Green Carpet Workshop Was Conducted By Kerala Tourism

Kerala Tourism Conducts 

Green Carpet Workshop

Kerala can be proudly called ‘God's Own Country’ only when efforts are put in place to ensure security, cleanliness, hygiene, and scientific waste management, apart from offering unique experiences, Mr. Kadakampally Surendran, Minister for Tourism, Kerala, has said.

The minister was speaking while inaugurating a two-day workshop by Kerala Tourism held as part of the Green Carpet initiative which he said would go a long way towards achieving these goals.

The minister also remarked that tourism activities should not be confined to just a few tourist centres, but should be extended to other centres as well. 

The workshop was aimed at ensuring sustainable development and maintenance of 79 select tourist destinations. A blueprint for 111 short term and long term projects was designed in the workshop.

"The 79 tourist destinations selected for the first phase of the Green Carpet initiative will be turned into distinctive tourism friendly centres," said Mr. U. V. Jose, Director, Kerala Tourism, at the concluding meet.

Mr. S. Harikishore IAS,  Executive Director , Kudumbashree,  Ms. Vasuki IAS, Executive Director, Suchitwa Mission, Mr. S. Sugathan, Executive Director, Green Village,  Mr. G. Shankar, Director, Habitat, Mr. Roopesh Kumar, State Field Coordinator, Responsible Tourism, Mr. S. D. Prins, PRO, Raj Bhavan, Dr. Shekhar L. Kuriakose, Member Secretary , Disaster Management Authority , Dr V. Vijayakumar, Principal, KITTS, Prof. Saroop Roy, and Prof. Raghunandanan (IRCTC) conducted classes on various topics. 

Destination Managers of tourist destinations, Deputy Directors, and District Tourism Promotional Council (DTPC) Secretaries attended the workshop at Maria Rani Centre, Sreekaryam. 

Source : Kerala Tourism

Mandala Pooja - Sabarimala Temple Opens For 42 Days In This Season

Mandala Pooja at Sabarimala

Start date: 16-11-2016
End date: 26-12-2016

Venue: Lord Ayyappa Temple

District: Pathanamthitta

Located in the dense, pristine forests of the Western Ghats, the Sabarimala Temple is one of the most famous pilgrim centres in India. The temple in the Sabari Hills, towards the east of Pathanamthitta district is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa.

The Mandalakala season, the annual pilgrim season to Sabarimala, commences usually in the months of November-December. This is followed by the Makaravilakku season during December-January. During the Mandala Pooja period the Sabarimala Temple will remain open for 42 days continuously.

There are several routes via which the temple can be accessed with Pamba serving as the main halting point. From Pamba the devotees have a 5km trek through the forests to reach the temple. A dip in the sacred river Pamba is believed to cleanse the pilgrims off their sins. After the holy dip, they proceed to the sannidhanam (sanctum sanctorum) of Lord Ayyappa.

Situated amid verdant forests and grasslands, the Sabarimala Temple is visited by thousands of devotees each year irrespective of caste or creed.

Nearest railway station: Chengannur, about 53 km

Nearest airport: Trivandrum International Airport, about 180 km 

Telangana Tourism Facilitated Boating Amenities In Lakhnavaram Lake

LAKNAVARAM LAKE BOATING

AT

WARANGAL

Lakhnavaram lake is located in Govindaraopet mandal, about 80km from Warangal district of Telangana state of India.

Planning for resuscitating holiday trip? Planning to enjoy the beauty in nature and Want to spend time in an island? And, planning to enjoy beauty in nature around? Lakhnavaram Lake in Warangal district will give you what you are looking for.

Lakhnavaram Lake is one of the beautiful tourist destinations in Telangana. The tourism department of Telangana government has facilitated provision of amenities to ensure tourists visit the spot to enjoy their holiday.

The lake is noted for boating facilities provided by tourism department. A trip on a cruise will give memorable experience. While on board visitors can enjoy the beauty of the crystal clear water mass and cool breeze, and can watch the beauty of the greenery on the hillocks and forest around. You will get the feel of creative imagination of Nature mother.

There are small islands in the lake. A suspension bridge is built to connect three islands. The bridge does not have pillars, save the one at the tow ends of the bridge. Walking on this bridge is a fun for children as well as adults alike.

