Trivandrum
Thiruvanantapuram formely known
as Trivandrum, the city of the 'scared snake' is quite unlike any other state
capital in India and has managed to retain the magical ambience characteristic
of Kerala. Low-sky-line, red-tiled roofs, narrow winding lanes, intimate corner
cafes give the city its character.
The city derives its name from Thiru Anantha
Puram, which means the town of Anantha. In fact, Anan
tha
is the deity at the Sree Anantha Padamanbhaswamy Temple, a major landmark of the
city believed to be several thousands years old. Legend has it that traders came
to Trivandrum as far back as AD 190 for spices, sandalwood, and ivory. It was in
the 18th century that Trivandrum shot into prominence when the erstwhile kings
of the then Travancore state shifted their capital from Padmanabhapuram to
Trivandrum. After India’s independence, the city was made the capital of Kerala.
The city’s proximity to the sea gives it a pleasant climate throughout the year
though the summers can turn a bit hot with the maximum temperature at times
going up to 36.2°C. The monsoon here lasts from May to November.
Sight Seeing Places:
The ancient temple of Sri
Padamanbhaswamy is one of the major attractions in the city of
Thiruvananthapuram. Move around the city and you get to see various picturesque
spots besides the glimpses of the city’s past. Some of the attractions that are
not to be missed are the Napier Museum, Sri Chitra Art Gallery, Zoo, Observatory
Hill, Science and Technology Museum, and Chacha Nehru Children’s Museum.
Tours:
Kovalam, Kanniya kumari, Quilon, Varkala.
Kovalam
Half an hour drive away from
Trivandrum lies Kovalam, an internationally renowned beach. The beach has been a
favourite haunt of tourists, especially Europeans, since the 1930s. A visit to
the beach provides you with plenty of leisure options. You can go for
sunbathing, swimming and herbal body toning massages. Special cultural
programmes are also organised here. It is much sought after for sunbathing,
water sports, shopping, catamaran cruising, yoga, meditation and rejuvenate
Ayurvedic body toning massages.
Alleppey
One of the exotic backwater
locales of India’s southern state of Kerala, the town of Alappuzha, or Alleppey
as it was called, is famous for its
annual boat race that draws thousands of tourists from all over the country and
world. Alleppey is also the headquarters of Kerala’s coir industry and an
important place for cashew nut processing. The sweeping network of canals
honey-combing the town of Alleppey (Alappuzha) has earned for the place its
sobriquet - "The Venice of the East". Small, low-slung country are the taxis of
this water land. It is a heartwarming sight to see them carry a motley
assemblage of cycles, goats, fisherwomen with cane baskets, school children,
toddy-tapers with there knives and pots, duennas in white and gold earrings,
Syrian Christian priest and the bare-chested boatman apiece. Do not miss out on
a rode into Kuttanad through shimmering, green paddy fields and tail-wagging,
head-bobbing groups of ducks. The coir-workers too present an interesting sight
as they soak coconut fiber in pool, beat them out and weave the tough brown
strands into long ropes on spindles stretched between endless coconut trees.
Places of Interest:
Backwater Cruise
Kollam
- Quilon
The charming old port of city
of Quilon (Kollam) on the banks of the
picturesque Ashtamudi lake is now
known more as the centre of cashew industry. Traces of ones prosperous trade
with China are still seen in the form of Chinese fishing nets, huge Chinese
water pots, blue and white porcelain and sampan- like boats. Quilon is an
inviting gateway to Kerala's backwaters. For the most intense backwater
experience, take a regular ferry to Alleppey a rigorous ride lasting more
than 8 hrs. As the old ferry putters from one village on the waterfront to
another you are treated to the full range of lives and activities and some of
the most beautiful scenery imaginable. For the less intrepid, shorter cruises
can be made in the larger comforts of the houseboats with idyllic villages such
as Alunkadavu as your launch base.
Sight Seeing Places:
Backwaters & Lush Green Paddy Fields & Villages.
Kottayam (Kumrakom)
On the shores of the enchanting
Vembanad lake, 14 kms from Kottayam
,
lies Kumarakom in its small town hush. Redolent of restful peace. A boat ride in
the countryside offers a close look into an engaging rustic life.
Skiff-fishermen launching there cockleshell boats. Large flotillas of ducks
waddling down to the water from thatched houses on the banks. Women, neck-deep
in water, with there waist-length hair heaped in a crown, searching for fish
with there feet. And aimless cattle grazing in lush pasture-land, where white
lotuses lie here and there in small, low-lying pools. At Kumarakom, you could
sail the backwaters in rented houseboats, which are poled by local oarsmen and
are simply furnished with a living room, a bedroom and a bath, together with a
raised central platform creating a private sit-out for the passengers. Sections
of the curved roof of wood or plaited palm open out to provide shade and allow
uninterrupted views. Boat trains - formed by joining two or more houseboats
together - make for a convenient mode of sightseeing when the company is large.
The more adventurous could perhaps indulge in water sports such as windsailing
and water skating. You could also take a canoe out into the quite lagoons and
spend time angling. Make sure you sample Karimeen and fresh toddy - the favorite
fresh water food and the local wine.
Sight Seeing Places:
Kumarakam Backwaters.
