Kerala Tourism

WELCOME TO TOURISM AT KERALA 

Kerala tourism provides one of the biggest opportunities to come close to the nature in Kerala.Kerala Tourism promotes beach tourism, Ayurveda tourism, wildlife tourism, hill station tourism etc. Kerala is one of the most popular destinations because of its rich culture and traditions. Kerala is known as one of the ten paradises in the world. Kerala with hills, beaches, backwaters, houseboats is like a heaven on earth.Kerala tourism makes the person close to the culture of the region. Through the tourism, you will come to know more about the dance forms, spice tourism, tea and coffee plantation tourism etc.

Kerala Information

Kerala is located at the south west in the India. Kerala is surrounded by the Arabian sea in the west, Tamil Naidu on the east and Karnataka in the north and north east. Kerala is spread to the area of 38, 863 sq. km. The capital of the Kerala is Thiruvananthapuram or Trivandrum and Kochi is financial and industrial center. The official language of the place is Malayalam and other spoken languages are Tamil, Tulu, Kannada, Hindi, Mahl and other tribal languages. The people of Kerala are intermingled with tradition, culture and lifestyle. Food is all prepared by coconut, rice, seafood etc.

Kerala is famous for the dance forms which are combination of music, theater and tradition stories. Some of the famous folk dances are Kathakali and Mohiniyattam and folk arts are Theyyam, Mudiyettu etc. The ragas and Talas and carnatic music is the specialty in the Kerala music. Music is considered as the integral part of everyday life. The music is different on the occasion of marriage and childbirth. Kerala also has a great literature history. Kerala is a centre for literature, prose, play and poetry. Kerala also celebrates its festival with cheer and joy. There are many festivals which are celebrated, but some of the key festivals are Onam, Vishu, Navratri, maha Shivratri, Christmas, Easter, Bakrid, Eid – ul – fitr, Muharram etc.

How to reach:

By Air: Thiruvananthapuram, Cochin and Calicut are the national and international airports which are well connected to other world and National destinations.

By Road:Kerala major cities are well through road with many transport facilities. It is well connected with the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation to major and minor states in India.

By Railway: Kerala is well connected with the major states. Kerala has Thriuvananthapuram, Cochin, Shonur and Kozhikode as the major stations and Konkan rail line with the Mumbai and North West states.

 

Kerala Weather

Compared to other states, Kerala possess the best climate condition. Weather of Kerala remains pleasant throughout the year. The reason is because it is nearest to the sea and also the presence of the Western Ghats in the east of Kerala. Geographical features of kerala are the reason that brings diversity in the climate condition of this beautiful place. Weather of Kerala is the reason that attracts a large no of tourists from all around the world throughout year.

Weather of Kerala can be classified into three major seasons:

Summer: - summer season in Kerala extends from February to May. During this time the climate is sunny and hot. The temperature can generally go up to 35°C.

Monsoon: - In Kerala, Monsoon is categorize into south west and North East Monsoon. Monsoon in Kerala is generally lies between June to mid November. There is fairly good rainfall during this season and temperature dips till 18°C. The average rainfall in this season ranges from 2250-2500 mm in South west monsoon and 450-500 mm in the north east monsoon.

Winter: - winter season in Kerala extends from November to February. In winter temperature of Kerala generally goes down up to 10°. Winters in Kerala starts when the state gets northern monsoon in November.

One can enjoy the beauty of Kerala in every season either it is summer, monsoon, and winter. In every season this place has a lot to offer you.

 

 

 

Local Festivals in India In September

Celebrate September! Local Festivals in India

If you’re planning a vacation, September might be a great time not just weather-wise but also to catch a glimpse of local life and celebrate festivals in India. The color, energy and vitality of festive celebrations will make memories that last forever.

