Kerala, known as God’s Own Country is blessed with the abundance of natural scenic beauty. There are many interesting places to visit in Kerala in all its 14 districts. There are serene beaches, mesmerizing hill stations and cool backwaters all across Kerala. There is some place to be of interest to any tourist in Kerala. Let’s begin a quick journey form South to the north of Kerala to find interesting places to visit in Kerala.

Interesting Places to Visit in Kerala

World renowned beach, Kovalam is located in Trivandrum. Sri Padmanabha temple, one of the richest temple in the world is also at Trivandrum. Ponmudi is a cool hill station located at a distance of around 40Km from Trivandrum. Veli tourist village situated between lagoon and Arabian Sea is also an interesting place to visit. Neyyar dam is also at a stones throw from Trivandrum, where you can see 10s of lions in their natural habitat. You can see them by participating in Lion Safari in covered vehicle at Neyyar Dam.

There are many interesting places to visit in Kollam. Thenmala is one of the first planned eco-tourism projects in India. Backwater in houseboats through Ashtamudi lake in Kollam is a memorable experience. There are options for you to extend your backwater cruise till Alleppey (Alappuzha). Sasthamkotta Kayal is also an interesting place to visit in Kollam. It is the largest fresh water lake in Kerala. ‘Jadayu para’ at Chadayamangalam has history dating back as far as the era of Ramayana. It is believed to be the place where Jadayu passed on the message to Lord Rama and died. Huge statue of Jadayu is under construction at Jadayu Para as you can see in this picture. Adventure park, Kollam Beach, Neendakara and Thangassery light house are other interesting places in Kollam.

Alappuzha is well known for House Boat Cruise. Alappuzha is the land of lakes and canals. One of the important events in Alappuzha is the Nehru Trophy Boat race held in August every year. Other places to see around Alappuzha are Kuttanad, the place where paddy cultivation is done below the sea level, Pathiramanal an island in the Vembanad Lake and Krishnapuram Palace. Famous churches like Edathua Palli, Arthunkal Basilica, Thumpoly church and Thanki palli are also situated near Alleppey.

Kumarakom is one of the very famous Tourist Places in Kerala. Kumarakom is well known for Back Water Tourism and House Boat cruises. Kumarakom is also known for the natural Bird Sanctuary where migrant birds visits every year at the same time from places as far as Siberia. Wagamon is a serene hill station adjacent to Kottayam. It is also one of the important Tourist Places in Kerala.

Sabarimala is the most famous pilgrim centre in Kerala. It is one of the most famous tourist places in Kerala. Gavi is a very beautiful hill station in Pathanamthitta district.

Munnar is the most well known Tourist places in Kerala. It is picturesque hill station in Idukki district with hills laced with Tea Garden. Munnar offers cool and calm climate all around the year. Thekkady is a well known wild life sanctuary. There is also a lake in Thekkady. There are many resorts in Thekkady.

Fort Kochi is one of the most famous tourist places in Kerala. Chinese fishing nets, Jewish Synagog and old streets are the attractions of Fort Kochi. Cherayi Beach is a very clean and nice beach where you can spend a weekend. Guruvayoor Temple is one of the most famous Hindu Pilgrim centres. Athirappalli and Vazhachal water falls are also interesting places to visit in Kerala.

Places to visit in Kerala in its northern parts

Attractions in northern parts of Kerala are Malampuzha, Silent Valley National Park etc. Silent Valley is in Western Ghats. It is well known for its tropical moist evergreen forest in India.

There are many attractive Places to visit in Kerala in its northern parts. They are Nilambur, well known for the teak plantations, Kappad Beach, Thusharagiri, Wayanad, Edakkal Caves, Thirunelli Temple, and Pakshi Pathalam. There are many Tourist Resorts in Wayanad.

Other interesting places are Muzhappilangad Drive in Beach, which is the only drive in beach in Asia where you can drive your vehicle by the sea and Bekal Fort. It is also one of the famous Tourist Places in Kerala.

As you can see from the above post, there are lots of interesting places to visit in Kerala.

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History of Beemapalli Mosque Kerala

This famous pilgrimage center of Muslims was built in honor of a religious and pious lady Beema Beevi, who was a member of the family of Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam. This pious lady is believed to have come from Mecca.  It is said that she had great spiritual powers. The tombs of Beema Beevi and her son Syedushuhadamaheen Abubacker are here in Beemapalli.

Beemapalli Uroos

The Beemapalli Urus or chandanakudam festival is the annual festival celebrated in Beemapalli Mosque Kerala. The 10 days of this festival is a colorful event and it marks the death anniversary of Beema Beevi. The festival starts on the first day of Jama dul Akbar(March-April).

Earthen pots filled with money and decorated with incense sticks and flowers is the main offering during this festival. These pots are also smeared with sandalwood and hence the name chandanakudam. The mosque is visited by thousands of worshipers during this festival. Daharamuttu (done with sword) is an art form which is performed within the mosque during this festival.   Dances, religious discussions, Islamic songs etc. are performed outside the mosque during this time.

To mark the end of 10 days festival, on the last day a flag is taken from Beema Beevi’s tomb, which is  followed by a grand procession accompanied by panchavadyam and decorated elephants. Flowers, oil, silk, clothes etc., which are are made as offerings are circulated among the pilgrims. Thousands of pilgrims irrespective of caste and religion visit Beemapalli Mosque Kerala every year from different parts of India.

