'Best Destination For Romance' Award Is Given To Munnar Of Kerala

BEST DESTINATION FOR ROMANCE - MUNNAR

Munnar, the hill station in Kerala, has bagged the award for ‘Best Destination for Romance’ at the Lonely Planet Magazine India Travel Awards 2017. Mr. P. Bala Kiran IAS, Director, Kerala Tourism, received the prestigious award at the sixth edition of Lonely Planet India Travel Awards. 

“It is a euphoric moment for Kerala Tourism. It is overwhelming to be aware of the fact that Kerala is gaining popularity as India’s most preferred destination among the Indian travellers. The state’s tourism department will continue to keep up the positive momentum with its perennial growth trajectory,” said Mr. P. Bala Kiran IAS, Director, Kerala Tourism.

Munnar is famed for its romantic cottages, cloudy mountains, lively tea gardens and lush green valleys. 

This award is yet another addition to the series of prominent awards won by Kerala Tourism in 2017 and Kerala has time and again made its presence felt in the tourism industry.

Source : Kerala Tourism

Bekal Beach - It Has Laid Beautiful Walkway To Enjoy The Panoramic View

Bekal Beach

Kasaragod, the Northern most district of Kerala is renowned as the land of gods, forts, rivers, hills and beautiful beaches. The imposing fort at Bekal is one of the largest and best-preserved forts in Kerala. The beautiful expanse of the shallow beach near the Bekal fort, known as Bekal Fort Beach has been developed as an exotic beach location by the Bekal Resorts Development Corporation (BRDC).

Beautification of the site includes installation of two sculptures of Theyyam created using laterite on the beach and a shed the walls of which are adorned with murals created by artisans from Nilambur. Apart, from these a rock garden at the parking area has been developed where laterite boulders of various sizes have been utilised. Under the social forestry scheme, trees have been planted in the beach area.

Parking facilities: The BRDC has developed about 7000 sq. m of land for parking different types of vehicles.

Walkway: A beautiful walkway has been laid for the visiting tourists to explore the beauty of the fine coastline and enjoy the panoramic view of the Bekal Fort.

Illuminated beach: The beach gets illuminated during the evening hours so that tourists can spend more time at the beach even after the sun sets.

Resting facilities: Multi shed and Eru madam (Tree house) would provide the tourists enough facilities to take rest and enjoy the sea breeze. By using locally available materials seating arrangements have been provided for the tourists at the beach.

Toilets: Toilets have been provided for the use of tourists and eco-friendly bamboo waste bins have been provided in the entire beach site for keeping the area clean.

Children's park: A park has been developed here for children below 14 years.

In order to maintain the developed site a nominal charge of one rupee from each visitor would be collected as entry fees. A similar nominal vehicle parking fees would also be collected. The BRDC also aims to develop in future another 11 acres of land at the beach for constructing water park, theme park etc.

The BRDC was set up by the Government of Kerala to develop Bekal as a planned eco-friendly destination. The BRDC has utilised 19 acres of land for the development of the Bekal Fort Beach at a cost of approximately Rs. 25 million including land acquisition charges. 

Visiting hours: 0800 - 1730 hrs

Contact details: 

Bekal Resorts Development Corporation Limited (BRDC)

KVS Hyper Market Building, 

Pallakunnu, Bekal P.O.

Kasaragod - 671 318

Telefax: +91 467 2236580 

Email: brdcltd@bsnl.in  

Nearest railway station: Kasaragod, on the Kozhikode-Mangalore-Mumbai route.  

Nearest airport: Mangalore, about 50 km from Kasaragod town; Calicut International Airport, Kozhikode, about 200 km from Kasaragod town.

Source : Kerala Tourism

Lepakshi - It Is One Of The Popular One Day Trip From Bangalore

Lepakshi

Lepakshi is a small village which lies 14 km east of Hindupur in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. It is the one of the important heritage sites in Andhra Pradesh highlighting the legacy of Vijayanagara Dynasty. It is one of the famous Tourist places in Andhra Pradesh and also one of the popular one day trip from Bangalore.

Lepakshi was founded in the 16th century during the reign of the Vijayanagara king, Aliiya Rama Raya. Virupanna, the royal treasurer was accused of drawing funds without the king's permission from the state treasury to build the Veerabhadra temple at Lepakshi. However, he blinded himself to avoid the king's punishment. Even today one can see two dark stains upon the wall near the Kalyana Mandapa, which are said to be the marks made by his eyes. Hence the village is called 'Lepa-akshi', means a village of the blinded eye.

