My Travel

**Perfection** · 02-15-2011, 07:33 AM

Kanathur Nalvar Bhoothasthanam theyyam (20 km from Kasaragod, types of theyyam performed are Panjuruli, Bamberiyan, Manichi, Kundamkulayan, Raktheswari, Ilayor Daivam). Kanathur / Kuttikol buses are available from Kasargod bus stand.

Theyyan is an ancient temple art form. The dance will last for 3 to 4 hour.

Date : Dec 27 to 3 Jan every year.

**Perfection** · 02-15-2011, 07:57 AM

Theyyam
Theyyam is a popular folklore dance form performed in Hindu temples of Malabar region of Kerala. This dance is known as pootham in Palakkad district, thira in Kozhikode district, theyyam in Kannur and Bhutham in Kasaragod. The performer is mainly from any of the communities - Vannan, Malayan, Munnuttan, Anjuttan, Velan, Koppalan, Chingathan etc.

Theyyam is the local form of God. During the 'theyyam kettiyadal', devotees present their problems to the performer who is supposed to have divine powers. He will suggest solution and guide them with advice. This is known as 'uriyadal'.

The main types of theyyam are Paradevatha, Gulikan, Kali, Kuttichathan, Muthappan, Kadavankottu makkam, Kathivannur veeran theyyam, Bappiriyan theyyam, Khandakarnan theyyam, Mari theyyam etc. The dressing, head gear and the makeup will vary according to the type of Theyyam. It is a vigourous dance lasting for 3 to 4 hour.

The face make up is done using rice powder, lamp black, turmeric powder etc. A red dress over a number of clothes, a head gear of varying shape and size decorated with tender coconut leaves, a number of ornaments and big sound producing anklets.

Kanathur theyyam

**Perfection** · 02-27-2011, 11:50 AM

Areeppara falls is on the Thiruvambady-Anakampoyil road.

Anakampoyil is located 50 km from Kozhikode, Kerala. Anakampoyil is the base to the Vellarimala trek (9 km steep trek from Muthappan puzha via Olichuchattom falls). Vellarimala is in Wayanad and is more easily accessible from Chooramala by trek. Vellarimala is a scenic place and is a popular trekking area.

**Perfection** · 03-08-2011, 01:08 AM

Nooranad Padanilam kettukazhcha

The temple is located in Alappuzha district of Kerala. Mahasivarathri is celebrated in Nooranad Parabrahma temple located 5 km from Charummoodu junction and is on the Kayamkulam - Pandalam road. pada means "war" and nilam means "land". The kettukazhcha started at around 5 pm. A number of twin bull effigies are pulled on wooden chariots to the temple by the devotees from 13 karas of Nooranand-Palamel revenue villages. In addition, a number of 'nercha kaalas' also participate. Elephant procession and panchavadyam begins at around 4 pm.

Scholars believe that the tradition of Kettukazhcha has its roots in Buddhism which was prevalent in the Kerala during the 3rd century. The Tattammunna kara's kettukazhcha was the tallest 'kala' with a height of 27 meter. The rituals & programmes end only at midnight.

Nearest rail head is Kayamkulam (17 km away). 7 km from Pandalam. Mahasivarathri was celebrated on 02 March 2011.

Nooranad Padanilam kettukazhcha Videos

Video 1 >> Video 2 >> Video 3 >> Video 4

**Perfection** · 03-09-2011, 06:06 AM

Kushalnagar Travel
The6.10 am Kutta bus from Manathavady (Rs 19) takes one to Kutta at 7 am. At 7 am, from the Tholpetty (Kerala - Karnataka border), there is a bus to Madikeri via Gonikoppal, Virajpet. I boarded this bus from Kutta at 7.05 am and get down at Gonikoppal at 8.15 am for traveling to Kushalnagar (Rs 21, 34 km). The road was not in good condition and the dust entered the bus. The bus was fitted with two TVs and I watched an English movie. The route was through the acres of coffee plantations which were bathed in white due to blooming.

At 9 am from Gonikoppal, I got a Siddapura bus named Ashoka. The route was via Tata estate at Pollibetta and the bus reached Siddapura at 9.50 am. The popular Orange Country luxury resort is 5.5 km away. The Dubare forest (15 km), the Cauvery Nisargadhama garden (2.5 km) and Harangi dam (9 km) are near to Kushalnagar.

