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13/12/2017
ചിട്ടി ഒരു രസകരമായ സംഭവം / Neethu Vijayan | Rashtrabhoomi

ചിട്ടി ഒരു രസകരമായ സംഭവം / Neethu Vijayan | Rashtrabhoomi

ചിട്ടി ഒരു രസകരമായ സംഭവം / Neethu Vijayan By rashtrabhoomi - Dec 12, 2017 നിർവചിക്കുകയാണെങ്കിൽ “സേവിംഗ് കം ബോറോയിങ്ങ് സ്കീം ” എന്ന് പറയാം.. Neethu...

12/12/2014

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12/12/2014

Timeline Photos

14/04/2014

Vishu: The New Year Festival Of Kerala

If your first step is wrong, the whole journey will be wrong. World over an emphasis is put on beginnings. Getting off to a good start is essential, as the beginning is the foundation upon which everything that comes after rests. Indian culture, perhaps more than any other, stresses the importance of beginning things properly. The position of the stars and planets is taken into consideration to insure auspicious beginnings, homas are performed and stotrams are chanted to Lord Ganesha in order to remove potential obstacles before the start of any undertaking. Prayers to God are always offered. Even when studying the Upanishads, which declare the only true power to be our own Self, shanti mantras are chanted before beginning each session of study.

Ultimately, all these are ways of humbly admitting our finitude, the limited nature of our efforts, and are a means of supplicating to the Divine for favourable outcome. As Amma says, "Grace alone is the deciding factor." By taking into consideration even subtle nuances beyond our intellectual understanding when we begin a project, we are both showing the sincerity of our effort as well as our faith in the words of the scriptures and the Guru.

In Kerala, the start of the Zodiac New Year*—when the sun enters into Sidereal Aries, Ashwini nakshatra—is celebrated as Vishu. It is said that what one sees when one first opens one's eyes on Vishu morning is an indication of what one can expect in the year to come. Thus on Vishu, effort is made to assure one opens one's eyes before an auspicious image—the Vishukkani.

While the festival is called "Vishu" only in Kerala, across India festivals sharing the same spirit—such as Ugadhi in Andhra Pradesh and in Karnataka, Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra, Bihu in Assam and Baisakhi in Punjab—are celebrated around the same time of year.

The Malayalam word kani literally means "that which is seen first," so "Vishukkani" means "that which is seen first on Vishu."

Arranged in the family puja room the night before by the mother in the family, the Vishukkani is a panorama of auspicious items, including images of Lord Vishnu, flowers, fruits and vegetables, clothes and gold coins.

Lord Vishnu, the preserver of creation, is the aspect of the Paramatman that is focused upon during Vishu. In jyotish, Indian astrology, Vishnu is seen as the head of Kaala Purusha, the God of Time. As Vishu marks the first day of the Zodiac New Year, it is an appropriate time to offer oblations to Lord Vishnu.

Akshatam, a mixture of rice and turmeric, which is divided into halves of husked and un-husked rice, is placed in a special bowl called an uruli. The uruli traditionally is made of panchaloham, an aggregate of five metals. Panchaloham being symbolic of the universe, which is comprised of the five great elements—earth, water, fire, air and space.

A nice, well-starched cloth is then pleated fan-like and inserted into a highly polished brass kindi (a spouted puja vessel used for pouring sacred water). The val-kannadi, a special type of mirror with an extremely long and thin handle, often decorated with gold, is also inserted into the kindi. The kindi is then placed in the uruli on top of the rice.

Two deepams, which are fashioned from the two halves of a split coconut, are also kept in the uruli. The wicks are made from pieces of starched cloth that are folded into bulbs at the base. These bulbs are placed into the coconut oil that fills the deepams, anchoring the wicks in place. The starch helps the rest of the wick to extend straight upwards so that they will properly burn. The lighting of the deepam welcomes God into our lives and is also symbolic of spiritual knowledge—the remover of the darkness of ignorance.

