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| Kerala Scenes- Page 1 | Kerala Scenes - Page 2 | |
Kerala, the land of green magic, is a narrow, fertile strip on the south-west coast of India, sandwiched between the Lakshadweep Sea and the Western Ghats. The landscape is dominated by rice fields, mango, cashewnut trees and coconut palms. The Western Ghats, with their dense tropical forests, misty peaks, extensive ridges and ravines, have sheltered Kerala from invaders, but at the same time, have encouraged maritime contact with the outside world.
Goegraraphy
Kerala, one of the smallest states in the Republic of India, was formed in 1956. It has an area of 15,005 sq. miles. [38,863 sq. km. ] about one percent of the total land area of India.
The state stretches for about 360 miles along the Malabar coast on the western side of the Indian peninsula; its width varies from 20 to 75 miles. It is bordered by the states of karnataka on the north, Tamil Nadu to the east and the arabian sea to the west (map). The state has 14 districts and the capital is in Trivandrum [now Thiruvananthapuram].
Culture
Isolated from the deccan plateau by the mountanious belt of the Western Ghats, but with a long coastline open to foreign influences, Kerala has evolved a unique culture. It is a highly politicized region, but has a long tradition of religious amity. It is an educationally advanced state with its own language, Malayalam, and has the highest rate of literacy (100%) among Indian states. Women in Kerala enjoy a high social status, thanks perhaps to its historic matrilineal system. Art forms of Kerala range from Kalaripayattu, the martial art believed to be the origin of various other oriental ones, to Kathakali, one of the dance forms of Kerala considered to be amongst the oldest indian dance styles. The elegant snake boat races have always been the favorite of tourists visiting Kerala.
Nature
Kerala is a land of great natural beauty. From the majestic heights of the Western Ghats the country undulates westward presenting a vista of silent valleys clothed in the richest green. Among the many rivers that glide across the plains to merge their waters with the Arabian sea, the more important are the Periyar, the Pamba and the Bharatha puzha. The elegant waterfalls at Athirampally near Trichur is a popular tourist spot. Along the coast, sand dunes shelter a linked chain of lagoons and backwaters the still waters of which are studded with sea-gulls and country canoes plying at a snails pace. The silence of the clear skies is broken only by the coos of koels, a type of cuckoo, and the frequent flutter of cranes perched on the embankments. The highest peak of peninsular India Annai Mudi is located in this state. The scenic Thekkady Wild Life Sanctuary is a popular vacation destination for nature lovers.
The climate is equable and varies little from season to season. The temperature normally ranges from 80 to 90 F in the plains but drops to about 70 F in the highlands. The state gets its due share of both the southwest as well as the northeast monsoons, and the rainfull is heavy, averaging around 118 inches annually.
Attractions For more details Click on the link which will lead you to the commercial web site
Kochi (Cochin)
The port city of Kochi is located on a cluster of islands and narrow peninsulas. The older parts of the city are an unlikely blend of medieval Portugal, Holland and an English country village grafted onto the tropical Malabar Coast. Here, you can see the oldest church in India, winding streets crammed with 500-year-old Portuguese houses, cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, a Jewish community whose roots go back to the Diaspora, a 16th-century synagogue, a palace containing some of India's most beautiful murals, and performances of the world-famous Kathakali dance-drama. Ferries scuttle back and forth between the various parts of Kochi and dolphins can often be seen in the harbour. Most of the historical sights are in Fort Cochin or Mattancherry. Budget accommodation can be found in mainland Ernakulam.
Thrissur - The cultural capital of Kerala is in the central region of Kerala with rich history, culture and archeological remains. From ancient times, this district has played a significant role in the political history of South India.The famous Pooram festival is celebrated at the Vadakkumnathan temple every year during April-May. The Kerala Kala Mandalam, the Kerala Sahitya Academy and Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy are located here. The elegant waterfalls at Athirampally near Trichur is a popular tourist spot..
