Monday, December 10, 2012

Best Places to Visit in Kerala

Though every region of Kerala is full with attractions and beautiful scenery and all the places are counted as must to visit. Some of the best Places to Visit in Kerala are Kovalam,Kottayam,Pallivasal and Kundala. The places can by divided as per the seasons like Trivandrum during the monsoons,Munnar in Winter and Wayanad in summer. Here is the list of top 10 best places to visit in Kerala.


Thiruvananthapuram 

The capital of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram is situated west coast of India and bordered by Tiruneveli,Kollam and Kanyakumari. Thiruvananthapuram is a Evergreen city of India and also considered as one of the 10 greenest cities in India. The largest city of Kerala is an IT hub and home to several educational institutes,Napier Museum and Research Laboratory.
Padmanabha-swamy-Temple-Thiruvananthapuram
Padmanabha-swamy-Temple-Thiruvananthapuram



Thrissur 

Thrissur is known as cultural capital of Kerala situated at the central of in Thrissur District. The city host many cultural, spiritual and religious festival of the state, Thrissur Pooram festival is the most colorful and spectacular among them. Puli Kali also known as Tiger dance is one of the most popular folk art performed here during Onam festival.
Pooram-Festival-Thrissur
Pooram-Festival-Thrissur

Kannur

Kannur or Cannanore means the land of Lord Krishna, is a city located in the District of Kannur on the North Malabar region of Kerala. The city is famous for its Theyyam art,pristine beaches and Adventure Tourism. Muzhappilangad Drive-in Beach is the most popular beach here and only one Drive-in Beach in Asia, other beaches are Payyamballam, Meenkunnu and Ezhara beaches.
Payamballam-beach-kunnur
Payamballam-beach-kunnur

Thekkady 

Thekkady is important tourist destination in Kerala located in the famous the Periyar National Park. The Periyar National Park is home to a large number of Indian elephants,lion-tailed Macaques,Nilgiri Langurs, Indian bison and Bengal Tigers. Mullaperiyar Dam is situated around the area on the Periyar River and formed an artificial lake for Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.
Periyar-Natioanl-park-Thekkady
Periyar-Natioanl-park-Thekkady

Kumarakom 

Kumarakom is most popular tourist spot located near the Kottayam city and famous for its houseboat in backwaters of Vembanad Lake. Vembanad Lake is the largest freshwater lake of Kerala and longest lake in India. Kumarakom is a famous Bird Sanctuary and home to a wide variety of local and migratory birds.
Kumarakom-backwaters
Kumarakom-backwaters

Alleppey

Alleppey is situated along with the Arabian coast of Alappuzha District and offers backwaters, beaches and lagoons tourism. Alappuzha District is one of the major tourist destination apart from backwaters it offers long paddy fields. The paddy fields are grown every year below the sea level and its one of the major attractions in Kuttanad along with backwaters and Boat services.
Alleppey
Alleppey

Munnar

Munnar is the famous hill station in Kerala situated at the confluence of the three rivers Madhurapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundaly. It is located on the western ghats range in the Idukki district and famous as the major tea plantations region. Tea plantations,Dense forests, valleys,green mountains and flora and fauna makes Munnar as one of the best romantic honeymoon destination in India.
Munnar-tea-Gardens
Munnar-tea-Gardens

Wayanad 

The district of Wayanad is located in the north-east of Kerala on the on the high altitudes of majestic Western Ghats. Wayanad is one of the least explore area of Kerala and major portion are tribal habitat. District of Wayanad is full of attractions with Mountains Peaks, Rivers, lakes and waterfall. Meenmutty Falls a three-tiered waterfall with a height of 300 metres is located in Kalpetta.
Meenmutty falls-Wayanad
Meenmutty falls-Wayanad

Kochi

Kochi earlier known as Cochin is a port city of Kerala located at west coast of India in the Arabian Sea. Kochi is the part of district of Ernakulam, the eastern part of the mainland of Kochi and they both are called as twin cities. The city of Kochi is home to Port of Kochi,Indian Navy,Indian Coast Guard and other major chemical industries. City of Kochi is the best tourist destination in Kerala and sixth best in India. Kochi Marine Drive and Kochi Harbour,Jain temple in Mattancherry are few famous Spot to visit around the city.
Kochi
Kochi