I got a Kushalnagar bus from Siddapura at 9.50 am and reached Kushalnagar at 11 am (30 km, Rs 16). From there I hired an auto rickshaw to the Namdroling monastery, which is popularly known as Golden temple (Rs 30, one way, 5 km).

Namdroling monastery / Golden temple

Losar - The Tibettan New Year - was celebrated on 5 Feb 2011 . It is celebrated with great pomp in various monasteries. The main attraction was the exhibition of long picture scrolls called thangas and the masked drama presented by monks (cham).

The monastery has 4 temples, huge gold painted Buddha statues, big drums, a number of high stupas (19) and prayer wheels. The monastery has a population of around 2500 of which, 800 are student nuns.A large prayer wheel is kept in a room near the stupas. The prayer wheels containing prayer has to be rotated in the clockwise direction prayerfully. A high number of Circumbulation of the stupas accomplish a wish.

The fluttering of the colorful prayer flags with prayers and pictures were very attractive.

At 2 pm the prayer start at the Golden temple with around 500 Buddhist monks participating. Prayers are chanted from palm manuscripts with the beating of the drums and other Tibetan musical instruments. The monks sip the hot Tibetan tea poured into their cups during the prayer.

Eucalyptus leaves were burnt during the prayers create a smoke cover.

I completed the photo session cum visit of the Golden temple by 2.30 pm and reached Kushalnagar by auto. I enjoyed a vegetarian lunch from Greenland Restaurant near the bus stand at Rs 40 (Ph : 08276 274445). I boarded the bus at 3 pm and reached Madikeri at 4 pm (Rs 22, 32 km).

Golden temple videos

Video 1 >> Video 2 >> Prayer wheels & stupas >> Losar prayer & Tibettan musical instruments

**Perfection** · 03-09-2011, 06:06 AM

Coorg is a Coffee land in Kodagu district of Karnataka with Madikeri as it's headquarters.

Madikeri fort is located near the bus station. Now it was the time for a quick visit to Madikeri fort and the small Government museum with impressive exhibits displayed in a British era church and the nearby hero stones. The two elephant statues will tell the past glory of the fort.

Fort video

From there I reached the ancient Omkareswara temple by walk. The temple has 5 golden domes and a temple pond. The temple wall has painted statues of peacock and lion on both sides of the entrance.

Temple video

The Raja seat garden cum view point was further 1 km away but was not impressive. This is called Raja’s seat because the Coorg Raja’s were known to visit spot together with their consorts to watch the beauty of nature. The mini toy train trip were enjoyed by kids (Rs 10).

The Royal tombs (Gadhige) were 2 km away from the town, so I hired an auto at Rs 40 return. From here the road leads to town's famous Abbi falls (further 6 km away). As there is no bus, one has to depend on private vehicles for the visit.

Raja seat & Royal tombs video

Abbi falls

The other tourist spots near Madikeri are Talacauvery, Bisle Ghat, Erpu falls and Nagarhole sanctuary. Tadiandamol trek is also popular, as it is the highest peak in the Kodagu region located near Virajpet.

Erpu falls

Travel

I boarded Virajpet bus at 5.50 pm and reached at 7 pm (32 km, Rs 22). I took supper from Kingsway Restaurant near the bus stand (Ph : 0821 2543777). I got 8.30 pm Kannur bus and it took 30 minutes for the down hill journey traversing hairpin curves. A further 1 hour travel to reach Iritty. One more hour to Kannur (11 pm, covering 84 km at Rs 52). Then it was a long wait for the 0030 h bus going to Karippur Airport via Kozhikode. It reached Kozhikode at 3 am.

Madikeri is well connected to Kannur via Iritty, Manathawady via Kutta, Tholpetty, Mysore via Kushalnagar.

**Perfection** · 03-11-2011, 03:29 PM

Pariyanampatta Pooram

The Pariyanampatta Bhagavathy temple is located 15 km from Ottapalam in Palakkad district of Kerala. The temple is located 40 km from Palakkad at Kattukulam. It is a 7 day long festival. The Pooram festival is marked by the traditional folk and classical musical performances like the Tholpavakoothu (shadow puppet play during night), Pootham, Thira, Kalamezhuthupattu (Holy design making and song at night), Karivela, Kaalavela (bull motif spectacle), Kuthiravela (horse motif spectacle), Kathakali, Chakyarkoothu. Ceremonial procession of 21 caparisoned elephants and the traditional musical performances are the main attraction on the pooram day.