Tours:
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (Thekkady),
Ettumanoor, Vaikkom.
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Periyar, best known for its
wildlife, is a must-see for all visitors to Kerala. The Periyar Lake lies at the
heart of the sanctuary which is a veritable paradise for all wildlife lovers.
Where else can one view the animals in their natural surroundings while cruising
on the lake, or better still come within a few feet of a herd of wild elephants
and still be at ease! The majestic gaur, deer, wild boar and the distinctive
Nilgiris langur are often spotted along the lake as also water birds. Periyar's
wildlife variety includes the tiger, sambar, barking deer, mouse deer, the
Nilgiri tahr, wild dog, porcupine, lion tailed macaque, Malabar squirrel and
sloth bear. The reserve has also attractions for the bird watcher as varieties
of birds like the hornbill, blue winged parakeet, whistling thrush, flycatcher
and water birds are to be seen here. Observation towers are set about the
reserve for the more enthusiastic of nature watchers and a cool summer palace of
the former Maharaja of Travancore is a hotel run by the Kerala Tourism
Development Corporation Ltd. The ideal time to visit is between the months of
December and May.
Sight Seeing Places:
Periyar Wild Life Jungle Safari Tours on Motor Boat, River Rafting in the
Lake of Periyar.
Cochin (Kochi)
Come into Cochin (Kochi). Queen of
the Arabian sea. Believed to be the finest natural Harbour in the world. With
ferry rides commanding its breathtaking view. As you cruise around man-made
islands with lush green lawns sloping down to the water's edge. Aboard, you can
relax with a drink, watching the Arab dhows in the foreground. And behind, the
tree-shaded buildings of spice-traders and merchants, the descendants of the
families who sold gold, ivory, timber and peacock to King Solomon 19 centuries
ago. Giant Chinese fishing nets that billow from massive teak and bamboo poles
dot the entrance to the Harbour. Silhouetted against the setting sun, they
present a magnificent sight of the waterfront. Cochin is the oldest European
settlement in India. Recording a history of visitors who came, saw and stayed
for hundreds of years. Layered impressions - Chinese, Arab, Jewish, British,
French and Portuguese are contained within its environment.
Sight Seeing Places:
The 2000 year old Jew Town.
Built in 1568, it synagogue is the oldest is the commonwealth. Adorned by
exquisite hand painted. Chinese tiles in blue and white. No two are
identical. The great scrolls of the Old Testament are preserved here. The
historic St. Francis Church. Originally built out of wood in 1503 and thus
earning fame as the oldest European church in India. Interestingly, one of the
world's greatest explorers, Vasco-da-gama was buried here. The stone Dutch
Palace gifted to the Raja of Cochin by foreign settlers.
Trichur (Trissur)
Thrissur known as "Tiru-Shiva-Perur'
is a town named after Lord Shiva. Lying in central Kerala, it is known for its
several popular shrines. The Vadakkumnathan kshetram, where the reigning deity
is Lord Shiva, is situated on a hillock in the heart of the town. Exquisite
murals here narrate the epic of the Mahabaratha. This temple is especially known
for its spectacular celebration of the Pooram festival, which is conducted in
April at the 'maidan', opposite the temple. It is a magnificent spectacle with
night-long fireworks and a splendid procession of elephants. The other main
temples in the town are the Paramekkavu Temple dedicated to Bhagwati or Durga
and the Thiruvambadi Temple which is dedicated to Lord Krishna. For the Pooram,
they provide splendidly caparisoned elephants in the richest of adornments with
their mahouts holding parasols of coloured silk. The presentation for the
festival is meticulously planned and carefully guarded, for they engage in a
friendly competition for the best display. As the day of the Pooram arrives, the
elephants in their disciplined dignity, line up on the opposite sides of the
'maidan' to the music of the traditional panchavadyam - the conch, cymbals,
trumpet and two kinds of drums. The festivity begins to the feverish rhythm of
the drums and the opposing parties unveil their splendid displays of colored
parasols, waving peacock fans and yak hair fly-whisks. The excitement filled day
slowly fades into the quietness of evening twilight, heralding the dusk to dawn
firework display that enthralls the enthralls the gathered participants. January
is another festive time in Thrissur when the Great Elephant March takes place, -
with colorful events that are successively staged in Thrissur, Alappuzha and
Thiruvananthapuram. They include Thrissur splendid elephant pageant,
performances of masked dances, displays of Kerala's martial arts and boat races
on the back waters.
Sight Seeing Places:
Vadakkumnathan Temple, Town Hall, Zoo, Aquarium, State Museum, Art Museum.
Tours:
Guruvayoor, Cheruthuruthy, Peechi Dam, Tiruvilwamala Temple, Cranganore, Triprayar, Irinjalakuda, Kaladykms.
Guruvayoor
Guruvayoor is one of the most sacred and important pilgrimage centers of Kerala
State, attracting millions of pilgrims from all places of India. Its main attraction is a temple dedicated to Lord Krishna known as 'Guruvayoorappan'. It is at this temple that Melpattoor Narayaana Bhattathiri composed his
famous Sanskrit poem Narayaniyam.
Sight Seeing Places:
Guruvayoor Shree Krishna Temple and Punnathoor Kotta.
Tourism in States & Cities of India
Golden Triangle
