Trivandrum- Tourist places, new projects & Updates

[ajithv]

‘Dinosaur Park’ opening on Children’s Day



Don’t shudder while standing near a dinosaur that opens and closes its jaws, wagging its tail and producing loud noise. Soon, one could experience all these at the ‘Evolution Park’ at the Kerala State Science and Technology Museum in the city.

The models of 13 dinosaurs are being readied in the park, which is scheduled to be thrown open to the public on November 14, Children’s Day. The mechanically-animated models of Scelidosaurus, Triceratops, Dimetrodon, Stegosaurus, Pteranodon, Psittacosaurus, Velociraptor, Glyptodon, Woolly Rhinoceros, Diatryma etc would find their place among the displays. The park is coming up in an area scattered over one acre on the museum premises, with a fountain at the centre.

“The realistic models were done at Kolkata Science city. The work on adding additional features to animate them by fixing some parts is progressing at Visvesvaraya Museum, Bangalore. Seven dinosaurs would wave their heads and two will wag the tails in this manner,” says G Arul Jerald Prakash, director of the Kerala State Science and Technology Museum. The dinosaur models have been made in fibre material are are resistant to heat and rain.

The park has much more in store for the visitors. An amphitheatre with an estimated seating capacity of 300 with an amazing light and sound show too is being developed alongside. In the evenings, the show would have narration on the evolution of the earth and on the life of dinosaurs. This is expected to be very educative and information such as the origin of cells, living beings and the history of dinosaurs will all be imparted to the viewers.

Apart from the history of the dinosaurs that are displayed in the park, the details of other dinosaurs, the models of which could not be set up owing to space constraints, too will be included. “The entire show would be some 40 minutes long. To benefit more visitors, we may consider having two-three shows a day,” Arul Jerald Prakash said.

The opening of the ‘Robotic Corner’, in the old museum building where the ‘bioloids’ - robots which can do a lot of things humans can perform - are on display, too is scheduled for Children’s Day.

[sajith]

An extension of financial grant to cover the entire area of 15 acres, rather than the current proposal of five acres, will help to make the botanical gardens surrounding the historic Napier Museum and Zoo one of the best in the country, Finance Minister K.M. Mani has said.

He promised the additional grant while inaugurating the beautification project of the botanical gardens at the Museum compound on Wednesday.

“Setting up rare plants as part of the beautification project will help attract major crowd, and the gardens could become a tourist destination,” said Mr. Mani.

Presiding over the function MLA K. Muraleedaran said the maintenance of the surroundings after the completion of the project should be given equal importance.

The initial Rs.5-crore project, which included construction of musical fountains, a theatre, glass house and cloak rooms, was scrapped due to lack of funds. The approved project, at Rs.2.56 crore, includes landscaping and lighting, planting of trees, construction of pathways and sign boards.

The approved project will be implemented by the Kerala Land Development Corporation (KLDC) and is expected to be completed in four months.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/...cle3917153.ece

[ajithv]

Source: Kerala Kaumudi



Source: Metro Vaartha

[25Dude25]

Courtesy: Keralakaumudi

[ajithv]

Source: City Kaumudi

Kovalam development plan to be launched today

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The ambitious Rs 30-crore Kovalam development plan, which includes road work, drinking water scheme, storm drain cleaning, beautification of Edakkal rocks and installing solar street lights at Eve's beach, will be formally launched on Tuesday.

The highlights of the plan are the drinking water scheme with an outlay of Rs 15 crore sanctioned to the Kerala water authority by the tourism department and the supply of around 1,400 biogas units in Kovalam as an effective method to counter the garbage situation in the area.

"The biogas units are priced in three categories ranging from Rs 25,000 to 3 lakh and will be made available to hotels and homes at a 90% discount. The department will pay 40%, while the Suchitwa Mission will bear 50% of the cost," said tourism secretary Suman Billa.

The road leading to Eves' beach would also be renovated as part of the scheme at a cost of Rs 44 lakh. An amount of Rs 3 crore has been set aside for the modernization and beautification of Kovalam tourist village and crafts village as part of the clean destination drive.

"The road leading to Eve's beach has a steep incline; it needs some straightening at the turns. No land is being acquired to widen the road," the secretary clarified.

A tourism working group had approved Rs 90.96 lakh to be spend on the storm water stream management project and work is expected to be completed in one year, informed the tourism department. Beautification of the Edakkal rocks has been completed. The work was undertaken by G Shankar, founder chairman, Habitat Technology Group.