Kozhikode 

Kozhikode is known as Calicut located in the southwest coast of Kerala and bordered by Kannur, Wayanad,Malappuram and Arabian Sea. Calicut is the place where Vasco da Gama lands and among the territories ceded to the British East India Company by Tipu Sultan of Mysore. The city known as City of Spices and famous for its many temples and mosques along with other attractions like Thusharagiri Falls, Kuttiyadi Dam and Sea port.
Kozhikode Beach
Kozhikode Beach

Wildlife Sanctuary of South India - Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve


Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve Nature park is the most popular biosphere reserves in India and the major National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary of South India. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve area is located at the foothills of the famous Nilgiris hills or blue mountains at the meeting point of two majestic mountain ranges the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats and shares boundaries with Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala states. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve includes many National parks and wildlife sanctuaries and also declared a Tiger Reserve. The reserve is home to fauna includes over 100 species of mammals, 350 species of birds, 80 species of reptiles, about 39 species of fish, 31 amphibians and 316 species of butterflies.

Mudumalai National Park and Sanctuary

The famous Mudumalai National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is situated at the northwestern side of the Nilgiri Hills near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu and interstate boundaries with Karnataka and Kerala. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to endangered Indian elephants,Royal Bengal Tigers, Indian Leopards and vulnerable Gaur along with Indian Giant Squirrel and Red Giant Flying Squirrel and critically endangered species of birds such as Indian White-rumped Vulture,Malabar grey Hornbill and unique near threatened Black-and-orange Flycatcher.
Elephant at Mudumalai Park
Elephant at Mudumalai Park
Mudumalai wildlife Park is divided into five sub ranges Masinagudi,Thepakadu, Mudumalai, Kargudi and Nellakota. Mudumalai wildlife sanctuaries is one of the first wildlife park established in India and declared a Tiger Reserve, It is an important wildlife habitat and Wildlife Corridor between Bandipur National Park,Nagarhole National Park and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. The Reserve forests offers shelters to four big cats of India Bengal tiger, Indian leopard,deers, Jungle cat and Leopard cat along with Bonnet Macaque, Gray langur, Sloth Bear,Indian wild dogs Dhole and the Striped Hyena.
Deer at Mudumalai National Park - South India
Deer at Mudumalai National Park - South India

Mukurthi National Park

The Mukurthi National Park is situated western part of Nilgiris Plateau in the Western Ghats mountain range. Mukurthi National Park is the major protect area of ungulate The Nilgiri tahr,the state animal of Tamil Nadu. Mukurthi protected area is provide Habitat for sholas and Montane grasslands Wildlife and the flora are numerous endemic plants scapigerous, Alchemilla indica and Impatiens. Fauna includes mostly the grassland mammal species including Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiri Marten, Nilgiri langur,Sambar deer, Barking deer and Wild water buffalo. Avifauna consists mostly of hill birds includes Whistling Thrush,Nilgiri Flycatcher, Nilgiri Pipit along with predatory birds the Black Eagle, Black-winged Kite and Kestrel.
Mountain Goat - Mukurthi National Park -South India
Mountain Goat - Mukurthi National Park -South India

Silent Valley National Park

The Silent Valley National Park is the core area of the Nilgiri International Biosphere Reserve and part of World Heritage Site,the Western Ghats. The high diversity of Silent Valley National Park support wide range of wildlife and home to the largest population of endangered species Lion-tailed Macaque, Malabar Giant Squirrel and Indian Flying-fox or Greater Indian Fruit Bat. One of the best place to spot rare and endangered species of birds like Long-legged Buzzard,Red winged crested cuckoo,Malabar Pied Hornbill,Nilgiri Wood-pigeon,the Black bulbul and Pale harrier.
Monkey looking - Silent Valley National Park - South India
Monkey looking - Silent Valley National Park - South India

Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary

The Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Tamil Nadu and a major wildlife corridor between Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve of the Western Ghats and Biligiriranga Swamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary of the Eastern Ghats. Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary is a notable wildlife corridor, mix of flat land, grass land and mountain peaks between the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats. Its is fourth Project Tiger Tiger Reserve of India and a notable sanctuary to diverse populations of the animals of two habitats such as great Indian Elephants,royal Bengal Tigers,Indian leopards and other wild boar, Sloth bear and striped hyenas.
Striped Hyena - Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary - South India
Striped Hyena - Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary - South India

