Visit,Travel&Tour_in_Cochin,Kerala,India

A Sikh family enjoying the sand, waves and surf in Cochin Indias well renowned Cherai Beach

2009-10-01T22:59:00.001-07:00

A family from North India visits Kerala for a family vacation and decides to head to the beach for a family out. Their choice is the up and coming Cherai Beach in Cochin Kerala.

Visit KochiNow

2008-08-05T12:45:00.000-07:00

This blog compliments the new initiative KochiNow. We look forward to more activities.

Pedalers Pub & Grille (PP&G) the active travel company inaugurates 12 day trip in India on Bike Pedals including the trading seaport of Cochin

2008-06-30T15:44:00.000-07:00

GAINESVILLE, Florida, June 30, 2008 - The active travel company with the funny name, Pedalers Pub & Grille (PP&G), inaugurates India - A Royal Odyssey with its first-ever foray into this diverse and exotic land. Departing on Nov. 24, 2008, the 12-day trip pedals across the southern tip of India to explore the temple complexes and villages of Tamil Nadu before moving to the wildlife and tea/spice plantations of Munnar Hills, the waterways of western Kerala and the trading seaport of Cochin.

The active cycling adventure will be repeated on Nov. 23, 2009. Except for international air, the program is all-inclusive at $3,450 (double) with a single supplement of $690. The tour begins in Madras and ends in Trivandrum.

The rate includes accommodations in luxury hotels, guesthouses and resorts, all meals, bilingual guides, full van support, daily route directions and maps, sightseeing and cultural activities, plus airport transfers. Personal departures may be scheduled year round for private groups and bike clubs with the most popular season running from November to March when the days are typically sunny and warm.

Over the course of the trip, which is rated moderate in level of difficulty, cyclists will roll inn to inn covering 439 miles (712 km), averaging 44 miles (71 km) per day.

Highlights include lunching with tea pluckers; a night at Cochins Bolgatty Palace, the one-time residence of the British Governor in the early 1900s; dolphin-spotting from Keralas palm-fringed beaches and visiting Indias Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary that is home to elephants, tigers (Periyar is part of Project Tiger), wild dogs, macaque monkeys, sambar deer and a variety of birds. More details can be found online at:
www.pedalerspubandgrille.com/bike_tours/india/Royal_Odyssey.htm

"We chose this route and region due to its incredible scenery and cultural diversity, says Tom Sheehan, founder and general manager. This is not your typical, mass market tour of India. We take time to visit unusual sites and witness local life and ancient traditions mostly overlooked by larger, packaged tours.

Annually, PP&G offers multiple set departures and custom trips to 18 exotic destinations in Asia, the South Pacific and Alaska. The company has been conducting cycling tours of these regions since the 1980s and is known for creating spontaneous, up close and personal cultural encounters along its well-researched cycling routes.

Asia's most seasoned bicycle tour operator, Pedalers Pub & Grille specializes in sag wagon supported road bike tours. They organize rides that are geared toward cycling enthusiasts, featuring longer daily rides designed to fill the day with adventure, while still allowing sufficient time for "off the bike" exploration at fascinating stops along the route. Accommodations are carefully chosen to provide modern western amenities, a comfortable night's rest and an immersion in the local culture and lifestyle. Meals are a celebration of local beverages and cuisine. Trips are led by either a bi-lingual international guide living in the area or a native born guide fluent in English, complimented by an English speaking support crew from that country. All levels of riders are welcome, from energetic beginners to elite cyclists.
Travel Video .TV

Cochin(Kochi) gets ready to host stopover of Volvo race

2008-06-16T06:21:00.000-07:00

Kochi, Jun 16 (PTI) The 'Queen of Arabian Sea' and home to one of the most ancient natural ports in the world, Kochi is gearing up to host the India stopover of the prestigious Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09, the world's premier offshore yachting event.
The nine-month Volvo Ocean Race is the most spectacular round of the World Marathon Ocean Yacht Racing competition and is seen as the ultimate in extreme adventure sporting, N Ramachandran, Chairman, Cochin Port Trust, said.

This is the first time in its 35-year history that the race would be stopping over in India, he said. On its third leg, the race would stop here in December this year.

The race will commence its round-the-world marathon sailing in October and cover over 39,000 nautical miles, visiting 11 ports across the globe.

Starting from Alicante in Spain, it would stopover at Cape Town, Cochin, Singapore, Qingdao (China), Rio de Janeiro, Boston, Galway (Ireland), Gotebord and Stockholm, before reaching the finishing line at St Petersburg in July 2009.

Cochin Port was chosen for the stopover after extensive evaluations by the race officials and negotiations that went on for over an year, Ramachandran said.

The teams have to deal with face dangers like storms, icebergs, ocean debris and whales as they race day and night for more than 20 days at a stretch in some of the legs, he said. PTI
Press Trust of India

COCHIN(Kochi) to host Miss Kerala pageant

2008-06-15T05:38:00.000-07:00

Rohini Mariam Idicula KOCHI: Young, charming women armed with the gift of the gab and are modern, yet uphold traditional Kerala values, can try their luck at this year’s Miss Kerala pageant.

The pageant will be held on July 11, in Kochi.
The event was announced by the reigning Miss Kerala, Rohini Mariam Idicula, and Ram Menon, director of Impresario event managers, by unveiling its logo.

“Those who mirror the image of the modern Kerala woman — assertive and ambitious, but who uphold traditional values, stand the best chance to win the title and the sub-titles,” Mr Menon said.

This year, the International Education Council would give a Rs 2-lakh scholarship to the winner of the pageant that has been sponsored by the ITC-owned Vivel brand. Young women aged 16 to 24, with a minimum height of 5.2” can apply, before June 25. A profile, with a recent photograph must be sent to misskerala@misskerala.net.

Ms Idicula, a law graduate, spoke of how the grooming sessions and the title changed her life.

“It was not very easy though — ‘for uneasy lies the head that wears the crown’. It helped me learn more about nourishing inner and outer beauty, apart from conducting myself better in society. The urge to address problems of children and youth grew in me. I took the lead in organising five camps aimed at boosting the self-confidence of youth,” she said.

The Hindu

Kerala tourism remains the last hope for the tourism industry..Monsoon tourism: A ray of hope for Indian tourism

2008-06-14T09:20:00.000-07:00

ONE OF the biggest industries of India – tourism industry – has been badly affected by the ongoing chaos in the desert state of Rajasthan and north-eastern hilly district of Darjeeling. Usually in the summer months of May and June tourists from India and foreign countries visit the hill stations Himachal Pradesh and Darjeeling to get a welcome break from scorching heat of the plains. Situated thousands of feet above the sea level the hill stations of Himachal and Darjeeling take visitors close to mother nature. But, this year a major drop has been recorded in the number of tourists visiting Shimla, Kullu, Manali and Dharamsala. According to reports over 20 per cent of hotels and travel agencies in Himachal Pradesh are reeling under losses.

Despite the restlessness in Rajasthan and Darjeeling here is a good news for Indian tourism industry as monsoon season is calling the tourist from across the globe. In fact, people in many regions of the country have experienced the rainfall well in advance and got some relief from scorching heat of summer. Though the monsoon brings excessive rains and badly hit the normal life, but it has special significance for Indian tourism industry. Each year tourists from various parts of the world throng some special regions of India. God’s own country – Kerala – is one such place, which beckons tourists in the monsoon season for a wonderful vacation.

Backwaters, beaches, hills, wildlife etc are some of the popular attractions of Kerala. Here in Kerala tourists can refresh themselves in the invigorating and intoxicating monsoon reason. Besides, the houseboat trip across the tranquil backwaters add more to the experience of the tourists.

If you want to experience monsoon at its best, then combine the Ayurveda treatment in your itinerary. Also called the ‘Oushada mausam’ or medicinal season, monsoon is the time when people visit Kerala for their rejuvenation treatments. Kerala’s pleasant climate, abundance of forests especially herbal and medicinal plants makes it an ideal destination for Ayurveda treatment. Ayurveda in the monsoon is the finest way to refresh and rejuvenate your body and soul. In fact, Ayurveda practitioners say that monsoon season is the best time to undertake Ayurveda treatment as the body become most receptive to the therapeutic and restorative powers of herbs and oils.
Kerala is only place in the world where Ayurveda, the thousands year-old healthcare system is practiced with much dedication.

Ayurveda centres and resorts in Kerala offer the ayurveda treatment under the guidance of the expert doctors. Two types of Ayurvedic programmes are offered by Ayurveda centres namely rejuvenative and therapeutic. After a methodical evaluation, the doctors suggest individual programmes for each person.

During monsoon season tours operating in Kerala offer the especially customised ‘Monsoon Holiday Packages’ that cover all important destinations of the state. Most of the monsoon packages are customised keeping in mind the requirement of both the domestic and foreign tourists. If you want to experience the real charm of monsoon season then head towards god’s own country – Kerala. Surely you will find a rare chance of experiencing nature closely and return home with some lifelong memories.

For last few years ‘monsoon tourism’ has emerged as a new theme of tourism in India and it draws large number of tourists from across the globe. Monsoon has already knocked the door in Kerala and other parts of the country as well, which is good signal from the tourism point of view. Hopefully like previous years, this year too monsoon will attract global trotters to India. Besides, Indian tourism industry may also make up the loss due to chaos in north and north-eastern parts of the country.
Merinews.com

Earthrace re-fuelling and heading for Cochin, in India to check Singapore repairs

2008-06-09T07:50:00.000-07:00

Earthrace to check Singapore repairs
Earthrace crew, their support staff and sponsors who came to their rescue have found their "miracle" in Singapore, and now hope to resume their attempt on a round-the-world record, says operations manager, Adrian Erangy.

They still hope to beat the existing record of nearly 75 days by returning to Spain to complete their circumnavigation, he told the powerboat-world.com website.

"The entire team have pulled together a miracle in Singapore," Mr Erangy said.

Staff at a salvage shipyard, Posh Semco, helped lift Earthrace - weighing 19 tonnes - from the water at the weekend to repair a shattered propeller, and driveshaft, and cracked bearings and brackets.

The boat took a week to limp to Singapore on one engine after hitting a submerged object, possibly a log, 4000km to the east in Micronesia, at Palau.

"We have completed our repairs and now hope to have 14 days left at sea to get the record," Erangy said. A new propeller shaft had to be machined by engineers.

The boat and support crews worked round the clock over the weekend to finish the repairs 12 hours earlier than expected.

They were due to test the boat's engines early today, then conduct a short sea-trial before re-fuelling and heading for Cochin, in India, if the repairs are seaworthy.

The boat has up to 35 days to get back to Sagunto, north of Valencia, to beat the 1998 Cable & Wireless World record of 74 days, 23 hours 53 minutes, but skipper Pete Bethune, of Auckland has said he wants to "smash" the record rather than just beat it.

- NZPA

The New Zealand Herald

Singapore to Cochin,Kerala,India next leg of Earthraces(78 foot, biodiesel fuelled trimaran ) World Record Attempt

2008-06-09T07:22:00.000-07:00

Earthrace on track for India and World Record
'Posh Semco put Earthrace back in the water Singapore June 2008'
Day 42- Earthrace, the 78 foot, biodiesel fuelled trimaran is back in the water repaired and is currently being refuelled in preparation for the next leg of her 24,000 nautical mile round the world record attempt, the 2,000 mile passage to Cochin, India.
Earthrace arrived in Singapore last Friday morning local time, having motored 2,200 miles from Palau in Micronesia on one engine after hitting an unknown object, smashing her port propellor and cracking her port drive shaft.

Despite the delays for repairs, the boat is still 1,556 miles ahead of the world record pace, set by the British Cable and Wireless team in 1998.

'We’ve been overwhelmed by the generosity we’ve received in Singapore,' says New Zealand skipper Pete Bethune. 'After the accident in Palau we began to doubt whether we still had a shot at the world record, but now the boat is back in top shape and weather conditions for the leg to Cochin are great.

'I’m constantly amazed by all the fantastic support individuals and companies across the globe have shown to Earthrace. Each one of their efforts counts in helping us smash this record and showing the world the potential for sustainable fuels.

Earthrace was lifted back into the water this afternoon local time and sped back to the One Degree 15 marina, where she is currently taking on her full load of Spanish bio-fuel. She was back at full pace on that short leg, showing that the repairs had been successful.

'Once we reach Cochin we’ve only got three refuelling stops to go. If we can maintain this pace up the Suez Canal and through the Mediterranean we could be back in Sagunto 17 days ahead of the world record.'

The crew has relied on the generosity of a number of companies that stepped forward to offer Earthrace support for speedy repair upon arrival to Singapore, particularly POSH SEMCO, an offshore marine service contractor, Assetton asset management, and J B Global, project sponsor.

Repair work was successfully carried out in three days, after the ground crew spent the whole of last week sourcing components and shipyard space.

'Assetton wanted to help Earthrace’s world record attempt because we believe it is a great reminder of the race against time to protect our planet,' said Mohan Nainan of Earthrace sponsor Assetton.

POSH Semco director, Peter Lee, said 'we were happy to help Earthrace in her hour of need. As marine salvage specialist, we want to support this worthwhile project, and we were the only company who could act quickly to help save the race.'

Justin Beeton of J B Global is already a Presenting Sponsor of Earthrace since January. He said 'when I heard about the critical repairs required, I immediately wanted to lend further support. I am delighted to confirm my sponsorship for the Australian tour next year and as Sydney Tour Host Sponsor in January 2009.’ Justin will also be joining as Guest Crew on the final leg of the race, along with Paul Topley of Churches Fire Security.

Earthrace left Sagunto, north of Valencia in Spain on April 27th. She had to round the world, in less than 74 days, 23 hours and 53 minutes to break the
record.

by Rob Kothe - 10:54 AM Mon 9 Jun 2008 GMT

Power Boat World.com

Tourism Projects in Fort Kochi, Cherai, Munambam, Munakkal,Perumpadappu-Kumbalanghi backwater,Chellanam, Mulavukad and Kadamakkudy get nod!!!

2008-06-02T05:13:00.000-07:00

Kerala - Kochi

Nod for tourism projects worth Rs. 18. 41 crore

Staff Reporter

Fort Kochi, Cherai, Munambam, Munakkal to benefit

KOCHI: Tourism development projects worth Rs.18.41 crore under the tsunami rehabilitation programme have received administrative sanction in the district. Tendering process for these projects is under way, Harbour Engineering Department said.

Under the programme, various projects had been envisaged in Fort Kochi, Cherai, Munambam and Munakkal. The tourism development project in Fort Kochi had been allocated Rs. 8.05 crore, Munambam Rs.3.62 crore, and Rs. 4.04 had been set apart for the project in Cherai.

The Rs. 5 crore-Chellanam fishing harbour and the Rs. 77-lakh Vypeen fish-landing centre had also received administrative sanction.

The Harbour Engineering Department has set up three desalination plants at a cost of Rs. 32 lakh in Chellanam, Mulavukad and Kadamakkudy and had handed them over to the respective panchayats.

Construction of seawall spending Rs.72.9 lakh under the Tsunami Rehabilitation Programme was another achievement of the department.

Dredging activities in the Perumpadappu-Kumbalanghi backwater undertaken as per the special initiative of Fisheries Minister S. Sarma was making progress. Twenty per cent of the works had been completed and Rs. 10.45 lakh of the estimated cost of Rs. 99 lakh project had been utilised.

About 60 per cent of the dredging works, worth Rs. 15 lakh, of the Chathanad fishing area had been completed.

Thirty-nine roads in the district had been renovated at a cost of Rs. 5.21 crore for which assistance was received from the Asian Development Bank. Besides, renovation of 29 more roads at a cost of Rs. 4.47 crore had also received the administrative sanction under the TRP.

Seventy per cent of the renovation works of the Varapuzha fish market had been completed while the renovation of the Njarakkal market was under way.

Tendering of project for the dredging works of the Munambam approach channel and basin, which is expected to cost Rs. 1.5 crore, had already been started.

The Hindu

A land of natural beauty

2008-05-31T05:52:00.000-07:00

ERNAKULAM is the largest township in COCHIN City

Cochin located centrally in Kerala is the Tourism Capital of Gods Own Country.
Kerala offers an entire gamut of interesting sights and scenes. Join Raynald Rivera as he sojourns in two of its more than a dozen cities — Cochin and Kozhikode — exploring their innumerable wonders.
A tourist is a person who visits a place for pleasure while a journalist is someone who writes about his visits. I was both for three days when media men from GCC recently flew from Doha to Cochin, Kerala in India for a Media Familiarisation Tour sponsored by Qatar Airways. The name Kerala sounds bizarre to a stranger; to an adventurer like me it means excitement. Little did I expect that I would find more than that.

Upon exiting Cochin International Airport, one can already feel an air of the city’s cultural rootedness.

I did. The exteriors of the airport bear the imprint of architectural marvel characteristically Keralite. We were met by a courteous and fluent tour guide and beckoned to board a small bus still big for the seven of us. As the white bus left the Airport, a conspicuous sign could be seen; it said ‘Way out’. Yes, we were all out for a three-day long adventure.
A forty-five minute drive from the airport leads to the fantabulous Le Meridien Hotel where our exhausted bodies comfortably rested for a while. It is situated on a land bounded by rivers and accented with a gem-like pool with crystal blue water reflecting an ambience of serenity.
The morning of the first day of our tour brought us to our first stop which was the Jew Town — a must-see for a visitor who loves relics and antiques. The centuries-old houses lining up the narrow streets were converted into antique shops which sell anything from garments to miniature display items to spices.
It was a major hub for spice trade in the olden times and still is a centre for business nowadays. Sauntering along the streets, one can still smell the scents of spices particularly ginger brought by the winds from a remote past. Black pepper, ginger, cinnamon and cardamom are just some of the various spices available in this part of India.
One of the most famous landmarks on this corner of Cochin is a synagogue which dates back 450 years ago. Entering the synagogue entails some restrictions: photography is prohibited and wearing of shorts is not allowed, a visitor is also required to remove his footwear before he can enter as a measure to preserve the ancient tile flooring of the edifice. The interiors are all primitive but eye-catching are the chandeliers magnificently hanging from the ceiling.
A stone’s throw away from the shops is the historical Dutch Palace, visiting which provides one a face-to-face encounter with the political, literary, and architectural wonders of Kerala. The palace was built as a gift to the Cochin King by the Portuguese but taken over by the Dutch in 1663, hence it got its name. The walls of some of the rooms tell the entire story of world-renowned Hindu epic Ramayana in very detailed mural paintings whose lines flow freely but flawlessly and no space spared of kaleidoscope of colours. Some royal furniture and battle implements exuding the kingdom’s glorious past are also showcased. A combination of floral and geometric carvings on teak wood painted in black highlights the ceilings of the palace. Compared to palaces in European countries, the Dutch palace has fewer weapons on display but more of other things, showing Kerala’s love for peace and the arts rather than preoccupation for battle.
“Kerala is a composite culture, that’s why eclectic art and design is evident in all the rooms,” Joerg, the director of Malabar House Fort Cochin told us as we were toured around the award-winning hotel’s suites. A taste of the Brochette of seer and rice fish and tiger prawn with baked potato, a speciality of the hotel’s Malabar Junction restaurant, will surely make even the most discerning palate crave for more.

The Peninsula Quatar

Tourism Promotion Council to promote Fort Kochi ,Perumbavoor circuit , Bhoothathankettu and Cochin City

2008-05-30T06:58:00.000-07:00

Folklore theatre for Fort Kochi

Staff Reporter

Tourism Promotion Council to promote Perumbavoor circuit

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Theatre project to cost Rs. 23 lakh

Tourism amenities to be created at Bhoothathankettu

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KOCHI: The Fort Kochi heritage zone will have another feather in its cap with the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) working on a folklore cultural theatre at the tourism complex near the bus stand.

The theatre will cater to the high demand from tourists to see and learn Kathakali and other traditional art forms. Already, Fort Kochi is home to many arenas adjacent to hotels and other places, where different art forms are staged. Tourists take keen interest in all aspects of art forms, starting from the painstaking process of applying make-up on the artistes, to the storyline and different mudras.

“All facilities will be there at the proposed theatre, which will be opened along with the brand new tourism complex. Work is on to spruce up the interiors,” said I.G. Chandrababu, DTPC secretary. The project cost is Rs 23 lakh.

The council’s other ventures include the creation of tourism amenities at the Bhoothathankettu reservoir, which is now in its second phase of development. A good share of the work there will be over once the boat jetty gets ready. The licence of many boats here had been withheld after the Thattekad boat mishap that claimed the lives of 15 children and three teachers. Though the children’s park and pond for pedal-boating are ready, the restaurant there is yet to become functional.

The Perumbavoor tourism circuit is another project of the council. The circuit covers four places — Kalil temple, Kodanad wildlife sanctuary, Panayil Poru and Iringolkavu. “The sanction from the Forest Department is awaited to create tourist amenities at Kodanad and Paniyeli Poru. The council has earmarked Rs 13.30 lakh for the Kalil temple project and Rs 17.20 lakh for Iringolkavu,” Mr Chandrababu said.

A restaurant and other amenities are being readied at Kottayil Kovilakom (home to a synagogue), where the council has a Rs 30-lakh project near the adjacent waterbody. The recently-inaugurated Ezhattumukham project has been attracting sizeable crowds, especially during weekends. Many of them come to bathe in the waterbody there. Toilets, a park and a restaurant have been readied here.

The council’s restaurant at the Aluva “manaltheeram” has been embroiled in litigation, with environmentalists and a few others approaching the Supreme Court alleging that it has been built in violation of construction norms. This has delayed the power and water connection to the restaurant. An environmental impact assessment is awaited on the hanging bridge project at Triveni Sangamam in Muvattupuzha, which would be built using Central tourism funds.

In Kochi city, the council’s three projects — the beautified Durbar Hall ground, the Royal Musical Walkway and the recreation pond near the Children’s Park, have been doing well.

Where to stay in Cochin

2008-05-30T06:03:00.000-07:00

Janine Broadbent wants to splurge on a nice hotel for £150 in the Indian city
Richard Green
I am looking to stay for a few days in Cochin at the end of a couple of weeks travelling in southern India. Which hotel would you recommend for a final splurge; say up to about £150 a night for a double? Janine Broadbent, Lincoln

Sunday Times travel expert Richard Green responds: By the time you get to Cochin you’ll have relaxed by a Keralan beach, visited a temple or two, and unwound on a backwater boat trip, so for your few days kick-back in Cochin, I’d say you are best off staying right in the historic centre of the city, in Fort Cochin.

The best option is the Brunton Boatyard (00 91 484 3011711), which as you’d expect, occupies a prime site on the waterfront. It’s just a short stroll away from a clutch of the famous Chinese fishing nets too, and unlike many of the other hotels in Fort Cochin, Brunton’s has the room to breathe; with a large grassy courtyard, huge airy corridors, a nice open-air breakfast area, and excellent pool.

Both of the latter, and all of the 22 rooms, overlook the narrow pinch of water that funnels into Cochin harbour where just a few feet away, ships glide past quite surreally. Rooms are high-ceilinged, with heavy wooden furniture and large bathrooms, but ask not to be at the end next to the little car ferry, as the loading and unloading is rather noisy.

The ‘History’ restaurant serves good Portuguese, Dutch, British Raj, Arabic, Kosher and local Keralan dishes, reflecting the city’s cultural influences, the Terrace Grill specialises in seafood, and there’s the snug Armoury bar for a beer or cocktail. B&B doubles are from £125.

If you prefer a more contemporary boutique style of hotel, then just a few minutes walk to the south, and overlooking the old cricket ground, is the Malabar House (0091 484 2216666; B&B doubles from £119).

Its 17 rooms are splashed in bright colours, fabrics, art and sculptures. In the evenings, the Malabar Junction restaurant serves terrific Asian Mediterranean fusion and is a Fort favourite for a romantic meal. Note that several of the rooms don’t have outside-facing windows, and while the pool looks big enough on the website, in fact, it’s tiny and right by the reception desk.

Tour operators that can help plan your trip include Transindus (020 8566 2729), The Kerala Travel Centre (0808 178 9799), Cox & Kings (020 7873 5000), or Colours (020 8343 3446).
UK TRAVEL TIMES ONLINE

Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) 2008 to be held from September 21 to 23 at the Le Meridien International Convention Centre, Kochi.

2008-05-28T16:09:00.000-07:00

Kerala Travel Mart 2008 in September
Written by Ozgur Tore
Tuesday, 27 May 2008
Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) 2008, the biennial buyer-seller meet, which showcases the best from Kerala, is all set to be held from September 21 to 23 at the Le Meridien International Convention Centre, Kochi.
The fifth edition of KTM 2008 expects about 300 International Buyers from around 50 countries and 400 Domestic Buyers from all the other States in India. 176 International and 399 Domestic delegates have already registered for the event. This time, the entire event area will be air-conditioned. There will be 70 tables, 175 modules and 16 houseboat parking bays. 19 tables, 150 modules and the entire houseboat parking bays have been booked.

Dr. V. Venu, Secretary, Kerala Tourism, has expressed his hope that successive editions of KTM will add new dimensions to the already established Kerala Brand. It will be a boost to the tourist potentials of the state as well, he said

FTN NEWS.COM

Bhoothathankettu COCHIN set amidst lush greens and the flowing waters of river Periyar

2008-05-27T15:18:00.001-07:00

There is a dam here and in the reservoir boating facilities are provided. The Forest Department provides elephant rides through the forest to old Bhoothankettu, which is very interesting.
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Bhoothathan Kettu is near Kothamangalam about 60 Kilometrs from Kochi.
Thattekad which is 20kms from Koithamangalam is the home for the bird sanctuary where we can find some of the rare species of birds. Exotic birds flock in the sanctuary and make this place a heaven for any ornithologist.
Tours To Bhoothathankettu is located 50 km north east of Ernakulam town, Kerala, India. Bhoothathankettu is situated amidst the lap of Mother Nature. The land is covered with forests which are home to migratory birds from around the world. There are lakes, mountains and the river Periyar which flows from Kerala Bhoothathankettu Tours. It is heaven to nature lovers. Tourists can take a trip on the houseboat cruising on the freshwater or can take a speedboat, people can go trekking , rock climbing, fishing, swimming, and the options are endless for the nature lovers. On the banks of Periyar one can find large stretch of forests with occasional glimpse of habitation in between palm trees and rubber trees. The Periyar flows almost in a straight path between the Thattekad bird sanctuary and Chelamalai, the seat of the Chera Empire. The dam in Bhoothathankettu adds to the beauty of the place.
Two of the main irrigation projects of Ernakulam district - the Periyar Valley Irrigation Project and the Idamalayar Irrigation Project - are also located nearby.
THERE'S AN INTERESTING TALE BEHIND THE NAMING OF BHUTHATHANKETTU DAM. THE STORY GOES THAT AGES AGO DEMONS PLANNED TO DROWN THE TRIKKARIYOOR TEMPLE, WHOSE PRESIDING DEITY IS LORD SHIVA. THE PLAN WAS TO DAM RIVER PERIYAR AND FLOOD THE AREA WITH ITS WATER. LORD SHIVA CAME UP WITH AN ALTERNATE PLAN TO FOIL THEIR PLOT. HE IMITATED THE SOUND OF A ROOSTER, LIKE IT SEEMS AT THE CRACK OF DAWN. WITH THIS, IT APPEARED THAT DAWN WAS APPROACHING BY. FEARING THE ARRIVAL OF LIGHT, THE DEMONS RAN AWAY, LEAVING THEIR TASK ONLY HALF DONE. IT IS BELIEVED THAT EVEN TODAY, THERE IS PROOF OF THE DEMON'S HALF COMPLETED WORK. THIS PROOF COMPRISES OF THE HUGE BOULDERS THE DEMONS WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE ROLLED DOWN ONTO THE RIVERBED, THE OLD BHOOTHATHAN KETTU. PERIYAR RIVER FLOWS THROUGH THE NARROW SPACE, WHICH THE DEMONS DID NOT QUITE MANAGE TO DAM UP. HENCE, THE NAME IS BHOOTHATHANKETTU, MEANING 'FORT OF THE SPIRITS'. ONCE YOU'VE ARRIVED AT BHOOTHATHANKETTU, THERE ARE VARIOUS ACTIVITIES YOU CAN INDULGE IN. AN UPRIVER HOUSEBOAT TRIP CAN ACCOMMODATE UPTO 20 PEOPLE EASILY. YOU CAN ALSO OPT FOR A RIDE ON A SPEEDBOAT, A TOUR OF THE JUNGLE, ROCK CLIMBING AND FISHING. THIS NATURAL TOPOGRAPHY WAS MUCH HELPFUL IN THE BUILDING OF THE DAM
The Bhoothathan Kettu is famous for its Dam and the virigin forest suitable for trekking and elephant rides.
The dam site offers sceneic beauty of Kerala's virigin forest. There is boating facilities available at the dam reservoir. The Elephant rides available and the Trekking through the forest to old Bhoothankettu is the majour attraction here.
Elephant rides are facilitated by the Kerala State Forest Department. People who visit Bhoothankettu can also visit the nearby Thattekkadu Bird Sanctuary. Overall Bhoothan Kettu is an ideal spot for picinic, adventure trekking, boating and elephant rides
'Bhoothathan Kettu' is a good picnic spot. There is a dam here and in the reservoir one can go for boating too. The legend says that the dam was built by a "Bhootham" using the rocks, which is the ample proof for the name. Trekking through the forest to the old Bhoothathan Kettu is very interesting. The forest offers a wide variety of flora and fauna and is a botanist delight.

Bhoothathankettu derives its name from a legend in which bhootham (ghost) tried to submerge the Thrikariyoor temple of Lord Shiva by creating a dam on Periyar but Shiva suspecting trickery, came up with a plan to frighten them. He made it appear that dawn was approaching by making a sound like the crowing of the rooster . The demons fearing the arrival of light fled leaving their task incomplete. Large boulders can be found to this day therefore the name Bhoothathankettu means Forts of the Spirits .

`Global Kerala Alliance in Tourism’ (GKAT) Cochin in December being planned with NRK's and Overseas Malayalee Associations to promote Kerala Tourism

2008-05-26T09:22:00.000-07:00

As part of finding a global market for Kerala tourism, the Tourism Department is planning to organise a `Global Kerala Alliance in Tourism’ (GKAT) in Kochi in December, Home and Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said on Saturday.

What the department is planning is a participatory venture involving NRKs, Malayali organisations abroad and other experts to promote the state’s tourism possibilities.

“We are planning to use the facilities of the NORKA for the GKAT. The report has been finalised,” Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told reporters here.

During 2008-09, the state government expected to get Central assistance worth Rs 75 crore for tourism projects such as the Sarovaram Nature Park and Ashtamudi Tourism Circuit.

The Tourism Department will also try for an additional Rs 78 crore assistance from the NABARD, and the State Government.
New Ind Express

A charming colonial boatyard comes with a hint of old spice

2008-05-23T10:52:00.001-07:00

Brunton Boatyard in Kerala hums with history. Picture: Susan Kurosawa
ROOM AT THE INN: Susan Kurosawa | May 24, 2008
THE bed is high and old-fashioned with a striped hand-loomed quilt and on the red-tiled bathroom floor stands a washbasin the size of a laundry tub. There are timber and rattan chairs, a tall armoire and a small writing desk; it's not a glamorous room but it doesn't need to be. The real attractions here are the harbourside location and maritime views.

Kochi, in the southwest Indian state of Kerala, sits within a universe of water, and no hotel gives such an immediate flavour of old Fort Cochin's history and sheer industry than the 22-room Brunton Boatyard. They don't build vessels here any more but you could cut away the crow-repelling mesh on your balcony and practically dive into one.

Set up by George Brunton and his sons William and Jack in the 19th century as a shipbuilding yard, this reconstituted three-storey building, with limewashed walls and terracotta-tiled roof, opened as a hotel in 1999 and it fairly hums with history.

There are punkah fans cooling the long colonnades, teak and mahogany spice chests that still smell faintly of cinnamon and cloves, rattan furniture and cabinets of curiosities. Portuguese muskets and Dutch maps point to the colonial history of this fabled spice-trading port.