Around 40 solar lamps, designed by the Trivandrum Global City of Innovation, will be installed on Eve's beach. "We are installing solar panels on the cast iron lamp posts lining the beach walk. The panels come with a battery back-up of one-and-a-half days and will light up a 6W LED bulb," Alexei Levene, MD, TGCI, said.

[ajithv]

Cleaning drive at tourism spots

A five-day sanitation programme at prominent tourist spots in all 14 districts of the State, to be carried out under the aegis of Kerala Tourism, will be launched by Tourism Minister A.P. Anil Kumar in the presence of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at 9 a.m. at Kovalam here on Tuesday.

The sanitation programme to coincide with the Gandhi Jayanthi celebrations of the department will see the participation of public representatives, local self-governing bodies, members of the tourism industry, voluntary organisations, National Cadet Corps, National Service Scheme volunteers and Student Tourism Club members apart from environmental activists.

The programme will be held at Kovalam, Veli and Sangumugham in the State capital, while in Kollam district, the Kollam Beach and the banks of the Ashtamudi Lake will receive the much-needed clean-up.

The rest of the spots are Konni and Aranmula (Pathanamthitta district); Kottayam, Kumarakom and Vaikom (Kottayam district); Alappuzha Beach, Vijaya Park and Punnamada (Alappuzha district); Wagamon and Parunthumpara (Idukki); Cherai, Fort Kochi and Kumbalanghi (Ernakulam); Peechi and Vazhani (Thrissur); Malampuzha, Kanjirapuzha, Palakkad Fort and Mangalam Dam (Palakkad); Nila Park, Kuttipuram, Padinjarekara Beach and Kottakkunnu (Malappuram); Thusharagiri, Kappad, Kozhikode Beach and Sarovaram (Kozhikode); Edakkal Caves, Pookode Lake, Kalpetta Town and Kuruva Islands (Wayanad); Payyambalam, Muzhuppilangadu and Chal Beach (Kannur); and Bakel Fort and Kasaragod Beach (Kasaragod).

Jameela Prakasham, MLA, will preside over the State-level launch of the programme at Kovalam, while Mayor K. Chandrika, Tourism Secretary Suman Billa and Tourism Director Rani George will be present, according to an official release.

[sajith]

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The ambitious Rs 30-crore Kovalam development plan, which includes road work, drinking water scheme, storm drain cleaning, beautification of Edakkal rocks and installing solar street lights at Eve's beach, will be formally launched on Tuesday.

The highlights of the plan are the drinking water scheme with an outlay of Rs 15 crore sanctioned to the Kerala water authority by the tourism department and the supply of around 1,400 biogas units in Kovalam as an effective method to counter the garbage situation in the area.

"The biogas units are priced in three categories ranging from Rs 25,000 to 3 lakh and will be made available to hotels and homes at a 90% discount. The department will pay 40%, while the Suchitwa Mission will bear 50% of the cost," said tourism secretary Suman Billa.

The road leading to Eves' beach would also be renovated as part of the scheme at a cost of Rs 44 lakh. An amount of Rs 3 crore has been set aside for the modernization and beautification of Kovalam tourist village and crafts village as part of the clean destination drive.

"The road leading to Eve's beach has a steep incline; it needs some straightening at the turns. No land is being acquired to widen the road," the secretary clarified.

A tourism working group had approved Rs 90.96 lakh to be spend on the storm water stream management project and work is expected to be completed in one year, informed the tourism department. Beautification of the Edakkal rocks has been completed. The work was undertaken by G Shankar, founder chairman, Habitat Technology Group.

Around 40 solar lamps, designed by the Trivandrum Global City of Innovation, will be installed on Eve's beach. "We are installing solar panels on the cast iron lamp posts lining the beach walk. The panels come with a battery back-up of one-and-a-half days and will light up a 6W LED bulb," Alexei Levene, MD, TGCI, said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/16634592.cms

[sajith]

True tourism development is possible only by addressing the problems of the local people, Tourism Minister A P Anil Kumar said on Tuesday.

