Trivandrum- Tourist places, new projects & Updates

[Ajaypp]

While this thread is still on its first page, we need to ponder whether to merge with the existing Hill Stations, Backwaters.... thread, since there is no point in having two threads that essentially focus on the same subject. Otherwise, one thread can be for news and development and the other exclusively for imagery?

Soliciting everyone's views on this and the Mod's needful action. Thanks.

[RajeshVR]

+1

[Kannan46]

Originally Posted by Ajaypp

While this thread is still on its first page, we need to ponder whether to merge with the existing Hill Stations, Backwaters.... thread, since there is no point in having two threads that essentially focus on the same subject. Otherwise, one thread can be for news and development and the other exclusively for imagery?

Soliciting everyone's views on this and the Mod's needful action. Thanks.

I weigh in and second you. The threads will lose their importance if do not contain important and interesting info and ithey will simply clutter the space.

Cheers!!!

[ajithv]

[john.j]

Dont know, is it right to post here

South Africa is eyeing 100,000 Indian tourists this year, including over 8,500 visitors from Kerala, South Africa Tourism Country Manager Hanneli Slabber said today.

Over the years, South Africa has been receiving huge number of tourists from India. Last year, 90,367 Indians visited South Africa, a 26.2% jump compared to 2010. This year the target is 100,000 Indian tourists, she told reporters here.
According to latest reports, Indian tourist arrival figure for January-February 2012 has gone up by 18% where in a total of 14,001 Indians visited South Africa compared to 11,864 for the corresponding period in 2011.

About 6,805 tourists visited South Africa in February, up 24.9% compared to 5,449 visitors in February last year.

Last year, 5,000 tourists from Kerala visited South Africa, and this year at least 8,500 visitors are expected from this state, Slabber said.

Many young visitors from India, including from Kerala, undertake to do voluntary work during their paid vacation, which was very encouraging, she said.

The currency fluctuations will impact tourist arrivals as air fares will take a bigger slice of the pie, Slabber said.

From this year, two roadshows will be held each year to promote tourism in India, she said.

South Africa Tourism has also launched a programme 'Learn South Africa', which aims to train travel professionals to promote, plan and organise attractive packages to South Africa as per their client's varied interests

URL-http://www.business-standard.com/ind...year/174973/on

[ajithv]

Azhimala: A peaceful haven



‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ may prove wrong once you reach Azhimala. Unperturbed by the din and bustle of the city, in an idyllic setting, the demure charm of Azhimala can win any heart in quick seconds. The beach is a seven kilometre drive from Kovalam, where you will find gentle waves embracing huge rocks. The best definition for the seashore is ‘simply natural’, as in one single glance you would notice that its beauty is not hampered by any means and it exists as natural as possible. Make careful footsteps on the huge rocks near the sea since they have turned slippery due to the constant interaction with waves.

Taking the steep road leading to the Azhimala Siva Temple, we reached in front of the temple and parked the car nearby. Even while standing there, the humming of sea waves tempted us to hurry along the shady route beside the temple that leads to the seashore. The drizzle in the wee-hours has kept the sandy paths wet, imparting a rustic charm to the environs on the whole. As you move along this path, the chimes from the temple begin to fade and the sound of waves turns louder.

It was a pleasant morning and on the seashore one could see the fisher folk readying for their routine. Lined up in a single row, the way they pull back the fishing net makes a delightful sight. Another impressive sight is the row of huts atop the cliffs which adds to the beauty of the seashore. You will also find thorny shrubs growing on rocks and a thick vegetation in the area surrounding the beach. Azhimala beach is peaceful getaway, a place definitely worth a visit.

