A major pilgrim centre for Christians, Church of Our Lady of Ransom is one of the oldest European Churches in India built by the Portuguese Missionaries. The church dedicated to the Holy Mary of Vallarpadam popularly known as Vallarapadath Amma, is located in the middle of Vallarpadam, a small idyllic island on the Vembanad lake, 1 km north from the mainland Kochi (Ernakulam), Kerala. Today the church elevated to the status of a Basilica as well as a National shrine attracts more than five lakh people including pilgrims and tourists, annually. One of the three Basilicas in Kochi, the Church is under the diocese of Verapoly (Varappuzha). The church earlier accessible only by boat is now linked to the mainland Ernakulam, and the islands of Bolghatty, Mulavukad and Vypin by three adjacent bridges called the Goshree bridges. Vallarpadam island, about 3.9 km in length and 1.5 km in width is located between the islands of Mulavukad and Vypin, and to the east of Bolghatty island. Vallarpadam container Terminal, a proposed project here could make this small island one of the best hub ports in the world

Places of Tourist interest in Pathanamthitta

Aranmula

The Parthasarathi Temple, dedicated to Sree Krishna, on the banks of the holy River Pamba, attractions large crowds of devotees. The famous Aranmula snake boat race is held on the last day of the weeklong Onam festival. The ‘Vijinana Kalavedi” at Aranmula imparts training in the traditional arts like ‘Kathakali’, classical dances, classical music as well as ‘Kalaripayattu’. Foreign tourists stay here for long periods to get a first hand knowledge of the culture of Kerala. The Parthasarathi Temple here also has fine murals from the 18th century. Aranmula is also very famous for its hand made mirrors of polished metal called ‘ Aranmula Kannadi’, which is a unique craft and not found anywhere else in the world.

Sabarimala (Pilgrim Centre)
One of the most famous pilgrim centres in India, Sabarimala is situated on the mountain ranges of the Western Ghats, at an altitude of 914 m above sea level and is accessible only by foot, from Pamba (4kms). The hold shrine dedicated to Lord Ayyappa attracts thousands of pilgrims from all over India, from different castes, creed, especially from other parts of South India. Mandalapooja and Makaravilakku are the two main events of the pilgrim season, which is from Nov to mid Jan. The Temple remains closed during the rest of the year, except for the first five days of every Malayalam month and during ‘Vishu’ in April. Sabarimala is surrounded by hazardous hills like Karimala and Neelimala. Men of all ages are allowed inside the temple but women only below 10 years and above 50 years of age are permitted inside.

Perumthenaruvi
Perumthenaruvi is a famous waterfall on the banks of the River Pamba. Here, the water flows down a rocky bed into a ravine 60 to 100 feet deep. The place is a favourite picnic spot for both domestic and foreign tourists.

River Pamba
This is the main halting point on the way to Sabarimala, the famous pilgrim centre. It is also known as ‘Thriveni Sangamam’, the meeting point of three rivers.

]]> http://vallarpadamport.com/tourist-attractions-in-pathanamthitta/feed 0 http://vallarpadamport.com/alappuzha-attractions http://vallarpadamport.com/alappuzha-attractions#comments Wed, 29 Sep 2010 09:05:51 +0000 vcode http://vallarpadamport.com/?p=628 Places to visit in Alappuzha

Backwater Cruise
View the landscape beauty , monuments, temples,churches and industries of Alappuzha by cruising through its rivers,canals and backwaters.The starting point is from Alleppey and the finishing point is at Jetty .

Krishnapuram Palace
Alappuzha district is proud of being the cradle of boat races. All the important boat races, namely the Nehru Trophy boat Race at Punnamada, the Payippad near Haripad, the Thiruvandoor, Neerettupuram, Karuvatta and Thaikkoottam boat races are held at different parts of the district during August-September . Thousands of people from all parts of the world come and witness these races.

Kuttanad Region
The region is known as the ‘Rice Bowl of Kerala’. It is perhaps the only region in the world where farming is done below sea level. The boat trip to Changanacherry passes through this beautiful and fertile region.

Arthunkal Church
This christian Pilgrim centre near Sherthalai is 22 km. north of alappuzha. The St. Andrews Church here was built by Portuguese missionaries. The annual feast of St. Sebastian is held here in the month of January.

Mararikulam
Situated on the coast south of Alappuzha,12 Kms. from Alappuzha, it houses a quiet beach and has an adjoining fishing village. Pool, tennis, water sports and Ayurvedic treatments are the leisure time activities one can avail of.

The Hill Palace was the official residence of the royal family of Kochi and built in 1865. This palace is located on the Ernakulam-Chottanikkara route, about 10 km from Ernakulam. The palace complex consists of 49 buildings built in the traditional Kerala style of architecture and surrounded by 52 acres of terraced land with a deer park and facilities for horse riding. A full-fledged Ethno-archaeological Museum and the Kerala’s first ever Heritage Museum are the main attraction of the palace. The Hill Palace museum is the largest museum of archaeological remain in Kerala. Rare coins, manuscripts, sculptures of stone and Plaster of Paris, oil paintings, 19th century paintings, murals and inscriptions of the royal Kochi family can be seen in this museum.

