Kerala Tourism

Kerala at a Glance

With the Arabian Sea in the west, the Western Ghats towering 500-2700 m in the east and networked by 44 rivers, Kerala enjoys unique geographical features that have made it one of the most sought after tourist destinations in Asia. An equable climate. A long shoreline with serene beaches. Tranquil stretches of emerald backwaters. Lush hill stations and exotic wildlife. Waterfalls. Sprawling plantations and paddy fields. Ayurvedic health holidays. Enchanting art forms. Magical festivals. Historic and cultural monuments. An exotic cuisine... All of which offer you a unique experience. And what's more, each of these charming destinations is only a two hour drive from the other - a singular advantage no other destination offers.
Kerala, India's most advanced society: With hundred percent literacy. World-class health care systems. India's lowest infant mortality and highest life expectancy rates. The highest physical quality of life in India. Peaceful and pristine, Kerala is India's cleanest state.

Major Cities

Thiruvananthapuram
Kollam
Kochi
Thrissur
Kozhikode

Location

Kerala is situated on the southwestern coast of India, a country in South Asia. This tropical paradise enjoys a unique topography with Arabian sea, a part of the Indian Ocean on the west and the Western Ghats on the eas

Houseboat

Cruise through Kerala in a houseboat!

Have you ever gone cruising in a houseboat on the backwaters of Kerala? If you haven't, make sure you do. This one is really a wonderful and unforgettable experience!
Present day houseboats are huge, slow moving exotic barges used for leisure trips, and are in fact reworked version of kettuvallams of olden times. The original kettuvallams were used to carry tons of rice and spices. A standard kettuvallam can hold up to 30 tons from Kuttanad to the Kochi port.

The kettuvallam is held together with coir knots. Not even a single nail is used during the construction of the boat.. The boat is made of planks of jack-wood joined together with coir. This is then coated with a caustic black resin made from boiled cashew kernels. With careful maintenance, a kettuvallam can last for generations.

A portion of the kettuvallam was covered with bamboo and coir to serve as a restroom and kitchen for the crew. Meals would be cooked onboard and supplemented with freshly cooked fish from the backwaters.

When the modern trucks replaced this system of transport, some one found a new way that would keep these boats, almost all of which were more than 100 years old, in the market. By constructing special rooms to accommodate travelers, these boats cruised forward from near-extinction to enjoy their present great popularity.

Now these are a familiar sight on the backwaters and in Alappuzha alone, there are as many as 500 houseboats.

While converting kettuvallams into houseboats, care is taken to use only natural products. Bamboo mats, sticks and wood of the areca nut tree are used for roofing, coir mats and wooden planks for the flooring and wood of coconut trees and coir for beds. For lighting though, solar panels are used.

Today, the houseboats have all the creature comforts of a good hotel including furnished bedrooms, modern toilets, cozy living rooms, a kitchen and even a balcony for angling. Parts of the curved roof of wood or plaited palm open out to provide shade and allow uninterrupted views. While most boats are poled by local oarsmen, some are powered by a 40 HP engine. Boat-trains - formed by joining two or more houseboats together are also used by large groups of sightseers.

What is truly magical about a houseboat ride is the breathtaking view of the untouched and otherwise inaccessible rural Kerala that it offers, while you float! Now, wouldn't that be something?

DTPC House boat Pre-paid Counter
For booking houseboats, travelers can make use of the House Boat Pre-paid Counter 'Trusted Service, Trusted Rates' managed by the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC).

Kathakali

Kerala owes its transnational fame to this nearly 300 years old classical dance form which combines facets of ballet, opera, masque and the pantomime. It is said to have evolved from other performing arts like Kutiyattam, Krishnanattam and Kalaripayattu. Kathakali explicates ideas and stories from the Indian epics and Puranas.
Presented in the temple precincts after dusk falls, Kathakali is heralded by the Kelikottu or the beating of drums and to the accompaniment of the Chengila (gong). The riches of a happy blending of colour, expressions, music, drama and dance are unparallelled in any other art form.
Kathakali Make-up
Costume is elaborate with the face painted up. Great importance is laid on the Vesham or make-up which are of five types - Pacha, Kathi, Thadi, Kari and Minukku.
The pomp and magnificence of Kathakali is partly due to its décor, part of which is the kireetamor huge headgear and the kanchukam the over sized jackets, and a long skirt worn over a thick padding of cushions. The identity of the actor is completely mutilated to create a super human being of larger-than-life proportion.
Pacha (Green)
Pacha Vehsam or the green make-up portray noble protagonists.
Kathi (Knife)
Kathi Vesham portrays villainous characters.
Thadi (Beard)
There are three types of bearded or Thadi Veshams.

