Friday, August 17, 2012

Sivagiri Mutt



Sivagiri Mutt is a famous ashram in Varkala, founded by the philosopher and social reformer Sree Narayana Guru. Sree Narayana Guru's tomb is also located here. The Samadhi (the final resting place) of the Guru here attracts thousands of devotees every year during the Sivagiri Pilgrimage days 30th December to 1st January. The Sivagiri Mutt, built in 1904, is situated at the top of the Sivagiri hill near Varkala. Even decades after the guru breathed his last here in 1928; his samadhi continues to be thronged by thousands of devotees, donned in yellow attire, from different parts of Kerala and outside every year during the Sivagiri Pilgrimage days - 30th December to 1st January. The Sivagiri Mutt is also the headquarters of the Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham, an organization of his disciples and saints, established by the Guru to propagate his concept of 'One Caste, One Religion, One God'. The Guru Deva Jayanti, the birthday of the Guru, and the samadhi day are celebrated in August and September respectively every year. Colourful processions, debates and seminars, public meetings, cultural shows, community feasts, group wedding and rituals mark the celebrations.

How to Reach: Nearest Railway Station: Varkala
Nearest Airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Thangasseri Fort


Thangasseri Fort is one of the important tourist attractions of Thangasseri and it is situated in Kollam district. The Thangasseri Fort is also called as 'Dutch Quilon'. Thangasseri literally means Gold village in Malayalam language. The place was named as Thangasseri because this was the place where trade was done using gold as the currency.Thangasseri was the favorite spot of the Dutch and the Portuguese. The Thangasseri Fort was constructed in the 16th century and right now only the ruins are left behind. The fort was about 20 feet tall.

The place remains today as an Anglo-Indian settlement, though few Anglo-Indians remain. Presently, the Thangasseri Fort is managed by the Archaeological Survey of India  the Thangasseri Fort.The famous lighthouse of Thangasseri which is 144 ft high, constructed in 1519 by the British is another important attraction of this place,is open to visitors from 1530 - 1730 hrs.

How to reach
Nearest Railway Station: Kollam railway station.
Nearest Airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Edakkal Caves




Edakkal Caves are two natural caves located 1000 metres high on Ambukutty Mala 25 km from Kalpetta in the Wayanad district of Kerala in India’s Western Ghats. They lie on an ancient trade route connecting the high mountains of Mysore to the Malabar coast ports. Inside the caves are pictorical writings believed to be from neolithic man, evidence of the presence of a prehistoric civilisation existing in this region. Such stone age carvings are very rare and these are the only known examples in southern India
Located at an altitude of 1000 m above MSL, is a set of three caves, considered to be one amongst the earliest sites of human settlement on the face of the planet. Each of these caves has numerous ancient stone scripts, various animal and human figurines, symbols, ancient weaponry figures et cetera depicted on the walls
What kind of people were our ancestors? What kind of lives did they lead? Often, the paths leading to the answers to these questions are as fascinating as the answers themselves. If you would like to walk a little way along one such wonderful path of discovery, one good place to visit would be the Edakkal caves in the Ambukuthi Hills in North Kerala, considered to be one of the earliest centres of human habitation. Inside the cave you will find ancient stone scripts, pictorial wall inscriptions of human and animal figures with peculiar headdresses, the swastik form, symbols and cave drawings of human figures, wheels, bows, knives, trees and so on.

Similar cave drawings, considered to be 7000 years old, are found only in Sriya in the European Alps and a few rocky places in Africa. The caves, which are found around 10 km from Sultan Bathery, are two natural rock formations believed to have been formed by a large split in a huge rock

How to reach:
Nearest railway station: Kozhikode Railway Station about 97 km from Sultan Bathery.
Nearest airport: Kozhikode International Airport about 23 km from Karipur, Kozhikode.
Nearest Bus Station:Kerala SRTC Bus station Kozhikode

Friday, August 3, 2012

Attappady






Attappady  is Located 38 km from Mannarkkad, Palakkad district, north Kerala. Situated on the northeastern side of the district and spread over an area of 827 sq km. Attappady is one of the largest tribal settlements in the State. The grandiloquence of this great symphony of forests, rivers and mountains is awe inspiring. Many tribals like the Irulas and the Mudugas live here, though the density of their population is very low. The tribals worship the mountain peak "Malleeswaran' as a huge 'Sivalinga' (the Linga is the venerated image of Lord Siva) and Sivarathri at the Malleeswaran temple is the most important festival celebrated by the tribals. The Malleeswaran peak and the river Bhavani have a tremendous influence on the lives of the tribals.
Attappady Reserve Forest - a protected area in Palakkad district of Kerala is the scenic spot which Bhavani River flows. Bhavani River, nestled below the Nilgiri Hills of the Western Ghats, is the second largest river in the State of Tamil Nadu, India. A long perennial river, Bhavani, is a major tributary of the Kaveri River, the longest river in Tamil Nadu. It also flows through the beautiful land of Kerala. The gurgling sound of the river awakes the sleeping minds to be in a rather different green world.

How to Reach:
Nearest Railway Station : Palakkad about 40 km from Mannarkkad.
Nearest Airport : Coimbatore Airport in neighbouring city State of Tamilnadu about 55 km from Palakkad.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Perunthenaruvi Water Falls






Perunthenaruvi Water Falls is a natural Waterfalls in the Pampa river. Located on the Western Ghats of Sahyadri Range. Rather than the height, the stream here over a wide area. It is a spectacular view of the water bubbling over the rocks. The Perunthenaruvi Waterfalls is situated about 36 kms  from Pathanamthitta. The Perunthenaruvi Waterfalls on the banks of the Pamba river is a favourite picnic spot for both domestic and foreign tourists. Here, the water flows down a rocky bed into a ravine about 60 to 100 feet deep.

How to reach
Nearest railway station: Pathanamthitta railway station
Nearest airport:Cochin international airport