A massive red-flowering rain tree casts deep mulberry shade over a central courtyard. A waterside pool is framed with palms and a bougainvillea hedge; adjoining it is a jetty, gaily decorated with pots of geraniums, from which sunset cruises (free for guests) depart daily at 5.30pm. These sailings provide good angles to photograph the teak and bamboo swing-and-sway Chinese fishing nets crouched like praying mantises beside Vasco da Gama Square and rows of waterfront warehouses, the once grand repositories of tea, coir and precious spices.

Near Brunton Boatyard's pool are white metal tables and chairs on a groomed lawn and these provide an ideal perch for sipping fresh lime sodas or yoghurt lassi drinks and watching the boats and ferries pass along the shipping channel.

I spend a morning thus ensconced and see dolphin fins dipping and passenger ferries chugging by with names of the ilk of Santa Maria. A car ferry slides past carrying rows of auto-rickshaws and imperilled Ambassador cars, once the sturdy vehicle of choice for higher-ups but now overshadowed by Korean compacts and elephantine four-wheel drives.

In the side garden of the hotel is an Ayurvedic centre where treatments address all manner of ailments, from stiff joints and backaches to migraine and sinusitis. The aim is curative, rather than conventional spa pampering, but a few well-priced beauty therapies are on offer, such as a face massage with oils and a herbal-paste mask, which costs the equivalent of about $12.

Brunton Boatyard is a member of CGH Earth, a well-established Indian company specialising in resorts that display "minimal interference with nature or the local environment, without compromising on luxury". Most of its Ayurvedic retreats and small hotels are in Kerala and the range includes Coconut Lagoon by Vembanad Lake in Kumarakom (heritage bungalows and private pool villas) and Spice Village in Periyar (bamboo and elephant grass cottages in a plantation setting).

Also consider a riceboat cruise for a night or two around the backwaters and bird-busy lakes of Kerala; it's the perfect bookend experience to a stay at Brunton Boatyard where one's toes are all but dipped into the wash of the Arabian Sea.

Susan Kurosawa was a guest of Abercrombie & Kent.

Checklist

Brunton Boatyard, Fort Cochin, Kerala, India. Phone +91 484 221 5461; www.cghearth.com.

Tariff: From 6000 rupees ($145) a double a night plus 15 per cent tax.

Checking in: Guests from across the world, mostly independent travellers.

Getting there: About 40km from Cochin airport; airlines such as Jet Airways fly daily from Mumbai and other main cities in India.

Wheelchair access: Ground-floor rooms available; a small lift up to top floors.

Bedtime reading: The Moor's Last Sigh by Salman Rushdie, partly set in Fort Cochin.

Stepping out: For a historic ramble in Fort Cochin, head to the old quarter of Jew Town, with its historic synagogue and antiques stores, and the Dutch Palace. Lunch beside pink frangipanis in the delightful courtyard cafe at Malabar House and have an afternoon cuppa at the Tea Pot on Petercelli Street. Abercrombie & Kent offers excursions in Kerala, including riceboat cruises: www.abercrombiekent.com.au.

Brickbats: The food at the hotel's History restaurant is a very odd mix of Portuguese, British and Indian flavours. (There's better eating at the Terrace Grill, where fresh seafood is prepared with earthy spices, or even from the cheap room-service menu, which boasts "munchies" and "fairy eats".) The water traffic starts early: prepare to be woken by toots and hoots.

Bouquets: A little foot stool is provided to board one's high four-poster bed; an authentic sense of history with no inappropriate flourishes; every room has a water view (those at the public ferry wharf end could be noisy).

The Australlian

Basilica of Our Lady of Vallarpadam, Cochin, Kerala, India a National shrine and Basilica.

2008-05-23T09:44:00.000-07:00

A major pilgrim centre for Christians, Church of Our Lady of Ransom is one of the oldest European Churches in India built by the Portuguese Missionaries. The church dedicated to the Holy Mary of Vallarpadam popularly known as 'Vallarapadath Amma', is located in the middle of Vallarpadam, a small idyllic island on the Vembanad lake, 1 km north from the mainland Kochi (Ernakulam), Kerala. Today the church elevated to the status of a Basilica as well as a National shrine attracts more than five lakh people including pilgrims and tourists, annually. One of the three Basilicas in Kochi, the Church is under the diocese of Verapoly (Varappuzha). The church earlier accessible only by boat is now linked to the mainland Ernakulam, and the islands of Bolghatty, Mulavukad and Vypin by three adjacent bridges called the Goshree bridges. Vallarpadam island, about 3.9 km in length and 1.5 km in width is located between the islands of Mulavukad and Vypin, and to the east of Bolghatty island. Vallarpadam container Terminal, a proposed project here could make this small island one of the best hub ports in the world.

Other Churches in India
Basilica of Bom Jesus
Blessed Alphonsas Tomb, Bharananganam
Malayattoor Church
Marthoma Pontifical Shrine
Santa Cruz Cathedral
More...

There is no concrete evidence as to when the original church was built. But it was believed to be the first church in Asia dedicated to the Holy Spirit. Later the Portuguese missioners who settled in Kochi, rebuilt the old church which was almost in ruins and installed an image of the Blessed Mother and Infant Jesus (39 inch high and 26 inch wide) at the top of the altar of the Shrine. But this church was completely destroyed by a heavy flood in the late 17th century and it is believed that Paliyath Raman Valiyachan, the Diwan of the Maharaja of Cochin recovered the image from the flood waters. He handed over the image to the then parish vicar and it was installed in a temporary made up shed which was known as 'Panampu Pally'. A wooden flag staff (160 ft) was also installed at the place where he exchanged the holy picture, which was replaced much later in 2002, by a steel flag staff (102 ft). A beautiful church was then built in the land donated by the Diwan in 1676. Subsequent renovations were made to the church in 1888,1931 and 1947. The church alter is adorned with the miraculous image of the Holy Mary and Infant Jesus, and the 'Kedavilikkku' (sanctuary lamp) which he donated on the day the new church opened, burns at the altar even today. Paliath Valiachan also promised to supply the oil for burning the lamp from his palace and this practice continued till 1947. In 1994, the Paliyath family, visited the shrine and rekindled the sanctuary lamp.

There are many legends associated with this church, the most famous was in 1752, a Nair lady Meenakshiamma hailing from a noble Nair family of Palliveetil who along with her infant son, were believed to have been rescued miraculously from the bottom of the backwaters near the church after they went missing for three days. The then parish priest, Fr. Miguel Correa had a dream where the Lady of Ransom appeared and gave him instructions to rescue the drowning mother and son. After this miracle, Vallarpadam became a famous pilgrim center. In gratitude, all the members of the Palliveetil family vowed to remain loyal servants of Our Lady forever and Meenakshiamma and her son spend the rest of their lives in and around the church.

'Adima' a ritual practice - submitting one's lives to the protection of Our Lady of Vallarpadam was thus established and now this ritual is the popular offering in Vallarpadam Church. During this ritual, the priest lays his hands on the head of the devotee, says a prayer and sprinkles holy water. It is believed that once the ritual is performed Our Lady protects the person from all dangers and grant favors in abundance. In memory of this miracle, the picture of Meenakshiamma and her son seeking blessings, was added to the original holy picture of the Blessed Mary and Infant Jesus. Even today, the members of the Palliveetil family, the house of the Nair lady, bring their children to perform the practice of 'Adima' and also supply curd water to devotees during the festivities of the church. Taking into consideration its spiritual importance, His Holiness Pope Leo XIII elevated the main altar of Vallarpadam Church to the status of 'Altare previlegiatum in Perpetuum Concessum' in 1888. In 1951, it was declared a major pilgrim centre by the government of India.

Other Churches in India
Basilica of Bom Jesus
Blessed Alphonsas Tomb, Bharananganam
Malayattoor Church
Marthoma Pontifical Shrine
Santa Cruz Cathedral
More...

The Govt. of Kerala declared the shrine a tourist center in 2002. A request was submitted by Archbishop Daniel Acharuparampil of Varappuzha to make the church a Basilica. The Church was declared a National shrine on September12th 2004 by the Catholic Bishop's Conference of India (CBCI) and the same year on December 1, His Holiness Pope John Paul II elevated the Shrine to the status of 'Basilica'. It was officially declared by the Archbishop on February 12, 2005.

Our lady here is hailed to be the protector of people who travel, especially through water. Local fishermen usually come to this church to get their new boats and nets blessed, before they are taken out to sea for the first time. A 100m wide canal has been constructed from the backwaters to the church for their access. Our Lady is also known to bless childless couples with kids. Besides the popular ritual of 'Adima' another prayer practice done by the devotees at Vallarpadam, is to sweep the church compound to convey their gratitude. Novena is conducted every Saturday at the church.

Now there is a new Rosary park in front of the church with a walkway which has sculptures and paintings featuring the four Mysteries of Faith celebrated by Catholics all over the world.

Every year the Feast of Our Lady of Vallarpadam is celebrated from September 16 to 24, and thousands of people irrespective of cast and creed from different parts of the country visit this Holy Place of Worship. Along with the Blessed Mary's feast, the festival of the Holy spirit / Pentecostal festival is also celebrated with great enthusiasm.
WEB INDIA 123 TOURISMReference : 'Vallarpadathamma' by Father Shyju Thoppil

Hotel Arches: Blending European heritage and cosmopolitan temperament

2008-05-23T06:20:00.000-07:00

Located on the shores of the Arabian Sea, Fort Cochin is a community of centuries old colonial buildings and churches. Characterised by its fusion of Indian and European lifestyles, this heritage community, with its air of genteel decay and history is a friendly phantom that still stalks the evening mist of its seaside streets. The Portuguese, Dutch and British left their imprint on Fort Cochin.

Built in the heart of this enchanting historic location and across the famous St Francis Church, Hotel Arches distills and blends the essence of their European heritage and cosmopolitan temperament. Over a morning coffee on their rooftop, you can gaze at the graceful arches of St Francis Church just across the road.

The hotel's beautifully detailed colonial architecture welcomes you into a cool respite of tile floors and wooden ceilings. They have ten deluxe rooms and one suite - Nidra. Here all the traditional furnishings, handcrafted are all by local master cabinetmakers. Each room has a well-appointed modern bath and air conditioning for comfort.

Some of the other facilities here include, A/C rooms with television, refrigerator, luxurious bathroom & international direct dialing, open Room- Rooftop multi-cuisine restaurant, classical art performances, 24-hr reception, 24-hr room service, money exchange, travel desk, individual locker, 24-hr internet, laundry, dry cleaning and doctor on call.
Express Travel World

Dr. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary,THATTEKKAD, COCHIN,KERALA,INDIA

2008-05-22T14:27:00.001-07:00

The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary (also commonly known as the Thattekad Sanctuary) is located in the Kothamangalam Taluk of Ernakulam district on the northern bank of the Periyar river. The sanctuary was notified in 1983 based on a recommendation made by Dr. Salim Ali many years previously. Ali described Thattekad in the 1930’s as the richest bird habitat in peninsular India, comparable only with the eastern Himalayas. Since then much of the forest has been diverted to cultivation and teak and mahogany plantation but what survives gives a glimpse of the phenomenal bird diversity of the once widespread lowland forests of Kerala.Nestling between the tributaries of the Periyar river is a small forest area rich in bird life, including water birds.The sanctuary is the catchment area of Bhoothathankett Dam. Undulating terrain, has mixed deciduous forest with patches of grassland. The teak trees with sparse leaves make bird watching easier even for untrained eyes. The vegetation in this area consists of tropical evergreen, semi evergreen, moist deciduous forests and plantations of teak, rosewood, mahogany etc. The sanctuary has its share of fauna too. The elephant is an occasional visitor. Leopard, bear, porcupine, python and cobra are sighted. Further, more than 28 varieties of animals and nine varieties of reptiles have accepted this area as their natural habitat.

Thattekad has very good lodging facility for bird watchers. There is an Inspection Bungalow called Hornbill in Thattekad with three double rooms for Rs 300 per night each. The caretaker of the Bungalow, a friendly old man, cooks excellent Kerala food for just Rs. 15 per meal. The sanctuary also has a mini dormitory for Rs 50 per bed, per night. Good food is available there too. For the avid bird watcher who wants to spend quiet days within the sanctuary, there is a tower house with double bed and bath, which need to be booked in advance. Lodging facilities are available at the PWD rest house near Bhoothathanket Dam. Private lodges are available at Kothamangalam.

Spend your holidays in Thattekad and chase the avian delights away from the bustle of city life.

Getting there: Kochi, the nearest airport is 71 km from Thattekad. The nearest railway station is Aluva, 48 kms away. Travel by road from Kochi to Kothamangalam. The sanctuary is 13 km north east of Kothamangalam along the Pooyamkutty road. A ferry operates across the Periyar river to take you into the sanctuary.

Sunday Kaumudi

Kerala's Own Drink: Taste tender Coconut Wine

2008-05-22T08:14:00.000-07:00

By K S Ashik
Converting a crisis into opportunity is not something that comes naturally to farmers who cry for relief instead. When a disease infected his coconut plantation in Kasargod, 66-year-old coconut farmer, Sebastian P Augustine, found a way to make wine from tender coconut and instantly shot to fame.

“I have got an Indian patent (No. 209015) for developing coconut wine from tender coconut and tender coconut water in August 2007, this is the first time in the world any one is getting such a patent,” Sebastian P Augustine told Commodity Market.

Once the news spread about his innovation, lots of scientists and companies began persuading Sebastian to transfer the know-how to them. This included the famous UB group owned by Vijay Mallya. Instead of transferring the technology to a bigger company, Augustine has decided to start commercial production from Kasargod on Kerala-Karnataka border. “I have applied for government licence for which I have to take an excise licence under the Abkari Act to begin operations,” Sebastian said.

He will also get a subsidy from Coconut Development Board once the project is approved. Coconut wine was pioneered in China and Philippines. However, they used grated coconut, coconut water and more water is added to ferment it. “In my technology only tender coconut kernel and tender coconut water is used and it has more sugar content. Therefore, unlike the Chinese technology, only a little sugar is needed to ferment,” Sebastian said.

He wants the Kerala government to use the product as a USP to promote tourism in the state. Sebastian, a retired deputy tehsildar, also won the Kera Kesari Award in 1998, instituted by the Kerala government for the best coconut farmer in the state. Sebastian has already filed for patents in the European Union, the US, Canada, Indonesia and the Philippines.

His organic farm in Beemanady in the eastern part of Kasargod district has been awarded the best coconut garden by the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) in 2000. This innovative farmer hopes that the wine development will help coconut farmers in Kerala to add value to their products if the state government promotes the Maharashtra model of wine tourism.

At the domestic market too, the unique wine could lure tourists and natives alike, insuring coconut farmers against the volatile market. Farmers, at the mercy of market fluctuations and pest attacks, will find the wine industry a boon. It's high time the coconut market diversified its products instead of competing with other edible oils, he said. Maharashtra government is aggressively promoting wine tourism by removing all legal hurdles to wine making.

Since the law regards wine as distinct from liquor, grape farmers are free to brew wine in Maharashtra vineyards. The government has even started wine parlours, Sebastian said. Tender coconut harvesting doubles the yield from the tree. Moreover, the frequent plucking of tender coconut helps keep dreaded epidemics like mandari at bay. While the double harvesting gives a decent profit to the farmer, plucking coconuts before they ripen up to seven months increases workdays of the farm labourer.

It's a win-win situation. He claims that the tender coconut wine is devoid of any artificial agents and can be the purest drink as it does not even contain natural water as found in other wines. In 2004, when his seven-acre coconut grove developed rot, Augustine started cutting bunches of coconuts on the advice of his neighbours.

Not knowing what to do with the hundreds of tender coconuts, he decided to try his hand at making wine from coconut water. Once, on a holiday with his daughter and son-in-law in the US, Augustine saw wine being made from fruits and he was inspired. First, the water from the tender coconuts is mixed with the kernel. Then, a few fruits, such as grapes and pineapple, and spices, such as cinnamon, clove and vanilla, among others, are added along with a bit of sugar, and the concoction is left to ferment for nearly a month. The wine then is cleared and pasteurized and bottled.
According to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) website, the uniqueness of Sebastian's technology is that it does not use synthetic chemicals. “The present invention relates to a process for the production of wine from tender coconut water. The common way of making wine for centuries is by fermentation supported by chemicals. Here neither natural water nor chemicals are used to make a highly healthy, hygienic and nutritional beverage with 12.25 per cent ethyl alcohol content out of tender coconut water and other ingredients.”

THE INVENTION
Tender coconut wine is fermented from a mix of tender coconut water and tender coconut kernel. Fruits (grape, pine apple, passion fruit etc.) and spices (cinnamon, clove, vanilla etc.) are added to make different varieties of wine like Mass wine, light wine and strong wine. The wine, after clarification and pasteurization, may be aged for better results.

The following is the test report from the Central Food Technical Research Institute, based on the sample provided by Sebastian. He said that his wine contains 12.25 per cent ethyl alcohol but does not contain potassium meta bisulphate and therefore sulphur dioxide content in the wine is also ruled out. The common method of preparation of wine is to add chemicals like potassium metabisulphite to prevent contamination by wild yeast and bacteria.

Tender coconut is bacterial free and hence there is no requirement of a preservative, Sebastian said. The farmer says he is prepared to procure tender coconut for Rs 10 when farmers are always complaining of unremunerative prices. “I need only two to three tender coconuts to produce one bottle of wine and cost of other ingredients are minimal.” Sebastian has informed the Kerala chief minister that he is willing to set up a factory to process 15,000 tender coconuts that could give employment to 350 people.

Provided he gets the right incentives, he is prepared to set up 20 such factories. He said when tender coconut is not available in sufficient quantities, he can continue running his factory by producing wine from jackfruit, pineapple, cashew and other fruits. If the product has to be exported, then a laboratory has to be set up in the factory premises itself for which he has sought the help of Coconut Development Board. The medicinal effects of tender coconut water is already known to Ayurveda.

In a study conducted by Trivandrum Medical College, it was found that tender coconut water when administered intravenously in gastroenteritis patients increased their absorption of potassium in the blood stream much higher than n administered with glucose saline, Sebastian said.

“With the abundance of tender coconuts and the exclusive patented technology to brew it into a unique wine, Kerala can make the product its USP in the tourism sector, if the state government had a re-look at its excise rules. With government support, we could make and import tender coconut wine, after buying tender coconuts from farmers' collectives,” Sebastian said.
Commodityonline.com

THE LARGEST WATERFALL IN KERALA, THE ATHIRAPALLY WATERFALL, A MAJOR TOURIST ATTRACTION

2008-05-21T11:04:00.001-07:00

Whoosh----shhh---- Whoosh - --shh--
The soothing sounds take you to the nature's most relaxing, rejuvenating place, East of Chalakudy, "The Athirappally Waterfalls" in Trichur District, Kerala, India. Athirappally is an 80ft high waterfall which literally takes your breath away. Starting calmly from the high ranges, and crashing through gorges overhung with trees, this waterfall is one of the best places in India to re-capture a real sense of the classical idea of the "Picturesque"...not just calm and sweet, but something wild and natural.
Perched high above in the the Sholayar forest ranges on the fringes of Kerala's famed rain forests, the waterfalls provides a restful escape for those wanting to leave the hurried pace of city life behind. The water plunges and joins to the Chalakudi River. The scenic attraction of Vazhachal, the other picnic spot is just a drive from Athirampally. These scintillating waterfalls in thick green forest are a part of the Chalakudy river stream.
The Climate:
· Summer: (January - May ) 300 to 360C
· Monsoon: (June - October) 260 to 320C
· Holiday season: 365 days round the year.
Athirapally.com

Cochin convention on responsible tourism inspires Kerala to expand concept

2008-05-21T06:01:00.000-07:00

Having concluded an International Convention on Responsible Tourism in Cochin in March this year, the Kerala Tourism Board is now looking to take the concept to other states including Gujarat.

The first state in the country to do so, Kerala has begun involving local communities, panchayats and self help groups (SHG) under its ‘responsible tourism' concept.

"The concept aims at involving the local communities in planning and arranging tour packages across the state and highlighting the right strengths in terms of culture, cuisine and locations. Responsible tourism will also help in generating local employment and we hope other states will adopt the concept once the pilot results are out," said M Sivasankar, director of Kerala Tourism Board, during his visit to Ahmedabad to promote tourism.

The board is in talks with other states like Gujarat and West Bengal for such initiatives and has itself begun pilot projects in four destinations including Kovalam, Kumarokam, Thekkady, and Wayanad. Sivasankar added that the pilot project will be conducted over a period of one year and later will be replicated in other tourist destinations.

To attract more international tourists, Kerala Tourism Board has taken up standardisation of services like ayurveda, house boats and house stays.

From 2002 to 2007, the state has seen a whopping 122 per cent growth in international tourist arrivals from 2,32,564 to 5,15,808, apart from a rise in forex earnings from Rs 706 crore to Rs 2,641 crore.

Business Standard

Event managers for Volvo Ocean Race

2008-05-20T05:47:00.000-07:00

KOCHI: A meeting at the Cochin Port Trust on Monday decided to appoint a consortium of Ocean Blue Boating, Mumbai, and STARK Communications, Thiruvananthapuram, as the event management team for the India stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09 to be hosted jointly by the Cochin Port Trust and the Kerala Tourism Department.

The 39,000-nautical mile race is expected to be at Kochi between 3 and 14 December 2008.

The event manager is expected to appoint separate teams for media management, water technical operations, race village management, IT and audiovisual requirements as well as a management team for the day-to-day events.

It is expected that the core team will be in position within the next fortnight or so.

As already announced earlier, SPORT 18, a division of Network 18, and Screenary Media Pvt Ltd have been appointed marketing managers for the event.

The Hindu

India, the easy way

2008-05-16T08:34:00.000-07:00

Tourists gather on a houseboat to sunbathe and observe life in the backwaters in southern India. AP

Rosemary Behan
Why go?
Kerala’s coast has all of Goa’s beauty but none of the hustle and bustle. It’s a clean and gorgeously relaxing introduction to India, from the sleepy streets of the old city of Cochin, the cosmopolitan port town and state capital, to the languid backwaters, a network of rivers, lakes and lagoons where you can hire a houseboat and cruise for days on end. In Alleppey, the gateway to the backwaters and an hour south of Cochin, tourists kick back in crumbling colonial mansions to the distant ring of sacred bells. The food, too, is divine, with fresh fish and spicy, coconut-rich sauces and steamed rice pancakes a speciality.

Where to stay
Budget

Kerala Bamboo House in the quiet backpacker village of Varkala charges just Dh100 per night for a large hut sleeping two people, in very pleasantly landscaped grounds on a cliff top. Tel: 0091 989 527 0993.

Mid-range

The Old Courtyard Hotel (www.oldcourtyard.com) in Fort Cochin is a small historic hotel with welcoming owners. Rooms are large with antiques and polished rosewood floors. The building is over 200 years old and was built by the Portuguese when Cochin was their gateway to the spice trade. It’s centred around a cobbled courtyard filled with mango trees. Dh300 per night.

Luxury

Kovalam, a small resort offering sandy coves sheltered by coconut trees, is just 10 minutes from Trivandrum airport. The five-star Leela Kempinski (www.theleela.com) is situated on its own rocky promontory and has an 750 square metre Ayurvedic centre, Divya, and an infinity pool overlooking Ashok beach. From Dh500 per night.

Where to eat
In Kovalam, Fusion (0091 471 2484153) on Lighthouse Beach is swish and clean and has an airy terrace. It offers a good choice of Keralan and European dishes, including crayfish, ravioli and roast chicken. Book ahead for a candlelit table at night; main courses from Dh10.

In Cochin, the restaurant at Malabar House (0091 484 2216666), an 18th-century Dutch colonial restoration, offers excellent South Indian and Western cuisine. Dinner is served beside the pool in a candlelit courtyard; main courses from Dh28.

How to get there
Both Etihad Airways (www.etihadairways.com) and Air India Express (www.airindiaexpress.in) operate direct routes to Kerala from Abu Dhabi. Etihad flies to Trivandrum and Cochin from Dh2,340 return including taxes; Air India Express flies to Cochin, Kozhikode and Trivandrum from Dh1,200 return including taxes. Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies to Cochin and Trivandrum from Dubai; return fares to Cochin from Dh1,990 return including taxes; Trivandrum flights from Dh 1,710.

The National

Sport18 acquires marketing rights for Volvo Ocean Race

2008-05-13T10:36:00.000-07:00

Sport18, sports division of Network18, has acquired the marketing rights of the Volvo Ocean Race India stopover to be held at Kochi from December 3 to 13 late this year. Sport 18 has tied up with Screenery Media to provide outdoor marketing for the event.

Satish Menon, CEO, Sport 18, said, "Volvo Ocean Race is one of the biggest and most prestigious events in the calendar of sport. We believe that this race provides a great opportunity for organisations in India to achieve their promotional objectives in front of a wide section of the world media."

The Cochin Port Trust will be responsible for organising the stopover, in collaboration with the Kerala Tourism Department. The 2008-09 events will be the 10th running of this ocean marathon.

Starting from Alicante in Spain on October 4, it will for the first time take in ports in Asia. Spanning some 39,000 nautical miles, stopping at 11 ports and taking nine months to complete, the Volvo Ocean Race is the world's premier yacht race for professional racing crews.

N. Ramachandran, Chairman, Cochin Port Trust, has said that the race stopover at Kochi would be one of the most exciting visual extravaganzas that the country has ever witnessed. Apart from the world's fastest ocean racing yachts with latest technology back-up, the event would also attract hundreds of other luxury yachts and sailing vessels of different depiction.

Dr V. Venu, Secretary, Kerala Tourism, said that "I expect the Kochi stopover to be a landmark event, taking Kerala into international spotlight. Kerala has a wealth of water bodies, and we expect that the race will give us an opportunity to showcase this to the world."
Television.point.com

Kerala gears up for Volvo Ocean Race

2008-05-10T06:18:00.000-07:00

By Amrita Martin and Sandeep Sreekanth, CNBC-TV18

Kerala is gearing up to host the stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09. Kerala is preparing itself for drama on the high seas.

Nine sailing teams of the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009 will soon visit God's own country. The race requires physical endurance and courage of the highest order. Participants will sail to Kochi from Cape Town for more than 20 days at a stretch, braving gale force winds, massive waves and even icebergs.

Kochi is the first Indian city to be chosen as a stopover of this race. The race teams will arrive at the Cochi Port in December, which coincides with the peak tourist season in Kerala.

“This Volvo Ocean Race is a marathon yacht racing competition which covers about 39,000 nautical miles around the globe,” said N Ramachandran, Chairman, Cochin Port Trust.

The Volvo fever is palpable in the city. A sprawling race village spread over 2.5 acres of land will come up at Willingdon Island. The Kerala Tourism Department and Cochin Port Trust will reportedly shell out a staggering Rs 30 crore to organize this mega event.

A major part of this amount is likely to be raked in through sponsorships. The mood in the hotel industry is also upbeat. Organizers have reserved over 1,500 premium rooms along with 3,500 other rooms for the guests who arrive from various parts of the world to experience the sailing event. 150 houseboats will also be arranged near the race village to cater to the accommodation needs.
Money Control

COCHIN ,the Queen of Kerala's art scene

2008-05-09T08:21:00.000-07:00

KOCHI: One is yet to know how well Randeep Hooda has portrayed the character of popular Kerala-born artist Raja Ravi Varma in Ketan Mehta's new movie Rang Rasiya. But whatever it is, the film couldn’t have come at a better time considering the boom in the art sector of Kerala, Kochi in particular.

Art galleries have mushroomed in Kochi in the last few years exhibiting paintings of local artists as well as those from other states. There are at least ten galleries functioning in and around Kochi now and almost all of them host exhibitions regularly.

The contemporary art gallery of Kerala Lalitha Kala Akademy in Kochi now has four halls for exhibiting paintings. Earlier it had just two halls, but with rising demand from the artists, the art gallery has been expanded.

As artist T Kaladharan, who runs perhaps the oldest art gallery in the city, Orthic Creative Centre, said: “Art galleries flourish because there is demand. The younger generation, particularly those in IT sector with high incomes, are buying more paintings.’’

The non-resident Keralites too have taken a fancy to paintings. Earlier they used to splurge on palatial houses and swanky cars. But now with growing awareness on art, they are showing keen interest in paintings. The new trend is benefiting the local artists who are getting attractive prices for their works. The works of local artists, who have attained national recognition, are in great demand.

Apart from the individuals, the corporates too have been instrumental in promoting artists. “More local companies are coming forward to invest in works of an artist. They are prepared to buy a group of paintings of a single artist,” said Dilip Narayanan, who operates Gallery OED (Open Eyed Dreams). The companies are willing to spend lakhs on such paintings.

As a result, several young painters are coming to the fore. Earlier there were only some popular names like K C S Panikker, Yusuf Arakkal, C N Karunakaran etc. But now the works of young artists like Bose Krishnamachari, Zakkir Hussain, Bhagyanathan, Rajan M Krishnan are becoming a big draw. There are clients who are willing to shell out Rs 1 to 2 lakh for a painting.

Anoop Skaria—one of the owners of Kashi Art Cafe—feels that rising demand for art works represents the changing aesthetic values of people in Kochi. “Instead of building a showcase, these people are willing to hang a painting,” he said. Ishka, an air conditioned art gallery started by the young artist Joseph Chakola, is the latest one to enter the scene.

Mr Chakola wants it to be much more than an art gallery. He is planning to conduct art camps and wants to make it the centre of boutique art tourism in Kochi. Perhaps as Mr Anoop says, like its films and literature, it is time for the art works of Kerala to get due recognition outside.
Economic Times

Deccan Airlines ties up with Kerala's Periyar Reserve to promote eco-tourism

2008-05-05T14:19:00.001-07:00

By Juhan Samuel, Kochi, May 5 :Budget airline Deccan has teamed up with the Kerala Forest Department and The Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) to offer Simplifly Periyar, a unique eco-tourism initiative.

The partnership aims at providing convenient access to Periyar to promote responsible travel for conservation.

The compny has undertaken to work towards community-based tourism with the objective of preserving the tiger population and the great bio diversity in the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Thekkady, Kerala.

Simplifly Periyar the package will offer wildlife enthusiasts and leisure travelers the opportunity to travel, stay, explore and closely experience the spectacular wildlife and the natural heritage of Periyar.

Capt. G.R Gopinath Executive Chairman Deccan said "India is blessed with some of the world's richest wilderness areas and some of its rarest and grandest species, one of which is the Tiger. The Deccan - Periyar Tiger Reserve partnership goes far beyond a commercial relationship. We are committed to a shared vision of preserving our tiger population and natural heritage by successfully engaging local communities in tourism and improving their livelihoods. "

He also added "The Periyar Tiger Reserve stands out for having engaged in a series of trust building exercises with poachers and local communities which has helped preserve tigers and their forest. We believe our association with Periyar will further the local engagement with tourism, increase awareness and support tiger conservation efforts."

Padma Mahanti, I.F.S. who has conceptualized the idea of popularizing flying to wildlife destinations for supporting conservation and livelihood of the local communities said, "In the present day scenario, when pressures on forest are high and from varied quarters, we need partners in conservation from all walks of life - because our forests have to be preserved for posterity. By conserving the magnificent tiger and precious biodiversity of Periyar Tiger Reserve we are actually conserving magnificent ecosystem which nestles in it the elixir of life - water!
NEW KERALA

COCHIN is the host for Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) 2008

2008-05-03T11:25:00.000-07:00

Kerala Tourism getting ready for KTM 2008

Kerala Travel Mart (KTM) 2008 will be held from September 20-23, 2008 at Kochi. This is the fifth Travel Mart that is taking place in the series in Kerala. The first KTM was held in September 2000. KTM is a perfect example of the synergy between the public and private sector, joining hands for the promotion of tourism in the state.

KTM today is the largest gathering that has been designed, planned and scheduled to facilitate meetings involving buyers, sellers, media, government Agencies and other relevant stakeholders. Besides seminars, pre/post Mart FAM tours and cultural evenings, the Mart provides the participants with a first hand experience of the destination - Kerala.

The registration for those participating as buyers began on January 23, 2008. According to the KTM release, so far 170 Indian and 65 international buyers have registered to attend the Mart. Participants from more than 50 countries are expected to participate in the Mart, with large contingents from Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and the USA. On the domestic front, a good number of delegates will be participating, especially from states like Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and UP.