• Vella Thadi or White beard for superhuman monkeys like Hanuman.
• Chuvanna Thadi or Red beard meant for evil characters.
• Karutha Thadi or Black beard for the hunter.

Kari (Black)
Kari Vesham is used for she-demons.
Minukku (Prettying Up)
The "Minukku Vesham" is used for female characters and sages.
Mudra
Mudra is a stylized sign language used to depict an idea, a situation or a state of being. A Kathakali actor enacts his ideas through mudras. For this the actor follows a systematic sign language based on Hastalakshana Deepika, a treatise on the language of hand gestures.
Kathakali Music
Kathakali orchestra is formed of two varieties of drums - the maddalam and chenda; thechengila which is a bell metal gong and the ilathalam or cymbals.
Kathakali Training
Students of Kathakali have to undergo rigorous training replete with oil massages and separate exercises for eyes, lips, cheeks, mouth and neck. Abhinaya or expression is of prime importance as is nritya or dance and geetham or singing.
Together with highly evocative facial expressions, the mudras and the music both vocal and instrumental, Kathakali unfolds stories from a bygone era in a lofty style reminiscent of the Greek plays. Kerala Kalamandalam is the prominent institution imparting Kathakali training in the traditional way.

Thiruvathirakali

Thiruvathirakali is a dance performed by women, in order to attain everlasting marital bliss, onThiruvathira day in the Malayalam month of Dhanu (December- January). The dance is a celebration of marital fidelity and the female energy, for this is what brought Kamadeva (the god of love) back to life after he was reduced to ashes by the ire of Lord Siva.

The sinuous movements executed by a group of dancers around a nilavilakku, embody 'lasya' or the amorous charm and grace of the feminine. The dance follows a circular, pirouetting pattern accompanied by clapping of the hands and singing. Today, Thiruvathirakali has become a popular dance form for all seasons

10 Places To Visit In India Before You Turn 30

1. Party in Goa

Unarguably, Goa has to be the amongst the first few places to visit in India in your twenties. Young and energetic! Amazing nightlife, variety of booze, beach shacks and dirt cheap prices – Goa has everything to make a trip memorable.

2. Trek On The Hills Of Mcleodganj

The majestic mountains can call tourists to experience the best of what nature has to offer. Triund offers the spectacular view of the Dhauladhar ranges. Experience bliss while camping under billions of stars with your friends in Triund.

3. Dwell in the Valleys of Ever Changing Srinagar

If you’re in your twenties, it’s time to add Kashmir to your list of best places to visit in India. If there is heaven on earth, this it is! Experience its charismatic charm before the natural hits & turmoil spoils it all. And when would be a better time to explore a flood-hit, terror-stricken heaven on earth if not now?!

4. Conquer the fears of water with Scuba Diving in Andaman

Scared of water? Never swam? Maybe it’s time to beat the fear out of you and dive in to the deep sea and overcome the fear of water and depths, ZNMD Style. Trust us, you’d be delighted at the sites underwater and it will keep you coming back for more. And woah, aqua lovers, it is no less than a paradise!

5. Ride on the Leh-Ladakh Highway and camp under the stars in Ladakh

Undoubtedly, Leh – Ladakh is on every travel enthusiasts list of places to visit in India before they turn 30. Ride on the crazy winding roads, get stuck in the middle of no where, sleep with the locals and learn to be independent on the desert mountains as you undertake this adventurous journey.

6. Explore the Ghats in Banaras

The oldest city in the world, Banaras paints the spiritual picture of India. Banaras may not be on the list of places to visit in India before you turn 30, but the beautiful ghats, the aartis and prayers, a boat ride along the calm banks could change this picture forever.

