Onam – The chief festival of God’s Own Country, Kerala

From glooms to cheerfulness, from shoe-string budget constraints to prosperity, from the dullness of heavy rains to the freshening radiance of gentle sun rays, … that Onam to Keralites – arguably the chief festival of what’s dubbed as the God’s Own Country, Kerala.

Onam Symbolic

Kerala’s most celebrated festival occasion ‘Onam’ is the hallmark of a new calendar year. ie., Chingam 1st which marks the beginning of the New Year in the Malayalam calendar, called as  ‘Kolla Varsham’. Chingam, which follows the last month of Malayalam year ‘Karkidakam’, offers a sharp contrast from its predecessor in terms of climate and lifestyle. Karkidakam is the month of monsoon characterized by heavy lashes of downpour plus subsequent diseases where people have to take various means to improve their frequently ailing health condition and, due to this month’s volatile nature people won’t conduct any important or joyful occasions such as marriages, new house warming, …  whereas Chingam is a new dawn of cheer & good times for Keralites. This is the time of harvests, plentiful special occasions like marriages and, above all the celebration time of Onam!

Chothi for Onam

Onam for Kerala is not just a mere festive occasion, more than that it symbolizes the spirit of Kerala’s vibrant culture & legacy. This festival is celebrated by all – people from all wakes of life and each & every religions here – for Keralites this is the testimony of their brotherhood & pride! Origin of Onam is in fact timeless. Few interesting legends are associated with the beginning of Onam, of which the most prominent one is connected with ‘Mahabali’ ancient King of Kerala.

Onam king stuff

A demon King who held sway in not only Kerala but all the mythical three worlds namely Heaven of gods, Earth of humans, and the Netherworld. His rule was regarded as the best in every respect which is yet to be surpassed by any known ruler! Ballads describe Mahabali’s rule as the one where people lived in utmost prosperity, happiness & joy prevailed everywhere, and the word ‘crime’ was virtually unheard / unknown. Without doubt, an ear that is beyond compare with the present governing system!!!

It is believed that Gods grew anxious about the expanding prowess & fame of Mahabali that they sought the help of Lord Vishnu (the preserver god in Hinduism’s holy trinity) to oust Mahabali. Lord Vishnu took the form of a Brahmin kid ‘Vamana’, went to meet Mahabali and requested him 3 footages of land as alms. King Mahabali, known for his virtuous of keeping promises, agreed to do so. Instantly Vamana assumed a gigantic form. He measured Heaven with one footstep and Earth with another step. With Vamana’s third step looming large & the destruction of the King’s subjects almost a certain, Mahabali voluntarily offered his head to rest that third step so that the kingdom & subjects will be saved. Vamana’s feet pushed Mahabali to Netherworld. However, impressed by the King’s care towards his subjects, Vamana (Lord Vishnu) granted Mahabali a boon that he can visit his people once in every year. That occasion came to be known as Onam.

Vishnu as vamana

Onam festival occasion begins with the Malayalam calendar day ‘Atham’ (usually falls in mid August to early September every year), followed by ten days with a grand fiesta on ‘Thiru Onam’ day. ‘Atham’ is welcomed by Keralites with a colourful procession called as ‘Athachamayam’, a procession with richly decorated sets that depict mythological events. The procession in central Kerala’s Tripunithura town (former capital of Cochin State) is a particularly famous crowd puller.

Atha Ghosham

From Atham onwards every home in Kerala gets ready to greet their beloved King by decorating their house’s threshold with artistic flower patterns (known as ‘Pookalam’). From Atham to Thiru Onam; every day a new pattern of Pookalam will be prepared in homes – to mark the significance of each Onam day.

Uthradam

Thiruonam

The grandest celebration takes off on Thiru Onam day. Besides the decorated Pookalam & clay-made representation of Mahabali, all household will wear new cloths – a custom that signifies the triumph of good times over troubled times, prosperity over hardship, plus the token of welcome of their beloved King. Women get busy to prepare the traditional Kerala feast ‘Onam Sadya’ – a lavish feast where rice with wide variety of vegetarian dishes is served on a banana leaf. Some standouts of this Onam feast are Upperi, Sharkara Varatti (banana fried chips & fried banana coated with sugar) and Payasam (a delicious nectar-like dish).

Onam Sadhya

Upperi

To add up the celebrations of Mahabali’s return & good times, women in Kerala households perform the dance from ‘Thiruvathira Kali’ / ‘Kaikotti Kali’ – a group of seven or eight ladies, wearing customary Kerala dress, encircle a lighted lamp and perform uniform rhythmic dance movements with clapping of hands.

