Karela Cultural Tours

 

Sun and surf
Kerala Shares it western border with the Arabian sea.Formerly known as Trivandrum, Thiruvananthapuram is a gateway to one of the most beautiful states in india. The state’s 600km shore line is dotted  with some of the finest ,most charming beaches in the world. These palm fringed havens drenched in the pleasant  tropical sun have a singularity of their own. Many of them are internationally  renowned ,like  Kovalam  beach in Thiruvanthapuram  which was been a  favourite  haunt of tourists since the 1930s and Varkala is a seaside  resort much  sought after  for its spa. Thangasseri  has historic attractions like the  ruins  of an old  Portuguese fort, Churches  built in the  18th Century and old  lighthouse. The  pier, which extends  into the sea at Alappuzha   beach  is about   140 years  old.  Dolphins  can be  sighted  at  the Cheri  beach   bordering  Vypee  island in Kochi.Kerala  affords a fascinating experience , mountains, backwaters,wildlife  sanctuaries and islands.

Beypore in Kozhikode, prominent  port  and fishing harbor of ancient Kerala was an  important  trade  maritime  centre. The rock studded Kappad beach in  Kozhikode  is where Vasco d agama, the Portugese explorer landed on the 27th of May 1498 with 170 men in three vessels.

Black rocks protect the four km  Muzhappilangad  beach in Kunnur  from the currents  of the  deep, making its shallow waters a swimmer ‘s  paradise.

Remote and  secluded, the Pallikere and Kappil beaches near Bekal in Kasaragod are fast becoming major  tourist attractions. The imposing  Bekal Fort  nearby is the largest and best preserved fort in Kerala.

 

Backwaters
The  backwaters mainly cover four districts of Kerala  and   extend  into a few others from Thiruvananthapuram down south to Kasaragod  in the north. The largest backwater body,the Vemband lake flows  through Alappuzha and Kottayam districts and opens out into the sea at the Kochi  port.The Asthamudi Lake, the second largest backwater stretch, offers the longest ride  ( 8 hours ) and a considered the gateway to the backwaters.
Your  holiday home in this  tranquil world is the comfortably  furnished houseboat  or Kettuvallam  which means  a boat  made by tying together  pieces of wood. It  usually has one or two bath attached bedrooms,an open lounge, deck, Kitchenette and  a crew comprising  carsmen , a cook and  guide. You can board  your  houseboat  from  select  spots  along  the  backwaters , Kollam.One of the oldest ports on the Malabar  coast , was earlier the centre of international  trade.The Asthtamudi  lake covers  a third of the district.

 

Heights Of Beauty
Far inland, lying  on the windward side of the  western Ghats. Kerala  has  a long  chain of lush, mist-clad hillstations that offer that offer the most enchanting  experience of nature  in all its virgin beauty.Punctuating the forested hills  are numerous waterfalls   that roar, jungle and  splash  sown the mountain side.

 

Ponmudi in Thiruvananthapuram, located 915 m above sea level, is an  idyllic hill resort  with  a variety of beautiful  mountain  flowers , exotic  butterflies, small  rivulets, springs , a deer park  and excellent  trekking trails.

 

Munnar in  idukki , 1600 m above sealevel ,is a tea planation town  and the most  enchanting hill station in  south  india. Near Munnar are many other destinations worth visiting  like Top Station , natural home of the rare Neelakurunji,  scenic  Mattupetty – location of the highly specialized diary farm – the indo swiss livestock project. Marayoor – the only  place in Kerala that has a natural growth  of sandalwood trees.25 kms away from Munnar is Vagamon , a  scenic place amidst grass  covered hill and velvet lawns. Peermade,Kuttikanam, Pattumala, Thrishanku Hills and Peeu Hill   are places nearby renowed for their natural beauty.

 

The Wild Side
Nestled in the lush  forests of Kerala are  fourteen wildlife sanctuaries  teeming with  rare flora and fauna, Among these are the Neelakurunji  that exotic  blue flower that washes the Munnar  hill sides in  blue once every  12 years and  the endangered  Nilgiri Tahr.