Lepakshi is the centre of some of the finest temple architecture and paintings. Lepakshi consists of three important shrines dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Veerabhadra, of which Veerabhadra temple is the most important place to visit in Lepakshi (this is also referred as Lepakshi Temple). The temples of Papanatheswara, Raghunatha, Srirama, Veerabhadra and Durga are located in the same complex on a hillock named as Kurma Saila (tortoise shaped hill). 

The Vijayanagar styled temple has several wonderful paintings on the ceiling. The hanging pillar supported from the top is a surprise for the visitors. To the south of the main shrine is a huge Nagalingam, standing on a granite block, shrouded by a seven-headed cobra, magnificently carved out of single rock. The monolithic Nandi in Lepakshi village is another remarkable feature. 

The handicrafts of Lepakshi are also quite popular among women all over the country.

Bangalore Airport, about 100 km from Lepakshi, is extremely well-connected by air. Hindupur Railway station is the nearest railway station, which is about 14 km from Lepakshi. It is well connected by rail with cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Hubli, Mysore, Vizag, Shirdi, Coimbatore, Luknow, New Delhi, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Machilipatnam, Bagalkot, Trivandrum, Nagercoil, Bhubaneswar, Gujarat, Jaipur, Jabalpur, Vijayawada and Tuticorin. Lepakshi is connected by bus with Hindupur. Hindupur has regular buses from Bangalore, Hyderabad, Anantapur, Vijayawada, Tirupati, Chennai and Nellore. 

The best season to visit Lepakshi is from October to March while the Peak Season is January & April to May. It usually takes around halfday to visit all places in Lepakshi. Accommodation is also available with newly built AP Tourism Haritha resort near Nandi statue.

Lepakshi hanging pillar is one of the 70 pillars which is hanging well almost on its edge . Lepakshi hanging pillar has a story behind it, "A British engineer who wanted to know how the temple was supported by the pillars, they tried to displace one of it, and it caused the movement of as many as 10 pillars around to maintain the balance. The temple and the pillars in the temple was designed to withstand even earthquakes". This is well known history about Lepakshi hanging pillar.

There is another story about the Lepakshi hanging pillar is that originally the pillars was hanging, but the Britishers thought it may fall-down and tried to pull it down. But they could succeed only partially on one side, which caused the roof to bend to that side.

By Air

Nearest Airport is Bangalore - Bengaluru International Airport (100 Kms)

By Train

Nearest Railway Station is Hindupur Railway Station (14 Kms)

By Bus

Nearest Bus Station: Lepakshi Bus Station (0 Kms)

Lansdowne Hill Station - It Is One Of The Most Popular Weekend Getaway

Lansdowne Hill Station

Lansdowne is situated at an altitude of 1700 mts above sea level surrounded with thick oak and blue pine forests in the pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand state.Lansdowne got its name from Lord Lansdowne, who was the then Viceroy of India during the period of 1888-1894. Presently , Lansdowne has the command office of the Garhwal Rifles division of the Indian Army.

Lansdowne is one of the quietest and unspoilt hill stations of India and has been a popular destination since Britishers came to India. lansdowne is unlike other hill station, as it is well connected with motorable roads but remote in its own way.

Lansdowne is ideal travel destination for a lazy, relaxing holiday. It is one of the most popular weekend Getaway from Delhi NCR Region.Lansdowne is much cleaner and well maintained because of Cantonment Area Of Garhwal Rifles.

Lansdowne offers exciting opportunities for adventure activities like bird watching, trekking, rock climbing to name a few. Lansdowne is famous for being a birdwatcher paradise as one can spot many beautiful feathered birds. Lansdowne offers exciting opportunities for adventure activities like bird watching, trekking, rock climbing to name a few. 

Lansdowne is famous for being a birdwatcher paradise as one can spot many beautiful feathered birds.Lansdowne offers exciting opportunities for adventure activities like bird watching, trekking, rock climbing to name a few. Lansdowne is famous for being a birdwatcher paradise as one can spot many beautiful feathered birds.Lansdowne offers exciting opportunities for adventure activities like bird watching, trekking, rock climbing to name a few. 

Lansdowne is famous for being a birdwatcher paradise as one can spot many beautiful feathered birds.Lansdowne offers exciting opportunities for adventure activities like bird watching, trekking, rock climbing to name a few. Lansdowne is famous for being a birdwatcher paradise as one can spot many beautiful feathered birds.