The Kerala Travel Mart Society with the support of the Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala, organises the event. The Kerala Travel Mart Society is a permanent institution, constituted and registered as a society under the Travancore - Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act, 1995. A managing committee consisting of a president, hon. secretary, hon. treasurer and 18 committee members, governs it. The society members numbering 316, comprises of airlines, ayurveda centres, event managers (tourism), home stays, hotels, houseboats, specialty hospitals, tour operators, those specialised in promoting adventure, eco, farm and monsoon tours, wedding & honeymoon tours, tourism journals, travel agents and other service providers.

Airlines like Air India, Sri Lankan Airlines and others along with leading hotels in Kerala will be sponsoring the event, the release mentioned.

Express Travel World

Parambikulam wildlife sanctuary rich in flora and fauna in the Neliampathy Mountain Ranges 'Tramway Trek' set up in 1905 under the Cochin MahaRaja

2008-05-01T14:19:00.000-07:00

Photo Essay: Tramway Trek in Parambikulam
May 01, 2008
Tanay Behera
I had to cover close to 50 kms in two days, trekking thorough one of the best biodiversity hotspots in India. Can I do this or I can't, a cloud of incertitude eclipsed my mind. With this dubiety kicking in mind, I boarded the bus a late Friday night after the day’s work hoping that the weekend would end up with some exciting experiences.

The next day morning, I woke up as the bus stopped in search of the correct route when we reached Pollachi. While we were motoring along the road planked on both sides by trees, I could see big billboards of Jayalalitha and Karunanidhi which confirmed my curiosity that we were in Tamil Nadu.

But we were going for trek in the forests of Parambikulam which is in Kerala. The puzzle got resolved when I learnt that the only entrance to this wildlife sanctuary is through the Annamalai Wildlife sanctuary which is in Tamil Nadu. We paid all the necessary fees at the check post to get into the sanctuary and the sky appeared a bit cloudy that day.

Along with few others, I was going to start my trek which is commonly known by the name 'Tramway Trek'. There is a little bit of history to this which says...

The tramway was set up in 1905 under the visionary of Maharaja of Cochin Sri. Rama Varma to transport Cochin teak from Parambikulam to Chalakkudy. From there it could be exported to the rest of the world thorough the Cochin Harbour. The total stretch of this tramway is close to 49.5 miles running through the thick forest, crossing many rivers and the time taken to cover this distance was 9 hours. It was around 1953 that this tramway was stopped for a number of reasons.

All that remains today are the remnants in the form of rails, bridges, wagons, etc. A couple of years back as a befitting tribute to the centenary of the Cochin State Forest Tramway, an eco-friendly trekking plan was launched along the tumbled down tramway route. The foot trail along this rail trail will give an opportunity to see the remainders of bygone days of the transport system, besides seeing hundreds of birds and animals including tiger, elephant, sambhar, spotted deer, sloth bear, porcupine etc.

This is one of the best managed wildlife sanctuaries in India.

The bus took all the trekkers near the gate of the Parambikulam Dam, which was the starting point of our trek. From the bus, what we saw were a pleasure to eyes, peacocks dancing in the woods and spotted deer milling around.

The route offered some fresh sites that made me indulge in fantasy as if someone was using the river water bed as a mirror to teach the basics of reflection.

The trek started at around 10AM and by now the sun was shining bright and smart. The entire trek course was along the river and it was amazingly beautiful.

Since, the initial trek path is flat and regular, I was looking for some excitement and it was just the right time that our guide showed us a herd of elephants near the river bank. After drinking water and cleaning themselves, the elephants moved towards the trek route and this was an ultimate moment of excitement. These colossal creatures were just 60 meters away from the group. We were all lying on the forest’s leaves carpeted floor like soldiers in a war field and I positioned my camera lying down to get a perfect composition. People wearing white shirts and caps immediately put on something non-white because elephants react aggressively to white color. We were resting on the forest floor with pin drop silence, except for the sound of the birds chirping in the woods and the crackling sound that one gets when walking over a bed of dry leaves till the gang of elephants and calves (total number was around 15) passed by.

It was 11:30 AM by then. Our guide told us that, we could catch some more wild actions since this was the time when a bunch of tigers would plunge into the river for some coolness. Hope ran high, but we couldn’t trace them. But we spotted few crews of deer and sambhar, but these species being a sensitive lot, vanished when they encountered a foreign element in their territory.

The gang reached a small tribal colony in the midst of the forest at around 1:30 in the noon for a small break after having trekked for around 10kms. The entranceway to the tribal colony was a bridge across the Kuriakutty River. The bridge though not in operation, still stands intact and the rail line snakes through some thrilling landscape.

Lunch was served to us by the tribal people, which comprised of simple rice, sambar and cabbage fry dished out in dry leaf plates. The food provided the much needed energy and the journey started again. The dry forest was slowly given way to dense evergreen forests.

En route, we traced many birds such as grey hornbills, the great pied hornbills, etc. Also I found some snake's outer skin, hanging from the branch of a tree.

As I was trekking through this abode of greenery, a lot of emotions swam through my mind. And one needs to be in such a secluded place to feel vulnerable to the wild, exhilarated, beatified, commoved, expectant, anticipative, disappointed and happy at the same time. There was exquisite greenery all around with no presence of human beings and I was walking alone with music on my ears courtesy my iPod. It just appeared that the road ahead was never ending.

It was around 5 PM in that we reached the endpoint of day one trekking. The night stay was in an anti poaching camp at Muthuvarachal right next to the flowing river at an elevated altitude. Just imagine the excitement, when someone is there in the dense forest, with the only source of light as either the moon-light or the candle light. Insects creaking and mosquitos' bombinating to attack were the only sounds that one could hear. Even though this camp was at a raised tract, surrounded by trenches, there were still chances of tracing some wild animals in the pitch dark.

We had dinner, which was boiled rice and legumes again courtesy, our tribal friends. We woke early in the morning the next day at around 6 AM and set out for a walk. The jungle was fresh with the earthy smells of the morning. Strolling through the luxuriant vegetation, we saw some pugmarks of a leopard and marks left when the prey was dragged over the dampish soul.

We returned from our morning jaunt and had our breakfast at around 9AM. Then we started for our return journey which lacked verve and we planned to trek till lunch time. As I trekked I could see lots of 'manchans' (tree-top houses) but the most interesting finding was a bird studying center in the heart of the forest. This unit is built in the honor of late Dr. Salim Ali, a renowned ornithologist who had found more than 100 species of birds, traveling on the tram way route.

I saw a wide variety of insects, frogs and other creatures during my return journey. It was around 2PM that, we all had lunch in the same tribal colony, where we had food the previous day. Since we were drained out of energy, our guide asked us to take the Tempo traveler else it wouldn't have been possible for us to leave the forest by 6PM.

As the vehicle was traversing through the bends and the curves of Western Ghats, the scene of the Parambikulam dam was breathtaking from a higher altitude. The next break point was to see the largest and the oldest (as it is close to 450 years now) teak tree in the world, Kannimara Teak. Parambikulam was once home to some of South India’s finest stands of teak but most of these are now replaced by teak plantations, which cover around 9000 hectares of forest land.

We saw a couple of monkeys, lion-tailed macaques, Indian Gaurs too from the Tempo traveler. By now it was 6PM and the return journey to Bangalore started. We made a couple of stops on the way back for dinner and for having tea from road side stalls and before we could realize, we were back in the concrete jungle by 4:30 AM.

Since I was tired, I took some rest before the grumbling and groaning Monday work started, unwilling to let go of the endearing and striking Sunday. Monday, I had a business meeting in the Taj Hotel at Bangalore, and then when I was having lunch there in the neatly manicured gardens, it just reminded me, how life changes suddenly. Just 24 hours ago, I was in the woods having food in a tribal colony and now I am in a restaurant, with a great assortment of cuisines.

Well that's how life is. Take it as it comes.

The remaining pictures of the trek are here in this album.
Album

Desi Critics.Org

Trinity, Cochin: where to stay

2008-04-22T14:59:00.000-07:00

There are just three rooms at the exclusive Trinity villa

The modern rooms maximise light and space

Trinity has a pool - though it is rather tiny

Tabitha May spends the night at the exclusive modern villa, Trinity, in the south-west Indian town of Cochin

Location
Exclusive older sister to the better-known Malabar House across the square, Trinity, is a five-minute minute walk along the esplanade from Koder House and the Old Harbour in Fort Cochin (and behind Cochin's most fabulous store, Cinnamon).
"The staff are charming and mean well, though they are hardly a mine of information"
Tabitha May
Character
A lofty architect designed villa, overlooking a cricket green; split-level, high-ceilinged modern rooms are innovatively arranged to maximise light and space. Art is very much a feature, with a photographic and pop-art leaning. Colourful fabrics, layout and walnut wood make the rooms feel bright, warm homely, despite the modern look.

Rooms
Just three rooms, so feels exclusive. Each room is a variationon a theme – clever use of shape and split levels, glass and light everywhere drawing the eye outwards to enclosed verandahs, mezzanine-level beds, and private outdoor showers: it all feels like an artistic tableau
Food
Not much on site – a breakfast of fruit, eggs and toast is provided, but for a heartier breakfast or beyond, you need to walk the few minutes to Malabar House, where you get the best meal in Cochin – an Indian-Euro fusion, served in a leafy, open-air courtyard (albeit with unpredictable service).

We like
The sense of design without the loss of comfort – the mattress is just right, the sheets silken, the colours cleverly put together; the sense of light, space and dimension are so restful. But somehow you still know you're in India.

Not so keen
The place is small, and while staff are charming and mean well, they are not a mine of information. The lack of restaurant and the tiny pool might annoy some – not me, however.

Essentials
0091 484 221 6666; www.malabarhouse.com Five nights from £260 per person off peak. Book through the Kerala Travel Centre (see "Getting there").

Why Cochin?
This cosmopolitan south-west Indian port town, on the Arabian Sea, was once home to Moorish, Portuguese, Dutch, Jewish and British settlers, and today has an eclecticism in its history, architecture, cuisine and art redolent of all these cultures.

Vasco da Gama was buried here in India's oldest church, St Francis (1509); the Jewish quarter has a history spanning 17 centuries; and large Dutch, Portuguese and Moorish buildings dot the already exotic Indian cityscape. Well placed on the Keralan coast, it serves as a travel hub for other places of interest: Alleppey (an hour away) for house-boat journeys on the backwaters; the hilly beauty of the Western Ghats (four hours); and the elephant and tiger sanctuaries at Kodanad (two hours) and Periyar (five hours).

Getting there
The Kerala Travel Centre (0808 178 9799; www.keralatravelcentre.co.uk) can organise all aspects of travel to Cochin and Kerala (flights, transfers, accommodation and tours). Rates obtainable through the company should be lower than the tariffs you would pay if you approached the hotels directly.

Qatar, Kuwait, Jet, Emirates, Sri Lankan and Gulf fly to Cochin from Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle and Glasgow with one stop (from £450 off-peak). Cochin has a specific peak season: December 15 to January 15; monsoon tends to take place around June and July but global warming seems to be making the rains less predictable.
Trinity.co.uk

Koder House Hotel, Cochin: where to stay

2008-04-22T14:44:00.000-07:00

The Koder House is steeped in history and filled with heritage pieces

The Koder House Hotel is right on the harbour's doorstep

Tabitha May checks into the Koder House Hotel, an imposing red brick mansion in the Indian coastal town of Cochin.
Location
Literally next door to the Old Harbour, so in Fort Cochin's prime position and a few steps from the sea. "This place is homely yet splendid at the same time – as if a millionairess exotic great aunt were having you to stay"
Tabitha May

Character
An imposing red brick mansion that until recetnly was the family home of Cochin's most prominent Jewish family, the Koders. It's steeped in history, and filled with heritage pieces, but with a touch of modern Indian styling that is both comfortable and inviting.

Rooms
Just eight two- or three-room suites, as if the living quarters of the individual Koder family members have been maintained. Soft furnishings in neutral patterns and textures are charmingly retro without being kitsch. The bathrooms are gigantic, with torrents of hot water. Heavy double doors to deep balconies overlooking the park provide light and my plush, high, antique bed ensured a fairy-tale night's sleep. The original floorboards are a bit noisy overhead, so get a top floor room if you can.

Food
While there is a Jewish menu (chicken soup, dumplings), the main menu is traditional southern Indian, beautifully done, with an emphasis on seafood. Breakfasts include Western and Eastern dishes: my Keralan idli was the best I've had in Southern India.

We like
This place is faultless – it's just so homely yet splendid at the same time – as if a millionairess exotic great aunt were having you to stay.

Not so keen
Scrabbling for grumbels, but the few moments of noisy footsteps overhead were so loud, I thought someone had broken into my room.

Essentials
0091 484 221 8485; www.koderhouse.com Five nights from £198 per person. Book through the Kerala Travel Centre (see "Getting there").

Why Cochin?
This cosmopolitan south-west Indian port town, on the Arabian Sea, was once home to Moorish, Portuguese, Dutch, Jewish and British settlers, and today has an eclecticism in its history, architecture, cuisine and art redolent of all these cultures.

Vasco da Gama was buried here in India's oldest church, St Francis (1509); the Jewish quarter has a history spanning 17 centuries; and large Dutch, Portuguese and Moorish buildings dot the already exotic Indian cityscape. Well placed on the Keralan coast, it serves as a travel hub for other places of interest: Alleppey (an hour away) for house-boat journeys on the backwaters; the hilly beauty of the Western Ghats (four hours); and the elephant and tiger sanctuaries at Kodanad (two hours) and Periyar (five hours).

Getting there
The Kerala Travel Centre (0808 178 9799; www.keralatravelcentre.co.uk) can organise all aspects of travel to Cochin and Kerala (flights, transfers, accommodation and tours). Rates obtainable through the company should be lower than the tariffs you would pay if you approached the hotels directly.

Qatar, Kuwait, Jet, Emirates, Sri Lankan and Gulf fly to Cochin from Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle and Glasgow with one stop (from £450 off-peak). Cochin has a specific peak season: December 15 to January 15; monsoon tends to take place around June and July but global warming seems to be making the rains less predictable.

Telegraph.co.uk

The Old Harbour Hotel, Cochin: where to stay

2008-04-22T14:23:00.000-07:00

The gardens and pool create a luxurious sense of space

There is a sense of calm here - a sanctuary from the world outside

The suites are glamourous, with antique four-posters
Tabitha May profiles the Old Harbour Hotel in the cosmopolitan south-west Indian town of Cochin.

Location
At the heart of Fort Cochin, this Portuguese mansion reflects Cochin's exotic and varied history. Market stalls, sprawling stores and the church of St Francis are nearby (see panel right), as is the passeggiata-style coastal path along the shore of the Arabian Sea.

Character
Chic and arty, like its charismatic owner, Edgar Pinto. Luxurious sense of space; vast garden and pool; and an open-plan wooded lobby that provides the sense (maintained elsewhwere) of being in a welcoming private home. Everything is offset by Pinto's art collection – even my room key looked like a work of art.

Rooms
Of the 13 rooms, the Princess, Palace and Bastian suites are the largest and most glamorous, with antique four-posters (below), veranda day beds and large bath tubs; but all the rooms are decorated as art galleries, and the effect is restful. I found myself brushing against an 8ft strelizia plant as I showered in my garden cottage's open-air bathroom.
"Everything is offset by the owner's art collection – even my room key looked like a work of art" Tabitha May
Food
The main restaurant, 1788, is elegant, in a softly lit garden with live Indian classical music, and a menu that mixes Indian and European (though my vegetarian kebabs were a little bland).

We like
The sense of stylish calm – this feels like exclusive club within an art gallery – and sanctuary from the exotic world virtually outside the front door.

Not so keen
Keralan breakfasts rival New York's for lip-smacking variety but were noticeably absent here. And hot water in the showers can dry up.

Essentials
0091 484 221 8006; www.oldharbourhotel.com Five nights from £265 per person (off peak) and £365 (peak). Book through the Kerala Travel Centre (see "Getting there").

Why Cochin? This cosmopolitan south-west Indian port town, on the Arabian Sea, was once home to Moorish, Portuguese, Dutch, Jewish and British settlers, and today has an eclecticism in its history, architecture, cuisine and art redolent of all these cultures.

Vasco da Gama was buried here in India's oldest church, St Francis (1509); the Jewish quarter has a history spanning 17 centuries; and large Dutch, Portuguese and Moorish buildings dot the already exotic Indian cityscape. Well placed on the Keralan coast, it serves as a travel hub for other places of interest: Alleppey (an hour away) for house-boat journeys on the backwaters; the hilly beauty of the Western Ghats (four hours); and the elephant and tiger sanctuaries at Kodanad (two hours) and Periyar (five hours).
Getting there
The Kerala Travel Centre (0808 178 9799; www.keralatravelcentre.co.uk) can organise all aspects of travel to Cochin and Kerala (flights, transfers, accommodation and tours). Rates obtainable through the company should be lower than the tariffs you would pay if you approached the hotels directly.

Qatar, Kuwait, Jet, Emirates, Sri Lankan and Gulf fly to Cochin from Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle and Glasgow with one stop (from £450 off-peak). Cochin has a specific peak season: December 15 to January 15; monsoon tends to take place around June and July but global warming seems to be making the rains less predictable.

Telegraph.co.uk

Landing at CIAL(Cochin international Airport) and its Breathtakingly Beautiful,Green and Scenic surroundings .

2008-04-21T09:18:00.001-07:00

The Cochin International Airport (CIAL) having become one of the busiest airports in the country in terms of both traffic and turn over, the entire region of Nedumbassery and its neighbourhood areas are on a fast developmental track today.
Its provides its passengers both with both scenic locales and easy connectivity.India’s first international airport built as a corporate venture, the “Cochin International Airport Limited” is in close proximity with Aluva. It is one of the best international airports in India in terms of size and infrastructure.It’s been a dream come true for Aluva when this tiny town woke up to the drone of an aircraft on a sleepy evening in May 1999. A long cherished dream had borne wings that day. India’s first airport taking shape, as part of a corporate venture was something unheard of till that day.Aluva is also fast changing, a change that is quite extensive and all encompassing.It was the international airport at Nedumbassery that has changed the fortunes of Aluva in a big way.Of late, Aluva and most places surrounding it are witnessing a sudden spurt of activities because of the fact that all these places lie in close proximity to Kochi. Given the road conditions are reasonably good and free from traffic snarls, one can easily access these places in a matter of a little over thirty minutes. And more importantly, today, Aluva affords all kind of conveniences and comforts that are on par with that of Kochi. From hospitals to educational institutions to swanky showrooms, Aluva has everything to suit a metro lifestyle.
Aluva offers great living culture and a healthy environment which is why it has become one of the most sought after places to reside.COCHIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT is only ten minute drive from Aluva ( the air port area is still comes under Aluva Taluk)It is one of the best international airports in India, not only because of the size, but also because of the style in which it is built.(THE FAMOUS GURUVAYOOR TEMPLE)
ALWAYE(ALUVA)COHIN(KOCHI)is surrounded by tourist places and it may be the best place to stay and visit different places because of the easy access through the river Periyar.Its most commonly known by its older name ’’Alwaye’’.ALWAYE got its name from the Banyan tree's(Allu maram) that were widespread throughout this sleepy town.Being surrounded by Periyar means that all parts of Aluva is out of any water crisis. The water from Aluva is even taken to some of the Cochin areas. Periyar, being the second largest river in Kerala does not manage to become dry at any occasion.Not only the river is the major factor of Aluva’s development. Aluva is quite close to Cochin and surrounded by a number of towns. Aluva is now in the International aviation map as it is the nearest town to the (Cochin) International Airport
Aluva was also called the industrial capital of Kerala because of the large number of industries situated there. Once again, Periyar may be the major reason for that too
THE HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE
Aluva has got some memorable places to visit, especially on the outskirts. The Uliyannur Temple, said to be built by the famous carpenter Perunthachan is one of the most historical landmarks in the town. It is said that he had an important part in Aluva’s history.

The temple is located on an island called Uliyannur which was connected to Aluva with a bridge. The way to reach there is a bit twisted as it is a small one-way bridge with a large number of turns as it goes across Periyar. It is too narrow that my friend’s Accent managed to hit its side and damage the bumper.

St. Joseph’s Seminary at Mangalapuzha, on the outskirts of the town is a famous institution for the candidates for Priesthood under the the Syro-Malabar Church. This place also has a long history and a large number of students attend the classes here. The seminary got a large amount of area inside it and it got a fair amount of natural beauty inside along with a big, well-built church in it.
Another famous pilgrim centre close to CIAL and ALWAYE is the Malayatoor St.Thomas Church situated on the top of the Malayatoor hill. There will be great celebrations on the Sunday after Easter when the pilgrims from different areas come together and climb the hill.

Catch of the day - Kerala, India

2008-04-18T11:18:00.000-07:00

NICE AS SPICE: Kerala has an idyllic network of inland waterways
By Will Lyons
With its sleepy pace, outstanding cuisine and luxurious pampering, the spice country of Kerala offers the perfect antidote to the heat and bustle of India's cities
Kerala, or what romantics still refer to as the Malabar Coast, is India without the mayhem. Here among the lush green paddy fields, idle beaches, balmy lagoons and neatly cropped tea plantations, the suffocating intensity of the cities can be left behind.

Travellers have been coming to this thin strip of land that flickers down the south-western coastline of India since the 16th century. Then the Venetians and Portuguese travelled to the ancient port of Cochin for the abundance of exotic herbs, for this is spice country, where the smell of wild sandalwood, cinnamon and cloves lies heavy on the humid air and the food is laden with natural herbs, spices and coconut.

Now travellers come to experience the idyllic network of inland waterways, while away their days enjoying the lush, tropical coconut plantations and pamper themselves in the many luxury hotels that have peppered the landscape in the last decade. In short, this is a mellow version of India.

We arrived from the UK after an overnight stay in Mumbai's luxurious Oberoi hotel. A short internal flight from the city's sparkling new domestic terminal brought us to Fort Cochin. Dredged by the Scots during the British administration, the streets echo the imprint of Dutch, Chinese, Portuguese and Arab traders, all of whom have left their mark on this intoxicating, vibrant port. Still a vital terminus for the fishing fleet, export business and tourism, this is the closest Kerala gets to industrial and is undoubtedly the cultural jewel in its crown.

Snaking our way past 16th-century churches and synagogues, grand British colonial-style bungalows and low-slung Dutch and Portuguese buildings, we arrived at the Taj Malabar hotel. Set across from the port on the British-made Willingdon Island, it is a dreamy estate offering exquisite cuisine, excellent service and elegant, colonial-style rooms.

After a relaxing massage in the hotel's spa, we adjourned to our balcony overlooking the lagoon and the iconic Chinese fishing nets. You could spend hours watching the port's comings and goings – from packed, early-morning ferries to small, five-man fishing trawlers and battered old cargo boats. It's a wonderful place to drink in the exotic workings of this commercial crossroads.

In the evening we dined at the Rice Boat, the Taj's excellent seafood restaurant, where the chef introduced us to the subtle flavours of Keralan cuisine with dishes such as meen vevichathu, fresh fish in a red curry sauce.

The next morning we left early for higher ground. Climbing more than 3,000ft into the Cardamom hills, we saw the terrain change as the landscape became dominated by the jigsaw pattern of tea and pepper plantations. After five hours of travelling we reached our destination: Thekkady's Spice Village eco resort – thatched bungalows nestled within a lush, green garden of cardamom plants, lemongrass and pepper vines that provides a great variety of natural ingredients such as cinnamon, coffee, coconuts, cloves, papaya and pineapples.

For the amateur botanist, Spice Village offers a wealth of activities. Guests can try jungle trekking in the nearby Periyar game reserve or take a spice plantation tour or wildlife-themed boat trip on the neighbouring lake. We enjoyed the resort's Ayurvedic massage centre. After a gentle, pre-breakfast yoga session, there was no better start to the day than an all-over Indian body massage.

But perhaps the most memorable activity was the nightly cooking demonstrations by chef Velayuthan. These ranged from sweet curries to robust chutneys and provided a fascinating insight into Kerala's rich cooking traditions. I couldn't help but notice they were keenly attended by the large French contingent staying at the resort.

From the crisp, clean air of Thekkady we made our way down to the wide-open expanse of the Vembanad lake, an enormous inland sea that stretches clear across Kerala's backwaters. Chartering a rice-boat to explore this intriguing maze of waterways was one of the trip's most memorable experiences. With the boat to ourselves and a crew of three to attend to our every whim, we set off in the late-afternoon sunshine.

Gliding past hidden villages, activity was all around us. We saw men and women bathing and splashing in the shallows while children ran past returning home from school. On the outside deck, which doubled up as a giant day-bed, we spotted kingfishers while listening to the call of the drongo bird. At one point the captain stopped the boat so we could buy some freshly caught langoustines from a local fisherman. As evening approached we dropped anchor in the middle of the lake. The crew set about preparing supper as we enjoyed the serenity of watching the sun set and the moon rise to the gentle lapping of the lake.

Once ashore the following day we journeyed south to Kovalam and the southern tip of India to enjoy a week at the dreamy Surya Samudra beach garden. The brainchild of two adventurers, Karl Damschen, a Swiss architect, and Klaus Schleusener, a German professor, the resort takes the form of a secluded, landscaped compound on top of an idyllic rocky promontory.

Guests are housed in traditional Keralan teak cottages, which are dotted across the hillside. The centrepiece of the garden is a pool carved into the rocks, an Ayurvedic spa, and a semi-circular open-air dining-room which serves meals dominated by the catch of the day.

Flanked by two enormous sandy beaches and overlooking the dramatic Indian Ocean, the views are spectacular, especially at night when the locals' tiny fishing boats light up the sea like a string of pearls bobbing on the horizon.

But amid all Kerala's breathtaking beauty, it was waking in the early hours of the morning to the distant chants of fishermen pulling in their laden nets that sticks most vividly in the memory.

FACT FILE: KERALA

Exsus Travel (0131 476 6522, www.exsus.com) specialises in tailor-made luxury holidays to India, Europe, Latin America, Africa and the Caribbean.

Taj Malabar hotel, Willingdon Island, Cochin (0091 484 266 6811, www.tajhotels.com) has double rooms available from £150 per night.

Spice Village, just outside Periyar National Park in Kerala, has 52 tribal-styled thatched-roof cottages from £80 per night in summer and £165 in winter (www.cghearth.com, e-mail: contact@cghearth.com).

Surya Samudra Holiday Resort, Kovalam, Kerala (00 91 471 226 7333, www.suryasamudra.com). Teak cottages start at £80 per night.

The full article contains 1104 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.Last Updated: 18 April 2008 2:23 PM
Scotland on Sunday

Cochin Port sets record for hosting largest number of cruise ships

2008-04-17T14:17:00.000-07:00

KOCHI: By hosting 43 cruise ships between April 2007 and March 2008, Cochin Port has set a unique record of handling the largest number of such ships in a year in India.

In 2002-03, the Port hosted 11 cruise ships and followed it up with 18 in 2003-04. In 2004-05 it was 19, while in 2005-06 it was 22. In 2006-07, 38 cruise ships arrived in the port.

Some of the world's famous and most sought after ships that called at the port included the Queen Victoria, the Crystal Symphony of Bahamas, the SeaBorn Sprit of Bahamas, the Nautica of Marshal Island, the Aurora of Hamilton and the Seven Seas Voyager of Bahamas.

Till now, over 22,000 travelers and over 10,000 crew members have visited Cochin Port. In 2006-2007, there were 16,000 travelers.

"The port on the international maritime route and because of the state's attraction among tourists, the port is the most sought after in India," claimed N. Ramachandran, the Chairman of the Cochin Port Trust.

"In 2008-2009, the port will be visited by eight more ships like the Columbus, the Silver Whisper and the Europa," Ramachandran added.

Considering the tremendous potential of port-based tourism, Cochin Port has decided to set up an International Cruise Terminal at Kochi with the most modern facilities.

The master plan of the multi-crore project for the proposed international terminal is already prepared. It will be built on private public partnership basis, for which the feasibility report has been submitted.

The terminal will be super imposed with most modern facilities apart from hotel, convention and shopping centers and a Kerala Village depicting the art and culture of the state.

Though the port generates a meager amount in handling the ships with regards to cargo ships, but it surely puts a helping hand in generating maximum number of tourist arrivals which means extra foreign currency to the booming tourism industry.
Economic Times/Indiatimes.com

Holidays in Cochin

2008-04-14T13:32:00.000-07:00

From the top of the tall 8-storey-high brilliantly painted pink memorial, the Sri Adi Sankara Keerthi Sthambam, one can have a splendid view of the surrounding palm-fringed green fields. The entrance to the memorial, guarded by two elephant statues, leads to the Paduka Mandapam which has two silver knobs representing the 'padukas' or wooden sandals of the Teacher. As one ascends the winding steps, framed relief paintings narrate the story of Adi Sankaracharya. Several large statues of Ganapati, Adi Sankara and others are also housed in this memorial.

Cherai is just a 15-minute drive from North Paravur ( 4km). To reach there, you could either take a ferry to Vypeen (vypin) Island which is 22 kilometres (a 40-minute bus ride) from Cherai or stick to the road via Edappally to North Paravur which is roughly about 25 kilometres from Cherai. The new Goshree Bridge linking Ernakulam with the islands of Bolghatty, Mulavukadu, Vallarpadam and Vypeen has made traveling to this idyllic getaway much easier.

One may also approach Cherai straight from Kochi (Nedumbasseri) International Airport by way of North Paravur

Cherai Beach Vypeen Island A Luscious mix of sun, sand and sea….

CHERAI BEACH
The 15 km of long golden beach is very clean, shallow, and attracts swimming and sunbathing

The 10 kilometer long Cherai Beach is the best golden beach of Kerala and is rightly called “The Princess of the Arabian sea”

Places to see in and around Cochin
The dream destination of Cochin is dotted with places worth seeing in and around it. At a There are several excellent excursion options from Cochin. Cultural capital of Kerala, Trichur is a daylong trip from Cochin. The cultural traditions of Kerala are revealed in the museums, art schools, and institutes of Trichur. Vadakkunathan Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, is another must visit in Trichur. Pallippuram fort amongst the oldest existing European monuments in India is another place to see around Cochin. The museum of Kerala history in Edapally is another excursion option from Cochin. Chennamangalam near Cochin is an important handloom weaving and coir-manufacturing centre where you may visit the famous Vaipinkotta Seminary and an old Syrian Catholic Church. Close to Cochin is Kanjiramattom where the mosque attracts pilgrims and tourists alike. The mosque was built on the mortal remains of Sheikh Parid.
The Kodikuthu festival takes place at the mosque in December-January. For the fun seekers Cochin the beautiful Cherai Beach is an ideal retreat. Swimming is the best thing to do and there are chances of you spotting dolphins here too. Near by is a classic village of Kerala with paddy fields and coconut groves. The birthplace of Adi Shankaracharya, Kalady is another excursion option from Cochin. Two shrines made in memory of Shankaracharya are must visit sacred sites here. The annual festival in the Shiva temple of Cochin is the best time to visit Cochin. Make your holidays at Cochin more enjoyable by seeing these nearby places. These places not only enhance tourism potential in Cochin but also are worth seeing holiday spots themselves.

INDIAN HOLIDAY

Ericsson team visits Cochin Port to discuss Volvo Race

2008-04-11T16:21:00.000-07:00

Kochi, Apr 9: A three-member Ericsson team from Sweden visited the Cochin Port here to discuss the preparations for the Indian stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race here.

The team, led by Managing Director Richard Brisius, held discussions with Port Chairman N Ramachandran and officials of Kerala Tourism, official sources said.

Ericsson was sponsoring two teams in the premier offshore ocean marathon, which would have stopover at Cochin Port in December this year.

Scheduled to start at Alicante in Spain on October four, the race would cover a total of 39,325 nautical miles before finishing in July 2009 in St. Petersburg in Russia.

The other stopover ports for the race include Cape Town, Singapore, Qingdao, Rio de Janeiro, Boston, Galway, Gothenborg and Stockholm.

The seven yachts participating in the race would stay berthed here for ten days, before starting the next leg to Sentosa Island in Singapore.