Kodanad

Kodanad is situated in the high ranges on the southern bank of the Periyar, and one of the largest elephant training centres in south India. There is also a mini zoo for wild animals here.

Kaladi

Kaladi is the birthplace of Adi Shankaracharya, the great Advaita philosopher of the 8th century. The temples dedicated to Sri Shankaracharya, Sharada Devi, Sri Krishna and Sri Ramkrishna are also located here. A place called Crocodile Ghat is also situated here where Sri Shankaracharya took his vows of renunciation. According to the legend, a crocodile caught hold of him and refused to release him until Shri Shankaracharya’s mother Aryamba permitted him to accept Sanyas (renunciation).

Bhoothathankettu

Bhoothathankettu is a picturesque place situated in a vast virgin forest. This mythologically popular picnic spot lies close to the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary at Thattekkadu. Two of the main irrigation projects of Ernakulam district – the Periyar Valley Irrigation Project and the Idamalayar Irrigation Project are also located nearby. Trekking to the old Bhoothathankettu provides excitement to adventure lovers.

Kasaragod can be called as the land of seven languages and several cultures. This is the place of harmonious coexistence of Hindu, Muslim,and Christian religions. The district also has some famous tourist centres, including the international fame Bekal fort & beach. From ancient time Kasaragod district was famous. In 9th and 14th centuries AD Arab travelers came to Kerala and visited Kasaragod. The Bekal fort is of great historical and archaeological interest. It is the largest and best preserved of its kind in the district. The land, on which it is situated, runs into the sea with fine bay towards the south.Kasaragod Attractions. There are some places, which can be converted to attract the tourists and thus promote the tourism in the district.
Bekal fort:This is the largest and best-preserved fort in the State. The alluring scene of the seashore and its exhilarating natural scenery and beauty attracts the visitors. This place is emerging fast as an International tourist center.

Bekal:Bekal is an important place of tourist interest in the district situated on the seashore of Pallikara village. It lies 12 km south of Kasargod town. According to Bekal Rama Nayak who was a local Kannada writer, the word, Bekal is derived from the word Baliakulam that means Big Palace. The term Baliakulam over a period of time got corrupted as Bekulam and later as Bekal.

Chandragiri fort: Chandragiri fort lies three km south of Kasargod town. It has a large square situated high above the Chandragiri River on its southern bank.

Cheruvathur:This is actually the place of illustrious poets and scholars of Kuttamath Kunniyur family. The veeramala hill at this place has the ruins of a Dutch fort built in the 18th century. In present days this place is regarded as a picnic spot.

Hosdurg fort: The fort with its round organization looks imposing from a distance. This fort was built by the Somashekara nayak of ikkeri dynasty. The place is distinguished by the nithyanandasram with its 45 caves.

Povval fort: This is an old fashioned fort situated on the Kasargod-Mulleria route. This fort is placed at the distance of about 10 km from Kasargod.

Edneer mutt: It is placed at the distance of 10 km. northeast of kasargod. This mutt belongs to the Sankaracharya tradition, presently renowned as a seat of art and learning.

This is an ancient Christian Church which accepted Latin rite after the arrival of Portuguese. In 1524, Portuguese merchants headed by Vasco da Gama enthroned this miraculous picture of Our lady of Ransom at the shrine. The church was dedicated to the Holy Spirit, which was the first of its kind in Asia. The beautiful church was however destroyed by a heavy flood in 1676. The church was re-established in 1676 and the famous picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary was erected by Portuguese who brought it from their native land. The picture is believed to have miraculous powers. The Portuguese built the first church on the site of the present church in 1524. It was destroyed in a flood in the late 17th century and a new church was built on the same spot in 1676. It was declared a special church by Pope Leo XIII in 1888 and in 1951 the Union Government declared it a major pilgrim centre.

Vallarpadath Amma is believed to have miraculously saved her devotees several time from violent storms. The feast of Vallarpadath Amma is held every year on September 24 with much fanfare. The celebrations which last for more than a week are accompanied by an unusually big fair.

The Roman Catholic Church has raised the historic Marian pilgrimage destination on the Vallarpadam Island to the status of a National Pilgrim Centre. The documents related to the raising of the status of the Our Lady of Ransom Church on the island was handed over recently to the Archbishop of Varappuzha Daniel Acharuparampil by the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, Telesphore P. Topo.

Vallarpadam is situated next to Bolghatty Island on the west, and linked to the Ernakulam mainland via the new Goshree bridges. It is about 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) in length in the north-south direction and hosts a population of 10,000 people. Vallarpadam is about one kilometer (½ mile) away from the Ernakulam mainland.

Vallarpadam is the largest single operator container terminal currently planned in India and the first in the country to operate in a special economic zone. The new terminal will make Cochin a key centre in the shipping world reducing India’s dependence on foreign ports to handle transhipment. Approval for the agreement was given by the Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs of the Government of India, Ministry of Finance and meanwhile, the DP World will manage and subsequently transfer its operations at the ‘Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal’ (RGCT) in Cochin Port to the new terminal upon its completion. The DP World has been granted a 38-year concession for the exclusive operation and management of the site.

