Njangattiri Aanayoottu - A Special Feast To Elephents In Kerala

NJANGATTIRI AANAYOOTTU

AT

PALAKKAD

Festival Date - 21-7-2017

Venue - Njangattiri Bhagavathi Temple

Location - Pattambi

District - Palakkad

Elephants are usually seen decorated and paraded around during temple festivals in Kerala. However, during this elephant feeding ritual, they remain unadorned. The elephants are taken inside the temple premises and given a delicious feast of sugarcane leaves, coconut, jaggery and other local produce by people who come to worship them. The ritual aims to please Lord Ganesha, for the removal of obstacles and fulfillment of wishes.

A grand ceremony wherein a special feast is prepared for the elephants, the Njangattiri Aanayoottu ritual is held in the Njangattiri Bhagavathi Temple at Pattambi in the Palakkad district. In the Aanayoottu (Aanayoottu meaning feeding of elephants) ceremony, the elephants are fed specially medicated food. The ceremony is based on the principles of Ayurveda which consider the Malayalam month of Karkkidakam as a month of rejuvenation. Accordingly, this Ayurvedic tradition of rejuvenation is extended towards Elephants as well.

During this festival, the elephants are lined up in a row in the temple premises and are offered delicious and healthy food.  The special feast of elephants is prepared by following ayurvedic principles. Being a sacred animal, feeding elephants is also considered auspicious according to Hindu mythology and culture. Scores of people throng the temple premises to feed the elephants. 

Nearest railway station: Shoranur, about 18 km

Nearest airport: Coimbatore International Airport (Tamil Nadu), about 55 km from Palakkad

Malampuzha Dam And Garden - Passengers attracted By Adventurous And Delightful Air Journey Of Ropeway

MALAMPUZHA DAM AND GARDEN

AT

PALAKKAD

Malampuzha is a small town in Palakkad District of Kerala, built near the Malampuzha River (A tributary of Bharathapuzha River).Malampuzha Dam is a large irrigation dam built on Malampuzha River, a tributary of Bharathapuzha River at the base of the hills of the Western Ghats. The reservoir provides drinking water to Palakkad town.

Malampuzha, a little township on the foothills of the Western Ghats takes its name from the River Malampuzha. Nurtured by this tributary of Kerala's longest river, the Bharathapuzha, Malampuzha is a lush green town is a major tourist attraction for its trekking trails and the large irrigation dam.

There is a beautiful well laid garden near the Dam. There are lush green lawns, innumerable flower beds, glittering pools, fountains and avenues. There is a fresh water aquarium, Snake Park and a Children's park with a toy train. The Garden house has a unit of Water sports also. The imposing concrete sculpture of YAKSHI, the passenger ropeway, first of its kind in South India, offers adventurous and delightful air journey of 20 minutes across the garden are added attractions of the park. 

A telescopic tower, the first rock garden and the first amusement park of Kerala Fantasy Park are also located at Malampuzha. The reservoir has boating and fishing facilities.Around the reservoir of the dam are beautiful gardens and amusement parks. Boating facilities are available on the lake. Other attractions in the Malampuzha garden are the beautiful rock garden, the fish-shaped aquarium, the snake park, the ropeway which takes you on an aerial tour of the park, and the gigantic Yakshi (an enchantress) sculptured by Kanai Kunhiraman, a renowned sculptor of Kerala.

The most interesting feature of the rock garden is that the whole place is made of unwanted and broken pieces of bangles, tiles, used plastic cans, tins and other waste materials. The garden is a master work of sculptor Padmasree Neck Chand Saini. His rock garden in Chandigarh is world famous and attracts thousands of tourists every year.

Visiting Hours: 0900 hrs to 2000 hrs

Entrance Fee: 

Children (3-12): Rs. 10/-

Adult: Rs.25/-

Separate entrance fee for Ropeway, Snake Park (Monday Holiday)  

Contact details:

Malampuzha Garden, Ph: +91 491 2815295

Nearest railway station: Palakkad, about 9 km  

Nearest airport: Coimbatore International Airport, about 67 km and Calicut International Airport, about 106 km

Silent Valley National Park Offers Several Wildlife Packages For Travellers

Explore Silent Valley National Park

Tucked away in the folds of the Nilgiri Hills in Palakkad is a pristine valley, a spectacular patch of green nursing a rich palette of varied habitats- The Silent Valley National Park. With an area of 237.52 sq km, this dramatic landscape which is a unique preserve of tropical evergreen rain forests bursts with a luxurious collection of flora and fauna.

This stunning national park offers several wildlife packages for travellers.

Karuvara Trekking

Karuvara is a waterfall in Panthamthodu, 5 km away from Mukkali which is the base camp of the Silent Valley National Park. Trek through this trail which provides ample opportunities for bird watching. The journey to the waterfalls is in itself one scenic adventure. Immerse yourself in the magic of this rich swathe of greenery and tread on to reach the pristine Karuvara Falls.

Specifics: Maximum number of persons in one group is five and minimum three. Duration of the trip is 4 hours. Each group will be accompanied by a guide. The recommended season for visiting this area is from August to September and December to March. No bathing is permitted in the waterfall. Availability of this programme will depend on local weather. Advance booking is necessary.

Keerippara Trekking

Keerippara is the ideal package for those interested in wildlife. You may amble up the path snaking through the forest feasting your eyes on the magnificent canvas of greenery and wildlife conjured up by nature. Listen to the orchestra struck up by birds as you explore this slice of heaven. The trail runs through a tangle of forest types in the buffer zone of the Park. Trek through the evergreen and moist deciduous forests before venturing into the secondary grasslands at Keerippara. This refreshing trail offers mesmerising visuals of butterflies and birds flitting above.

Specifics: Maximum number of persons in one group is five and each group will be accompanied by a guide. The time span for the trek is 4 hrs. Advance booking is necessary for this programme. 

For tourist information and other logistics, please contact:

Wildlife Warden

Silent Valley Division

Mannarkkad, Palakkad,

Kerala - 678582

Email: mail@silentvalley.gov.in

Website: http://silentvalley.gov.in/SilentHome.php 

Annual Chariot Festival- Kalpathi Ratholsavam In November

Kalpathi Ratholsavam

Start date: 13-11-2016

End date: 15-11-2016

Venue: Sree Viswanatha Swamy Temple

Location: Kalpathi

District: Palakkad

It is that time of the year again to soak yourself in a rich colourful spectacle. The Sree Viswanatha Swamy Temple at Kalpathi in Palakkad is getting decked up to celebrate its annual chariot festival- the Kalpathi Ratholsavam.

One of the remarkable events in Kerala, this festival sees devotees and visitors arriving in droves to Kalpathi to join in the festive splendour. Kalpathi is a traditional Tamil Brahmin settlement in Kerala and the temple dedicated to Lord Viswanatha or Shiva is believed to be 700 years old. The annual chariot festival usually falls in the month of November. Vedic recitals and cultural programmes render a unique ambience to the place.

Three huge, magnificently decorated temple chariots are taken out through the streets of Kalpathi village on the third day. This marks the end of the festival.

The first day witnesses the pulling of one chariot followed by two chariots on the second, and three on the last day of the festival.

Getting there

Nearest railway station: Palakkad Town, about 3 km

Nearest airport: Coimbatore International Airport (Tamil Nadu), about 55 km