--- UNI

NEW KERALA

Kerala: Truly God’s own country

2008-04-05T06:11:00.000-07:00

St. Francis Church COCHIN (Heritage Monument)

Kalaripayatu Dance

A Mohiniattam Dancer

A Kathakali Dancer

CIAL India’s first private airport.

Dutch Palace COCHIN (Heritage Monument)

Santa Cruz Basilica COCHIN (Heritage Monument)

Pardesi Synagogue COCHIN (Heritage Monument)

Bolgatty Palace, now run as a heritage hotel by the tourism department, is a classic example of how the local traditions mixed with the foreign influences to create palaces and churches great beauty and charm.

Alappuzha, known as the Venice of the East

Thekkady – the main entrance to the famous Periyar tiger reserve .

Kumarakom, located on the banks of the beautiful Vembanad Lake

A houseboat in Vembanad Lake

Munnar is situated 120 kms away from Kochi at the confluence of three-mountain streams – Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and the Kundala
Vandana K Mittal, 05 April 2008, Saturday
A weeklong holiday in Kerala has established the truth of the Malyalis’ claim of their state being, ‘God’s own country’. The people of Kerala are more than justified in naming their state ‘God’s own country’ and projecting it as a haven for tourism.
WE STARTED our tour at Kochi, where India’s first private airport, welcomed us with its cleanliness and smooth operations. It was greener than one could have ever imagined and this was not even the monsoon season. As we tread along the tourist trail starting from (Kochi), winding our way up to Munnar, Thekkady and then on to Alappuzha (Alleppey) the stunning beauty of this southern state unfolded at every turn. Spice, banana, coconut, rubber and tea plantations treated the eye to an intense green that seemed almost surreal.

Kochi treated us to a quick peep into this region’s ancient history starting from way back in 900BC when trade links were well established with people as far away as the Jewish kingdom of Solomon. The Jews, Arabs, Chinese, Portuguese, and the Dutch have all passed by this region and their legacy can be seen in the architecture of this city. Bolgatty Palace, now run as a heritage hotel by the tourism department, is a classic example of how the local traditions mixed with the foreign influences to create palaces and churches great beauty and charm. Christianity and Islam arrived early in this state and the Jewish synagogue, at Mattancherry, is a testimony to the state’s tradition of welcoming people of all faiths.

In the present context too the three main religions (Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity) coexist in a manner not enjoyed easily by other states. Unlike the other states, it is the language here that binds all Malyalis, regardless of their faith. At the taxi stand I had the choice of getting into cabs with painted signs, ‘Sri Krishna’, ‘Hamdulillah’ and ‘Jesus saves’. On the surface at least, this truly seems Amar, Akbar, Anthony country.

Our next destination was Munnar. Munnar is situated 120 kms away from Kochi at the confluence of three-mountain streams – Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and the Kundala. As we drove uphill we passed through small villages and towns. The view from the car window was not of grinding poverty and illiteracy (although poverty is present here too). The abiding impression was of the average Malyali, everywhere, engrossed in his newspaper. The sheer variety of books, magazines and newspapers in Malyalam leaves one speechless. The language of the state thrives here, not merely survive.

From Munnar, we travelled to Thekkady – the main entrance to the famous Periyar tiger reserve .It was another long drive through spell binding natural beauty. The air was redolent with the fragrance of Kerala’s famed spices. Incredible cuisine awaited us at most eateries. In fact the best food we ate was in small restaurants along the way. The established restaurants in the main tourist towns seem to have fallen prey to that ubiquitous menu that plagues our country from one end to the other. Yes, I mean the standard invasion of chholey bhature and vegetable jalfrezie is to be found in all menus.

The boat ride on the Periyar Lake did not disappoint as we got to spot wild elephants, bison and deer in abundance. The sheer tranquility on the lake, in spite of the huge numbers of tourists, is an unbelievable experience. There are numerous treks available for the more adventurous. After watching some Kathakali and Kalaripayattu performances at Thekkady we headed to Kumarakom, located on the banks of the beautiful Vembanad Lake, for our date with Kerala’s famed backwaters.

This was a world-class experience from the word go. We stepped on to the houseboat to be welcomed with fresh nariyal pani. Over the next 24 hours, we were treated to scenes of astounding beauty and tranquility. We watched the local people going about their daily lives all around us. We watched young girls casting their fishing lines from the banks to fish for the family dinner, men and women rowing home after a day’s work, often catching a free ride behind the houseboats when distances were too long. Children played, people bathed and women washed clothes and utensils as boats full of happy and curious tourists chugged by.

The cook, onboard the boat, all this while, continued to churn out mouth watering dishes for us to feast on. In his tiny but clean kitchen at the stern of the boat he rustled up a variety of thorans, sambar, idlies, vegetable and chicken stews. Fish, freshly caught, turned up on the table as ‘fish fry’ or cooked steamed in a banana leaf.

We were more than sorry when our boat tour ended at Alappuzha, known as the Venice of the East. The driver met us at the jetty to drive us to Kochi airport for our flight out of this green jewel at the southwestern tip of India. We returned with an impression of Kerala being a state that has left its peers far behind on most parameters of social development.

The surveys on social development parameters that always place Kerala at the top in areas such as literacy, women’s literacy, health etc do not fully capture the manner in which Kerala is different from the rest of India. It is generally cleaner than most other states and women can be seen working everywhere: in businesses, plantations, tourism industry, health care, education and every other occupation. From a woman’s perspective, it is also a safe state to travel and holiday in. The average Malyali is unlikely to leave a negative impression on a tourist. This is such a refreshing change from the harassment by cab drivers, vendors, and beggars that one usually encounters on landing in New Delhi.

So is all perfect in this land? I am not naïve enough to believe that Kerala has no problems. Unemployment, due to low industrialization, is everywhere to see. Our 27-year-old driver told us that for the last seven years, he had been trying to get to Dubai. So desperate is he to go to Dubai that he is ready to do any job as long as it is in the oil rich Gulf region. He has a post graduate degree but no real work skills other than driving and this renders him unemployable in the few industries that do exist in Kerala. Poverty exists here cheek by jowl with garish mansions, built in small villages, with the money remitted home by millions of workers from the Gulf. As ubiquitous as the coconut palms are the toddy shops in the state. The shops dot the landscape with one coming into view every half a kilometer or so. Long lines form in front of the toddy shops each evening. I could also not help but wonder about the social consequences of this penchant for alcohol in the state.

But I applaud this state for not only positioning itself as the number one tourist destination but also living up to its claim. If this is what the people of the state can achieve in the tourism sector then there is no limit to what they can do in other areas with some change in thinking and help from the political leaders.

The people of Kerala are more than justified in naming their state ‘God’s own country’ and projecting it as a haven for tourism. Next year, we will be back to explore other places in Kerala. We have just scratched the surface and there is much more to be discovered and enjoyed in this paradise.
MERI NEWS.COM

Official website launched for Volvo Ocean Race India Stopover

2008-04-05T06:07:00.001-07:00

By Juhan Samuel
Kochi, Apr 5 (ANI): The official Website of the world famous Volvo Ocean Race for its India stopover was recently launched in Kerala. The official website ‘volvoracecochin.com’ was launched by Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) Chairman Cherian Philip in the presence of N Ramachandran, Chairman, Cochin Port Trust and Dr. V Venu, Secretary, Tourism, Government of Kerala. It is for the first time in the 35-year history of the Race, regarded as the ultimate in ocean racing competition, that an Indian port has been chosen for the stopover. Kochi will witness a ten-day visual extravaganza of the most exciting water sport action that India has ever witnessed between December 3 and 13 this year.
Apart from the world’s fastest ocean racing yachts with state-of-the-art technology backup, the event will also attract hundreds of other luxury yachts and sailing vessels of different depiction. The Race will commence its round-the-world marathon sailing in October 2008 and cover more than 39,000 nautical miles, visiting 11 ports across the world.
Starting from Alicante in Spain, it would stopover at Cape Town, Cochin, Singapore, Qingdao, Rio de Janeiro, Boston, Galway, Goteborg and Stockholm, before reaching the finishing line at St. Petersburg. The Race is the ultimate in world-class water-sporting competition on the extreme edge of adventure, drama and endurance. Several high profile global corporate leaders as well as some of the world’s topmost brands and business houses that sponsor the competition boats and teams, will gather at Cochin during the stopover period to cheer their respective race teams. The stopover will enable the global corporate sponsors to hold networking conclaves with leaders of Commerce and Industry of the host country at the stopover ports.
The Kochi stopover is an opportunity to showcase India as an emerging economic giant while highlighting the country’s business potential as well as its tourism potential. The Race and the stopover events would be extensively covered in electronic, print and news media across the world, ranging from newspapers to lifestyle and glamour magazines.
Port sponsor and co-sponsors for the India stopover event will be finalised by the Cochin Port Trust and the Kerala Tourism shortly through a bidding process. (ANI)

Thai Indian

Aerial view of CIAL and its verdant, beautiful surroundings

2008-04-03T13:52:00.001-07:00

India’s first international airport built as a corporate venture, the “Cochin International Airport Limited” is in close proximity with Aluva. It is one of the best international airports in India in terms of size and infrastructure.It’s been a dream come true for Aluva when this tiny town woke up to the drone of an aircraft on a sleepy evening in May 1999. A long cherished dream had borne wings that day. India’s first airport taking shape, as part of a corporate venture was something unheard of till that day. The Cochin International Airport Limited thus came into existence with many a unique feature to its credit. Around 30Km from the city of Kochi, Aluva has found a place in the aviation map of the world with the establishment of the airport at Nedumbassery.

Periyar,a beautiful river and second largest in the state is the life line of Aluva. A trip down the river and its silken-smooth sand-banks will be one of the most memorable experiences in any ones life.The history of Aluva brings to the picture the history of Periyar. The pres- ence of the river has given Aluva one of the most exquisite culture as could be com- pared to that of any part in Kerala. As it is known, the rivers of Kerala have brought with them the behavior and trad- itional aspects of the population living on their banks. The case is no different here either.

Take a walk down Periyar river and you will find some kind of a gracefulness envelope you. The cool river, it’s silken-smooth sandbanks and the people around gets into your mind to stay there emanating a sacred feeling that you would want to come back to its banks over and over again.The Periyar is indeed Aluva’s lifeline. The activities along the long stretch of its banks are always hectic as if life proceeds alongwith the quiet flow of water downstream. Small-scale as well as cottage industries thrive along the riverbed bringing in revenue and smiles into every home.

The riverbank has its ornamental look with huge tall coconut palms lending its own charm. The green canopy along the shores fills the mind with happiness. The temples, churches and mosques along the banks of the Periyar give a touch of Aluva’s diverse culture and beliefs.The town is also known for its communal harmony and the goodness that comes with it.Periyar is the most important river in the Ernakulam district. The Periyar with a length of 229 km. is the longest river in the district. Among the rivers in the State, Periyar is second only to Bharathapuzha in length. During its course five important tributaries join the river. They are Muthirapuzha, Mullayar, Cheruthoni, Perinjankutti and Edamala.

Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009 from December 3 to 13 will increase the global visibility of COCHIN CITY and KERALA STATE

2008-04-03T12:44:00.000-07:00

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Apr 3, 2008

Volvo ocean race: Focus on global visibility
Thursday April 3 2008 06:33 IST
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

T’PURAM: As Kochi gears up to host the India stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009 from December 3 to 13 this year, the event is expected to provide unparalleled global visibility for the state.

Briefing the media about the arrangements on the sidelines of the launch of the official website of the event at Mascot Hotel here, N Ramachandran, chairman, Cochin Port Trust, said that nearly Rs 30 crore would be spent on infrastructural development and improvement of the facilities and amenities in Kochi.

The race is held every four years and it is considered the toughest of extreme adventure sporting. And it is for the first time in its 35-year history that the race is stopping over in India. The India stopover is jointly hosted by the Cochin Port Trust and Department of Tourism, Kerala.

"The yachts will be berthed at BTP jetty at Willingdon Island. Public areas and exhibition spaces will come up overlooking this jetty. The construction work of race village has already started. We are also taking all steps to upgrade the facilities at Willingdon Island," said Ramachandran.

He added that while the ports have to pay an entry fee of 10 million euros to host the event, Kochi port was exempted from paying this.

"The stop over would also be a unique business opportunity as corporates and business houses who sponsor the boats and teams will be coming down to cheer their teams. So the stopover events are designed as business events for interaction and business conclaves. The race is rightly considered a mix of sports, business and glamour," said Ramachandran.

There will be involvement of people, trade and industry, the Yachting Association of India, the Indian Navy, the youth and school children, he added.

The race is expected to give tremendous boost to the tourism industry as well. "We are expected to provide around 1200 rooms. And we have almost made it. This include accommodation in house boats also. In fact, we are planning to set up a houseboat village with around 100 to 150 houseboats providing accommodation," said V Venu, secretary, Tourism Department.

The arriving yachts will be accorded a grand welcome in traditional Kerala style, along with entertainment, dance, food festivals, boat show, traditional boat race, stage shows, music and fire works, race leg prize-giving ceremony and departure ceremony during the 10 days.

The race will commence in October 2008 and cover more than 39,000 nautical miles, visiting 11 ports across the world. Starting from Alicante in Spain, it would stopover at Cape Town, Kochi, Qingdao, Rio de Janeiro, Boston, Galway, Goteborg and Stockholm, before reaching the finishing line at St Petersburg.

"Seven teams have confirmed their participation. More are expected. Some team members are even Olympic medal winners," said tourism secretary.

The website www.volvoracecochin.com was launched by Cherian Philip, chairman, Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC). Cyril C George, secretary, Cochin Port Trust, K Kunhikrishnan, media advisor, and K G Mohanlal, managing director, KTDC, were present at the function.

New Indian Express

COCHIN(KOCHI) & Kerala to showcase tourism potential in Volvo Ocean Race

2008-04-02T12:49:00.000-07:00

Thiruvananthapuram, April 2 (IANS) The Cochin port has been chosen as one of the stopovers for the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race and Kerala plans to showcase the state’s tourism potential to thousands of foreigners arriving to witness the race. A race village on 2.5 acres of land will be set up at Willingdon Island at Kochi. It would have 10,000 sq metres of covered space and 200,000 sq metres of open space.

Kerala tourism department and Cochin Port Trust (CPT) will spend a whopping Rs.300 million for the event’s arrangement that will take place between Dec 3 and Dec 13.

The Volvo Ocean Race, which is also called `Everest of Sailing’, is one of the world’s most demanding and daring team sporting events.

This edition will feature around nine teams, 11 ocean legs, seven inshore races and shorter stopovers, and Cochin port is the only destination chosen in India.

“This is the first time that any port in the country has been selected as a stopover for the world famous yacht race,” CPT chairman N. Ramachandran told reporters here Wednesday.

“The organizers have been in touch with us for the past two years to finalise this. In normal course, the organizers charge 10 million Euros as fees from the port, but we have been exempted,” he said.

Ramachandran justified spending Rs.300 million to organise the event.

“The money that we would spend will be got back by way of sponsorships. More than that, Kerala would be showcased to the thousands who would come to witness the event,” he said.

Kerala tourism is likely to be a big beneficiary as already the organisers have sought close to 1,500 high quality rooms and another 3,500 rooms for the people who would come from various parts of the globe to be with the race teams.

The race starts in Alicante, Spain, Oct 4 and will cover a total of 39,325 nautical miles over nine months and end in July 2009 at St. Petersburg, Russia.

The teams arrive at Cochin port from Capetown Dec 3 and leave for Singapore Dec 13.

The other stopover ports include Singapore, Qingdao, Rio de Janeiro, Boston, Galway, Gothenborg and Stockholm.

“The biggest advantage for Kerala is that its culture and cuisine would be showcased to the world through this event,” Kerala tourism secretary V. Venu said.

The arrival of race teams at Cochin port coincides with peak tourism season in Kerala.

The organizers of the event have already held talks with the houseboat owners to station around 150 houseboats near the race village to provide extra rooms for the people.

THAI INDIAN NEWS

CIAL moots chopper tourism

2008-03-31T16:26:00.000-07:00

Arun Jayan

KOCHI: Very soon helicopters will take off from the international airport at Nedumbassery, carrying tourists to destinations like Thekkady, Munnar, Kovalam and even to spiritual destinations like Sabarimala.

Cochin International Airport Limited is exploring the possibility of starting charter helicopter services and is already in touch with two private players who have shown interest in starting the service as a joint venture.

"A feasibility study is going on and we will be able to get the clear picture within December. Our plan is to start this charter helicopter service for people opting to visit tourist destinations as well as pilgrim centres like Guruvayur or Sabarimala," CIAL managing director Sriram Bharat said.

The company is planning to start it as a joint partnership and the expense of the project may run into Rs 100 crore.

Since the charter helicopter service is too expensive, CIAL wants to ensure that there will be takers for the new service once it gets started. "We have already sought the response of various travel agencies regarding their view on the charter service. We are trying to get a rough figure as to how many people will avail themselves of the service once it gets started," Bharat said.

The tourist destinations identified include Thekkady, Munnar, Kumarakam, Kovalam and also spiritual destinations like Sabarimala and Guruvayur.

Even though the plan for starting the helicopter service in the state had been in the pipeline for a long time, no one has successfully launched it.

Some private players had in the recent past tried their luck with the helicopter service but it did not yield the desired result. But many travel agencies within the state feel that if company like CIAL starts a charter helicopter service, it will help to rope in many tourists.

"It is not like any individual travel player starting the service. CIAL has many advantages to its credit and elite class will always avail itself of this service," a travel agent said.
INDIAN EXPRESS

ALWAYE(ALUVA) COCHIN rich in History, Culture and Heritage on the World Aviation Map

2008-03-31T13:49:00.000-07:00

On May 13th 1999, by 3.51pm a four-seated WTENK Donier 228 came landing the newly constructed runway at Nedumbassery. This was a dream movement. Mr. Kurian found himself experiencing the fruits of his committed labor. The Aircraft conducted the Calibration of the instruments, Landing system and other Technical formalities. Soon dawned the 25th of May. The fully completed CIAL was to be commissioned that day. The President of India Mr. K.R. Narayanan gives the nation a brand new airport with all facilities matching International standards and its calibration galore. Bigger aircraft came flying in. The Boeing 737 undertook its test landing and the people in this part of Kerala is confident that they now have a good International airport for their own. Soon many operators began their services between the gulf countries and Cochin much to the delight of NRI’s.With the commissioning of the new airport the old Cochin airport was given back to Navy. With a strong team of 710 at the airport, the Airport authorities 60, and 650 odd other staff, CIAL has started a flight to glory. The CIAL structure stands on 1,300 acres of land at Nedumbassery.

A whole range of sophisticated accessories of an International terminal is available here. Executive and Tourist lounges, Parking space for 1,100 cars, Shopping area and the like are the added facilities. The Cargo complex stands on 5,000 sq. mtr. land. Another unique feature is a prayer hall for passengers. CIAL has come up as a boon to the NRI population. The venture headed by the enterprising V.J. Kurian is all said to bring Kerala and of course Aluva where the Airport stands, more Fame and Glory

India’s first international airport built as a corporate venture, the “Cochin International Airport Limited” is in close proximity with Aluva. It is one of the best international airports in India in terms of size and infrastructure.It’s been a dream come true for Aluva when this tiny town woke up to the drone of an aircraft on a sleepy evening in May 1999. A long cherished dream had borne wings that day. India’s first airport taking shape, as part of a corporate venture was something unheard of till that day.

St. Joseph's Pontifical Seminary Mangalapuzha is an institution for the formation of candidates for Priesthood. It belongs to the Syro-Malabar Church and has students from all over Kerala. The training programme extends over seven years - 3 years of philosophy and 4 years or theology. At present there are 350 students from 15 dioceses undergoing training here. Them are 120 students attending classes here as day scholars. There are 23 resident professors and most of them have a doctorate.St Joseph's pontifical Seminary has a history of nearly three hundred years The begi- nning was at verapoly in 1682. In 1866 the seminary was shifted to Puthenpally. In 1932 the seminary moved to the present location at Mangalapuzha

The history of Aluva dates back to the days of the master carpenter Perum- thachan. The son of renowned scholar Vararuchi, who was patronised by King Vikramaditya, Perumthachan is associated with Uliyannore, one of the places of prominence in Aluva. History, rather belief has it that the famous Shiva temple at Uliyannore was built by Perumthachan. Going deep into the historical aspects, it becomes clear that the history of Aluva blends well with the days of this master carpenter and his hamlet of Uliyannore.

The Aitihyas of yore draw a clear picture of Aluva and Uliyannore through the narration of Perumthachan’s tale. Uliyan- nore is a piece of land on the banks of the Periyar river which flows through Aluva. Perumthachan belonged to this place. Even today there are a few families who claim to be the descendants of this genius.

The Chalakkudy river also joins the Periyar at Elanthikara, 10 km. east of Kodungalloor. Periyar is very high in hydro-eletric potential. There are a series of dams and power stations viz. Pallivasal, Kundala, Madapetty, Senkulam, Neriaman- galam and Panniyar on this river basin. Idukki Hydro-electric Project is the most important scheme of its kind in Kerala.The Periyar traverses through all the Taluks in the district. The river is highly beneficial to the district for irrigation, drainage and navigation. The river plays a very important role in the agricult- ural, industrial and commercial develop- ment of the district. The Periyar Valley Irrigation Project is capable of irrigating a net area of 30414 ha. as at the end of 1990-91.

The Periyar is indeed Aluva’s lifeline. The activities along the long stretch of its banks are always hectic as if life proceeds alongwith the quiet flow of water downstream.

Periyar,a beautiful river and second largest in the state is the life line of Aluva. A trip down the river and its silken-smooth sand-banks will be one of the most memorable experiences in any ones life
Aluva

Aluva is one of the important towns in India. It’s in the state of Kerala and rich in History, Culture and Heritage. Aluva is now in the International aviation map due to the close proximity to Cochin International Airport Limited.

History

Aluva has a history and stature of its own. The place used to be a continuous area of land spread across Kakkanad and Alangad. Historians have recorded that it was so up to AD 1341. The Periyar river was then known as Churniyar and had its course as a single stream, flowing through Thottummukham, caressing Mangalap- puzha and flowing into the Arabian Sea. The town used to be a holiday resort and a centre of commerce right from ancient times. The place was also thickly populated, historians have recorded.

History also records the changes that happened to the Periyar and its banks in 1341.Deluge forced the river to flow into two tributaries at Thottummukham. One continued to flow through Desam and Mangalappuzha to fall into the Kodungallor backwaters. The other made a new track to flow downward dividing the Aluva mainland into two, the north and south. It again got divided at Kunjunnikkara island, one to flow into the Varapuzha backwaters and the other into the Cochin backwaters.

The Mangalappuzha is one of those many landmarks that history had left behind in Aluva. Once Mangalap- puzha was known to be the nerve centre of trade and commerce in this part of South India. Spices, ivory , rose wood et al from this part of the land were the major items that attracted merchants from all parts of the world to Kerala.Taking a walk down history’s dark lanes we come to know that there were gallows, which were used to hang, convicts here. These were under the Alangad District Court . In 1800 the court headquarters were shifted to where the present UC college stands. The gallows were dismantled once the college buildings started coming up. The bung- alows of the Dutch and the Portug- uese were also there overlooking the Periyar. H istory also says that Tipu Sultan had made his march in his quest to conquer Trav- ancore and had camped on the sandbanks of the Periyar. This was way back in 1790. 1939 saw the Marthandavarma Bridge being opened to traffic and since then it has been part of every Aluvaiites’ lifeline. The bridge connects the southern part of Aluva with that of the north.

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Periyar

Periyar,a beautiful river and second largest in the state is the life line of Aluva. A trip down the river and its silken-smooth sand-banks will be one of the most memorable experiences in any ones life.The history of Aluva brings to the picture the history of Periyar. The pres- ence of the river has given Aluva one of the most exquisite culture as could be com- pared to that of any part in Kerala. As it is known, the rivers of Kerala have brought with them the behavior and trad- itional aspects of the population living on their banks. The case is no different here either.

Take a walk down Periyar river and you will find some kind of a gracefulness envelope you. The cool river, it’s silken-smooth sandbanks and the people around gets into your mind to stay there emanating a sacred feeling that you would want to come back to its banks over and over again.The Periyar is indeed Aluva’s lifeline. The activities along the long stretch of its banks are always hectic as if life proceeds alongwith the quiet flow of water downstream. Small-scale as well as cottage industries thrive along the riverbed bringing in revenue and smiles into every home.

The riverbank has its ornamental look with huge tall coconut palms lending its own charm. The green canopy along the shores fills the mind with happiness. The temples, churches and mosques along the banks of the Periyar give a touch of Aluva’s diverse culture and beliefs.The town is also known for its communal harmony and the goodness that comes with it.Periyar is the most important river in the Ernakulam district. The Periyar with a length of 229 km. is the longest river in the district. Among the rivers in the State, Periyar is second only to Bharathapuzha in length. During its course five important tributaries join the river. They are Muthirapuzha, Mullayar, Cheruthoni, Perinjankutti and Edamala.

The Chalakkudy river also joins the Periyar at Elanthikara, 10 km. east of Kodungalloor. Periyar is very high in hydro-eletric potential. There are a series of dams and power stations viz. Pallivasal, Kundala, Madapetty, Senkulam, Neriaman- galam and Panniyar on this river basin. Idukki Hydro-electric Project is the most important scheme of its kind in Kerala. Kalady, the birth palace of Sankaracharya, the greatest Advaitha Philosopher is on the bank of Periyar. Other important places on its bank are Malayattoor and Aluva which are places of pilgrimage for Christians and Hindus respectively. The Periyar traverses through all the Taluks in the district. The river is highly beneficial to the district for irrigation, drainage and navigation. The river plays a very important role in the agricult- ural, industrial and commercial develop- ment of the district. The Periyar Valley Irrigation Project is capable of irrigating a net area of 30414 ha. as at the end of 1990-91.

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Landmarks

ALuva is rich with many important landmarks in the state. Uliyannore Temple, built by the master carpenter Perumthachan and St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary are just couple of those.

The history of Aluva dates back to the days of the master carpenter Perum- thachan. The son of renowned scholar Vararuchi, who was patronised by King Vikramaditya, Perumthachan is associated with Uliyannore, one of the places of prominence in Aluva. History, rather belief has it that the famous Shiva temple at Uliyannore was built by Perumthachan. Going deep into the historical aspects, it becomes clear that the history of Aluva blends well with the days of this master carpenter and his hamlet of Uliyannore.

The Aitihyas of yore draw a clear picture of Aluva and Uliyannore through the narration of Perumthachan’s tale. Uliyan- nore is a piece of land on the banks of the Periyar river which flows through Aluva. Perumthachan belonged to this place. Even today there are a few families who claim to be the descendants of this genius.

St. Joseph's Pontifical Seminary Mangalapuzha is an institution for the formation of candidates for Priesthood. It belongs to the Syro-Malabar Church and has students from all over Kerala. The training programme extends over seven years - 3 years of philosophy and 4 years or theology. At present there are 350 students from 15 dioceses undergoing training here. Them are 120 students attending classes here as day scholars. There are 23 resident professors and most of them have a doctorate.St Joseph's pontifical Seminary has a history of nearly three hundred years The begi- nning was at verapoly in 1682. In 1866 the seminary was shifted to Puthenpally. In 1932 the seminary moved to the present location at Mangalapuzha.

In 1976 the Carmalete Fathers (O.C.D.) handed over the direction and administration of the seminary to the Kerala Catholic Bishops Conference. In 1997 as a result of the re-Organization of St.Joseph's pontificial seminary, Mangala- puzha became the Major Seminary of the Syro-Malabar church.

Airport

India’s first international airport built as a corporate venture, the “Cochin International Airport Limited” is in close proximity with Aluva. It is one of the best international airports in India in terms of size and infrastructure.It’s been a dream come true for Aluva when this tiny town woke up to the drone of an aircraft on a sleepy evening in May 1999. A long cherished dream had borne wings that day. India’s first airport taking shape, as part of a corporate venture was something unheard of till that day. The Cochin International Airport Limited thus came into existence with many a unique feature to its credit. Around 30Km from the city of Kochi, Aluva has found a place in the aviation map of the world with the establishment of the airport at Nedumbassery. The credit for the creating an airport of International standards goes to Mr. V. J. Kurian, the Managing Director of CIAL. Innovative spirit, commitment towards his job and the incredible confidence exhibited by this IAS officer gave shape to the Terminal that this part of the state badly needed. The ideas of the terminal descended long time back at a meeting organised by the then Union Minister for aviation Mr. Madhav Rao Scindia. A discussion on the development of the Cochin Airport was the turning point, because Navy held the old Airport. When talks focussed on its developmental aspects, the Navy as well as the Airport Authority of India put up a reluctant stand on the issue. But a confident Mr. Kurian put forward a suggestion: Why not build a new airport with all facilities equal to International standards if finance was not a major constraint? The meeting left further decision on the matter to Mr. Kurian’s direction. From that day on, this officer was doing his homework around the clock to make his dream a reality.

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Accumulation of funds was of course a problem. The NRI’s are to be targeted, Kurian thought. The then Chief Minister sanctioned Rs. 10 Million (1 Crore) for the project. The Nayanar Ministry, which assumed office later, sanction Rs. 270 Million (27 Crore. But this wasn’t enough. Managing Director scouted for funds at every other bank and financial institutions in the mean time. The first encouraging gesture came up from the Federal Bank. The bank sanctioned loan up to the tune of Rs. One Crore. Soon it was Housing and Urban Development Corporation's (HUDCO) turn. The HUDCO came up with a Rs. 250 Million (25 Crore) amount. Soon the project began welding considerable confidence among the non-resident Indians. The Malayalee NRI population, who number several thousands where chipping in with their contribution for the speedy completion of the CIAL project.

On May 13th 1999, by 3.51pm a four-seated WTENK Donier 228 came landing the newly constructed runway at Nedumbassery. This was a dream movement. Mr. Kurian found himself experiencing the fruits of his committed labor. The Aircraft conducted the Calibration of the instruments, Landing system and other Technical formalities. Soon dawned the 25th of May. The fully completed CIAL was to be commissioned that day. The President of India Mr. K.R. Narayanan gives the nation a brand new airport with all facilities matching International standards and its calibration galore. Bigger aircraft came flying in. The Boeing 737 undertook its test landing and the people in this part of Kerala is confident that they now have a good International airport for their own. Soon many operators began their services between the gulf countries and Cochin much to the delight of NRI’s.With the commissioning of the new airport the old Cochin airport was given back to Navy. With a strong team of 710 at the airport, the Airport authorities 60, and 650 odd other staff, CIAL has started a flight to glory. The CIAL structure stands on 1,300 acres of land at Nedumbassery.

The runway design is such that any type of aircraft can make its landing or take off from here. All infrastructure like baggage conveyor system, x-ray baggage machines, computerised check-in counters and flight information system are now part of CIAL. BPCL’s newest refueling system is another advantage. A whole range of sophisticated accessories of an International terminal is available here. Executive and Tourist lounges, Parking space for 1,100 cars, Shopping area and the like are the added facilities. The Cargo complex stands on 5,000 sq. mtr. land. Another unique feature is a prayer hall for passengers. CIAL has come up as a boon to the NRI population. The venture headed by the enterprising V.J. Kurian is all said to bring Kerala and of course Aluva where the Airport stands, more Fame and Glory.
ASHEX TOURISM

UNCONVENTIONAL COCHIN(KOCHI) A destination for business tourists

2008-03-31T13:33:00.000-07:00

Le Medidien, Kochi

Boat Races in harvest season

Rich cultural artifacts make beautiful souvenirs

Ayurveda: Sirovasti, for ailments of the head, nose and throat
COCHIN(Kochi) is breaking free of being labelled exclusively as a leisure destination. Susan George discovers how the city presents the ideal cocktail of choices for business conventions.
Rickety buses christened with names like ‘Bindumol careen’ down narrow roads, barely missing ladies in crisp white sarees and men toting black umbrellas. Kerala presents a delightful melange of the unusual - its distinct flavour has been dissected in virtually every travel magazine. But, it is not simply the emerald-green backwaters and age-old Ayurveda that has got tourists hooked on to ‘God’s Own Country’. Kerala’s commercial capital, Kochi, has become a convention destination par excellence, drawing business persons from world over.