[sajith]

Thiruvananthapuram: ‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ may prove wrong once you reach Azhimala. Unperturbed by the din and bustle of the city, in an idyllic setting, the demure charm of Azhimala can win any heart in quick seconds. The beach is a seven kilometre drive from Kovalam, where you will find gentle waves embracing huge rocks. The best definition for the seashore is ‘simply natural’, as in one single glance you would notice that its beauty is not hampered by any means and it exists as natural as possible. Make careful footsteps on the huge rocks near the sea since they have turned slippery due to the constant interaction with waves.
Taking the steep road leading to the Azhimala Siva Temple, we reached in front of the temple and parked the car nearby. Even while standing there, the humming of sea waves tempted us to hurry along the shady route beside the temple that leads to the seashore. The drizzle in the wee-hours has kept the sandy paths wet, imparting a rustic charm to the environs on the whole. As you move along this path, the chimes from the temple begin to fade and the sound of waves turns louder.
It was a pleasant morning and on the seashore one could see the fisher folk readying for their routine. Lined up in a single row, the way they pull back the fishing net makes a delightful sight. Another impressive sight is the row of huts atop the cliffs which adds to the beauty of the seashore. You will also find thorny shrubs growing on rocks and a thick vegetation in the area surrounding the beach. Azhimala beach is peaceful getaway, a place definitely worth a visit.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/azhimala-...66-62-133.html

[sajith]

The city zoo is getting ready for a major revamp, with the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) approving the revised master plan for the zoo the other day. However, there is bad news for animal lovers. The CZA has shot down the city zoo authorities’ demand to bring new animals to the zoo.

The CZA decision has come as a huge disappointment to zoo authorities as well as visitors, who were waiting for the arrival of new giraffes and zebras at the zoo.

“The CZA demanded that 60 per cent of the area should remain as free space and only 40 per cent should have constructions. It rejected the demand to bring new animals to the zoo. Also, the CZA gave the instruction to either shift lone animals to other zoos or to bring pairs for them,” a zoo official told Express.

City zoo authorities were planning to bring zebras, giraffes and other animals as part of zoo modernisation. This plan has received a jolt following the CZA decision.

Also, as many as 31 zoo animals died in the past one year due to various reasons. Jackals and hyenas were wiped out owing to the spread of canine distemper virus. However, the zoo will not be able to replace the lost animals.

“We had a plan to include 8-10 new cages, which was disapproved by the CZA. The Authority is opposing all new constructions on the premises,” said the official.

Meanwhile, other suggestions in the master plan such as arrangement of animals on thematic basis, establishment of a facility centre, waste-recycling plant, zoo souvenir shops etc have got approval.

“Now, the animals are arranged on taxonomical basis. After the revamp, the ‘Western Ghats zone’ will be the first to welcome the visitors. There will be an ‘Exotic bird zone’ next to it. This will be followed by the ‘African zone’ consisting of Hippopotamus, African Cape Buffalo, Zebra etc,” he said.

The CZA has proposed more green belts within the zoo premises. The Authority, in a move to conserve the species, has asked the zoo authorities to shift animals such as Nilgai and Malabar giant squirrel to other zoos or to bring their mates to the zoo.

The zoo, one of the oldest in the country, is situated on 35 acres of land in the heart of the city. However, it is smaller compared to other zoos in the country. The CZA has informed that new animals could be brought only if the zoo gets more land.

Though the master plan was approved in a meeting held in New Delhi last Friday, the zoo authorities are yet to receive a notification in this regard.
http://newindianexpress.com/cities/t...icle553651.ece

[Kannan46]

Originally Posted by sajith

The CZA has shot down the city zoo authorities’ demand to bring new animals to the zoo.

The CZA decision has come as a huge disappointment to zoo authorities as well as visitors, who were waiting for the arrival of new giraffes and zebras at the zoo.



City zoo authorities were planning to bring zebras, giraffes and other animals as part of zoo modernisation. This plan has received a jolt following the CZA decision.

. The CZA has informed that new animals could be brought only if the zoo gets more land.

I agree that 35 acres is small for a zoo of decent size which should provide
enough area for the movement of different types of animals while separating them in a logical way.

Long back there was a proposal to shift the entire zoo to Vellayani and use the present zoo premises for construction of building for private/ public purposes. Naturally the idea did not sit well with most of the public and there was an outcry against this proposal. There was suggestion from some quarters to start a larger zoo in Vellayani and maintain the existing zoo with selected animals and birds - which I think is a good suggestion.

I wonder whether the vellayani proposal will come out of cold storage now that the space problem of existing zoo has started biting the ambitious expansion plans.