Guruvayur is one of the most important and holiest pilgrim centres of Kerala, attracting thousands of pilgrims from all parts of the Countury. The main attraction is a temple dedicated to Lord Sree Krishna known as 'Guruvayurappan'. According to legend, when Lord Sree Krishna left this world, his golden cityDwarka was submerged in the ocean. At that time, an idol of the Lord was saved from the drowning city of Dwarka by the Guru of the Gods and with the help of Vayu, the god of wind, brought to Kerala. As the sacred idol was brought here by the combined efforts of the Guru and Vayu, the Lord here is called Guruvayurappan. It is at this temple that Melpattur Narayana Bhattathiri composed his renowned Sanskrit devotional poem Narayaneeyam.
Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple is the most famous and prominent among all the Sastha temples. This is one of the most ancient temples in Kerala. It is believed that Lord Parasurama consecrated the deity of the temple at the foot of Sabari hills to which reference has been made in Ramayana. The temple attracts pilgrims not only from the southern states of Kerala, Tamilnadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh but also from the other part of the country and abroad. The unique feature of the temple is that it is open for people of all faiths and many Non-Hindus conduct pilgrimage to this temple. The secular aspect of the temple is best exemplified by the existence of the "Vavar nada" in honour of a Muslim Saint at the close proximity to the main temple (Ayyappa Swami temple) at Sabarimala by the side of Holy Pathinettampadi (Holy Eighteen steps).
The Backwaters
The complex network of lagoons, lakes, rivers and canals fringing the coast of Kerala forms the basis of a distinct regional lifestyle, and travelling by boat along these backwaters is one of the highlights of a visit to the state. The boats cross shallow, palm-fringed lakes studded with Chinese fishing nets, and along narrow, shady canals where coir (coconut fibre), copra and cashews are loaded onto boats. Stops are made at small settlements where people live on carefully cultivated narrow spits of land only a few metres wide, and there's the chance to see traditional boats with huge sails, and prows carved into the shape of dragons. The most popular backwater trip is the eight-hour voyage between Kollam and Alappuzha, but most of your fellow passengers on this route will be Western travellers. If you want a local experience, or you simply feel like a shorter trip, there are local boats from Alappuzha to Kottayam and Changanassery.
Kovalam
This mellow Keralan coastal village has become the most popular beach hangout in southern India. It was once a picturesque settlement built next to two palm-fringed coves enclosed by rocky headlands, but development has been almost totally unplanned. There's a plethora of places to stay, ranging from cheap concrete boxes to up-market resorts, and a large number of under-equipped restaurants offering standard Asian travellers' menus. Many of the badly maintained hotels and restaurants were ugly even before they started to fall apart and the amount of garbage piled up behind the beach is a complete disgrace. The effects of a large influx of `independent' travellers on an unprepared environment are clear to see.
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
This 777 sq km sanctuary is home to bison, antelopes, sambars, wild boars, monkeys, langurs, a wide variety of birds, some 750 elephants and about 35 tigers and leopards. If you go to Periyar hoping to see tigers, you're almost certain to be disappointed. If, on the other hand, you treat Periyar as a pleasant escape from the rigours of Indian travel, a nice place to cruise on the lake and an opportunity to see some wildlife and enjoy a jungle walk, then you will probably find a visit well worthwhile. The park encompasses a 26 sq km artificial lake, created by the British in 1895 to provide water to Madurai. There are places to stay inside the park; the closest towns are Kumily and Thekkady
Lakshadweep Islands
The Lakshadweep archipelago consists of 36 coral islands some 200km to 300km west of the Kerala coast. The islands are a northern extension of the Maldives chain, and form the smallest of the Union Territories of India. Ten of the islands are inhabited, predominantly by Malayalam-speaking Muslims. The main occupations on the island are fishing and copra and coir production, though tourism is an emerging industry. The islands are every bit as inviting as those in the Maldives but, until very recently, were effectively off limits. Now there are regular boat cruises and tours to the island for Indian nationals, and the resort on the uninhabited island of Bangaram is open to foreign tourists. There are plenty of opportunities for scuba diving, snorkelling, deep-sea fishing and all the usual resort water sports. Permits to visit the island are available from New Delhi or Kochi (Cochin). There are several flights a week and four-day cruises departing from Kochi (Cochin)
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