My Travel

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Guruvayur Sree Krishna temple is a major Hindu pilgrim centre in Kerala. Elephant race was celebrated on 26 Feb 2010 at 3 pm from Manjulal (banyan tree) to the temple. Of the 34 temple elephants, only 5 were participated actively in the race with their mahouts. Gopi kannan become the race winner.

Guruvayur temple is 30 km from Thrissur/Pattambi via Kunnamkulam (NH 17, 7 km). No photography inside the temple. Non Hindus are not permitted to the temple. The temple has two ponds for bathing. The temple has 64 elephants and are kept 2 km from the temple at Punnathoorkotta.

Guruvayur temple video >> Temple video >> Getting ready for the elephant race >> Elephant race video

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Chinakathoor Pooram : The most colourful pooram of Kerala was celebrated on 28 Feb 2010 at Chinakathoor Kali temple, 4 km from Ottapalam on the Palakkad road. The pooram activities begin at 2 pm and there was no vehicular traffic on the temple road up to 7 pm.

Kuthira vela is the main attraction. 'Kuthira' means horse, 'vela' means festival in Malayalam language. More than 17 Kettukazcha (effigies of horses) were carried by the public to the temple. The horses (Kuthira) are more than 2 metre high fitted on a wooden base. During Kurhiravela, public throw the kuthira air for 3 to 4 times. Don't forget to carry a dust mask to witness the program closely.



The other attractions of the pooram are kavadis, chariot, Kari vela (person will blacken the face with charcoal), Panchavadyam, Caparisoned elephants, thira, theyyam, vellattu, pootham, kaalavela, Aandi vedan, brass band, chendamelam, Tholpavakoothu, Kubhamkali and other dance forms of Kerala.



Chinakathur pooram video >> Theyyam dance >> Kuthira vela 1 >> Kuthira vela 2 >> Kuthira vela 3 >> Pooram

Kavadi - Theyyam dances

Fight during the Chinakathur pooram

Due to wide active pubic participation in this pooram small fights are common. Including youth consumes alcohol. View the fight during kavadi dance in this video.

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Peruvanum Pooram : The festival was celebrated on 25 March 2010 at 5 pm in the Mahadeva temple located near Cherppu. This ancient temple has good sculptures in the Sanctum Sanctorium. I reached the temple by bus (Rs 7) from Shaktan stand, Thrissur. Caparisoned elephants and 3 hour long Panchavadyam were the prime attractions. Anachamayam was exhibited in front of the temple. By 11.30 pm the Panchavadyam by Chottanikkara Vijayan Marar started. On 26th 3 am Pandimelam was performed. At 4.30 am, the climax of the pooram, Pancharimelam by Peruvanum Kuttan Marar's group.

Pooram Videos : Video 1 >> Video 2 >> Anachamayam >> Video 3 >> Pancharimelam 1 >> Pancharimelam 2

Pancharimelam is performed inside the temple while Pandimelam is performed outside the temple preimses. Chenda, Ilathalam , kombu and kuzhal are performed during this classical percussion performance. Pancharimelam is percussion ensemble lasts more than 4 hour performed in temples of Central Kerala.

Pancharimelam can be witnessed during the temple festivals of Peruvanam, Arattupuzha, Kuttanellur, Edakkunni, Oorakam, Cherpu, Thaikkattussery, Chakkamkulam, Thottippal, Chathakkudam, Pidikkapparambu, Thrissur, Guruvayur, Thripunithura and Koodalmanikyam.

Arattupuzha Pooram : Arattupuzha Pooram is the oldest and the most spectacular of the pooram festivals of Kerala. Pooram was celebrated on 28 March 2010 from 5 pm onwards at Arattupuzha Sree Sastha temple (3000 year old). 23 deities of various temples participate in the Pooram. The deity Sastha was brought to the venue for the Pooram in a procession around 6 pm accompanied by 15 caparisoned elephants. Thiruvambadi Sivasundar carried the idol. Temple is 14 km from Thrissur.

Percussion ensembles, led by Peruvanam Kuttan Marar, drummed up excitement. More than 200 percussionists such as Kelath Aravindakshan, Pazhuvil Raghunath, Peruvanam Satheesan, Peruvanam Sivan and Peruvanam Prakasan participated in the Panchari Melam.

After the pooram (elephant parade) fireworks followed. On 29th at 5 am, 61 caparisoned elephants were present at Mandram kadavu for the Kootiezhunullippu (Aarat).

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Nenmara Vallangai vela : The Bhagavathy temple is located near Nenmara at Nellikulangara. The annual festival is celebrated on 3 April 2010 at 4 pm with 2 sets of 11 caparisoned elephants from Nenmara and Vallangai desoms. At around 5 pm, there was fine display of fireworks from the two sides. The two illuminated towers were excellent, displaying all the rainbow colors. At 3.30 am on 4 April, there were fine display of fireworks for 2 hour duration, Costing more than Rs 1 corore. Tens of toudands of witnessed the firworks display after a long wait in the night. The sound and dust levels are very high, so take proper precautions.

