Utsavam - The Kerala Arts Festival (19 Dec 2010 - 27 Feb 2011)

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It is a stage that gets bigger by presence…

It is an event that gets noticed due to its variety and it is a cultural feast that is Kerala's very Own – Utsavam 2010-2011!

In 14 Districts

2010 Dec 19 - 2011 Feb 27

About 364 Programmes... More than 79 art forms... Around 1000 artistes

Be a part of this lavish cultural feast, spread all over Kerala!

On a broad stage called Kerala Theatre, the traditional folk, tribal and classical art forms are many and mesmerizing. It is a delightful experience to witness these art forms in its authentic style, presented by seasoned artistes, who bring out their best, consistently. Over the years, it has become a challenge for these artistes, to sustain their sole livelihood. Besides this, some of the ancient and traditional art forms of Kerala are fast slipping into clutches of extinction.

It was these circumstances that prompted Kerala Tourism to go for a creative interaction, leading to a cultural awakening to sustain and popularize the rich cultural and artistic heritage of Kerala. We found the answer through UTSAVAM, a veritable cultural feast aimed to contribute enough opportunities for the endangered and the lesser-known art forms and artistes of Kerala.
Cultural Kerala
More than its monumental structures, palaces and museums, visitors to Kerala are amused at the State's cultural treasure trove that is rich in artistic marvels, myriad traditions and age-old rituals that are good enough reasons for them to explore and experience the unique cultural milieu of 'God's Own Country – Kerala.'

Utsavam 2010-2011 is one such occasion, where you could invariably witness and experience the spirit and richness of Kerala's fascinating cultural heritage.
The third edition of Utsavam would kick off on 19 December, 2010 and would conclude on 27 February, 2011. The event ensures the active participation of the local bodies, NGO's, Tourism clubs, youth clubs and the local community in its various stages right from the beginning of the selection of art forms and venues. Utsavam 2010-2011 has a plethora of programmes, conceived and staged in a manner that would eventually become a memorable experience for the audience. There will be lecture demonstrations and interpretations with the help of flyers. The senior most artistes in various fields will be honoured during the programmes. The event will be the first of its kind in the State with the active support of the Government and the local community.

Utsavam 2010-2011 is being organized in 14 districts of Kerala. From the list of districts given below, you can find the programme schedule for each of the fourteen districts.
Program Schedule
	THIRUVANANTHAPURAM KOLLAM ALAPPUZHA PATHANAMTHITTA KOTTAYAM IDUKKI ERNAKULAM		THRISSUR PALAKKAD MALAPPURAM KOZHIKODE WAYANAD KANNUR KASARAGOD

ART FORMS

Utsavam 2010-2011 has a repertoire of Folk, Ritual, Tribal as well as Classical art forms of Kerala. These art forms are unique in their performance and sophistication. At Utsavam 2009-2010 you would be treated to a grand spectacle of art forms, staged at venues spread across Kerala. Seasoned artistes and their performances are bound to produce their best, which would in turn provide opportunities to understand the origin, background and etiquettes of each art form.

Be it the simple and down to earth tribal art forms; the vivacious folk arts; the age-old ritual arts or the sophisticated classical art forms…Utsavam 2009-2010 is without doubt the grand theatre for Kerala art forms.

