Photo credits: Vishnu
Attukal Pongala is the most important festival of the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, and once was entered into the World Records for the largest gathering of women at a festival in the world. It is popularly referred to as the Sabarimala of women.
Photo credits: Riaz
Located in the Palakkad district of Kerala, the Siruvani Dam was built as a joint venture between the neighboring states to supply drinking water for the town of Coimbature in Tamil Nadu. The thickly forested surroundings, Siruvani Waterfall and the nearby Banan Fort make the area a rich tourist attraction. Members of the Irular and Mudugar Tribal groups also inhabit the regions near the Siruvani Dam. Continue reading
Photo credits: Renjith
Kerala pappadams make a very popular side dish served with Kerala sadya (meals like the own depicted below). The main ingredients of pappadams are black gram (a type of lentil flour) and salt. Continue reading
The ancient port city of Muzuris came into the spotlight in 2012 with the critically acclaimed Kochi-Muzuris Biennale, but the Muzuris Heritage Project highlights the region in a more historical context.
Located just 30 km north of Kochi in Paravur and Channamangalam, the four museums–Kerala History Museum, Lifestyle Museum, Kerala Jewish History Museum, and Jewish Lifestyle Museum–were inaugurated this Sunday.
The four museums together present a comprehensive picture of the political and cultural history and lifestyle of the region….
…The Muziris Heritage Project, spearheaded by the Tourism Department, envisaged a group of heritage and tourism plans around key historical monuments in North Paravur, Kodungalloor, Chennamangalam, Pallippuram, Mala and other areas. Continue reading
Photo credits : Asif
Pakshipathalam is situated in the district of Wayanad, near Karimala peak. It contains numerous caves and is surrounded by rocky hillocks. Pakshipathalam is a haven for a large avian colony, mainly around the natural rock cave. Continue reading
Photo credits: Dileep
Born in the princely state of Travancore, Kerala (1848 – 1906), Raja Ravi Varma is considered among the greatest painters in the history of Indian art. Influenced by the Western tradition of art, he initiated a new movement of oil paintings on canvas in India, bringing to the life portraits and dramatic scenes from Hindu mythology and imbuing them with three dimensional qualities.
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Alleppey
Popularly known as the “Venice of the East”, Alleppey is situated at the south-western tip of Vembanad Lake where it was the the major port of the erstwhile Travancore State. Alleppey Beach is known for its calm and quiet spirit and as a gathering place for family and friends to enjoy the fresh air, sea breeze and the most spectacular sunsets on Kerala’s coast. Continue reading
Elephant
Sightings in the Periyar Tiger Reserve have always been an excitement for guests. It’s fun to see the animals from the boats but it’s even more enchanting to see them up close during treks in the reserve. These photos were taken by Cardamom County guest Mr. Oliver Wyatt, who was most delighted to share his experience.
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Photo credits: Shymon
Ottamthullal is a very popular form of classical performing arts of Kerala. The actor wears a long ribbon of cloth looped around a waistband to form a knee-length skirt. A chest plate adorned with coloured beads, glass and various ornaments covers the upper body, and tinkling bells are tied to the legs. Continue reading
Photo Credits: Aparna P
Great Eggfly butterflies are very common and found all over India, flying throughout the year and preferring forest openings and edges, as well as bushes and gardens. The male has black wings with white patches surrounded by blue iridescence (not pictured here), and also has a row of white spots and crescents along the edge of the entire wing. Continue reading
Photo credits: Ranjith
Paragliding is one of the newest adventure sports in India, with the number of thrill seeking enthusiasts growing annually. In Kerala, Vagamon has been identified as a Paragliding hotspot for by travelers and tourists the world over. Continue reading
Photo credits: Dileep
Ghee Dosa is a popular breakfast or late afternoon snack in South India. The main ingredients for the batter are black gram dal, rice flour and ghee, which is drizzled over the cooking dosa, making it crispy and golden brown. Continue reading
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
Munnar and its surrounding environs abounds in places that offer amazing natural views; forests, mountains, waterfalls and dams. Anairangal Dam, which in Malyalam means “elephant crossing dam”, is located about 18km from Munnar, en route to Thekkady. Continue reading
Photo credit: Aparna P
The traditional houseboat of Kerala is one of the most enduring and iconic images of the backwaters. These houseboats are converted, comfortably furnished versions of the kuttanadan kettuvallams, that offer adequate accommodation for a whole family, often with sitting rooms, bedrooms and kitchens. One can create one’s own world of imagination and enjoy the beauty of the surroundings while traveling in a houseboat. Continue reading
For those of us non-Indians living in Kerala, the following story sounds familiar because most of our friends and colleagues of the same age, and younger, as the writer share some similar story about their relationship to their mother tongue:
I’m at one of my favourite restaurants in Chicago, nearing the end of a long week which has been both more and less productive than I’d hoped for. I dragged myself here in an effort to finish a piece I’ve been working on forever.
The rain has kept most customers away, I’ve had the privilege of a large dining room to myself, and the television set directly above my head has been mercifully silent. Every now and then, people will come in and leave when they’re done. I’ve stayed on, nibbling at my chicken biryani and downing endless cups of tea as I lie hunched over in my corner. Continue reading
Photo credits: Aparna P
Beaches in Kerala are places present the serenity of nature in its true perspective. Close to the village of Marari and the city of Alleppey, Katoor is a beautiful beach that offers both rural and urban ambiance. Continue reading
Photo credits: Aparna P
Leptosia Nina (Fabricius) is a small white butterfly with rounded wings, commonly found across India including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, but predominantly in plains and the foothills of the Western Ghats up to 1600 meters. Continue reading
Photo Credits: Joshi
Kumarakom is a favorite tourist hotspot in Kerala, where a visitor can enjoy the beauty of the famous Lake Vembanad, the tranquility in the surrounding scenery, and also the delicious dishes, which include typical Kerala fish preparations. A bird sanctuary on the banks of the lake makes Kumarakom a unique place in the itinerary of a visitor. Continue reading
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
A gem of an architectural exuberance, the Napier Museum in Trivandrum is an example of authentic Kerala architectural design. The pink and blue stripes alternating with stripes of yellow and chilly red, scalloped arches of banana yellow, elaborately carved balconies and the red mock friezes leave visitors with a fairytale impression of beauty and perfection. Continue reading
Photo credits: MN Shaji
Kerala’s Idukki District is known for its famous dams, forests and rich animal habitat. With an astonishing 50 percent of the total area under green cover this hilly region has managed to retain its charm and pristine environment. Idukki’s stunning natural beauty and diverse wildlife make it dream tourist destination. Continue reading
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