Thiruvathirakali

On the other hand Male folks also form friend circles and celebrate Onam their own with games like ‘Puli kali’ (performing Tiger-like pranks), ‘Sayippum Kaduvayum’ (Hunter and Tiger / Leopard showdown), etc.

Pulikali

Onam occasion is celebration time in every aspect with most of the reputed Snake Boat Races of Kerala such as ‘Payippad Boat Race’, ‘Aranmula Boat Race’, ‘Chambakkulam Boat Race’, also take place in the days that follow Thiru Onam.

Aranmula Boat Race

Earlier years were filled with so many local-styled entertaining games & activities during Onam holidays. But as modernity and nuclear family concept have taken their toll, much of the good old Onam games & activities are confined to Television channels’ studio sets and cultural stages. Whatever it is, the legacy of Onam always prevails and it continues as a driving force of Kerala’s unity & integrity – most certainly forever.

Sikkim Tourism - Most beautiful hill land of Himalayan mountains

Sikkim is one of the most beautiful hill land of Himalayan mountains situated at an elevation from 280 m (920 ft) to 8,585 m.The mountainous terrain state of India is the second-smallest state after Goa and one of the most popular tourist destination for its culture,breathtaking scenery and biodiversity along with other seven sister states. Sikkim is home to the highest mountain peak of India and world’s third-highest peak Kangchenjunga is situated on the border between Sikkim and Nepal and various species of flora and fauna. Namchi, the capital of South Sikkim district is famous for Siddhesvara Dhaam, a place with four major Dhams of the Hindus Jagannath, Dwarika, Rameshawaram, Badrinath have been replicated under one roof along with the twelve jyothirlingas and 108ft tall statue of Lord Shiva and the Padmasambhava Statue near by.

People and Culture

The culture of Sikkim varies as per the ethnic group, major group are Lepcha, Bhutia and Nepali. Lepchas People are original and native people of Sikkim, along with Nepali ethnic group. The Food, dance and traditions of these communities varies, Noodle-based dishes are most popular cuisines here along with famous Momos. The most popular sports are football and cricket, although hang gliding,Paragliding along with river rafting and snow sports are also popular. Due to huge popularity of Western rock music, Sikkim is emerging as one of the hottest rock musical capital of the country, It has many rock bands like Girish N The Chronicles,Still Waters and all-girls rock band the Phynyx.

People and Culture Sikkim

Fairs and Festivals

The Festivals of Sikkim includes all major Hindu festivals including Diwali and Dussera along with predominant Buddhist religion festivals. Maghe sankranti and Bhimsen Puja are two popular festival, celebrated by Nepalese along with Bhumchu,the Buddhist festivals. Some of the main fairs and festivals of Sikkim are Losoong, Bumchu, Saga Dawa,Drupka Tesh and Paragliding festival, Sikkim Snow Festival.

Fairs and Festival Sikkim

Avifauna of Sikkim

Avifauna of Sikkim includes the mountain birds along with other 550 species of birds.The avifauna are griffon vultures, Impeyan pheasant, golden eagles,Old World flycatchers, the snow partridge and the snow cock. Some of the birds are declared endangered due to hunting and loss of habitat.

Himalayan Griffon Vultures

Arthropod fauna of Sikkim

The rich diversity of Sikkim also support rich species of arthropods, many of them are still unstudied and unknown. Arthropod fauna of Sikkim includes 695 species of butterfly, some of them are the Yellow Gorgon,Bhutan Glory and the endangered Kaiser-i-hind.

Arthropods in sikkim

Flora of Sikkim

The ecological hotspot of the lower Himalayas is home to a diverse range of flora, the alpine and tundra. Flora of Sikkim includes number of species of flowering plants such as rare orchids,primula,rhododendron,conifer and bamboo. The Dendrobium nobile is the state flower of Sikkim and the rhododendron is the state tree.

Rare orchids Sikkim

Fauna of Sikkim

The Biodiversity priority areas and protected areas of Sikkim mountain terrains are provide shelter to some of the most endangered species of animals the snow leopard, the Himalayan Black Bear, the clouded leopard,musk deer,the Himalayan Tahr and the red panda,state animal of Sikkim.

Red panda Sikkim

Natural Beauty of Sikkim

The high mountains and deep valleys of Sikkim offers most beautiful views of Water bodies,Landscape and breathtaking scenery. The Yumthang Valley and Teesta river valley are home to some of the spectacular waterfalls of state such as beautiful Seven Sisters waterfall, Khanchendzonga Waterfalls, Bakthang waterfall and Rimbi water falls. Sikkim is home to one of the highest lakes in the world, the Gurudongmar lake, situated at an altitude of 17,100 ft (5,210 m) and Cholamoo lake,India’s highest lake.