Gold—both in colour and in coin—is central to the Vishukkani. Kanikkonna, a golden-yellow flower associated with Sri Krishna is used liberally throughout the puja room. This flower only blooms when the sun is in its most exalted position astrologically—the month surrounding Vishu. In the puja room, the flower verily represents the sun itself, the eyes of Lord Vishnu. Gold coins are symbols of monetary affluence, as well as cultural and spiritual wealth, which the elders of the family must share freely with the younger generation. Vishukkaineettam, the distribution of wealth, is another aspect of the festival. It should be given freely and accepted with reverence. On Vishu, the highly affluent families will not only give money to their children but also their neighbours, perhaps the entire village.

The Vishukkani will also be laden with gold-coloured fruits and vegetables, such as bananas, jackfruit, golden cucumber, etc. The akshatam, as it is full of turmeric, also is gold in colour, as is the shiny brass of the kindi, the panchaloham and the reflection of the mirror.

Last but not least, a spiritual book, such as the Bhagavad-Gita, should be made part of the arrangement. The book is the pramanam—the instrument used for attaining the eternal, non-perishable wisdom of the Rishis—as well as a symbol of that knowledge itself.

The grandmother or mother who arranges the Vishukkani will sleep in the puja room after she is finished and then, waking during the auspicious hour of the Brahma muhurata (4:00 to 6:00 a.m.), she will light the oil-lamp wicks and take in the auspicious sight. She will then walk to the rooms where the rest of the family is sleeping and wake them. Covering their eyes, she will then lead them to the puja room, where she will allow them to take in the auspicious sight.

Upon opening one's eyes, one is overwhelmed with the glorious darshan of the Lord. The mirror—which is symbolic of Bhagavati (Devi), not only increases the lustre of the Vishukkani via the reflection it offers, but also shows our own face, reminding us that God is not someone sitting in the heavens upon a golden throne, but the pure consciousness that is our true nature. The mirror also points to the importance of making our mind pure enough to render this truth unadulterated.

The Vishukkani is not reserved only for those who come to the puja room, but is taken around—for the viewing of the elderly and sick who are perhaps too frail to come to the shrine. It is also brought outside and shown to the family cows. As it is brought to the cowshed, it in fact is on display for the birds, the trees, for all of nature to see.

Vishukkani points to a year of abundance—both spiritually and materially. Food, light, money, knowledge—all should fill our life. Taking in the Vishukkani we should pray that the vision remains with us throughout the year. It is not enough that the joy we take from viewing the Vishukkani comes only to our eyes. It must reflect in our thoughts and in our actions. The auspicious start of the year—which has come to us due to the grace of beginning it with a divine vision—is not for us alone. It is up to us to spread this love, happiness and hope to the rest of society.

15/09/2013

It is our great pleasure to wish you on this special occasion

13/07/2013
12/03/2013

Malampuzha Dam

Location: 10 km from Palakkad town, North Kerala.
Attractions: Dam, amusement park, boating facilities, rock garden and ropeway.
Malampuzha, a little township on the foothills of the Western Ghats takes its name from the River Malampuzha. Nurtured by this tributary of Kerala's longest river, the Bharathappuzha, Malampuzha is a lush green town is a major tourist attraction for its trekking trails and the large irrigation dam.

Around the reservoir of the dam are beautiful gardens and amusement parks. Boating facilities are available on the lake. Other attractions in the Malampuzha garden are the beautiful rock garden, the fish-shaped aquarium, the snake park, the ropeway which takes you on an aerial tour of the park, and the gigantic Yakshi (an enchantress) sculptured by Kanai Kunhiraman, a renowned sculptor of Kerala.

The most interesting feature of the rock garden is that the whole place is made of unwanted and broken pieces of bangles, tiles, used plastic cans, tins and other waste materials. The garden is a master work of sculptor Padmasree Neck Chand Saini. His rock garden in Chandigarh is world famous and attracts thousands of tourists every year.

Getting there:

Nearest railway station: Palakkad.
Nearest airport: Coimbatore, about 55 km from Palakkad town

11/03/2013

Parambikkulam Tiger Reserve
Location: About 110 km from Palakkad.

Parambikkulam is an oasis of tranquil greenery nestled in a valley between the Anamalai ranges of Tamilnadu and the Nelliyampathy ranges of Kerala. The Parambikkulam Tiger Reserve spreads over an area of 285 sq km in the Western Ghats.