1	Arjuna Nrutham
2	Alamikkali
3	Arambanamuttu
4	Ayyappan Theeyattu
5	Balikkala
6	Chakyarkoothu
7	Charadupinnikkali
8	Chattupattu
9	Chavittukali
10	Chavittunadakam
11	Chonankali
12	Daffumuttu
13	Dharikavadham
14	Gaddika
15	Irulanrutham
16	Kakkarissinadakam
17	Kalamezhuthu
18	Kalidarikan
19	Kambalanrutham
20	Kanyarkali
21	Kathakali
22	Kenthron Pattu
23	Kethrattam
24	Kolattakkali
25	Kolkali
26	Koodiyattam
27	Kooliyattam
28	Koottukottipadiseva
29	Kummattikkali
30	Kurathiyattam
31	Kurumbanrutham
32	Kuthirakali
33	Kuthiyottam
34	Malappulayattam
35	Malyankettu
36	Mangalam Kali
37	Mappilappattu
38	Marathukali
39	Mayooranrutham
40	Mohiniyattam
41	Monthayum Thalavum
42	Mudiyattam
43	Mudiyettu
44	Muduganrutham
45	MulamChenda
46	Nadan Nrutham
47	Nadan Pattu
48	Nangyarkoothu
49	Ottanthullal
50	Padayani
51	Pakkanarattam
52	Panapporattu
53	Paniyartheyam
54	Parichamuttukali
55	Poorakkali
56	Poothanum Thirayum
57	Pulluvanpattu
58	Sangakkali
59	Sasthampattu
60	Shlamakkarol
61	Sopanasangeetham
62	Thacholikkali
63	Thangalum Padayum
64	Theyyam
65	Thidambunrutham
66	Thirayattam
67	Thiriyuzhichil
68	Thiruvathira
69	Tholpavakoothu
70	Thottampattu
71	Thudippattu
72	Thumbithullal
73	Vattakkali
74	Vattayum Thirippu Sambradayam
75	Velakali
76	Vellattu
77	Vilpattu
78	Yakshaganabommayattam
79	Yakshaganam

why kerala is called god's own country

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Highlight : Most Spectacular Festivals
Major Festivals : Onam Festival, Kerala Boat Race, Pongal
Destinations : Kozhikode, Kannur, Kasargod, Malappuram, Ernakulam
What To Do : See Rangoli (Floral Pattern), Taste 'Payasam'


Elephant Festival, Thrissur - Kerala

FACT FILE
Tourist Festivals :	Onam Festival, Kerala Boat Festival, Vishu Festival, Thrissur Pooram Festival, Payippad Jelotsavam Festival, Attukal Pongala Festival, Makaravillakku at Sabarimala Festival, Chistmas Festival, Theyyam Festival.
Famous Festivals :	Onam Festival, Kerala Boat Festival, Thrissur Pooram Festival.
Vacation Festival :	Onam Festival, Elephant Parade.
Religious Festivals :	Jagannatha Festival – Kannur, Sabarimala Festival, Aratttu, Attukal Pongal Festival.
Activities :	Shopping for Rural Artifacts, Boat Race, Cultural Programmes, Elephant Safari.
Festive Magic :	Folk Song and Dances, Elephant Ride, Snake Boat Competition.
Not To Miss :	Boat Race, Elephant Safari and Festive Cuisines.
Timings :	Onam – Aug-Sept, Vishnu Festival – March – April, Thrissur Pooram – April – May.

The most important difference between animals and humans is perhaps, the animals cannot celebrate their good spirits, except in pages of fairy tales. In humans too, we have some people amongst ourselves, who will prefer sitting in front of an idiot-box and increase the level of fatty acids in their body, rather than going out and run wild. However, there are some people still left in this world, who want to enjoy harder and it is only because of their thirst, that we come across so many colourful occasions in our life. Kerala is one such state and why not, afterall it is God's own country. Celebrated with overwhelming excitement and hilarity, Malayali festivals are like priceless gems, trimming the crown of Kerala with irrefutable charm of age-old tradition and culture. Round the year these moments of celebrations create a vibrant trove of merriment in Kerala and bring a revolution amidst the mundane affairs of life. Enjoy festival tours of Kerala to see the most popular festival of Kerala India.

Lose Yourself In The Whirlpool of Merriment

Every month turns up as a new face, every season winds up as a reason to celebrate in Kerala. Each of these carnivals are a true celebration of the bounties of nature and a way to show gratitude for all the things God has bestowed us with. Everything is same, be it a craze for new clothes, rituals or the joyous rhythm that makes everyone twist a step or two, but even then there is something, that individualizes each moment from the other. It is the way these famous festivals in Kerala are celebrated.

Among the most awaited and upcoming Kerala festival and events is the 10 day Onam festival is Kerala's most opulently celebrated festival, honouring King Mahabali, a mythological king of ancient Kerala, whose period is eulogized as the golden age in the history of the state. Onam brings out the true elegance of Kerala; a land where nature is in its full throttle and where the people know how to extract the best out of their life. This is one festival that cuts across the barriers of caste, creed and religion and is marked by cultural events such as folk music and dance performances by locals.