The boats that ply are built such that it can accommodate a large number of visitors without causing any trouble to the boarding passengers. If you are planning to visit Lakhnavaram as part of your forthcoming itinerary, make sure you go for boating. Going together with your near and dear will help you strengthen bond among you all.

Ideal time to visit

July to January is time when you should visit this lake site. Make sure there is enough rainfall so that the lake has plenty of water to give you the pleasure.

How to reach

Lakhnavaram is located approximately 70 km from Warangal city and 210 km away from Hyderabad. From Warangal, the lake can be reached on road from there. Warangal is well connected to Hyderabad, and can be reached either road or rail.

Kalap Hill Station – One Should Know About Hospitality From Kalap People To Deliver In City Life To Guests

KALAP HILL STATION

AT

UTTARAKHAND

Kalap is a remote villange in Uttarkashi district of Uttrakhand State of India and located very close to the boundary of Uttarakhand with Himachal Pradesh and hence its customs, traditions and language carry influences from both states. Gharwali, the primary language spoken, is markedly different from the variant spoken in central Garhwal and Himachali songs are quite popular.

The houses are constructed of wood and stone and the design is aimed at erecting structures that remain warm during the cold winter. Several houses have intricate patterns carved on wood but the craftsmanship is especially impressive in the temple dedicated to Karna of the epic Mahabharata.

Home to a couple hundred inhabitants and around fifty houses, it is endowed with pristine natural beauty – magnificent views of the snow clad peaks and lush bugyal (high altitude grassland) of Kedarkantha, sparkling brooks running down the face of the mountain and silent jungles of pine and deodar.

The hospitality showered on visitors is heart-warming and genuine, a stark contrast to how we treat our guests in the cities. It is not uncommon for children to help out their parents in daily chores like tilling the fields and foraging in the jungles for wood and fodder. They are comfortable with the heady life of the outdoor and feel at home navigating the obstacles thrown up by nature.

As the chilly winter surrenders to a chirpy spring the village adorns a variety of colourful attires; golden and orange and pink of the sun, silver white of the moon and somber grey of the clouds.

Clear cloudless days interspersed with relentless rain present an opportunity to experience the varied moods of nature and walking the numerous trails which span out from the village is the perfect way to strike a friendship with the stoic mountains.

A crystal stream rushes down this ravine inviting for a quick dip although the water is excruciatingly cold. Beyond the stream the path fights a losing battle with rotting trees, creepers, dead leaves and overgrown grass making it trickier to navigate

To the East of the village neatly arranged terraced fields dot the mountainside abuzz with bees hovering over the yellow mustard. Two trails originate here – one curves below the fields to the chhani (A group of makeshift huts usually used by sheep and cow herders) known as Unani and the other runs above to the village Karba.

While the former follows a somewhat flat trajectory traveling across the face of the mountain the latter climbs higher and higher past the tree line to Karba Top.

Kalap is 210 kms from Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand and 450 kms from New Delhi.The nearest rail station and airport is at Dehradun. Dehradun is well-connected by daily trains and flights from New Delhi. It takes 6 hours by car or 10 hours by bus to reach the town of Netwar, the nearest road head to Kalap from where one must trek to the village.

Mecca Masjid – Bricks Utilized For Constructing Centre Arch, Brought From The City Of Mecca In Saudi Arbia

MECCA MASJID (MAKKAH MASJID)

AT

HYDERABAD

The Mecca Masjid (Makkah Masjid) is one of the ancient mosques in the city of Hyderabad in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and is also one of the biggest mosques in the country, It is listed among the heritage buildings of old city of Hyderabad falling in close proximity to Laad Bazaar, Chowmahalla Palace and Charminar.

An easy to view architectural genius from the top of the Charminar in Hyderabad, Makkah Masjid or Mecca Masjid is located close to the historic landmarks of Chowmahalla Palace, Laad Bazaar.

This Muslim religious site was constructed by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the fifth ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty. It is believed that the bricks used for constructing central arch of the mosque were soil-made and were brought all the way from the hallowed city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

The main prayer hall of this mosque rises around 75 feet above the ground and can accommodate around 10,000 people at a time. The mosque has got five passageways, arched galleries and octagonal balconies, four minarets attached with a small dome above each.

