Chootad Beach - One For The Beach Bums

Chootad Beach - One for the Beach Bums

A glorious strip of sand ensconced between a pretty lake and a gentle sea, overlooking the mighty Ezhimala Hills. That is Chootad Beach for you, a rare geographical combination which looks more like a painting born out of an artist’s fantasy than your usual beach. 

The beach which lies a few kilometers away from Pazhayangadi town in Kannur is yet to figure in the tourism radar and one can easily spend a few hours here in solitude. 

This resplendent beach also boasts a long, gorgeous coastline backed by Casuarina trees. When faced with such an amazing scenic splendour, who wouldn’t want to get a bird’s eye view? The merry go round at the beach lets you do just that, get spectacular views of this ethereal beauty from all perspectives.

The beach isn’t just for the romantics. It is for the adventurous and those who just want to picnic around as well. The District Tourism Promotion Council here maintains a park in the beach. Be it capering about in the park, gliding through the calm waters of the lake in a pedal boat or just revving up the quad and riding through the sands, the beach offers a host of activities to indulge in.

For beach bums, there is nothing more fulfilling than sauntering through this pristine stretch watching the waves crash at the shore, taking a dip or just settling into the sands and staring at the magnificent vista struck up by nature.  

Source : Kerala Tourism

Paithal Mala Hills - It Is A Trekker's Delight

PAITHAL MALA HILLS

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KANNUR

Paithal Mala stands majestically at an altitude of 4500 ft. steeped in a white blanket of mist- the Paithal Mala. Also called Vaithal Mala, Paithal Mala is a hill station that rests in the lap of the Western Ghats in Kannur district of Kerala. Located in the Kerala – Karnataka border, Paithal Mala descends into the Kudaku forest area of Karnataka.

This hilly stretch which is the highest peak in Northern Kerala bursts with myriad forms of life. This divine slice of land which is a blend of vast green meadows and sigh inducing valleys is a haven of birds, butterflies, rare plants and trees.  The journey is also a walk into a chapter of history as one gets to see the remains of the ruined palace of the tribal king Vaithalkon.

With its grand landscapes, Paithal Mala resembles the Western highlands. A two km trek is needed to reach the top of the hills. The trek to the top itself is rewarding. It is more of a jungle sojourn in solitude, occasionally punctuated by the calls of the birds. An exciting trail replete with all the wonders of the wilderness leads you to the base of the Paithal Mala. From there you amble up a velvet green stretch that leads into the summit of the hillock. There, you just walk into a creamy mist. Feast your eyes on the panorama of peaks as the hovering mist gives way and enjoy the grand views of this wild beauty.

Surrounded by a swathe of lush greenery, Paithal Mala offers a truly exhilarating and enchanting trekking experience.A gorgeous hill station which offers a vista of wonders, Paithal Mala is a trekker’s delight. 

Pithalmala recieves a good amount of rainfall throughout the year. Temperature will drop to to less than 10 Degree Celsius in winter. Paithalmala have two active tourist seasons. If you are a photographer, the best time to visit Paithalmala is monsoon,  

June to October. At this period one can witness mist covered mountains and never ending greenery with a little showers. Remember to wear good shoes which completely covers your foot to protect against the leeches. As a result of the monsoon rains, the grasses grow to the walkways, which makes walking difficult. 

By the end of November the paths will be cleared and trekkers can easily pass through the grasses. The second tourist season is January to March. At this time, The sun might be a little harsh, so take care before setting out for trekking.The greenery at the top will fade away to golden brown grass land at summer. Always carry water with you to prevent dehydtation, especially in this time.

Paithalmala is located at  55km from Kannur and 40 km from Taliparamba. The nearest national highway is at Taliparamba is National Highway 66 which connects Goa and Mumbai in the north and Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram in the South. The nearest town is Kudiyanmala. 

