Onam - best time to visit Kerala!

Kerala’s biggest festival – Onam brings 10 solid days of carnivals and celebrations this august. The water channels of Kerala come alive with high-spirited boat races and the main lands with royal marches of caparisoned elephants, music, dance, elaborate ‘onasadya’ meals brightly decorated temples and streets with serial-lights and flowers.

Onam is an ancient harvest festival which also celebrates the monsoons as well as the annual visit of Asura King Mahabali – during whose reign it is said that Kerala flourished. Onam is celebrated during the Malayalam month of Chingam (August-Septermber) and lasts 10 days.

‘Vallamkali’ or the snake-boat-race is the high-point of Onam where the main boat races are held in a 40-kms stretch on River Pamba – the third longest river of Kerala. Lengthy snake-boats (chundans) which hold fifty oarsmen each participate in ferocious races on all 10 days. These oarsmen not only paddle swiftly in perfect coordination, they also sing in perfect rhythm while they race to win. Each of these race-boats has 150 people aboard of which 125 are oarsmen; 4 are helmsmen and 25 are singers. Vallamkali epitomizes perfect team play and all it takes is one mistake of one oarsman to overturn the boat.

This is also what brings thousands of non-resident Keralites and other tourists to Kerala each year. You will find countless photographers and media perched on the banks of river Pamba struggling to get a clear shot of the racing snake-boats – standing amidst thousands of onlookers who themselves behave boisterously –cheering for the boats.

The rich Kerala cuisine cooked during the Onam days – the ‘Onasadya’ - comprises a lavish 9-course meal of 13 primary dishes - a veritable rainbow of colourful vegetables cooked in fresh and flavourful locally grown ingredients and served in fresh banana leaves. Onasadya is not only a convergence of culinary and cultural influences of centuries; it is also one of the most colourful and attractive displays of food in the world.

‘Onakalikal’ are games played on Onam with great fervor. This is one of the rare occasions where you would get to witness the martial arts of archery (ambeyyal); combat games (kayyankali); kabaddi (kutukutu); mask dances (kummattikali); dancing in tiger-like body-paints (pulikali); folk dances of women (thumbithullal & kayikottikali); and rugged ball games (talappanthukali) among other festivities.

‘Pookalam’ or traditional flower arrangements made on each morning in front of each house during the Onam days is another colourful representation of festivities in Kerala. Comprising 6-10 varieties of flower petals, the pookalam activity is a joyous event among the Kerala women folk all over the state. You would get to see some of the most creative and arty patterns and designs of flowers during Onam.

The dazzling parade of caparisoned elephants amidst incessant fireworks, music and drum roll all day is worth all the struggle of earning one spot among the thousands in the crowd alongside the parade route. More than 100 elephants parade the main streets of all the major towns of Kerala.

 

The Onam week has also been declared as the Tourism Week by the Kerala government so that other people can visit and enjoy the true essence of Kerala at the right time. And certainly, Onam is the best time of the year to visit Kerala!

Pix courtesy: Indianexpress, timesofindia, keralapix, loadtr, yahoogroups, fanimages, prinjuprasad.blogspot.

Waterfall Tourism in the Monsoons in India.

August to November are the best months of the year to watch the waterfalls in India. That's when the gently cascading waters would transform into gushing, plunging, voluminous, outstanding, powerful and intimidating water bodies - adding magnetism to an already attractive mountain landscape.

While some have the luxury of being perennial, some aren’t!

Meaning – no rainfall….no waterfall. So now you know why you need to visit the nearest waterfalls this monsoon.

The three waterfalls of India which have topped the lists are:

Kunchikal Falls – 1493 feet drop - the highest waterfalls in India and the second highest waterfalls in Asia. It is located in the Western Ghats and is caused by the River Varahi in Shimoga District of Karnataka State. While Rivers Tunga and Bhadra flow through the Shimoga District, Rivers, Sharavathi, Gangavathi, Tadadi and Kali originate in this District. But that’s not the cause for the highest waterfalls in India. It is being on the Western Ghat slopes and receiving one of the highest degrees of rainfall in the country that is causing it. The popular ‘Jog Waterfalls’ and ‘Barkana Falls’ which draw thousands of tourists are also in Shimoga District.

