Malampuzha dam

                                                                    malampuzha yakshi

Malampuzha  dam  is  located  in  Palakkad  district.  This  dam  which  has  a  height  of  6066  feet  is  built  across  the Malampuzha river and is said to be the largest irrigation reservoir in Kerala. It is combined of 1849 meters long masonry dam and 220 meters long earthen dam. This reservoir can hold 8000 sq m of water. There are 2 canal systems which serve the purpose of irrigation and the reservoir provides water to Palakkad. This is also a major tourist destination. The Malampuzha garden and the reservoir are located having the Western Ghats as the background.

The main attractions here include  the Malampuzha garden, snake park, rope way, reservoir, road train, Japanese garden,  fish  shaped  aquarium  etc.  Malampuzha  gardens  are  popularly  called  as  the  ‘Vrindhavan  of  Kerala’.  The passenger rope way takes one on an air journey over the garden. There is a Rope Way Bridge that connects the two sides of the park and a specialty if this bridge is that only 50 persons can walk through this bridge at a time. There are guards to watch this. There is a huge sculpture in Malampuzha gardens which is very famous. It is a cement sculpture of a ‘Yakshi’ and is made by Kanayi Kunjiraman. The rock garden is made of broken pieces of bangles, tiles, used plastic cans and other waste materials by the master sculptor Padma Shree Neck Chand Saini, whose rock garden in Chandigarh is world famous. Boat cruises can be conducted in the reservoir. Pedal boats, Motor boats, Rowboats etc are available for hire.

Timings:

Malampuzha garden : 10:00 am to 6:00 pm

Aquarium : 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm

1:00 pm to 9:00 pm on holidays Snake park : 8:00 am to 6:00 pm Rock garden : 10:00 am to 6:00 pm

How to Reach

Nearest Bus Station      : Palakkad bus station

Nearest Railway Station : Palakkad railway station

Nearest Airport             : Coimbatore International Airport

Fort Kochi

                                                                  Chinese fishing nets

 

Kochi (colonial name Cochin) is a vibrant city situated on the south-west coast of the Indian peninsula in the breathtakingly scenic and prosperous state of Kerala, hailed as 'God's Own Country'. Its strategic importance over the centuries is underlined by the sobriquet Queen of the Arabian Sea. Informally, Cochin is also referred to as the Gateway to Kerala.

From time immemorial, the Arabs, British, Chinese, Dutch, and Portuguese have left indelible marks on the history and development of Cochin. Over the years, Cochin has emerged as the commercial and industrial capital of Kerala and is perhaps the second most important city on the west coast of India (after Mumbai/Bombay). Cochin is proud of its world class port and international airport that link it to many major cities worldwide.

The eventful history of this city began when a major flood in AD 1341 threw open the estuary at Kochi, till then a land locked region, turning it into one of the finest natural harbours in the world. Kochi thus became a haven for seafaring visitors from all over the world and became the first European township in India when the Portuguese settled here in the 15th century.

The Dutch wrested Fort Kochi from the Portuguese in AD 1663 and later in the last phase of the colonial saga, the British took over, the town in 1795. During 1660's, Fort Kochi peaked in stature as a prime commercial centre and its fame spread far and wide - variously as a rich trade centre, a major military base, a vibrant cultural hub, a great ship building centre, a centre for Christianity and so on. Today, centuries later, the city is home to nearly thirteen communities.

A few interesting sites included in the tour are the Chinese fishing nets along the Vasco Da Gama Square, Santa Cruz Basilica, St.Francis Church, VOC Gate, Bastion Bungalow etc. Apart from these architectural splendours, an array of restaurants serving fresh seafood are also popular among tourists.

The Chinese fishing nets erected on teak wood and bamboo poles work on the principle of balance. Records say they were first set up here between AD 1350 and 1450. Vasco Da Gama Square, the narrow promenade that parallels the beach, is the best place to watch the nets being lowered and pulled out of the sea.

The Santa Cruz Basilica, a church built originally by the Portuguese and elevated to a Cathedral by Pope Paul 1V in 1558, was spared by the Dutch conquerors who destroyed many Catholic buildings. Later the British demolished the structure and Bishop Dom Gomez Vereira commissioned a new building in 1887. Consecrated in 1905, Santa Cruz was proclaimed a Basilica by the Pope John Paul II in 1984.

Fort Kochi is also home to one of India's oldest churches - the St.Francis Church. This was a Roman Catholic Church during the Portuguese rule from 1503 to 1663, then a Dutch Reformist Church from 1664 to 1804, and Anglican church from 1804 to 1947. Today it is governed by the Church of South India (CSI). Another important fact about the church is that Vasco Da Gama, who died in 1524, was buried here before his mortal remains were returned to Portugal 14 years later... Each and every structure, street, door, window and brick in Fort Kochi has several stories to tell.

Fort Kochi is accessible by bus or ferry. The bus ride from Ernakulam town, which is nearly 13 km away, takes about an hour and the ferry ride from Main boat jetty at Ernakulam about 20 minutes.