The total cost of the project is estimated at US$500 million and will be funded by DP World through non-recourse debt funding. The debt is provided by a consortium of banks led by the Infrastructure Development Fund Company (IDFC), set up to provide growth capital for infrastructure projects in India.

With the finalisation of this agreement, the DP World has taken over the management and operation of the existing container handling facility at the RGCT prior to the transfer of its operations to the new terminal upon its completion. DP World will actively manage and invest in the facility focusing on improving productivity, investing in quayside and yard-handling equipment and implementing state-of-the-art IT systems. DP World has estimated that the total initial investment required will be approximately US$20 million which includes the immediate provision of four RTGs and two Mobile Harbour Cranes to the Terminal – to improve yard handling, truck turnaround time and quayside operations.

Nature has blessed this state of India uniquely. It is one of the cleanest & beautiful states of the country.It is situated on the tropical Malabar Cost along side the sapphire Arabian Sea. It is known for unique cultural and geographical features. The reason for the boom in Kerala tourism is the gracing of the Arabian Sea on the west to give its many beaches and hill stations on the Western Ghats. Cultural and traditional tours form a major part of Kerala tourism. The state is famous for its rich tradition and religious fire. The major tourist destinations in the State include Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kovalam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Munnar, Palakkad, Alappuzha, Kollam, Kannur, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, and Sabrimalai. It is globally famous as a predominant tourism destination of India.

There are lots of options tourism options available in Kerala like cultural, heritage, village, backwaters, beach, monuments, medical or health and hill station tourism. If you would like to go on Kerala tour you would have lots of opportunity to do and see in this beautiful Indian state. Unique culture, rich tradition, art & architecture, Ayurveda & spa, beautiful landscapes, exotic beaches dotted with palm coconut trees, forested hill stations, lush green paddy fields, beautiful meadows, lovely lakes, rich culture & tradition, ancient temples, magnificent monuments, scenic backwaters, luxurious houseboats, rare flora & fauna, exotic wildlife, tea & spice plantations, words class hotels & resorts, etc all are great feast for visitors’ eye coming for Kerala tours in India. Kerala tourism is predominantly famous for beach and backwater tourism among tourists from all over the world. A large gathering of tourists from all over the world embark on travel and tours in Kerala to cherish unique charm of beach tourism and backwater tourism. Kovalam, Varkala, Alleppey, Beypore, Cherai, For Kochi, etc are some of famous beach destination of the state. These all destinations are very deserving and ideal to cherish mesmerizing beach tourism in India.

Kerala is the land where you can experience something novel- green coconut trees, the splash of backwaters, the mist-clad mountains, wildlife, rolling grasslands, beaches and adventure. The beauty and charm of kerala is also studded with landmark monuments, places, forts, memorials and place of worship portraying the social-culture and historical evolution. Kerala is enthrallingly beautiful and offers lots of heart grabbing attractions to its visitors. It is well-known for its unique cultural and geographical features that make it globally famous tourism destination of India. Ancient temples, fairs and festivals, historic monuments, churches, temples, traditional villages, etc show the rich culture and traditions of the state. The culture and tradition of the state is really worth observing and worth admiring. People of the state are also generous and help tourists and guests. So, tour to Kerala promises a delightful tourism experience that is definitely enduring. So Kerala, lovingly known as the God’s Own Country.

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From time immemorial, the Arabs, British, Chinese, Dutch, and Portuguese have left indelible marks on the history and development of Cochin. Over the years, Cochin has emerged as the commercial and industrial capital of Kerala and is perhaps the second most important city on the west coast of India (after Mumbai/Bombay). Cochin is proud of its world class port and international airport that link it to many major cities worldwide.

Tea Plantation This lovely seaside city is flanked by the Western Ghats on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west. Its proximity to the equator, the sea and the mountains provide a rich experience of a moderate equatorial climate.

Strictly speaking, Cochin is a small town. But, Cochin has outgrown its original bounds and is now the general name given to much of the region adjoining the original town, which now includes Cochin, Fort Kochi, Mattanchery, Ernakulam and many other nearby towns and villages. Cochin is situated in Ernakulam district in the state of Kerala. Ernakulam is also the name of a town – the administrative capital of Ernakulam district – but, for all practical purposes Ernakulam and Cochin, generally, refer to the same place.

Kochi is the arguably the ideal starting point for exploring the unfathomable diversity and beauty of Kerala, rated in the top three tourist destinations by the World Travel & Tourism Council and featured in National Geographic Traveler’s ’50 greatest places of a lifetime’.

This site is an attempt to capture the beauty and vigour of this city and provide as much information as possible to people who wish to know more or visit Cochin. This site will use Cochin and Kochi interchangeably since they refer to the same place. Kochi is the original name of the city, while Cochin is the colonial name. Slightly larger version of some of the images can be found in the Cochin album or Kerala album . All hyperlinks marked with a will be loaded in a new browser window. Suggestions and comments on any relevant matter pertaining to this site or its content are always welcome.