The God's Own Country : Tourism Thread

[navjot]

The Marvel Called Kerala…


If there is one place in the riveting diversity of India where there is tangible beauty and a phenomenal thing like total literacy, it is in Kerala. Kerala is a state full of good things. This small state at the southern tip of the Indian peninsula is an easy winner owing to its beautiful landscape, intriguing customs, high-intensity cultural life and an educated public so often dressed in white. From Kasargode to Thiruvananthapuram, the state in choc-a-bloc with places that attract tourists and travellers from all over the world.


Kerala is one of the best tourist destinations in India. It is visited by tourists from around the world. And beautiful and attractive, with exceptional beauty of nature that the plant can be more tourist heavy fall in love. Well, if you are looking for a destination blessed with nature, then the state of Kerala is the place for you. Visit and this condition is to make sure I would love to come back again and visit hit inspired by the beauty of nature.

Not anywhere in the world can enjoy the charm and remote areas, but in Kerala can enjoy delicious. One of the most important and witchcraft are in remote areas of the state of Kerala Tourism idol. In this case, there are some gaps in the destination you can enjoy delicious cruise barge. Kovalam, Alleppey, Kollam, Fort Kochi, Kumarakom are just some of the most beautiful destinations and charming stagnant state of Kerala. These gaps with attractive landscapes and historical sites are equipped with terribly Temple alien languages, and romantic waterfalls, emerald green rice fields and many other sites and charming inspiration awesome.


This thread is exclusively for promoting and projecting the tourist destinatins of Kerala, sharing pictures, travel information, travelogues, news, accommodation and eatery infos at tourist places, hotel reviews etc..


I request evryone to bless this thread with valuable info about the magnificent tourist destinations you have visited esp in your own districts and request everyone's cooperation.....

[Reghu]

Originally Posted by navjot

The Marvel Called Kerala…


If there is one place in the riveting diversity of India where there is tangible beauty and a phenomenal thing like total literacy, it is in Kerala. Kerala is a state full of good things. This small state at the southern tip of the Indian peninsula is an easy winner owing to its beautiful landscape, intriguing customs, high-intensity cultural life and an educated public so often dressed in white. From Kasargode to Thiruvananthapuram, the state in choc-a-bloc with places that attract tourists and travellers from all over the world.


Kerala is one of the best tourist destinations in India. It is visited by tourists from around the world. And beautiful and attractive, with exceptional beauty of nature that the plant can be more tourist heavy fall in love. Well, if you are looking for a destination blessed with nature, then the state of Kerala is the place for you. Visit and this condition is to make sure I would love to come back again and visit hit inspired by the beauty of nature.

Not anywhere in the world can enjoy the charm and remote areas, but in Kerala can enjoy delicious. One of the most important and witchcraft are in remote areas of the state of Kerala Tourism idol. In this case, there are some gaps in the destination you can enjoy delicious cruise barge. Kovalam, Alleppey, Kollam, Fort Kochi, Kumarakom are just some of the most beautiful destinations and charming stagnant state of Kerala. These gaps with attractive landscapes and historical sites are equipped with terribly Temple alien languages, and romantic waterfalls, emerald green rice fields and many other sites and charming inspiration awesome.


This thread is exclusively for promoting and projecting the tourist destinatins of Kerala, sharing pictures, travel information, travelogues, news, accommodation and eatery infos at tourist places, hotel reviews etc..


I request evryone to bless this thread with valuable info about the magnificent tourist destinations you have visited esp in your own districts and request everyone's cooperation.....

Great initiative, Navjot. Till now the only tourism thread was the Kollam Backwater Tourism thread. I think all the general tourism related topics and pictures can be shared and discussed here. I am raring to see snaps of Munnar, Vayanad, Kumarakom, and Nelliyampathy.

[sakrishna]

Thanks for the thread Navjyoth. We'll showcase all the Tourism hotspots of Kerala in this thread, right from Kasaragod to Trivandrum.

[mohammedirshad06]

So I start the thread from Kasargod itself.

