Monday, May 7, 2012

Kuttanad,Alappuzha

                      Hi friends,I can't avoid Kuttanad from my blog .It's really a wonderful place.More over I am also from Alappuzha-The Venice of The East,where the Kuttanad belongs.Kuttanad is a region in the state of Kerala, known for its numerous paddy fields and long stretches of beaches.It is one of the lowest places in the country and it is located below the sea level.
                   
                      The region is divided into three known as, Upper Kuttanad, Lower Kuttanad and Middle Kuttanad.The place has long history and has an important spot in the history of South India. The Pallava Kings were the primary rulers of the place for many years. Kuttanad is also a center for Buddhism and a few Buddhist sites can be seen in and around the place. Located along the backwaters, there are many small scenic villages that can be seen in the region. Some of the villages are Kainakary, Kaipuzha, Kumarakom, Edathua, Pullangadi, Manalady, Nedumudi and many others. Kumarakoam is the most famous among these villages & is known for its peaceful backwaters. Local cuisine in these villages involves fresh river fish and vegetables and there are many places along the backwaters to savor them.


Kuttanad Backwaters

The perfect way to spend a holiday to experience the serene backwaters of Kuttanad is by taking a backwater cruise along its bright green paddy fields, shimmering waterways of several canals, rivers & lakes. Views of rural life of Kerala, breezy coconut palm lined banks & the sound of chirping birds, is sure to make your cruising experience a rejuvenating one.Vembanad Lake Famed to be one of the largest lakes in the state of Kerala, it is a lake spanning several districts in the region. Known as Punnamada Lake in Kuttanad & Kochi Lake in Kochi, this 97 km long lake is famous for Nehru Boat race which is held on the Kuttanad portion of the lake known as Punnamada/Vembanad Lake.With several Kettuvallams(snake boats) crisscrossing the lake, it is a wonderful sight for travelers

Way to Kuttanad

Kuttanad can be reached easily from Cochin and it is located around 85 km from the place. Some of the travel options include boats, buses and trains.

Kuttanad By Air

The closest airport is located at Kochi, which is around 85 km from the place. Taxis are available extensively from the airport and these are the easiest way to reach the place. Taxis cost around Rs 7 per km for non A/C sedans this can go up to around Rs 12 per km. 

Kuttanad By Boat

For those who are more adventurous, boats are available from Kochi harbor to the town of Kuttanad. This might not be possible during the monsoon season as the seas are rough. Boat rates vary according to the operator.

Kuttanad By Train

One can reach Kuttanad by taking a train to either Chenganachery or Alapuzha and then take a taxi from the station. There are many trains that arrive at both the places and the stations are well connected both within the state and to other parts of the country. Ticket prices vary according to the destination.

Climate

The region of Kuttanad is characterized by warm and muggy climatic conditions for many parts of the year. Humidity is high during the summer season and visiting during this period can be difficult. The place is affected by monsoons for around five months as well. Temperatures reduce during the winter months and this is the best time to visit. 

March to May constitutes the summer season and the weather is extremely uncomfortable. Day temperatures are in the mid thirties during this period. Temperatures range from of 32°C to a maximum of 38°C. May is usually the hottest part of the year. 

Kuttanad experiences monsoon season from June to November. The South West Monsoon affects the place from June to September. The months of October and November also experiences rainfall from the North East Monsoon. Humidity continues to be high during the monsoon seasons. 
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Winter season is from December to February. Temperatures range from a minimum of 21°C and can rise up to a maximum of 32°C. This is a good time to visit and the humidity is also relatively lower. December is the coolest part of the year and temperatures start to rise after January














Sunday, May 6, 2012

Gavi,Pathanamthitta

This is my first post in this blog.You can count on me for getting the details about any tourist destinations in Kerala .Topic of my first post is about Gavi.Now a days Gavi is the most sensational tourist place in kerala.After the release of the Malayalam movie "Ordinary"the domestic tourism has taken an upswing and plenty of tourists have started travelling to Gavi.The scenic natural beauty of Gavi has been captured well in the lens by the movie makers. This creative depiction has created a never before kind of tourist interest in Gavi. Thats'why Gavi is the first post in my blog!

GAVI Spread across the beauty of Periyar Tiger Reserve, Gavi is a quiet, beautiful and pristine forest haven. It is at the eastern extreme of the Pathanamthitta District at 3400 ft above MSL. These evergreen forests are abundant with magnificent Wildlife including the tiger, elephants, leopards, bears, Indian gaur, sambar, barking & Mouse deers, lion tailed macaque, other varieties of monkeys, Nilgiri Marten and a lot more.

Gavi is 28 kms south west of Vandiperiyar, a town in N.H 220 the highway connecting Kollam and Madurai, which itself is 14 kms from Kumily,near Thekkady. Let the rough journey to Gavi may better be made on a sturdy vehicle like jeep which are available on hire either from Vandiperiyar or from Kumily. Entry passes must be obtained from the Forest Check Post enroute at Vallakkadavu. Advance booking with the Kerala Forest Development Corporation Ltd. is highly appreciable wherein such formalities will be taken care of by the Company itself.

Climate


Summer: February-April, daytime temperatures up to 28 C. but can drop to 20 degree C at night.
Monsoon: June - August, daytime temperatures up to 25 C but can drop to 10 degree C at night

Clothing


Casual, lightweight, comfortable, light coloured cotton clothing. Warm clothing may be required at night


Getting There


By Air: the Kochi International Airport (200kms) ,Trivandrum  International Airport (250kms)and Madurai (195kms) are the nearest Airports.


By Rail: The nearest railway station is Kottayam (120kms) and is well connected with Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi.


By Road : Regular buses are available to Vandiperiyar from Kochi & Thiruvananthapuram . A small bus rattles even up to Gavi from Vandiperiyar.

Local Help

http://gavi.kfdcecotourism.com/

 Tourist Information Office
Department of Tourism, Thekkady
Phone: 04869-222620