After Onam, Vishu is the most important festival of Kerala, celebrated as the Malayalam New Year day. It is a common belief that the first thing that one sees on waking up on Vishu day ('Vishukkani') is indicative of the fortune of the coming year. At the dawn, the Malayali's begin the first day of the Year by waking up in front of Kani (Kani Kanal), which is bedecked with gold ornaments, white clothes, pots filled up with rice or paddy, bell metal mirror, Konna flowers, halved jack fruits, halved coconuts and yellow cucumber. Behind the pot a garlanded deity of Lord Krishna is kept illuminated by two standing oil lamps. The mosy uncanny part is that Iyers will mot see anything, but a Kani and even children are brought blind folded from their beds to where the Kani is kept.

Karthigai is possibly the only light festival that is celebrated in Malayali houses. The village temple arranges for a bonfire of useless materials and every family takes a burning torch made of palm leaves (Chootu) from this fire to the house. Oil lights are lit in houses and the whole town radiates like a spinning nebula on the face of a black sky, an awesome sight to behold. The place is ready to hold some of the most famous events in Kerala



Onam Festival - Rangoli - Kerala

Minute Minutes of Merry

Thiruvatira is a women's festival, celebrated widely in Kerala in the Malayalam month of Dhanu. The festival commemorates the death of Kamadeva, the cupid of Hindu mythology. The aim of the celebration is conjugal harmony and happiness, with the women adorned in colourful sarees, wearing white, black or red marks, lower down the middle of their foreheads close to the part where the two eyebrows embrace one another and chewing betel leaves, thus reddening their mouth and lips. Enjoy festive tours fo Kerala to be a part of the festive celebrations.

Christmas, too is widely celebrated by Christians and others, to honour the glory of the nativity of Jesus. Perhaps, no other festival is so enriched with so many customs and ceremonies, as Christmas. One can look at the wide array of pageant like Christmas Star, Christmas tree, the Crib, Christmas cake, Christmas presents and above all Santa Claus. The last named is quite a fascinating identity, who claims to be the very incarnation of the most vibrant and quintessence of the gayest of all the festivals. The festival of Pongal is also celebrated in a gala way. However, the practice of making pongal with the new grain and milk, as in Tamil Nadu, is absent in Malayali homes. It is fascinating to see the entire courtyard decorated with Kolam (floral designs made of white stone powder). The next day to Pongal is 'Kanu' or 'Mattu Pongal', which is usually lionized by preparing different types of mixed rice preparations and offering it to crows early in the morning before bath, by the women. The function is generally observed for the happiness of ancestors of the family and the brothers give no cash presents to younger sisters, as in Tamil Nadu. All the festivals of Kerala are an unique time to get drenched in the festivities of the Kerala people

Train Journey in Kerala

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The most striking aspect of Kerala is the striking variety of holiday options available. From driving through in lush green tea gardens in hillstations to a quiet walk on the beach, you can do it all. Further you can also spend a romantic night marooned inside a Houseboat right in the middle of backwaters and go for some exciting wildlife safaris...

Palm and Coconut trees line the horizon around backwaters and rivers. Monsoon clouds loom in the sky...

 

Kerala is a popular tourist destination famous for its backwaters, Ayurvedic treatments and tropical greenery... The state has a literacy rate of 94.6 percent which is highest in India.

Green fields can be seen everywhere. I noticed a lot of paddy fields there.

 

Kerala's culture is derived from both a Tamil-heritage region known as Tamilakam and southern coastal Karnataka. Later on Kerala's culture was elaborated upon through centuries of contact with neighboring and overseas cultures...Local performing arts include koodiyattom , kathakali—from and its offshoot Kerala natanam, Kaliyattam , koothu , mohiniaattam, Theyyam, thullal NS padayani.Kathakali and Mohiniattam are widely recognized Indian Classical Dance traditions from Kerala.

Small Streams flow everywhere. A few have been converted to irrigation canals. This one is especially scenic with water lillies dotting the surface...

Natural unspoilt beauty is abundant. You just need to look around... This clicked at home by Sujatha...

Speedboating in Banasurasagar Lake - Wayanad, Kerala

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Last month was like a "Tour de South India" for me, I visited  Ooty (Queen of Hills) , Conoor ,Koorg and Wayanad. Though each one of them has something unique in store for you, Speedboating in Banasurasagar Lake( Wayanad, Kerala ) made its way through all into this list.

