Praveen Kumar
Murukku is a crunchy tea time snack traditionally served in Kerala homes and tea stalls. The main ingredient for murukku is rice flour, with cumin and red chili powder added for flavour and asafetida for added colour.
Parade float with children dressed as plants and animals
On the 8th of October Kumily held a parade in support of the Periyar Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Week. As an intern for Raxa Collective, I had the unique opportunity to participate in this procession. This was my first Indian parade, and in some ways it was very similar to the parades I had participated in the USA; the majority of people waited around in some confusion until someone with the knowledge of the lineup said to start walking, but what made this a very unique experience is I couldn’t understand the conversations of anyone besides my own party.
Photo credits : Rafeek
Kava Lake lies in the foot hills of the Malampuzha Dam in the Palakkad district. The area is ideal for trekkers, natural lovers and adventures. Continue reading
Photo credits: Dileep Kumar
The Thenmala-Sengottai Meter Gauge Ghat section had been one of the gems of the Indian rail system and certainly one of Kerala’s most beautiful routes. Maharajah Balarama Varma of Travacore conceived and implemented the railway line during 1904, with an , with an inaugural run in July of that year. Continue reading
Photo credits : Nobi Pauls
Similar to many other cultures, a traditional meal in Kerala ends with maduram, something sweet. Payasam is the classic Kerala dessert. There are many varieties of payasam; Paal Pyasam, Paruppu Payasam, Semiya Payasam and Ada Pradhaman. Continue reading
Photo credits: Tintu
Toddy shops are not just about toddy. They are also known for the food they serve, mainly the spicy variety. The particular dishes vary from the region to region. The eastern part of the state favours dry food while in the central and southern districts seafood is preferred. Continue reading
Photo credits: Nujum Myannad
Padmanabhapuram Palace was the capital seat of the Travancore State until 1792, when it was shifted to Trivandrum. This magnificent home of the Travancore rulers was not a single unit, but a complex of 14 palaces spread across six and a half acres. Continue reading
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
Dedicated to the Goddess Kali, Neelamperoor Pooram Padayani is celebrated at the Bhagavathi Temple near Alappuzha. Padayani is a ritualistic dance popular in the central Kerala region but it differs from other Padayani performances as it features a swan motif called “Annan Kettu”. Continue reading
Photo credit: Ranjith
The Kerala speciality Vattayappam is a steamed rice cake made with rice flour, sugar, yeast, cashews, raisins and coconut milk infused with the wonderful aroma and taste of cardamom. This is a traditional tea time snack.
Photo credits : Ramesh Kidangoor
Thazhathangadi is located near to Kottayam town, by the bank of River Minachil. It is one of the oldest trade centers in Kerala and during its prime it was essential to the trade in the region. At the end of the Onam Festival Thazathangadi hosts the oldest snake boat competition in Kerala . Continue reading
Photo credits: Ranjith
Naivedyam (Kadum Payasam) is offered on banana leaves after a pooja ceremony at many South Indian temples. The traditional dessert is placed before the temple deity and consumed as a holy offering. Continue reading
As FAQs go, the one we answer most often at Raxa Collective is: what is the best way for me to get to Kerala? As answers go, we could not do better than refer you directly to the video above and for that we give thanks to our colleagues at Kerala Tourism. Try not to smile every time the narrator says the name of the capital city…
Photo credit: Ranjith
The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) invites people world wide to participate in World Tourism Day on September 27 every year. Kerala enjoys unique geographical features that have made it one of the most sought after tourist destinations in Asia. Continue reading
Photo credit: Ion Appan
Located near Thrissur, Chimmini is only a two hours drive from Cochin. The huge lake is surrounded by Chimmini Wild life Sanctuary, established in 1984. The 10 sq kilometer lake spreads across the middle of the sanctuary, surrounded by dense forests. Continue reading
Dum biryani
Dum biryani is a baked rice dish layered with meat (chicken, mutton or beef ) that first originated in the Mugal cuisine of the 16 th -19 th centuries. It was a festive dish, costly to prepare and eaten mainly in the royal courts. Traditionally the biryani pots were sealed with dough before baking then cracked open at the table in a technique called Dum. Continue reading
Photo credits: Nobi Paul
Eravikulam National Park stretches over 97 kilometers in the tea growing region of Munnar between the picturesque Kannan Devan Hills and Anamudi. The park covers virgin grasslands and wooded valleys that include the spectacular flower called Neelakurinji, which blooms only once every 12 years. Continue reading
Adenanthera pavonina seeds
Red bead seeds have been a symbol of love for centuries. Asian goldsmiths use these bright red seeds for making jewelry as well as a standard for weighting precious metals and diamonds. Continue reading
Visitors can enjoy the pleasure of boating in Gavi lake even during monsoon weather
Gavi is one place in the world where with every turn visitors have an encounter with nature. It boasts unadulterated views of tropical forest, hills, valleys, cascading waterfalls, sprawling grasslands and cardamom plantations. Continue reading
Photo credits: Dileep
In Kerala during temple festivals, elephants are decorated with gold caparisons (Nettippattom), bells and necklaces. People mounted on the elephants hold ornamental umbrellas (Muttukuda) up high, swaying white tufts (Venchamaram) and peacock feathers fans (Alavattam). Continue reading
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
The world famous Aranmula boat race will be held this year on September 20th. The uthrattathi Vallamkali sees 26 boats participating in the two days of festivities. The festivities involve the oarsmen singing traditional boat songs and wearing white Mundu and turbans. The boats are decorated with golden lace at the head of the boat and a flag and ornamental umbrellas in the center. Continue reading
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