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With foreign influences as disparate as Chinese and Portuguese, Arab and Dutch, Kerala is the spice coast of India. Edged by a thread of unbroken beachline, the state’s heart is composed of intensely green paddy fields and a unique network of rivers and lagoons. Upland Kerala, relatively little visited, is composed of hills thickly wooded with teak and rubber. It is here that Kerala’s most precious spices are grown in carefully nurtured plantations: cardamom, pepper and nutmeg. Trivandrum, the state capital, an international airport, has an exceptionally fine museum set in an amusement park. 16 km away is Kovalam, one of the most popular beaches in the country. Many visitors stay at Kovalam, driving into Trivandrum for sightseeing trips, rather than the other way round. Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple in Trivandrum, and Padmanabhapuram Palace, a short drive away, are important monuments. Cochin, with a fine natural harbour, has been Kerala’s center of maritime trade for innumerable centuries. Along the harbour, rows of antediluvian Chinese fishing nets indicate Kerala’s trade with China, just as buildings along the water’s edge testify to the erstwhile presence of Dutch and Portuguese colonisers. Jewtown, complete with an immaculately preserved synagogue, has a flavour all its own, while Tripunathura, at the other end of the city, has many traditional houses with central courtyards. Kerala’s multitude of faiths – Islam, Judaism, and a host of sects of Christianity and Hinduism – all coexist harmoniously in a state that is known for its Marxist inclinations! Kerala’s traditions of dance forms, which originated from temple worship, can be witnessed at regularly held performances. Lecture-demonstrations of the most spectacular of these – Kathakali – are held daily at many centres in Cochin. Teyyam, at once an act of worship and visual feast; temple festivals complete with caparisoned elephants; Kalaripayata, the indigenous art of self defence; all are a part of Kerala’s remarkable heritage of performing arts, and can be witnessed at various centres in Cochin and Trivandrum. A five hour drive from Cochin leads into thickly forested hills, past rubber and spice plantations, and into southern India’s tea growing district headquartered at the charmingly old world Munnar. From Kottayam to Alleppey is a world of palm fringed waterways, a route which is covered by motor launch. Elderly sailboats, long barges transporting tons of coconuts and tiny skiffs used to transport children to school are common sights on these backwaters. |
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Trivandrum, the capital of
the state of Kerala, is a beautiful seaside city built on seven hills.
The city gets its name from the word, Thiru Ananthapuram meaning the
city of Ananth or the abode of the sacred serpent Anantha, on which
Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the Hindu trinity, reclines. GENERAL INFORMATION
Area : HOW TO GET THERE
CONDUCTED TOURS
PLACES OF INTEREST
Padmanabhaswamy Temple,
Zoological Park,Napier Museum, Sri Chitra Art Gallery, Science &
Technology Museum, Veli Lagoon, Shanmugham Beach, Aruvikkara Dam and
Neyyar Dam, SMSM Institute.
Kovalam 16 km,
Kanniyakumari 87 km, Padmanabhapuram Palace 54 km, Ponmudi 61 km
Quilon 72 km, Suchindram Temple 99 km, Thekkady (Periyar Wildlife
Sanctuary) 272 km, Varkala 55 km. INFORMATION CENTRE
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16 kms away from Trivandrum, a sheltered bay endowed with unusual beauty. This natural bay is a safe sea-pool free from high waves and surge. And the beach resort here is of international standard. |
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Alleppey situated in south
of Cochin, is the centre for backwater cruises in Kerala. It has a
large network of canals which passes through the town, provinces its
lifeline & has a long sandy beach. It is also the centre of the famous
coir products of Kerala. Nehru Trophy Boat Race - the most colourful
snake-boat race in Kerala - is held here on the second Saturday of
August every year. GENERAL INFORMATION
Altitude
: Sea Level. HOW TO GET THERE
PLACES OF INTEREST Backwater Cruise Alleppey is the gateway to the inland water ways of Kerala. Cruise through small canals pasing paddy fields, villages and small water lodged town-ships to enjoy the scenic beauty and to get a glimpse of the unspoiled rural life of Kerala. Backwater boat cruises are conducted by Alleppey Tourism Development Co-operative Society. The important ones are given below:-
Place Distance Journey
Time Rates EXCURSIONS
Ambalapuzha (14 kms),
Hariped (33 kms). TOURIST INFORMATION
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The present day Quilon is famous for its varied modern industries, Cashewnut Processing & Research, fisheries etc. for the tourists coming from Trivandrum, Quilon is the beginning of the magnificient backwaters of Kerala.