The Banasurasagar Hydel Tourism is located near Padinjarethara, near Kalpetta in the Wayanad District, on the western most high lands of the Deccan Plateau and hence is also easily accessible from the cities of Mysore & Bangalore. The spillways of the Banasurasagar Reservoir which when open, deliver water to the eastward Kabini River.

With an overall length of about a Kilometer and a reservoir area of 1600 hectares with 40 Islands in it, the Banasurasagar Dam is one of the largest Earthen Dams in the continent. Strolling over the Dam, Boat riding in the vast expanse of the reservoir or just relaxing in the lap of the mythical Banasura hills are all unique experiences of a life time.

The image is the postcard you get when u buy a ticket to the lake. We had to wait 2 hours for half an hour boat trip but it was worth every second! I could not take any snaps from the speedboat (for obvious reasons!). Well,i found Wayanad quite different from other places in the state. With others you have to visit a particular stop to enjoy the natural beauty but in Wayanad, its totally different. You can stop your car anywhere on the road on any way and could just stare into the infinite expanses of Tea Fields surrounded by cloudy blue mountains and wonder if its the same country or timezone . 

The speed boat takes you in midst of the green hills with tea plantations.With clouds from distant mountains descending upon you , time loses its track and you will know that this is the moment that no words, no picture can ever describe! The calm and serenity of the place fills you and in spite of being on a speed boat you will feel a gush of new life-stream  traversing your whole body from the inside like blood in vessels. The cold drops of water on your face will remind you that you are not in any dream but in a real paradise ! Those who seek inner calm and mental peace will finally have reached their destination at this spot.


 My Extra Cent -


There is a resort at the foot of the Edakkal Caves called Edakkal Hermitage. They have a cosy restaurant in a cavern (a natural cave which is part of the Edakkal Caves chain) where at night, dinner is served inside the cave, which is lit by hundreds of candles. It is the only natural cave restaurant in India.

MUNNAR : A HONEYMOON SPL

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This place is definitely one of the best places in India to visit. An ideal place for a couple for their sweet honeymoon. No disturbance around, admiring nature and complete privacy often accompany visitors who come to this place to relax completely and spend a good time with their companions. Dont beleive?? Then just check out some of these pics.....
This is an early morning view of the greatest hill station of India. Looking at the picture, mist and cool breeze enlighten the morning scenary. The mist covers the mountains so beautifully that it looks as if the mountains are covered with a warm blanket of snow. All this gives a great start to the tour of Munnar.





The glory of Munnar lies in this place. The great lake on which the Mattupetty dam is built. This is one of the major tourist attracting spots of this hill station, not just because of the lake, but also because of the scenary covering this part. Beautiful mountains give a pose as never before. The whole set of this lake compliments each other in enhancing the beauty of this place.
Munnar is one place where beauty comes before anything else. Any person coming to this place is awesomely dazzled when he looks at the scenary around him, just like this pic. Munnar is blessed with the extreme speciality of Kerala,,, "backwaters". Yes, this is something which supports life at this place. Backwaters form the backbone of the natural scenary of this place.

Munnar is located in the state of Kerala in India. This breath-taking place is located on the Southern Western Ghats in the Idukki district. The altitude of this place is about 1600 to 1800 mts above sea level, which affects its temperature to range between 10 to 25 degrees celcius. The ideal time to visit this place is august-sept-october zone, coz this place is, at that time, genuinely adorned by the beauty of mother nature. To reach Munnar, its advisable to travel to Cochin(ernakulam) by air or land, and then by a cab to the high mountains which is about a 6 hour journey by road.
As popular, Kerala is known for its numerous backwaters and waterfalls. Munnar keeps Kerala's head high in this aspect. While from Cochin towards Munnar, one finds hundreds of streams forming the outlet of a major waterfall shown in the pic on the right. The water from the streams is ultrapure coz it penetrates rock soil and is extremely tasty. Drink this water for a few days continously and you ll get rid of all the sickness and infections. An extremely photogenic region, these fountains and water streams & falls, form the major tourist attractions. Standing at a least distance from running water which is extremely pure is a heavenly feeling. It makes you get rid of all the tensions in life. Thats why most people prefer Munnar for a holiday.
Yes. This is Munnar in real form. This is why this place is so popular. A vibrant water fall. Standing for just 5 mins near this site makes you feel so fresh that you automatically gain the energy to further tour this place inspite of your tiredness.