He was speaking after inaugurating a Rs 30-crore comprehensive tourism development project for Kovalam. The project is designed to make Kovalam a self-sufficient tourist destination, he said. It includes a water supply project (Rs 15 crore), beautification (Rs 50 lakh), beach drainage scheme (Rs 91 lakh), Hawa Beach road renovation (Rs 44 lakh), Kovalam parking area road development(Rs 48 lakh) and garbage disposal scheme (Rs 1.38 crore). The minister inaugurated a cleaning drive meant for all major tourism spots in the state on the occasion. A biogas plant set up as part of transforming Kovalam into a litter-free destination was inaugurated.Jameela Prakasam MLA, Tourism Secretary Suman Billa, KWA MD Ashok Kumar Singh and District Panchayat vice-president Rufus Daniel were present.
http://newindianexpress.com/cities/t...cle1283490.ece

[RajeshVR]

After lull, chartered flights from Russia are coming

After a hiatus of three years, chartered flights from Russia and Ukraine will start arriving here by end-November.

There, however, is a lull in the arrival of chartered flights carrying tourists from Europe, especially from Gatwick, London, in view of the economic slowdown.

Since 2009, chartered flights had stopped coming to the state. This time, however, Russian tourists are being brought in by Concord Exotic Voyages (CEV) which has offices in India and Russia.

The Russian tourists who are coming to the state are mostly high-end visitors who would be staying at Hotel Leela in Kovalam for 10 days.

““A jet airliner IL – 86 with 186 seats would be the first Russian flight to touch down at the capital. It would again come with chartered tourists totaling 1,200 from Moscow alone.

The chartered flight from Ukraine will have 220 seats. Besides, there would be five charters – three from Moscow and two from Saint Petersburg, which will together bring another 1,100 chartered tourists,” said Sheik Ismail, country head and general manager, CEV.

“If the state has to attract more chartered tourists every year, Kerala Tourism has to provide more facilities in terms of night life activities. Or else, we would lose out to Goa.”

However, tourism secretary Suman Billa said Kerala was not bound to change overnight. “Tou-rists will come for whatever we have got here .”

[gracebland]

Trivandrum is the place having rich sources of traditional wealth in Kerala. Pathmanabapuram temple is the exact example of wealth of Trivandrum. Also the varkala beach and Pathmanabapuram palace attracts tourists.

[25Dude25]

Source: Madhyamam

[sajith]

With God’s Own Country racing to become Liquor’s Own Country, all ecotourism centres are facing the threat of bottles, in glass as well as plastic. The scenic meadows of Ponmudi are a classic example where the ‘eco’ part of tourism seems to have gone for a toss, converting the green hills to glass hills.

The vengeance with which a liquor bottle is shattered to smithereens at a scenic and calm locale defies reason just as a Malayali’s need for liquor for any occasion, even a picnic. The Vana Samrakshana Samithy (VSS) members are a tired lot, picking up sackfuls of these bottle bits.

‘’On a high, they take off their shirts, urinate all around the place and break liquor bottles on the rocks. By evening, women and families find it very difficult to be here. The situation has worsened in the last one month. Maybe it is because of a shortfall in the surveillance,’’ said Gopu Chandran, KTDC guest house manager at Ponmudi. Of course, there are a number of cleanliness drives in place, intensified checking in place and at both Kallar and Ponmudi, tourists are asked to bring back the plastic they take uphill.

Yet, you see heaps of plastic waste being burned right on top of the Upper Sanatorium, and ironically by the Ponmudi VSS members themselves.

The cool misty air on the mountains has been replaced by the pungent odour of burning plastic, so sickening as to make you throw up.

‘’This is the same unfortunate situation in most of our ecotourism destinations, be it Ponmudi, Kallar, Bonacaud, Palaruvi and the relatively less-known Mankayam. It is becoming impossible for the real eco-lovers to visit these places, not to talk of women,’’ said a resident of Maruthankuzhy, Sreedevi S Kartha, who has travelled across the length and breadth of the country.

For wanderlust women, locations like Ponmudi and Bonacaud are becoming an absolute no-no. Even little children are unable to walk around freely as they might get hurt by these glass bits strewn all around the rocks and grass.

What’s more, the bottle bits and the fumes from burning plastic are becoming a huge threat to the fauna around.

Right at the beginning of monsoon is the breeding time for broad-tailed grass birds, and they nest in the grass of the meadows near the Upper Sanatorium. The plastic and the bottle pieces are destroying their habitat.