7. Stay overnight at Marine Drive in the never sleeping city of Mumbai

The city that never sleeps and lets you live a carefree life. Mumbai is about its people, the spirit of enjoying the nightclubs and of course Bollywood. Live like a mumbaikar, bite into the vada pav and sip a chai on your way to the locals.

8. Explore the Scotland of the south – Coorg

Coorg simply cannot be skipped from the list of best places to visit in India. A quickgetaway for many from Bangalore, this mesmerizing hill station in Karnataka is breathtakingly beautiful. A visit here sure would heal you and energize you!

9. Visit the 7th Wonder of the World – The Taj Mahal in Agra

Tourists across the world visit India just to witness the spectacular symbol of love. The majestic monument has to be on your bucket list for its the cultural epitome of India.

10. Enchant your spirit in Kerala

To all the nature lover’s out there. A trip to God’s own country is a must in your twenties for its enchanting wilderness. Luscious green trees, pristine water, crazy wildlife experience – visit Kerala for more such wonderful delights.

Incredible India

India is unique country with diversity. ”unity is diversity” is main slogan of country.

India is known for diversity in region, diversity in languages, diversity in food, diversity in clothes, diversity in festival, diversity in states, diversity in everything which uniquely represents country and its people. India is republic country which is for the people, by the people and from the people.

People rule its county, people choose their own leader, and people are independent of doing anything. India is a country where people are changed according to location. Every state has its incredible beauty of heritage as well as nation.

Every state has its own religion story.

Incredible India!!

North region consist of Himalayas, Kashmir which is heaven of India. The 7 Sisters and Sikkim also belong to north region. They have their own religion temples. This place belongs to Lord Buddha and its temple. East region is known for Bengali places and rivers .it also consists some very interesting heritage story and monuments. Middle region consists of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh which is mainly known as land of Krishna, land of ram, land of love-Taj mahal, land of colour. Land of monuments and heritage. And Punjab is a state known for king of farms.it is incredible to see this with different colours. The western part is incredible due to Arabian see and Deserts, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra are 3 most incredible places. Gujarat is state where lions reside in girs, Rajasthan is a place of kings, fighters, and real heritage.it is also known as desert. Maharashtra is known as land of god. South region is known for their cultural festivals, languages and foods. People are religious and believe in god. It is also known as land of nawabs. The people generally are of black tone and are known for coconut and rice items.

Incredible India !! | Essay On Incredible India | India Is Incredible | Why Incredible India | Paragraph On Incredible India | Speech on Incredible India

India is incredible for those who believe in it. India is incredible because of monuments, forests, and heritage. Ever year foreigners visit India to see the places and its story. But some Indians don’t realize important treasure of county. They should keep secure this treasure AsIndia is an Incredible.

India is gem of a country. It’s history, culture & heritage is as unique as it is rich. It’s no wonder that a lot of great personalities has acknowledged India’s contributions to the world. Here are a few iconic quotes about India which will fill you with pride.

The Caves of Beautiful Contradictions

                                         

The Caves of Beautiful Contradictions A J A N T A by Hugh & Colleen Gantzer In the heat of a Maharashtrian summer, we climbed a cliff, trudged into caves, and stepped into a challenging ancient world. The quandaries of the Ajanta caves are complex, contradictory and very creative. Were they monasteries which became art galleries? Or were they art galleries designed as monasteries? Or did they serve an entirely different purpose, originally? And why was this particular, horseshoe-shaped cliff chosen? According to the Archaeological Survey of India’s booklet The caves are cut out of amygdaloid trap rock In other words the rock is hard, solidified, lava which, when condensing formed amygdales which are small bubbles and balloons lined with amethyst, chalcedony and other beautiful quartz crystals. But though these glittering stones are still sold by shops not far from the cliff, scholars contend that gem mining was not the reason why the caves were made. 