Sep 1 – 15, 2013. Leh Festival:
This is a four-day festival celebrated across the Ladakh region of the northern state of Jammu and Kashmir and organized by its Ministry of Tourism. Processions and parades showcasing local costumes are taken out through the streets and in Leh, the major city of the region, the local polo grounds host cultural performances and dances. It’s a great time to visit Ladakh.
Sep 9, 2013. Ganesh Chaturthi:
This is the annual celebration of the birthday of Lord Ganesha, the elephant god, and given what a popular favorite he is, the celebrations are long and enthusiastic! While you can experience the festival best in any of the southern states of India, we recommend visiting Mumbai, capital of Maharashtra.
Every year thousands of “Ganapati” or Lord Ganesha idols are immersed in the sea waters here amidst lusty singing and much dancing and socializing. The idol of Ganapati is first installed in homes and worshipped through song, prayer and food offerings for ten days before the final day of “Ganapati Visarjan” when the clay idol is immersed to dissolve and assume formlessness; as the idol is crafted and then dissolves, it shows us that the Supreme Being stays constant.
 Sep 16, 2013. Onam celebrations:
Onam is a festival traditionally celebrated in the southern state of Kerala every year. There are many aspects to the annual Onam celebrations, but primarily the festival welcomes the slain demon king Mahabali.
Legend has it that Mahabali ruled over Kerala as a just and beneficent king, thus angering the Gods who felt threatened by his success and popularity. They exploited his one Achilles heel – his ego – and managed to banish him from his own kingdom.
However, they could not dampen Mahabali’s love for his people. In recognition of that devotion, the banished demon king is allowed to visit his beloved kingdom once a year – an occasion marked by the celebration of Onam.
The local Government of Kerala has a proactive tourism department that celebrates this harvest festival with great spirit and gusto. Expect to witness magnificent boat races, including the Vallamkali, a long boat rowed by hundreds of oarsmen, and to eat the traditional feast – Onasadiya- a nine-course (yes, you read correctly) meal with about 13 essential dishes, served on a banana leaf and typically eaten seated cross-legged on the floor.

There are other accompanying celebrations as well – staged games for men called Onakalikal where they wrestle or play competitive ball games and women perform dances and draw elaborate motifs in front of their houses to welcome King Mahabali.

Sep 20, 2013. Aranmula Snake Boat Race:
This race is typically held in the middle of the ten-day Onam festivities. It’s a re-creation of ancient boat races during which rival kings of Alleppey fought their battles along narrow neighborhood canals. Realizing the need for a swift and manoeuvrable boat, one king had the snake boat designed and a snake boat race has become one of the highlights of the Onam festival.
The celebrations across Kerala are geared to indicate to the spirit of the King that his people are prosperous and eager to welcome him back.

ONAM-Kerlas No-1 Festival

“ONAM”

Onam (Malayalam: ഓണം) is a festival celebrated by the people of Kerala, India. The festival commemorates the Vamana avatar of Vishnu and the subsequent homecoming of the legendary Emperor Mahabali. It is the state festival of Kerala and falls during the month of Chingam (August–September) and lasts for ten days. The festival is marked by various festivities, including intricate flower carpets, elaborate banquet lunches, snake boat races, Onappottan, Athachamayam in Tripunithura, Kaazhchakkula in Guruvayoor, Puli Kali, Kaikottikkali, Kummaattikkali, Onathaar, Onachamayam, Onathallu, Thrikkaakarayappan, Thumbi thullal, Onavillu etc. This is one of the very few festivals which is celebrated with most number of cultural elements.

This year Onam 2013 is on Monday, September 16

Onam is an ancient festival which still survives in modern times. Kerala's rice harvest festival and the Festival of Rain Flowers, which fall on the Malayalam month of Chingam, celebrates the Asura King Mahabali's annual visit from Sutala. Onam is unique since Mahabali has been revered by the people of Kerala since prehistory.

According to the legend, Kerala witnessed its golden era during the reign of King Mahabali. The Brahma-Vaivarta Puranam explains that Lord Vishnu wanted to curb the pride of Indra; and therefore positioned Mahabali in great power.

The Bhagavata Purana reads "He [Vishnu] will take the kingdom away from Purandara [Lord Indra] and give it to Bali Maharaja."

