WAGAMON

KERALA

Rich are the offerings of this southern state of India – culture, nature, backwaters, beaches, hill stations, waterfalls, cuisines and much more.....

Kerala - referred to as the 'God's Own Country' is a leaf shaped patch on the map of India. The state is bounded by Western Ghats on it higher side, flanked by Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean along its other length.

Kovalam Dream :- The beautiful town of Kovalam came into spotlight, when its pristine and isolated beaches were discovered. Today Kovalam has become one of the favorite hangout destination welcoming thousand of tourists to soak in this tropical paradise – listening to the soothing music of its coming waves, sea breeze rippling your hair, watching the fishing boats fading in the horizon is something worth experiencing.

The most popular and hence the most sought after destination in Kovalam is the Lighthouse Beach. Although the tourists are not allowed to go inside the Lighthouse; but the memorials of Ayyanappilla Asan and Ayyippilla Asan around the beach are open to tourists. On the other side of the city, the popular Western Ghats provide enthralling series of picnic spots.

Visit to Kochi – Queen of Arabian Sea :- Kochi popularly known as the commercial center of Kerala, boosts of the finest natural harbors in the country. It is one of the Kerala's most frequently visited tourists destination , spreading across the islands and promontories in the beautiful location between the backwaters and the Arabian Sea. Some of the major attrcation on Cochin includes Mattancherry, Fort Cochin and Ernakulam.

Sailing the Backwaters : - The one experience you must not miss on the tour to Kerala is a tour on traditional houseboats called Kettuvallam. Developed during the time when railways were not constructed and the roads were actually expensive to travel, they were used for the purpose of transportation- for trading in particular, in these parts. Meandering through the Alappuzha backwaters to the Vembanad Lake all the way to Kochi in your houseboat is definitely a lifetime experience. Most houseboats today include a chef to pamper you with the traditional cuisine of Kerala.

Vallam Kali (Snake Boat Race) :- Come July or August and watch the enticing snake boats flag off for the much awaited Vallam Kali from Alleppey Backwaters. These dark, long graceful boats are seen to sit loaded with copra, coconut fiber or cashew, on coconut island....but now they line up in full caparisoned glory to compete for the most wanted Nehru Trophy.

Wildlife of Kerala :- The Eravikulam National Park and Silent Valley forms one of the richest biospheres in India and is home to some of the highly endangered species. Other most popular national parks in the country include – Periyar, Peppara, Parambikulam, Neyyar and Wayanad

Munnar A high -range paradise

The high range paradise of Munnar with its panoramic scenic vistas, spectacular sunrises and sunsets near lakesides and wildlife sanctuaries

is one of the refreshingly beautiful place in Kerala.
Munnar is a little town that loves to add to its “virgin” mystery an enigmatic touch. Burrowing itself, it is nestled 1,650 meters above sea level in the heart of the nilgiris. The best way to reach Munnar is by private transport.
You could drive up from Coimbatore (170 km away) and Madurai (160 km) in Tamil Nadu or Cochin (135 KM) and Alwaye (100 km) in Kerala. The best hill- roads, I must add, are on the Coimbatore – Munnar road, with wildlife which you are likely to spot on your way up.
As you swing around on one of the numerous hairpin bends on the road to Munnar, the world around you seems to shimmer in shades of deep emerald, darkening richly as a sudden mist swirls into it or a brilliant streak of silver cleaves the emerald haven, as a shimmering waterfall catches the sun- rays and throws them back.
In the distance, you can see the tall, towering peaks of the Blue Mountains. Up the hills and in Munnar proper, you are in a classic tea – country. You can see a carpet of neatly trimmed rows of tea bushes, laid out with geometric precision, covering the hillsides.
But Munnar is not, as is the misconception, all tea. A 25 km drive up from Munnar town brings you to the Ernakulum wildlife sanctuary and the national park. The drive up can give you some of the most spectacular views of the nilgiris, of vast expanses of the tropical forests and thundering waterfalls.
Then, from the wild side of Munnar to its picturesque side, it is a 20 Km drive from town in the opposite direction to Mattupetty Dam. Mattupetty Dam is sorrounded by the forests on the mesmerizingly moving sheet of dam-water shrouded in mist.
A short drive away from the dam, there is a cattle breeding farm, a joint indo-Swiss venture. It is ideal for a relaxing stroll, amidst the healthy cows and bulls.
Other good tourist spots are the Devikulam Lake, with its entrancing scenary, and top station, 25 km away from Munnar town – a temperature region with delightful fruit and vegetable gardens.
For bird lovers, Munnar is the perfect spot, with it’s over 45 varieties of rare birds. And for serious anglers, there are 2 good trout fishing spots, for both of which permission to fish is to be obtained from the anglers association of Munnar.
Neelakurinjis
The once in 12 years flower called the Neelakurinjis is the pride of Munnar. It does not excite you, if you look at only one. What can excite you and make your heart skip several beats, is a sight of fields of wildly growing Neelakurinjis, glowing in soft shades of manure and pink in sunlight.
One feature that makes Munnar stand apart from the rest of the hill stations in other parts of India is its beauty remains pure and untouched. There are no hordes of camera toting tourists swarming around, except in the few weeks during the summer. And there are no petty shops and fast food stalls and raucous hawkers to mar its scenic spots.
Munnar is that perfect high range paradise where you can discover a deep chord with nature and communicate in your own way with that magic on the emerald valley of Munnar.

