Archive for the ‘Kerala’ Category
August 12th, 2010 | 
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Munnar is a small hill station set amongst the Kannan Devan hills. It is famous for its lush green surroundings, lakes, reservoirs, forests, and tea estates. The quiet environs of Munnar attract the traveler to relax in the lap of Mother Nature. Munnar is one of the highest tea estates in the world.
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Kollam is situated about 71 Kms. north of Thiruvavanathapuram and is linked by rail, road and backwater transport. The town edges with the famous Ashtamudi lake. Many a foreign traveler has visited Kollam in early medieval period. It was one of the early centres of Christian activity in Kerala. It is said that the present town of Kollam was built by the Syrian Merchant; Sapir Iso, in the 9th Century A.D. The popularity of Kollam has been established by the time honoured proverb once you see Kollam, you will not need home any more. Kollam is an important commercial, industrial and trading centre.
Thangasseri Lighthouse is open to visitors from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm. There are buses at 15 minute intervals from Kollam town.
Anamalai wildlife sanctuary is about 90-kms from Coimbatore and is situated at an altitude of 1,400 meters in the Western Ghats near Pollachi. The area of the sanctuary is 958-sq-kms. An ecological paradise, this sanctuary encompasses a National Park. It has just recently been renamed as Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary.
Fauna :
It has various kinds of fauna like Elephant, Gaur, Tiger, Panther, Sloth Bear, Deer, Wild Bear, Wild Dog, Porcupine, Flying Squirrel, Jackal, Pangolin, Civet Cat and birds like Rocket-tailed Drongo, Red Whiskered Bulbul, Tree Pie, Black Headed Oriole, Spotted Dove, Pigeon, etc. The Amaravati reservoir in the Anamalai has large number of crocodiles.
Attractions At The Place :
There are many places of scenic beauty such as Karianshola, Grass hills, Anaikunthi Shola, waterfalls, groves, teak forests, dams and reservoirs. Arrangements are available at Top Slip to take tourists around the sanctuary on elephant back or by van.
How to get there ?
Air – Peelamedu airport is 10-km from Coimbatore city.
Rail – From Pollachi, there are trains to Coimbatore and Dindigul.
Road – There are regular buses from Coimbatore and Palani to Pollachi, which is the nearest big town. There are two buses a day from Pollachi to the park, at 6.00 am and 3.00 pm. The bus returns to Pollachi at 8.00 am and 6.00 pm. Tourists can also hire a taxi from Pollachi.
Guindy National Park is one of the prime visiting spots for those who come to Chennai during vacation period. A recommended picnic spot for the entire family to spend a day amidst nature and return home joyfully in the evening. This National Park encompasses a snake park and a children’s park as well.
Guindy National Park is botanically very interesting in as much as it is the only one of its kind to carry even today a derelict vegetation truly representative of the natural thorny scrub jungle of the southern dry zone interspersed with more than 30 tree species whic h include a number of centuries old gigantic shady banyan trees. This park with a network of road’s, footpaths, nature trails, lakes and ponds, all situated amidst sylvan surroundings offers good opportunities for viewing wild life.
Historical Background Of The Park :
If we look into the historical background of the Guindy Park, in earlier days it was actually a hunting preserve. Later it was known as “Guindy Lodge” and it belonged to a British citizen named Gilbert Rodericks. In 1817, the owner died with the property heavily mortgaged.
Then in 1821, the Government of Madras purchased it for a sum of Rs. 35,000/ or 10,000 pagodas (pagodas being the gold currency at that time). Later in 1910, it was declared as reserved forests. In 1947, it became the permanent residence of the Governor (400 hectares) and was called “Raj Bhavan”.
The then Prime Minister Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru permitted a small area to be cordoned off as a park for children. In 1958, it was actually handed over to the Forest department. The land nearby was allocated for Gandhi Mandapam (1954), IIT (1961), Guru Nanak Educational Society (1970), Rajaji Memorial (1974), Kamaraj Memorial (1975) and Cancer Institute (1977).
Guindy Park boasts of over 24 varieties of trees, for example, Amona Squamosa, Atlanta Monoplylla, Feronia Limonia, Azadirachta India, etc. to mention a few. Also more than 14 varieties of shrubs are also found in the park.
The main faunal attraction of this park is the occurrence of rare Indian Antelope popularly known as the “Black Buck”, found nowhere in the world except India. Over 14 types of mammals like Elephant, Antelope, Spotted Deer, Jungle Cat, Toddy Cat, Indian civet, etc. can also be seen here.
The park also accounts for over 37 varieties of birds, like the King Fisher, Blue Jay, Golden Backed Woodpecker, Crow Pheasant, Yellow Wattled Lapwing, Red Wattled Lapwing, Blue Faced Malkoha, Shrikes, Koels, Doves, Minivets, Munias, Barkets, Parakeets, Grey Partridge, Tailor Birds, Robins, Drongos, Quails, Beak Paradise, Flycatcher, Stone Curlew and so on. There are also many kinds of amphibians and snakes to add to the variety that is already available.
How to get there ?
Air – Chennai has an airport with both domestic and international terminals. Regular flights connect Chennai with the major cities within the country and also with countries like USA, Singapore, U.K., etc.
Rail – Chennai is well connected by rail with the important towns and cities within and beyond the state.
Road – State transport buses and private buses connect Chennai with the major towns and cities within the country. Local trains, city buses, auto rickshaws and taxis are also available for local transportation.
