Kerala Info

Kanyakumari

Kanyakumari - A beatiful sea side tourist place, in the southern end of India. Kanyakumari is not only a tourist place, a popular pilgrim destination too. This is the only place in india where you can watch both sunrise and sunset because, the three oceans - Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean and Arabian sea meets here.

Kanyakumari takes its name from Goddess Kanyakumari Amman and the temple of the presiding diety is on the edge of the ocean at the confluence of three oceans.

Important tourist attractions of Kanyakumari are Vivekananda rock memorial and Thiruvalluvar Statue, both are situated on two giant rocks reached out of the sea, looks like two small islands in the sea.

Vivekananda memorial is on the rock named Sreepada parai (means the rock blessed by the touch of feet of the goddess). You can see the footprint of the goddess Kanyakumari there. Swamy Vivekananda(one of the most famous philosopher and spiritual leader of india) is said to have sat in deep meditation on Sreepada parai. There is a meditation hall inside the Vivekananda memorial monument. Spending some time there would be an amazing experience.

Thiruvalluvar Statue built in the memory the great Tamil poet-saint Thiruvalluvar on the adjescent rock of Sreepada parai is one of the biggest statues in Asia.

Regular boat services are available here.

Kanyakumari was formerly a part of Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala. When the agitation of larger tamil population of Kanyakumari for the merger with tamilnadu intensified, the States reorganisation commission also recommended the same. In 1956 Kanyakumari district formed and merged with Tamilnadu state.

Kovalam beach of Kerala is 87km away from Kanyakumari. There are somany interesting tourist spots in and around kanyakumari.

Vivekananda Memorial

Thiruvalluvar statue

Vivekananda Memorial

Sreepada mandapam

Vivekananda Rock

Kanyakumari amman temple

Kanyakumari amman temple seaside view

Mattupetty

This beautiful hill station is situated 1700m above sea level, just 13 km away from the famous tourist place, Munnar in Idukki district of Kerala on the way to Top Station(tourist spot located in the border of Kerala and Tamilnadu offers a spectacular view of western ghats). If you are on a trip to Munnar, don't miss this heavenly tourist place.

Main tourist attractions are Mattupetty Dam made in 1940's and Mattupetty Lake. Boating services on speed boats and slow motor boats, provided by DTPC(District Tourism Promotion Council) Idukki are available here. Cruising through the lake in speed boat is an amazing experience.

Shola forest nearby mattupetty is ideal for trekking and birdwatching. Streamlets and waterfalls here and there adds more attraction for this place.

Echopoint is another tourist attraction nearby Mattupetty, got its name from the natural echo phenomenon here. Lake view from here is quite amazing.

Mattupetty is also known for the Swiss livestock project farm established in 1961, where over 100 varieties of highly yielding cattle are reared. Visiters are alowed here from 9am to 11am and 2pm to 3.30pm(Rupees 5 per head for pass).

Kundala tea plantations and kundala lake here are also very nice picnic spots.

See a few nice pictures of Mattupetty...

Kovalam Beach

Kovalam beach, the paradise of south India. A fine sandy beach on Arabian sea backed by lush coconut trees attracts thousands of indian and international tourists weekly. Kovalam has been one of the most popular beaches in India among tourists, especially europeans since 1930's. Over the past years Kovalam has been well developed and now figures prominently on world tourism map.

Kovalam is located 16 km away from Thiruvanathapuram, the capital city of Kerala. Thiruvanathapuram international airport is just 10 km away and Thiruvanathapuram central railway station is about 16 km away.

Kovalam beach consists of three crescent shaped beaches seperated by outcrops projected out to the sea. Light house beach, Hawah beach and Samudra beach. There are many private beaches also, owned by Hotels and Resorts. Light house beach is the longest and most popular among tourists. The Light house belong to the British period on the high promontory at the southern end of the beach offers a spectacular view of the sea.

A massive rock promontory on the beach has created a beautiful bay of calm waters ideal for sea bathing. There are plenty of leisure options and activities here. Sun bathing, swimming, surfing, catamaran cruising, special cultural programmes etc. The local fishermen provides cruises in fishing boats. Many Hotels and resorts here offers Ayurvedic body toning massages, Ayurvedic rejuvenation treatments and Yoga(Indian way of meditation).

There are several restaurants provides Indian and Euoropean style delicious food. Kovalam is famous for grilled seafood items like Lobster, King prawns and Kalamari which are got fresh from the sea.

The main tourist season is from September to May. The best time to visit here is November to february.

Kovalam beach photos

Kumarakom Backwaters

Kumarakom village is a cluster of little islands on Vembanad lake and is a part of Kuttanad region, famous for its mangrove forests, green paddy fields, coconut trees, etc. Cruising through the Kumarakom backwaters is an amazing experience of a lifetime.

Cheap small rowing boats to luxurious houseboats(Kettuvallams) are available here for backwater cruising. Kettuvallams are the houseboats of kerala previously used to transport goods. Now these houseboats are well modified, using as luxury houseboats having all the facilities like well furnished luxury rooms, toilet, kitchen etc. You can spend the whole day in these houseboats and enjoy the beauty of this place.

Kumarakom Bird life Sanctuary spread across 14 acres is on the banks of Vembanad lake. This Bird sanctuary is a favorite haunt of migratory birds. You can watch the birds while cruising round the islands.

