While The Festival The Statue Of St. Sebastian Is Taken Out For Public Veneration

ATHIRAMPUZHA PERUNNAL 

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KOTTAYAM

Start date: 19-01-2017

End date: 26-01-2017

Venue: St. Mary's Forane Church

Location: Athirampuzha

District: Kottayam

Blessed on 15th August 835 AD, the St. Mary’s Forane Church at Athirampuzha oozes with old world charm and is much reputed for its exquisite architecture and historical significance. The church which is dedicated to St. Mary is a noted pilgrim centre of St. Sebastian. Legend has it that the statue of St. Sebastian installed here was brought from Portugal. The church boasts of a rich historical legacy with its collection of objects like the granite cross, altar, bells, articles used in the Holy Mass etc. carved in granite and wood metal.

Thousands of devotees flock to the church for the feast of St. Sebastian which was started in the year 1647. During the festival days, the statue of St. Sebastian is taken out for public veneration. The procession sees a rich conflux of spiritual exercises and spectacular events. The spectacular display of fireworks, music of different band groups, beaded ornate umbrellas, different types of crosses made of gold, silver, bronze and wood make the procession an event cherished by people.

Nearest railway station: Kottayam about 11 km

A 12 Day Annual Festival With Rich Cutural Feast At Vaikom Mahadeva Temple

Vaikathashtami

Event date: 22-11-2016

Venue: Lord Shiva Temple

Location: Vaikom

District: Kottayam

Come November and the Vaikom Mahadeva Temple situated at Vaikom (Vaikkom) bears witness to a rich cultural extravaganza as it ushers in Vaikathashtami- a twelve-day annual festival.

The temple with its alluring Kerala style temple architecture is worth a visit and during the festive season it becomes all the more spectacular, treating the senses to a rich cultural feast.

The festival falls in the Malayalam month of Vrischikam, corresponding to the months of November / December and is celebrated in all its pomp and gaiety. The visitors are treated to a plethora of art forms and performances such as Kathakali, dance recitals, music concerts, pageantry, and so on. The final day of the festival is marked by a grand procession in which the thidambu (replica of the presiding deity) is carried on elephant back which is joined by processions from nearby temples. 

Nearest railway station: Kottayam, about 40 km
Nearest airport: Cochin international Airport, about 56 km

Kumarakom - It Is As One Of The Must-See Places In A LifeTime

KUMARAKOM 

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KOTTAYAM

Kumarakom is a popular tourism destination located near the city of Kottayam (16 kilometres (10 mi)), in Kerala. Kumarakom is a sleepy little village on Vembanad Lake in Kerala. It offers wide variety of flora, exotic sightseeing, boating and fishing experience.

The place has expanses of mangrove forests, paddy fields and coconut groves. Fruits like Banana, Mango, Jackfruit, Ambazhanga, Puli, Chaambenga, Peraycka, Aathaycka and Pineapple grow here. Also, cocoa and coffee, chena(yam) and chembu(colocasia, grow well and were cultivated under the coconut trees. This rich agricultural environment is mainly irrigated using interspersed waterways and canals of the Meenachil river. 

The National Geographic Magazine has listed Kumarakom as one of the must-see places in a lifetime. The land is famous for it's painstakingly hand craft each exquisite piece still made in a traditional way.

 Vemanad Lake is home to several types of marine life exclusively the Chemeen (Prawns), the Konju (Tiger Prawns) and Karimeen. Kumarakom will be a perfect choice for you to spend your quality time with your family.

Houseboats are one of the unique feature of Kumarakom tourism. Majority of the tourists visiting Kumarakom ask for a trip in these houseboats, enjoying the beautiful backwater and the cool air around.

These houseboats are made in the format of traditional 'Kettuvallams', which will make you feel the rich traditions of 'God's Own Country'. You can have a cruise through the Vembanad lake and Alappuzha backwaters. 

Experience the typical Kerala cuisines while having a calm voyage through the backwaters. There is a waterfall at Kumarakom ? Aruvikuzhi, which is worth visit. The 100 ft tall waterfall is one of the best spot for trekking. 

A day at Kumarakom will always bring freshness in you. You will be getting a very rare chance to get indulge with the greenish environment here. 

Kumarakom will be giving you a romantic experience, one of the best place to spend time with your partner. You will be getting best honeymoon packages here. Explore the Vembanad Lake and have a backwater experience with your lover.

 The atmosphere at Kumarakom will make you more romantic, give you the most memorable moments in your lifetime. Visit Kumarakom from November to March. Rainy season is also allowed. Enjoy the monsoon, sitting inside the houseboat and having a cup of hot tea.

By Air

85 Km from Cochin International Airport and the 250 Km from Trivandrum International Airport.

By Rail

Kottayam links you to all major cities in Kerala and India with numerous trains plying this route daily. From Cochin, you could also take a south bound train via the Alleppey route. Alight at Chertala for a short 14 Km ride to Kumarakom

Kottayam railway station is nearest station to get kumarkom only 16 Km from Kottayam.

By Road

 Buses and Taxis are easily available at all time of the day from Kottayam.

Attuvela Mahotsavam

ATTUVELA MAHAOTSAVAM

AT

KERALA

Attuvela Mahotsavam, according to legends, is a ceremony to welcome the Goddess of Kodungalloor who comes to visit her sister, the Goddess of Elamkavu.

Spanning over two days, this grandiose procession starts from Attuvela Kadavu, 2 km away from the Elankavu Bhagavathy temple which is located at Vadayar village in the Kottayam district in Kerala. It is dedicated to the Goddess and is celebrated in the ‘Meenam’ month of the Malayalam calendar which falls during March-April in the Gregorian calendar.

Kerala’s temple festivals are well known for their elephant displays and loud percussion. However, the Attuvela Mahotsavam, is unusually serene and delightfully quiet. The hordes of decorated small canoes accompanied by traditional temple music create a divine spectacle like the Goddess herself has descended to glide through the river waters to unite with her sister.

A visual treat for the all the visitors, Kerala’s Attuvela Mahotsavam attracts thousands of people every year, and rightfully so!

Nearest railway station: Ernakulam, about 30 km away

Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 50 km away