My Travel

**Perfection** · 05-01-2009, 01:37 AM

Aarattupuzha pooram is a pooram of different temples. The nearby temples pooram with elephant procession comes to Aaratupuzha temple. Around 23 gods and goddesses are taken to the temple premises from neighboring temples. On the pooram day (6th April 2009) around 0630 pm the pooram starts with a colourful display of 15 caparisoned elephants. Around 11 pm Triprayar Thevar will be leading the Pooram accompanied by 11 elephants with Panchavadyam. Pancharimelam of 250 artists with
21 elephants will be followed. A good fireworks display will concludes the day.

At around 5 am on 7 April, kootti-ezhunnullippu begins with the grand display of 71 caparisoned elephants. The elephants are paraded at the nearby paddy field - Ezham kandam. At around 0630 am the Aarat at Mandarakkadav (banks of river Bharatapuzha) begins with the holy bath of Pisharadickal bhagavathy and the other gods and goddesses will perform aarat. During the aarat, the presence of Ganga is believed and mass of devotees will take bath to free them from the sins. The festival comes to an end with a farewell function called upacharam. For the 2010 pooram date visit www.aarattupuzhatemple.com

The temple is located 16 km from Thrissur on the Kodungalloor route and buses can be boarded from Shaktan stand. The bus route goes via the famous Koorkanchery and Peruvanum temples. One has to reach the temple by auto as the main road is 2 km away. The whole route is decorated with lights. A couple of buses operates from the temple to Shaktan stand, Thrissur.

Gods and goddesses of the pooram : Aarattupuzha Shasthav (Lord Shiva), Triprayar Thevar (Lord Vishnu), Oorakathamma thiruvadi (Mahalakshmi), Cherppu bhagavathy, Chathakudam shasthav, Anthikavu bhgavathy, Thottipal bhgavathy, Pishatrickal bhgavathy, Edakunni bhgavathy, Ayyunnil bhagavathy, Thaikattussery bhagavathy, Kaduppassery bhagavathy, Choorakkode bhagavathy, Poonilarkavil bhagavathy, Kattu pisharickal bhagavathy, Chakkamkulangara Shasthav, Kodannur Shashtav, Namkulam
Shasthav, Sreemattil Shasthav, Nettishery Shasthav, Kallely Shasthav, Chittichatthakudam Shasthav, Medakulam Shasthav.

The 1427th pooram in 2009 was insured with Oriental insurance company at Rs 4 crore 60 lakh by Cochin Devasom board. The Shashtav's thidambu was beared by gajaraja Thiruvambadi Shivsunder. Aarattupuzha Shasthav (Lord Shiva) is the teacher of Lord Rama. Gold covered glittering caparison have bubbles of different size and crescents on it. Chamayam items are colourful parasols (kuda, mainly red), Chamaram (will be having silvered handle), alavattom (peacock feather fans) and bells for the elephant's legs and neck. The cloth torches (thiri vetti) used for the elephant procession will be lighted using specially prepared coconut oil to minimise smoke.

The 4 hour long, 250 artists pancharimelam is lead by the maestro Peruvanam Kuttan marar, assisted by Kelath Aravindhshan, Peruvanam Satheesan, Peruvanam Prakashan, Shivan and Shankara Narayanan. The instruments used are kurum kuzhal, elethalam, veekam chenda, maddalam, thimila, kombu, edakka etc.

**yothar** · 05-19-2009, 06:32 PM

Mysore - The Royal city famous for silk and sandalwood. Wodeyars ruled Mysore state from 1399 until the independence of India in 1947.

The main tourist attractions in the city are Mysore Palace, St Philomena's church, Sri JayaChamarajendra Art Gallery, Clock tower, Sri Chamarajendra Zoological garden, Chamundi hills & Nandi statue (13 km), the Lalitha Mahal palace, Rail museum, Srirangapatna and the Brindavan gardens.

St Philomena's church : Presently St Joseph's cathedral, St Philomena's church Mysore, is one of the highest Gothic churches (55 m) in India. It is 3 km from the city. The cross shaped church was designed by Dally, a French similar to Germany's Cologne cathedral. It has high vaulted ceiling. The church can accommodate 800 people and having French stained glass windows depicting scenes from the birth of Christ, the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection and the Ascension of Christ.

The church has an underground chamber below the main marble altar having a sleeping posture statue of St. Philomena from France, as well as a relic of the saint obtained from Peter Pisani, Apostolic Delegate of the East Indies in 1926. The relic is preserved at the centre of a beautiful shield. There is also a statue of Christ which lies beyond the altar.