Altitude
: Sea level. TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION :
PLACES OF INTEREST
Thangassery Light
House :
Backwaters EXCURSIONS
Chavara 16 km, Kundara 13
km, Courtallam (Health Resort) (104 km), Alleppey (85 km). TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRES
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Kottayam situated in South of Cochin is a cultural Centre with beautiful Old churches. Though a busy commercial city, on its west, it has beautiful backwaters & on its eastern parts it is full of greenary. GENERAL INFORMATION
Area :
15.54 sq. km TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION :
PLACES OF INTEREST Valiya Pally, Thazhathangadi Mosque. Kumarakam : 10 km away from Kottayam, here is a lovely Vembanad Lake Where tourists can enjoy the beautiful backwater trips operated by the State Water Transport Department. The important ones are given below:-
PLACE KILOMETRES JOURNEY
HRS. RATE EXCURSIONS
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
(Thekkady) (114 km.), Ettumanoor (13 km.), Vaikkom (48 km). TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE
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The Periyar wildlife Sanctuary at Thekkady is an important tourist attraction. It is situated on the Periyar lake in the hills of Western ghats and is the finest sanctuary for viewing & photographing Indian wild elephants.
Altitude
: 900 m to 2000 metres TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION :
WHAT TO SEE
Indian Wild Elephants,
Sambar, Barking Deer, Wild Boar, Tigers, Panthers, Wild Gogs, Bison,
Spotted deer, Leopard, Musk deer. SIGHTSEEING IN THE SANCTUARY Wildlife can be seen in its natural habitat by cruising on the lake in motorboats. Elephant rides & motorboats can be arranged through:-
1) The Manager, Aranya
Niwas Hotel, Thekkady.
NOTE:- Permission for
video, TV & Cinema Shooting can be obtained from:- EXCURSIONS
The following picnic spots
are approachable by motor launch or bridge path in the forest Arubi
creek 16 kms, Crusoe Island 19 kms, Manakkavala 10 kms, Mullakudy 29
km Pavarasu 19 kms, Periyar Dam 12 kms, Thannikudy 38 kms, Peermade 40
kms. TOURIST INFORMATION :
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Cochin,the commercial hub of Kerala, is a town of great historical importance. It has a fine natural harbour around which the city has grown. The Fort Cochin area, where the Portuguese settled in the 16th century, has been declared as Heritage Zone.
Climate :
Summer Max 35 deg Min 22 deg Winter Max 32 deg Min 20 deg TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION :
CONDUCTED
TOURS
PLACES OF INTEREST
Dutch Palace, Jewish
Synagogue, St.Francis Church, Bolghatty, Gunda and Willingdon Islands,
Kerala History Museum, Hill Palace Museum, Parishath Taamburan Museum,
Chinese Fishing Nets, Santacruz Cathedral (Basilica). EXCURSIONS
Alwaye 21 km, Kalady 45
km, Alleppey 64 km, Trichur 80 km, Kottayam 76 km, Guruvayur 109 km,
Munnar 136 km, Idikki 138 km, Palghat 163 km, Periyar Wildlife
Sanctuary (Thekkady) 190 km, Sabarimala 209 km, Calicut (Kozhikode)
218 km. MISCELLANEOUS
TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE :
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Trichur, 78 kms north of Cochin on National Highway 47 lies at the base of a hillock, crowned by the famous Vadkkumnathan (Shiva) temple. This former capital of Cochin state was captured by Zamorin and later by Tipu Sultan inthe second half of the 18th Century. The famous pooram festival is celebrated at the Vadakkumnathan Temple every year during April-May. The Kerala Sahitya Academy and Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy are located in Trichur.
Altitude
: Sea level. HOW TO GET THERE :
PLACES OF INTEREST
Vadakkumnathan
Temple
Town Hall
Zoo
Aquarium State Museum, Chembukkavu, Tel:20566. Timings: 1000 hrs and 1700 hrs. Closed on Mondays. Entry free
Art Museum,
Zoo compound. Good collection of wood carvings, metal sculptures and
ancient jewellery. Timing: Daily 1000 hrs to 1700 hrs. Closed on
Mondays. EXCURSIONS Guruvayoor (32 km), Cheruthuruthy (29 km), Peechi Dam (23 km), Tiruvilwamala Temple (29 km), Cranganore (Kodungallor) (36 km), Triprayar (25 km),Irinjalakuda (21 km).
KALADY : (55 km) Kalady, a
pilgrim Centre, is situated on the banks of the river Periyar. It is
the birth place of Sri Sankaracharya, the great Indian Philosopher who
lived in the 8th Century. There are two Shrines in memory of Sri
Sankaracharya, one dedicated to him as Dakshinamurthy & the other to
the goddess Sharada. Their is an ancient Sri Krishna Temple close by,
which was the family temple of Adi Sankaracharya. Another temple known
as the International Temple dedicated to Sri Ramakrishna Deva, was
completed in April 1976. TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE
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Guruvayur is one of the most sacred and important pilgrim contres of Kerala, attracting thousands of pilgrims from all parts of the Countury. Its chief attraction is a temple dedicated to Lord Krishna known as 'Guruvayurappan'.
Altitude
: Sea level TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION :
WHAT TO SEE
Guruvayur Shree
Krishna Temple :
Punnathur Kotta : TOURIST INFORMATION :
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Information
provided by
Department of Tourism. Ministry of Tourism and Culture.
Government of India. |
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