Munnar has numerous sight seeing spots such as the wild life sanctuary, and gardens. But as said in the Kodaikanal post i would suggest you hire a cab and ask the cabby to take you to a place which is naturegenic. And beleive me, the sites you ll see, will make you say WOW!!!! Coz this place is absolutely filled with a lot of scenary, water streams and grenary everywhere. A person can spend a whole day on the outskirts of munnar enjoying the lush green mountains and enjoying the best scenaries in the world.
And if you want to roam in the interior of Munnar, there are loads of options. The mighty famous lake of Munnar is one of the best options. Get a boat ride on the lake and you get to see amazing views of the place and whatmore, you enter the elephant zone in the boat, where you get to see the herd of elephants. This is one of the rarest sights on the planet. This makes this place a lot more famous. On the lake is built the Mattupetty dam, which is also an amazing photo taking zone. One pic makes it a remembral of this very famous place. This place also holds the credit of containing one of the rarest species of goats in this world,,, THE NILGIRI THAR. This place is full of adventure and activity for every person who wants to explore the beauty of this place. Have a look at some of the most eye catching view of this place.
And one of the most important things to be done at this place is to visit the tea gardens of this region. This region is one of the oldest tea cultivating regions in the world. It was started by the British and later due to huge popularity adopted by the natives. The tea gardens by themselves are a major tourist spot, coz they cover huge mountains and look as if the mountain had a smooth even surface, they cover all the trenches and ridges of the mountains. Tea plants spread over 1000's of hectares make the area look so beautiful and the climate of this place is ideal for drinking tea. So if you visit this region then dont forget to have a taste of the brilliant tea which refreshes you every moment.


























Hmmm. Munnar is rightfully a favourite tourist spot. Just check out some of these pics. This should definitely make you nerves sense the love of nature.




This is a view of the famous Munnar lake in the morning time. Have a look at the clouds and the beautiful scenary around the lake.
A view of a stream which flows like blood in the veins. The flowing streams flow the purest water in the world. Drinking this water for just few days makes a person healthy and fit. One of the most spectacular views when watched in reality.
Scenaries. This is what this place is all about. One should definitely visit this place atleast once in a lifetime. Rightfully it forms the paradise of India.

Kerala { God"s Own Country }

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Many hues of green stand out vibrantly in enchanting Kerala. Spread over endless miles of verdant land, the alluring coastline is dotted with tourist attractions including sun-drenched beaches and wildlife sanctuaries. While tall coconut trees dominate most of the landscape, the palm-fringed backwaters captivate the visitor with mazes of intricate canals. Kerala promises a unique and fun-filled experience.

ABOUT KERALA

With the Arabian Sea in the west, the Western Ghats towering 500-2700 ms in the east and networked by 44 rivers, Kerala enjoys unique geographical features that have made it one of the most sought after tourist destinations in Asia. An equable climate. A long shoreline with serene beaches. Tranquil streches of emerald backwaters. Lush hill stations and exotic wildlife. Waterfalls. Sprawling plantations and paddy fields. Ayurvedic health holidays. Enchanting art forms. Magical festivals. Historic and cultural monuments. An exotic cuisine... All of which offer you a unique experience. And what's more, every one of these charming destinations is only a two hour drive from the other. A singular advantage no other destination offers.

Kerala, India's most advanced society : A hundred percent literate people. World-class health care systems. India's lowest infant mortality and highest life expectancy rates. The highest physical quality of life in India. Peaceful and pristine, Kerala is also India's cleanest state.

For administrative purpose, the state of Kerala is divided into fourteen districts. Most of these districts offer all the tourism products typical of the State.

KERALA AT A GLANCE

Location : Southwestern tip of India.
Area : 38, 863 sq km.
Capital : Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)
Language : Malayalam;English is widely spoken.
Religion : Hinduism, Christianity, Islam
Currency : Indian Rupee
Climate : Tropical

Transport

Air: There are three international airports in the state. They are at Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Nedumbassery (Kochi) and operate international flights and domestic flights.