Annual feast is on 11 August. No inside photography. There is daily Masses in English, Kannada and Tamil. The church is open from 5 am to 6.30 pm.

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Saint Philomena is a saint and martyr of the Roman Catholic Church. She is said to have been a young Greek princess martyred in the 4th century. The remains of a teenage girl no older than 14 were discovered on May 24, 1802 in the Catacombs of Saint Priscilla at the Via Salaria in Rome.

Mysore Palace will be lighted from 7 to 8 pm on Sundays. The palace was commissioned in 1897, and its construction was completed in 1912. It was designed by Henry Irwin, a British architect. The palace has majestic stained glass Royal wedding hall, Silver doors and cannons. Palace is a three storied stone structure, with marble domes and a 145 ft five-storied tower. The palace is surrounded by a large garden.

Palace is the venue for the famous Mysore Dasara festival, during which leading artists perform on a stage set up in the palace grounds. On the tenth day of the festival Vijaya Dashami, a parade with caparisoned elephants and other floats originate from the palace grounds. It is celebrated in September / October.

The festival celebrates and commemorates the victory of the great goddess Durga (Chamundeshwari), after she slew the demon, Mahishasura, and thereby, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil according to Hindu mythology. Palace is illuminated with more than 10,000 lights during the Dasara festival.

Ambavilasa or Diwan e Khas : This was used by the king for private audience and is one of the most spectacular rooms. Entry to this opulent hall is through an elegantly carved rosewood doorway inlaid with ivory that opens into a shrine to Ganesha. The central nave of the hall has ornately gilded columns, stained glass ceilings, decorative steel grills, and chandeliers with fine floral motifs, mirrored in the pietra dura mosaic floor embellished with semi-precious stones.

Gombe Thotti (Doll’s Pavilion) : Entry to the palace is through the Gombe Thotti or the Doll’s Pavilion, a gallery of
traditional dolls from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The pavilion also houses a fine collection of Indian and European sculpture and ceremonial objects like a wooden elephant howdah (frame to carry passengers) decorated with 84 kilograms of gold.

Kalyana Mantapa : The Kalyana Mantapa or marriage hall is a grand octagonal-shaped pavilion with a multi-hued
stained glass ceiling with peacock motifs arranged in geometrical patterns. The entire structure was wrought in Glasgow, Scotland. The floor of the Mantapa continues the peacock theme with a peacock mosaic, designed with tiles from England. Oil paintings, illustrating the royal procession and Dasara celebrations of bygone years, make the walls more splendid.

The palace complex includes twelve Hindu temples. The oldest of these was built in the 14th century, while the most recent was built in 1953. Main temples are Someshvara Temple, dedicated to God Lord Shiva and Lakshmiramana Temple, dedicated to God Lord Vishnu.

The palace armoury collection is of different types of arms used by the members of the royal family, which includes lances, cutlasses, pistols, etc.

Entry is from 10 am to 5 pm with a fee of Rs 20 (Rs 200 for foreigners). No photography inside the Palace. Maharaja's residential museum is in the same compund. Entry Rs 20 with no photography.

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**Perfection** · 07-24-2009, 03:52 PM

Jagan Mohan Palace & Sri Jaya Chamarajendra Art gallery (near the City Bus Stand) is located behind the Mysore palace.
Timings : 830 am to 530 pm, Rs 20 entry with no inside photography.

Sri Chamarajendra Zoological gardens (Timings : 830 am to 530 pm except Tuesdays, Rs 30 entry, Still camera Rs 10, Video Rs 150). The animals include Wild boar, giraffe, monkey, chimpanzee, langaur, zebra, Hippopotamus, sloth bear, Rhinoceros, deer, antelope, elephant, African elephant, Gaur, crocodile, Lion and a variety of birds viz Peacock, cuckatoo, parrot, love birds, crane, swan, pelican, ostrich and other water birds. Snake park has Cobra, viper, python, star tortoise, poisonous sea snake and King cobra.

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Bus No 201 from City Bus Stand (CBS) goes via Zoological gardens to Chamundi hills (19 km). The AC bus travel costs Rs 12. From the top there is Mahishasura statue and a temple with high gopuram. A 400 steps climb down take one to the famous 4.8 m tall Nandi (Bull) statue.

From the junction after the gate at base of the Chamundi hill, take the right side road to reach a helipad. Cross it to reach the Lalitha Mahal Palace hotel (2 km). One can stay at Lalitha Mahala Palace Hotel at Rs 3000 per night.

Chamundi hills & Lalitha Mahal palace Video

Bus No 303 from City Bus Stand (CBS) goes via Mysore Railway museum (Entry Rs 5, Rs 10 for Camera) to Brindavan gardens (19 km). The dam, dancing fountains, boating are the main attractions. The garden will be lighted in the evenings.