‘’The areas near the streams are breeding sites for certain rare and endemic birds and butterflies, including the Grey-headed Bulbul and the Travancore Evening Brown butterfly. The whole lot of streams flowing in the Kallar-Ponmudi route are being polluted with plastic waste and glass pieces, resulting in habitat loss for these birds,’’ said a nature-lover and a founder member of the city-based Green organisation Warblers and Waders.

Forest officials, however, say that this is not possible. ‘’The visitors are not allowed to take liquor bottles up the mountains, at least not now. They are persuaded to leave the bottle behind at Kallar,’’ informed District Forest Officer Mohan Pillai.

Just opposite the ticket counter at Golden Valley in Kallar, hidden from view by thatched coconut leaves, you will find a heap of liquor bottles. ‘’We ask the visitors to bring back the liquor bottles here after consuming the alcohol, instead of throwing it all over the mountains. These are recycled,’’ informed the VSS volunteer at the ticket counter.

Alcohol is allowed, bottles are not. Forest Department can only advise, confiscating liquor bottles is the duty of Excise officials, we are told.

Perhaps, someday in the near future, we can market disaster tourism as well.
http://newindianexpress.com/cities/t...cle1292910.ece

[Ajaypp]

- Probably high time that alcohol consumption in public spaces is banned and hefty fines are levied.

[sudheeshnairs]

Do you think that as of now drinking in public is not banned??

Unless people drink and make ' Kalippu', our system/ Police will not able to get good bribe to get them off on such situations. I have seen many instances of such 'Kalipps'. Unique thing with Ponmudi is that if you make a 'Kalipp', you cannot escape easily as there is only one route downhill & the locals/ Police can wait and easily book them by their collar.

Our society has to grow much. Most of the male folk are without any civic sense who doesn't know how to enjoy a drink.

[Ajaypp]

Lol, when I said banned, I meant that the letter of the law should be enforced, kalippe or no kalippe. No drinking in public places, period. A few exemplary jail terms will work wonders, hopefully.

[sudheeshnairs]

Yes, I was also pointing out that, it is the matter of enforcement & not the law per se.

And the punishment will also differ on situations; just drinking in public, drinking & making nuisance; all these plus troubling women, etc etc.

I think during the first time I went to Ponmudi in a two wheeler with a friend (some 15 yrs back); on the way back, at the foot hill near Kallar, one guy ( part of a team) in his underwear was standing in the road and tried to block our bike. I kicked that bugger and he fell to the side and we sped off.

[Ajaypp]

Originally Posted by sudheeshnairs

I think during the first time I went to Ponmudi in a two wheeler with a friend (some 15 yrs back); on the way back, at the foot hill near Kallar, one guy ( part of a team) in his underwear was standing in the road and tried to block our bike. I kicked that bugger and he fell to the side and we sped off.

I hope the poor bugger was not trying to flag you down for help because someone stole his clothes!

Anyways, I am of the opinion that the punishment for public drinking and especially DUI should be stepped up from paltry amounts to sums that make an impact and with compulsory jail time for repeat offenders.

For example, DUI should have a six month license suspension and at least Rs 5000 for the first offence, a year for the second and permanent for the third strike, and compulsory prison time from the second time onwards. Let's see how that puts a dent into the DUI numbers.

[sudheeshnairs]

Law is still there regarding DUI; the min fine now is around some Rs. 3000/ or so, and repeated offence will get Jail, recently one guy got a jail term in Bangalore. Anyway it is not long terms.

[Ajaypp]

Originally Posted by sudheeshnairs

Law is still there regarding DUI; the min fine now is around some Rs. 3000/ or so, and repeated offence will get Jail, recently one guy got a jail term in Bangalore. Anyway it is not long terms.

I believe that the loss of driving rights will be more impactful than a fine or an unlikely-to-be-enforced jail sentence. With computerized DMV records, enforcing the driving license suspension/ban should be easier now than before.

[Gopal.K.Kumar]

Originally Posted by Ajaypp

- Probably high time that alcohol consumption in public spaces is banned and hefty fines are levied.

People go for a vacation or outing to relax and enjoy. Whether one accepts or not consumption of alcohol is now almost an integral part of holidaying. (Except probably with fanatical teetotalers) A proper tourist destination provides amongst many others, facilities for staying, consuming food and alcohol. If facilities are not available, people find out alternative ways of meeting their needs. To my mind the solution to the issue is to have all these facilities of some standard to be established at the location. I believe people will act more responsibly when their needs are met. However the requirement of adequate control and enforcement of discipline will still prevail.