Natural Beauty in Sikkim

Place of Interest

Nathu La Pass:

The Nathu La Mountain Pass is one of the highest mountain pass in Indian at an elevation of 4,310 m (14,140 ft). Nathu La Pass connects Sikkim to Tibet area and one of the major trading border between China and India. Nathu La Pass Silk Road is play an important role for Hindu and Buddhist pilgrim to visit pilgrimage sites in the region.

Nathu La Pass Sikkim

Rumtek Monastery:

The Rumtek Monastery is one of the most famous monuments of Sikkim and one of the 75 Buddhist monasteries. Rumtek Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery situated near the capital of Sikkim, Gangtok. The Monastery of Rumtek is one of the best place to visit in Sikkim, its surrounded by flowing streams,Snow mountains and a river with pleasant climate.

Rumtek monastery gangtok

Frozen Changu Lake:

The Changu Lake is one of the major lake of Sikkim situated near the Nathu La passes at East Sikkim near Gangtok. Changu Lake also called as Tsongmo Lake is a glacial lake at an altitude of 3,780 m (12,400 ft) and get freeze during the winter season. Tsongmo Lake along with Gurudongmar Lake and Tso Lhamo Lake are thee famous frozen lakes in Sikkim.

Frozen Changu Lake Sikkim

Yumthang Valley:

The amazing Yumthang Valley is situated near the Lachung town in North Sikkim. Lachung is surrounded by high elevated Himalayan mountains, a river through the valley and considered as the most picturesque village of Sikkim. The valley of Lachung receive heavy snowfall during the winter and high amounts of rainfall in monsoon. Valley of Lachung and Lachen are most beautiful place to visit in the state of Sikkim.

Yumthang Valley Sikkim

Khangchendzonga National Park:

The Khangchendzonga National Park is a Biosphere reserve nature park located in the border of Sikkim. National Park and Biosphere reserve is home to endangered species of majestic snow leopard, Himalayan blue sheep,wild dog, Red Panda, Snow Pigeon, Green Pigeon, Sunbird & Eagle along with reptiles Russell’s viper.

Khangchendzonga national park

How to Reach

Air: 

Sikkim is about to get its first airport,Pakyong Airport in capital city of Gangtok. Currently the only operational airport in Sikkim is Bagdogra Airport,the military airport in the town of Siliguri in West Bengal.Gangtok has a helipad, the only civilian helipad in Sikkim state.

Rail: 

The nearest railway station for Sikkim are Siliguri and New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal. High mountains and rough terrain of Sikkim making it tough to plan a railway line, though Sikkim Railway has proposed plans for railway line and project to connect town of Rangpo in Sikkim with Sevoke.

Roads: 

Sikkim is well connected through the Indian road network via National Highway 31, links Siliguri to Gangtok. The State Transport of Sikkim runs buses, tourist taxi and jeep services throughout Sikkim and also connected to the hill stations of Kalimpong and Darjeeling.

Things to do in Sikkim

View from Hanuman Tok - Gangtok -Sikkim

Kerala Tourism - Things to do in Alleppey

The old trading port of Alleppey – or Alappuzha as it’s also known – is well known as the capital of backwater country. This is where many of the boat tours of Kerala’s “Venice of the East” begin or end.

It goes without saying that a slow crawl around the canals and lakes of backwater Kerala is the main ‘thing to do’ when you visit Alleppey.

But here we give you nine extra items and ideas that add more to your visit.

These are activities you can either enjoy on your backwater journey or find elsewhere in Alleppey town or nearby villages.

1. Go night fishing

There’s something particularly enchanting about floating in a vallam, the traditional paddled longboat familiar to Kerala, under the moonlight, on a warm Indian evening, and hanging a fishing line into the glimmering waters. Other forms of fishing to look out for include the incredibly hard spear fishing, and fishing using a trapping pond.

Alleppey Night Finishing

2. Shop the Mullackal Road

The bazaars of Mullackal Road provide a delightful afternoon’s browsing. Here you’ll find everything from fine gold jewellery to umbrella emporiums and coir products.

Shop at the Mullackal Bazar Road

3. Eat a banana leaf lunch

Use your fingers as cutlery and a large green banana leaf as a plate and you’re half way to eating ‘Kerala style’. Add some pickles to your plate and a ball of steamed rice, flavoured with grated coconut, and you’re nearly there. Finish off the look with main dishes of rasam or sambar or perhaps a delicious fish molee, all mopped up with a pathiri pancake, and you’re enjoying an authentic Keralan lunch. Still hungry? Order some crispy banana chips and a bowl of sweet payasam for pudding.