Bandipur National Park 

The Bandipur National Park is a tiger reserve located in Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka and know for its Biomes and dry deciduous forest. The tiger reserve is one of the most famous national park in south India and along with Mudumalai,Wynad and Nagarhole it is the largest protected area of south India. Bandipur National Park is home to many species of India’s endangered wildlife such as Indian giant squirrels, muggers, Indian rock pythons, Spectacled cobra, four-horned antelopes,Indian monitor lizards and the large bovine Gaur or Indian bison.
Wild Cow - Bandipur National Park - South India
Wild Cow - Bandipur National Park - South India

Nagarhole National Park 

The Nagarhole National Park is located between the Kodagu and Mysore district in Karnataka state. Nagarhole National Park is heavily forested Project Tiger tiger reserve and cover with small water streams, big mountain hills, deep valleys and spectacular waterfalls. Its is also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park ranges from foothills of the Western Ghats to down the Brahmagiri hills towards Kerala. Nagarhole National Park is home to Purple heron,darter,Indian rock python, stripe-necked mongoose along with tiger, leopard,wild dogs and striped hyena.
RedFox - Nagarhole National Park - South India
RedFox - Nagarhole National Park - South India

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

The Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is an second largest wildlife park in Kerala and declared a Project Elephant, Elephant Reserves. Wayanad Wildlife sanctuary is situated between the Mysore and a small town Sultan Bathery in Wayanad district of Kerala. Wayanad Animal sanctuary support a wide range of flora includes maruthi, bamboos, rosewood, karimaruthi and fauna such as panthers, jungle cats, deer and bears along with AviFauna few wild birds owls, woodpeckers, jungle fowls,Peacocks and Peafowl.
Vulture at Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary - South India
Vulture at Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary - South India



Saturday, December 8, 2012

10 Adventure Sports in India


Though some of the adventures sports are very new to India like Scuba diving and snorkeling, Ballooning and Paragliding etc but few place in India are well known for its kind of adventures and traditional sports such as Rock climbing,trekking and Jallikattu. In the last few year India has become one of the hotspot for the adventures travel and well known as one of the best place in the world for its traditional and adventures games.Gulmarg Kashmir, Adaman Nicorbar, Uttarakhand and north East India are few best destination to try these adventures sports in India. Kalaripayattu, Kushti and Mallakhamb are few ancient traditional Indian sport to try in the different region of the country for different taste of sports.

Skiing in Kashmir: 

Kashmir, the heaven of earth is offer best one of the place for extreme snow sports like Snowboarding, ice-skating and Skiing. Gulmarg in Kashmir,Kufri in Shimla and Auli in Uttarakhand are well known destination in India for adventure skiing and other winter sports. Skiing is the major attractions of Kashmir along with ice-skating in frozen lakes and hiking in deep valleys.
Skiing in Kashmir
Skiing in Kashmir

River Rafting in Himachal: 

Rivers of Great Himalayas like Chanderbhaga,bhagirathi Satluj and Ravi are some of the best river for white water rafting in India. River rafting is an extreme sport with thrills till the end in the highly dangerous rivers of Great Himalayas. The rolling white water of these rivers are offer tremendous opportunities for the challenging adventure sports activities of river Rrafting. Manali along with Kullu are some of the excellent option for adventure river rafting along with kayaking and other water sports.
River Rafting in Himachal Pradesh India
River Rafting in Himachal Pradesh India

Mountaineering in Uttarakhand: 

The peak of Greater Himalaya make Uttarakhand as one of the best place for mountaineering and climbing activities. Most of the area of Uttarakhand is either covered by forest or snow covered mountains with rocky hills and beautiful meadows. Mountain Climbing is a very challenging sport and needs skills to choose and perform the right technique at the right time, effectively and efficiently Garhwal and Kumon region of Uttarakhand offers mountaineering, ski,rafting, hiking and rock climbing sports in India.
Mountaineering in Uttarakhand - India
Mountaineering in Uttarakhand - India

Trekking in Arunachal: 

The slice of paradise is still untouched and unexplored, northeast India offers rare and wild experience of Trekking and adventure caving. The famous Bomdila Dirang Trek, Twang Mago Trek, Se La Nuranang Trek are the few destinations in the world to offer a wonderful experience of trekking. Trekking is the various beautiful valleys of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh with variety of flora and fauna should be a great experience. Its dense forests, rolling hills and lush green beauty also offers hiking,jungle camping and other mountain sports.
Trekking in Arunachal Pradesh - India
Trekking in Arunachal Pradesh - India

