THIRUVANANTHAPURAM :-
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Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple: The imposing seven storied tower makes it the most impressive landmark in the city. The temple is an excellent example of the dravidian style of architecture. There are innumerable pillars, intricate carvings, and mural paintings.
Veli Lagoon (Tourist Village): Delightful waterfront park.An ideal picnic spot where the lake merges with sea. The wadingpool,gardens,exquisite sculptures, a floating bridge and a wide range of aqua sports facilities
The Govt: Art Museum : Formally known as "Napier Museum" name dafter a former Madras Governer General, John Napier. It is a gem of architectural exub-
erance, combining traditional Kerala styles and good doses of Chinese and Mughal Influences.
Sree Chithra Art Gallary: Has a rich collection of paintings of Raja Ravi Varma and Roerich.It also has copies of paintings of the Ajanta, Rajput,Mughal and Tanjore Schools besides some works from China, Japa,Tibet and bali.
The Zoo: Is one of the best maintained zoos in the whole of Asia and has a beautiful sprawling lawns.
Observatory: The Observatory situated 60m above sea level is located on a hill near the Museum.It is one of the oldest in India. There is a well laid out garden in front of the hill, with a beautiful rose collection.
Shanghumugham Beach: It is popular city beach adjacent to the airport. An indoor recreation club, children's
traffic training park and a star shaped restaurant are some of the facilities at the beach
Shanghumugham Beach: It is popular city beach adjacent to the airport. An indoor recreation club, children's traffic training park and a star shaped restaurant are some of the facilities at the beach
Science and Technology Museum: Located near Mascot Hotel, the Museum is of high educative value for students of science and Technology.
Kowdiar Palace: The home of the late maharaja Sree Chithira Thirunal Bala Rama varma and his family is off limits to visitors but you can have a glimpse from the main gate. If a friendly guard is on duty, he will let you walk a bit inside the grounds where you can get a view of the grand old building at the end of its long drive.
Akkulam Boat Club : 9 km away from the town. It is a popular retreat for the city dwellers. The lake has boating facilities and has largest children's Park in Kerala.
Aruvikkara:16 km north of Thiruvananthapuram and gifted with lavish scenic beauty is Aruvikkara, with an ancient temple dedicated to Durga on the banks of the river.
Neyyar Dam:29km from Thiruvananthapuram is Neyyar Dam a picnic spot and dam site. There are facilities for boating at the reservoir. There is a lion safari park and crocodile farm.
Ponmudi : An ideal hill resort situated just 54km from Thiruvananthapuram is an enchanting one for tourists. Best accommodation and restaurant facilities are available here.
Peppara Wild Life Sanctuary: 50km from Thiruvananthapuram, Peppara is accessible from Vithurai on Thiruvananthapuram-Ponmudi Road. This sanctuary with its rich fauna and birds is emerging as a big attraction to wild life enthusiasts. It is spread over an area of 53 sq.km on the western ghats. This is doted with large hills and numerous hillocks with forests and eucalyptus plantations. Elephants, Sambar, Leopard and Lion tailed macaque are commonly seen.
Agastyakoodam : This is a prominent peak in the Sahyadri ranges and can be approached on foot from Bonacadu which is 61km away from Thiruvananthapuram
Agastyakoodam : This is a prominent peak in the Sahyadri ranges and can be approached on foot from Bonacadu which is 61km away from Thiruvananthapuram
Padmanabhapuram Palace : This palace was once the capital of the State of Travancore and is 51km from the city on the way to Nagarcoil in Tamil Nadu.The palace contains 17th and 18th century murals.
Kuthira Malika : (Palace Museum): Puthen Malika is also known as Kuthira Malika.This palace was built during the time of H.H Maharaja Swathi Thirunal the king of Travncore who was also a great poet and musician. This palace has wood carvings in the traditional Travancore style. The museum presently displays various painting collections of the royal family.
Thiruvallam : Lord Parasuraman's temple is here by the river at Thiruvallam, Chithranjali, the State Film Development Corporation's studio is at Thiruvallam. This is on the Thiruvananthapuram-Kovalam route,10km from the city.
Vizhinjam : Lying just 15kms from the state capital ,that is a historic spot, which was left unnoticed for a long time. The capital of Ay-Vel kings of the 8th-9th century, the only thing that was withstood time is a rock temple, as signed to the period of the Cheras because of a strong influence to the Pallava Pandya architecture. The rock temple is just a little off the main junction ,and is a protected monument under the Archeological Survey of India.
Koyikkal Palace:This is at Nedumangadu,18km from Thiruvananthapuram.This ancient palace built during the 15th century is on the way to the Ponmudi Hill Station and the Courtallam Water falls. This is built on the traditional nalukettu style.
Aruvi Waterfalls/Vaiyanthol : Just 60km from Thiruvananthapuram and 7kms from the Bonecaud estate in the Peppara forest range.This 4 ft cascade is one of the most verdant and unspoiled spots in Kerala. Road accessibility is only upto Bonecaud,thereon the Kanni tribesmen accompany trekkers along the mountain path. Prior permission from the Forest Department is required before approaching the area.