They believe that these thirty caves were designed as monasteries and prayer-halls for Buddhist monks, and that they cover a period from the 2nd century BC to the 6th century AD, with a four century gap in between. Even more impressive than their age, however, is the fact that they are virtually, an art gallery revealing the lifestyles and attitudes of Indians at least on-and-a –half millennia ago. Clearly, they were not very different from ours. The strange thing is that though the caves were created for celibate monks, there is nothing austere about them. On both sides of the entrance to one of the caves, we saw sculptures of affectionate couples. Today, they would certainly have attracted the attention of our selfappointed ‘moral police’ claiming that such public displays of affection went against our Ancient Cultural Heritage! Interestingly, however, the typical, horseshoe-shaped, chaitya window showed a strong traditional streak. It had been sculpted as if it had been made of wood though it had been carved from living rock. The monks were probably used to living in wooden buildings and would feel more comfortable with this mock-wood design! In the early days of the religion, Buddha was depicted symbolically. Later, however, he was shown as a human. There are some statues of him placed at focal points in Ajanta, but the majority of the paintings and sculptures are based on the Jataka Tales: a rich collection of beliefs about the previous incarnations of the Buddha and the miracles associated with his birth. There is the tale of his mother dreaming that a white elephant had entered her body. 2 3 This was interpreted by a court soothsayer as a prediction that if the child was born in a palace, he would be a king. But if he was born in a jungle, he would renounce the world and become a great spiritual teacher. His mother hurried to return to her father’s palace in Nepal but the child was born when she was journeying through a forest. Floral designs are a repetitive theme on the ceilings of the verandahs and residential halls, or chaitya-grihas. More than that, however, is the amazing depiction of everyday, secular life. Voluptuous women gossip, traders buy and sell, rulers parade with pomp and circumstance, beggars importune, children gambol. When we first visited Ajanta, years ago, we had been told that the caves had been carved and painted by the monks and we wondered how such ascetic people could infuse so much passionate vitality into the paintings. But now that we learn that it had all been done by professional artists and sculptures, it becomes clearer. Nevertheless, we still wonder why a group of monks who had renounced the world should surround themselves with such alluring worldly scenes. Why did the artists, for instance, paint the crowned and bejewelled, portrait of the famed Black Princess? There is the belief that she was the dusky Andhra Queen who was the favourite of the ruler. But if that is true, they why was her portrait painted on the wall of a monastery? Then there is the strange fact that, originally, the caves were not linked to each other. Each had its independent flight of steps down to the Waghora River as if every cave had been excavated independent of the others. Moreover, the floor levels of the caves vary. If the caves had been created by a single authority for the specific purpose of providing facilities for a unified body of monks who worked and prayed together, logic would dictate that they would not have been segregated and excavated at different levels. Or were the caves of Ajanta first excavated by individual gem miners who chose their sites depending on the richness of the yield? Ajanta is on the ancient trade route, so the export of the mined gems would be easy. When the mines were exhausted, were they, then, converted into cool summer retreats for the rulers? This would account for the massive and ornate chaitya gateway, the sensuous sculptures and the floral designs on the ceilings. Finally, when the authority of the rulers was being threatened, did they have the caves redesigned for the monks in order to earn spiritual brownie points? It’s a thought that will raise the hackles of many experts, but then virtually all reputed scholars of his age ridiculed Galileo when he defied conventional wisdom and said that the earth moves round the sun! QUICK FACTS Getting there: Air: Aurangabad and then 106 kms. by road. Rail: Either Aurangabad or Jalgaon 59 kms. 

 Getting Around:

 By tourist taxi or ITDC coach tour from Aurangabad, or taxi from Jalgaon Railway Station. There are also buses. All private transports stop 4 kms. short of the Caves. These 4 kms. are done in MTDC’s eco-friendly buses. 3 3 Accommodation: Closest is MTDC’s Fardapur Holiday Resort, 5 kms. from the Caves – Tel : (02438)4230 Aurangabad has a mumber of hotels. MTDC’s Aurangabad Holiday Resort is on Station Road - Tel: (0240)331513 and its also where the ITDC coach tour starts. For More Information Contact: Information Counter, MTDC, Maharashtra Information Centre, 1/8 State Emporia Bldg., Baba Kharak Singh Marg, New Delhi 110001