhism, which, however, is known to have declined in the State by the eighth century.
Krishnapuram Palace Museum
This palace was built during the reign of Maharaja Marthanda Varma. It is a miniature model of the Padmanabhapuram Palace, near Thiruvananthapuram. The spectacular 16-block building sprawls over an area of 1.87 acres. Now an archaeological museum, the restored two-storey palace houses paintings, antique furniture and sculpture. Burial urns, bronze artefacts, swords, ancient vessels, weights, cannon balls, models of umbrellas, and even a Sanskrit Bible, are some of the exhibits.
Mannarassala Snake Temple
Traditionally, Hindu naga (serpent) worshi- ppers have always built their temples in serpent groves. Of these, Mannarassala is the largest with 30.000 images of snake gods, and hundreds of snakes living around the temple. Childless women come here for blessings and return for a 'thanksgiving' ceremony when they beget a child. Gifts equaling the weight of the child are offered to the deity.
R Block
R Block is one of the best managed private farms situated on one of the reclaimed lands in the Kuttanad region. This process of land reclamation started about 100 years ago. At nearly 850 acres, the farm constitutes the largest reclaimed region in the area and is almost entirely covered in coconut, areca and banana plantations.
Pathiramanal Island
The Raja of Travancore offered this palm- covered island in the Vembanad Lake on lease to the family of a man named Andrew Pereira, a Portuguese national and a naval officer, who married a local Catholic woman and settled here. When the lease expired in1979, Pathiramanal was taken over by the government. Subsequently, families residing there were rehabilitated and the island was handed over to the Tourism Department. It is a one-hour boat ride away from Alappuzha
Kollam
Eulogised by travellers such as Marco Polo and Ibn Batuta (who called it one of the leading trade capitals of the Old World), Kollam is where the famed network of waterways begins. The Ashtamudi Lake, known as the gateway to the backwaters, covers about 30 per cent of Kollam. From here, a 130 km long system of interlinked canals and lakes snakes up all the way to the north.
Kollam is also regarded as the hub of cashew processing and the centre of the fisheries industry in Kerala. Moreover, over 2,000 factories and industrial units churning out products as diverse as coir, chemicals, ceramics, minerals and seafood make it the most industrialized district of the State.
SIGHTS
Alumkadavu Boat Building Yard
Located on the northern backwaters of Kollam, near Karunagappally, the famous kettuvalloms, or houseboats, are crafted here. Known as a boat-building and repairing centre, Alumkadavu is also popular as the ideal location to watch coir being made.
Mata Amritanandamayi Ashram
Vallikavu, the birthplace of the famous spiritual guru, Mata Amritanandamayi, is now known as Amritapuri and is a beehive of activity as the headquarters of the Mata Amritanandamayi Trust. The 5- acre plot holds a self-contained township that includes a post office, bank, library and charitable dispensary.
Ashtamudi Backwaters
The many cruises organised by DTPC is the finest way to explore these backwaters. The highlights of a one-day houseboat trip could include visits to Panrnana Beach, a coir-making unit, and the houseboat-building yard at Alumkadavu. A day-night cruise entails a night stay on the Ashtamudi Lake.
Ochira Parabrahma Temple
This temple has neither a structure to house an idol, nor an idol to worship. Ochira is dedicated to the formless, infinite 'Para Brahma', the Absolute and Supreme Principle. The annual festival, Ochirakali, held during June-July, commemorates the historic battle between the Kayamkulam and Chempakasseri rajas.
Sasthamkotta Dharmasastha Temple
This is one among the many temples in Kollam dedicated to Lord Ayyappa. The monkeys that once colonised the surrounding woods were believed to be loyal followers of the ruling deity, Dharmasastha, and hence, are revered by devotees. A 10-day annual festival includes the colourful Kettukazhcha procession, various folk art performances and an elephant procession.
Thangasseri
Located south of Kollam, Thangasseri, or 'gold village', was once the hub of a flourishing trade that used gold as currency, thanks to the early European traders. This picturesque settlement has a cheque red history, dating back to the 14th century. The town's 144-ft lighthouse, built by the British, dates back to 1519. Thangasseri celebrated its SOOth anniversary in 1999.
Thevally Palace
Standing on a promontory in central Kollam, this palace overlooks the scenic Ashtamudi Lake and is best viewed from the lake itself. Built during the reign of Gauri Parvathi Bai, between 1811 and 1819, it was the residence of the erstwhile Maharaja during his visits to Kollam to meet the British Resident.