The city is a curious mix of old world charm fused with a burgeoning techno-savvy culture. The formula has struck gold, with more and more corporate travellers retreating to Kochi as their business playground. Says T Balakrishnan, secretary to government, tourism and culture, "Kerala already has a pull factor as a holiday destination. When we create facilities for business travellers, they find an excuse to come here and combine business with pleasure." And Kochi presents an impeccable excuse for corporate travellers. A new international airport, largest conferencing facilities in south India, world-class hotels and high-speed Internet connectivity make perfect business sense. Throw in houseboat cruises, Ayurvedic massages, theme parties peppered with traditional entertainment, and antique shopping, and you’ve got the perfect platter of choices to complement a business convention. It’s little wonder that in the last two years Kochi has seen international conventions of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Intel, Global Investor Meet (GIM), Microsoft, and an array of medical conferences. Kochi is morphing from a laid-back town to a power centre for business meetings. E M Najeeb, chairman of The Great India Tour Company, and head of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Kerala chapter says, "In the last two years Kochi has become a noted convention centre for both national and international events. It is the commercial hub of Kerala, and is now a much more ‘happening’ place in terms of business activity."
Unparalleled Options

The "working vacations" concept took off with the Le Meridien Resort and Convention Centre, the epicentre of Kochi’s conferences. Nine conference halls with a combined capacity of 4,000 people has made the Gulfar Convention Centre a prominent force behind transforming Kerala from solely a leisure destination to a holiday-cum-business locale. The convention centre’s earnings doubled from less than two crore to about four crore during the 2002-03 financial year, say hotel officials. A tour of the sprawling convention centre will shred to bits any apprehensions about why corporate executives willingly dole out significant amounts of money for conferences held here. The centre unmistakably spells Kerala: perfectly landscaped gardens lead to it and stand in contrast to the uninhibitedly beautiful backdrop of palm fronds and the backwaters. The centre itself subtly replicates the traditional Kerala ‘tharavadu’, and from the banisters to the ceiling beams, there is a definite accent on woodwork. If the simple lines of the architecture don’t impress you, the hotel also arranges for backwater cruises, Ayurvedic massages, trips to tourist spots that are immersed in history, theme dinners and much more - an endless list of activities that will keep business travellers blissfully oblivious of the corporate world. Says the hotel’s public relations executive, Penny George, "We arrange to take those participating in conferences on cruises, organise coaches to take them to shopping destinations, introduce them to Ayurveda in our hotel’s centre run by a family which has been in the field for 135 years."

The impact of conventions is not restricted to Le Meridien alone. While conferences accounted for 9,200 room nights in 2002-03 at LeMeridien, other hotels in Kochi also experienced a sea change. "Whenever there is a large conference, we give business to other hotels in the area," says George, pointing out that Le Meridien has only 151 rooms at present. The Taj Malabar on Willingdon Island offers three conference halls, embedded with the latest conferencing equipment. If your company wants a touch of the exotic, then the resort’s outdoor conferences on an island, by the backwaters, or on a houseboat are ideal. The resort can accommodate a maximum of 6,000 people at outdoor conferences. Another option, which is considerably easier on the pocket, is the Avenue Centre, which according to the general manager, Joseph Peter, hosts about six to seven business conferences a month. With a seating capacity of 500 people, the centre was recently established to meet the growing need of convention facilities in Kochi. "When we started our hotel, Avenue Regent, it could accommodate only about 150 people. We perceived a need for a larger facility and hence we started the Avenue Centre," says Peter. "One of our biggest selling points is that we are priced way below the others," he adds.

Various tour operators have tied up with hotels to give the business traveller a hamper of unique ‘God’s Own Country’ experiences. Says T Prahalad, senior manager, Paradise Tours and Travels, "We have signed MOUs with about thirty-five properties in Kerala. When customers contact us we provide them with the whole range of services from pick up to accommodation."

Getting There

The resounding response from almost every quarter is the same: a primary reason for Kochi becoming a convention destination is the newly launched international airport. Says Najeeb, "Kochi is the central destination where people arrive and move on to sub-destinations. With the new international airport seeing traffic of about 100 international flights a week, the city’s connectivity is very good."

Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) is the first international airport in India outside the ambit of the Government of India. In fact, the airport is a combined venture of the Government of Kerala, NRIs, Financial Institutions, Airport Service Providers and others. According to the CIAL website, the new airport was launched to ‘overcome the operational shortcoming of the then existing Naval Airport, which was the only alternative to meet the growing needs of NRI travellers, tourists, trade and commerce.’ The Rs 303 crore that was pumped into the project seems to be reaping the rewards ever since the inaugural flight took off in June 1999.

Government involvement

Clued in on how big MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) can be for Kerala, the government was quick to launch a campaign to showcase Kerala as a business destination. Says tourism secretary, Balakrishnan, "People who come on these kind of business meetings usually travel on their company’s expense. Hence, their propensity to spend is much higher."

For the first time the Kerala government is setting up a "Convention and Visitors Promotion" bureau - a joint venture of the private sector and the municipal corporation, with the mayor as chairman. "The tourism department will act in an advisory position, as well as partially fund the development of the bureau in its initial stages. The bureau will be launched in five centres including Kochi, Calicut and Thiruvan-athapuram," added Balakrishnan. However, he doesn’t believe that MICE-related tourism will chip away at the state’s leisure tourism. "Business and leisure tourism will take place parallel to each other. Kerala will continue to draw leisure tourists as well."

Just Plain Exotic

No Kochi convention experience would be complete if one didn’t weave some sightseeing between meetings. William Rodrigues, managing director, Coastline Holidays, contends, "Kochi offers a wide variety of attractions like the Jewish synagogue and St Francis Church. Our company organises tours to these spots for delegates during a corporate visit."

From the circuitous waterways to meandering streets of Jew Town, there is no question that Kochi is swathed in Kerala’s distinctive garb. With the add-ons of convention facilities, the business traveller will undoubtedly be bitten by the Kochi bug. The Italian traveller from the Middle Ages, Nicolas Conti, captured the current day sentiment aptly: "If China is where you make your money, then Kochi is surely the place to spend it."

Getting Around
Call Taxis: An expensive option, they are nevertheless convenient. Charges are per hour and include waiting time.

Autos: Fortunately autos go by the metre and haggling is minimal. It might help to know your exact destination before hopping on to one of them.

Cruises: The KTDC (Kerala Tourism Development Corporation) organises several cruises including sunset cruises and backwater village tours. Houseboats are usually operated privately.

Conventions in Kochi
Le Meridien, five-star
Maradu tel: (484) 2705777
e-mail: meridien@lemeridienkochi.com

Casino Hotel, five-star
Willingdon Island
tel: (484) 2668421
email: casino@vsnl.com

Taj Malabar, five-star
Willingdon Island
tel: (484) 2668010
email: malabar.cochin@tajhotels.com

Taj Residency, five-star
Marine Drive, Ernakulum
tel: (484) 371471; fax: (484) 371481; email: tr.enk@tajhotels.com

The Avenue Regent, four-star
Ernakulum
tel: (484) 2377977
email: avenue@md2.vsnl.com

The Brunton Boatyard, three-star
Fort Cochin
tel: (484) 215461-65; fax: (484) 215562
email: brunton@vsnl.net

Best Western Abad Plaza, three-star
Ernakulum
tel: (484) 2381122
email: abad@vsnl.com

Bolgatty Palace, three-star
Ernakulum
tel: (484) 2750500
email: bolgatty@vsnl.com

The Trident, three-star
Willingdon Island
tel:(484) 669595; fax:(484) 669393
email: andrews@tridentcochin.com

Business Traveler India

Cochin Tour Guide

2008-03-31T08:35:00.000-07:00

Cochin is the commercial capital of Kerala, and is sometimes referred to as the 'Queen of the Arabian Sea'. Cochin proudly boasts a rich cultural heritage, but is one of the most fast paced and modern cities in India. It is also one of the finest natural harbours of the world and a major Indian port. Cochin is basically a collection of islands and narrow peninsulas and can be divided into Ernakulam, Willingdon Island, Mattancherry and Fort Kochi. An international airport and seaport connect to the rest of the world.

Cochin, the mercantile center of Kerala has a great historical significance. Portuguese arrive to Kerala for trade and settled here in 16th century in the Fort Cochin area. The sight now lies in the World Heritage Zone. As a main trading point since Roman times, the city lies on the main trade route between Europe and China. Cochin is divided into 3 main zones, embellished with Fort Kochi, Willingdon Island and Ernakulam. Fort Kochi engrosses the South projection on the seaside of the Bay. Next the Willingdon Island established in 1920 by scooping the bay for the ships to enter the harbor. Ernakulam lies athwart the causeway from Willingdon Island on the opposite side of Bolghatty Island, a stretched confined peninsula.

Being situated very close to the sea, Kochi has a moderate climate. Heavy showers are experienced during the months June,July and August due to the South-West Monsoon. The North-East Monsoon brings light rainfall during the months September, October, November and December. December to February is pretty cool. The annual rainfall is about 310 cm . In summer the temperature rises to a maximum of 35 ºC while in winter it is around 25 ºC.

Attractions
St. Francis Church
This Protestant church was originally built by the Portuguese in 1510 A.D. It is considered to be India's oldest European church. Today it is governed by the Church of South India (CSI). Vasco Da Gama was buried here before his remains were taken back to Portugal 14 years later.
Cherai Beach
The lovely Cherai beach, situated in Vypeen, is just a 15 minute ferry ride from Fort-Kochi. Besides the sea, sand and the sun, a typical Kerala village with paddy fields and coconut groves nearby completes the idyllic picture that the beach paints.
Jewish Synagogue at Mattancherry
Jewish elegant Synagogue was constructed in the year 1568 with the arrival of the Jews in the south of Kerala. The structure is highly bedecked with crystal a chandelier that sparks as the light falls on them and designed wood carvings with blue and white ceramic tiles. Timing: open from 10 am to 12 noon; 3pm to 5pm, closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays.
Hill Palace Museum
The Palace was the erstwhile residence of the royal Kochi family. The Hill Palace is at the distance of 10 km from Kochi and was contrived in 1865. The palace complex is embellished with 49 structures depicting typical traditional style of architectural splendor of Kerala. The Palace also treasures gold crown engraved with precious stones, 13 galleries of oil paintings, 19th century paintings, artistic scene, sculpture in stone and manuscripts are exhibited. Timings: Open from 9.00 am to 12.30pm; 2pm to 4.30pm, Closed on Mondays and National Holidays.
Backwaters of Cochin
More popular as the Queen of the Arabian Sea, Kochi is a cluster of islands on the vast expanse of the Vembanad Lake. Some of these picturesque islands are Bolgatty, Vypeen, Gundu and Vallarpadam. The lake opens out into the Arabian Sea here to form one of the finest natural harbours in the world. It is this natural advantage that has made Lochi a fascinating blend of the cultures and influences of explorers and traders who visited this wealthy land. Boat cruises from Kochi harbor to Willingdon Island, Mattancherry Place, the Jewish Synagogue, Fort Kochi and Bolgatty Island. Sunset cruise. 3 hour backwater village cruises which include visits to coir villages and coconut plantations.
How to reach
Air
International flights are operated from and to the Cochin International Airport (Tel: 2610087/2610115), located 25 kms northeast of the city at Nedumbassery.
Rail
Cochin is connected to various parts of the country by the Indian Railways, the largest railway system in Asia.
Road
The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation operates shuttle, long-distance, and interstate express and super fast services from the KSRTC bus station (Tel: 2372033).
Kerala Holiday
Suggested Tour Packages

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Holiday Package to South India
Duration : 9 Days / 8 Nights
Destinations Covered : Cochin. Munnar, Periyar, Kumarakom, Kovalam
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tour Package to Cochin - Kumarakom - Houseboat - Kovalam
Duration : 6 Days / 5 Nights
Destinations Covered : Cochin, Kumarakom, Houseboat, Kovalam
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kerala Explorer Holiday Package
Duration : 10 Days / 9 Nights
Destinations Covered : Cochin, Munnar, Rodo Valley, Suryanelli, Thekeddy, Kumarakom
GREEN PARADIZE COCHIN

Thrikkakara Temple (Thrikkakara Vamanamoorthy Temple)(COCHIN) KERALA INDIA and ONAM Kerala's annual harvest festival

2008-03-30T06:54:00.000-07:00

Kerala women in traditional Onam dress Onakodi (new dress for Onam). Surprisingly in Kerala, unlike other parts of India, white, rather a sort of off-white, is the colour for happiness. All six yards or more of off-white saree with kasavu (zari) has come to be recognised as being typical of Onam. The more traditional prefer the mundu and neriyathu, which is the original Kerala version of the saree.

Pookalam a flower carpet laid in front of every house to welcome the advent of the vanquished king Mahabali.

Thrikkakkara temple, one of the oldest temples in Kerala and celebrated in the writings of ancient travellers and Tamil Sangam literature is the centre stage of legends surrounding Onam. More than 13 centuries old, it is the only temple in the country dedicated to Vamana, the fifth incarnation of Vishnu who sent Mahabali to Pathala.

History and myth lay inseparably intertwined at the Thrikkakkara Temple which has about 18 important stone inscriptions dating back to 10-13 A.D. The inscriptions which were published in the Travancore Archeological Series in 1916 by Mr. T.A. Gopinatha Rao (1916) and Mr. K.V. Subramania Iyer (1923) are in 'Vattezhuthu,' the prototype of Malayalam.

Considered one of 13 'divyadesams' of Malanadu, Thrikkakkara or Thirukalkarai, as it was known in the days of the Kulasekharas, was the capital of Kalkarainadu, a fiefdom under the Kulasekharas, it is believed. But there is no documentary evidence to prove it. Nammalvar, Vaishnava saint and the author of 'Thiruvaimizhi,' who lived around 9th Century, had sung praises of the temple and the beautiful countrysides surrounding it. It was a important pilgrimage centre for the Sri Vaishnavas, who were slowly gaining ground over Buddhists and Jains. The temple also finds mention in Sukasandesam, an ancient literary work in Malayalam.

Though consecrated to Vishnu in the incarnation of Vamana, Thrikkakkara temple has a shrine of Siva also nearby. It is interesting to note in this context that though Thrikkakkara Appan or Vamana is worshipped during Onam celebrations, Mathevar or Mahadevar is also worshipped with equal fervour and the reason remains unexplained.

The presence of a multitude of 'Upadevathas' (subordinate deities) is another special feature of Thrikkakkara temple which helps in its identification from ancient literary works and inscriptions. The main temple of Vamana also has Bhagavathi, Sastha and Gopalakrishnan and the nearby Siva temple, Thekkumkara Thevar temple has shrines of Parvathi, Durga, Bhagavathi, Subramanian and Ganapathy.

From the Thrikkakkara edicts emerges a picture of the Kulasekhara empire which existed till about 1102 A.D., as well as the socio-political and religious milieu of the times. It is believed that Kalakarainadu constituted the present Thrikkakkara, Edappally and surrounding areas. The names of a few chieftains appointed as naduvazhis of Kalkarainadu by the Kulasekhara kings who ruled from their capital Mahodayapuram are mentioned in the inscriptions most of which were written during the reign of the Kulasekhara kings Indukothai Varma (944 - 962) and Bhaskara Ravi Varman I (963 - 1019). One record also mentions the existence of Arunoottuvar or the 'Group of 600' who helped and controlled the naduvazhis.

During the reign of Kulasekharas who were great patrons (and followers) of Vaishnavism, Hindu temples flourished in Kerala and Thrikkakkara was a major beneficiary of this royal patronage as can be seen from the inscriptions which mention generous to the temple.

By the turn of this century, Thrikkakkara Temple was in utter ruins with only the Adhishtana remaining. All the standing structures were dilapidated and the image of the deity was also broken down. After repeated pleas from the Vaishnavaites and the report of the Archeology Department the Maharaja of Travancore reconstructed the temple in its present form. Remnants of the old temple wall described by Nammalvar as 'kodimathil' can still be traced beneath the new structure and the pathway surrounding the temple.

The Thrikkakkara Temple that dates back to ancient times has no mention whatsoever about the Namboodiris, the community that held sway over Kerala after the advent of Hinduism. Neither is Edappally Swaroopam, the erstwhile principality with a Namboodiri ruler that had adjoined Kochi and had played a major historical role in Kerala, mentioned in the records. The temple and inscriptions might be older than the emergence of Namboodiris as a force and the formation of Edappally Swaroopam. But later the ruler of Edappally became the official priest there and till recently held the right to nominate the priest.

The inscriptions describe the celebration of Onam as an occasion when all local chieftains assembled at Thrikkakkara to pay their respect to the Kulasekhara Chakravarthi (Emperor). The festivities started from the star of Thiruvonam in the Malayalam month of Karkatakam and lasted for 28 days till Thiruvonam in the month of Chingam. The last 10 days saw the peak of celebrations.

Later the festival was confined to these 10 days beginning from the Atham star in Chingam. The records describe the celebrations in detail and the roles assigned to each king. It is not clear whether the festival had any religious significance at that time.

The festival of Onam that first began to be celebrated at Thrikkakkara has spread from there, spanning caste and creed, penetrating the farthest corner of the world where Malayalees have reached, even as the cold inscriptions from a bygone era remain silent spectators for all the pomp and splendour of the celebrations raging around every year.ADUKALA BLOG
Festivals & Legends: Onam

The Story Behind Onam

A long long time ago, an Asura (demon) king called Mahabali ruled Kerala. He was a wise, benevolent and judicious ruler and beloved of his subjects. Soon his fame as an able king began to spread far and wide, but when he extended his rule to the heavens and the netherworld, the gods felt challenged and began to fear his growing powers. Presuming that he might become over-powerful, Aditi, the mother of Devas pleaded with Lord Vishnu to curtail Mahabali's powers.
Vishnu transformed himself into a dwarf called Vamana and approached Mahabali while he was performing a yajna and asked for alms. Pleased with the dwarf brahmin's wisdom, Mahabali granted him a wish. The Emperor's preceptor, Sukracharya warned him against making the gift, for he realized that the seeker was no ordinary person. But the Emperor's kingly ego was boosted to think that God had asked him for a favor. So he firmly declared that there is no greater sin than going back on one's promise. He kept his word.

The Vamana asked for a simple gift — three paces of land — and the king agreed to it. Vishnu in the guise of Vamana then increased his stature and with the first step covered the sky, blotting out the stars, and with the second, straddled the netherworld. Realising that Vamana's third step will destroy the earth, Mahabali offered his head as the last step.

Vishnu's fatal third step pushed him to the netherworld, but before banishing him to the underworld Vishnu granted him a boon. Since he was attached to his kingdom and his people, he was allowed to return once a year from exile. Onam is the celebration that marks the homecoming of King Mahabali. It is the day when a grateful Kerala pays a glorious tribute to the memory of this benign king who gave his all for his subjects.

Another Legend
Another legend has it that King Mahabali was a devout worshipper of Lord Vishnu. He was sincere, honest, just and a good ruler. But he had one weakness — ego. And to eradicate his pride and redeem his beloved devotee of this one sin, Vishnu came to earth in the form of a dwarf Brahmin named Vamana.

The king in his pride asked the Brahmin what he wanted for he could give anything. Vamana asked for three paces of land and the king agreed. To humble him Vishnu, as Vamana showed Mahabali that he is just a puny creature in front of God's universal stature.

Mahabali, who was a man of principles, realized God's purpose and offered his head for Vamana's footstep, as he was sent to another world. This fatal step proved a blessing in disguise for the good king — the foot salvaged and released him from the recurrent cycle of birth and death. That is why Onam is celebrated by wearing new clothes and resolving to lead a new life of truth, piety, love, and humility.
ABOUT.COM
Onam is the most important harvest festival of Kerala and is an attraction for thousands of people within and outside the state. Ranging from four days to ten days, all the activities during this season are cantered around worshipping, music, dances, sports, boat races and good food. It is celebrated in the Malayalam month Chingam (ending of August and beginning of September). This year it falls on 15 September 2005. Onam is a harvest festival, and celebrates the bounty of nature after a year of hard labour. Elaborate procession of Trichur and spectacular snake boat races on River Pampa mark the merry-making nature of the festival. Women dress up in new saris and heavy jewellery and make elaborate and intricate designs of 'rangolis' (with coloured rice paste) and 'pookkalam' (with flowers) in front of their homes.

Onam is a celebration of Ten days. People put flower mats in front of their houses, to welcome the King. There will be competition for the laying of flower mats; Keralites all over the world will be celebrating these ten days will pomp and gaiety. They will wear new dresses, will be visiting almost all temples which they can, they will be performing lot of dances like Thiruvathira kali Thumbi Tullal etc. to name a few and the most important thing is the grant lunch they will be having on the Thiuruvonam day. Which is also called the Fourth Onam. Whatever may happen they will not miss the Grant lunch. There is a saying in Malayalam that "Kanam Vittu Onam Unnanam" which means, "We should have the Thiruonam lunch even if we have to sell all our properties". They give that much importance to the lunch on the Thiruonam day.
FESTIVALS OF INDIA

U.K's luxury cruise 'Queen Victoria stops at COCHIN and touches Indian shores

2008-03-27T06:20:00.000-07:00

Photo from CUNARD
By Juhan Samuel, Kochi, Mar 26 : Kochi played host to the U.K's luxury cruise 'Queen Victoria' on Wednesday, giving a fitting welcome to the majestic ship.

'Queen Victoria', which is on a maiden world cruise, landed in Kochi early this morning, and true to its name, received a royal welcome at the port city.

This is the 40th cruise vessel to call at Kochi Port since April 2007, and two more cruise vessels expected to land in Kochi in April.

Passengers were accorded a warm welcome on their arrival in Kochi, by folk artistes who entertained with traditional music.

"We had a fantastic welcome here this morning. Beautiful, lovely," said Belleo, a tourist.

The 90,000 tonne palace on water which was inaugurated by the Duchess of York Camilla, is the latest in the line from the British shipping company Cunard, replacing the popular 'Queen Elizabeth 2'.

With a capacity to accommodate over 2, 000 passengers, the 'Queen Victoria' has been christened a 'floating palace' by its passengers.

"We are the happiest people in the world and we are celebrating in a lovely country. We have just got off a floating palace!" said Bob Bridao, another tourist, who was on his honeymoon.

The luxury cruise offers an interesting blend of the old world charm of ocean travel with modern facilities like theatre, live orchestra and a second largest floating library.

With an in-house museum and a card room, the ship offers a variety of amusement options for its passengers.

Replete with bars and lounges, the ship provides the ultimate onboard luxury experience.

The ship will leave for Mumbai this evening, where it will be docked for a fortnight.

On the conclusion of its maiden cruise, the 'Queen Victoria' will embark on another cruise to the Baltics and Scandinavia in May and will sail into the Mediterranean in August this year.

--- ANI

Source New Kerala
Queen Victoria visits Kochi
Web posted at: 3/27/2008 8:3:13
Source ::: The Peninsula
By John Mary

Thiruvananthapuram • Cruise liner Queen Victoria, referred to as a sonnet in motion, made her maiden visit to Kochi port yesterday, with 1,800 tourists and 1,000 crew members on board.

Victoria’s skipper, Christopher Rynd, and the rest on board, were given a traditional welcome with an ensemble of musical instruments. Capt Rynd said Kochi was the most beautiful port in this part of the world and appreciated the efforts made by the port for a hassle-free visit by the vessel and its tourists.

During their brief stay, the tourists fanned out to have a glimpse of the city tourist hotspots like Fort Kochi and Mattancherry, once home to Jewish, Dutch and Portuguese settlements.

Capt Subash Kumar, Dy Chairman of the port, and senior officers exchanged plaques to mark the maiden call of the vessel. The ship later set sail for Mumbai.

Queen Victoria is the 40th cruise vessel to call at Cochin Port during the current financial year. Two more vessels are expected to call later this month.

During the next month eight cruise vessels are expected to visit Cochin, namely Columbus, Silver Whisper, Crystal Symphony and Europa
QUATARS PENINSULA ONLINE

Queen Mary II leaving COCHIN

2008-03-24T15:04:00.003-07:00

Queen Mary 2, the largest cruise ship was in Cochin. She called at Cochin Port on 8th March 2007 at 11.00 Hrs. for an overnight stay. She sailed to Dubai the next day at 14.30 Hrs.

Queen Mary 2's farewell from cochin

2008-03-24T15:04:00.001-07:00

Queen Mary 2, the largest cruise ship was in Cochin. She called at Cochin Port on 8th March 2007 at 11.00 Hrs. for an overnight stay. She sailed to Dubai the next day at 14.30 Hrs. Cochin is the only port of call in India during her first global tour in 80 days. This is her maiden visit to India. She started her journey from Fort Lauder dale near Florida in the US on January 11th 2007. The passengers of Queen Mary 2 were given a warm welcome with elephants, traditional art forms of Kerala and ‘chendamelam’. The ship was carrying 2620 passengers. Queen Mary 2 is a crowd-puller at every port she visited. Hundreds of people gathered at Fort Cochin beach to have a look of the floating wonder.

Preparations in full swing for ocean race stopover in COCHIN (Kochi)

2008-03-23T06:08:00.000-07:00

Published: Sunday, 23 March, 2008, 01:52 AM Doha Time

By Ashraf Padanna
KOCHI: Preparations are in full swing here for hosting the India stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race later this year.
During the event, several international corporate leaders and some of the world’s top brands and business houses sponsoring the boats and teams taking part in the competition are expected to gather here to cheer their race teams.
“This race is regarded as the ultimate in ocean racing competition comparable only to the Formula One in motor sports,” Cochin Port Trust chairman M Ramachandran said.
The race will commence its round-the-world marathon sailing in October 2008 and cover more than 39,000 nautical miles, visiting 11 ports across the world, starting from Alicante in Spain and calling at Cape Town (South Africa), Kochi, Singapore, Qingdao (China), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Boston (US), Galway (Ireland), Goteborg (Sweden) and Stockholm, before reaching the finishing line at St Petersburg in Russia.
“For the first time in 35 years, the race organisers have chosen an Indian port for the stopover after extensive evaluations and negotiations that went on for more than a year,” Ramachandran said.
The race is scheduled to stop over in Kochi for 10 days, from December 3 to 13.
The Indian part of the event is jointly hosted by the Cochin Port Trust and Kerala Tourism.
“The port, which is forging ahead as an exciting international sailing hub and as a vivacious leisure and lifestyle destination, has started witnessing enormous expansion and modernisation to receive the guests,” Ramachandran said.
Apart from the world’s fastest ocean racing yachts with state-of-the-art technology backup, the event will also attract hundreds of other luxury yachts and sailing vessels.
“The participants of the race require physical endurance and sheer grit of the highest order to deal with life at the extreme, as they race day and night for more than 20 days at a stretch in some of the legs, facing potential dangers such as gales and storms, icebergs, ocean debris and whales. It’s considered the ultimate in world class water-sporting competition on the extreme edge of adventure, drama and endurance,” Ramachandran said.
The race events are designed to enable global corporate sponsors to hold networking conclaves with leaders of commerce and industry of the host country at the stopover ports.
“The Kochi stopover will help showcase India as an emerging economic giant while highlighting the country’s business potential as well as the opportunities for tourism and leisure. The race is truly a unique mix of the ultimate in sport, glamour and hard-nosed business,” he said.
Cochin Port has started building the offshore and onshore infrastructure, including a Race Village to host sporting as well as the corporate events. The roads and civic amenities on the Willingdon Island are also being upgraded.

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=208684&version=1&template_id=40&parent_id=22

Six-day Cochin Flower Show kicks off at Marine Drive

2008-03-22T14:53:00.000-07:00

Rainbow of colours: Visitors flock to the Cochin Flower Show that began in Kochi on Wednesday. —

Kerala - Kochi
Photo: H. Vibhu

Six-day Cochin Flower Show kicks off at Marine Drive

Staff Reporter
KOCHI: The 26th edition of the Cochin Flower Show, organised by the Ernakulam district Agri-Horticultural Society, began at the Marine Drive here on Wednesday. V.J. Kurian, Chairman, Spices Board, inaugurated the show.

It is indeed a visual delight for the visitors as many varieties of flowers and evergreen plants create a splash of colours. Roses dominate the over 8,000 varieties of flowers and plants on display. These include marigold, chrysanthemum, petunia, rosetta orange, and various other varieties of flowers and over 250 varieties of bonsai plants. A major attraction is the fresh flower arrangement spread over more than 10,000 sq ft.

Another highlight of the show is the exhibition of the Mediterranean variety of Italian ornamental flowers and the sale of saplings of these flower plants.

Italian flowers

A Bangalore-based company has put up an exhibition of Italian flowers categorised by colours. Flowers are categorised into red (Pintado, Leopardi, Guapo, Morgan, Masairosso); purple (Ticotico, Viola); white (Emotion, Special, Aladino); pink (Cipro,Chanson); yellow (Basilio, Boccacie) and bi-colour (Pigalle, Botticelli, Mozart Bernini, Alibaba).

Being a Kannadiga, Rajan, who manned the stall, had some difficulty in communicating with the visitors. But they had the language of colours to communicate.

A printed material elaborating the method to be followed in planting and the fertilizers to be used are also given to the buyers.

Children, however, might find the flightless Australian bird Emu exhibited at the show more attractive.

Sethumadhavan, owner of Grant Seed Nursery, Nenmara, has been a constant presence at the show for the last 10 years.

“There is a great demand for flower seeds and over the years we have built up a dedicated customer base that keeps in constant touch regarding the planting and nurturing of flowers and plants,” he said.

Bio-bin

Kudumbasree members exhibiting the bio-bin system for waste treatment under the Clean Kochi project promoted by the Kerala Builders Forum are also active at the show.

A picture museum with photographs arranged under more than 10 categories attract the visitors.

There are about 90 commercial stalls at the show. Nurseries from across the State, members of the Agri-Horticultural Society, and individual members are participating in the show.

Besides, the Kerala Books and Publications Society, the Cochin Port Trust and the Cochin Shipyard are also participating.

Cultural evenings

Film actor Bhama inaugurated the cultural events organised as part of the show. There will be cultural events and musical shows after 6 p.m. on every day of the show.

The show will be open between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. The entry rates are Rs.20 for adults and Rs.10 for children. The rate for adults will be Rs.30 after 4 p.m. The show will conclude on Monday.
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/06/stories/2008030650320200.htm

Malayatoor shrine in COCHIN Kerala attracts thousands on Good Friday

2008-03-21T17:19:00.000-07:00

Malayatoor shrine in Kerala attracts thousands on Good Friday
From ANI

Malayatoor (Kerala), March 21 On the eve of Good Friday, thousands of pilgrims climbed erala's famous hill shrine of Malayatoor Kurisumudi,

The famed church is located 52 kilometers from Kochi and stands at the top of the Malayatoor Hill that is 609 meters high. It is consecrated to St. Thomas, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ and enshrines a full-size image of St. Thomas.

The footprints of St Thomas are engraved in a rock, which is protected here.

The climb is quite difficult due to rocks and uneven surfaces but they remain the major attractions for the pilgrims who come here.

Around seven million or more visit this place every year around Good Friday, said the church authority.

Fr. R.Chullikal, the Chaplin of the International shrine said that hundreds of thousands of devotees throng the hill shrine during this season, especially on Good Friday, irrespective of their age, cast and religion.

Despite the harsh terrain and bad weather condition, people of all age groups and religions share the pain and hardships by carrying the wooden cross that Jesus went through the way to crucification at Mount Calvarry.

"I have been coming here for the last three years regularly. I always carry the cross with me during the pilgrimage, as this gives some kind of an inner spiritual awakening and happiness to me," said a devotee Dinoy P.A, who travelled 80 kilometers barefoot to arrive here for the pilgrimage.

The sacred Malayatoor (St.Thomas) Church in this region is considered as an International pilgrim site that attracts the largest number of pilgrims.

Sailing in an Arab merchant vessel, St. Thomas is believed to have landed at Kodungalloor port in Kerala, India in 52 A.D.

It is believed that St. Thomas took the initiative for establishing a Christian community at Malayattoor. St. Thomas founded churches in Kodungalloor, Quilon, Niranam, Nilakkal, Kokkamangalam, Kottakavu and Paalayoor on his journey through the length and breadth of the land.