Vembanad lake is habitat for several marine species like Karimeen(Pearl spotted fish), Prawns and Shrimp. Kumarakom is famous for Karimeen and Toddy(an alcoholic beverage made from the sap of palm trees)

There are several lakeside resorts here offer comfortable accommodation and exclusive leisure options like Ayurvedic massage, meditation, yoga,boating, fishing and swimming.
Alapuzha is the nearby backwater tourist destination. You can journey right upto Kochi through the backwaters.

Nearest railway station: Kottayam(16km)

Nearest airport : Kochi(85km)

Onam - Festival of Kerala

Onam is one of the most famous festivals in Kerala, celebrated in the malayalam month "chingam", usually comes in August or September(This year Thiru Onam is on 27th August).

Onam is celebrated in the memory of a Golden era when the King Mahabali ruled kerala(Mythical). It believes that during the reign of Mahabali people of Kerala were lived with happiness and prosperity. Every people were considered as equal. No robbery, nobody says lie, no poverty and diseases..... Every people were happy under his rule.

It believes Maveli(Mahabali) will come to visit the people of Kerala every year on The "Thiru Onam" day.

Onam celebrations will start from "atham" day of "Chingam" month(Malayalam month) and lasts 10 days. From Atham to Thiru Onam everyday morning every houses will prepare a "Pookalam"(A beautiful arrangenment of flowers) in the courtyard in front of the house.

Thiru onam day is the important day of Onam celebrations. People will wear new dresses, prepare Onam Sadhya(A Feast including more than 10 delicious of Kerala) to welcome Mahabali and enjoy several special Onam games throughout the day.

Several cultural programs would be conducted all over in Kerala during the Onam days. Visit keralatourism.org

Kerala tourism department also conducting several cultural programs throughout onam days.

Onam Sadhya

Pookalam

Happy Onam to all........

Want to know more about Onam?

Onam - Find information on onam, onam festival, onam 2007, onam festival india, onam in india, onam kerala, onam in 2007, onam festival of kerala, ...

www.onamfestival.org/

Thekkady - Kerala tourist place

Thekkady is an important tourist place of kerala located at an altitude of 900 to 1800 meters above sea level.

Main tourist attractions of Thekkady are Periyar National Park, Thekkady Lake, Boating, The evergreen forests, Wild animals etc.

Periyar wildlife sanctuary is very dense evergreen forest spread 777 squire kms area declared as Tiger reserve in 1978.

Periyar wildlife sanctuary is famous for its evergreen forests, savannah grass lands and wild animals elephants, sambar, gaur, Nilgiri langurs, tigers, wild boars, lion tailed macaques....

The sanctuary is situated around an artificial lake formed by Mullaperiyar Dam accross the Periyar River.

The herds of elephants playing in Lake is a wonderful sight while boating through the Periyar lake.

Thekkady is also known for plantations of various natural spices like black pepper,clove,cardamom,cinnamon,chilly,tamarind etc.

Forest department,Kerala tourism development corporation(KTDC) and many private agencies offers many programs to promote adventure tourism in Thekkady.

Nearest railway station: Kottayam (114 km)

Nearest airport : Madhurai (140 km), Kochi(180 km)

See the pictures of Thekkady below...

Munnar

Munnar is one of the most popular tourist places in Kerala, a mesmerising Hill station, located 1600m above sea level in southern “Western Ghats” (A mountain range in the west of India).

Munnar is situated at the confluence of Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala rivers. The speciality of Munnar is its cool climate and greenery. A vast area of Munnar is occupied by tea plantations and evergreen jungles.

The Whole hill area is known as "High range" and rarely “Kannan Devan Hills”. In the age of British empire they developed this area to cultivate tea plants. The Bungalows built by them are still there in use.

Several Protected Wildlife areas in Munnar attract many tourists. You can see several threatened and native species like Nilgiri Tahr (Hemitragus hylocrius), Grizzled Giant Squirrel, Nilgiri Wood Pigeon, Gaur, Sambar and Neelakurinji here.

Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) is a rare kind of plant blooms once in 12 years. Eravikulam National park is known for Neelakurinji, Nilgiri Tahr and a few other protected species. Neelakurinji last bloomed in 2006. A vast area of mountain covered with Neelakurinji, giving the whole area a blue shade is an amazing spectacle for the visitors…

Many residents of here are employed in Tourism business. In Munnar there are above 3000 small and big resorts and several small hotels and restaurants.

Didn't visited Munnar yet.... Plan your next trip to Munnar......

Nearest airports: Madurai (140 km), Cochin (190 km)
Nearest railway stations: Theni (60 km), Changanacherry (93 km)

Kerala is one of the 50 greatest places of a lifetime and one of the 10 paradise found for National Geographic Traveler.

More Flood pictures

Boats replaces motor cycles when the roads submerged........
Generally the people here rely more on motor bikes to travel....

The shutters of the dam opened when the river overflowed....

Monsoon fishing in rural areas of Kerala

In monsoon season, due to heavey rainfall rivers will overflow and the agriculture lands of the rural areas will be under water. At that time certain species of fishes from river and sea will arrive in the flooded agriculture lands.

That's the time for fishing in the paddy fields......

You can see the pictures....

Most of them are not fishermen.....

A good spare-time activity with good revenue. They uses average sized fishing nets(See the picture) to catch fish.