Cheers!!!

[Tri Man]

Originally Posted by Kannan46

I agree that 35 acres is small for a zoo of decent size which should provide
enough area for the movement of different types of animals while separating them in a logical way.

Long back there was a proposal to shift the entire zoo to Vellayani and use the present zoo premises for construction of building for private/ public purposes. Naturally the idea did not sit well with most of the public and there was an outcry against this proposal. There was suggestion from some quarters to start a larger zoo in Vellayani and maintain the existing zoo with selected animals and birds - which I think is a good suggestion.

I wonder whether the vellayani proposal will come out of cold storage now that the space problem of existing zoo has started biting the ambitious expansion plans.

Cheers!!!

An year ago there were three big aviaries planned in Neyyar Wild life Sanctuary in line with Birds of Eden ,SouthAfrica. Is it dropped?

[sajith]

A road show by Formula 1 driver Narain Karthikeyan will be the main attraction at the State government-sponsored Onam celebrations from August 28.

The week-long celebrations in the State capital and 13 district headquarters, to be organised under the aegis of the Kerala Tourism and District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC), has got the official nod of the government and efforts are on to set the machinery in place for the celebrations, which will conclude on September 3 with a pageantry in Thiruvananthapuram.

The State-level inauguration of the festivities will be on August 28 with the lighting of the traditional lamp. Official sources told The Hindu that talks were on to rope in the biggest name in Indian motor-racing sports to organise the roadshow as part of the festivities. Mr. Narain had shown interest in holding a demo drive in the State capital. For the citizens, it will be once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the sheer power of F1 up close.

A meeting chaired by Minister for Tourism A.P.Anil Kumar recently decided to make the event colourful and ensure people’s participation for the programmes, which will be held at over a dozen venues in the capital, district headquarters and major tourism destinations. The government order and the allocation of the funds for the festivities are expected soon. A decision on the Chief Guest at the inaugural function is also yet to be finalised, sources said.

Festival hub

As in the previous editions of the government-sponsored festival, the State-level inauguration of the Onam week celebrations will be held at the Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium here on August 28. The stadium will be the hub of the celebrations where mega shows will be staged by Malayalam television channels and the print medium. Cultural programmes will be staged at other venues in the city..

Though the stadium will be the hub of the festivities, the Kanakakunnu Palace will be the focus with six venues on the sprawling palace premises. Besides the Nishagandhi open-air auditorium, the palace auditorium and the Suryakanthi exhibition grounds, there will be three venues at the palace grounds. The arterial road in the capital will be illuminated and the buildings along the Vellayambalam-East Fort stretch will be lit up for the festivities.

As the government is likely to allocate close to Rs.1 crore for the festivities in the State capital and 13 districts, sources said the DTPC and the district authorities would have to mobilise funds through sponsorships for holding cultural programmes.

The festivities in the district headquarters and the tourist destinations will be worked out soon by the DTPC and the legislators. The festivities in the State will come to an end with a pageantry on September 3 from Kowdiar to East Fort.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper...cle3593266.ece

[ajithv]

Kalimala, Pathukani near Vellarada, Trivandrum

image hosted on flickr


© muralii nair@Flickr

[john.j]

A cruise terminal for luxury liners too may become part of the master plan for the proposed port at Vizhinjam, hitherto conceived only as a container transhipment facility.

AECOM, technical consultant for the EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contract for the port, has reported that the cruise terminal could be built without much additional capital expenditure, A.S. Sureshbabu, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Vizhinjam International Seaports Limited (VISL), told The Hindu on Monday.

This can give a big boost to the tourism industry in Kovalam, the State’s premier tourism centre, he said. When implemented, the cruise terminal at Vizhinjam will be the first of its kind in the country, he added.

Another unexpected development is the finding, during the geophysical survey in the proposed site, that the construction of the transhipment terminal will not require any underwater rock blasting.

Survey just now completed by Furgo Geotech Private Limited, consultant for geo-technical matters connected with the proposed port, found three seabed types in the area. The seabed is clayey in part of the area, sandy in another part and has rock outcrops in still another part. No rock blasting will be needed, according to the consultant.