The sanctuary offers an exotic experience of the rare fauna and flora of Kerala. Quite a few hill tribes, like the Malayars, the Kadars and the Muthuvans also live in the jungles of Parambikkulam. The fauna here include Nilgiri langur, Lion-tailed macaque, tiger, Nilgiri tahr, Asian elephant, Spotted deer, Indian wild dog, several species of snakes and spiders, and innumerable bird species.

The sanctuary also has a variety of trees mainly teak, neem, sandalwood and rosewood. The oldest teak tree 'Kannimari' stands tall here.

Boat cruises can be arranged in the Parambikkulam Reservoir. Trekking in the sanctuary is possible with the permission of forest officials. There is a tree-house in the Reserve Forest area in Thoonakkadavu, the headquarters of Parambikkulam, which has to be booked in advance. The Rest Houses of the State Forest Department at Thoonakkadavu, Thellikkal and Elathode offer comfortable lodging.

Getting there: Parambikkulam is accessible by road from Pollachi in Tamilnadu. Palakkad-Pollachi is about 45 km by road and Pollachi-Parambikkulam is about 65 km by road.

Nearest railway station: Pollachi about 65 km.
Nearest airport: Coimbatore in Tamilnadu state, about 55 km from Palakkad.

10/03/2013

Palakkad
Area: 4480 sq. km
Population: 2,617,482 (2011 census)
Altitude: Above sea level
Celebrated as the granary of Kerala, Palakkad is a vast expanse of verdant plains interspersed with hills, rivers, mountain streams and forests. The gateway to Kerala from the north, a 40 kilometre break in the mountains known as the Palakkad Gap gives access to this land situated at the foot of the Western Ghats. The pass acts as a corridor between Kerala and neighbouring Tamil Nadu and played a major role in the trade contacts between east and west coasts of peninsular India. Deriving its name from the Malayalam words Pala (Alsteria scholaris) and Kadu (forest), this place was once a beautiful stretch of forest covered with the sweet-scented flowers of the Pala tree. A potpourri of Tamil and Kerala culture, some of the finest Carnatic musicians hail from this region which continues to be a largely agrarian society.

ACCESSIBILITY

Telephone access code: +91-491

Air: Nearest airport: Coimbatore (55 km)

Rail: Palakkad Junction Railway Station (5 km from the city) is a major railhead of the Southern Railways.

Road: Palakkad is connected by an excellent network of roads to all the major cities in India. KSRTC bus stand Ph: 2520098 Bus timings: To Malampuzha: Frequent bus services (0600 - 2000 hrs) To Silent Valley National Park: Bus services from Mannarkad to Mukkali every hour. Transportation from Mukkali to Silent Valley to be arranged through the Forest Department. Contact Wildlife Warden, Mukkali. To Nelliyampathy: 0430, 0530, 0700, 0930, 1230, 1330, 1700 hrs

Tourist information office:

DTPC Information Counter, Near Children's Park, Palakkad Telefax: 2538996

MUST SEE
Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary
Malampuzha Garden
Silent Valley National Park
Tipu's Fort
Nelliyampathy Hill Station

09/03/2013

TrAvEl BaZaAr 13

ABOUT THE EVENT
The Tourism Sector in India with its diverse product profile, is poised for a phenomenal growth. In 2011, Foreign Tourist Arrivals in India was 6.29 million and the Foreign Exchange Earnings recorded was $17.74 billion. In 2011 the total contribution of Travel and Tourism to employment, including jobs indirectly supported by the industry was 7.8% of total employment The 'Incredible India' campaign of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, the relentless efforts by the state governments to promote tourism and the strategically crafted endeavors by the tourism fraternity of India in the corporate sector have given the desired thrust to the tourism industry in India.