Kerala style banana leaf lunch

4. Hire a bicycle

While guided tours give you a wealth of trivia and background information, sometimes it’s nice to abandon them and let instinct direct you instead. Bicycle is a great way to explore both the streets of Alleppey and the surrounding countryside. Buy a good map and take off early, enjoying the freedom of travel on Alappuzha’s quieter roads.

Bicycle hire in Alleppey

5. Swim in the holy river

The River Pampa is a holy river, treated with reverence by garland-wearing pilgrims who visit it to bathe. If you are staying in a homestay, ask your host to suggest a good spot where you can enjoy a leisurely swim.

Swim in the holy river Pampa

6. Get an Ayurvedic massage

Ayurveda is an important Indian medicine system, thought to be influenced by Buddhism. It focuses on meditation, yoga and massage. Massage uses herbs and oils coupled with a variety of hand techniques, including kneading, tapping and squeezing. A full body, relaxing Ayurvedic massage in one of the quality treatment rooms of Alleppey fits ideally with the overall laid back theme of Kerala life.

Ayurvedic massage

7. Explore the surrounding villages

There’s plenty on offer in the small villages dotted outside of Alleppey. Especially worth a visit is Champakulam, a peaceful place sat on the River Pampa and home of India’s oldest Christian church (built in AD 427). It also stages the famous ‘snake boat race’ held in June or July.

Christian church Alleppey

8. Spot unusual birds

Take a short trip out of Alleppey to Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary and you’ll enjoy one of the world’s most popular bird-watching locations. You’ll see migratory birds that travel from as far as Siberia and the Himalayas, including the stork, egret, darter, heron and teal.

Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary

Most bizarre encounters with wildlife in India

And you thought that the only place where you could see a tusker or have a tête-à-tête with a cobra would be in the wild? Hold your breath, as the wildlife in India is not confined to the jungles. It is not surprising to see an elephant ambling between traffic or a decorated camel strolling in the streets. Strip your senses of any order and be prepared for the most bizarre encounters with wildlife in India. Here are some of the places where you might meet your jungle friends.

Mysore Dusherra 

The festival of Dusherra is celebrated amongst fervid excitement in the southern city of Mysore. One of the fascinating parts of this festival is a parade of richly decorated elephants that takes place in the city over two days. Amongst such a grand show, it’s not hard to miss the King who takes the royal ride atop the main elephant.

Wild Elephant in Mysore Dusherra

Camel Fair in Pushkar

One would think of the camel as an elusive creature making painstaking journeys in the arid deserts of Rajasthan. If you want a more intimate meeting, head straight to the Pushkar Fair where camels are traded amidst a hullabaloo of dealers from all over the state.

Resting Camel in Camel Fair in Pushkar

Spot a Tiger 

The very lucky can see the famous Indian tiger is in the wild. Ranthambore in Rajasthan, Corbett in Uttarakhand and all the national parks in the Deccan state of Madhya Pradesh are known for tiger sightings.

Royal Bangal Tiger casual walk

Kambala Buffalo Race 

Though the buffalo is largely a domestic animal in India, a fascinating festival in south India sees them in cut throat competition of races in the beginning of the year. These buffalo races are over 1000 years old and very traditional to these regions.

Wild Buffalo in Kambala Buffalo Race

One-horned Rhinoceros 

Some special species like the one horned rhinoceros can only be found in the north east national park, Kaziranga, where the population of these is over 1500 with a strict conservation programme. Its examples like these that put faith in India’s conservation systems for the dwindling population of various animals.

One Horned Rhino in North east national park, Kaziranga

Snake Charmers of India

Less common than they used to be, you may still encounter the snake charmers with their baskets and assortment of snakes. Many of them often carry cobras which are made to dance to the tune of an instrument and used to collect money. If not on the streets, you can find them near temples.

King Cobra in Rajasthan

Kokkare Belur 

A fascinating village off Bangalore hosts hundreds of pelicans, which have made this village their permanent home. With no trace of a water body close by for fish or any other reason why they should adopt this village, these pelicans are permanent residents here.

Resting Pelican in Kokkare Belur

The best way to see wildlife in India is in the widespread national parks of the country. Names like Gir, Ranthambore, Corbett, Pench and Bandhavgarh are just a few where conservation work is in full swing but the rest of India is also dotted with many of them.

The zoos of India are ideal for entertaining children and you are guaranteed to at least see some of India’s rarer wildlife that is hard to see in the wild. Ask locally about the reputation of the zoo and choose responsibly which you visit.