COCHIN :-
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Dutch palace, Mattancherry : The Dutch palace or Mattancherry palace was originally built by the Portuguese and presented to the Raja of Cochin, Veera Kerala Varma in 1555. It was later taken over by the Dutch who improved it through extensions and repairs in 1663.
Since then it came to be called the Dutch Palace though at no time did the Portuguese nor the Dutch stayed there. Today it is a portrait gallery of the Cochin Rajas. The double storied quadrangular building surrounds a central courtyard containing a Hindu Temple. In the centre is the coronation hall where the Cochin Rajas held their ceremonious coronation. On display here are the dresses, turbans, weapons and palanquins from that era. The highlight of the palace is the 17th century mural paintings of mythological figures and scenes from Ramayana in the tradition of Hindu temple art. The floor of the palace reveals the unique traditional Kerala technique of achieving a polished black surface by combining egg white, coconut shell, charcoal and lime and accomplishment worth admiring Timings: 10 am to 5 pm. Closed of Fridays and National Holidays.
Jewish Synagogue, Mattancherry : The Synagogue at Mattancherry built in 1568, The Great Scrolls of the Old Testament, the Copper Plates on which the grants of privilege made by the Cochin rulers were recorded and the exquisite Chinese hand-painted tiles are of interest, is the oldest Synagogue in the Common Wealth Countries. It was partially destroyed in the war of 1662, but was rebuilt by Dutch. In the mid 18th century the clock tower was added. Its floors are paved with exquisite had painted blue-willow tiles imported from China. Of these no two tiles are alike. The great scrolls of the old testament the copper plates in which the grands of privilege made by the Cochin Rules were recorded and the exquisite Chinese and Painted Tiles are of great interest. The Synagogue is open from 10 am to 12 noon and 3 pm to 5 pm on all days except Saturdays and Jewish holidays. The boasts of Rabbi gives visitors a full account of the synagogue and the history of the Jews in Kerala. Although this ancient community of Cochin has new dwindled to Hebrew language remain in Jew Town.
St. Francis Church, Fort Cochin : Reputed to the the oldest church in India built by the Europeans (The Protestant church was built originally by the Portuguese in AD 1510 and is believed to be the first church built by Europeans in India). It is situated in Fort Cochin 10 km. away from style and renamed St. Francis of Assisi Church. Vasco Da Gama the Governor of Portuguese territories in India was buried in here before his mortal remains were taken to Portugal, fourteen years after his death. But the original tablet still remains here. Old records of the Church can been seen here. The most important one is the "Doop Book" of the Dutch Baptismal register maintained till 1804. Some old cadjan leaf manuscripts preserved in the church give information about the life of the Portuguese and Dutch settlers here. Grave stones from the graves of Vasco Da Gama and Portuguese and Dutch are embedded on the walls of Church. Brass tablets in memory of many Europeans especially the English are also embedded on the walls.
Santa Cruz Basilica Church : This Roman Catholic church is situated near the St. Francis church and is worth a visit. It is a specimen of Portuguese architecture built in 1503. ‘Frescoes’ and mural paintings decorate the ceiling and interior parts of the church. The gothic architecture and the lofty spires gives it a unique grandeur
Bolghatty Island : Bolghatty palace built by the Dutch in 1744. Later it became the seat of the British Resident of Cochin. Today it is a hotel run by K.T.D.C. The grounds have a small golf course & several vantage points for lovely views of the harbour & the sea.
Willington Island : Connected to the mainland by road-cum-railway Venduruthy Bridge, Willington Island is named after the former Viceroy of India, Lord Willington. It is a manmade Island created from the materials dredged while deepening Cochin Port. Willington Island sites some of the district’s best hotels, Trading and industrial offices. Besides the airport, ship building yard, wharf, the Southern Naval Command Head Quarters, the customs house and the Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industries, the government of India Tourist Information office is situated here. Many offices, branches of national and international banks, travel agencies, souvenir shops warehouses can also be found here.
Gundu Island : It is the smallest island around Cochin with an area of only 5 acres. There is a coir factory here where coir is made into rope manually and carpets are manufactured by looms by hand.
Siva Temple, Ernakulam : This temple is situated in the centre of the town close to the Cochin Cultural Centre, very near the Durbar Hall Ground. The presiding deity is Lord Siva and the annual festival in the temple is conducted for 8 days during the month of January.
Kalady : Kalady is the birth place of Adi Sankaracharaya the great Indian Philosopher who lived in the 8th century is 45 Kms from Cochin. It is situated on the banks of river Periyar and there are two shrines in memory of Sree Sankaracharaya. One dedicated to him as Dakshina Moorthi and the other to the Goddess Sharada. Adi Sankara's Shrined in Kalady are open to all pilgrims irrespective of Religion and caste. The spot were Adi Shankara's Mother was cremated is called Vrindavan. Nearby is an old Krishna Temple, the family temple of Sankaracharaya. Another Temple known as Sri Ramakrishna International Temple was built in 1976 with the hope that it would ultimately become a temple for all religions and an abode of peace.