The mosque is designed with floral motifs and frescoes and many of the arches are inscribed with Quranic verses. The main prayer hall is 75 feet high, 220 feet wide and 180 feet long. It is estimated that the mosque it took 77 years and around 8000 workers to complete the construction of this imposing Masjid.

Over 8,000 workers were hired here for constructing the mosque. The foundation stone was laid by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah himself and the construction was further carried over by Aurangzeb, the Mughal Emperor who conquered Hyderabad afterwards.

The Mecca Masjid of Hyderabad is regarded as the largest mosques of the world capable of accommodating more than 10,000 worshippers. The building of the mosque started in the year 1614 when the then ruler was Quli Qutub Shah.

However in the year 1687, Aurangzeb while annexing the kingdom of Golconda accomplished the formation of Mecca Masjid making it to become one of the most well known and beautiful mosques in the entire world. It is belived that this mosque has few sacred relics such as having the hair of Prophet Muhammed.

By Air

The Hyderabad airport connects by air all the prominent cities of country.

By Rail

Hyderabad consists of its own railhead and remains connected with all the important cities within the state as well as outside.

By Road

There is availability of local transport for reaching the Mecca Masjid. There are regular buses connecting Hyderabad to all major places of the country. There are buses, taxis, and auto rickshaws and cabs available.

Athachamayam Festival Begins AT Tripunithura City Near In Kochi Of Ernakulam State

ATHACHAMAYAM FESTIVAL

AT

TRIPUNITHURA

Athachamayam marks the beginning of the ten day Onam festival in Kerala. It is an occasion to witness almost all the folk art forms of Kerala.

Conducted every year on the Atham star of the Malayalam month Chingam, the event held at the Royal historical town of Tripunithura is a celebration of a legendary victory of the Kochi King. In olden days it was customary for the king to travel with his entire entourage to the Tripunithura fort. This was also the occasion for his subjects to greet the king and see him at close quarters. The procession, now without the king, still retains its majestic charm, and is conducted in a spectacular manner and is being conducted by the Tripunithura Municipality with whole hearted co-operation of the public.

Caparisoned elephants, varieties of folk art forms, floats, musical ensembles etc form part of the procession.

Atham, the day which heralds the 10-day Onam festivities, is celebrated with great enthusiasm at Tripunithura.In earlier times, the Athachamayam Festival was celebrated in honour of the Raja of Kochi. On the festival day, the Maharaja undertook the ritualistic Attachamayam march from Tripunithura to the Vamanamoorthy Temple in Thrikkakara.He then offered his special prayers there.The grand parade made a halt at the royal quarters at Puthen Bungalow enroute, and later marched towards the sprawling Hill Palace compound. The Maharaja gave 'darshan' to his innumerable citizens during this day. 

Representatives from all communities accompanied the Kochi Maharaja during Athachamayam. They included a priest from Karingachira Church, head priest of the mosque Nettur Thangal, and Chembil Arayan, a representative of the fisher folk.Today, a senior representative of the Cochin royal family, alongwith the other two religious leaders, jointly flag off the ceremony. 

Although the reign of royalty had come to an end with the attainment of independence and re-organisation of states, the festival is still celebrated in all its glory to mark the beginning of Onam, the state festival of Kerala.Onam festivities in the district begin with the ceremonial parade of Athachamayam at Tripunithura. 

Some of the folk art forms such as Theyyam, Kummatti, Kolkali, Mayilattom, Karakattom, Kummi, Poykal, Ammankudam, Pulikkali, Kathakali, Aattakkavadi, Panchavadyam, Chendamelam etc are displayed in the parade. Floats depicting immortal moments from epics like Mahabharatha and Ramayana and from the Bible as well as current social issues, reflect the secular nature of the festival, highlighting unity and harmony. Myths and legends of yore in the forms of gods and goddesses lend colour and meaning to the event. There are also cultural competitions and variety entertainment activities held as part of the festival. Apart from the regular footpath vendors who deal with items from handicrafts and cottage sectors, a ten-day trade fair is also organised at Tripunithura.

Goa Government Interdict Crowd-Pulling Dance Festivals In Peak Tourist Season

The Goa government is mulling not to permit the crowd-pulling dance music festivals in the state during the peak tourist season.

One of the biggest reasons most of us prefer travelling to Goa during the year-end is because we just love welcoming the new year by grooving to the tunes of the popular electronic dance music (EDM) festivals--Sunburn and VH1 Supersonic, that are held at the beach destination.