RANIPURAM

RanipuramLocated on the highest peak in Kasargod, at a distance of 85 kms (46 & 54 kms from Kanhangad and Bekal) and sharing the border with Karnataka, Ranipuram is a beautiful mountain terrain covered with evergreen shola woods, monsoon forests and grasslands. Perched at an altitude of 750m above sea level, the natural beauty of this trekker's paradise is comparable to Ooty. This area was formerly known as madathumala and as the name suggests, its sprawling thick wooded forest merge with the forests of Karnataka; i.e Talacauvery wildlife sanctuary. Ranipuram forms an elephant corridor between the two states and wild elephants can be seen roaming on the mountain tops. It is an unexplored territory of nature enthusiasts and bird watchers. Variety of birds and different species of butterflies can be seen in the canopies. From its highest point of ranipuram called 'mani', one can get a panoramic view of the landscape and acres of green valleys which will be a real treat for the eyes.
The proposed 50 sq.km Ranipuram wildlife sanctuary will be a boon to tourism development in Kasaragod district. October to March is the best time to visit. To cater the accommodation facilities, tourist cottages are provided by DTPC, KTDC and several private players.

BEKAL FORT

Considered the largest as well as the best-preserved fort in Kerala, the Bekal Fort as a majestic structure lies 130 ft above the sea level. Endowed with a rich and long history, the Bekal Fort still is one of the most imposing structures of Kerala, and attracts tourists, historians and nature lovers. The historical relevance of the fort led the Archeological Survey of India to take up the responsibility to look after it and it was made a ‘Special Tourism Area’.

The Bekal Fort has a long history, which is three centuries old. It was around 1650’s that Sivappa Naik of the Ikkeri dynasty built this fort, though some historians believe that it was Kolathiri Rajas who built the fort that was later captured by Naik. Hyder Ali of Mysore also had the possession of the fort during 1763 A.D from where it passed on to the Huzur of Canara and then to the British Empire.One interesting feature of the fort is the fact that there are no palaces inside the fort walls and it is likely that the Bekal Fort was built only for defence purposes. The features of the Bekal Fort in Kerala are the underground tunnels, the observation towers, the sea bastion, the meandering entrance, the strategic openings on the walls etc. There is also a mosque built by Tipu Sultan just outside the Bekal Fort.

The Bekal Fort is located in Bekal, in the Kasargod District of Kerala. The exact location of the Bekal Fort is about 16 kms south of the Kesargod, on the national highway and at the northernmost tip of the State of Kerala.

Jews Synagogue - Kochi

This Synagogue is constructed in 1568 and 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 copper plates etc. The Synagogue is situated at Mattancherry, Kochi and will be open for 1000 - 1200 hrs; 1500 - 1700 hrs. Closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays

ATHIRAPPALLY WATERFALL

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.

MEEN VALLAM WATERFALL

Meenvallam waterfall is around 8 km from Thuppanad junction on the Palakkad - Manarkkad route. It is a combination of enchanting beauty and scenic splendour. The water falls from nearly 20 to 25 feet and the depth is around 15-20 feet. There are ten steps of waterfalls of which eight are located in the upper hills inside the dense forest. These eight are inaccessible; only the remaining two are accessible. One has to hire a jeep from Koomankund junction and then trek a distance of 1.5 km, crossing the river Thuppanad.

MEENMUTTY WATERFALL

MEENMUTTY WATERFALL

Meenmutty Falls is located 29 km from Kalpetta in Wayanad District in the state of Kerala, India. It is a three-tiered waterfall with a height of 300 metres. Meenmutty Falls, the largest and most spectacular waterfall in the Wayanad District, is a 2 km hike though the jungle from the main Ooty Road. It is Kerala's second largest waterfall and the one most unspoiled in its natural setting. Each of its three tiers requires a separate hike through a moist, deciduous forest.The path is quiet dangerous and tiresome.but the waterfalls is worth it.