Rannipuram, in Kasargod is an unexplored hill station located between Kerala-Karnataka border

Rannipuram is often dubbed as Poor Man's Ooty or Ooty of Kasargod, is a beautiful solitude place famous for its trekking and adventure trails. Part of Shola forest ranges, the place is famous its elephant herds and deers....

image hosted on flickr




The hill ranges has small peaks, grasslands, evergreen tropical forests which merges with Thalakavery Wildlife sanctuary of Karnataka











The star attraction is the Mannikallu, is strong rock formation on top of a peak, which is any trekker's best thrills.....





The location map of Rannipuram and proposed Rannipuram National park

[mohammedirshad06]

In a state, that is criss crossed with 41 rivers, 3 mega lakes, endless number of streams, lagoons, all bordered with mighty Arabian sea, its pieces of land sandwiched between water and sky

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cc:30595286@N03

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CC:drtonygeorge

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cc: rammorrison

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cc:anntatti

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cc:deldrago

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cc:asmine

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cc:mytripsmypics

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cc:gulfu

[navjot]

The sprawling tea estates


















Neelakurunjis at eravikulam national park










Munnar is the most beautiful place i've ever visited.... better than darjeeling................


(c) Suresh

[navjot]

Originally Posted by mohammedirshad06

So I start the thread from Kasargod itself.

Rannipuram, in Kasargod is an unexplored hill station located between Kerala-Karnataka border

Rannipuram is often dubbed as Poor Man's Ooty or Ooty of Kasargod, is a beautiful solitude place famous for its trekking and adventure trails. Part of Shola forest ranges, the place is famous its elephant herds and deers....

image hosted on flickr




The hill ranges has small peaks, grasslands, evergreen tropical forests which merges with Thalakavery Wildlife sanctuary of Karnataka











The star attraction is the Mannikallu, is strong rock formation on top of a peak, which is any trekker's best thrills.....





The location map of Rannipuram and proposed Rannipuram National park

beautiful... i never knew of this place... thanx for sharing.... Kerala is replete with many such beautiful places......

[ajithv]

[ajithv]

[ajithv]

[ajithv]

DEL

[sanjupalayat]

Kalaripayattu dates back to at least the 12th century CE. The historian Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai attributes the birth of kalarippayattu to an extended period of warfare between the Cheras and the Cholas in the 11th century CE. From the 11th or 12th century the right and duty to practice the martial art in the service of a ruler was most associated with specific subgroups of Nairs; however, at least one subcaste of Brahmins, as well as some Christians and Muslims were given this right and duty.

In addition, a special subcaste of Thiyyas called Chekavar's were engaged to fight in ankam, public duels to the death to solve disputes between higher caste opposing parties. Among at least some Nair and Tiyya families, young girls also received preliminary training up until the onset of menses. We also know from the vadakkan pattukal ballads that at least a few women of noted Nair and Tiyya masters continued to practise and achieved a high degree of expertise. Ankam were fought on an ankathattu, a temporary platform, four to six feet high, purpose-built for ankam.

[mohammedirshad06]

image hosted on flickr

CC:Lijo Jain


Vagamon- Kottayam

Scotland of India, with its famous large meadows and para-gilding activities.

[Xeno Axe]

Ezhimala, Kannur

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Ezhimala 3 by radhkrishna, on Flickr

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Scenic Beach of Ezhimala by Neo Light, on Flickr

[Xeno Axe]

Edakkal Caves, Wayanad

• 1,200 metres above sea level
  
• The Stone Age carvings of Edakkal are rare and are the only known examples from south India.
  
• Inside the caves are pictorial writings believed to be dating to at least 5000 BC, from the Neolithic man

The caves were accidentally discovered by Fred Fawcett, a police official of the erstwhile Malabar state in 1890 who immediately recognized their anthropological and historical importance. He subsequently wrote an article about them, attracting the attention of scholars.