But things won't be the same anymore, as these festivals won't be allowed in Goa during the festive week of Christmas and New Year, said Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar. The state government of Goa is mulling not to permit the crowd-pulling dance music festivals in the state between December 15 and January 15, which is the peak tourist season.

Although this decision won't make too many travellers happy, putting a ban to such events being organised in the period from December 25 to December 30 became a necessity as they were criticised by the Opposition as well as civil society groups, because of the traffic congestion and pressure on public infrastructure, especially a time when tourism activity in the state is already at its peak.

"We are seriously thinking not to allow mega events like EDM festivals between December 15 and January 15 every year as the state witnesses rush of tourists during that time who arrive here to usher in the New Year," Parulekar told PTI.

He further added that if the organisers want, they can have their event before December 15 or after January 15, when the peak time for rush of tourists is not there.

Both the organisers have already moved an application seeking permission to host the festival this year.

"The panel has asked them to submit their proposed dates for holding the event. We have also conveyed the organisers to consider holding the events before December 15 or post January 15 to reduce further pressure on the state machinery," the minister said.

Ooty Toy Train - It Gives The Impression Of Beings Best Outlooks By Travelling In Toy Train To Ooty

TOY TRAIN AT OOTY

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway toy train is the highlight of a visit to the popular hill settlement of Ooty, in India's southern state of Tamil Nadu. Established in the early 19th century by the British as the summer headquarters of the Chennai government, Ooty now draws tourists wanting to escape the stifling summer heat.

Although the railway was proposed in 1854, it wasn't completed until 1908 as the rocky terrain and thickly forested hills made the work difficult. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2005.

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is located in India's southern state of Tamil Nadu. It runs from Metupalaiyam to Udagamandalam (Ooty), via Coonoor, in the Nilgiri Hills. The track is 46 kilometers (28.5 miles) long, and passes over 250 bridges (including 32 major ones) and through 16 tunnels. This railway is particularly picturesque because of the surrounding rocky terrain, ravines, tea plantations, and forested hills. Coonoor, with its world famous teas, is a tourist destination in itself.

One toy train operates along the Nilgiri Mountain Railway from Metupalaiyam to Ooty. The engine is an 'X' Class steam locomotive, made in Switzerland. It pulls quaint blue and cream wooden carriages with large windows. The engine is changed for a more powerful diesel one at Coonoor, to provide greater traction for the steep climb up to Ooty.

Both first class and second class seating are offered on the toy train, and it's worth buying a first class ticket to have a more peaceful and less cramped journey away from the crowds. It's also possible to get unreserved tickets at the counters if you arrive early enough.

The most spectacular scenery and best views are situated along the stretch from Metupalaiyam to Coonoor. Hence, some people prefer to only travel along this stretch.

There's only one toy train departure daily. The train is scheduled to connect to the Nilgiri Express, which travels from Chennai to Metupalaiyam.

·   The 56136/Mettupalayam-Ooty MG Passenger train leaves Metupalaiyam at 7.10 a.m, and arrives in Ooty at noon 

·   Coming back, the 56137/Ooty-Mettupalayam MG Passenger train leaves Ooty at 2 p.m. and reaches Metupalaiyam at 5.35 p.m.

An additional train service sometimes runs during the peak summer tourist season from April to June.

Do note that the area receives rain from both the south-west and north-east monsoons, and this commonly disrupts services.

The regular reserved adult train fare is 30 rupees in second class and 205 rupees in first class, one way. The unreserved general fare is 15 rupees one way.

Reservations for travel on the toy train to Ooty can be made at Indian Railways computerized reservation counters, or on the Indian Railways website. It's advisable to book two to three months in advance as the train fills up fast, particularly during peak season from April to June, Indian festival season (especially around Diwali vacation), and Christmas.

Here's how to make a reservation on the Indian Railways website. The station code for Metupalaiyam is MTP, and Udagamandalam (Ooty) UAM.

Kerala Tourism Decided To Attract More Tourists

Kerala Tourism's upcoming plans are just too good to be true.

Kerala Tourism has come up with new and exciting initiatives to attract more tourists. Eco-Adventure, Project Muziris--aimed to reinstate the historical and cultural significance of the legendary port of Muziris and promoting Kerala as a MICE and wedding destination are on the priority list of the tourism board.