When Driving from Kannur to reach Paithalmala, The shortest route (55.8 km) is: Kannur- Puthiyatheru – Mayyil- Sreekandapuram – Chemberi – Paithalmala. When Driving From Taliparamba, The shortest Route (39.2 km) is: Taliparamba – Oduvally – Naduvil – Kudiyanmala – Paithalmala.  

The nearest Railway station is Kannur Railway Station (CAN). The nearest Airport is Calicut International Airport (CCJ). If you Prefer Public Transport, KSRTC is operating several buses from Kannur and Taliparamba to Kudiyanmala. Click here to View the KSRTC Bus timings from Taliparamba to Kudiyanmala and here View the KSRTC Bus timings from Kannur to Kudiyanmala. There are no Private buses being operated in Kudiyanmala.

Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary - Major Species Of Wild Animals Found Here

ARALAM WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

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KANNUR

The Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary is spread over 55 sq km of undulating forested highlands on the slopes of the Western Ghats. The highest peak here - Katti Betta - rises to a majestic 1145 m above sea level.

This Sanctuary was established only 32 years ago in Kannur District of Kerala. This protected area shares common boundary with Coorg district of Karnataka. The aralam range runs along this protected area and is the only range in sight. Earlier, the reserve was under Wayanad Forest division but soon became autonomous from 1998 and Iritty became its head quarters,

Covered with tropical and semi evergreen forests, the Aralam Sanctuary is home to a vast variety of flora and fauna endemic to the Western Ghats. Elephant, gaur, sambar, spotted deer, barking deer, Nilgiri langur, Hanuman langur, Malabar giant squirrel, etc can be seen here.

Aralam, a village in Thalassery, Kannur, is also noted for the Central State Farm, a 3060 hectare farm started in 1971 by the Government of India. This is one of the main production centres of hybrid coconut seeds in the country.

Nearest Town is Iritty which is only five kms away. one can avail buses for hire cars to reach this place. The sanctuary is well connected with Wayanad, Kannur, Virajpet and Thalassery. Thalassery railway station is the nearest and well connected station that is located about 45 kms away and kannur station about 70 kms away. Both the stations are connected to the reserve by public buses and four wheelers. It is a little cumbersome to reach by air because the nearest airport Karipur in Kozhikode is about 150 kms away and will take hours to reach the place.

Contact Address: 

The Wildlife Warden 

Aralam Wildlife Division, 

Iritty P.O

Phone: +91 490 2493160 

Mobile:9447979101

E-mail: ww-aralam@forest.kerala.gov.in 

Website: www.aralam.com

Source : Kerala Tourism

Dharmadam Island – It Is An Important Tourist Lure Of Kerala Made By Its Natural Beauty

DHARMADAM ISLAND

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KANNUR

Dharmadam Island is a small 2 hectare private island in between Kannur and Thalassery. It lies 100 metres from the mainland at Dharmadam. This island, covered with coconut palms and dense bush is a beautiful sight from the Muzhappilangad beach.

It is also called "Dharmadam Thuruth" or "Pacha Thuruth" meaning "Green Island". Clad with coconut palm and lush bushes, natural beauty of Dharmadam Island makes it as an important tourist attraction.

The Moidu bridge which connects Kannur and Thalassery is an important landmark en route to Dharmadam Island. You can a boat from the southern end of the bridge to reach the Island. Visiting the Dharmadam Island requires prior permission from the owners as it is a private-owned property. 

It is formed as a result of lateritic rock projection between two arms of Anjarakkandy River and the sea. During low tide the ocean recedes making it possible for visitors to walk to the island. Walking through less than knee deep water and reaching the Island is an exciting experience. Make sure to return before the tides get stronger.

The island uninhabited, even though a well is seen, indicating human presence. There are medicinal herbs and some interesting plants on the Island. Dharmadam Island used to be privately owned. Realizing its tourism potential, Kerala government took over the Island some years ago.
Thalasseri town, which is just 4 kilometres away, can actually be seen from Dharmadam Island.

