The Rendezvous Book of Kerala: 101 Must Do Things in Kerala

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Item Code: NAC384
Author: Dr. Meena. T. Pillai
Publisher: Invis Infotech, Kerala
Edition: 2006
ISBN: 8188698385
Pages: 103 (Illustrated Throughout In Color)
Cover: Paperback
Other Details 5.4 Inch X 5.4 Inch
Weight 200 gm
Fully insured
Fully insured
Shipped to 153 countries
Shipped to 153 countries
More than 1M+ customers worldwide
More than 1M+ customers worldwide
100% Made in India
100% Made in India
23 years in business
23 years in business
Book Description
Back of the Book

We present 101 things that tourists to Kerala must see, do and experience in order to make their journey a memorable and worthwhile one. More than one trip might be required to try out them all but one can choose according to interests, aptitudes and time.

“…But what truly distinguishes this book is the ‘human touch’ imparted to the concept which stays with you long after you have turned the last of it. Now let Invis lead you to discover your excerpt from foreword by T.K.A. Nair.

 

Publisher’s Note

Kerala — the land of pepper, the most popular and indispensable spice in the world. A land, where not only pepper, but other kinds of spices too are grown in abundance. These spice-scented shores have attracted traders from ancient times. We present 101 things that tourists to Kerala must see, do and experience in order to make their journey a memorable and worthwhile one. More than one trip might be required to try out them all but one can choose according to interests, aptitudes and time.

This is an abridged edition of the Rendezvous Book of Kerala. We have made every effort to provide accurate and up-to-date information in this publication as far as possible. However, some details such as timings, holidays and activities are liable to change. We request the readers to verify such information prior to their visit. We would be happy to receive your suggestions and feedback. Also please do feel free to contact us for any additional information.

 

Foreword

“The good, supreme, divine poetry of nature is above all rules and reason,
Whoever discerns its beauty with a firm, sedate gaze does not see it,
any more than he sees God Incarnate,
Such inherent beauty does not persuade our judgement,
it ravishes and overwhelms it.”

Legend has it that standing on the mountains Lord Parashurama threw an axe far into the sea and commanded the sea to retreat and a land richly endowed by nature emerged from the waters — a land that came to be called Kerala and more aptly,’ God’s Own Country.

Flanked by the Arabian Sea on the west and the towering Western Ghats on the east, Kerala is a long stretch of enchanting greenery with tall exotic coconut palms, dense tropical forests, ‘arms, fertile plains, rocky coasts, beaches, an intricate maze of backwaters, still bays and an, incredible network of forty-four rivers. Spread over 2,491 sq. kms this land of spices, tea, cashew nuts and rubber has attracted people from time immemorial resulting in an exotic history that merges with the epic Ramayana. The history of Kerala is replete with visits from ne Far East, from ancient Persia as well as from the Roman Empire — it is believed that St. Thomas, one of the Apostles of Jesus Christ set foot on this land at the ancient port of Muziris present — day Kodungalloor) — by Marco Polo, the Arab traders and later by the Portuguese vasco da Gama who landed at Kappad in Calicut in AD 1498, followed by the Dutch and then tie British. They came to the shores of Kerala after hearing of its rich treasures of spices and Ivory, leaving behind a part of their customs and culture that the people assimilated and made their own. Little wonder then that this ancient haven so sought after by travellers is still a favourite destination for tourists from all over the world.

But travel, tourism and natural beauty are not reasons why people have been attracted to this magic land. Great learning in ancient scriptures, the ancient science of healing and rejuvenation, Ayurveda, the socio-religious reforms that were far ahead of their time and the post-independence achievements in the fields of education — Kerala boasts an almost 100 per cent literacy rate — public health and land reforms have drawn people to study what has come to be known as the ‘Kerala Model: A modern, vibrant, democratic State where women outnumber men (male to female ratio is 1:1.07). Kerala is repeatedly cited by many economists, and political scientists, Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen included, as a classic example of how socio-economic reforms coupled with equitable land reforms, stress on education, public health and a good public distribution system can bring forth the latent energies of the entire populace to push the pace of socio-economic development.

Another fascinating facet of this land is the character of the people that populate it. The hard working Keralites are highly adaptable and have often migrated in large numbers to the West and South East Asia — first to South East Asia and to Burma (present-day Myanmar), then to what is today Iran and then to the Middle East in search of employment, income and fortune, braving the risks of leaving the safety and comfort of their homeland for the rigours of a foreign environment, Today the professionals of Kerala are among the most wanted in the fields of medicine, information technology, tourism, teaching and nursing the world over. History has helped Keralites to develop a cosmopolitan outlook and their entrepreneurial skills and a can do attitude that has seen them prosper in the harshest environment. A visible sign of the highly mobile population is the presence of three international airports — at Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode — a fairly developed and extensive network of motor able roads connecting different parts of the state, a railway system that passes through almost all of its fourteen districts and a large network of inland waterways.

A land of rivers, backwaters, coconut trees and blessed by a wide variety of flora and fauna, Kerala harbours significant biodiversity which includes tropical wet evergreen and semi- evergreen forests, tropical moist and dry deciduous forest, and montane subtropical and temperate (sholay) forests. Living in these lush green forests are the Asian elephant, Bengal tiger, leopard, nilgiri tahr, common palm civet, grizzled giant squirrel and a variety of reptiles including the king cobra, viper, python and crocodile? Kerala’s birds are legion — Peafowl, the Great Hornbill (Buyers bicornis), Indian Grey Hornbill, Indian Cormorant, and Jungle Myna are several emblematic species. This diverse and delicate eco-system enjoys a climate that is mainly wet and maritime tropical, heavily influenced by the seasonal heavy rains brought by the Southwest Summer Monsoon and the North/west rains in winter months, As a result Kerala averages 120-140 rainy days a year with the rains feeding its several rivers and streams that are the mainstay of its cash-crop agriculture.