St. Thomas died in 72 A.D. after he was pierced by a lance while praying on St Thomas Mount, a 91m-high hill 14kms southwest of Chennai. His body was taken to Mylapore and buried in the chapel he had built himself. By Juhan Samuel

Copyright Asian News International
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Cochin, Kerala Honeymoon Tour Packages

2008-03-21T17:16:00.000-07:00

Cochin or Kochi is one of the most important cities of southern Indian state of Kerala. It is also popularly described as the Queen of Arabian Sea. It has been a major commercial centre of Kerala since ancient days. Still today it is considered as the commercial & industrial capital of Kerala, India. It has one of the finest harbors on the Arabian Sea which make it a perfect Port City. Cochin is also famous as one of the most travel destinations of Kerala, India. A large number of tourists from all over the world come to visit Cochin or Kochi and explore its several attractions. No once think about complete travel and tours of Kerala India without visiting Cochin or Kochi.

The city has a lot of tourism options to offer its visitors. Traveler form far around tour Kerala and don’t forget to visit its popular city – Cochin or Kochi. The port city of Cochin is also very popular among honeymooner and newly wedded couples from all over the world as it provides them a soothing and pleasant ambiance to celebrate their Kerala honeymoon holidays in more and more preferred ways. Tours of Kochi city are added attractions of Kerala honeymoon tours. In fact, Cochin is an ideal destination for honeymoon in Kerala, India. Beautiful beaches, terrific churches, lovely waterfalls, grand hotels with excellent accommodation, etc make Cochin one of the most popular Kerala honeymoon destinations.

For honeymooners or other tourists there is a plethora of attractions in this city of Kerala, India. During your honeymoon tour in Cochin you will have a lot of options to do and see. You can visit magnificent Fort Kochi which is one of the most important attractions of Cochin, Kerala honeymoon tour. Here you can also visit terrific St. Francis Church – the oldest existing European Church in India. Chinese Fishing Nets are also worth visiting attraction of Cochin Kerala tours. Mattancherry Dutch Palace is another major attraction of Cochin. You should not forget to visit these famous attractions of Cochin during you Kerala honeymoon tours. Surly exploring the city attractions will be a lifetime experience of your Kerala honeymoon tour in Cochin.

Backwaters, Marine Drive, Hill Palace, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Jewish Synagogue, Bolgatty Palace, Willington Island, Pallipuram Palace, Parikshit Thampuram Museum, Bastion Bungalow, Athirappilly Falls, Cherai Beach, Bhoothathankettu Dam, Kanjiramattom Mosque, Church Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica, etc are also worth visiting attractions of Cochin honeymoon tours in Kerala, India. Exploring these attractions of Cochin provides a special charm to your Kerala honeymoon tours. It will be an experience to cherish and treasure.

There are several Kerala honeymoon packages available which make you enable to celebrate your honeymoon Kerala in more and more preferred ways. Cochin has a great place in every Kerala honeymoon package. Because the port city of Cochin has a lot to offers its visitors. Honeymoon package in kerala makes you enable to see city Kerala tour attractions in systematic way and escape you from being perplex what to see or what to not. So, if you are really in need of a picturesque honeymoon destination in Kerala you must visit Cochin where you will have wonderful opportunity to see several cultural heritage as well as beautiful beaches and backwaters.

About the author :
Michael Braganza is an amateur writer focusing primarily on Indian Travel related topics. For more information kerala honeymoon tours and Kerala honeymoon packages to visit http://www.greenparadize.com/
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High-Altitude Training Centre ready in MUNNAR a HILL STATION located around 130 km east of COCHIN

2008-03-18T11:22:00.000-07:00

Sports Thursday, March 13, 2008
Kerala's high-altitude training centre ready
Kerala's first high-altitude training centre for sportspersons will open at Munnar Sunday. The centre is located at an altitude of 1460 metres from sea level.

'Indian athletes taking part in Beijing Olympics will undergo 40-day training at the centre from Sunday,' Kerala Sports Council president T.P. Dasan told a press conference here Thursday.

State Sports Minister M. Vijayakumar will inaugurate the centre.

Munnar is a hill station in Idukki district, located around 130 km east of Kochi.

'This will be the second high-altitude training centre in the country. The first one is in Himachal Pradesh,' said Dasan.

The work on the centre began in 1995 and the government has spent Rs.57.9 million on the facility. The centre has athlete tracks, volleyball court and hostel facilities.

In the second phase of expansion, swimming pool, synthetic tracks and techno-gym will be added, he said.

Dasan said Kerala would bid for the 2009 National Games. 'The government has already allotted Rs.10 million for making the bid. We are planning to host the games at Thiruvananthapuram,' he said.

http://www.indiaenews.com/sports/20080313/104098.htm

COCHIN Jew Town’s disappearing community

2008-03-16T06:04:00.000-07:00

Headstones at the synagogue. One of the oldest in the world

The gate of the Pardesi Synagogue (Photos: Ines Ehrlich)

Yossef Halegua

The Pardesi Synagogue

Sarah Cohen. Looks like a 'typical Jewish European grandmother'

Juliette Halegua with a friend

Jew Town’s disappearing community

The once thriving congregation of the Pardesi synagogue has dwindled to the last seven Jews

Ines Ehrlich Published: 03.16.08, 08:44 / Israel Jewish Scene

Our tour of Kerala, in the southern part of India, brought us to Fort Cochin. Since ancient times Kerala has been the center of the Indian spice trade where Greeks, Romans, Jews, Arabs and Chinese vied for its trade. According to legend, the first Jews arrived here in 70CE, just after the destruction of the second Temple.

The Maharaja of Travancore and Cochin gave shelter to the Jewish community here after the Moorish Arabs attacked them in 1524 due to their trade monopoly. They were given an area right opposite the Maharajah’s palace, which subsequently became known as Jew Town. It was here, at the end of a narrow cobbled road that they built the Pardesi synagogue in 1568.

It is one of the oldest synagogues in the world and has functioned undisturbed throughout the ages. According to the seven Jews left in Jew Town today, no other society in the world has embraced Jews with such hospitality, allowing them to live in peace and mutual respect for so long.

The Cochin Jews were comprised of two groups: The largest were known as the “Meyuhassim” or Malabari Jews, whose forefathers are believed to have arrived in India as merchants during the time of King Solomon. The second group is known as the Pardesi Jews, who primarily came from Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Spain and Germany.

The two groups lived in the towns of Cochin, Aluva, North Paravur and Ernakulum where they built eight beautiful and thriving synagogues which functioned throughout the ages until mass emigration to Israel in the 1950s.

Cochin Jews, who spoke a dialect called Judeo-Malayalam, a mix of Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam and Hebrew, adapted themselves so well to the Hindu way of life that they even adopted caste behavior by dividing themselves into sub-castes. Hence, these groups were often referred to by their color: The “Meyuhassim” Jews were known as the “black” Jews, some 50 of whom still live in Ernakulum today, and the “Pardesi” Jews, who were more influential and known as the “white” Jews, only seven of whom remain in Fort Cochin’s Jew Town today.

The two groups did not mix, and those who were not part of the “white” sub-caste were not allowed to marry into the community. Within the last few decades, however, all religious divisions have disappeared, but so has most of the community.

Emigration to Israel, which began in 1950 and peaked during the 1970’s has almost decimated this once thriving community. Large groups have settled in Moshav Nevatim in the Negev and Moshav Yuval in the North, in the Katamon neighborhood in Jerusalem, in Beersheba, Dimona and Yeruham, where they have set up their own synagogues.

Inside the synagogue

Adhering to Hindu tradition, which has blended so harmoniously with Jewish tradition here, we removed our shoes before entering the synagogue. Amongst the prize possessions inside is a copper plate granted to the Jewish trading community by Raja Ravi Varman (962-1020). Our guide recited the age and source of each of the crystal chandeliers, and explained that the blue and white willow-patterned floor tiles had been imported from a Jewish community in China during the 15th century.

Until recently the synagogue held regular services (Sephardi Orthodox) using the small but steady stream of tourists to make a minyan for prayer, this is no longer the case and services are held only during the high holidays and when a minyan is randomly gathered from among Jewish tourists.

As Anil our guide locked up the synagogue gates with great care, we strolled down the narrow road, whose shop windows all displayed Jewish artifacts and names. Further down the road we met Anas, lugging his pushcart full of postcards depicting the synagogue, which we were not allowed to photograph from the inside.

We caught the first glimpse of 80-year-old Sarah Cohen through the colorfully designed ironwork of her windows, which unabashedly displayed blue Stars of David. Wearing a flower printed housedress, flip-flops and a scarf covering her grey curls, she was sitting serenely by the window reading from her bible; it seemed nothing could disturb her calm.

Our guide had met Sarah several times and he walked inside her open doorway for a polite chat in Malayalam. It was somewhat strange watching what seemed like a “typical Jewish European grandmother” speaking the local dialect so naturally. Sarah, it turned out, has no children and her husband recently passed away.

She was unperturbed by the flow of our group’s eight women who followed Anil in through the doorway; she was used to being interviewed and has had her photos taken on many occasions. She bemoaned the fact that the community has dwindled to such an extent that there are no longer enough people for a minyan at the synagogue. Sarah said it's only a matter of time before the Jews of Cochin completely disappear, and with them the unique mix of Indian and Jewish culture.

"This will become a museum, not a functioning synagogue," she said sadly. When that happens, she said, history can record that this Jewish community’s emigration was not motivated by intolerance or discrimination by India, we have always been welcomed here. We asked Sarah why she has decided to stay behind when the majority of the community had made aliyah to Israel:

"How could we leave? We are Indians, too. Why should we leave the only place we have known as home?" she said as she rhythmically swayed her head sideways in the typical Indian manner.

To keep herself busy during weekdays and to make a small income, Sarah Cohen embroiders kippahs and sells them to the Jewish tourists who frequent this “dying community.”

Keeping kosher the Indian way
As we strolled further down the road, we came across lifetime Cochin resident, 85-year-old Yossef Halegua, whose own family arrived here in 1592 from Spain. He and his wife Juliette were spending their leisurely Shabbat afternoon sitting on the verandah of their home which was built in 1761, and which faces the bustling street. Unfolding his tales of life in Cochin to his eager listeners, Yossef said there has never been any Indian anti-Semitism in Cochin. Juliette, Yossef’s beautiful, pale skinned, blue- eyed wife told us that their daughter had nonetheless immigrated to Israel and currently lives in Givat Ada.

We asked Yossef and his wife about the difficulties of maintaining a kosher home, and he replied that indeed they do keep kosher, but that they are also Indian, adding that they use an Indian flatbread rather than the braided challah bread for Shabbat. Yossef also said that the Jewish community here does not eat beef out of respect for the Hindu prohibition.

In its heyday there were two synagogues in Fort Cochin, but the only functioning one today is the Pardesi Synagogue, which is a state protected heritage site. The religious artifacts of this second synagogue were brought to Israel in their entirety during the 50s and are currently housed in the Israel Museum in Jerusalem while the Holy Ark is being preserved for future generations at the religious kibbutz of Nehalim.

The average age of the community in Jew Town is close to 90, and as per Sarah Cohen’s words “the Pardesi synagogue will inevitably turn into a museum within the next few years”, one that will display a rare case of Jewish coexistence.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3519316,00.html

Experts from 20 countries will meet in Kochi later this month to lend support for Kerala's new initiative of responsible tourism

2008-03-01T16:26:00.000-08:00

Published: Sunday, 2 March, 2008, 02:04 AM Doha Time

By Ashraf Padanna
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Experts from 20 countries will meet in Kochi later this month to lend support to Keralaâ€™s new initiative â€” responsible tourism.
They will discuss topics such as local economic development and poverty reduction, responsibility for destination sustainability and travel philanthropy and the role of government.
The second edition of the International Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations will see delegates from several countries including Britain, Germany, Gambia, South Africa, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Bhutan.
â€œKerala has successfully implemented responsible tourism practices and is home to several working models, contributing to enriching the environment and the local community. The meeting is going to be a tribute to these initiatives,â€‌ state Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said.
Around 400 delegates are expected to attend the four-day meeting beginning on March 21 at the Le Meridien International Convention Centre to learn about the latest developments and practices in Responsible Tourism.
The first conference in Cape Town, held along with the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002, was attended by 280 delegates including representatives of tour operators, national parks, conservation authorities, tourism professionals, non-governmental organisations and hotel groups.
â€œThis second international conference is designed to create awareness amongst operators, hoteliers, governments, local people and tourists to take responsibility and action to make tourism more sustainable,â€‌ Balakrishnan said.
â€œThese stakeholders - Africa, North and South America, Europe and Asia - will sit together to discuss the need to spread the idea the world over.â€‌
The initiative is to minimise negative economic, environmental and social impacts and to generate greater economic benefits for local community, besides improving working conditions and access to the industry.
â€œLocal people are involved in decisions that affect their lives and they make positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage and thereby maintain worldâ€™s diversity,â€‌ Balakrishnan said.
Since 2002, there have been many initiatives at national and local level that have pushed forward the responsible tourism agenda. The concerns of those in the tourism industry to the relatively new idea of responsible travel and responsible tourism will be answered by experts who have already implemented many of these new concepts.
â€œItâ€™ll help us keep pace with international trends towards best practices and gain market advantage,â€‌ said Kerala Tourism Director Venu V. â€œDelegates will get a chance to visit sites like home-stays, heritage precincts, farms and local entrepreneurs which are models of responsible tourism practices.â€‌
Kumbalangi, Fort Kochi, Kumarakom and Mattancherry are some of the places that will be showcased. Operators in the Kerala tourism sector will also share their experiences in making the state a Responsible Tourism destination.
The conference will be co-chaired by Venu and Harold Goodwin, director of the International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT) at Leeds Metropolitan University.
â€œResponsible Tourism in its purest sense is an industry which attempts to make a low impact on the environment and local culture, while helping to generate income, employment and the conservation of local ecosystems.

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=204766&version=1&template_id=40&parent_id=22

CIBER City Cochin India: COCHIN ( Kochi ) an E-Tourism Destination

2008-02-27T11:39:00.000-08:00

CIBER City Cochin India: COCHIN ( Kochi ) an E-Tourism Destination

COCHIN(KOCHI) Kerala, India( India's idyllic backwater)

2008-02-26T19:05:00.000-08:00

A MAP OF MARCO POLO's EXPEDITION FOR KUBLAI KHANS COURT IN COCHIN CHINA WHICH IS BELIEVED TO BE HOW COCHIN INDIA GOT ITS NAME AS WELL AS ITS FAMOUS CHINEESEE FISHING NETS. MARCO POLO IS ORIGINALLY FROM VENICE ITALY FAMOUS FOR ITS CANALS ALLEPPEY A TOWN SOUTH OF COCHIN IS FAMOUSLY CALLED THE VENICE OF THE EAST AND GOT ITS NICKNAME FROM MARCO POLO BECAUSE IT REMINDED HIM OF HIS HOMETOWN.India's idyllic backwater
Diverse Kerala coast blends communism with capitalism, and coconuts with just about everything
John Flinn, Chronicle Staff Writer

Sunday, April 1, 2007

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A Passage To IndiaKerala Coast Blends Communism, Capitalism and Coconuts

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(04-01) 04:00 PST Kochi, India -- Well, I'm one up on Christopher Columbus: I managed to journey without incident to Kerala, India's green and fertile land of spices. Columbus set sail for here in 1492, and we all know how that turned out.

Every celebrated traveler of that age set his sights on the Malabar Coast, as Kerala was known at the time. Marco Polo came here; so did the peripatetic Islamic scholar Ibn Battuta and China's intrepid Admiral Zheng. Vasco da Gama was buried here. The ancient Egyptians, the Phoenicians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Arabs -- they all came to Kerala. King Solomon is said to have sent his commercial fleet here.
Traders still come for the spices -- when the wind is right a hint of nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom and turmeric wafts across the harbor from the warehouses in Emakulam -- but travelers are arriving in increasing numbers for another reason: a respite in what's probably the gentlest, most idyllic and socially interesting corner of India.

Cut off from the rest of the subcontinent by a spine of mountains called the Western Ghats, lapped by the warm Arabian Sea and crisscrossed by the tranquil web of canals, lakes and rivers known as the Backwaters, Kerala is unlike any other place in India. It's green and lush rather than brown and dusty, its literacy rate is the highest in the world, and it's renowned for religious tolerance in a country where this hasn't always been a strong point.

Fort Cochin is the tourist nexus, with the ramparts of an old Portuguese fort, moldering Dutch and English mansions, a waterfront fish market and a warren of narrow streets meandering through the old spice district. The beaches -- which I didn't get to spend much time on -- are said to be like those of Goa, minus the blissed-out ravers. And a journey by houseboat through the Backwaters is becoming de rigueur for world travelers (see related story).

As elsewhere in India, they're de-Anglicizing many of the place names here. At the moment the main town is in transition between "Cochin," as most local signs and some guidebooks spell it, and "Kochi," as the airport and other guidebooks spell it.

Kerala threw me off guard at first. As I rode into town from the airport, the first thing I saw was a billboard with a serious-looking scientist in a white lab coat holding a bottle of Coke. "I am 100 percent certain," said the sign, "that Coca-Cola is safe to drink." Good to know, I thought, but a little odd.

The next thing I saw were red hammer-and-sickle flags -- lots and lots of them. The cab driver explained: Kerala has the world's oldest democratically elected communist government, and it's been trying for years to ban Coke and Pepsi. It claims they're awash in pesticides, but the driver and everyone else I talked to thinks it's just a ruse to expel two icons of American economic hegemony.

As an American traveler, though, I never felt anything but welcome in Kerala. Once, in a tailor shop, I told the owner I was from California and he warbled a pretty good rendition of "Hotel California." A fishmonger gave me a thumbs-up and barked "Arnold Schwarzenegger!"

The economy here is exuberantly capitalist -- I saw a hammer-and-sickle flag flapping in front of a billboard for luxury condos -- and the communist government, aided by money sent home from Kerala workers in the Middle East, has created a society with a nearly 100 percent literacy rate, a life expectancy close to that of the United States and comprehensive, free medical care for all. They're aiming now for 100 percent computer literacy, with free classes all over the state. People here boast that Bangalore, India's Silicon Valley, was built largely on Kerala brainpower.

The place is far from wealthy, or even middle class, but I never saw the kind of hopeless, rock-bottom poverty that's so common in Mumbai and Delhi. Kerala is an example, as writer Akash Kapur put it, of poor people living well.

The next thing that caught my eye was a billboard for the upcoming World Coconut Summit. This is not nearly as goofy as it sounds. As my plane descended to the Kochi airport, I looked out over palm trees -- not just a fringe along the water, but a vast forest of palms stretching to the horizon. The name "Kerala" is said to mean "land of coconuts."

Coconuts are the top industry here, surpassing even the lucrative spice trade. The fiber called coir is shipped all over the world and used to make mats, ropes and other products. The fronds of the palm tree are used for thatch, the roots for firewood, the trunks for furniture. And the coconut is the foundation of Kerala's unique cuisine.

Made with coconut milk, the curries here are lighter and more refreshing than elsewhere in India. For breakfast, Keralans eat a mixture of steamed coconut and rice powder called puttu. Grated coconut is an essential ingredient in a common stir-fry dish known as a thoren. French fries and potato chips here are boiled in coconut oil -- it's a taste I never acquired -- and, in the absence of Coke and Pepsi, the most popular soft drink is a coconut with the top lopped off and a straw inserted.

If you were going to sit down and write a coconut manifesto -- or whatever it is they do at a World Coconut Summit -- it's hard to think of a better place than Kerala.

Built around a huge natural harbor, the layout (as I'm not the first to note) is similar to the Bay Area: The old trading town of Fort Cochin occupies San Francisco's spot, the modern port of Emakulam is where Oakland would be and manmade Willingdon Island, in the center of the harbor, is Treasure Island.

I stayed on Willingdon Island, where there's not much going on, and "commuted" each day to Fort Cochin by ferry. It's a great way to chat with Keralans, the cool breeze was a godsend and the price was right: about a nickel a ride. My ferry was never crowded, which I didn't fully appreciate until later: Two days after I left, another ferry here, full of schoolchildren on an outing, capsized and 18 drowned. It was a reminder you should never take safety for granted on public transit in India.

Fort Cochin is a mishmash of European architectural styles reflecting the successive colonial overlords: the 500-year-old Portuguese church where da Gama was originally buried (his remains were later sent back to Portugal), a Dutch cemetery surrounded by manses with high-peaked and tiled roofs, and half-timbered homes built by homesick Brits.

The town's most prominent landmark is the enormous, cantilevered, spider-like contraptions known as the Chinese fishing nets. They're said to have been a gift brought here by Admiral Zheng from the court of Kublai Khan (although the dates don't stand up to much scrutiny). They're still in daily use, and they're fascinating to watch: The huge nets, attached to 100-foot-long wooden spines by a complex system of ropes and stone counterweights, are lowered into the water and later raised back up by just four men. The catch is sold directly to passers-by, or ends up in one of the fish stalls next to the open-air, you-buy-it-we-fry-it restaurants.

Guidebooks imply that Fort Cochin is still full of fragrant spice bazaars, but if they're there I never saw (or smelled) them. All I saw were small plastic packets sold in souvenir shops. The vast majority of the spice trade, I was told, has moved across the harbor to modern Emakulam.

A crossroads of the ancient world, with traders arriving from Asia, Africa and Europe, Kerala is the most religiously diverse place in India: One-fifth of the residents are Christian, one-quarter Muslim. Fort Cochin is said to have the oldest and most storied Jewish community in India, centered in a district called Jew Town. This is no ghetto; it was, and remains, one of the town's more fashionable neighborhoods, built on land granted by the Raja of Kochi next to his palace. Tradition says the first Jews began arriving in Kerala after the Romans destroyed the Second Temple of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

Strolling through Jew Town, it was startling -- to say the least -- to see side-by-side buildings with matching grillwork, one inlaid with Stars of David, the other with swastikas. It took me a moment to remember that the latter sign was used by Hindus and other religions for thousands of years before the Nazis. A man on the street theorized that the merchant who erected the building long before Hitler came to power included the swastika for the same reason a Holiday Inn in the United States might fly a Canadian or British flag out front -- to let people of other cultures know they're welcome.

The 440-year-old synagogue, one of Fort Cochin's most popular tourist attractions, is a light, airy and cool place with a floor made of hundreds of hand-painted Chinese tiles, no two of them alike.

There I met a Jewish woman and tried, without much luck, to hear firsthand the story of Kerala's Jewish community. She wasn't unfriendly or impolite, just quite firm that she didn't want to be interviewed. But I did learn this from her: There are precisely 13 Jews left in town, the rest having left for Israel years ago. There's no rabbi to perform religious services.

Soon, it seems, the Jews will join the Portuguese, the Dutch, the British and all the others who made their mark on this fascinating corner of India and then departed, leaving their stone legacies to decay in the tropical heat.

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If you go
Getting there

There are no direct flights to Kochi from San Francisco. From Delhi, Mumbai (formerly Bombay) and Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), a number of budget airlines, including Jet Air and Kingfisher Air, fly to Kochi.

Travel agents

Third Eye Travel, Fremont. (510) 487-9010 or (800) 456-3393, www.thirdeyetravel.com. Usha Lama provided useful advice and arranged airport transfers and guided tours in addition to hotels. As with most travel agents, hotels tended to be larger and fancier than you'd find in a Lonely Planet guide.

Where to stay

Trident Hilton Cochin, Willingdon Island. 011-91-4842669595, www.hilton.com. Good restaurant, reliable air conditioning, but rooms smelled moldy. It's away from the action, though I came to appreciate the quiet location. Doubles $138, including big breakfast buffet, on hotel Web site.Travelocity advertised some rooms for $99.

Ballard Bungalow, Fort Cochin. 011-91-484-2215854, www.

cochinballard.com. I heard good things about the air-conditioned rooms here. From 1,800 rupees (about $41 US).

Where to eat

Malabar Junction, 1/268-1/269 Parade Road, Fort Cochin. 011-91-484-221-6666. Kerala-Mediterranean fusion restaurant with entertainment. Dinner entrees, 250-850 rupees ($5.60-$19.25).

Kashi Art Cafe, Burgher Street, Fort Cochin. Combination cafe and gallery; hangout of the world traveler set. Good coffee, soups, sandwiches. Lunch, 100 rupees ($2.25).

Open-air cafes near the Chinese fishing nets will cook fish you've bought at local stalls.

What to do

Kathakali Centre, River Road, Fort Cochin. 011-91-484-2215827, www.kathakalicentre.org. Popular venue for tourists to see kathakali, a Kerala form of song-dance-drama with elaborate costumes and makeup. Nightly shows, 100 rupees ($2.25).

Houseboats

Among the outfitters are www.houseboatskerala.org, www.kerala-tourism.net and www.houseboatskerala.net. A one-bedroom houseboat for two passengers typically costs $175-$220 for one night, including three meals.

For more information

Kerala Tourism, www.keralatourism.org.

Indian Tourist Board, (213) 380-8855, www.incredibleindia.org.

E-mail Executive Travel Editor John Flinn at travel@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page G - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/04/01/TRG1TON1N11.DTL

COCHIN(KOCHI) the southern coast's sybaritic retreat & the Jewel of India.

2008-02-26T17:51:00.000-08:00

A kettu vallom on the backwaters

St. Mary of Hope, a Portuguese church on nearby Vypeen Island.

Spices for sale in historic Jew Town.

The ferry to Vypeen Island.

The Paradesi Synagogue, India's oldest, in Jew Town.

Sajish Karthikeyan (right) and a colleague at a taxi service in Kochi.

Food guru Nimmy Paul at Ernakulam market.

Coconuts drying in the sun at a coconut-oil mill near Bannambeli.

Kerala sadya, or Keralan leaf, at Badettu restaurant in Ernakulam.

A Kathakali dancer

Ayurvedic Massage Treatment
.Jewel of India

Anders Overgaard
Plus
Where to Stay, Eat, and Shop
Find Out More
Bonus Slideshow
See the slideshow. Forget everything you think you know about India. This is Kochi, the southern coast's sybaritic retreat. Tad Friend explores lush backwaters, dabbles in local cooking, and expands his mind through the ayurvedic treatment sirodhara
From November 2005

My first morning in India I woke up somewhere else. My wife, Amanda, and I were sleepily carving up a mango; it was just after dawn in the city of Kochi. Like much of the state of Kerala, Kochi (often still called Cochin) is a braid of canals and lagoons, and our breakfast table at the Taj Malabar hotel was beside a window that opened onto Vembanad Lake, a nominally fresh body of water that, somewhere within the city's aqueous terrain, merges with the Indian Ocean. Beyond the passing freighters lay islands thick with coconut palms; closer at hand, an old fisherman paddled up and stood in his dugout to coax a few grouper from the folds of his net into a red bucket. Then he spun like a discus thrower and flung the net back out. Its silver weights popped on the water like tiny firecrackers.

This scene of quiet clarity was not at all the India I remembered from my first trip, 15 years earlier. In that India, the Indian Airlines clerk at the Bombay airport took 25 minutes to cancel a ticket for the woman ahead of me in the long, long line, licking his pencil to fill out the 18 forms required, deaf to my anguish as my flight shut its doors and flew away. In that India, a man on a crowded Delhi street flicked cow dung onto my sneakers—and then, hoping to wangle a tip, made a great show of discovering it and cleaning it off with a canvas-destroying solvent. And the owner of the houseboat I stayed aboard on Dal Lake, in Kashmir, became incensed when I informed him that his cook was refilling the Bisleri water bottles by dipping them in the filthy lake. "Black shit!" he cried, not at the culprit but at me. "I will kick your bloody backside to Pakistan!"

Keralites delight in proclaiming their superiority to the barbarians up north. They pride themselves on their twice-daily baths, their cream-colored raiments, and on their use of ayurvedic medicine, an ancient system of herbal treatments, to tune their bodies like mechanics realigning a Porsche. Foreign visitors now flock to Kerala for "medical tours," the latest form of Western fascination with Indian gurus who claim to understand what we have long forgotten.

The phrase "medical tour" makes me ill, but I did have an inexplicable urge to try sirodhara, an ayurvedic treatment in which medicated oil is drizzled onto your forehead. It seemed like jumping naked into the deep end of India. The procedure is reputed not only to sharpen your wits and rejuvenate your memory, but also to cure both Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. In ayurveda, nature remedies all: cinnamon oil alleviates mumps and, when applied to the soles of your feet, "wintertime quakes"; king coconut oil restores "falling hair"; the powdered seeds of bastard teak, eaten daily with gooseberry juice, make the old young again. Ayurveda is the Sanskrit word for "knowledge for prolonging life." When weaker measures fail, practitioners encourage bulimia—here seen as a cure rather than an illness, and known as "therapeutic vomiting."

After our breakfast, Amanda and I went to the hotel spa, where the resident vaid, or ayurvedic doctor, informed us that we had to sign up for at least seven days of treatment to receive sirodhara. So I tried dinacharya, the "daily health-maintenance therapies." My attendant, Prakas, told me to remove my clothes and provided me with a loincloth the size of a Kleenex. Then he gave me a handful of areca-nut powder to clean my teeth with, using my finger as a brush. Once my gums were numb—areca nut is the ingredient that makes betel chewers drool unawares—he pried my eyelids wide and applied a few drops of tender coconut oil and rose water to clean them. It felt like being jabbed with a kebab skewer. Fifteen minutes later, he was still dabbing black sludge out of my blood-red eyes with a folded tissue; he said it was "dust," but I'm inclined to believe it was some sort of atavistic eye-defense juice, akin to a skunk's spray.

After stopping up my ears with camphorated drops and filling my nose with medicated-goat's-milk snuff—thereby disarming all my senses, save touch—Prakas had me stretch out on a long wooden table. The massage began. It consisted of body swoops that were actually rather soothing until he concluded each pass with a wrist snap that ground my ankles or elbows into the black wood. The table came from Strychnos nux-vomica, an Asian evergreen known as the poison nut tree because its seeds contain strychnine. So that was a comfort. Amanda, who also had a massage, said afterward, "I felt like a chicken sliding around on the cutting board." Then she asked, "Why are your eyes swollen?"

Kerala prides itself on much more than its ability to blind and cripple its visitors. It has the most newspapers of any Indian state, and its literacy rate, 96 percent, is the highest in the country—higher, indeed, than that of the United States. Even the working elephants, imported from Assam in the north, are bilingual: they respond to commands in Hindi as well as the local Malayalam. In 1957, Kerala became the world's first state to democratically elect a Communist government, and the locals still maintain that they were onto something. The novelist Anita Nair has written that "the average Malayali goes through life convinced that he is the liveliest, shrewdest, and most intelligent of all Indians. This despite the high rate of lunatics and suicides."

"The people have a special way of protesting everything that is not to their liking," a tourism operator named Madhu Kayarat told us. Kayarat's meesha, the full mustache that male Keralites cultivate as a badge of manliness, was perfectly groomed, and he pushed his glasses onto his forehead to glare about with fierce, nearsighted enthusiasm. He was explaining why there was so little traffic that day in Kochi, a city of 600,000 people: the Joint Action Council of Motor Vehicle Workers had called a one-day strike to protest the government's having raised the price of petrol. The streets are constantly being blocked or emptied by such "closures," "stirs," or "agitations." This was a "weak closure," meaning that cars venturing out weren't being stoned. "We are the only state to strike," Kayarat said proudly. "Because of the literacy rate, we know why the price has gone up. The other states are angry, but they don't know why."

One of Kerala's leading industries, bringing in some $90 million a year, is tourism; this sliver of land along the Lakshadweep Sea is branded as God's Own Country. What draws visitors is the pungent tang of Old India nostalgia: the Fort Cochin district has a lovely canopy of tamarind and rain trees that surround a bastion of the Portuguese fort (which, in a reminder of how very bygone the days of empire are, now serves as the subtax collector's residence). And the cozy, down-at-heels Dutch Palace in nearby Mattancheri has just the right number of paintings of wicked-looking rajahs. To be sure, Vasco da Gama's tomb at St. Francis Church is a disappointment—the explorer's body was returned to Portugal almost 500 years ago. Still, our guide, V. X. Joyce, told us reverently that we ought to take a moment to appreciate the ayurvedic qualities of the church's limestone walls. "Limestone is good for human dwellings," he said. "It has been filled with sun energy for thousands of years, so it absorbs all the radiated emotions of your upset."