The Department of Tourism, Government of Rajasthan, the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), are co-organizing the sixth Great Indian Travel Bazaar '13 - an international tourism mart on April 14-16, 2013 at B.M. Birla Convention Centre, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. Leading national and regional associations like Hotel & Restaurant Association of Rajasthan (HRAR), Indian Heritage Hotels Association (IHHA) and Rajasthan Association of Tour Operators (RATO) are supporting the event.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this event is to reinforce India as a world-class tourism destination, opportunity to interact with foreign buyers, registered Indian sellers, policy makers, investors, members of the media and make a business sense out of The Great Indian Travel Bazaar '13.

1. Exclusive focus on Inbound Tourism.

2. Congregation of around 274 foreign tour operators from across 54 countries under one roof.

3. An exhibition of over 252 booths to showcase and market the varied tourism products of India.

4. Over 500 key tourism product sellers from India.

5. Structured, organized, pre-fixed B2B meetings between registered Indian sellers and foreign buyers, spread over 2 days.

6. Social networking events, hosted dinner and vibrant cultural programmes.
SPECIAL FEATURES

Power packed Inaugural session addressed by the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Rajasthan.

Buyer-Seller Meet: A structured, one-on-one, prefixed B2B meetings spread over 2 full days between foreign buyers and registered Indian sellers.

Exhibition: Opportunity for a 2-day mega expo for the registered Indian sellers to exclusively showcase their tourism products at their respective booths.

Website: All foreign buyer's and registered Indian seller's profile will be featured on the website www.greatindiantravelbazaar.com for online requests to prefix B2B meetings.

Buyer-Seller directory: All foreign buyer's and registered Indian seller's
contact details will be listed in the exclusive buyer-seller directory.

Post Conference Report

Partnership and branding opportunities for those in the business of tourism
EXCLUSIVE FEATURES FOR FOREIGN BUYERS

Offer of hosted return economy international airfare from nearest boarding place to Delhi/Jaipur, return surface transfer to Jaipur from Delhi and accommodation on single room basis (with breakfast) from April 15-18 (noon), 2012 at Jaipur. This exclusive hospitality offer is on invitation, confirmed subsequent acceptance and on first come - first serve basis.

Post Travel Bazaar hosted FAM tours of Rajasthan.

Business profiles will be uploaded on the website www.greatindiantravelbazaar.com for prefixed meetings with registered Indian sellers. The foreign buyers in turn may choose their Indian sellers as the coordinates of the latter will also be on the website.

Invitation to hosted inaugural dinner, cultural evening and networking lunches.
BENEFITS TO REGISTERED STAKEHOLDERS

You become a registered Indian Seller by taking up booth/booths at the Great Indian Travel Bazaar '13.

The Great Indian Travel Bazaar '13 offers a business-networking forum and a platform for interaction between the registered Indian sellers and foreign buyers - all under one roof.

Benefits for registered Indian sellers including partners:

Booth(s) at the exhibition to showcase tourism products.

Prefixed B2B meetings with the foreign buyers.

For partners only: Branding at the conference; partner's logo at all publicity campaigns, advertisements, e-flyers, brochure, website, articles in newspapers and travel magazines, announcements etc.

Invitation to hosted inaugural dinner, cultural evening and networking lunches.

27/02/2013

Village Life

Kerala - a symphony composed in the strings of beauty and a land endowed with myriad of boons and bounties that bestowed it the glory of being god's own country. The rural life in Kerala, untouched by the mighty hands of industrialization and much of the repulsive transformation of urban sophistication, offers a paradisal experience to the traveller. The serene backwaters, swaying coconut farms, soothing paddy fields everything makes the village life of Kerala a memorable experience. Far from the tumult and turmoil of the cities these villages usher us into a world were contentment and peace prevail.

27/02/2013

Kerala Tourism sets up crafts village near Kozhikode



Pioneering another novel model to promote tourism, Kerala Tourism Department has set up an exclusive crafts village where traditional artisans can showcase skills and products, and sell them at fair prices while a visiting foreigner can pick up one or two lessons of subtleties of crafts-making .

This new model for the development of tourism sector, while helping the craftsmen to ensure better compensation for their toil out, has taken shape at a sprawling 20-acre land, at Iringal on the shores of enchanting river Chaliyar near Kozhikode. The crafts village, just one km off the national highway, with 60 stalls for sale and exhibition of crafts and handicrafts is ready and is scheduled to be opened by December.