Scuba Diving in Andaman: 

The Andaman and Nicobar islands are union territories of India and famous for its virgin beaches and unexplored beauty of nature.These small islands are known for exciting scuba diving and snorkeling. Havelock Island is one of best sport to explore the under water untouched beauty of the Andaman Islands.
Scuba Diving - Andaman Nicobar - India
Scuba Diving - Andaman Nicobar - India

Flying Fox in Kerala: 

Apart from adventures water sports, Kerala offers one of the extreme and fascinating sport called FlyingFox.FlyingFox a unique journey from above the hills,rivers or valley’s with ultra-strong steel zip lines and at the same time enjoy the breath-taking view of down earth. As you fly through the steel zip lines like a giant fox from the valleys of Kerala also Fort in Rajasthan offers the same. Kerala also offers extreme adventures sports like Mountaineering, Valley crossing and Trampoline.
Flying Fox in Kerala
Flying Fox in Kerala

Bungee Jumping in Karnataka: 

The extreme sport bungee jumping is very young sport in India and yet to get popular in the country. Feel the fun along with thrill of Bungee Jumping in India, Mysore in Karnataka,Rishikesh in uttaranchal and Anjuna village in Goa are only few destination in India to experience the exciting thrill of weightlessness.Rishikesh get India’s Highest Bungee Jump Platform of 83 Meters.
Bungee Jumping in Karnataka
Bungee Jumping in Karnataka

Water Sports in Goa: 

Goa is most popular tourist destination in India and its sea beaches are known as best in the world. Arabian Sea beaches of Goa offers some of the most popular water sports like Jet Skiing, Parasailing, Swimming, Snorkeling and Kayaking. Ocean water Sports also includes In the water and On the water sports.
Surfing in Goa
Surfing in Goa 

Paragliding in Maharashtra: 

The Western Ghat hills of Maharashtra are one of the most preferred adventures sport destination in India. Place of Maharashtra like Panchgani,Kamshet,Lonavala and Mahabaleshwar are well known for recreational flying sport Paragliding in India. Paragliding is the another most special and thrilling sport after Parachuting or skydiving.
Paragliding in Maharashtra
Paragliding in Maharashtra

Rock climbing in Madhya Pradesh:

Rock climbing is one of the popular adventure sports in Madhya Pradesh along with Rappling Valley Crossing,Jumaring and mountain climbing. The Satpura mountain ranges offers terrain for adventure activities like Rock Climbing and Trekking. Pachmarhi, Orchha Gwalior,Chanderi and Jabalpur are few best place who host good facilities and experiences of rock sports. The capital city of Madhya Pradesh, Bhopal is well known for adventure Boat Racing.
Rock Climbing in Madhya Pradesh
Rock Climbing in Madhya Pradesh


Thursday, December 6, 2012

Various New Year’s Day’s Celebration in India


As per Christian tradition, 1 January celebrated as New Year and India is all set to celebrate this evening in both way, The Goa celebration and other traditional way of celebration. Though India celebrate New Year followed by both solar and lunar calendars system, Most of these new year festivals are celebrated based on Hindu calendar, that’s follow movement of the moon. Culturally rich India has it’s own way to celebrate New Year’s day in different times of the year at different places. Every regions in India follow a different cultures, so traditions of new year’s day celebration also vary.Generally new year is celebrated in different states of India at the time of harvesting of crops, This is the same day which celebrate at other regions of India with different name as Gudi Padwa, Baisakhi, Cheiraoba – Manipur and Diwali – Marwari New Year.


Ugadi – Telugu New Year : 

Ugadi symbolizes beginning of an age, celebrated in the state of Karnataka and Andhra pradesh. This festival fall in the month of March–April (Chaitra month ), date always vary because the Hindu calendar follow a different day every year because the Hindu calendar system. It is the festival of new beginning and time to get new clothes and some good food.

Ugadi Telgu New Year
Ugadi - Telgu New Year

Gudi Padwa – Marathi New Year: 

Gudi Padwa is celebrated on the first day of Chaitra month and its a New Year day for Maharashtrians and Konkanis. On this day a gudi is found hanging out on the right side of the main entrance of the houses,  Gudi is a bright yellow cloth tied to the tip of a long bamboo and copper pot placed in inverted on it along with a sugar garland.

