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Kerala
Sobriquet:
God's own country.
Kerala called as 'God's own country',
because of it's rich natural beauty, undisturbed God's
creation. With all the nature and still with the erstwhile historical
evidences Kerala is a great place to touch, see and feel to enjoy.
Here are some places that you wouldn't like to miss visiting when
are there.
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PADMANABHAPURAM
PALACE
Lying
at the end of mainland Inida is the Padmanabhapuram palace, in Thukckalay
about 64 km from Thiruvananthapuram situated in Tamilnadu a neighbouring
state. Any lover of art and architecture would be enticed by this
magnificent wooden palace of the 16th century. It is a fine specimen
of the Kerala's indigenous style of architecture and of the Rajas
of the erstwhile Travancore. The aged interiors are sated with elaborate
rosewood carvings and sculpted decorations. Take a look at the windows
with coloured mica, musical bow in mahogany, royal chairs with Chinese
carvings, the Queen Mother’s palace, ‘Thaikottaram’
with painted ceilings, rose wood and teak carved ceilings with 90
different floral designs. The Durbar Hall with shiny balck floor
specially made from a combinations of various ingredients if we
can say, the secret underground passages, the King’s bedroom
with a four poster medicinal bed, all these the Padmanabhapuram
is a breathtaking citadel.
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KUTHIRAMALIKA
Adjacent to Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple at East fort in Thiruvananthapuram
is the
Horse Bungalow, which is what, Kuthiramalika, means, which adopted
its name from the roof beams carved to resemble the faces of horses.
This architectural delight was built during the reign of Swathi
Thirunal. The museum in it has a display of ornaments, personal
effects and weapons and a wide range of exhibits representing the
way back Travancore royal household.
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POOKKOT LAKE
Pookkoot about 3 km. to the south of Vyththiri town of Wayanad district
is a natural fresh water lake surrounded by lush green forest and
hills. The name Wayanad has been derived from the expression 'Vayal
nadu' - the village of paddy fields. There is also a fresh water
lake with a wide variety of fish which is an added attraction to
this. You can go for some boating, buy some things at the shopping
center may be some handicrafts or spices, which Kerala is famous
for. The bends and ridges of the road from Khozhidode to the Wayanad
plateau are mind-boggling.
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PUNNATHUR KOTTA
We can see Elephants only in zoo’s now a days, but an Elephant
is a very common sight in Kerala. It is rather better called as
a domestic or a pet animal there. Here there wouldn’t be any
fair or festival, that won’t have an elephant involved in it.
Punnathur Kotta a fort about 2 km from the Guruvayoor Krishna Temple
in Thrissur District houses over forty Elephants, which are tamed
and groomed here. You can spend day watching these huge animals.
You would love to see the naughty antics of the baby Elephants.
The training, the taking care and what not about Elephants you can
find here.
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THE BEKAL FORT
About 16 km at south of Kasaragod town is the Bekal fort. The historical
Bekal fort is shaped like a giant keyhole. The beautiful beach surrounding
the fort makes it even more elegant. There are also hill destinations
and water sport facilities nearby. All together the fort is a truly
to be visited place.
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CHITHARI
About 5 km from Kanhangad, Kasaragod district is the small tropical
island, Chithari, with an emerald lagoon and vast sandy beach. This
green beautiful island is a little smoothed out by the Bekal Fort
and beach to still be a virgin island. It is accessible only by
boat. This island has it all to become a tourist destination.
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MALAMPUZHA
A Dam, amusement park, boating facilities, rock garden and ropeway
these are the extra attractions of Malampuzha, a little township,
poised at 10 km from Palakkad town. Situated on the foothills of
the Western Ghats takes its name from the river Malampuzha. The
trekking trails and the large irrigation dam make this green town
a tourist attraction. The snake park, the fish shaped aquarium and
the ropeway, which gives you an aerial view of the park. The rock
garden in it is a major attraction sculpted by Padmasree Neck Chand
Saini, who also designed a world famous rock garden in Chandigarh;
the fascinating character in the rock garden is that it is made
up of thrown out material like broken pieces of bangles, tiles,
used plastic cans, tins and other waste materials.
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ATHIRAPPALLI AND VAZHACHAL
About 63 km from Thrissur, are located the two famous waterfalls
of Kerala, Athirapalli and Vazhchal. Just 5 km apart, on the edge
of Sholayar forest, these waterfalls offer splendid scenic beauty.
After a drop of 80 feet the Athirappalli falls joins the Chalakkudy
river. With a backdrop of thick green forest and misty waters these
waterfalls really are something not to be missed.
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