The Elephants offer exclusive enjoyable safaris that enable you to explore the numerous varieties of the wildlife in Kerala. Sitting comfortably on the back of an Elephant you can enjoy the bewitching forest of Kerala in a regal way.
Sunday 18 May 2014
Elephant Safari near Edakkal Caves
The Elephants offer exclusive enjoyable safaris that enable you to explore the numerous varieties of the wildlife in Kerala. Sitting comfortably on the back of an Elephant you can enjoy the bewitching forest of Kerala in a regal way.
Edakkal Caves, Wayanad, Kerala
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| A Scene from Entrance |
These are not technically caves, but rather a cleft or rift approximately 96 feet (29 m) by 22 feet (6.7 m), a 30-foot-deep (9.1 m) fissure caused by a piece of rock splitting away from the main body. On one side of the cleft is a rock weighing several tons that covers the cleft to form the 'roof' of the cave. The carvings are of human and animal figures, tools used by humans and of symbols yet to be deciphered, suggesting the presence of a prehistoric settlement.
The petroglyphs inside the cave are of at least three types. The oldest may date back to over 8,000 years. Evidences suggest that the Edakkal caves were inhabited several times at different points in history.
The caves were discovered by Fred Fawcett, a police official of the erstwhile Malabar state in 1890 who immediately recognised their anthropological and historical importance. He wrote an article about them, attracting the attention of scholars.
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| Drawings in the cave |
The caves contain drawings that range over periods from as early as 5000 BC to 1000 BC. The youngest group of paintings have been in the news for a possible connection to the Indus Valley Civilization.
Historian M.R. Raghava Varier of the Kerala state archaeology department identified a sign “a man with jar cup” that is the most distinct motif of the Indus valley civilization. The finding, made in September 2009, indicates that the Harappan civilization was active in the region. The “a man with jar cup” symbol from Edakkal seems to be more similar to the Indus motif than those already known from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Mr. Varier said “The discovery of the symbols are akin to that of the Harappan civilisation having predominantly Dravidian culture and testimony to the fact that cultural diffusion could take place. It is wrong to presume that the Indus culture disappeared into thin air.” The scholar of Indus and the Tamil Brahmi scripts, Mr. Iravatham Mahadevan said the findings were very significant called it a "major discovery".
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| Let us start climbing.. |
Located in the Wayanad district. From Kalpetta take the Pinangode road on the Kozhikode-Mysore-Kollegal highway and then turn right onto the Kolagappara-Ambalavayal road. From here first take a left, a right next and then the first left .Tourists have to trek up the Ambukuthi Hill to reach the caves. The trek up the hill, peppered with coffee plantations, is worth an experience and it takes almost 45 minutes to climb the hill. The lush greenery and scenic landscape around and the cool breeze that carries the aroma of coffee will surely make your journey an unforgettable one.
A remote ticket office is perched high on the top of the mountain and the tourists can buy entry tickets from there.I remember the entry fee is Rs.15. The authorities will open before you an iron gate, and then you can enter a world of history, which has never ceased to allure people.
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| An outside view |
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| Steepy rock beckons you... |
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| Steel ladder on the way |
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| On the way
I found this marvelous scene while i am climbing down..
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Map
Find Video here..
Tuesday 29 April 2014
Pookode Lake
Pookode Lake is a scenic freshwater lake in the Wayanad district in Kerala, South India. Pookode is a natural fresh water lake nestling amid evergreen forests and mountain slopes at an altitude of 770 meters above sea level. It is 15 km away from Kalpetta.
Panamaram, the rivulet which ultimately becomes Kabani River, originates from the Pookode lake.[1] It is spread across an area of 8.5 hectares and with a maximum depth of 6.5 metres. Lying 3km south of Vythiri town, the lake is one of the most popular tourist spots in Wayanad.
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| Pookod Lake |
The lake has the shape of India's map. This perennial fresh water lake, nestled among wooded hills, is only one of its kinds in Kerala. Pethia pookodensis, is a species of cyprinid fish known to occur only in Pookode Lake. The lake has abundance of blue lotus and fresh water fishes. The forests surrounding the lake hold many wild animals, birds and flies.There are groups of Blue water lily flowers scattered here and there in the lake.
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| Walkway around Pookod Lake |
The lake is under the South Wayanad forest division and run by District Tourism promotion council. Boating facilities, children's park, handicrafts and spices emporium and fresh water aquarium are among the tourist attractions here
How to reach
By road: From Kozhikode 60 km, along NH 212. Nearest bus stop is Thalippuzha. Nearest Railway Station: Kozhikode (60km) Nearest Airport: Calicut International Airport
By road: From Kozhikode 60 km, along NH 212. Nearest bus stop is Thalippuzha. Nearest Railway Station: Kozhikode (60km) Nearest Airport: Calicut International Airport
Saturday 26 April 2014
Kerala, A Perfect Destination
Kerala, a state situated on the tropical Malabar Coast of southwestern India, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Named as ten paradises of the world by National Geographic Traveler,[1] Kerala is famous especially for its ecotourism initiatives.[2] Its unique culture and traditions, coupled with its varied demography, have made Kerala one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Growing at a rate of 13.31%, the tourism industry is a major contributor to the state's economy.[3]
one of the
Until the early 1980s, Kerala was a relatively unknown destination, with most tourism circuits concentrated around the north of the country. Aggressive marketing campaigns launched by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation—the government agency that oversees tourism prospects of the state—laid the foundation for the growth of the tourism industry. In the decades that followed, Kerala Tourism was able to transform itself into one of the niche holiday destinations in India. The tag line Kerala- God's Own Country was adopted in its tourism promotions and became a global superbrand. Kerala is regarded as one of the destinations with the highest brand recall.[4] In 2010, Kerala attracted 0.66 million foreign tourist arrivals.[5]
Kerala is an established destination for both domestic as well as foreign tourists. Kerala is well known for her beaches, backwaters, mountain ranges and wildlife sanctuaries. Other popular attractions in the state include the beaches at Kovalam,Kappad, Cherai and Varkala; backwater tourism and lake resorts around Vembanad Lake, Kumarakom and Alapuzha; hill stations and resorts at Munnar, Wayanad,Nelliampathi, Vagamon and Ponmudi; and national parks and wildlife sanctuaries atPeriyar and Eravikulam National Park. The "backwaters" region—an extensive network of interlocking rivers, lakes, and canals that centre on Alleppey,Kumarakom, and Punnamada—also see heavy tourist traffic. Heritage sites, such as the Padmanabhapuram Palace, Hill Palace, and Mattancherry Palace, are also visited. The city of Kochi ranks first in the total number of international and domestic tourists in Kerala.[6][7] To further promote tourism in Kerala, the Grand Kerala Shopping Festival was started by the Government of Kerala in 2007.[8] Since then it has been held every year during the December–January period.
The state's tourism agenda promotes ecologically sustained tourism, which focuses on the local culture, wilderness adventures, volunteering and personal growth of the local population. Efforts are taken to minimise the adverse effects of traditional tourism on the natural environment, and enhance the cultural integrity of local people
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