The idea for the new venture came up after many foreign tourists keenly wanted to witness in person the nuances of crafts-making and skills of traditional artisans of Kerala. And the venue of this project is also a famed destination, the land of Kunjali Marikar who is a celebrated warrior son of Kerala. As the naval chief of then-ruler Samoothiri Raja in the 16th century, Mohammed Kunjali Marikkar resisted the advent of Portuguese through his heroics to win an immortal space in Kerala history.

Blending the streams of art and business, the village throws up a comprehensive platform for exhibition, sale and craft-making while creating a good market for the traditional artisans as it has the banner of Kerala tourism Department. The more exciting part is that lots of studious and art-loving tourists and consumers will personally see the process and skills through the live display of craftsmanship. The artisans, apart from netting in fairest prices for their toil, can also forge long standing business relations with the tourists, especially those into craft business abroad. Being set up by the Department of Tourism, the venture also ensures brand protection to the traditional craftsmen who struggle to find markets.

The village, as the single window to showcase the varied and different traits and traditions of Kerala craft, will house entrepreneurs selected through transparent procedure. The wide array of products will be crafted with different raw materials from cheap natural options to modern alloys. Thus the art pieces will be created with banana fibre, coir, bamboo, sand, coconut shells, husk, palm leaves, coconut leaves, screw-pine etc. The entrepreneurs also can utilise the facilities for crafts-making or bring finished products too at the stalls.

26/02/2013

Event date: 26-02-2013
Venue: Sree Ruthira Mahakalikavu Temple, Paruthipra, Vadakkancherry, Thrissur district.

About twenty-one elephants in traditional attire line up with colourful parasols; swaying venchamarams (white tufts) and alavattams (peacock-feather fans)! Surely a spectacle you wouldn�t want to miss. Then ensure your presence during the annual festival at the Sree Ruthira Mahakalikavu Temple, popularly known as Uthralikavu Pooram.

Sree Ruthira Mahakalikavu Temple is dedicated to Goddess Kali. Uthralikavu Pooram is the most famous event in the region. It is an eight-day celebration highlighted by day and night elephant processions. Traditional musical ensembles like the Panchavadyam and the Pandimelam add rhythm to these processions. The festival also gives a chance for the spectators to enjoy the temple and folk art forms of Kerala.

Getting there:

Nearest railway station: Thrissur, about 20 km away.
Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 58 km from Thrissur.



Disclaimer
In Kerala, festival dates are decided in accordance with the Malayalam calendar and the local traditions and customs. We have calculated the festival dates based on these. But there can be changes in the dates according the customs and rituals associated with each place of worship. As such, these should be considered only as approximate dates and have to be confirmed with the local authorities.

25/02/2013

Attukal Pongala


Event date: 26-02-2013
Venue: Attukal Bhagavathi Temple, Thiruvananthapuram.

Experience the euphoria of religion, faith and beliefs during the Pongala festival celebrated at the renowned Attukal Bhagavathi temple in Kerala's capital city of Thiruvananthapuram. The festival entered the Guinness records for being the largest single gathering of women for a religious activity.

Pongala (literally means to boil over) is a ritualistic offering of a sweet dish consisting of rice porridge, sweet brown molasses, coconut gratings, nuts and raisins. Devotees offer pongala to appease the presiding deity of the temple - the Goddess - popularly known as Attukalamma.

Only women are allowed to participate in the Pongala ritual. Right from the night before the Pongala day, thousands of women, regardless of religious faith, assemble at the temple premises and on either side of the roads leading to the shrine, to make the Pongala offering. Devotees from across the country and even from abroad participate in the ritual.


Getting there:

Nearest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram Central, about 2 km.
Nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 7 km.


Disclaimer
In Kerala, festival dates are decided in accordance with the Malayalam calendar and the local traditions and customs. We have calculated the festival dates based on these. But there can be changes in the dates according the customs and rituals associated with each place of worship. As such, these should be considered only as approximate dates and have to be confirmed with the local authorities.

24/02/2013

Travel Tips

Money
There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency that visitors can bring.

