Kerala Trivandrum | Kovalam | | Alleppey | Quillon (Kollam)
With foreign influences as disparate as Chinese and Portuguese, Arab and Dutch, Kerala is the spice coast of India. Edged by a thread of unbroken beach-line, the state’s heart is composed of intensely green paddy fields and a unique network of rivers and lagoons. Upland Kerala, relatively little visited, is composed of hills thickly wooded with teak and rubber. It is here that Kerala’s most precious spices are grown in carefully nurtured plantations: cardamom, pepper and nutmeg. Trivandrum, the state capital, an international airport, has an exceptionally fine museum set in an amusement park. 16 km away is Kovalam, one of the most popular beaches in the country. Many visitors stay at Kovalam, driving into Trivandrum for sightseeing trips, rather than the other way round. Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple in Trivandrum, and Padmanabhapuram Palace, a short drive away, are important monuments. Cochin, with a fine natural harbour, has been Kerala’s center of maritime trade for innumerable centuries. Along the harbour, rows of antediluvian Chinese fishing nets indicate Kerala’s trade with China, just as buildings along the water’s edge testify to the erstwhile presence of Dutch and Portuguese colonizers. Jewtown, complete with an immaculately preserved synagogue, has a flavor all its own, while Tripunathura, at the other end of the city, has many traditional houses with central courtyards. Kerala’s multitude of faiths – Islam, Judaism, and a host of sects of Christianity and Hinduism – all coexist harmoniously in a state that is known for its Marxist inclinations! Kerala’s traditions of dance forms, which originated from temple worship, can be witnessed at regularly held performances. Lecture-demonstrations of the most spectacular of these – Kathakali – are held daily at many centre in Cochin. Teyyam, at once an act of worship and visual feast; temple festivals complete with caparisoned elephants; Kalaripayata, the indigenous art of self defense; all are a part of Kerala’s remarkable heritage of performing arts, and can be witnessed at various centre in Cochin and Trivandrum. A five hour drive from Cochin leads into thickly forested hills, past rubber and spice plantations, and into southern India’s tea growing district headquartered at the charmingly old world Munnar. From Kottayam to Alleppey is a world of palm fringed waterways, a route which is covered by motor launch. Elderly sailboats, long barges transporting tons of coconuts and tiny skiffs used to transport children to school are common sights on these backwaters. Trivandrum, the capital of the state of Kerala, is a beautiful seaside city built on seven hills. The city gets its name from the word, Thiru Ananthapuram meaning the city of Ananth or the abode of the sacred serpent Anantha, on which Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the Hindu trinity, reclines. GENERAL INFORMATION Area : HOW TO GET THERE
CONDUCTED TOURS 1) City Tour : Timings 0800-1900 hrs (Daily); Fare : Rs.50/- PLACES OF INTEREST Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Zoological Park,Napier Museum, Sri Chitra Art Gallery, Science & Technology Museum, Veli Lagoon, Shanmugham Beach, Aruvikkara Dam and Neyyar Dam, SMSM Institute. EXCURSIONS Kovalam 16 km, Kanniyakumari 87 km, Padmanabhapuram Palace 54 km, Ponmudi 61 km Quilon 72 km, Suchindram Temple 99 km, Thekkady (Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary) 272 km, Varkala 55 km. INFORMATION CENTRE 1) Govt. of India Tourist Office Counter, Trivandrum Airport Tel: 71198. 16 kms away from Trivandrum, a sheltered bay endowed with unusual beauty. This natural bay is a safe sea-pool free from high waves and surge. And the beach resort here is of international standard. Alleppey situated in south of Cochin, is the centre for backwater cruises in Kerala. It has a large network of canals which passes through the town, provides its lifeline & has a long sandy beach. It is also the centre of the famous coir products of Kerala. Nehru Trophy Boat Race - the most colorful snake-boat race in Kerala - is held here on the second Saturday of August every year. GENERAL INFORMATION Altitude : Sea Level. HOW TO GET THERE
PLACES OF INTEREST Backwater Cruise Alleppey is the gateway to the inland water ways of Kerala. Cruise through small canals passing paddy fields, villages and small water lodged town-ships to enjoy the scenic beauty and to get a glimpse of the unspoiled rural life of Kerala. Backwater boat cruises are conducted by Alleppey Tourism Development Co-operative Society. The important ones are given below:- Place Distance Journey Time Rates EXCURSIONS Ambalapuzha (14 kms), Hariped (33 kms). TOURIST INFORMATION 1) District Information Officer, Collectorate, Alleppey. Tel: (0477) 2549. The present day Quilon is famous for its varied modern industries, Cashew nut Processing & Research, fisheries etc. for the tourists coming from Trivandrum, Quilon is the beginning of the magnificent backwaters of Kerala. Altitude : Sea level. TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION
PLACES OF INTEREST Thangassery Light House: Backwaters EXCURSIONS Chavara 16 km, Kundara 13 km, Courtallam (Health Resort) (104 km), Alleppey (85 km). TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE 1) Manager, Govt. Guest House, Quilon. Tel: 76456. Kottayam situated in South of Cochin is a cultural Centre with beautiful Old churches. Though a busy commercial city, on its west, it has beautiful backwaters & on its eastern parts it is full of greenery. GENERAL INFORMATION Area : 15.54 sq. km TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION
PLACES OF INTEREST Valiya Pally, Thazhathangadi Mosque. Kumarakam : 10 km away from Kottayam, here is a lovely Vembanad Lake Where tourists can enjoy the beautiful backwater trips operated by the State Water Transport Department. The important ones are given below:- PLACE
KILOMETERS JOURNEY HRS. RATE EXCURSIONS Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (Thekkady) (114 km.), Ettumanoor (13 km.), Vaikkom (48 km). TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE 1. District Information Officer, District Collectorate, Kottayam. Tel : 3048. 2. Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala, C/O Kairali, Nirmal Building, Nariman Point, Bombay - 400 021, Tel: 2026817. The Periyar wildlife Sanctuary at Thekkady is an important tourist attraction. It is situated on the Periyar lake in the hills of Western ghats and is the finest sanctuary for viewing & photographing Indian wild elephants. Altitude : 900 m to 2000
meters TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION
WHAT TO SEE Indian Wild Elephants, Sambar, Barking Deer, Wild Boar, Tigers, Panthers, Wild Gogs, Bison, Spotted deer, Leopard, Musk deer. SIGHTSEEING IN THE SANCTUARY Wildlife can be seen in its natural habitat by cruising on the lake in motorboats. Elephant rides & motorboats can be arranged through:- 1) The Manager, Aranya Niwas Hotel, Thekkady. NOTE:- Permission for video, TV & Cinema Shooting can be obtained from:- EXCURSIONS The following picnic spots are approachable by motor launch or bridge path in the forest Arubi creek 16 kms, Crusoe Island 19 kms, Manakkavala 10 kms, Mullakudy 29 km Pavarasu 19 kms, Periyar Dam 12 kms, Thannikudy 38 kms, Peermade 40 kms. TOURIST INFORMATION Wildlife Preservation Officer, Thekkady Manager, Aranya Nivas, Thekkady. Tel: Kumily 23. Cochin, the commercial hub of Kerala, is a town of great historical importance. It has a fine natural harbor around which the city has grown. Climate : Summer Max 35 deg Min 22 deg Winter Max 32 deg Min 20 deg TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION
CONDUCTED TOURS 1) Boat Cruise-cum-Sight-Seeing Tour Timings:- 0900-1230 hrs & 1400-1730 hrs (Daily) Fare: Rs.30/- PLACES OF INTEREST Dutch Palace, Jewish Synagogue, St.Francis Church, Bolghatty, Gunda and Willingdon Islands, Kerala History Museum, Hill Palace Museum, Parishath Taamburan Museum, Chinese Fishing Nets, Santacruz Cathedral (Basilica). EXCURSIONS Alwaye 21 km, Kalady 45 km, Alleppey 64 km, Trichur 80 km, Kottayam 76 km, Guruvayur 109 km, Munnar 136 km, Idikki 138 km, Palghat 163 km, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (Thekkady) 190 km, Sabarimala 209 km, Calicut (Kozhikode) 218 km. MISCELLANEOUS 1. S.P.O.R.T.S. (Lakshadweep Office), Harbour Road, Willingdon Island, Cochin, Tel:340387 TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE 1. Govt. of India Tourist Office, Willingdon Island, Cochin-82009, Tel: 340352 Trichur, 78 kms north of Cochin on National Highway 47 lies at the base of a hillock, crowned by the famous Vadkkumnathan (Shiva) temple. This former capital of Cochin state was captured by Zamorin and later by Tipu Sultan inthe second half of the 18th Century. The famous pooram festival is celebrated at the Vadakkumnathan Temple every year during April-May. The Kerala Sahitya Academy and Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy are located in Trichur. Altitude : Sea level. HOW TO GET THERE
PLACES OF INTEREST Vadakkumnathan Temple Town Hall Zoo Aquarium State Museum, Chembukkavu, Tel:20566. Timings: 1000 hrs and 1700 hrs. Closed on Mondays. Entry free Art Museum, Zoo compound. Good collection of wood carvings, metal sculptures and ancient jewellery. Timing: Daily 1000 hrs to 1700 hrs. Closed on Mondays. EXCURSIONS Guruvayoor (32 km), Cheruthuruthy (29 km), Peechi Dam (23 km), Tiruvilwamala Temple (29 km), Cranganore (Kodungallor) (36 km), Triprayar (25 km),Irinjalakuda (21 km). KALADY : (55 km) Kalady, a pilgrim Centre, is situated on the banks of the river Periyar. It is the birth place of Sri Sankaracharya, the great Indian Philosopher who lived in the 8th Century. There are two Shrines in memory of Sri Sankaracharya, one dedicated to him as Dakshinamurthy & the other to the goddess Sharada. Their is an ancient Sri Krishna Temple close by, which was the family temple of Adi Sankaracharya. Another temple known as the International Temple dedicated to Sri Ramakrishna Deva, was completed in April 1976. TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE 1) Govt. Guest House, Palace Road, Trichur. Tel:20300. Guruvayur is one of the most sacred and important pilgrim centers of Kerala, attracting thousands of pilgrims from all parts of the Country. Its chief attraction is a temple dedicated to Lord Krishna known as 'Guruvayurappan'. Altitude : Sea level TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION
WHAT TO SEE Guruvayur Shree Krishna Temple: Punnathur Kotta: TOURIST INFORMATION Administrator, Guruvayur Devaswom, Tel: 6365 Centre Kerala Links |
Last updated on: September 14, 2001