Chinese Fishing Nets : A legacy of the trading connections between China and India many centuries ago. The long rows of Chinese Nets silhouetted against the sunset present a spectacular sight of Cochin's waterfront. These are large nets which hang from bamboo or teak posts, still to be in use by the local fisher folk of Fort Cochin.
Cochin Boat Rides : The highlight of Cochin is a boat ride through all the islands. The city face a broad expense of backwaters studded with palm-flanged islets.
Mangalavanam : This mangrove forest is a small bird sanctuary ,located in the heart of the town behind the High Court of Kerala, attracts a large number of tourists.
Vyppin light house : The biggest Island, situated between the sea and the backwaters of Cochin. It is 24 km long and 2 1/2 km wide. There is a light house at Ochanthuruthu which is open to tourists from 3 pm to 5 pm. The Island can be reached only by water transport provided by boat services and Junkar. There are bus services on the Island.
Pallippuram Fort : Pallippuram fort was built by the Portuguese in 1503. It is one of the oldest existing European monuments in India. The Dutch captured the fort in 1661 and sold it to the State of Travancore in 1789. This fort is situated in the northern extremity of the Vyppin Island at Pallippuram. The catholic church at Pallippuram is an important pilgrim centre of the Christians.
Malayattoor Church : 53 km. from Cochin, 8km. From Kalady. Situated on a small hillock, it attracts thousands of devotees who undertake a trip to the shrine to participate in the annual festival, Malayattoor Perunnal (March/April) St. Thomas is believed to have prayed at this shrine.
Thattekad Bird Sanctuary :-
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Though recently established Thattekad is one of the most important bird sanctuaries in South India. A boat cruise from Bhoothathankettu to Thattekad is an unforgettable experience through the evergreen forests nesting migratory and indigenous birds. The birds commonly seen here are Malabar Grey horn bill, Great Indian horn bill, Grey jungle fowl, Heron egret, Parakeet and numerous other rare species. Thattekad is also accessible from Kothamangalam (20 km).
The Pareekshit Thampuran Museum :
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It is an archeological museum adjacent to the Shiva temple in Durbar Hall Road,Ernakulam. This museum features collections of the 19th century paintings , Pre-historic monuments , Old coins in a numismatic gallery, Scriptures in stone & Plaster of Paris, Copies of mural paintings etc & the collection from the Cochin royal family. In the earlier days the museum was the Durbar Hall of Cochin Rajas where guests were welcomed, and where official ceremonies and meetings were held. Now under the State Archaeological Department, it has been named after Rama Varma Pareekshit Thampuran, the Family’s last ruler.
The Hill Palace Museum :
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The largest archeological museum of Kerala , Hill Palace Museum is 13 Kms from Cochin. It displays the erstwhile wealth and prosperity of the royal family of Cochin, including the King’s throne and crown. Paintings, carvings, etchings are displayed in the museum which is located on the Ernakulam - Chottanikkara route. Also on show are other trappings of royalty like majestic beds ,weapons and samples of epigraphy.
Museum of Kerala History, Edappally : Important scenes of Kerala history are portrayed through through Sculptures. Greeting the visitor outside is a statue of Parasurama ,the mythological safe who is said to have created Kerala. The other places worth visiting are Alwaye, situated 20km north of Ernakulam on the banks of river Periyar, Chottanikkara Bhagavathy temple which is an important pilgrim place for Hindus Kalady, Malayattoor which is located on the slopes of the Western Ghats & is an important Christian pilgrim centre, Bhoothathankettu, Thattekad Bird Sanctuary etc.
AlUVA :
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21km. An ideal place for swimming in the river Periyar. The annual Sivarathri Festival is held on the banks of the river and is a colourful celebration. The centre of attraction is the Shiva Lingam on the sand bank.
Kathakali Centres :
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See India Foundation is located at Kalathiparambil Road, near the Ernakulam Junction Railway station. The daily show begins at 6.45 p.m. The Cochin Cultural Centre is situated on Manikath Road, behind Medical Trust Hospital. The daily show begins at 7 pm Art Kerala, the third one is situated at Kannanthodathu lane Valanjambalam. Kerala Kathakali Centre functions at Fort Cochin near the Chinese Fishing Nets. Ticket Charge at all the centres is Rs. 50 per person.
Kalaripayattu Centres :
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Kalaripayattu is one of the oldest living tradition of martial training and physical culture in the world. In the present context it means training in the traditional style of combat. The aim of Kalaripayattu is not only self defense and offence, but also the strength of mind through physical exercises.
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Maple Regency Kochi (Cochin) Price: -
Address: Cannonshed Road, Ernakulam, Kochi (Cochin), Kerala
Phone:
Very clean hotel two minutes' walk from the main boat jetty in Ernakulam, a 25 rupee autorickshaw ride from Ernakulam Town railstation. I paid 250 (including taxes) per night
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