Lansdowne offers exciting opportunities for adventure activities like bird watching, trekking, rock climbing to name a few. Lansdowne is famous for being a birdwatcher paradise as one can spot many beautiful feathered birds.  

The salubrious and serene climate at Lansdowne surrounded by undulating verdant hills makes it an ideal place to go for long walks amidst lush greenery in the morning and evenings. 

Tourists can enjoy boating, paddling in the man made lake named Bhulla Lake. Tourists also enjoy water activities at Kho River near Durga Devi Mandir which is located on the Kotdwar-Lansdowone Road.

By Air

Jolly Grant Airport is the neares Airport to Lansdowne situated at a distance of 148kms. Jolly Grant Airport is well connected to Delhi with daily flights. Lansdowne is well connected by motorable roads with Jolly Grant Airport. 

By Train

Nearest railway station to Lansdowne is Kotdwar situated at a distance 40kms. Kotdwar is well connected by railway networks with major cities of India. There are regular trains running to Lansdowne from major destinations of North India.

By Bus

Buses to Kotdwar and Dugadda are easily available from ISBT Kashmiri Gate. Buses and Taxis to Lansdowne are available from Kotdwar, Dugadda, Pauri and other major destinations of Uttarakhand state.

Bannari Mariamman Temple - It Is Placed In North-West Boundary Of Kongu Nadu

BANNARI MARIAMMAN TEMPLE

Around 300 years ago, the dana Nayakkan or Dhandanyakkan forest you all know now its been called as “BANNARI”. This name Bannari for this great historical place origined because of the great temple “Bannari Amman Temple”.

Bannari Mariamman temple is situated at a distance of fourteen kilometers from Sathyamangalam in Erode District.The temple facing south and it is surrounding by thick forests with verdant vegetation on the southern, northern and western directions.The range of mountains and the hilly backdrop add charm to the abode of the deity.Beasts such as elephants, wild pigs, bears, deer, hares, and monkey are found in the surrounding forests. Beautiful peacocks and various birds are also seen here.

In ancient days Tamil Nadu consisted of five division known as Chera Nadu, Chozha Nadu, Pandiya Nadu, Thondai Nadu and Kongu Nadu.Kongu Nadu was situated on the western side of Tamil Nadu. Mountains, rivers and forests added beauty to this fertile soil.Bannari located on the North West boundary of Kongu Nadu. Of late, it has become pilgrim’s paradise because devotees from far and near visit this spot. It is held in high esteem as the celebrated abode of Goddess Mariamman.

The oracle was heard by everybody who has assembled there. In response to that message, the villagers Erected shed with ‘KANANGU’ a kind of forest herbs. In due course, the thatched ceiling was replaced by tiled ceiling. Funds were collected from philanthropists and the temple structure underwent renovation repeatedly and, the gopuram was built above the SANCTUM – SANCTORIUM.

Shobana Mantapa in front of the temple with 24-pillared mantapa with carvings of architectural beauty was constructed in 1967. The Artha Mantapa, Maha Mantapa and Shobana Mantapa enhance the beauty of the temple. Separate shrines for such gods as Vinayaka, Bommairayan, Madeswara SARUGU Mariamman and Muniyappa are found in and around the temple.

The Bommarayan temple is in Artha mandapam facing west side and the Ganesh temple is in front mandapam facing east.God Matheshwaran is placed on a slab which is on the southern side of the Goddess temple.Near the temple pond a small temple facing west is constructed for Sarugu Mariamman is placed. The kumbhabishegam for this temple was conducted on second of this month.

On the west side of the temple pond a big pit is present. In that pit water will be stagnant only on rainy seasons. On other seasons water won’t stagnate there. To the left side of the way to the temple pond, God VandiMuniappar is placed on a slab. During the festival for goddess the people of Cholar caste do special poojas for this God.

By Air

The nearest airport one is their at Coimbatore for reaching Bannari.

By Train

The nearest railway station is Mettupalayam and then other nearest railways stations are Coimbatore and Chamarajanagar.

By Bus

There are lot of buses from Sathyamangalam(15 km), Bhavanisagar, Thalavadi and Chamarajanagar (60 km) to reach Bannari. The buses from Coimbatore and Erode to Mysore, Chamarajanagar and Kollegal on NH 209 also passes through Bannari. One can also get the buses from Bhavanisagar and reach the temple via Kothamangalam, but this is a long route to reach Bannari. And on every Sunday, Monday, Friday and new moon days there are special buses to the temple from Sathyamangalam, Erode, Gobichettipalayam and Coimbatore.