Surrounding views from the cave
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View from Edakkal Caves by Kummatti, on Flickr

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Edakkal Caves by Shobanbabu, on Flickr

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Edakkal Caves by Shobanbabu, on Flickr

Trekking into the caves
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Edakkal Caves by Harish Mallipeddi, on Flickr

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0654-IMG_4659(@Edakkal Caves, Wayanad) by Athi S, on Flickr

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0652-IMG_4597(@Edakkal Caves, Wayanad) by Athi S, on Flickr

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Edakkal Caves Trek by Kummatti, on Flickr

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Edakkal Caves Trek by Kummatti, on Flickr

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Edakkal Caves Trek by Kummatti, on Flickr

Inside the caves
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Edakkal Caves.. by J.Sujith Regan, on Flickr

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Cave Wonder (169) by wondercaves, on Flickr

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Edakkal Caves by sabarishr, on Flickr

The Stone Age carvings
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Edakkal Caves by VinayakH, on Flickr

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edakkal-caves-2 by shyamk, on Flickr

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Edakkal Caves by sabarishr, on Flickr

[Sali_varakkal]

A good service, guess recently launced.
You can book tickets at Makemytrip for this bus.
This will be a replacement for the KINGFISHER Flight that used to connect Calicut and Goa.

And nice thread to share tourism related stuff

[sakrishna]

Pic (c) g sivaprasad @ flickr

[Xeno Axe]

Garudan Hanging???

[sakrishna]

Originally Posted by Xeno Axe

Garudan Hanging???

Yup. It is a ritual art performed in Kali/Devi Temples. In Malayalam, it is called 'Garudan Thookkam'. It is common in Ernakulam, Kottayam and Alappuzha districts. Don't know it is also performed in Pathanamthitta district.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garudan_Thookkam

Garudan Thookkam (Eagle Hanging) is a ritual art form performed in Kali temples of south Kerala, south India. The people who dress up as Garuda perform the dance. After the dance performance, the hang-designate dangle from a shaft hooking the skin on his back. In some places, the ritual is performed colorfully with Garudas taken in a procession on bullock carts or boats or hand pulled carts. It will be available in Devi temple during the festival of Meena bharani and Pathamudayam in Thiruvanchoor in Kottayam district.
Legend has it that even after slaying Darika, Kali remained insatiable and thirsty. At this time Vishnu sent Garuda to Kali to quench the thirst. A dancing and bleeding Garuda was taken to Kali and only after getting some drops of blood from Garuda, Kali was pacified. The ritual is performed based on this belief.
Garudan Thookam is submitted as a reward for the problems solved in the abode of Goddess Kali. This is more popular in the areas of Travancore and Kochi. There is a famous Garudan Thookam at the Elamkavu Devi temple at Vadayar in Vaikkom taluk of Kottayam district. During the Aswathi, Bharanthi days of Meenam Month (Malayalam), more than 40 to 50 numbers of Garudan in the Thooka chadus, decorated and floated in thoni vallams (big country-boats), travel behind the Attuvela - a wooden structure constructed in the form of a three storied building which is considered as the floating temple of the Goddess Kali in the Moovattupuzha river. This is one of the best sights, with illuminated Structures. After the night long performance with the help of scores of chenda experts, the Garudans - bleeding after the Choondakuthal (Piercing of the skin on their back with a sharp metal hook) will be hung on a tall pedestal-like structure and taken thrice around the temple by the devotees. This is seen at the Pazhaveedu temple at Alappuzha district. But here the performance is done on a chariot-like structure on the road.
It is also done during Kumbha Bharani day , Airapuram Temple at Perumbavoor near Ernakulam used to host more than 100 Garudan Thookam onKumbha Bharani day

[Xeno Axe]

"Garudan Thookkam" is common in Thiruvananthapuram district also. It was performed in almost all Kali temples. (In Chirayinkeezhu Taluk. Don't know about other taluks).

Sarkara Devi temple is famous among them. Here is a link: about the temple

Some images from the blog.



Actually, the picture you posted confused me. I expected the picture of people hanging in the cart. Also the costumes vary here.

Anyways, thanks for the detailed reply.