 Barehipani Falls – 1309 feet drop – a two-tiered waterfall which is the second highest waterfalls in India and is formed by River Budhabalanga in in Mayurbhanj District of Orissa State. The falls are situated in the Simlipal National Park which is home to 100 Royal Bengal Tigers and 432 Asian Elephants among other wildlife.

 Langshiang Falls – 1106 feet drop – the third highest waterfalls in India which is formed by River Kynshi in West Khasi Hills District in Meghalaya State. These falls are just 10kms away from the biggest River Island of Meghalaya State – ‘Nongkhnum Island’.

And my personal favourites are:

 Jog Falls – 829 feet drop – the second highest ‘plunge-waterfall’ in India – formed by Sharavathi River in Shimoga District in Karnataka. 1500 steps lead downhill from the view point to the bottom of the hill - opposite the falls giving you the complete full-frontal view of the falls which is a rarity considering that most natural landscape surrounding natural waterfalls do not permit the fully frontal up-close view. It’s the monsoon water that turns this stringy drop to a full-blown avalanche of white frothy water causing misty surrounding.

Hogenakkal Falls – 66 feet drop – formed by River Kaveri in Dharmapuri District of Tamil Nadu State. Its claim to fame is its resemblance to the Great Niagara Falls because of which it is also called the ‘Niagara of India’. Boat rides are major tourist attraction here.

Dudhsagar Falls – 1017 feet drop – formed by River Mandovi on the Goa-Karnataka border in Goa State. It is a multi-tiered waterfall located in Bhagwan Mahavir Wild Life Sanctuary on the Western Ghats. During the monsoons, the Dudhsagar Falls swell up to a width of 100 feet making it one of the most powerful falls in India. Riding the train over the Falls is a major tourist attraction. Trekking around these Falls is another major tourist attraction. Tourists are allowed in this area only from October.

Dhuandhar Falls – 98 feet drop – formed by River Narmada in Jabalpur District of Madhya Pradesh State. This is a large roaring waterfalls which is heard from a distance. In peak monsoon, these Falls look like there are taking the Earth with them. The cable-car ride over these Falls is a uniquely thrilling experience.

Kiliyur Falls – 300 feet drop – formed by overflow of Yercaud Lake in the Eastern Ghats in Tamil Nadu. It is a picturesque multi-tiered waterfall which falls down a stone slope. The monsoon-volume of the water in the Falls causes several mini umbrella falls on the slopes – increasing its visual appeal.

Meenmutty Falls – 984 feet drop – the highest waterfalls of Kerala State in Wayanad District. Scores points on visual eye-appeal of a thundering waterfall in dense virgin forests of the Western Ghats.

Pix courtesy: Wikipedia, mytraveltalk, odiya, walkthroughindia, kingnutin.flickr, thinkingparticle.

Naga Panchami.

Naga Panchami is a unique festival of India. It is the festival of Snakes. This festival of Snakes is celebrated on the fifth day (hence the name Naga Panchami, Naga = Snakes, Panchami = Fifth) after the Amavasya (new moon) in the Hindu calendar month of Shravan; which falls in the months of July / August.

The festival has its origins most probably in the increased human/snake conflict that happens during the Indian monsoon, which starts in June. The monsoon rains flood the Snake nests, forcing them to seek dry ground and hence into human habitation.

Myth and Folklore have added their own color to the festival. According to lore, Naga Panchami is the day that Lord Krishna had conquered Naga Kālia and put an end to his evil deeds.

Though not as popular as the major Indian festivals of Diwali or Dassehra, It is celebrated across country by offerings of milk and oblation to the Snake deities. The most popular places to visit for this festival are:

 * Adiesha Temple - Andhra Pradesh

 * Nagaraja Temple - Kerala

 * Nagathamman Temple - Chennai

 * Hardevja Temple - Jaipur

 * Nagvasuki Temple - Daragunj

 * Nagasthala, Subramanya temple, Kukke about 120 kilometers from Mangalore

 However *the* place to be during the festival of Naga Panchami is the village of Baltis Shirale, which is situated approximately 400 kilometers (approximately 250 miles) from Mumbai, the most outstanding of all the celebrations happens here. Reportedly, the largest collection of snakes in the world can be found in Baltis Shirale.

