Bolgatty Island - It Has Special Cottages For Honeymooners

BOLGATTY ISLAND

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ERNAKULAM

Near the historic town of Fort Kochi in Ernakulam district, the commercial capital of Kerala, is the Bolgatty Island. This lush, lovely island is famous for its palace of the same name. The Bolgatty Palace, built in 1744 by the Dutch and later taken over by the British. Today, it is a premium hotel run by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) Hotels & Resorts, with a small golf course and special honeymoon cottages.

India’s only international marina, Kochi International Marina, is situated in Bolgatty. The marina provides berthing facility for 34 yachts and also offers services like water, electricity and sewage pump-outs.

Overlooking the backwater, Cochin seaport, Vallarpadam container terminal and the Arabian Sea is the Bolgatty Event Centre, the venue is ideal for conducting International conferences, Conventions, Exhibitions, Meetings, Wedding receptions and Theme dinners.

Nearest railway station: Ernakulam, about 6 km

Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 33 km

Kerala Tourism Wins PATA Gold Award For Muziriz Heritage Project

Kerala Tourism’s Muziris Heritage Project wins 

PATA Gold Award

Kerala Tourism has bagged this year’s prestigious Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Awards for its Muziris Heritage Project in the 'Heritage & Culture’ category.

The award, sponsored by the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO), was bestowed on the Muziris Heritage Project for its conservational aspect, uniqueness and impact on local community.

"This award is recognition of the Muziris project, aimed at restoring the historical and cultural significance of the ancient town that stretches across North Paravur in Ernakulam to Kodungalloor in Thrissur,” said Mr. A.P. Anilkumar, Minister for Tourism, Kerala.

“This flagship project of the Government of Kerala is one of the biggest heritage conservation projects of modern India”, he added.

Supported and sponsored by MGTO for the last 20 years, this year’s PATA Grand and Gold Awards recognise the achievements of 25 separate organisations and individuals.

“Being a part of the Spice Route Project, which is supported by UNESCO, the Muziris project already has a key status in the cultural tourism map. The award further highlights its prominence in international heritage tourism,” said Mr. G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, Secretary, Kerala Tourism.

There were 269 entries from 83 organisations and individuals worldwide for this year's award, the highest number since 2007. The awards will be presented on September 8 at the PATA Travel Mart at Bangalore.

"The list of PATA Gold Awards 2015 winners unveils once again the very best of Pacific-Asia tourism practices," said Ms. Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director, MGTO. She added that the excellence and innovation revealed by the works and projects awarded are impressive and can provide inspiration to raise the standards of tourism industry stakeholders in the region.

Noting that no other tourism department in the country could win this much-admired award this time, Mr. P. I. Sheik Pareeth, Director, Kerala Tourism said that the PATA award acknowledges Kerala Tourism’s excellence in heritage conservation.

PATA had honoured Kerala Tourism for the Responsible Tourism initiative in Kumarakom and Kerala Tourism's popular e-Newsletter in 2014.

Founded in 1951, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is a not-for profit association that is internationally acclaimed for acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region.

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

ATHACHAMAYAM FESTIVAL

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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.

CHOTTANKKARA BAGAVATHY TEMPLE

CHOTTANIKKARA BAGAVATHY TEMPLE

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KERALA

This is the most famous temple in the state of Kerala. It is situated on outskirts of Kochi. The two main deities here are Rajarajeswari and Badrakali. People believe that these Goddesses are very powerful. It is located in a serene atmosphere. Whatever your belief might be, you could still visit the place, which is one of the most important tourist destinations and offers you tranquil moments.

 it is one of the most visited Hindu shrines in South India and is dedicated to the Goddess Bhagavathy who is worshipped as Saraswati in the morning, Lakshmi during the day, and Durga in the evening.

The Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Temple is believed to be about 1500 years old. Legend has it that the temple was built in the midst of a dense jungle by a forest-dweller called Kannappan. Kannappan was a doting father who loved his young daughter. 

He sacrificed a beast to the Goddess Bhagavathy each day and one occasion could not find any animals to slaughter. He asked his daughter for her pet calf but the daughter preferred to give up her own life for the goddess. The calf spoke to Kannappan and revealed that it was the Goddess in animal form.

 A transformed Kannappan started to worship her at the place where the 

sacrifices were made by him. The shrine fell into disuse and was eventually discovered by a grass cutter.

Timings

                  

Opening of the Nada	4 am
Lord Shiva’s Dhaara	5 am
Ethruthu pooja	5.30 am
Morning Seeveli	6 am
Guruthi pooja at Keezhu kaavu Temple	7.30 am
Pantheeradi Pooja	7.45 am
Lord Shiva’s Dhaara	11 am
Uchapooja or noon pooja	12 noon
Noon Seeveli	12.10 pm
Evening Nada Opening	4.00 pm
Deeparadhana	6.30 pm
Athazhapooja	7.30 pm
Evening Seeveli	8 pm
Evening Guruthi at Keezhu kaavu Temple	8.45pm

Air

 International Air Port is at Nedumbassery, near Aluva, about 22 kms away from Ernakulam, Kochi.

Rail

The nearest station is at Ernakulam about 17km away from Chottanikkara. The two railway stations in Kochi are Ernakulam Junction and Ernakulam Town. Trains from the Northern cities/Southern parts of India stop at Ernakulam Junction.
Ernakulam Junction, D.H. Rd, Ernakulam South, Phone: 131
Ernakulam Town, Near North Bridge
Phone : 0484-2390920

Road

 KSRTC Central Bus station is near the Ernakulam Junction railway station. It runs Express and Fast services from Ernakulam to other major cities within Kerala and into the neighbouring states. Reciprocal services from other States are also available. There are plenty of private buses available for travel from Ernakulam to other cities. They operate from High Court Junction, Railway Station and Kaloor Junction.