Alappuzha Town
Alappuzha, formerly known as Alleppey, in Kerala is surrounded by waterways and canals and is therefore also called the “Venice of the East.” Alappuzha is famous for the beautiful backwaters surrounding it. Many Kerala Backwater cruises begin or end in Alappuzha. The backwaters with water birds and flowers and greenery along their banks are a beautiful and refreshing sight. See the serene attractions of Alappuzha on Kerala tours with Kerala Backwater. Alappuzha is famous for the Snake Boat Races held here every year around the time of the Onam festival. The giant snake boats called Chundanvalloms, race against each other for the prestigious Nehru Trophy. Prime Minster Jawaharlal Nehru donated the trophy after he received an unforgettable reception along the waterways of Alappuzha.
Kochi City
Cochin now known as Kochi is one of the most visited Kerala Backwater destinations. The list of scenic islands comprises of Bolgatty, Vypeen, Gundu and Vallarpadam. Kochi also called the “Queen of the Arabian Sea,” receives many visitors round the year who travel to Kerala to see its tourist attractions and because Cochin is Kerala’s industrial and commercial capital. Many backwater cruises begin or end in Cochin. You’re sure to find a Kerala backwater tour that will enchant and refresh you when you stay in Cochin. Enjoy the Kerala backwater tourist attractions of Cochin while staying at hotels in Cochin.
Thiruvananthapuram – The Capital City Of Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram, previously known as Trivandrum, is the capital of Kerala, India. The name Thiruvananthapuram means the abode of Anantha the Snake God. In Hindu mythology Anantha is the serpent on which Vishnu, the Preserver in the Hindu pantheon, rests. Thiruvananthapuram city is built on seven hills. Its notable landmarks include the Sree Padmananbhaswamy Temple, which is believed to be 2000 years old. The museum attached to the temple has a number of paintings by the renowned painter from Kerala, Raja Ravi Verma. Thiruvananthapuram was previously the capital of the founder of Travancore state Raja Marthanda Varma. The modern capital of Kerala retains its historic heritage in the form of temples, old monuments and palaces of the kings of Travancore. You can tour the historic and modern attractions of Thriruvananthapuram on Kerala tours with Kerala Backwater.
Kottayam Town
Kottayam is a beautiful Kerala backwater destination. This historic town is also famous for many churches and temples and for its role in the history of Kerala. The name Kottayam is derived from Kotta and Akam and means the inside of a fort. Kottayam has a long history. Kottayam is an important center of Christianity in Kerala. There are many famous churches in Kottayam including the St Mary’s church and the St Joseph’s monastery. Some of the famous temples in Kottayam are the Ettumanoor Shiva Temple known for its paintings and sculptures and the Thirunakkara Mahadeva temple. You can see the historic churches and temples of Kottayam on Kerala tours with Kerala Backwater. Kottayam was the first town in Kerala to achieve 100% literacy among the adult population. Because of the many rubber plantations in Kottayam and the beautiful Vembanad Lake, Kottayam is known as the “Land of Letters, Latex and Lakes.” You can tour the many attractions of Kottayam on Kerala tours with Kerala Backwater.
The backwaters are an integral part of the people of Kerala both in terms of economy as well as lifestyle. They are also used for transportation of people and products between villages as well as towns. The boats used are termed as “Kettuvalloms” i.e. stitched boats since the boats are constructed by stitching coconut ropes together with wooden planks. Across the state of Kerala, the backwaters comprise of several canals, rivers, lagoons and lakes.
Adding to the backwater holidays at Kerala coconut trees, marshy groves, shallow lakes, deep canals and long boats are the meticulously planned backwater cruises. The facilities and the simplicity of the entire holiday make it a luxurious holiday in India. Off late the 
backwater tourism has really caught up with the Indian as well as the foreign tourists. The gentle rhythm of the boat journey adds to the magic of the backwaters. Life can be enjoyed at an unhurried pace. The swaying coconut canopies make the heart of the tourists swing too.
Watching the sun go down, savoring the fresh seafood and being entirely relaxed to the soul makes the holiday cruise on the Indian backwaters of Kerala an unparallel experience. In order to promote backwater tourism without losing out of the authentic feel of the cruise traditional meals are served on banana leaves that comprise of several dishes, supplemented by fruits. The backwater cuisine, which comprises of delectable fresh fish like pearl spotted fish, barramundi, crabs, mussels and prawns is finger licking good.
Varkala Beach
Varkala Beach is a beautiful beach that has a more than 2000 years old shrine of Lord Vishnu. This beach of Kerala is rich in mineral water springs that are known for their medicinal value. The sea shore is called `Papanasm’ and hundreds of Hindu devotees perform ‘Vavu Bali’ on new moon days of th Malayalam month of Karkidakam.
Varkala is less crowded with less number of shops, beach sellers and still lesser amount of commercialization.
The development we see today in Varkala happened only in a period less than two years. The raw and unused stretch of beach is a loner’s delight where one could swim, play cricket or volley ball and even manage to practise yoga. If you are lucky, you also get sight of a naughty dolphin.
Warning to the Visitors
Like much of the Kerala coast, Varkala too experiences strong coastal rips. Many lives, even that of experienced swimmers have been lost in the turbulence of the tides. It is not advisable to swim too far into the sea. Varkala has only one lifeguard post with two lifeguards and it is advised to swim around this area. On a crowded day spotting when in trouble becomes difficult.