Road and Rail : The state is well connected by rail and road.

Seaports :
Major : Kochi
Minor : Beypore (Kozhikode), Alappuzha, Kollam.

Major Beaches: Kovalam, Varkala, Fort Kochi, Kappad and Bekal.

Major Wild Life Sanctuaries: Thekkady (Periyar), Parambikkulam, Wayanad, Silent Valley, Aralm, Peechi-Vazhani

, Chimani, Shenduruny, Idukki, Chinnar, Peppara, Neyyar.

Bird Sanctuary:Thattekad, Kumarakom.

Major Hill Stations: Ponmudi, Peerumade, Thekkady, Munnar and Wayanad.
Farm / Cash Crops: Rubber, Coffee, Tea, Spices, Pepper, Cashew, Coconut, Arecanut and rice.

Exports: Marine, Coir, Handicrafts, Spices, Food and other Products. Major Industries: Tourism, Information Technology, Fertilizer, Oil Refining and Power Generation, Ship Building, Machine Tools, Electronics, Cables, Rubber.

Travel Guidelines

Visa
We request you to carry your visa for entry to India/Kerala on your holiday.For clarification please contact the Indian High Commision/Embassy.For visa registrations and extensions,contact the Commisioner of Police (in cities) and the District Superintendent of Police (in districts).

Money
There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency that visitors can bring.

Banks
Banks are open for transaction from 10:00 - 14:00 hrs on week days and from 10:00 - 12:00 hrs on saturdays.

Credit cards
Main hotels, restaurants and shopping centres honour major credit cards.


Time
(Hours fast (+), slow (-) on IST)
USA: -10.30, Germany: - 4.30, Canada: - 10.30, France: - 4.30, Australia: + 4.30, Spain: -4.30, UAE: - 1.30, uk:-5:30

Best time to visit
High season: December - May
Monsoon Rejuvenation programmes: June - November

Ayurveda
Go only to those Ayurveda centres that are classified/approved by the Department of Tourism

Food
All standard restaurants offer a variety of cuisines including Continental, Chinese, Indian and typical Kerala fare.

Travel Kit
Cotton outfits, hats, sunglasses, sunscreen lotion etc.

WHERE TO STAY

Chuvanna thadi in Kathakali


Champakulam Moolam Boat Race { Snake Boat Race }

Attractions

Backwaters

Kerala's backwaters and lagoons stretch over 1900 km. Kerala lives along these backwaters. They snake over the state physique, bestowing paddy fields with good harvests, and provide the whole village with drinking water and other facilities. The backwaters refer to the large inland lakes of Kerala. Today these backwaters act as vital water ways for the transport of people and produce. They are often the only link between remote, isolated villages and crowded town pockets. It's an incredible experience to float on these soothing waters in a country craft to absorb this unusual representation of Kerala.
Beaches

Beaches, touristy and unexplored, galore along the 600 km Kerala coast. A bunch of them have historical significance too. Kodungalore coast near Kochi had been where St.Thomas, the Apostle of Christ and first missionary in Indian coast, landed. Vasco De Gama, the first European voyager, stranded at Kappad near Calicut heralding the European invasion. Sea has always been an inspiration for Malayali literati and filmmakers. Keep your ears close to the pages of Malayalam novels. You can hear roaring of sea and the poignant life on the coastal Kerala. Ace novelist, late Thakazhi had set, Chemmeen, his masterpiece, against the background of sea. Many films have coastal life as background screen.

Kerala, with its finest beaches, offers surf and sand unspoilt despite being used by trippers from across the world.

Kerala beaches have a character unique. Cool, saline breeze blowing on the coconut groves along the coast would function as a balm to an agitated soul.

Lose your heart to the mesmerizing charm of the tropical beaches such as Kovalam, Varkala, Shangumugham, Vizhinjam, Alappuzha, Kappad, Payyambalam and Bekal.



Hill Stations

When the heat is on the plains, and the time to get away from the crowd, came for a rendezvous with nature.
Inhale the bracing mountain air, relax in peace, stroll down winding paths, marvel at the beautiful views, enjoy the profusion of flowers in bloom. Kerala's exotic appeal is centered in the highland area of the Western Ghats. Rising to an average height of 1520 m, it houses rich flora and fauna.