Eco-adventure tour packages to attract young vacationers and packages focused on the hills and forests of the Western Ghats will be part of the tourism scheme. There are also plans for commissioning chartered flights and exploring possibilities of charter trains and tourist bogies in trains from major Indian markets.

U V Jose, director of Kerala Tourism says, "Our main objective is to promote newly started initiatives. From picture perfect landscapes and exciting getaways to rich culture and heritage, the State has a lot to showcase, not to forget the delectable cuisine, music and art."

Nanda Kumar, deputy director of Kerala tourism adds, "We are promoting Kerala tourism in metro cities every year. We are also planning to campaign this in small villages and cities like Lucknow, Nagpur, Patna and Ahmedabad."

Kerala tourism also plans to open new hotels and resorts to cater to the increasing footfall of tourists.

Malabar tourism will also be promoted in a big way along with the Spice Route.

Muziris Heritage Project Has Now Been Developed Into A Tourism Site By Kerala Toursim

Muziris: Kerala's new heritage site for tourists

History has always been written by the victors, and the victors have always been the good ones. Or that is what the history books claim. None of us have lived to see what really happened -- that's the bitter truth about any recorded history till date. But, that is not the only factor which keeps a region's history wrapped in a cloak of mysteries and half-baked truths. There are places that ceased to exist with the passage of time and reappeared only when historians unearthed them centuries later.

One such place is the Muziris Heritage site. Located in the Malabar Coast of Kerala, Muziris used to be an important seaport way back in the 1st century BC, or even earlier. Overlooking the Arabian Sea, this prosperous city-port at the mouth of the Periyar river held the key to India's spice trade with the Persians, the Egyptians, the Greeks and the Roman Empire, among others. Muziris was impossible to ignore, until a major natural calamity in the 14th century caused a major transformation to the water bodies of the Periyar river basin, wiping off the entire port region from the country's map.

A series of excavations made by Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR) in the years 2007 and 2008, unearthed valuable information on the Muziris location. Years of findings and research ever since, has brought back 3,000 years of history to the fore. The Muziris Heritage Project has now been developed into a tourism site by the Kerala Tourism department and will be formally inaugurated by President Pranab Mukherjee on February 27.

The project is an effort to conserve and showcase the cultural heritage of the place. The Muziris Heritage Project is spread across the modern-day Ernakulam and Thrissur districts of Kerala. The Kerala Tourism website says the phase of the project covers "two municipalities viz. Kodungalloor and Paravoor and eight panchayats viz. Chendamangalam, Chittattinkara, Vadakkekara, Pallippuram, S.N.Puram, Eriad and Methala. More areas will be included in the next phase."

With excavated artefacts displayed in a museum, and several monuments restored, the project aims to educate tourists, students and locals about the rich cultural heritage of the region. Through various recreations and displays, the project will provide a detailed glimpse into the bygone era by showcasing the various shades of people's lifestyle at the time, including a display of their attire, ways of trading through the barter system, festivals they celebrated, the kind of food they had, and a lot more.

Since Muziris was an important centre of trade between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, people from various countries, including the Egyptians, Arabs, Chinese, Romans and Greeks settled in this place over the years. This led to the building of forts, churches, palaces and other architectural marvels, that together form a part of the built heritage of Muziris. Given below is the list of monuments you can see in this place:

·         The Holy Cross Church

·         Marthoma Smruthi Tharangam

·         Paravur Jewish Synagogue

·         Pattanam Excavation Site

·         Kottayil Kovilakom

·         Vypeekotta Seminary

·         Chennamangalam Jewish Synagogue

·         Paliam Dutch Palace

·         Paliam Nalukettu

·         Gothuruthu

·         Kottappuram Fort

·         Cheraman Parambu

·         Kizhthali Siva Temple

·         Thiruvanchikulam Mahadeva Temple

·         Cheraman Juma Masjid

·         Kodungalloor Bhagavathi Temple

·         Abdul Rahman Sahib's House

·         Marthoma Pontifical Shrine

·         Pallippuram Fort

·         The Azheekal Sree Varaha temple

·         The Manjumatha church

·         Kottapuram market - a model of a rural market

·         Kottakkavu church - place of religious importance

·         The Kodungalloor temple vibrant with rituals