The Chavittu kali by the local Tribals singing local dialect songs started beneath the Banyan tree by 1 pm. The dancers move in circle singing songs up to 5 pm. Now the Pooram started with the Pancharimelam performance in front of the caparisoned elephants.

There were 40 twin bulls (kaala in Malayalam) and a chariot were placed near the temple. Few were single bull kettukazcha. The devotees played the kaalas in their turn with great spirit. The kaala vela started at around 5 pm and was the most interesting part of the festival. Finally the high chariot was taken for circulation.

Event Date : 19 Feb 2011 (The pooram day in month of Kumbam according to the Malayalam calendar)

Videos

Pooram >> Chavittukali >> Kaalavela >> Chariot

**Perfection** · 03-24-2011, 02:22 AM

Thira maholtsavam at Sree Pavittamithal Bhagavathy temple, Civil Station, Kozhikode on 17 Feb 2011.

Video

Woodpecker

They eat beetles, ants, termites, spiders and caterpillars. A variety of woodpeckers are found in nature. The largest woodpecker was the Imperial woodpecker
having 58 cm in length (extinct). They lay 2 to 5 white eggs and are incubated for 11 to 14 days before the chicks are born. This woodpecker in this video has around 16 cm in length.

**Perfection** · 04-09-2011, 01:37 PM

Ettumanoor Mahadevar temple Aarat

Aarat & Ezharaponnana Darshan (Seven and half elephants made of 13 kg gold) at Ettumanoor Mahadevar temple on the Thiruvathira day - 2011 Mar 14 - at midnight (on 8th and 10th day). The temple has very good mural painting on its outer and inner walls. The temple is 11 km from Kottayam town in Kerala, India.

Videos

Aarat >> Peacock dance >> Aarat & Panchavadyam

**Perfection** · 04-10-2011, 05:24 AM

Jainamedu Chandranath Swamy temple: 500 years old Jainamedu Jain temple is at Vadakkumthara, 2 km from Palakkad junction Railway station. At a jaina house here famous Malayalam poet Kumaranasan wrote his poem 'Veenapoovu' (The fallen flower).

Jainamedu Video

Palakkad fort

It is one of the best preserved forts in Kerala. This square shaped granite fort with an area of 15 acre was built in 1766 and is also called Tipu's fort. It was built in 1790 by Hyder Ali. There is a small Anganeya (Hanuman) temple inside the fort and it attracts a number of devotees. The fort has moat filled with water and a draw bridge used as entrance. Later the draw bridge has been converted to a permanent one. There is a large ground between the Fort and the Palakkad Town hall, known as Kota Maidanam (Fort Grounds). The fort has two stepped wells, a martyr's column,village office and a sub jail. The fort has strong bastions (nine in number) and thick/high fort walls able to face strong cannon fire.

Timing : 10 am to 5 pm. No entry fee.

Palakkad fort video

Thiruvalathur temple : This ancient temple is located on the banks of beautiful Bharatapuzha river, 10 km from Palakkad in the Chittoor road. It is famous for its grand architectural beauty and sculptural designs. The temple complex is in 2 hectares of land protected by huge stone walls. In the monsoon when the rain water floods the interior of the temple there are special devices to control. It is a shrine where the powerful Goddess “Mahishasuramardhini” and the quiet and peaceful Goddess “Annapurnneswari” are enshrined together. While the Annapurneswari idol is made of stone and that of Mahishasura Mardini is made from the wood of the jackfruit tree. The inner hall has beautiful murals adorning them, depicting scenes from Devi Bhagavatham and Ramayanam. Another attraction is a big Mizhavu (percussion instrument used for Chakyarkoothu and Koodiyattom).

Thiruvalathur temple video

Kollengode (20 km from Palakkad) : The Palace is now an Ayurvedic reosrt - Kovilakam - and the entry is restricted to guests only. The architecture of the building is worth visiting. From near the Kovilakam bus stop, one can get bus to the ancient Thirukurissi Vishnu temple, 3 km away. Govindamala can be trekked from here during the Thaipooyam day (Jan). From here I reached Nenmara by bus. Night halt in a lodge.