The nature-lover’s paradise. Snuggling in the green and serene Kannan Devan Hills, lies the quite and restful resort of Munnar, at an altitude of 1524 m and 136 km off Cochin.
Here we can have a glimpse of a Gaur, Langur, Lion-tailed macaque, and Elephants roaming in herds. for
Monuments Of Kerala

No other state in India has such a rich heritage as Kerala has. It's past is entwined with periods of tumult and tranquil. This green strip, several times, was soaked in blood when forces, domestic and alien, fought for supremacy. Religions, Christianity and Islam made their entry into Indian subcontinent via this coast.
On the cultural front, the state had diligently designed several art forms for the country's cultural mosaic.
A root-conscious people of the state have preserved their past not only in the form of history books but also in the form of monuments and palaces. Places, palaces and institutions of historic value are being preserved conscientiously.
A Kerala touring will leave you marvel at the exquisite architecture manifested in palatial mansions and monuments. Hanging around the ruins of dilapidated forts, temples would help you splash deep into the rich past of the state.

AYURVEDA

Ayurveda is the traditional health science of India. It is considered to be the oldest branch of medicine in the whole world. Ayurveda is an intricate system of healing that originated in India thousands of years ago. We can find historical evidence of Ayurveda in the ancient books of wisdom known as the Vedas. In the Rig Veda, over 60 preparations were mentioned that could be used to assist an individual in overcoming various ailments.

The Rig Veda was written over 6,000 years ago, but really Ayurveda has been around even longer than that. What we see is that Ayurveda is more than just a medical system. It is the Science of Life. We are all part and parcel of nature. Just as the animals and plants live in harmony with nature and utilize the Laws of Nature to create health and balance within their beings, we, too, adhere to these very same principles. Therefore, it is fair to say that Ayurveda is a system that helps maintain health in a person by using the inherent principles of nature to bring the individual back into equilibrium with their true self. In essence Ayurveda has been in existence since the beginning of time because we have always been governed by nature's laws.
Ayurveda is made up of two Sanskrit words: 'Ayu' which means life and 'Veda' which means the knowledge of. To know about life is Ayurveda. However, to fully comprehend the vast scope of Ayurveda let us first define "Ayu" or life. According to the ancient Ayurvedic scholar Charaka, "ayu" is comprised of four essential parts. The combination of mind, body, senses and the soul.

Mind, Body and Senses
We tend to identify most with our physical bodies; yet, in actuality, there is more to us than what meets the eye. We can see that underlying our physical structure is the mind, which not only controls our thought processes but helps assist us in carrying out day-to-day activities such as respiration, circulation, digestion and elimination. The mind and the body work in conjunction with one another to regulate our physiology. In order for the mind to act appropriately to assist the physical body, we must use our senses as information gatherers. We can think of the mind as a computer and the senses as the data which gets entered into the computer. Smell and taste are two important senses that aid in the digestive process. When the mind registers that a particular food is entering the gastrointestinal tract, it directs the body to act accordingly by releasing various digestive enzymes. However, if we overindulge the taste buds with too much of a certain taste, such as sweet, we may find that the ability of the mind to perceive the sweet taste is impaired; and thereby the body becomes challenged in its ability to process sweet foods. Maintaining the clarity of our senses is an essential part in allowing the mind and body to integrate their functions and help in keeping us healthy and happy individuals


Ayurveda also sees that before we exist in physical form with the help of the mind and senses that we exist in a more subtle form known as the soul. The ancient seers of India believed that we were comprised of a certain energetic essence that precluded the inhabitance of our physical entity. In fact, they hypothesized that we may indeed occupy many physical bodies throughout the course of time but that our underlying self or soul remains unchanged. What we see to help illustrate this concept is what transpires at the time of death. When the individual nears the time to leave the physical body, many of his/her desires will cease to be present. As the soul no longer identifies with the body, the desire to eat food or indulge in a particular activity that used to be a great source of satisfaction for that person drops by the wayside. In fact, many individuals have been documented to experience the sensation of being "out of their bodies."


SEE YOU IN KERALA......