 By the way, Did I say Naga Panchami is unique to India? Well, not exactly. Check out the "Processione dei Serpari" in Italy. Also, did you know, Thiruananthapuram, the capital of Kerala is derived from the legendary snake ‘Anantha’ - one of the eight great Nagas of Puranic literature!

Pix courtesy: 4to40.

Singing oarsmen of the war-boats.....

100 feet long war-boats and 100 singing oarsmen in each boat will set River Pamba on fire this July.

That is what the Champakulam Boat Race is all about. Originally designed for Wars, these boats are currently keeping the Kerala boating heritage alive through boat races and water carnivals. The Champakulam Boat Race shall officially open the boat-race season in Kerala.

Kerala’s oldest and most popular and much awaited snake boat race – ‘Vallam Kali’ will grace Kerala’s third longest river – ‘Pamba’ which is also regarded as the Southern Ganges – ‘Dakshin Ganga’. Champakulam is a village in Alapuzha District in kerala and is said to be the rice bowl of Kerala – being a part of Kuttanad. River Pamba flows through the middle of Champakulam village. Alleppey (Alappuzha) – titled ‘the Venice of the East’ - is just 16 kms northwest of Champakulam.

‘Moolam Nakshatra’ of the Malayalam month ‘Midhunam’ is when this 500-year old Boat Race tradition would be held – it falls on the 3^rd of June in 2012. The ‘Rajapramukhan’ Trophy would be awarded to the winning team.

Elaborately and intricately decorated boats and water-floats will fill up River Pamba this day. ‘Vanchipattu’ – the song of the Oarsmen which facilitates rhythmic and coordinated movements of rowing the boats is an interesting aspect of the thrilling boat race – ‘Chundan Vallam’ Race. Hundreds of locals and tourists flood the Pamba River banks to watch and cheer the boats in one of the most exciting sports events in the country.

Champakulam Boat Race is not your regular run-of-the-mill leisurely race. It takes months of practice and stamina-building to row this war-boat – much less win the race. It’s a high-energy race which is found intriguing by most foreigners who witness this race that they even try their hand at it post the race. This truly tests your fitness levels.

Pix: Keralatourism.org; Vembanad Lake.blogspot; alleppeyboathouse.com;

The 'Thrissur Pooram' this May.

The ‘Pooram Nakshatram’ day in ‘Medam’ – Malayalam month, which coincides with months of April and May, is the most auspicious day and the most awaited day in Thrissur (also known as Trichur) as Thrissur witnesses the biggest Hindu festival of Kerala which lasts for almost 48 hours nonstop – the event commencing at 7am on the 1st day.

The whole city of Thrissur is decorated with flowers and blinking serial lights from the day before the ‘Thrissur Pooram’ and everyone seems to be gearing up for the festival as they are involved directly or indirectly in the celebrations. The ‘Thrissur Pooram Paraphernalia’ comprising the gold ornaments of the Elephants is displayed for public CMS School Compound. This is the closest you get to these ornaments to appreciate them as it is hardly possible on the Pooram day.

Temples in Thrissur are to be specially visited on these 2 days of the festivals as they are decked up like never before. They make an amazing sight.

But the highpoints of the ‘Thrissur Pooram’ – who are called the show-stoppers who steal the limelight and for whom the whole city of Thrissur along with people from other parts of Kerala and India as well as some foreigners and of course countless media persons assemble along their walkway are the regal Elephants! About 100 Elephants are decked up in gold ornaments and paraded through the city of Thrissur royally to the incessant and rhythmic drumming and fireworks. Countless percussion instruments follow the Elephants throughout the parade. 300 music performers perform the ‘Melam’ for 2 continuous hours during the day which will just transport you to a different world.

This Elephant parade is like no other in the whole world and this is the closest you could get to so many Elephants all at once. The mere sight of them bunched together – posing for a million clicking cameras from all directions will give you goosebumps as you get all stirred up emotionally.