Banks
Banks are open for transaction from 10:00 - 15:30 hrs on weekdays and from 10:00 - 12:00 hrs on Saturdays.

Credit Cards
Main hotels, restaurants and shopping centres honour major credit cards.

Time
(Hours fast (+), slow (-) on IST)
USA: -10.30, Germany: - 4.30, Canada: - 10.30, France: - 4.30, Australia: + 4.30, Spain: - 4.30, UAE: - 1.30, UK: - 5:30.

Best time to Visit
High season: September-May
Monsoon Rejuvenation programmes: June-August

Travel Kit
Cotton outfits; hats, sunglasses, sunscreen lotion etc.

Drugs
Heavy penalties including imprisonment for possession of narcotic drugs.

Ayurveda
Go only to those Ayurveda centres that are classified/approved by the Department of Tourism. Click here to see the list

Food
All standard restaurants offer a variety of cuisines including Continental, Chinese, Indian and typical Kerala fare.

Water
Tap water is purified and quite safe to drink. It is not advisable to drink water from slow moving streams, lakes or dams. Bottled water is also available.

Emergency Numbers
Police control room: 100
Fire station: 101
Ambulance: 102, 108

Police Helpline
While traveling on Highways (Highway Alert Number): 9846 100 100
While traveling in Trains (Railway Alert Number): 9846 200 100

Temple Codes
Some temples do not permit entry to non-Hindus. Strict dress codes are followed in most of the temples. Footwear is banned inside the temple premises.

Nudity
Nudity is not allowed in any Kerala beach.

Smoking
Smoking is banned in public places.

Footwear in Houses
Visitors to most Kerala houses leave their footwear outside before entering the house.

Demonstrativeness in Public
Behaviour, demonstrating affection in public like hugging or kissing is not an accepted practice in Kerala.

Wildlife Sanctuaries
To visit a wildlife sanctuary, prior permission has to be taken from the authority concerned of the sanctuary.

For further enquiries, contact: The Chief Conservator of Forests, Thiruvananthapuram 695 014, Tel: + 91 471 2322217

24/02/2013

Minister's Diary
[A. P. Anilkumar]


Tourism as a service industry is providing good business opportunities in Kerala. It is also generating employment opportunities like never before. And Kerala Tourism is keen to have these job opportunities to catch the attention of people at the grassroots level. In order to provide equal opportunities to jobseekers, Kerala recently launched a Ministry of Tourism, Government of India programme called 'Hunar Se Rozgar Tak' (HSRT), which was inaugurated in Kochi by Chief Minister of Kerala, Mr. Oommen Chandy.

HSRT is a Ministry of Tourism, Government of India training scheme, intended to provide skill development in various hospitality trades to the youth coming from poor financial background. We also need them to savour the benefits of development and growth taking place in the tourism industry.

This Central government conceived training programme would be implemented through KTDC Hotels & Resorts, which is Kerala Government's flagship hospitality provider in the State. Through HSRT one can undergo courses in food production, food and beverage service, housekeeping etc. for which the minimum eligibility is a pass in the 8th standard. Candidates in the age group of 18-28 can apply for the courses, which are managed by the training division of KTDC in Kerala. The programme has set a target of 1200 trained candidates a year.

Taking into account the kind of candidates joining the courses, HSRT comes with lot of free-of-cost services. There is no course fee; instead the trainees are given stipend. Accommodation and food are provided free-of-cost and so is the tool kit and uniform as part of the training. At the end of the training, a skill test will be held and those qualifying it would be given certificates of the Central government, which would help them in seeking jobs anywhere in India.

Tourism is one of the engines of growth in Kerala that contributes significantly to the State's economy. And I feel that programmes like HSRT would go a long way in meeting the aspirations of the less privileged sections in the society to try their hands in an industry that can lead them to highly rewarding careers and a secured future.