The Dharmadam Island beach is surrounded by the Arabian sea on the north and Anjarakandy river on the south and east. The western side of Dharmadam Island is surrounded by the river and the sea.

The best time to visit Dharmadam beach is between october and may when the weather is fentastic. It is the only drive in beach in Kerala, and one of the best in India. Dharmadam-Muzhuppilangad coastal belt is getting more and more popular as word is spreading about the fine drive in beach and the nearby island.

The area, considered along with the best beaches in Kerala, has witnessed a steady increase of foreign tourists since late 90’s. Due to the areas significance, Dharmadam now seats a railway station. Local passenger trains stop there. Coming from Kannur and Thalasseri, travel to Dharmadam Island is rather easy.

Private buses from Kannur and Thalasseri stop at the Dharmadam main land. If you are taking a long distance limited stop bus, such as Kannur-Kozhikode service, check with the bus staff before hand, if they stop at Dharmadam. You can also hire taxi or auto rickshaw from either Kannur or the nearby Thalasseri town.      

You can hire taxis or auto-rickshaws from Thalassery or Kannur to Dharmadam. As the Island became a popular picnic spot and weekend gateway, the local passenger trains stops at Dharmadam. From the Dharmadam mainland, you can walk to the Island.  

  

KOTTIYOOR FESTIVAL

KOTTIYOOR FESTIVAL

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KANNUR

Kottiyoor  is a famous Hindu pilgrim center devoted to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The proper name of the temple here is Sri Kottiyoor Mahadeva Kshetram.

 Kottiyoor temple is located near Kelakam in Kannur district of the southern state Kerala. Sri Kottiyoor temple is also known as the "Dakshina Kashi" or "Varanasi of the South" and attracts lakhs of devotees every year during the "Vaisakha Maholsavam" celebrations.

The Kottiyoor festival is unique as it involves two temples - Akkare Kottiyoor and Ikkare Kottiyoor, on the opposite banks of River Bavali. Situated in Kannur district, the annual Kottiyoor festival is celebrated for twenty-eight days and it falls during the months of May and June.

Here, the Neyyattam ritual on the first day and the Thirukalasattu ritual on the concluding day are attended by hundreds of devotees.

The Vaisakha Maholsavam celebrations begin with the ritual of bringing a sword from Muthirerikavu from Wayanad. On the following day, on Visakham star Bhandaram Ezhunnallath ritual is held.

Gold, Silver vessels, heavenly ornaments etc are brought from nearby Manathana village to Kottiyoor.

An important ritual during the festival is the 'Elaneer Vayppu' or submitting tender coconuts before the swayambhu Shiva linga.

On this special day, thousands of tender coconuts carried from different parts of Malabar by the devotees are submitted. The following day, the main priest of the temple, pours the collected coconut water on to the idol which is known as 'Elaneeraattam'.

Rohini Aaradhana is a very important ritual which is not seen in any other temple. The priest embraces the swayambhu Shiva linga as part of the ritual.

The belief behind this ritual is that Brahma himself worships Lord Shiva to pacify for the loss of Sati.

Kottiyoor is also known by the names Kudiyoor, Dakshina Kashi. Thricherumana, Vdakkumkaavu, Kizhakkumkaavu and Vadakeeswaram.

By Air

The nearest airport is at Karipur, Kozhikode which is about 93km south. The Mangalore airport is 170kms north of Kannur.

By Train

Kannur is an important railhead of the Southern Railways and the major railway station on Shornur-Mangalore line. There are trains from Mumbai, Goa, Mangaloe, Madras, Trivandrum, Kochi, Kozhikode and Coimbatore. All major trains going North through the Konkan and beyond stop at Kannur.

By Road

Kannur is 155kms south of Mangalore and 535 kms north of Thiruvanathapuram. An excellent road transport system connects the town to all the major towns of south india. There are frequent bus services from Mangalore,. Bangalore, Kochi, Trivandrum and Kozhikode.