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Ponmudi is the closest hill station you can reach from Trivandrum. At Ponmudi there are many interesting places to visit. Climate in Ponmudi is most of the times cool. This hill station is part of the Western Ghats. It is secluded from the hustles and bustles of city life, yet very close to the city. You can reach Ponmudi within 3-4 hours if the weather is good. Road to Ponmudi from Trivandrum is a narrow, winding road with 22 hair-pin bends.

Ponmudi Places to visit

Top station is within a walking distance from Ponmudi Golden Peak resort. Other interesting places to visit at Ponmudi are Kallar, Golden Valley and Peppara Wild Life Sanctuary. Meenmutti falls is also an attraction near Ponmudi. Agasthyarkoodam, one of the highest peak of the Western Ghats ranges is also near Ponmudi. Agasthyarkoodam is famous for rare Ayurvedic medicinal plants and herbs. At Kallar, you can get attractive round shaped pebbles formed in the flow of the river through hundreds of years. Many people collect these pebbles and use in their gardens. Another interesting place to visit near Ponmudi is Motta Peak, where you can see Mountain Goats, known as Varayadu (Nilgiri Thahr) in their habitat.

Peppara is a heaven for nature lovers. Many varieties of wild life can be seen at Peppara wild life sanctuary. There were recent reports in the media about the sighting of “Kallana” – a species of Pigmy Elephants at Peppara. Kallana has been widely believed as a myth in this part of Kerala. Kani Tribals living in this area have provided information about Kallana to the outside world, and recently well known wild life photographer, Sali Palode was able to capture photos of Kallana.

Ponmudi is an excellent place to visit in Trivandrum district of Kerala

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History of Attukal

Goddess Kannaki is the main deity in  this temple. It is believed that Attukal Bhagavathy is the divine form of Kannaki, an incarnation of Parvathi. The story says that after the destruction of the ancient city of Madurai, Kannaki left the city and headed to Kerala crossing Kanyakumari, and on the way to Kodungallur sojourned at Attukal. 

Attukal Pongala

Pongala festival is a ten day long festival and the pongala offering is on the 9th day. The rituals for Attukal Pongala  begins with the chief priest making fire in the temple hearth known as Pandara Aduppu. This fire will then be passed to the women and the making of pongala starts. After this, the chief priest goes around blessing the devotees and the pongala preparation  by sprinkling holy water and flower petals on them.

During Attukal Pongala, millions of women gather in and around the  temple every year in the month of Kumbham (February-March). They prepare Pongala (the rice cooked along with coconut, ghee, sugar jaggery etc ) in small earthen pots and offer to the goddess, believing  that Goddess Kannaki will be pleased with them and shower them with abundant blessings.

Attukal Bhagavathi Temple is also known as the Sabarimala for women. The Attukal Pongala has also entered the Guinness Book of World Records as it is the largest gathering of women in the world on a single day in a single place offering pongala to the goddess.

Attukal Pongala 2013 will be celebrated on 26th February 2013.

Attukal Temple Contact Details

Attukal Bhagavathy Temple Trust
P.B.No. 5805. Manacaud P.O.,
Thiruvananthapuram – 695 009, Kerala, South India.
Phone: +91-471- 2463130 (Off) 2456456 (Temple)
Fax : +91-471- 2456457
Email : attukal@vsnl.com
Website: www.attukal.org

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St Joseph’s Metropolitan Cathedral or Palayam Church is one of the famous churches in Trivandrum, Kerala.

The church is located in the place called Palayam in Trivandrum and hence is known most popularly as the Palayam Palli.

The Church is under the Latin Archdiocese of Trivandrum.

History of Palayam Church

Palayam Church was constructed in 1873 as a Parish Church.  The purpose was to help the spiritual life of the Catholic people of the place. The church was blessed by the then Bishop of Quilon Most Rev.Eldaphonese OCD and Rev.Fr.Emygdius OCD, the Parish Priest on May 4, 1873.  The church was then extended in the form of a cross in 1912.

The final stage of extension of the the Gothic style facade and construction of  the bell-tower was completed in 1927. The three bells were brought from Belgium and were named Joseph, Xavier, and Aloysius in honour of St. Joseph, the Patron of the Church, St. Francis Xavier, the Apostle of India and Bishop Aloysius Maria Benziger the pioneer Missionary-Bishop of Quilon respectively.

There is a statue of Jesus with hands raised on the very top of the church tower and also the statue of its patron St. Joseph with child Jesus in the middle of the façade. The initial colour of the church was white. during the renovation in 1912, the colour of the church was changed to brick red colour.

Palayam Church at Present

At the present time, the colour of the church has been again changed back to the pure white colour after its renovation in the year 2008. The division of the Diocese of Quilon lead to the formation of the new diocese of Trivandrum on July 1, 1937.  St. Joseph’s Church  thus became the cathedral of the newly formed Trivandrum diocese.

The cathedral was given the status of Metropolitan cathedral in 2000. There are 3 Holy Masses on week days and 6 Holy Masses on Sundays.   There are also novenas to St.Antony, St.Joseph, St.Jude, and Perpetual Succor on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday respectively.

Palayam Church is an important landmark of Trivandrum city.

Palayam Church Contact details

St.Joseph’s Metropolitan Cathedral
Palayam, Trivandrum
Phone: Church: 0471 2320132,
email: sjmcathedral@gmail.com
Website: www.stjosephmetropolitancathedraltrivandrum.org

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