Adventure Park
Located in the midst of the backwaters of Ashramam, this village has an adventure park, boating club, children's traffic park and a Yatri Nivas, all in its sprawling campus. The stately 200-year-old residence, once used by Lord Munroe, is now a government guest house. The Paaramparya Museum in the premises is also worth a look. On display are paintings from different parts of the country.
Munroe Island
This green, palm-covered little island is tucked away in the backwaters of Kollam. The Stone Age tools and megaliths discovered here prove the island's antiquity. Formed by the backwaters of the Ashtamudi Lake and the Kallada River, it has been named after Colonel Munroe, the British resident of the erstwhile Travancore State. He is credited with having integrated several backwater regions through the construction of canal
Cruising along in a country-made craft, criss-crossing the mazelike canals, offers a glimpse of village life in all its pristine purity.
Kumarakom
Set against the backdrop of rich green paddy fields and still grey waters, Kumarakom was, for years, just another sleepy town, resplendent in scenic beauty. However, when Kerala became a popular tourist destination, Kumarakom's charms were soon unveiled. Today, plush resorts scattered around a large lake and delightful backwaters have transformed this once quiet settlement into a sought after destination - Sir Paul McCartney, the former Beatle, wrote in his hotel register, 'Truly, this is god's own country'.
Located 15 km west of Kottayam town, the picturesque village of Kurnarakorn is actually a cluster of small islands on the eastern banks of the Vembanad Lake. Sandwiched between a lake that looks more like the sea and a parallel network of backwaters, this bewitching water world forms part of the Kuttanad region. Although situated in a labyrinth of lush waterways, Kumarakorn's advantage is that it can be reached easily by road from Kottayam, Kochi and Alappuzha.
Tourists throng Kumarakom to experience its gentle pace of life and stunning views of nature. The only places to 'visit' are the nearby Bird Sanctuary, the Driftwood Museum and the Pathiramanal Island.
Kumarakom Tourist Village offer comfortable accommodation and holiday packages that include houseboat cruises, Ayurvedic massage, yoga, meditation, boating, fishing, angling, swimming etc.
Kumarakom is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna.Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is a noted bird sanctuary where many species of migratory birds visit. The best time to visit the sanctuary is a noted bird sanctuary where many species of migratory birds visit. The best time to visit the sanctuary is between Novembers to March. The sanctuary is open every day from dawn to dusk and one can enter after buying a ticket for Rs 45.
The Vembanad Lake, the largest backwater in Kerala. Immortalized by Arundhathi Roy in her Booker-Wining God of Small Things, the stunningly serene Kumarakom was the place chosen by A B Vajpayee to coalesce while he was Prime Minister. Surrounded by the sprawling Vembanad Lake a cruise around the tiny Kumarakom islands here will teach you the magnificence of quietude. Kumarakam is amidst marvelous mangrove forest, coconut canopies and pulsating paddy fields sprinkle with enchanging waterways and canals. No wonder as many as five 5-Star hotels have come up in the past decade in the tourist village.
SIGHTS
Driftwood Museum
This museum was the brainchild of Raji Punnose, a teacher who worked in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for 25 years. She started collecting pieces of driftwood washed ashore and spent hours pruning and giving shape to what had already been shaped Located at Chakranpadi, the museum has a stunning array of elegant driftwood sculpture. In its 'ferocity', a crocodile looks almost real. The flowers and buds collection is also worth a peek.
Bird sanctuary
Spread across 14 acres in a former rubber plantation that was previously known as Baker's Estate, the Englishman who developed this area into a bird sanctuary would be glad to see the large number of delighted birdwatchers who gather here today. At dawn and at sundown, the forests come alive with a cacophony of shrill calls and cries. Night herons, purple moorhen, Brahminy kites, teals, egrets, cormorants, darters and large Indian fruit bats have colonised these woods. There are also large populations of breeding darters, purple herons, little cormorants, Indian Shag, white ibis, local waterfowl and pond herons. eighbouring areas such as Kaipuzha Muttu, Pathiramanal, Narakathara, Thollayiram Kayal and Poothanpandi Kayal are also excellent locations for spotting birds. the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, an ornithologist's paradise, is a favorite haunt of migratory birds. June to August is the breeding season of resident wetland birds like Siberian stork, cormorants, darter, white ibis, egret, darter, heron and teal. Between November and May is the season of migratory birds like pintailed duck, garganey teal, spot billed duck, osprey, marsh harrier, steppe eagle etc. A cruise along the Vembanad Lake is the best way to experience the sanctuary. Pathiramanal, an enchanting island on the lake, can be accessed by boat from here.
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