Mr. Sureshbabu said the studies required for the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) too had been completed on June 30. The master plan, incorporating the cruise terminal in the project, was now under preparation for finalising the tender document. It would be possible to conduct the public hearing connected with the EIA in another month’s time.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/...cle3595756.ece

[Tri Man]

Originally Posted by ajithv

Kalimala, Pathukani near Vellarada, Trivandrum

image hosted on flickr


© muralii nair@Flickr

Greenery and Topography is ideal to make it a tourist destination.
There is a dam in Tamilnadu side of the foothill.

[ajithv]

Varkala Cliff to be India’s First Geopark

The cliff overlooking the Varkala beach in Thiruvananthapuram, — a unique sedimentary geo-morphological structure in an otherwise flat Kerala coast — and the surrounding areas are on course to become India’s first national geopark under a Geological Survey of India (GSI) initiative to preserve geologically important sites in the country.

A proposal to this effect, prepared by the Kerala unit of the GSI, has been given the nod in principle by the agency’s head office. As the first step, the cliff will be declared a Geological Monument. So far, the GSI has established 26 such monuments in the country, including the ‘laterite’ of Angadipuram in Malappuram district.

Over time, the areas surrounding the geological monument would be declared a national geopark. Before this, the designated area has to be made litter-free and no mining or quarrying activity should be done there. A clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests is also required for this.

[sajith]

Thiruvananthapuram, July 9 (IANS) Kerala Tourism, ahead of the new season starting in two months, will launch a fresh set of mobile-based services and IT-based projects to make the passage to God's Own Country a hassle-free and more pleasant experience.
The new products including a mobile website, WAP guide, applications and Bluetooth kiosks will be unveiled here Tuesday by Tourism Minister A.P. Anil Kumar.
"The world is making a transition from web-based tools to smart phone-based tools. Kerala Tourism is hence making another ground-breaking move with this new array of mobile products to seize the growing opportunity and stay put a notch above our competitors," said Kumar.
For tourists travelling to Kerala, these products will prove to be their e-guardians by giving with a comprehensive supportive and protective cover rather than being just e-guides," added Kumar.
The Kerala Tourism website started with just 50 visitors a day in 1998 and today it gets 7000-8000 visits per day and more than 2.5 million visits a year.
In addition, Kerala tourism is active in social media like You Tube with 3 million video views a year, 1.76 lakh fans on Facebook and 9,500 followers in Twitter.
Kerala Tourism started exploring mobile technology as early as 2006.
"The visitors who are connected with their smart phones and mobile apps will be able to explore the destinations in the state without external support, but by using these unique products which will provide a wide range of features like tour planning, updates, guidance, destination details," said Kerala Tourism secretary Suman Billa.
There were 5.9 billion mobile subscribers across the globe in the year 2011. Latest data shows that smart phones constituted 31.8 percent of the total shipment of mobile phones during the previous year.
"Besides these tools, the Tourism Department is setting up bluetooth kiosks matching with international standards at key places like international airports within the state to help the tourists coming to the state," said Tourism Director Rani George

http://in.news.yahoo.com/kerala-tour...--finance.html

[ajithv]

image hosted on flickr


© Satish Pandiyattil@Flickr

[ajithv]

A date with the wilderness



No story about the dazzling Meenmutti would prepare you for the monsoon surprise. Soaked in the sights and sounds of wilderness, the rain-swollen waterfall will take no time to seduce the travel junkie in you. If you want to experience nature at its pristine best and give a break to your city-sore eyes, Meenmutti falls is the place for you.

We start our trip under a cloudy July sky when the downpour has just turned into a dull drizzle. As we take the diversion from Vithura, the unspoilt mountain air starts slapping our face and the distant Ponmudi peaks loom large into view. Rainwater streams down the greens and a soft breeze accentuates the coolness in the air.

We reach the Kallar Eco Tourism Centre and get tickets to enter the area. After milling around for a while we drive down the narrow, rain-drenched road reaching the base station where members of Vana Samrakshana Sena brief us on the trail ahead to reach the banks of the stream. You can always avail the help of a guide who will lead you through the tricky thickets, helping you spot the flora and fauna endemic to the place. The base camp has all the basic amenities and there are family bathing areas where you can unwind on the expansive boulders or take a dip in the cascading freshness.