On Thrissur Pooram, Thrissur city does not sleep. All Elephants are made to walk a set route in the city which ends up at the Vadakkunnathan Temple – an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Thrissur Pooram festival has been celebrated since 1798 and was started by Raja Rama Varma – also known as Sakthan Thampuran – the ruler of Cochin. With the launch of the Thrissur Pooram festival and a host of other Hindu festivals here, Thrissur became the culture-capital of Kerala. It was Maharaja Sakthan Thampuran who unified a dozen temples which were situated around the Vadakkunnathan Temple and organized a joint celebration of all these temples which became a mass festival and involved the whole city and ten other towns.

On the night of the first day of the Thrissur Pooram, the city of Thrissur dazzles with millions of multi-coloured lights which run over all the streets of the city and the skyscape will have no space to breathe with scores of fireworks lighting up the skies. No wonder then that of all the festivals in south India, Thrissur Pooram is known to be the most thunderous and the most spectacular festival ever with several lakhs attending.

March Elephants....March.

Temple Festivals of Kerala epitomize royalty, grandeur and carnivals of India. And one of them is the Guruvayur Utsavam (festival) celebrated at the Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple in Guruvayur – known as the ‘Dwaraka of the South’- in Kerala starting from 5^th of March.

This March, the little town of Guruvayur will bustle with activity as it celebrates the Guruvayur Festivals – Patahadi, Dhwajadi and Ankuradi that last all month. The Temple would be richly decorated by fresh-cut flowers during day and with multi-coloured blinking lights – thousands in a row at night and the streets would be lined with flower and light decorations with spiritual music in Malayalam playing at every nook and corner. Fireworks, decorative arch-ways, bunches of coconuts and plantain trunks which are planted by most doorways is what Guruvayur experiences every March.

Remembered for the elaborate ‘pujas’ in the Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple and the majestic Elephant parades in which Elephants adorned with ornate golden caparisons (nettipattam) parade along with hundreds of Lord Krishna devotees and the temple priests doing the drum-roll in the festival procession around the temples, the Guruvayur Festivals in March are dedicated to Lord Krishna and are much-awaited by the locals and tourists. During this month the Temple hosts several cultural programs daily. It is a feast to the eyes and the experience takes you to a whole new level of spirituality even if you’re not a Hindu.

Known to have more than 60 captive Elephants which are an integral part of the Temple Pujas & Processions, the Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple Board has constructed an exclusive, one-of-its-kind Elephant Palace to house these regal beings of which Gajarajan Guruvayur Kesavan is the most popular and celebrated elephant for his devout behaviour. Beside pilgrimage people from all over the country visit Guruvayur Temple during this festival because of the unique Elephant Race (Aanayottam) which marks the commencement of the festival where all the elephants along with their respective mahouts race against one another on the streets of Guruvayur.

Besides partaking in the celebration of the Guruvayur Festival, rheumatic patients also pay homage to the temple’s residing deity – Lord Krishna as it is a strong belief that doing so would relieve them of their suffering and ailments.

New Year 2012 at waynad

I study Law at Christ University in Bangalore and my sister is studying Engineering at Kanchi in Tamil Nadu.  It is such a clash of concepts that she gets vacation for all the Hindu festivals and I get a single day off and we never get to see each other.  Most of the times, my sister leaves for her college the day I get home at Hyderabad.  So, I decided that this New Year we have to celebrate together come what may.  Incidentally as it is her final year of degree even her group of friends had plans to welcome the New Year 2012 together at a nice destination.  I pushed my way through the group and all her friends very sweetly agreed to squeeze me in their plans.