The attractive assortment of fauna in the wilds of Karela include  elephants, sambar deer, leopard , lion  tailed macaque, gaur,sloth bear, wild boar,bonnet macaque, Malabar giant squirrel, panther, Hanuman langur,civet  cat, barking deer, pangoline ,king cobra, spectacled cobra, Krait,viper, python, cane turtle, peacock, babbler, woodpecker, darter, little cormorant, blcack eagle, black  capped kingfisher,great Indian  horn bill , broad billed roller and  black woodpecker.

 

The Periyar lake  and streams in Tekkady  have  several species of fish  including  th mashseer, the famous endangered game fish if India.The otter, the only mammal if the lake can be frequently sighted here.

 

Fort Kochi
Fort Kochi, once an obscure fishing hamlet is the first European township in India and one of the most glorious cities in its history. It probably has the best preserved history of colonial times with tree –lined avenues, quaint little lanes and majestic buildings .Magnificent Chinese fishing nets outline a spectacular skyline .This place exhibits a certain spaciousness and openness of character. Streets are by and large wide, and large open spaces are disposed in different areas creating a low density housing environment.

Large trees are part of the Fort Kochi landscape and are one of the main features that are being conserved.

 

The Healing Touch
Long before the world discovered the magical power of Ayurveda, Kerala had made it part of their lives. Kerala’s equable climate and natural abundance of forests (with a wealth of herbs and medicinal plants) make it an ideal destination for Ayurveda .Today, the state is the only place on the world where Ayurveda, is practised to perfection, There are numerous hotels and resorts in Kerala that offer Ayurveda both rejuvenative  and therapeutic.

 

KOLLAM    (QUILON)
Quilon is an old seaport on the banks of Ashtamudi lake .Persians, Arabs Greeks, Romans and the Chinese traded here. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to set up a trading centre followed by the Dutch and British. There are some historic remains as well as temples that are built in ornate style.

KOVALAM
12km away, an uncluttered beach of silvery sands fringed with rows of tall palms, a sheltered bay, a wide choice of water sports. Kovalam is the perfect place for a seaside holiday.

 

KOCHI
One of the finest natural   harbours on the Arabian sea coast, Kochi, earlier known as cochin,has been a port of call for foreign traders from early times. Its cosmopolitan character is reflected in the buildings and structures representing   different regions of the world .A city of peninsulas and islands, today it is Kerala’s commercial hub.

 

ALAPPUZHA

Often called ‘Venice of the East’, and situated on the vembanad lake , the towns commercial centre lives in a maze of canals . Set in the labyrinth of backwater channels, the town is one of the best gateways to explore the  unspoilt  countryside. Though ferries operate regular services, a country boat is the best mode ot experience the backwaters .Also known as Alleppey, this is the centre for backwater cruises in Kerala.The Nehru Trophy boat race, most colourful of races, is held here on the second Saturday of August every year.

 

MUNNAR
Munnar, a hill station on the western Ghats has lakes, reservoirs, forests and tea estates. There is a wildlife sanctuary in Eravikulam- Rajamala area and the chinnar sanctuary.

 

KOZHIKODE
The Portuguese led by Vasco da Gama first landed in India at Kappad near Kozhikode in 1498.He was the first European to reach India via the sea route around the southern cape of Africa. Later the Dutch, French and British came to its shores. Thus began a period of continuous conflict of foreign powers for domination of trade in Malabar, Kozhikode was capital of the powerful Zamorins.This age –Old town still maintains its commercial traditions.

Festivals
The annual snakeboat races are usually held during the second week of August. While these   are a  much published event,  there are other  festivals where boats are used .In the second week of September , at Aranmula, 128 km from  Thiruvananthapuram , a procession of boats and races are held as part of the Parthasarty Temple Testival. Another important  festival of snakeboats display is a procession  at Champakkulam, 16 km from Alappuzha. This festival is held in july in honour of Lord Krishna. Elepahants form an important part of temple  property. POORAM  Festtival  at Trichur, generally in the third week of April, is a magnificent display of caparisoned  elephants when they  from a procession at Vadakhunthan Temple . Decorated elephants also form a procession  at Thiruvanathan Temple.