The not-so-soft trek takes us through a meandering trail etched into steep slopes. We walk listening to the chirps, shrill creaks and rattling rhythms of the forest. Sun filters through the trees and the ground below is a mix of soil, fallen leaves and moss. We cross small streams and narrow footpaths dotted with elephant dung.

At the end of so many twisting tracks and steep climbs we start getting glimpses of the brilliant waterfall. Nestled amidst endless verdure, it welcomes us with soothing cool sprays. It’s pure delight to watch the water tumble down in a torrent and we step into the rocks for a clearer view. What follows is a blissful experience for anyone who loves nature and craves for its pampering. Caught in the pure rapture of the moment, we sit in silence for a while. We make our trail back early in the afternoon reaching the base camp in less than 45 minutes.

[ajithv]

Thirichitta Para aka Thirichittoor Rock: The Hilltop Hangout

Treading through the sandy country road, we reached Thirichitta Para aka Thirichittoor Rock, the peak near Thannimoodu at Anadu panchayat, Nedumangad. Not a single human being was spotted in the vicinity for a long time until a middle-aged man was seen on his way down the hill. As directed by him, we started climbing the so called ‘steps’. Suddenly, a sound from the top took our attention away. The nimble footed monkeys were having a nice time in the thick tree cover easily and effortlessly. They drove us crazy for a while and were unmindful to our attempts to catch them on camera.

So far, we have not reached half-the-way. Again we had to seek the help of a three-member family whom we met on the way to find the exact route that leads to the top where there is a Hanuman temple. Finally we reached the destination and Gopalakrishna Swamy, the temple priest who lives there in an ‘ashram’ named Jyothipeetam gave us a warm welcome. From him, we came to know about the history of the place and its significance. “It is believed that, this rock was once lifted by Hanuman for ‘Sethubandhanam’. But he left it behind on finding a ‘Shivalingam’ marking the presence of Lord Shiva. Thus, the place got the name ‘thirichittapara’,” he explained. The present Anjaneya Swamy Temple here was established by him 16 years ago on the first day in the month of ‘Chingam’. From then onwards, an annual festival is held on ‘Chingam’ first, and people hailing from various places come here to offer ‘pongala’. A seven-day festival beginning from Ramanavami to Chitrapournami is also celebrated in April.

The presence of various medicinal herbs and trees is yet another noteworthy feature of the hilltop. Gopalakrishna Swamy starts naming them one after the other. Neem, sandalwood, rudraksha tree, athi, ithi, the list goes on. On a small pond, ornamental fish is reared.Keeping our satchel and backpack on the rock, we got ready to see the temple and its premises. Saraswathy Ammal, the temple help alerts us at this point that the mischievous monkey troop may grab them and disappear into the thick vegetation any moment. She also informs us that since the monkeys keep uprooting tapioca plants they have stopped cultivating tuber crops there.

The panoramic view from the top is simply amazing and the sight of wide greenery can captivate any nature lover in quick seconds. Roaming around the place in barefoot we enjoyed nature at its best.

[sajith]

Thiruvananthapuram: For most people, soil is something that has to be tapped off their shoes or washed off their clothes. But what about a museum for soil? India’s first reference centre on soil types will come up at the Soil Analytical Laboratory of the Soil Conservation Department at Parottukonam in Thiruvananthapuram.
The proposed ‘Soil Museum’ will be set up at a 5,000- square feet space on the first floor of the laboratory. ‘’The construction activities are going on. The museum will be ready this financial year,’’ Agriculture Minister K P Mohanan told the Assembly on Tuesday.
The museum is intended to provide the public an insight into the soil types found in the State. Samples of soil types and around 100 soil monoliths will be on display at the museum, which will be a first-of-its-kind reference centre on soil in the country, the Agriculture Minister said. The museum will also enable soil-based agro-technology transfer, the Minister said.
India's first reference centre on soil types will come up at the city-based Soil Analytical Laboratory.
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/indias-fi...70-62-133.html