| SOUTH INDIA
>> KERALA |
Kerala is truly the
undiscovered India. It is God's own country and
an enchantingly beautiful, emerald-green sliver
of land. It is a tropical paradise far from the
tourist trial at the southwestern peninsular tip,
sandwiched between the tall mountains and the
deep sea. Kerala is a long stretch of enchanting
greenery. The tall exotic coconut palm dominates
the landscape.
Kerala is a green strip of land, in the South
West corner of Indian peninsula. It has only 1.1
8 per cent of the total area of the country but
houses 3.43% of the the country's population.
Kerala houses all major world religions. From
early recorded days ,Kerala had been forthcoming
towards newer faiths from alien cultures. According
to the 1991 census, 60% of the state population
is Hindus. Muslims and Christians constitute 20
% each.
Kerala, the visitors' paradise, has soul-cleansing
Centers too. Pilgrim Centers of all religions
abound this tiny state. Thousands throng such
Centers with agitated minds and return cool, calm
and collected.
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Kerala
Backwaters |
The
backwaters of Kerala are what have given it the
sobriquet "God's Own Country". As you
meander through these on a houseboat you drift
into a timeless land replete with picture-postcard
towns and ancient trading posts. The huge coconut
trees provide an apt backdrop and perhaps you
can even eavesdrop on the strains of an oarsman's
song.
A network of lakes, rivers and canals fringe
the coast of Kerala. These backwaters, while a
great inland thoroughfare on water, offer an alternative
lifestyle. The criss-crossed, palm-fringed lakes
traversed with Chinese fishing nets are very popular
cruises, especially between Kollam and Allappuzha.
The backwaters have become important attractions
though they are threatened by population growth
and industrial development. Of the 29 major lakes
on the backwaters, seven drain into the sea. Stretched
over a total expanse of 1500 kms, the backwaters
have a network of 44 rivers, lagoons and lakes
from north to south.
A great way to explore the hinterland is to go
through the villages. A guide takes a group of
people through the villages on an open boat or
covered kettuvellum. The tour lasts from two to
six hours. It's a fascinating experience to wander
from village to village, learn how the village
economy runs, and watch coir making, boat building,
toddy tapping and fish farming. Some of the best
village tours operate out of Kochi, Kollam and
Thiruvananthapuram. On the backwaters you have
the major towns Allapuzha and Varkala and Quilon.
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Alappuzha |
The
Alappuzha area is a place that coaxes you to let
your hair down. The canals here form a web that
serves the coir industry. There is nothing much
here by way of sightseeing, but if you plan your
trip around the second Saturday of August each
year, you'll be in time for the Nehru Cup snakeboat
race, an adrenaline-pumping local event.
Low slung chundan vellams or snake boats are decorated
and it is rowed by up to 100 people. Alappuzha
is known for its lazy cruises where you can float
looking at the palm trees reflected in the green
cool waters.
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Kottayam |
The
other major place here that you must visit is
Kottayam, focus for the Syrian Christians of India,
and also the heart of rubber production. Kottayam's
backwater cruise is shorter than Allapuzha's.
There are elegant Syrian Christian churches that
date back to antiquity - some are more than 500
years old. The Kumarakom bird sanctuary on Vembanad
Lake is 16km west of Kottayam in a rubber plantation
of yore. Waterfowl and other species can be spotted
as they flutter about here.
Several luxury resorts have opened here. The
Coconut Lagoon resort is really beautiful and
scenic. The 50-cottage Kumarakom Lake Resort,
exquisitely landscaped with 20-foot wide lotus
filled canals, has recently been classified under
the Heritage category. The luxury Taj resort and
the Kumarakom Tourist Village are extremely popular
with the western jet set including Hollywood actors.
Buses run regularly from Kottayam to Kumarakom.
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Aranmula |
As
you take a cruise do make it a point to go to
Changanacherry and from there to Aranmula near
Kottayam. You can enroll at the art village, Vijnana
kala Vedi center, to learn woodcarving, dance,
martial arts like Kalaraipayattu, and traditional
medicine. You can fashion your own course though
one month's training is preferred.
You can take in an authentic all-night Kathakali
performance at Thiruvalla. There are daily cruises
from the Alleppey Tourist Development Corporation
on alternate days. Many hotels in Komala Road
Allapuzha book these. Cruises some of them by
private operators start at 10.30 a.m. and reach
by 6.30 p.m. The two stops are a midday lunch
stop and a brief tea stop at Ayirmthengu or the
coir village a mandatory stop
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