Kerala is the land of Kalarippayattu, the ancient martial art said to be the precursor of Karate, Ju Jitsu and Kung fu, that was carried to the Far East by Buddhist monks and which Is still kept alive by enthusiasts from all over the world, The variety and the richness of the culture of Kerala are reflected in the many forms of dance and performing arts like Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Thiruvathirakali, Kolkali, Oppana, Velakali, Chavittunatakom and Tholpavakoothu.

Despite its varied and colourful history and socio-cultural changes through the ages, modern-day Kerala still retains its traditions and customs, its cuisine and its culture, while it steps boldly into the 21st century, proud of its past and confident of its future. No wonder then that this most acclaimed destination of the Millennium and one of the top fifty must- visit-in-a-lifetime place according to the National Geographic Magazine continues to entice and charm all those who visit it.

INVIS Multimedia, the pioneers in digital content creation on Kerala and Indian heritage and systems of knowledge provides in the pages that follow in this beautifully brought out product invaluable insights into the IJSP of Kerala. Extracting the essence of the legendary Kerala is indeed a daunting task, yet this endeavour of INVIS deserves a hearty pat on the jack for its authenticity, its textual and visual richness and its absorbing ethnic flavour. But what truly distinguishes this book is the ‘human touch’ imparted to the concept which stays with you long after you have turned the last leaf of it.

 

Contents

 

1. Padmanabha Swamy Temple 5
2. Padmanabhapuram Place 5
3. Kovalam 7
4. Varkala 7
5. Kuthiramalika Place Museum 9
6. Sree Chithra Art Gallery 9
7. Valiya Koyikkal Palace 11
8. Margi 11
9. Kalarippayattu 13
10. Palaruvi Water Falls 15
11. Kuttanad 15
12. Attukal Pngala 16
13. Thenmala Eco-tourism 16
14. Mannarasala Nagaraja Temple 17
15. Krishnapuram Palace 17
16. Nehru Trophy Boat Race 19
17. Niranam Church 19
18. Champakkulam Kalloorkadu Church 21
19. Patayani 21
20. Vastu Vidya Gurukulam & Vijnana Kalavedi, Aranmula 22
21. Sabarimala 23
22. ST. Thomas Church, Kodungalloor 25
23. Kumarakom 25
24. Muniyara, Marayoor 27
25. Periyar wildlife Sanctuary 27
26. Eravikulam National Park 29
27. Munnar 29
28. Hill Palace Museum, Thripunithura 33
29. Fort Kochi 33
30. Jew Street 35
31. Mattancherry Palace 35
32. Chinese Fishing Nets 37
33. Malayattoor Church 37
34. Indo- Portuguese Museum, Kochi 38
35. Chennamangalam Synagogue 38
36. Kodanad 39
37. Cheraman Juma Masjid, Kodungalloor 39
38. Thrissur Pooram 41
39. Guruvayoor 41
40. Kerala Kalamandalam 43
41. Punnathoorkotta 43
42. Athirapally and Vazhachal 45
43. Shakthan Thampuran Palace 45
44. Jain Temple, Palakkad 47
45. Nelliyampathy 47
46. Aruvacode 49
47. Kappad Beach 49
48. Thamarassery Churam 51
49. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary 51
50. Ambalavayal Heritage Museum, Wayanad 52
51. Edakkal Caves 52
52. Makhdoom Palli, Poonani 53
53. Thunchan Parambu, Tirur 53
54. Pookot Lake 54
55. St. Angelos Fort, Kannur 54
56. Thalassery Fort 55
57. Gundert Bungalow 55
58. Bekal Fort 57
59. Malik Ibn Dinar Mosque 57
60. Ananthapuram Lake Temple 59
61. Kuttichira Mosque 59
62. Kirtads Ethnological Museum 59
63. Mannar 61
64. Onam 61
65. River Nila (Bharatapuzha) 63
66. Anayoottu 63
67. Aranmula Kannadi 65
68. Chundan Vallam (Snake Boat) 65
69. Abhyangasnana 67
70. Panchakarma 67
71. Houseboats 69
72. Festival of Kerala 69
73. Kathakali 73
74. Mohiniyattam 73
75. Kutiyattam 75
76. Theyyam 75
77. Chenda 78
78. Panchavadyam 79
79. Koothambalam 79
80. Velichappadu 82
81. Astrology 83
82. Nilavilakku 83
83. River Kabini 83
84. Kanikonna 87
85. Nalukettu 87
86. Nettippattom 89
87. Coir Products 89
88. Uru 89
89. Murals 91
90. Sadya – Traditional Kerala Feast 91
91. Monsoon 91
92. Kasavu Mundu 94
93. Spices of Kerala 95
94. Kurumulaku (Black Pepper) 96
95. Karicku (Tender Coconut) 97
96. Kadumanga 98
97. Kappa and Meen Curry (Tapioca and Fish Curry) 99
98. Ada Pradhaman 100
99. Parippuvada 101
100. Kanji (Rice gruel) 102
101. Chips 103

Sample Pages









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