Gudi Padwa - Marathi New Year
Gudi Padwa - Marathi New Year

Baisakhi – Punjabi New Year: 

The biggest harvest festival celebrated across North Indian states, especially in the land of Five river’s Punjab. Usually Baisakhi falls on 13th April, and some time on 14th and also celebrated as the day of the formation of the Sikh Khalsa. The main celebration takes place at the birth place of the Khalsa and at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, at Talwandi Sabo and can be seen in United States, Canada and United Kingdom.
Baisakhi - Punjabi New Year
Baisakhi - Punjabi New Year

Puthandu – Tamil New Year: 

The traditional tamil new year starts on mid-April either on 13 or 14 April, or first day of tamil month Chithirai. People wish each other “Puthandu Vazthukal” which means Happy New Year and Chitterai Thiruvizha is celebrated in the Meenakshi Temple Madurai. The main food of this festival is Mangai Pachadi, made of raw mangoes, jaggery and neem flowers.
Puthandu - Tamil New Year
Puthandu - Tamil New Year

Bohag Bihu – Assamese New Year: 

The spring festival “Bohag Bihu” celebrated in the middle of april as the beginning season of agriculture. The Assamese new year festival bihu is the most important festival of Assam,celebrated by fun and abundance, faith and belief. There are three bihu festivals in Assam, other two are Maagh and Kaati.
Bohag Bihu - Assami New Year
Bohag Bihu - Assami New Year

Pohela Boishakh – Bengali New Year: 

The Nabo Barsho of Bengal is celebrated with great deal of enthusiasm and energy during the mid of April. This is the day of cultural programs, shopping, prayers and also considered as auspicious time for marriages. Pohela Boishakh celebrated by tribal people in hilly areas of Tripura and also in cities of other countries.
Pohela Boishakh - Bangali NEw Year
Pohela Boishakh - Bangali New Year

Bestu Varas – Gujarati New Year: 

Bestu Varas mark the beginning of the harvest season in Gujrat and therefore is observed with great enthusiasm. It is celebrated as Gujarati New Year on the day after Diwali along with religious rituals and traditions. Marwaris of Rajasthan celebrate Diwali as a new year, the most auspicious day to start new things.
Bestu Varas - Gujrati New Year
Bestu Varas - Gujrati New Year

Vishu – Malayalam New Year: 

Vishu is similar to the New Year festivals observed elsewhere in India, usually on April 14 of the Gregorian calendar. The most important event of the festival is “Vishukkani” means The first object viewed in the morning. It is one of the most popular traditional celebration festival followed by people of Kerala.
Vishu - Malayalam New Year
Vishu - Malayalam New Year

Losoong – Sikkimese New Year: 

The Losoong is one of the most popular and old age festival of Sikkim, celebrated on month of December. It marks as the end of harvesting season and the New Year for people of Sikkim. Losoong is also known as ‘Sonam Losar’ the farmer’s new year, Chham dance is one of the major attraction of festival.
Lossong - Sikkimese New Year
Lossong - Sikkimese New Year

Navreh – Kashmiri New Year: 

Navreh the lunar new year is celebrated as new year in Kashmir with great enthusiasm and sanctity. It’s fall on first day of Chaitra Navratri and is regarded as sacred in Kashmir as the Shivratri. It is observed as the New Year’s day in other part of India such as Gaudi Parva,Ugadi and cheti Chand the new year day of Sindhi people.
Navrah - Kashmiri New Year
Navrah - Kashmiri New Year

Hijri – Islamic New Year: 

The Islamic year start on the first day of Muharram, Islamic calendar does not align with the Gregorian calendar so the date for Islamic New Year or muharram vary as per lunar calendar. The New Year is celebrated with long standing customs & traditions for incoming spring.
Hijri - Islamic New Year
Hijri - Islamic New Year

Cheti Chand – Sindhi New Year: 

Cheti Chand the sindhi new year is celebrated on the second day of the Chaitra month. It is one of the very auspicious day in Sindhi community as they celebrates the festival to honor of the birth of “Jhulelal”.
Cheti Chand -Sindhi New Year
Cheti Chand -Sindhi New Year