Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Kumarakom Photographs - Set 1

These are beautiful scenic pictures in Kumarakom, Kerala. Enjoy these pictures and ensure that you visit this place which is also called as "God's Own Country."

For full description click here!

Meenachil River in Kottayam

On the way to Kumarakom from Kottayam in Kerala

On the way to Kumarakom from Kottayam in Kerala

On the way to Kumarakom from Kottayam in Kerala

On the way to Kumarakom from Kottayam in Kerala

On the way to Kumarakom from Kottayam in Kerala

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Munnar - God's Own Country - Kerala - Must See Place!

Place: Munnar
State: Kerala
Country: India
Best Time to Visit (Tourist Season): August to March
How to Reach?

Air: Destination is Coachin Airport
Trian and Bus: Get down in Ernakulam Town Station and from there get a taxi (or local bus) to Munnar. It is about 170-180 KMS (100 to 110 miles)
Places to Stay: Nice hotels are around for you to stay and enjoy the nature
Places to Eat: Good vegetarian, multi-cusine restaurants are available
Temperature: 0-25 C
Languages: Malayalam and English
Places to Visit:
1. Photo point
2. Mattupetty Dam - 13 kms from Munnar
3. Echo point - 15 kms from Munnar
4. Shooting point
5. Kundale Lake.
6. Blossom park
7. Pothenmedu view point - 6 kms from Munnar
8. Nyamakadu water falls - 10 kms from Munnar
9. Anaimudy view
10. Eravikulam National Park – RAJAMALA - 15 kms from Munnar
11. Devikulam - 7 kms from Munnar
12. Pallivasal - 8 kms from Munnar
13. Attukal - 9 kms from Munnar
14. Lock Heart Gap - 13 kms from Munnar

Munnar is a town located in Kerala state in the southern Western Ghats in South India. The area is surrounded by vast jungles and remains wet and cold during most of the year.

Munnar is Kerala's premium hill station. A hill station with transcending excellence surrounded by gently undulating hills swathed in the soothing green of vast tea estates makes it perfect tourist destination in south India. Situated at an altitude of 1600 m above sea level, its bracing climate with the laidback atmosphere and its delightfully refreshing colonial air makes it the most sought-after destinations.

Kerala itself is called God's own country, with National Geographic Traveler selecting it as 'One of 50 must see destinations of a lifetime' and 'One of the 10 paradises of the World'. And Munnar is the most popular spot in Kerala. The holiday facilities, peaceful environment and the tranquility that it provides make it the perfect serenity spot to rejuvenate and revive the most jaded of travelers.
Munnar lies in Idukki district, at the confluence of three mountain rivers.

It is pronounced "Moon-aar", meaning 'three rivers' in Malayalam. The rivers; Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala meet in the center of the town. The place is encircled by wooded hills of the Annamalai Ranges, with the towering bulk of Anamudi, which is peninsular India's highest peak, at 2695 m.

The mountain streams, valleys, tea plants and plenty to discover in the surrounding region, this hill station offers a great variety of choices for tourists. It is an excellent base for trekking through the surrounding hills, which are covered by lush green rainforests; for going picnicking beside a crystal-clear mountain stream; for wildlife watching; or for simply getting the kinks out of a tired system!

Click here to view the beautiful pictures of Munnar--good treat to your eyes and mind! See them and relax, but take time to visit and experience the god's gift--The Nature!

Basic Tips for Travellers - Local Site Seeing

Below are the tips and tools that you can use to travel within your city / state or region. These are tips for all of us to ensure that we travel to these places and enjoy the trip without sacrificing on the safety and security aspect.

This is not an exhaustive list, so request you to let me know if you find something missing and wanted to add. I will be glad to add them:

1. Tickets:

First and foremost are the tickets. If you are travelling by Bus / Train / Air, ensure that you have taken your tickets with you. If you have eTicket, ensure that you have a copy in one your personal emails. This will help you in case of trouble such as losing tickets, getting wet in the rain, damaged in the baggage handling.

If you do not have eTicket, but have the ticket issued over the counter, see if you have couple of rupees or few cents to take a photocopy the original ticket.

2. First-aid and Medicines:

Ensure you take the first-aid kit with you. Most of the medical stores and pharmacies have the readymade first-aid boxes. If you are travelling in the car, the car kit should contain the first-aid box.

Also, ensure that you take your important medicines especially if you are under medication. If you have to take daily medicines ensure that you take enough number of those medicines.

The first-aid should definitely have cotton, dettol, band-aids, plaster. Also, have a phone number of the nearby hospital especially the hospitals in your visiting place.

3. Water:

Be careful about your water. If you are sensitive to water, carry your own water bottles. If you cannot, find out which brand of water will suit your body and use it.

4. Dress:

Take enough number of clothes with you. Always have a bakcup dress, in case if you want, you have them. If you go along with children, ensure that you buy some cloth for them from the touring place as they would definitely enjoy.

5. Maps, Routes of Local Places:

Note down the address of the place you are staying and communicate it to your family / relatives. This is for safety reasons and they can get in touch with you if required. Note down the landmark of the place you are staying so that even if you get lost you can get back to the place.

6. Site Seeing:

Before the trip, if the purpose of the trip is kind of vacation or site seeing, you list down the places to visit and keep buffer time so that you can visit other places if you get to konw about them from the local people.

All the very best for your tour...Enjoy it! As I said above, this is not an exhaustive list of tips or input. Please send your feedback or suggestions so that I can keep it up to date with as much information as possible!
Ensure that you know the names of the local places. This would ensure that you know where you are going.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Kumarakom - A beautiful place at Kerala - God's own country


Kumarakom is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Beauties of greeneries and coconut lagoons are the most lovely sites to everyone's eyes.

Beneath the back waters Kumarakom- KOTTAYAM is a vast network of rivers and canals which empty into the great expanse of water called the Vembanad Lake. This Lake, an enchanting picnic spot and a fast developing backwater tourism destination, provides boating, fishing and sightseeing experiences that are truly exhilarating. The Vembanad Lake, the largest backwater in Kerala, is habitat for many marine and freshwater fish species too. The Kumarakom Tourist village offers House Boat Cruises and nature entertainments. The serene Lake comes alive during Onam -The most celebrity festival in KERALA- with a spectacular regatta-the Snake Boat Races.



Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is a noted bird sanctuary where many species of migratory birds visit. The bird sanctuary extends over 14 acres (57,000 m²), and it is a major tourist attraction.

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary (also known as Vembanad Bird Sanctuary) is situated at Kumarakom in Kottayam district in the Indian state of Kerala, on the banks of Vembanad Lake. Set in the Kerala Backwaters the bird sanctuary is an ornithologist's paradise and a favourite haunt of migratory birds

Kumarakom

The Bird Sanctuary can be visited by canoes, which can be arranged with local fishermen at the entrance to the sanctuary. A two-hour rowing canoe trip is quite cheap, and is best undertaken in the evening or early morning to avoid the afternoon sun. Lovely house boats are available too with all facilities for a crusie at Vembanad Lake. Delicious kerala cuisine foods are provided in house boats.

Resorts at kottayam: There were lot of resorts set in surreal landscape amidst woods at Meenachil river bank of Kumaranalloor (a place at kottayam). A spot where one can reclaim one's attitudes and spirits. Visitors think silent as they take a happy dip in the coolest of waters of the river around.
House Boat in Vembhanadu Lake
It is a unique experience that will beckon the visitors time and time again as there are several activities for visitors.