Nenmara is 4 km from Pollachi and 26 km from Palakkad ( Rs 15) on the Pollachi- Thrissur road. Nennmara has good connections from Thrissur and Pollachi. Kozhikode - Palakkad is 140 km (3.5 hour).



Videos : Illumination >> Fireworks

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Nelliyampathy is a fascinating hill station at a height of 1752 m. At least 10 hair pin curves has to be negotiated to reach the evergreen forest hill station. Seerthakund view point is the main attraction other than the Orange plantations. The Seerthakund-Kollengode trek is the delight of trekkers. The charming Pothundy dam site is 6 km from Nennmara.



The popular hill station Nelliyampathy is 30 km from Nenmara. Nelliyampathy bus leaves from Palakkad at 0430, 0530, 0700, 0930, 1230, 1330 and 1700 h.

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Thrissur Pooram is called 'the pooram of all poorams (festivals)". It is celebrated in mid-April to mid-May according to the Malayalam calendar. The festival activities begin on the Pooram day with pakal pooram of 15 caparisoned elephants followed by the famous Elanjithara melam (Panchavadyam).

The main features of the pooram are these decorated elephants with their nettipattam (decorative golden headdress), beautifully crafted kolam, decorative bells and ornaments etc. The kudamattom at around 4 pm - raising of colourful parasols - is the main attraction. The fireworks display in the early hours of the next day (4.30 am), rival shows held anywhere in the world.



Pandimelam is performed outside the temple premises.

Pandimelam 1 >> Pandimelam video 2

Fireworks

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Kanchipuram is a temple city 65 km from Chennai in Tamil Nadu, India. It is also famous for the silk sarees.

I reached Kanchipuram bus stand at 4 pm and hired a bicycle from a nearby shop. I visited the Kamakshi Amman Kovil having a golden dome and a golden gopuram. Then I visited the Ekambareshwara temple having an impressive high towering gopuram and a 540 pillared hall. From there I reached the Kialashanatha temple, 2.5 km away. Then I returned to the bus stand for visiting nearby Vaikunda Prumal temple.

From this temple, Varada raja Perumal temple was 3 km away. This Vaishnavite temple is the main temple of Kanchipuram with towering gopurams, 100 pillared hall with single stone carved chains (Entry Rs 10, Video Rs 100) at the four corners and a temple pond. It will be worth to visit the temple during festival season.

On the return journey to Chennai at 7 pm, the bus passes near the Rajiv Gandhi Memorial at Perumbadur, 30 km from Chennai.

Watch the temple videos

Kanchi Kamakshi Amman temple is one of the three holy places of Sakthi worship in India, the others being Madurai and Varanasi. The temple in the present form was built by the Cholas during 14th century A.D.



Ekambaranathar temple is an ancient temple of Kanchipuram, and has been renovated by the Pallavas, the Cholas and the Vijayanagar Kings. The 57 metre high Rajagopuram is one of the tallest towers in South India. This temple has five spacious corridors (prakrams) and a beautiful 1,000 pillar hall (540 actually in number).



Sacred Mango tree : The 2,501 year old mango tree inside the temple has 4 branches each yielding different varieties of mangoes.

Kailashnatha temple

Kailasanathar Temple
This Pallava temple was constructed in the 8th century and has an attractive panel depicting Shiva and Parvathi in the midst of one of their innumerable dance competitions. The architecture of this temple resembles the Shore Temple at Mamallapuram.



Vaikunda Perumal temple

Vaikuntam Perumal Temple
This is one of the important Vishnu temples which was built by Pallava King Nandivarman Pallavamalla in the 7th century A.D. Numerous inscriptions are found in this temple relating to the wars between the Pallavas and Challukyas. The presiding deity Lord Vishnu is depicted in sitting, standing and reclining postures.

Varadaraja Perumal temple

Varadarajar temple, Kanchipuram near Chennai is a massive and impressive edifice. The riders on horseback, beautiful figures of Rathi and Manmatha, exquisite temple jewellery are other notable features. This temple provides a glimpse of a 16th century pillared pavilion with an exuberant workmanship.

Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, this temple was built by the Vijaynagar kings and the presiding deity is Devarajaswamy. The 100-pillared hall of this temple proves the mastery of the sculptors of Vijayanagara in fine artists. The ornamental rings carved out of a single stone in a chain at the four corners are the special features of the hall and the figures of the God of Love and his consort astride a swan and a parrot.

The annual Garudothsavam (May - June) is most colourful and draws thousands of devotees.