Joyce is a warmhearted man who wears oxford-cloth shirts of a blinding white. He extolled the local way of life to us with a mixture of pity and anxiety—pity that we had lived in ignorance for so long; anxiety that his jingoism might be unwarranted. (Kochi means "sea gate," and the city shares with other outlying coastal regions—think of Baja, of Florida, of Chile—both a fierce chauvinism and a fear that it is missing out.) Though Joyce acknowledged that Keralan cuisine is awash in coconut oil, he insisted that "Keralites are less susceptible to it, because cholesterol in the veins breaks down under our hot sun." When we snacked on water buffalo at a street stall on Mahatma Gandhi Road, Joyce told us that women never eat at such places: "It would be indecent." A woman in a green sari promptly emerged from the neighboring stall. We looked at Joyce. "She is from nortH INDIA," he explained.

In the afternoon heat the vendors at the Ernakulam market lay stretched out on gunnysacks piled beside or, often, atop their produce, a bedding of manioc and string beans and snake gourds, of jackfruit and orange cucumbers and pale-red pumpkins shaped like pattypan squash. "Mango, mango, mango" and "fifteen rupees for two kilos," the men murmured in their sleep. Amanda and I were trying to keep up with the panzer-like advance of Nimmy Paul, who has made a cottage industry of introducing visitors to Kochi's markets and food. Nimmy's husband, V. J. Paul, known—like most Syrian Christians here—by his last name, brought up the rear. A mild man with a spaniel's eyes, Paul quit his job as a stockbroker to help Nimmy with her cooking classes. He usually does the shopping alone, because otherwise they quarrel. "He brought stinking fish onto the floor of the house," Nimmy explained as we walked. "There could be worms coming out of it!"

"What rubbish you are talking," Paul said, absently fingering a gooseberry.

"Worms! Rotten-fish worms!" She stopped to ask the price of potatoes, and, after looking us over, the vendor told her 25 rupees (about 50 cents).

"It's not for the sahib," she explained, "it's for me."

"Twenty-five rupees." She sniffed and barreled on.

Back at their spotlessly clean house in a leafy Ernakulam neighborhood, Paul held a whispered conference with his wife. "He's getting angry at me for making you remove your footwear," she announced, as Paul rolled his eyes. It became clear that they are one of those couples whose unity derives from bickering.

Beginning with how she ground a coconut on a ﬂat stone in her backyard, Nimmy prepared our meal as if her husband had just killed a mastodon—he was actually in the other room watching Wayne's World—and she had just invented fire. Soon she was deftly stirring red rice and coconut oil in one of her uruli, bell-shaped metal dishes that resemble prehistoric hubcaps. "The body is very tender now, during the rainy season," she said, "so this is the best time to get an ayurvedic massage. When it gets hot like this, we boil the vetiver root and have a bath with it, to cool the system. And when it's cold, we drink coffee with jaggery"—a sweetener made from molasses—"and crushed ginger, pepper, and coriander seeds, which helps warm you and clear the respiration."

Nimmy was a patient and lucid teacher, but when she began explaining how she was wrapping a ﬁsh called a pearl spot in crushed cilantro and coconut paste before poaching it in a banana leaf, I put down my notebook. There was simply no way to replicate what she was doing back home. For one thing, you can't buy whole mace, or banana leaves the size of manta rays, at your local Piggly Wiggly. As Marco Polo said of Kerala: "Everything is different from what it is with us and excels both in size and beauty."

Taste, too. The mutton biryani was not greasy, as it so often is in Indian restaurants, but light and minty and marvelous. And the pearl spot, clad in its green dinner jacket, was a joy. Nimmy whisked around the table, spooning up choice morsels. "My grandmother and mother would never sit with guests, but just serve food, and that's what I do," she said. She looked at her husband, who had cleaned his plate and was chewing a toothpick: "Mr. Paul also needs to move his arms and legs a bit." He jerked upright and began to clear.

My quest for Sirodhara began to seem foredoomed. The ayurvedic centers all wanted me to check in for 21 days, during which time I would forego meat, alcohol, and sex. At Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala hospital, when I proposed a quick drizzle, a supervisor scowled and said, "It is not the patient who decides what he wants, it is the doctor who decides!"

At the Santhigiri Janakanthi Ayurveda Center, a manager named Sunil Sadanandan explained that the real problem was—not to put too fine a point on it—me. "Virtues deficient in the soul persist as ailments in the body," he said. Fortunately, however, his vaids could root out the moral failings that were presenting as rheumatic pains, spondylitis, or secondary amenorrhea. I said that I didn't have rheumatic pains, spondylitis, or secondary amenorrhea. "That is for the doctor to determine," he said, combing his mustache at me with sudden ferocity. "Do not be a shirker, for it is only the ignorance of true ayurveda that misleads the people to go to star hotels and tiny mushroom centers bloomed into pleasure treatments!"

Sadanandan sent us down the street to his center's treatment facility, where two men led us upstairs into a dim, shabby room with the now-familiar poison-nut table and a steam cabinet—one of those boxes only your head sticks out of—for sweating off the unguents afterward. "It's medicated steam," the younger man, Rajesh, said encouragingly. "Turmeric leaves, neem leaves, lemongrass, ginger—"

"Steam is small heat, sufferable temperatures!" his partner, Shreekumar, a white-haired man in a well-worn dhoti, interjected. When I dropped a hint about sirodhara, he frowned. "It must be prescribed by a doctor, or else there are chances of unconsciousness and cardiac arrest—"

"Paralysis," Rajesh put in.

"Chances of vomiting—"

"Emptiness of mind."

They shuddered and fell silent.

After a minute, Shreekumar suggested an alternative: "One tablespoon cow ghee every morning on empty stomach, you are becoming very healthy."

"Cow-dung lotion is very antiseptic," Rajesh added.

"Only from the pet cow!" Shreekumar insisted, not to be outdone. "The one that has been eating herbs, katuka grass, Brahmi grass, which gives more memory power—not basil leaves!"

As it became clear that we were not, in fact, going to check in, the men grew even more affable. When we put our sandals on downstairs, Shreekumar pointed out that even the coir rug underfoot was intended to stimulate the feet and thereby quicken the senses. "But don't take a beating on your feet soles, or you will go blind," Rajesh cautioned, moving closer, his eyes shining. Strangely, my senses did feel quickened. It may have been the coir, the tang of saffron in the air, the close, wet heat. Or just the enthusiasm of Shreekumar and Rajesh, who kept waving and waving as we drove away.

Religious and philosophic enthusiasm is everywhere here—you can't buy a banana chip without getting a lecture of some kind—but it never seems to cross the line into coercion. A go-along-to-get-along attitude prevails of necessity because Kerala is so diverse, its population divided into nearly equal fourths among Muslims, Christians, caste Hindus, and Dalits (formerly called untouchables). The once-populous Jews, on the other hand, are on their way out. Centuries ago, the local rajah anointed one Joseph Rabban the Prince of Anjuvannam and granted the Jews the right to fire three salutes at the break of day. Rabban was also given "the lamp of the day, cloth spread in front to walk on, a palanquin, a parasol, a Vaduga drum, a trumpet, a gateway, a garland, decoration with festoons, and so forth." But when Israel was born, so many of Kerala's Jews emigrated that Kochi now numbers only 25 "black" Jews—who live around Ernakulam's Jew Street and whose forebears were in the spice trade—and 14 "white," or Orthodox, Jews in the Mattancheri neighborhood known as Jew Town.

Even as we walked into Jew Town's 400-year-old Paradesi Synagogue, we could hear a muezzin's call to prayer. An air of supervention hangs over the crooked streets. Only seven local houses are still inhabited: the rest have become antiques stores. "In this house," Joyce told us softly, "we have Mrs. Cohen. She is doing a small business of embroidery." There in the doorway, stitching gold sequins onto a yarmulke, was Sarah Cohen, a white-haired lady who, except for her sari, looked as if she would be perfectly at home on a stoop in Brooklyn.

I asked her if she was sad that so few Jews remained. She didn't look up. "When I am sewing, I am interested only in this."

Amanda tried another tack: "Your work is very beautiful."

"Ah, ya ya ya," she said, waving us away.

The next morning, we drove an hour south to Alappuzha and boarded a kettu vallom—one of the Keralan boats built entirely of bamboo thatch, teakwood, and coir, without a single nail—for a tour of the region's famed backwaters. We were soon utterly lost in the 50-mile-long labyrinth of canals and lakes and rivers. Everywhere there were snakebirds wheeling above and drongos crying "pinka pinka pinka" among the coconut palms and fishermen paddling along the banks and hooting "Ooo, ooo" to announce their wares and naked children splashing and farmers sowing rice in the paddies, chest-deep in the monsoon tides.

The grizzled cook asked if I wanted to steer. When I took the helm, Amanda, who had been calmly sipping juice out of a fresh king coconut, put on her sunglasses and assumed something of a crash position. But though our boat, the Great India II, was about as nimble as a giant bamboo clog, I kept us safely in midstream, and even had time to wave to the passing ferries.

After disembarking, we drove back to Kochi along the coast. Near Bannambeli, we stopped to talk with four men who were husking coconuts at jackhammer speed, driving them with both hands onto sharpened metal stakes. The eldest man, skinny and toothless and black from the sun, said he thought he'd been doing the work for 15 years. When we asked how old he was, and when he'd started, it became clear he'd been husking coconuts for 45 years.

We drove past a small bay with dozens of huge Chinese fishing nets, cantilevered teak contraptions that reminded me of praying mantises. A troop of brown ducklings waddled across the road, and as we made way for them, a group of 15-year-olds from the local girls' school surrounded the car. They all wore braids, and their braids were all tied with bright pink ribbons, and they all smiled and waved and shouted "Hello" as if their hearts were overﬂowing. It was when they pressed their palms to our window that my last grudge against India began to dissolve.

On our last day, I finally found someone who would administer sirodhara. Dr. Krishnakumar at the Brunton Boatyard spa, a gentle man who seemed amused by my determination, gave me a cursory exam—pulse, blood pressure, a quick pass with a stethoscope—then wrapped a linen cloth around my head and arranged me on the table beneath an oversized clay pot. He filled it with warm milk and the powerful herb Sida cordifolia. The mixture began to drip through a hole in the pot, down a cotton rope, and onto my forehead. Dr. Krishnakumar moved the apparatus from side to side, and then in what felt like Möbius loops, he murmured, "This carries off the toxins of your life."

Within a few minutes it felt as if my forehead had opened up and the oil were soaking my brain. Visions of Buddha statues and old temples flickered on my closed eyelids, followed by Beatles lyrics ("When I'm 64") and strange, druggy ideas ("What if I'm the toxin?"). These were followed by anxious thoughts that flew around my skull like caged falcons, crashing into its bone walls.

I suddenly felt utterly calm. And then very anxious again. The 45 minutes seemed to last for hours, and afterward Joyce and Amanda agreed that I looked years younger. But the treatment was unsettling; during it, I kept flexing my toes and mentally working multiplication tables to make sure I hadn't lost all brain function. Toward the end, I began to feel on the verge of an epiphany, of a new alignment with the world—and then the last gluey drops began to spatter, irregularly, against my temples. The doctor unwound the linen band, and I could once again hear the crows in the rain trees outside, the squawk of the auto rickshaws, and the rising tide of noises from the town.

Where to Stay, Eat, and Shop
Most guidebooks suggest going to Kerala between January and March, when it's dry and sunny. But the best season for ayurvedic massage is said to be June and July, when monsoons pound Kerala before sweeping north. They say that in the rainy season your body opens up like a thirsty flower to receive replenishment. Hotel prices are lower then, too.

You can see Kochi in four days, but it's worth spending a few nights in the backwaters. We got a lot of good advice from Fred and Ellison Poe, a father-daughter team who run Poe Travel (800/727-1960; www.poetravel.com), an Arkansas-based agency recognized in Travel + Leisure's A-List of super-agents.

WHERE TO STAY

Taj Malabar
The five-star landmark on Willingdon Island is where we stayed in Kochi. It's on the water and 20 minutes away, by either car or ferry, from Mattancheri or Ernakulam. The staff is extremely helpful, and the food at the hotel's Rice Boat restaurant is superb (try the njandu ularthiyathu, a crab appetizer). We did rather regret accepting the chef's suggestion that we experience a traditional banana-leaf lunch out by the dock, where we ate alone, in full view of all the hotel's guests, as three waiters stood by. "It's like being on The Bachelor," Amanda whispered. DOUBLES FROM $150; DINNER FOR TWO $50
Willingdon Island; 800/448-8355 OR 91-484/266-6811; www.tajhotels.com
Brunton Boatyard
This reconstruction of an 1849 boatyard is where we would stay next time we visit. It sits on the Arabian Sea in the center of Fort Cochin. There are terra-cotta floors, punkah fans in the lobby, and antique four-poster beds in many of the 26 rooms. DOUBLES FROM $130
CALVETTY RD., FORT COCHIN 91-484/221-5461; www.cghearth.com

Malabar House
A diminutive boutique hotel in Fort Cochin that feels a little fussy, but its owners have two beautiful hideaways in the backwaters: Serenity, a rubber-estate bungalow with five bedrooms, and Privacy, a romantic two-bedroom retreat in Sanctuary Bay. DOUBLES FROM $136
PARADE RD., FORT COCHIN 91-484/221-6666; www.malabarhouse.com
Nimmy Paul
As part of her ongoing plan to take over the world, this Indian domestic goddess just inaugurated homestays this October. Her guest room is spare but clean; she also offers meals, cooking lessons, and full- or half-day foodie immersions. Ask her son to teach you how he folds a napkin into the shape of a lotus flower. $125 PER NIGHT WITH FULL BOARD
CHAKALAKAL RD., ERNAKULAM 91-484/231-4293; www.nimmypaul.com

WHERE TO EAT

Badettu
This vegetarian restaurant in the Sarovaram hotel on the road to the airport serves wonderful traditional Keralan lunches on banana leaves: a dozen varieties of tasty, spicy curries and rice. We were the only WESTERNERS THERE; YOU EAT WITH YOUR HANDS. DINNER FOR TWO $8
NH 47 COCHIN BYPASS RD., ERNAKULAM; 91-484/230-5519
Shreekrishna Inn
They start you off with ayurvedic water—which tastes like chicken! Well, licorice, actually. The Keralan curries packed with chiles, ginger, and mustard seed are excellent (though the service is a bit lackadaisical). DINNER FOR TWO $5
WARRIUM RD., ERNAKULAM; 91-484/236-6664

WHERE TO SHOP

Crafters
This complex of five antiques shops, all within a few minutes' walk of each other, is owned by the Malayil brothers, former spice traders who decided to turn 33,000 square feet of warehouse space into storage for a beguiling hodgepodge of Shiva statues, cedar chests, and old-fashioned rice measures. To attract passers-by, Johny Malayil recently installed a 12-foot-wide bell-metal pot in the doorway of his main outlet. He was inspired by how many people in Brussels visit Manneken Pis, a 25-inch-tall statue of a urinating boy. "If they can make small," he told me,"we can make big."
VI/141, JEW TOWN; 91-484/222-3346 www.craftersantique.com
Copyright © 2008, American Express Publishing. All rights reserved.
http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/jewel-of-india

Jews of India - the Cochin Jews

2008-02-25T16:33:00.000-08:00

The TABERNACLE

The pulpit

The silver Torah scroll

The interior of the tiled pardesi synagogue

COCHIN STAMP

The Dutch-style clock tower of the synagogue facing the palace.

View of synagogue from the palace; the King's temple with the synagogue in the background

Raja Parumal of Cochin gave land next to his palace for the construction of a synagogue - just 30 yards away from his temple

JEW TOWN

Street entrance to JEW TOWN

Stone from Old Synagogue
Raphael Meyer

"Cochin is a city whose indigenous inhabitants have welcomed, befriended and protected Jews for centuries."

Cochin is a handy name for a cluster of islands and towns sprinkled with shady lagoons, tropical forests and canals winding past houses on stilts. This is a multicultural land where, in addition to the Jewish sights, one can see Portuguese churches, Dutch architecture, mosques, Hindu temples and a British village green.
Like India in general, Cochin is warm and friendly, with an ancient and multifaceted Jewish community that, tradition relates, is as old as the Diaspora. It is a city whose indigenous inhabitants have welcomed, befriended and protected Jews for centuries.

Located in the tropical state of Kerala and alternately referred to as Venice of the East and queen of the Arabian Sea, Cochin is one the 3 largest ports on India's west coast and one of the finest natural harbours in the world. The markets are filled with the scent of spices and the shouts of vendors; the docks are lined with merchants' houses and cargo ships and the countryside is sprinkled with shady lagoons and wooded islands. The crystal-blue sky and tropical foliage, the pastel houses, the bright raw silk of the clothes and the ever-present smiles blend into one exquisite rainbow.

HISTORY
One legend holds that the Jews first settled in India during the time of King Solomon, when there was trade in teak, ivory, spices and peacocks between the Land of Israel and the Malabar Coast, where Cochin is located. Others put their arrival at the time of the Assyrian exile in 722 B.C.E., the Babylonian exile in 586 or after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE No reliable evidence exists, but most contemporary scholars fix the date at some time during the early Middle Ages. It is the bible that contains the first mention of Jews in connection with India. The Book of Esther, which dates from the second century B.C.E., cites decrees enacted by Ahasuerus relating to the Jews dispersed throughout the provinces of his empire from Hodu to Kush. Hodu is Hebrew for India; Kush is Ethiopia. Talmudic and midrashic literature also mention spices, perfumes, plants, animals, textiles, gems and crockery which either bear names of Indian origin or are indigenous to the country. The earliest documentation of permanent Jewish settlements is on two copper plates now stored in Cochin's main synagogue. Engraved in the local language, they detail the privileges granted a certain Joseph Rabban by Bhaskara Ravi Varma, the fourth-century Hindu ruler of Malabar. According to the inscription, the ruler awarded the Jews the village of Anjuvannam, meaning "five castes," as the Jews were believed to be the lords of the five castes of artisans. The plates also state that Anjuvannam shall remain in the possession of the descendants of these Jews "so long as the world and moon exist."

Twelfth-century Jewish, Christian and Muslim travelers described Jewish settlements around Cochin. The main community was in Cranganore, north of Cochin. For a time the Jews of the Malabar Coast served as a way station to the Jewish community in China. In 1167 Benjamin of Tudela wrote of 1,000 Jews on the Malabar Coast "who are black like their neighbors and are good men, observers of the law, and possess the Torah of Moses, the Prophets, and some little knowledge of the Talmud and the halakha."

The Jews prospered in Anjuvannam for more than a thousand years after the grant of the copper plates. Then, with the extinction of the line of Rabban, dissension arose between two brothers of a noble family for the chieftanship of the principality The neighboring princes intervened and dispossessed the Jews. In 1341 the brothers fled to Cochin with their followers and established the Kochangadi synagogue there.
In 1524, on the pretext that the Jews were tampering with the pepper trade, the Moors attacked the remaining Jews of Anjuvannam, burning their homes and synagogues. The destruction was so complete that when the Portuguese arrived a few years later they found only destitute Jews, who continued to eke out a miserable existence for 40 more years. Finally, the remaining Jews deserted their ancient settlement and fled to Cochin.

As the Portuguese made inroads along the coast more Jews arrived in Cochin, which remained under Indian protection. Spanish and Portuguese exiles came after the Inquisition, and others arrived fleeing persecution in the Middle East. In 1560 the Portuguese set up an office of the Inquisition in Goa, halfway between Bombay and Cochin, and even more Jews sought the protection of Cheraman Parumal, the Raja of Cochin, soon labeled the "King of the Jews" by the Portuguese authorities.

Raja Parumal of Cochin gave land next to his palace for the construction of a synagogue - just 30 yards away from his temple. L-R: View of synagogue from the palace; the King's temple with the synagogue in the background.
The Jews could not have survived under Portuguese rule (1502-1663) had it not been for Parumal. In 1565 he gave them a strip of land next to his palace and in 1568 permitted them to build a synagogue not 30 yards from his temple. He appointed a hereditary mudaliar (chief) from among the Jews and invested the position with special privileges and jurisdiction in all internal matters in the Jewish community. This office continued in force under subsequent Rajas and even under Dutch and British rule. The Hallegua family, which still holds the title, continues to be influential in Cochin.

The People

At the community's peak in the 1940's there were approximately 2,500 Jews in the state of Kerala-in Ernakulum, Parur, Chennamangalam and Mala, all near Cochin City-and 300 in Jew Town. Today, few of the country's remaining 5,500 Jews live in Cochin - 22, to be exact-and many predict that the predominantly elderly community will be gone within 25 years. Those who stayed behind were the wealthiest; they did not want to risk losing their fortunes in the move and are today left with the burden of sustaining the community.

The Cochin Jews were historically divided into two major communities-the so- called Black Jews, or Malabaris (85 percent of Cochinis), who regard themselves as the descendants of the original settlers, and the White Jews, or Paradesim (14 percent), descendants of immigrants from various Middle East and European countries. There are also a few Brown Jews, or Meshuhurarum, who are descended from emancipated slaves. They became spice merchants, business owners and professionals and spoke the local language -Malayalam-as well as English. The community has never had a rabbi of its own and was rarely visited by one. Any synagogue elder is eligible to lead prayers, and the men take turns.
The Jews have adopted and modified many of their host country's customs. Colourful oil lamps hang from synagogue ceilings in keeping with Hindu tradition; all synagogues are entered barefoot and for hardala flowers are sniffed and then tucked into a pocket, signifying Shabbat's end.

Although Jews, like Christians, are outside India's caste system, they developed a strict code of their own, which for centuries dictated that the three communities and their subgroups could not live together, socialize or intermarry. The divisions between Jews began to break down after 1948, when large scale emigration forced everyone together. The majority of Jewish marriages are still arranged; married couples and their children live with the husband's parents. Jewish women now wear bindis, the small marks in the middle of their foreheads that at one time signified a woman's marital status but are now merely a fashion statement.

Perhaps the most unique aspect of the Indian Jewish experience is the complete absence of discrimination by a host majority. The secret of India's tolerance is the Hindu belief which confers legitimacy on a wide diversity of cultural and religious groups even as it forbids movement from one group to another.

Today Jew Town, in the Mattancherry section and a short walk from the ferry, is one street long. Jews used to occupy virtually all the houses on Jew Town Road, where they sold fruits, vegetables and spices or worked as oil pressers or carpenters. The spice markets are still located on the narrow street, but most of the homes and businesses belong to non-Jews. Out of seven synagogues that once graced this street, only the Paradesi is still open.

Entering Jew Town Road where it intersects with Jew Cemetery Road is like entering another world. Merchants call out from open-air shops, men squat in doorways or congregate in the middle of the street to smoke their pipes and gossip, friendly and curious children follow visitors, chattering endlessly, and three wheeled motorized taxis and bicycles thread their way through the scene.

Anchoring one end of Jew Town, at the end of Jew Cemetery Road, is the Jewish burial place, with stone sepulchers aboveground and inscriptions in Hebrew and Malayalam. From there, a walk through several blocks will bring you to the Magen David decorated, wrought-iron gates of the Paradesi synagogue. Along the way one can identify buildings that once housed synagogues and prayer halls-as well as Jewish homes and storefronts-by the still-visible stars and Hebrew inscriptions and decorations.

Built on land given the Cranganore exiles by the Raja and reconstructed after the Portuguese bombardment in 1662, the Paradesi is the oldest surviving synagogue in the former British Empire. White-walled and tile-roofed, with an inner courtyard lined with ancient Hebrew-inscribed gravestones, it was embellished in the mid eighteenth century by Ezekiel Rahabi, the Dutch East India Company's principal merchant and diplomat in Malabar, who built a Dutch-style clock tower with three faces: Hebrew numerals facing the synagogue, Roman numerals facing the palace and Indian numerals facing the harbor. Rahabi also had the floor paved with hand painted porcelain tiles, each with a different weeping willow pattern, brought from Canton.The synagogue shares a wall with the Raja's temple. According to a congregant, "While worshipping in the synagogue, we often hear their music and prayers, and they can hear us, too."

The synagogue also contains silver- and gold decorated Torah scrolls; an Oriental carpet in front of the Ark (a gift from Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie), two brass columns commemorating pillars that stood in the Temple, two bimot (one in the women's section, a feature unique to the Jews of Kerala) and Torah crowns of solid gold set with gems given to the Cochini Jews by neighboring Rajas. The most striking feature, however, is the forest of lights hanging from the ceiling-silver, brass and glass oil-burning lamps and Belgian crystal chandeliers. In addition, the Paradesi houses 10 paintings which depict the history of the Jews of Kerala, as well as the 1,600-year-old copper plates-deposited in an iron box called a pandeal and carefully guarded by the elders - which are shown to visitors on request.
The Paradesi celebrated its four hundredth anniversary in 1968; Prime Minister Indira Gandhi attended the festivities and the Indian government issued a commemorative postage stamp for the occasion. The synagogue, which has been declared a protected monument, is open Sunday through Friday, 10 to noon and 3 to 5 P.M., in addition to Shabbat and Jewish holidays. The Indian government's corporal guards remain on watch over the sights of Jew Town and have promised to do so until eternity.

The Thekumbagum and the Kadavumbagham synagogues

Across the harbor from Cochin is Ernakulam, which once had a thriving Jewish community. The Thekumbagum synagogue, on Jew Street (Market Road), was built in 1580. Today the building is empty but eerily beautiful as it awaits dismantling and shipping to Israel. The Kadavumbagham synagogue, also on Jew Street a short distance away, is reputed to have been built in 1200. Rebuilt in 1554, it was closed in 1972, when its Torah scrolls were sent to the Cochini synagogue near Beersheba. Today the building, which still has an intact ark and Hindu-style ceiling lamps, houses a plant nursery.

the temple complex is open to all Hindus. According to a congregant, "While worshipping in the synagogue, we often hear their music and prayers, and they can hear us, too."

http://www.the-south-asian.com/March2001/Jews_of_India_Cochin_Jews2.htm

Gujarati-Malayali spice bond

2008-02-25T16:02:00.000-08:00

By Ziad P S
Kerala sends spices to the world. Gujaratis export entrepreneurship to the global market. Imagine, if both put together what concoction it will be. That is what happened in God's Own Country centuries ago. Gujaratis across the world to make trade links and spread business. Gujaratis also introduced Kerala's spices to the world. After that, people from far and near always fancied to have trade relations with India mainly because of its spices.

'Akananuru', a collection of records, refers to people from the North West (Gujarat) having settled in Malabar during 4th century AD. The collection speaks a lot about earlier relationship between Kerala and Gujarat. Migration of Gujarati community to Kerala and other places occurred at different stages in different centuries. There are also references on Mohammed Gazni's attack on Gujarat in the 13th century AD. Following the invasion, many Gujarati merchants fled to different parts of the country and some of them reached Kerala. However, due to climate conditions these merchants stayed only during the business season. And there were no permanent settlements.

Gujarati merchants both Hindus and Muslims brought textiles and other items from Gujarat and bought spices from Kerala for exporting to different parts of the world, including Arabs and Turks.This trade ties between Gujaratis and Malayalis still continues. According to Nitin Kumar Parekh, secretary of Gujarati Mahajan Cochin, who was born and brought up in Kochi, it was Kano Malan (Ram Chandra Malan), a Gujarati, who guided Vasco Da Gama on his historic visit to India in 1498.

Parekh said, “The ship of Kano Malan was three times bigger than the ship of Vasco Da Gama”. Trade negotiations between the king of Calicut and the Portuguese and subsequently between the Maharaja of Cochin and the Portuguese were held through Gujarati intermediaries.

After sometime, the Portuguese drove out Gujarati merchants who were the main suppliers of black pepper to them on the assumption that they can get more profit if these middlemen were eliminated. However, the Portuguese failed to procure pepper from the locals and again they had to depend on Gujaratis to procure goods.

The present day Gujarati settlements in Kerala can be traced only after 1813 AD when the monopoly of British East India Company was abolished by the Queen of England. In 1815, a Gujarati merchant, Triku Muralidhar, along with other merchants came to Kochi and settled down. The spices, coir yarn and coconut oil trade was totally controlled by this community.

Devji Bhimji, a Gujarati merchant who was doing business in stationery goods, gold and silver at Kochi, started the first printing press in at Mattancherry in 1865.

Nitin Parekh claimed that it was Devji Bhimji who started the first Malayalam newspaper Kerala Mithrom in January 1881 from Kochi. “It was a weekly published on every Saturday. Its first editor was Kandathil Varghese Mappillai, who later founded his own newspaper 'Malayala Manorama', Parekh said. Devji Bhimji was the first Indian to start a coir factory. The community had contributed a lot for Kerala, including the first cinema theatre in Cochin and first medical shop. The community owns a school and college in Mattanchery.

The monopoly of Gujarati traders was total in spices, coir yarn and coconut oil. Over the last two decades, Gujaratis lost their monopoly over spices trade. However, even now a substantial portion of the trade is with them.
http://www.commodityonline.com/news/topstory/newsdetails.php?id=5720

SPICES OF COCHIN(KOCHI)A TRIP FROM SRI LANKA TO COCHIN KERALA INDIA

2008-02-22T16:09:00.001-08:00

Playlist: Around the World in 80 Treasures

Description: Around the World in 80 Treasures is a 10 episode series by the BBC and presented by Dan Cruickshank originally aired in February, March, and April 2005. The title is a reference to Around the World in Eighty Days, the classic adventure novel by Jules Verne. In this series, Cruickshank takes a five month world tour visiting his choices of the eighty greatest man-made treasures, including buildings and artifacts. His tour takes him through 34 countries and 6 of the 7 continents (he does not visit Antarctica). In addition to seeing some of the world's greatest treasures, Cruickshank tries many different kinds of food including testicle, brain, and insects. His means of transportation included airplanes, trains, camel, donkey, foot, bicycle, scooter, hang glider, and boats. Cruickshank's fondness of architecture is self-evident, with many of his chosen treasures being buildings or other man-made structures.

A tour and trip from Athirapally near Angamali and Veegaland in Pallikara near KAKKANAD COCHIN KERALA INDIA

2008-02-22T15:10:00.001-08:00

Veega Land is the most loved entertainment spot in India. It is situated in an idyllic and tranquil hill in Pallikkara, Cochin near Kakkanad. Veega Land prides itself as an amusement spot with unmatched quality standards, impeccable service, excellent rides and a host of modern facilities. Situated almost 300 ft. above sea level.

Athirapally is the land of rivers and forests and great waterfalls! The destination houses the largest waterfall in Kerala, the Athirapally Waterfall, a major tourist attraction. This patch in Sholayar ranges so beautifully intertwined with lush green forest cover and sizzling silver cascades and located central to Cochin and River Nila(Bharathapuzha),is a treat for the eyes during the monsoon. Swollen Chalakkudy river, Charpa, Vazhachal and Athirapally are ideal places where the monsoon is to be enjoyed

ALWAYE(ALUVA)NEW COCHIN KERALA INDIA an Emerging Tourist Destination

2008-02-21T08:25:00.000-08:00

Aluva Shivrathri

The celebration of Sivarathri at the Siva temple at Aluva on the sand bank of River Periyar is attended with great eclat. Here the Lingom (idol) of Siva rises out of the sand on the bank of the river. The sand bank is extensive and the pilgrims running into several thousands congregate here. People belonging to all classes, castes and creeds assemble for this festival, some for worship, some for merchandise and some for sightseeing.There are rows of sheds built where merchants exhibit every kind of merchandise for sale.
THE FEDERAL BANK LIMITED CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS BANK JUNCTION ALWAYE COCHIN

The Head Office of The largest old generation private sector bank is at Aluva. It is a set of eight stories buildings situated at the heart of the town which came to be called the bank junction. There is another building some metres away from the current one which is ten floored. They have also managed to build a twelve stories flat which currently is the largest building in the town.
ALWAYE(Aluva)is just 13 km away from Cochin International Airport
ALWAYE is a health sanitorium/resort sleepy secular satelite township of COCHIN is strategically located on National Highway 47.