How to Reach:

Nearest  bus station:Kaloor private  bus station

Nearest railway station : Ernakulam  junction and Eranakulam Town

Nearest airport : Cochin International Airport, about 20 km

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the district of Idukki, Kerala. The sanctuary was established in the year 1984 and covers an area of around 90sq.kms. The place receives a much lesser rainfall as it is located in the rain shadow area of Western Ghats. The beautiful rocks along with the vegetation covers lend an enchanting look to the ambience. The beauty  of the sanctuary  is magnified with  the peaks Nandala Malai , Kottakombu Malai , Vellaikkal malai and Viriyoottu malai  .It is not be noted that the Anamudi Peak which is the highest peak in South India is situated adjacent to Chinnar sanctuary , in Eravikulam National park . The main rivers flowing through the place are Chinnar  and Pambar .Chinnar river originates from Kumari malai and joins Amaravati river in Tamil nadu ,where Anaimudi hills are the originating  place of pamabar river .The rivers are perennial and these rivers flows eastwards .The river Kabani , and Bhawani are the other rivers in Kerala  which flows towards east .The Pamabar river and Chinnar river meets at Koottar .The Thoovanam waterfalls is another attraction of Pambar river .This site attracts masses and its been a major attraction of this area.

Flora & Fauna

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is enriched with a vast cover of vegetation that includes the thorny scrub forests, dry deciduous forest, wet grasslands and high sholas. Some of the common species of flora found here are acacia leucofolia (velvelam), strobilanthus kunthianus (neelakurinji), santalum album (chandanam), arabica (karivelam), elaeocarpus recurvatus (bhadraksham) etc. The place also abounds in wide array of animals like sambar, little cormorants, bonnet macaques, tigers, gaur, spotted deer, spectacled cobras, darters, kraits and many more. Other major fish species available are Galla mullya minnows , Giant danio , and river Carp baril .White bison is also been spotted in Chinnar wild life sanctuary 3. . Marayoor sandalwood forest  situated here is very famous .Acacia leucofolia , Acacia Arabica , Optunia strica are the main plants seen here which can even survives lack of water .The forest type is mainly deciduous , and famous for medicinal plants .Even endangered trees and reported to be in the forest.  Different types of trees such as the unique thorny scrub forest with Xerophytic species are visible. Other than this the flora that can be seen in this Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala are dry deciduous forest, thorny scrub forests, high sholas and wet grasslands.

Major Attractions:

Gizzled Giant Squirrel: The riverine forests along with Chinnar and Pambar support a large number of highly endangered Grizzled Giant Squirrels. The sanctuary plays host to the second largest population of Grizzled Giant Squirrels in the world.

Thoovanam Waterfalls: Deep within the sanctuary, the spectacular Thoovanam waterfalls is located. The river Pambar flows eastwards through the sanctuary and plummets down from a great height on the river Chinnar. Indian Wildlife Department permit tourists to visit the falls as part of wildlife tourism.

Watch Tower: Standing on the lofty watchtower, one can have a panoramic view of the entire park and the wildlife beauties, adjoining jungles in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu and also the magnificent mountains far away.

River trekking,Trekking ,Nature trail to the watch tower,Trek to Thoovanam falls,Interpretation activities and medicinal Garden,Tree house at Chinnar,Machans at Koottar,Karakkad and Champakkad,Trekking and camping at Vasyappara  are the main activities for the visitors.

Best Time to Visit: December to April.

Sanctuary timings are from 7 AM to 5 PM.

It’s an elephant country, so it is better to avoid walking or driving around the road, especially in the night.

One can hire a guide from the Eco development committee situated next to the Chinnar forest check post.

How to reach

Nearest railway station: Aluva and Pollachi

Nearest airport: Cochin international airport airport

Veli Lake

Veli is an ideal picnic spot, which has been developed as a tourist village. The placid Water of back water lake merges here with boundless blue of sea water A water front park with a wadding pool ,a floating restaurant ,aqua sports facilities, and beautiful gardens thrill children along with grown up people .Children can watch different varieties of back water fishes in the wadding pool Beautiful statue on the meadows and sculpture by renowned sculpture Kanayi Kunjuraman are the distinct features of veli. There are facilities for pedal boating, row boating. It gives an opportunity to enter the fantastic world of backwaters A visitor who sits by the side of lake will have the incredible experience. He enjoys the rhythm of lake when the small wave hits on its bank on boat racing .Floating Bridge is a new experience to those who visit there. Floating restaurant gives them an excellent opportunity to dine on the surface of water. Then they can pass through the floating bridge to the shore of Arabian Sea .The stretch of white sand and blue water give them the ingredients for relaxation. The youth hostel at veli provides in expensive dormitory type accommodation.

Best Time to visit:- Veli Lake can be visited at any time as it is a major picnic spot for children

How to reach: Nearest airport:Trivandrum International Airport, 

Nearest railwaystation:Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station ,

Nearest bus station :KSRTC Bus station Thiruvananthapuram.