A. P. Anilkumar
Minister for Tourism
Government of Kerala

24/02/2013

Chinakkathoor Pooram

Chinakkathoor Pooram


Event date: 25-02-2013
Venue: Chinakkathoor Bhagavathi Temple, Palappuram, Palakkad district

Imagine a grand spectacle where about 33 tuskers come together in a grand procession, offering a spectacular visual delight. Interested? Then get your bags ready for a trip to Kerala to savour this fabulous visual fiesta. Chinakkathoor Pooram is the name of this festival of colours and tuskers, held annually at the Sree Chinakkathoor Bhagavathy Temple, Palappuram in the district of Palakkad in north Kerala.

Chinakkathoor Pooram would come alive with performances of the Panchavadyam - the traditional Kerala orchestra - and various art forms like vellattu, theyyam, poothanum thirayum, kaalavela, kuthiravela, aandi vedan, karivela and so on. Tholpavakoothu, a ritualistic shadow puppetry, is another attraction of the festival.


Getting there:

Nearest railway station: Ottappalam, about 5 km.
Nearest airport: Coimbatore in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu, about 85 km.


Disclaimer
In Kerala, festival dates are decided in accordance with the Malayalam calendar and the local traditions and customs. We have calculated the festival dates based on these. But there can be changes in the dates according the customs and rituals associated with each place of worship. As such, these should be considered only as approximate dates and have to be confirmed with the local authorities.

23/02/2013

Moving with the wildlife at the Silent Valley in Kerala

The dense rainforests of the Silent Valley is one of the few preserves that have been left practically untouched by man and modernization. Surrounded by hills, the inaccessible nature of the Silent valley has proved to be its blessing.

The brooding forests of the Silent Valley are located in the Nilgiri Hills in Kerala and are said to date back to 50 million years. The 236.74 square kilometer national park is a part of the Palakkad district in Kerala. The diverse ecosystem of the Silent Valley includes montane grasslands, deciduous, semi evergreen as well as evergreen forests. The Valley is an important part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and lies adjacent to the Mukkurthi national park and the Attappady forests.
Legends of the Silent Valley

The Silent Valley has an interesting role to play vis-à-vis Hindu mythology. The locals call the Valley Sairandhrivanam. Sairandhri refers to Draupadi, the wife of the five Pandavas. According to local legend, the Pandavas along with Draupadi stumbled upon the beautiful, isolated valley in the course of their travels during a period of exile. So enamored were they by the green, rolling forests bursting with life that they stayed here for some time.
Exploring the wildlife at Silent Valley

The Silent Valley is home to an amazing number of mammals, birds and reptiles. Isolated due to the ring of hills around it, the forest has been able to retain the Indo-Malaysian nature of the flora and fauna that has characterized the area over the ages

A trip to Silent Valley will give you some stunning glimpses of wildcats like tiger, panther, jungle cats, civets and fishing cat. The graceful sambar and spotted deer, the large gaur and smaller animals like mongooses, otters, flying squirrel and the scaly anteater are other wildlife that makes the Silent Valley an absolute delight for wildlife enthusiasts.


Among the more significant inhabitants of the forests are the lion tailed macaque and the Nilgiri langur; both of these are on list of endangered animals and the Silent Valley is one of their habitats on earth. The forests also have a large number of endangered birds. These include the Wayanad Laughing Thrush, Broad tailed Grassbird, the Malabar parakeet and the Great Indian Hornbill.


A survey conducted in 2006 reported that there were 138 species of birds in the Silent Valley. The forests also have 35 species of reptiles and 19 species of amphibians. In fact, there are two species of frogs that have been discovered in the Silent Valley. There are also several rare plants and herbs in the valley.



Reaching the Silent Valley

Given the heavy rainfall the area experiences, travelling here during the monsoon months might not be practical. The summers are warm while winters are pleasant. There are plenty of buses running from Palakkad to Mukkali. Palakkad is at a distance of 80 km, while Mukkali is 23 kilometers away.


The distance between Mukkali and Silent Valley will have to be covered either by hiring a jeep or van. You could also trek part of the distance. As far as accommodation is concerned, there are a few guest houses within the national park. You could also stay at one of the many hotels in Palakkad town.


The Silent Valley is quite simply an unforgettable experience. It takes us back to an age when nature reigned supreme. The preserve with its pristine and untouched character is truly a unique spot in a world where else where man has left his rather heavy imprint.

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