The subjects under Mahabali's reign were happy and prosperous and the king was highly regarded, so much so that even the gods under Indra became jealous of Mahabali as was intened by Vishnu, and they approached Vishnu claiming that Mahabali is now equivalent to Indra. Once Vishnu was assured that Indra's pride has been contained and that a world with two Indras represents imbalance, Vishnu assumed the form of a dwarf: Vamana. Vamana requested three steps of land for him to live in. Given a promise of three steps of land by King Mahabali against the warning given by his Guru Sukracharya, Vamana, enlarged himself to such dimensions as to stride over the three worlds. He had grown so huge that he could step from heaven to earth, and earth to the lower worlds in two simple steps. King Mahabali unable to fulfill the promise of three paces of land to the Supreme God, offers his head for the third step. Thus, Vamana places his foot on King Mahabali's head and sends him down to the netherworld. Being worshipped however, by Mahabali, and his ancestor Prahláda, he conceded to them the sovereignty of Sutala (netherworld).

However, as Mahabali was equivalent to Indra, he had to wait until the next Yuga where he would be the Indra. In the meantime, with the grace of Vishnu, Mahabali visited his people on an annual basis. Vishnu served Mahabali as a gatekeeper in Sutala as the Lord himself serves his greatest devotees.

It is this visit of Mahabali that is celebrated as Onam every year. People celebrate the festival in a grand way and impress upon their dear King that they are happy and wish him well.

The rich cultural heritage of Kerala comes out in its best form and spirit during the ten-day festival. The central feature of Onam is the grand feast called Onasadya, prepared on Thiruonam. It is a nine-course meal consisting of 11 to 13 essential dishes. Onasadya is served on banana leaves and people sit on a mat laid on the floor to have the meal.

Another popular feature of Onam is Vallamkali, the Snake Boat Race, held on the Pamba River, in which decorative boats oared by hundreds of boatmen race amidst chanting of songs and cheering by spectators and viewers.

There is also a tradition to play games, collectively called Onakalikal, on Onam. Men go in for rigorous sports like Talappanthukali (played with a ball), Ambeyyal (Archery), Kutukutu and combats called Kayyankali and Attakalam. Women indulge in cultural activities. They make intricately designed flower mats called, Pookalam in the front courtyard of the house to welcome King Mahabali. Kaikotti kali and Thumbi Thullal are two dances performed by women on Onam. Folk performances like Kummatti kali and Pulikali add to the zest of celebrations.

Mahabali's rule is considered the golden era of Kerala. The following song is often sung over Onam:

There is also a tradition to play games, collectively called Onakalikal, on Onam. Men go in for rigorous sports like Talappanthukali (played with a ball), Ambeyyal (Archery), Kutukutu and combats called Kayyankali and Attakalam. Women indulge in cultural activities. They make intricately designed flower mats called, Pookalam in the front courtyard of the house to welcome King Mahabali. Kaikotti kali and Thumbi Thullal are two dances performed by women on Onam. Folk performances like Kummatti kali and Pulikali add to the zest of celebrations.

Mahabali's rule is considered the golden era of Kerala. The following song is often sung over Onam:

“

Maveli nadu vaneedum kalam, manusharellarum onnupole amodhathode vasikkum kalam apathangarkkumottillathanum kallavum illa chathiyumilla ellolamilla polivachanam kallapparayum cherunazhiyum kallatharangal mattonnumilla adhikal vyadhikalonnumilla balamaranangal kelppanilla

”

...

Translation

“

When Maveli ruled the land, All the people were equal. And people were joyful and merry; They were all free from harm. There was neither anxiety nor sickness, Deaths of children were unheard of, There were no lies, There was neither theft nor deceit, And no one was false in speech either. Measures and weights were right; No one cheated or wronged his neighbor. When Maveli ruled the land, All the people formed one casteless races

”

Although this festival has its origin in Hindu mythology, Onam is for all people of all class and creed. Hindus, Muslims and Christians, the wealthy and the downtrodden, all celebrate Onam with equal fervor. The secular character of Onam is peculiar to this land where unity had always coexisted with diversity, especially during festivals, when people come together to celebrate life's unlimited joys.