So there we were on our way to Waynad in Kerala to welcome the New Year a wild way.  As I was already located at Bangalore the group of Engineers joined me on 30^th evening at my college on Hosur Road, Bangalore.  I already knew most of them on fb and had met few of them personally as well, so I took charge as I am the localite in Karnataka.  We got in to the Toyota Innova which was prebooked for the tour and were on our  way to Waynad.  It took us 6 hrs to reach the destination and it was almost midnight by the time we checked into a home stay we had booked on line.  The place was a beautiful old house which was run by a couple who are very friendly and hospitable.  We were nine, 5 guys and 4 girls a noisy group at that calm and serene location.  It was fun for once not to worry about the crowds that bother.  Home stay uncle woke us logs up by 5am the next morning, and I was wild as to what was the hurry by the way to arise and awaken so early on the last day of the year, after all it was the last sleep of the year you see!!! Before I could shout up we received the news of the day the wildlife park is open only between 6am to 11 am. 

So we rushed and dressed to get on our way to the park.  Our driver, Joseph is very knowledgeable of this region and took us in the best route where we could sight as much wild life as possible. It was so beautiful and out of the world moving across the green zone with the Sun rays giving the most needed warmth on a chilly morning of 31 December 2011. Waynad Wildlife Sanctuary, Muthanga is a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and is also a Project Elephant site.  I was all exited with the camera in my hand and took the most advantage of being the youngest of the group.  For once, I enjoyed being the youngest which otherwise is a constant crib of my life.

Well, note the pic to the left keenly as I would like to point out the cute baby elephant besides the big one.  I found it so cute that I got out of the vehicle and was on my foot taking a close up shot of the baby.  Suddenly I found it was getting bigger and closer in my camera lens and I could hear every one shouting from the car ‘hey come back’. Then I jerked and realized that it was the mother who was coming towards me, I turned back started running towards my car and the animal instinct made even the big elephant run behind me.

 I just managed to get inside the car before the driver sped it in a bypass road to get us quickly out of the animal’s way.  At once everyone started shouting at me, for a little while we were lost and went about here and there and came across this cozy piece of land where we stopped by to have our breakfast packed by the home stay couple.  It was already 10 and we were supposed to get out before 11 am so we quickly packed and got out.  Though it was a short time spent in the wild life park and very little explored, we all had fun and kept laughing about the elephant episode throughout the day. 

Next we proceeded towards the Meenmutty waterfalls located at a height of 300 meters.  We were all excited about the fun we would have at the water gateway.  But soon we were alerted by the driver that it is going to be an athletic and trekking trip there.  Fortunately all of us were having comfy footwear like floaters and sports shoes.  These are the largest falls of Waynad with fantastic view. 

We had some company there and we followed the instructions and climbed down a tiny valley with the help of ropes set by the local administration.  It took us close to an hour to reach the waterfalls and we were breathless and sweating by the time we reached.  We all had fun, played in the water, got drenched despite the cold weather and it was 3pm and time to leave.  We never realized as to how the time went by.  There we were, on our way back through that ropey way, this time it was climbing up and so tough and God, we were so hungry…… Joseph kept motivating us telling about the restaurant where we could have yummy food.  Once we reached the vehicle and fainted inside, Joseph took us all to the Katar Café where we came to senses immediately with the smell of the food.  It was the best meal of the year we had that day.  We freaked out on veg, non-veg and bakery products available there.  After that we were in no shape to go anywhere and went straight back to the home stay, and slept off.

We were up by 9pm and were all ready to welcome the New Year 2012.  Joseph told us about the tree houses in nearby Resorts and took us up to the tree house for a view.  We all piled on to get a chance to and it was so much fun.  We could see people going up in those lift like baskets up to the tree house.  After spending a couple of hours there again we went back to our place to celebrate with a camp fire accompanied with drinks, food and music.  We helped the home stay couple in organizing all these for the party and invited them also to join us; however they spent few minutes and went off.  So we were left on our own to make a lot of noise and dance and party.  But we were all so tired that we just waited till the break of the New Year 2012 to wish each other, called our parents and hit the beds. 

It was a nice long sleep and I kept dreaming of the beautful and green meadows, the mother elephant chasing me, the ropes of the fall and the tree house. I woke up on my own without anyone asking me to and found every one waiting, ready to leave. They all wished me a New Year again and told that they din't want to disturb my first sleep of the year and hence allowed me to sleep till 11am. OMG, aren’t they sweet….well so that was how I invited this year and wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year 2012.