ALWAYE(ALUVA) serves as a important junction. It serves as a transit point to the following four towns in Ernakulam district - Angamaly to the North , Kalamassery to the south , North Paravur to the west and Perumbavoor to the east. North of Angamali on NH 47 is Trichur which goes to Palllakad , Coimbatore,Salem and Bangalore. East of Perumbavoor is Munnar a prominent Hill Station.West of Paravur is Exotic CHERAI Beach in Vypeen Island.
ALWAYE(Aluva)Mannapuram (Land with sand)Siva Temple
(21 km from Kochi) Famous for the Sivaratri Festival held annually, this temple at first glance, looks unfinished. But a closer look shows that the angles are brilliantly conceived and the pillars are positioned in such a way to give the illusion of being incomplete.The temple is located on the banks of the river Periyar in Aluva. The temple stands distinct as the Sivalinga or the idol of Lord Siva is not enshrined on any Pagoda. It stands alone on the vast sand banks of the river Periyar.Literally Sivarathri means the 'Night of Siva'. According to legends, the Gods and Demons were jointly churning the Sea of Milk ( Palazhi) to extract Amruth (the elixir of immortality) using Vasuki (the Serpent god) as a rope. During the rigorous task, Vasuki spewed out a lethal venom which could destroy the cosmos. Lord Siva is believed to have swallowed the venom in order to save the world. In grateful remembrance, devotees keep awake throughout the Sivarathri night. In Kerala, the most important Sivarathri celebration is at Aluva and this year it falls on 14th of February.On the night of Sivarathri pilgrims keep awake and recitie the puranas and in the early morning perform Vavubali in honour of their forefathers. A fair is also organised for a month from the Sivarathri day.daily Ezhunnallippu of the deity atop a caparisoned elephant, a procession known as Dikvijayam is conducted on the third and fourth days, and pallivetta ceremony on the fifth day. The festival concludes with the Aarattu known as Thapotsavam.

Hotel Periyaar Ltd.
Near Marthanda Varma Bridge
Alwaye - 683 101, Cochin, Kerala
Tel. : +91-484-2625024, 2625667, 2620832, 2620835
Fax : +91-484-2620831
E-mail : mail@hotelperiyaarltd.com

Hotel Periyar is situated on the right bank of the river; the hotel’s courtyards are washed clean by the waters of the river. She was recently upgraded to a three star budget hotel conforming to international standards. Nestled besides the scenic river Periyar, she offers beautifully appointed rooms with all modern amenities to beckoning tourists and business men alike. Her restaurant set in scenic ambience is a treasure trove for the gourmet, just waiting to be discovered. Such finesse in accommodation is complimented with high service values.
Together we offer the most impressible host of services to our guest. In the mornings, you can have your breakfast elegantly served on the balcony of your room overlooking the river, have your lunch at the Cocogroove restaurant which serves the finest of Indian and continental dishes, in the evening you can chill out at the Regal bar well appointed to colonial settings, and enjoy a candle light dinner in our coconut groove restaurant...if these things fail to spoil you, we have a host of nearby locations to serve every mood

St.Thomas Church situated on the top of the Malayatoor hill

Another famous pilgrim centre close to Aluva is the Malayatoor St.Thomas Church situated on the top of the Malayatoor hill. There will be great celebrations on the Sunday after Easter when the pilgrims from different areas come together and climb the hill (I had been trying to climb it for a long time, but I always end up drinking soda after half the way and coming back).

It is believed that one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, St. Thomas, the only one to have visited India is believed to have spent many days in prayer on the top of this hill. Actually, this is the only shrine in India which has been given the status an international sanctuary by the Vatican. It also comes under Aluva taluk.

CIAL or COCHIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT LIMITED

COCHIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT is only ten minute drive from Aluva ( the air port area is still comes under Aluva Taluk)It is one of the best international airports in India, not only because of the size, but also because of the style in which it is built.(THE FAMOUS GURUVAYOOR TEMPLE)

A CANOE ON THE BANKS OF ALWAYE'S FAMOUS PERIYAR RIVER

During Shivaratri these canoes take passenger mainly tourists and pilgrim from ALWAYE town to the Shivaratri Manal Puram (Land with Sand)
ALWAYE RIVER OR THE PERIYAR RIVER
Alwaye has actually once significantly figured in history. When Tipu Sultan was camping near the Alwaye River during his Travancore invasion and had his horses and men washed away in the sudden floods effectively ending his campaign. If that hadn’t happened, probably the history of Kerala would’ve been much different.

SHIVA(Shiv) The Hindu God of Destruction

In Kerala the month of Kumbham is noted for the Sivarathri festival which falls in February -March.It falls on a moonless February night, when Hindus offer special prayer to the lord of destruction.The festival is observed for one day and one night only.The celebration of Sivarathri at the Siva temple at Aluva on the sand bank of River Periyar is attended with great eclat. Here the Lingom (idol) of Siva rises out of the sand on the bank of the river. The sand bank is extensive and the pilgrims running into several thousands congregate here. People belonging to all classes, castes and creeds assemble for this festival, some for worship, some for merchandise and some for sightseeing.There are rows of sheds built where merchants exhibit every kind of merchandise for sale. There are shows, dances etc. meant for keeping the pilgrims awake throughout the night. In addition to the observance of Shivratri rites, most of the pilgrims offer Bali (sacrifice) to their ancestors in the morning succeeding the holy night.
A picture of ALWAYE PALACE the summer retreat of the Maharaja of Travancore from the Manal Puram.

Take a backwater ferry from Cochin. Stay at the high ceilinged tourist bungalow, former palace of a king. Watch the sunset over shallow Periyar river, scene of the great Shivarathri festival in spring.This is one of the finest palaces in Kerala imposing over the Periyar River Banks has beautiful circular verandahs that overlook the Periyar River.

Alwaye Palace

The Summer Retreat of the Maharaja(King) of Travancore State.The Palace is now being used a Tourist Home as well as a Govement Guest Home.It ranks as one of the most frequented resorts in the state.
Alwaye is famous for the Aluva Sivarathri festival at Manal Puram (land with sand)

Sivarathri celebrated in Aluva, a place in Ernakulam district of Kerala, south India is called the Aluva Sivarathri festival. The celebration of Sivarathri in Aluva is very famous in Kerala. The month of Kumbham is noted for the Sivarathri festival which falls in February - March.Aluva is as much a quaint and interesting town as it is a strategic one. Communal amity and economic well being are the characteristic hallmarks of this wonderful place. It is located 12 km from the Cochin International Airport. Aluva also is the home for the Advaitha Ashramam. It is also the headquarters of the Federal Bank, a large Private Bank in India. Aluva is famous for the Kings palace (Travancore),which was a favourite of many movie directors of the state, till recently,when the archeological department imposed certain restrictions for the use in films.Aluva serves as a transit point to the following four towns in Ernakulam district - Angamaly to the North , Kalamassery to the south , North Paravur to the west and Perumbavoor to the east
A view of the Aluva Manal Puram - land with sand from the Alwaye Palace(TRAVANCORE)Kingdom

Periyar is the longest river of Kerala originating from MUNNAR.Aluva Sivaratri festival is held during February-March at the Siva temple which could be seen on the other side of the Periyar river. The place is known as Aluva Manal Puram - land with sand. Pilgrims offer bali (sand) to their ancestors in the morning following the holy night.Legend has it that in this Manal Puram, Shri Rama offered Bali (sacrifice) to Jatayyu, the eagle who died while trying to save Sita, Rama’s wife from the clutches of Ravana who kidnapped her and was flying to his kingdom at Lanka (now known as Sri Lanka
ALWAYE(ALUVA)COCHIN(KOCHI)is surrounded by tourist places and it may be the best place to stay and visit different places because of the easy access through the river Periyar.Its most commonly known by its older name ’’Alwaye’’.ALWAYE got its name from the Banyan tree's(Allu maram) that were widespread throughout this sleepy town.Being surrounded by Periyar means that all parts of Aluva is out of any water crisis. The water from Aluva is even taken to some of the Cochin areas. Periyar, being the second largest river in Kerala does not manage to become dry at any occasion.Not only the river is the major factor of Aluva’s development. Aluva is quite close to Cochin and surrounded by a number of towns. Aluva is now in the International aviation map as it is the nearest town to the (Cochin) International Airport
Aluva was also called the industrial capital of Kerala because of the large number of industries situated there. Once again, Periyar may be the major reason for that too
THE HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE
Aluva has got some memorable places to visit, especially on the outskirts. The Uliyannur Temple, said to be built by the famous carpenter Perunthachan is one of the most historical landmarks in the town. It is said that he had an important part in Aluva’s history.

The temple is located on an island called Uliyannur which was connected to Aluva with a bridge. The way to reach there is a bit twisted as it is a small one-way bridge with a large number of turns as it goes across Periyar. It is too narrow that my friend’s Accent managed to hit its side and damage the bumper.

St. Joseph’s Seminary at Mangalapuzha, on the outskirts of the town is a famous institution for the candidates for Priesthood under the the Syro-Malabar Church. This place also has a long history and a large number of students attend the classes here. The seminary got a large amount of area inside it and it got a fair amount of natural beauty inside along with a big, well-built church in it.
COCHIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT is only ten minute drive from Aluva ( the air port area is still comes under Aluva Taluk)It is one of the best international airports in India, not only because of the size, but also because of the style in which it is built.(THE FAMOUS GURUVAYOOR TEMPLE)

Another famous pilgrim centre close to Aluva is the Malayatoor St.Thomas Church situated on the top of the Malayatoor hill. There will be great celebrations on the Sunday after Easter when the pilgrims from different areas come together and climb the hill (I had been trying to climb it for a long time, but I always end up drinking soda after half the way and coming back).

It is believed that one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, St. Thomas, the only one to have visited India is believed to have spent many days in prayer on the top of this hill. Actually, this is the only shrine in India which has been given the status an international sanctuary by the Vatican. It also comes under Aluva taluk.

Who can forget the famous Aluva Shivrathri? On the banks of the river Periyar, large number of people comes from different parts of the state comes here and a lots of traders also will be there. There are large number of rumours about the temple built on the sands. But there has been some problems on the banks due to sand mining in Periyar. I think that the situation got better now.
The Head Office of The largest old generation private sector bank is at Aluva. It is a set of eight stories buildings situated at the heart of the town which came to be called the bank junction. There is another building some metres away from the current one which is ten floored. They have also managed to build a twelve stories flat which currently is the largest building in the town.

St.Jude Church is another famous pilgrim centre. It actually is a Latin Catholic Church situated at Choondy, on the edge of Aluva. A large number of people comes to the place as a number of miracles are believed to have occured there. The shrine is now modified as it can hold a large number of people these days.

Thiruvairanikulam temple is another famous temple located south of Aluva. I had a lot of difficulties in writing that name in English! The temple is well-built and the legends behind the temple is very long and stretched. The temple adds to the heritage of Aluva and the whole country as a whole. There are many devotees as well as archeologist visiting the temple every day.
http://www.mouthshut.com/review/Aluva-68181-1.html

Ancient Musiris or Kodungallur where St. Thomas Arrived Marthoma Pontifical Shrine Marthoma Nagar, Azhicode, Kodungallur, Kerala

2008-02-21T08:09:00.000-08:00

First of the seven churches founded by St.Thomas in KeralaThe Mar Thoma Pontifical Shrine, a monument to St. Thomas is situated at Marthoma Nagar, Azhikode, Kodungallur, Kerala. Built in the model of St. Peter's Basilica, Rome, this shrine is a historic pilgrim centre of the Indian Christians, situated on the beautiful banks of the river Periyar. is known from historical evidence as well as from the living traditions of the people that St. Thomas, one of the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ landed in Kerala, on November 21, 52 A.D. at Kodungallur, then known as Musiris. After sharing his deep faith experience with the people of India, St. Thomas himself is believed to have formed seven churches or Christian communities here in Kerala, the first one being in Kodungallur itself.Kodungallur or Musiris, an ancient harbour, lost its ecclesiastical significance and commercial prominence due to the attack of Tipu Sultan and the development of Cochin port in its place. But its historical importance was rightly acknowledged when on the occasion of the 19th centenary celebration of the coming of St. Thomas to India, Holy See, the official seat of the Vatican, thought to offer a befitting gift to St.Thomas Christians in Kerala. Late Eugene Cardinal Tisserant, the then Prefect of Oriental Congregation solemnly brought the bone of the right arm of the apostle from Ortona in Italy and enthroned it in the present Shrine on December 6th, 1953. From the great day onwards, the Shrine has been attracting pilgrims from all over the world irrespective of caste and creed who come to venerate that hand which belonged to the great Saint, a disciple of Lord Jesus Christ. ST.THOMAS WAS ON HIS WAY TO INDIA, HE 'STATES, AND "WE HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE IT TRUE, WHAT THE SYRIAN WRITERS SAND FATHERS SAY, THAT THEY REGARD ST. THOMAS TO BE THEIR FIRST PATRIARCH, AND ACCORDINGLY THEY CALLED THEMSELVES ST. THOMAS CHRISTIANS."[7] THE MAR THOMA CHURCH OF SOUTH INDIA HOLDS TO THIS DAY THAT THOMAS CAME TO THEM TO PREACH THE GOSPEL AND TO FOUND THEIR CHURCH Kodangalur or Cranganore became the centre of Christianity, the Mother Church of Malabar; it was there that the Apostle established the first bishopric with Xanthipus as Bishop.
we can call it "THE CRADLE OF INDIAN CHRISTIANITY"
This coastal town, situated 40 Kms. to South-West of Trichur, Kerala, lies in 10o 100 North latitude and 76o 10o East longitude.
Ancient Musiris or Kodungallur where St. Thomas Arrived
The schematic map of the region around Kodungallur gives only a faint suggestion of the landscapes of the area, which is hardly above sea level and abounding in canals and lagoons and prone to flooding in the rainy season. The landstrip, 5 to 10 Km. broad near the sea shore, shows every sign of being newly formed by the sea receding in recent times.It is now not possible to locate the ancient site of Musiris harbour, nor that of Mahodayapuram of the Chera Kings precisely at any of the present sites of the environs of Kodungallur. No structure or building existing today in the area can be dated back to more than 6 centuries.
http://www.webindia123.com/tourism/pilgrim/marthoma.htm
Kodungallur of today is not even a shadow of its glorious secular past. We have sufficient historical testimonies to Muziris as a magnificent harbour and the seat of the Chera Kings under the name of Thiruvanchikulam, which bring us down to about 8th century AD but the data are too scanty to enable us to reconstruct a continuous story of the city even upto that period. After that we experience a long period of darkness. We only know that Kodungallur continued to be a city of considerable importance, so that the Portuguese and the Dutch and later the English thought it worthwhile to make it one of their main bastions of power.

The Kodungallur Connection of St. Thomas (Reason, History and Necessity)

Overview
During Apostolic times there were well frequented trade routes, by land and / or water, connecting North-West India (today Pakistan), the West Coast and the East Coast, with North Africa and West Asia. Thus Alexandria, Aden, Socotra, Ormuz, Ctesiphon, Caesarea, Taxila, Broach, Kodungallur (Muziris) and even Rome were inter-linked.

Kodungallur -The Cradle of Christianity in india:The growth of Christianity in Kerala along the sea-coast and its geographical dispersion indicate the importance of Kodungallur in the spread of the gospel message in Kerala and India. According to the strong Kerala tradition as found embedded in the Ramban Song and in the collective consciousness of the whole land and people irrespective of creed or denomination Kodungallur (Maliamkara) was the headquarters of Apostle St.St. Thomas from where he organised and operated his various mission projects and apostolic journeys to the various mission centres.

Kodungallur-Mission Headquarters: There were a number of factors that must have prompted the saint to make Kodungallur his mission headquarters. For example he himself had first landed in the land of Kerala in Chera country and our India at Kodungallur. Even if he had gone to the land of King Gondophares earlier, as far as present day India is concerned it was Kodungallur that first came into contact with the Apostle and his message. And the possibility that the Apostle might have first come to Kodungallur itself, the port most accessible to foreign ships, and primum emporium Indiae, before embarking for Taxila or Gandhara along the coastal route could not be totally rejected.

http://www.stthoma.com/7church_kodungallur.html

Charm of the old world Tourism Trail

2008-02-19T14:35:00.000-08:00

. in the heritage zone: Fort Kochi attracts tourists with its heritage structures and Chinese nets Photo: H. Vibhu
Kerala - Kochi
Charm of the old world Tourism Trail
John L. Paul
KOCHI: From November to the beginning of March, there are two sets of people in Fort Kochi and Mattanchery – the foreign tourists who are wooed by shopkeepers and auto drivers, and the domestic ones for whom the carpet is not so red.

A late-evening stroll through the streets of Fort Kochi showed that eateries were full of foreign tourists, with domestic tourists seen more towards the beach. Some eateries readied tables even on the streets and they too were filled with foreigners in no time. Foreigners continue to throng the place, the hot and humid weather and the mosquito menace not withstanding.

The interesting aspect is that a majority of the foreign tourist take the congested passenger ferries from the mainland to reach Fort Kochi. This points to the need to have better boat connectivity to Fort Kochi and Mattanchery from Kochi.

The clampdown on unhygienic ‘You buy-We cook’ shacks has given a better look to the Vasco Da Gama Square and the beach area. This has also brought down the illicit sale of liquor through these outlets.

Dredging hazard

Sadly, dredging for the proposed international container terminal has resulted in the sea eating away a major chunk of the beach.

Along with the beach are disappearing the numerous Chinese fishing nets that continue to be a prominent attraction.

The Fort Kochi junction, a portion of the beach walkway and the park are ill lit. Antique lamp posts put up at many junctions do not function.

Bus operators have demanded more space for the bus stand, since confusion reigns at the present stand.

Crass commercialisation has resulted in heritage norms being violated. Flexi-boards and plastic display boards dominate most streets in Fort Kochi, taking away the heritage look. Many old buildings now have been given a very modern look, in violation of norms. And the high-rise apartments in the area are an eyesore.

The government’s plans to beautify the heritage areas of Fort Kochi and nearby Mattanchery are yet to take a proper shape. This and strict enforcement of heritage norms will help the two places retain their charm
http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/19/stories/2008021950190200.htm

Cochin Carnival 2007 in Fort Cochin, Kerala, India

2008-02-15T11:37:00.001-08:00

The last 10 days of December white rules Kochi. All avenues, establishments and houses in Kochi wear white paper buntings. All available space in the streets host impromptu competitions and multi-faceted celebrations. All these are conducted with self-imposed discipline. No trace of unruliness.

Kalam Vara (floor drawing), tug-of-war, bicycle races, swimming in sea, beach volleyball are some of the items packed in the competition basket. The festivities and revelries continue till midnight of December 31st. Fireworks mark the finale.

All the days of Carnival large number of people gather to enjoy the events.

Old KOCHI a group of islands comprising of Willington Island, Fort Kochi, Mattancherry, etc

2008-02-12T17:19:00.000-08:00

JEW TOWN (Mattancherry) A Historical Heritage Area
Kochi and its surroundings like Paravur (old Muziris) were the first urban settlement in Kerala. It attracted traders from all over the world for over two and a half millenia.It is still the only place in India (probably in the world too) where you can see a Jewish Synagogues, Sikh Gurudwaras, Jainteerths together.The wonder is still Kochi is the only Metropolis of south Indian state Kerala and the fourth biggest in South India after Chennai (Madras), Bangalore and Hyderabad

Ernakulam,Cochin is situated at a stone’s throw distance, from Old Kochi, exudes generation next verve and enthusiasm with a plethora of theatres, dining joints and shopping havens. Broadway is a shopper’s paradise, fragrant with an old world charisma. Amble down the seventy-five feet Marine Drive or lean back to feast your eyes on the Ernakulam –Vypeen boat sail at a distance. The word Ernakulam was derived from a Tamil word 'Erayanarkulam' which means 'Lord Shiva's abode'.If you are interested to bolster your knowledge about the nomenclature of Ernakulam, a visit to the Shiva Temple is a must. Rishinaga-kulam, the name of the temple’s pool of water gives Ernakulam its name. The legend has it that, a mystic gained freedom from the shackles of a curse. January is an ideal month to visit as the temple gears up to revel in the eight day celebrations. The Pakalpooram, a blend of panchavadyam, and pandimelan, is an unique experience. The new-year festivities of Onam sees Ernakulam all decked to host the Indira Gandhi Boat Race,that generates a lot of thrill and anticipation. The shopping fanatics can go on no holds barred shopping sprees to Broadway and M. G Road in Ernakulam.

Vembanad Lake is Indias's longest lake, and is the largest lake in the state of Kerala. It is also one of the largest lakes in India opens out to the sea at Kochi (COCHIN).

The Willington Island contains the modern port serving Cochin city of Kerala. The island is an artificial man-made island created from the sand dug out while deepening Kochi port. It has been named after Lord Willingdon, the former Madras governor, who was instrumental in implementing this island project. The main engineer spearheading this project, however, was Robert Bristow. A port hostel was built to accommodate passengers who wished to halt for a short while and it was named as the Malabar Hotel. The island links Kochi with other seaports of the world and houses some of the district's best hotels, commercial and industrial offices.

Willington Island is another place one must not miss a visit to. The island was named after Lord Willington, one of the former British Viceroys of India.Located between Ernakulam and Mattancherry, it is a man-made island created by using the soil obtained while dredging the Kochi harbor to allow vessels with deeper draughts to dock. The island is surrounded by beautiful backwaters. The island houses the cities best hotels, trading centers, the Port Trust and the headquarters of the Southern naval command.

Mattancherry Palace also known as Dutch Palace, the Mattancherry palace with its medieval charm is situated at Palace Road, Mattancherry,10km from Ernakulam city, Kochi, Kerala. Built by the Portuguese and presented to the Raja of Kochi Veera Kerala Varma (1537-65) in 1555 AD, it took on its present popular name 'Dutch Palace' after 1663, when the Dutch carried out some extensions and renovations in the palace

Adjacent to the palace, almost within its grounds is the famous Cochin synagogue built in 1567 and between them stands a large circular temple with a cone roof which is not open to non- Hindus.

The Palace with two floors built around a central courtyard follows the traditional Kerala style of architecture known as 'nalukettus'. From the outside, the palace looks European in character with scraped masonry walls and round-headed windows and doors but its sloping tiled roof and wooden balconies are indigenous features. Inside the inner court, there stands a small temple dedicated to 'Pazhayannur Bhagavati', the protective goddess of the Kochi Royal family. Two more temples are situated on either side of the Palace dedicated to Lord Krishna and Lord Siva. The palace, with the interiors panelled with wood has exhibits of the Rajas of Kochi like ceremonial robes, headdresses, weapons, palanquins, furniture but the main feature is the series of astonishing murals, depicting scenes from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, and the Puranic legends connected with Shiva, Vishnu, Krishna, Kumara, and Durga painted on the walls as well as the portraits of the rajas. The paintings cover a wide range of themes from the 'Puthra Kameshti Yagam' to Rama's return to Ayodya after vanquishing King Ravana of Lanka. The paintings totally cover nearly 1000 sq.ft in area and date from early as the 16th century through mid nineteenth century and are found in the bedchambers on the west side of the palace, in four chambers upstairs, and in two low ceiling rooms that are entered by a steep stairway. These beautiful and extensive paintings are fine examples of Kerala mural paintings best known for its unique style than the technique.

St. Francis Church, originally dedicated to Santo Antonio, the patron Saint of Portugal.Situated at Parade Road, 2 Km west of Mattancherry in Fort Cochin, this church is a living historical monument and one of the main tourist attractions in Fort Kochi.Being a modest unpretentious structure, it has no particular architectural merit, but it stands as a land mark of history and church architecture of India. Numerous churches has been built on the Indian soil keeping the St. Francis church as the model. It has been raised on a plan similar to the earlier types prevalent in Kerala though in elevation it has discarded the idea of dominating tower over the chancel.The church became a protected monument in April 1923 under the Protected Monuments Act of 1904.

Hill Palace Museum, Tripunithura
Set on top of a hillock, this prestigious palace-turned-museum displays 13 categories of exhibits, including paintings, carvings and other royal antiquities donated by the Cochin and Travancore royal families and the Paliam Devaswom. The Heritage Museum, located on the rear side of the palace buildings familiarizes you with the traditional lifestyles of ancient Kerala. As part of the establishment of a mini zoo, a deer park with spotted deer, sambar and peacocks is run by the Society for the Preservation of Hill Palace Premises. The museum premises has also been converted into a botanical garden with exotic tropical trees from central America to Australia. Located 11 Kms east of Ernakulam, en route to Chottanikkara.

St. Francis Church Built in 1503 by Portuguese Franciscan friars, this is India's oldest European church was the burial site for Vasco da Gama in 1524. Fourteen years later, his body was exhumed and sent to Lisbon in Portugal.

One of its interesting features is the hand painted willow pattern floor tiles brought from Canton in China in mid 18th century and no two tiles are alike. Open 1000 - 1200 hrs; 1500 -1700. Closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays) Constructed in 1568, this is the oldest synagogue in the Commonwealth.

The area around the synagogue is known as Jew town whose by-lanes that wind around offer charming sights of houses built in Dutch, Portuguese and British styles is a a centre of spice trade and curio shops.

Cochin has a safe deep natural harbor and was the epicenter of trade in Black pepper, spices, cardamom with the Dutch, Portuguese, Jews, Chinese and Phoenicians.

The church has an impressive facade. Inside the chancel is separated from the nave by a plain arch. The use of the arch is in sharp contrast to traditional Indian use of flat overlapping slabs or corbelling.

The tombstone of Vasco da Gama who was buried here in 1524 before his remains were moved to Lisbon, Portugal.

Vasco de gama the great Portuguese explorer was buried in the St. Francis church in 1524 A.D. discovered the sea route to India from Europe.

Located at Mattancherry, this synagogue built in 1568 by the prosperous Jewish community, is the oldest in India. The interior offers many delights: a Belgian chandelier, scrolls of the Old Testament, copper plates on which were recorded the grants of privilege made by the Cochin rulers to the Jewish community in the 4th century and finely wrought gold and silver crowns gifted to the synagogue by various patrons. This synagogue is also known as the Paradesi Synagogue.

Old Kochi loosely refers to a group of islands which comprise Willingdon Island, Fort Kochi, Mattancherry, etc

Kochi (formerly known as Cochin) is the largest city in the state of Kerala, India, and is its principal seaport. It is located in the district of Ernakulam. The city derives its name from the Malayalam word "Kochazhi" meaning small lagoon. This was shortened to Cochin by the westerners for easy pronunciation. The city reverted back to its original name Kochi in 1996. This change in name was challenged by the city municipal corporation and officially, the city is still called "Cochin".Also known as "Queen of the Arabian Sea", Kochi is located in the district of Ernakulam, about 220 km north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. Old Kochi loosely refers to a group of islands which comprise Willingdon Island, Fort Kochi, Mattancherry, etc. Today Kochi includes Ernakulam city, old parts of Kochi, Kumbalangi, and outlying islands.Willingdon Island is a large artificial island, created by dredging the Vembanad Lake under Lord Willingdon's direction. A large shipyard makes ships, especially cruisers and carriers for the Indian Navy, and straddles Willingdon Island.It is home to a naval base and an airport.Fort Kochi, situated on the Fort Kochi/Mattancherry peninsula, is the historical part of the city and home to many tourist attractions, such as the cantilevered Chinese fishing nets, the Mattancherry Palace and the Santa Cruz Basilica. Most economic activity is now centred in Ernakulam, however.Kochi has a lot of sight seeing places. Some of them are the Bolgatty palace, Chinese fishing nets, boating through the back waters, the Tripunithura Palace (also called Hill Palace; on the top of a hill).The synagogue in Kochi is the oldest in India. Kochi was a major settlement for a large Jewish community, which figured prominently in the business and economic strata of Kochi society. They were known as Malabar Yehuden and now increasingly as Cochin Jews. The community has now almost entirely migrated to Israel and the United States. The copper tablets presented to them in ancient times were shipped to Kennedy Airport Sanctuary where they are on display. Kochi now has a multicultural and secular community comprising Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Jains, Sikhs and other denominations.Syrian Orthodoxy was the sole Christian tradition in Cochin for a long time. However, since the Portuguese invasion of the princely state of Cochin (then known as Perumpadapu Swaroopam) in the 1500s, Roman Catholicism has been a dominant force in the city. Kochi also harboured the grave of Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese explorer, who was buried at St. Francis Church until his remains were returned to Portugal in 1539.A leisurely walk through the city is the best way to discover historic Fort Kochi. An obscure fishing village that became the first European township in India, Kochi has an eventful and colourful history. The town was shaped by the Portuguese, the Dutch and later the British. The result of these cultural influences are seen in the many examples of Indo European architecture that still exist here.St. Francis Church Built in 1503 by Portuguese Franciscan friars, this is India's oldest European church. This was initially built of timber and later reconstructed in stone masonry. It was restored in 1779 by the Protestant Dutch, converted to an Anglican church by the British in 1795 and is at present governed by the Church of South India. Vasco da Gama was buried here in 1524 before his remains were moved to Lisbon, Portugal. The tombstone still remains.Mattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace) (Open 1000 -1700 hrs. Closed on Fridays) Built by the Portuguese in 1557 and presented to Raja Veera Kerala Varma of Kochi, the palace was renovated in 1663 by the Dutch. On display here are beautiful murals depicting scenes for the epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata, and some of the Puranic Hindu legends. The palace also houses Dutch maps of old Kochi, royal palanquins, coronation robes of former maharajas of Kochi as well as period furniture. Synagogue (Open 1000 - 1200 hrs; 1500 -1700. Closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays) Constructed in 1568, this is the oldest synagogue in the Commonwealth. Destroyed in a shelling during the Portuguese raid in 1662, it was rebuilt two years later by the Dutch. Known for mid 18th century hand painted, willow patterned floor tiles from Canton in China, a clock tower, Hebrew inscriptions on stone slabs, great scrolls of the Old Testament, ancient scripts on cooper plates etc. Jew Town The area around the Synagogue is a centre of spice trade and curio shops.Willington Island Named after Lord Willington, a former British Viceroy of India, this man-made island is surrounded by beautiful backwaters. The island is the site of the city's best hotels and trading centres, the Port Trust and the headquarters of the southern naval command.Vasco da Gama Square and Parade Ground The huge cantilevered fishing nets are the legacy of one of the first visitors to the Malabar Coast. Erected here between 1350 and 1450 AD by traders from the court of Kublai Khan, these nets are set up on teak wood and baboo poles. The best place to watch the nets being lowered into the sea and catch being brought in is the Vasco da Gama Square, a narrow promenade that runs along the beach. The Square so an ideal place to idle, with stalls serving fresh delicious seafood, tender coconut etc.

The Waters of COCHIN (Kochi)

2008-02-08T11:55:00.001-08:00

In the waters of Kochi unique fishing nets known as "Cheena Vala," or Chinese Fishing Nets, are used. Kochi is the only place in the world outside of China that uses such nets. The canals and waterways of Kochi are vital to its unique character and way of life.

(COCHIN) Kochi, City of Canals

2008-02-08T11:52:00.001-08:00

Kochi is an ancient city that was known to the ancient Greeks, Romans, Arabs, and Chinese. A center of the spice trade and a vital economic port for India, it has been influenced by waves of settlers from around the world. Ruled by Indian princes, Portuguese traders, Dutch and English colonists, and finally being one of the first Princely Kingdoms to join independent India in 1947, Kochi has a rich, diverse history

Thrissur Pooram, COCHIN,KERALA INDIA

2008-02-07T14:18:00.001-08:00

Thrissur is best known for its mammoth Pooram Festival, which is the most colourful and spectacular temple festival of Kerala.Introduced during the reign of Sakthan Thampuran (1775- 1790), the Raja(King) of Cochin.Celebrated in Medom (April-May) it consists of processions of richly caparisoned elephants from various neighbouring temples to the Vadakumnathan temple.

The VENUS a DISCO and Formula One DJ Pub in MG(Mahatma Ghandhi Road) COCHIN,KERALA,INDIA

2008-02-07T13:25:00.001-08:00

This is a clear example of how cosmopolitan COCHIN is. It ranks right up there with Bangalore,Bombay and Delhi. COCHIN is the one and only cosmopoitan city in the state of Kerala!!!!!!!