Srirangapatna (18 km) is famed for the bravery of Tipu Sulthan, the 17 th century Muslim king who fought against the British. Bus No 313 & 316 from City Bus Stand (CBS) goes to Srirangapatna, Tipu Sultan's capital. Get down near the Sriranganatha swamy temple, visit the temple (life size golden deities, no inside photography) and the near by Colonel Bailey's dungeon.

Sriranganatha swamy temple

Colonel Bailey's dungeon

Walk about 250 m to reach the place where Tipu Sulthan's body was found (Water gate leading to Cauvery river).

A further 500 m walk take one to the Tipu's Jamia masjid.

**Perfection** · 07-31-2009, 03:28 PM

The road goes through two fort gates (Bangalore gate) to the bus stand. Cross the main road, the Summer palace is a kilometre away (Entry : Rs 5, no inside photography).

Summer palace (Dariya Daulat Bagh), the 1784 teak pillared palace has rare paintings of Tipu Sulthan and war scene murals on its walls. Further the road leads to Gumbaz - Hyder Ali & Tipu Sulthan's tombs (2 km). The river Cauvery bifurcates to two streams one km away from the Gumbaz at Sangam. One can travel back to city from Gumbaz by Bus no 316.

Summer Palace, Srirangapatna

Gumabz - Tomb of Tipu Sulthan : Video

Ranganathittu bird sanctuary is 3 km away from Srirangapatna.

Museum of art & archaeology and Folklore museum are located at Manasa Gangotri (Mysore University campus near Mysore railway station).

How to Reach

Kozhikode, in Kerala is well connected with Mysore. Travel time is 5 to 5.5 hour costing Rs 127 in LSFP (KSRTC) and Rs 147 in Super Express bus.

The NH 212 from Kozhikode goes via Thamarassery and climbs to Lakkidi via 9 hair pin curves. The route further goes via Kalpetta, Sulthan Bathery and Muthanga (wildlife sanctuary). A kilometer further is the Karnataka forest check post and the road goes via forested route for around 20 km. Evening time is the best to watch Deers and elephants when they cross the road. Don't get down from the vehicles as this is not a picnic area. The next village is Gundulpet, from where one can visit the famous Bandipur National park (20 km), Muthumalai National Park (35 km), Gudallur and the hill station Ooty (80 km). The road from Gundulpet leads to Mysore via Nanjangud (23 km from Mysore, famous for the Nanjangudeswara temple and chariot festival).

Wayanad Video

**Perfection** · 07-31-2009, 03:30 PM

Tourist spots around Mysore

The tourist sopts around Mysore are Shivsamudram falls, Hogenakkal falls, Somathpur, Sravanabelagola, Belur and Halebeedu.

Belur is 32 km from Hassan and is famous for the Chennakesava temple and the Veeranarayan temple. Both temples are located in a walled temple complex one km from bus stand. The Chennakesava temple has 60 large ornate sculptures. Belur is 163 km from Mysore via Hassan.

Channakeshava temple tower

Channakeshava temple

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Halebidu is famous for the Hoysala temple and Archaeological museum. It is 17 km from Belur. The 32 km Halebidu - Hassan route has Merrigold fields and windmills. Video

**Perfection** · 08-02-2009, 11:47 AM

Somathpur Hoysala temple is 32 km from Srirangapatna via Bannur). On the route, one can see sugarcane fields and sugar processing. Somnathpur is 8 km from Bannur and the route is less frequented by buses.

Somnathpur temple video

Sravanabelagola (85 km from Mysore). From Srirangapatna, reach Channarayapatna via Krishanrajapet (60 km). Sravanabelagola is 11 km away. Sravanabelagola is a major Jain pilgrim centre where Gomateswara statue of 300 BC (17 m high) reached by 640 steps. Head annoying ceremony is celebrated once in 12 years. Next is due in 2018.

A 52 km road journey is to Hassan via Channarayapatna. Hassan city is where Master Control Facility is located, by which satellites are controlled from earth.

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Kollegal (60 km from Mysore) - Chamrajanagar - Satyamangalam - Coimbatore is the forested area where late Veerappan poached hundreds of elephants and sandalwood. The famous Sivasamudram falls is 18 km from Kollegal.

From Kollegal another forested route goes via Hanur - Anthiyur - Bhavani - Erode. From where one can visit Hogenakkal waterfalls (2 hour travel from Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu).

**Perfection** · 08-02-2009, 11:48 AM

Thrissur Pooram is called pooram of all poorams. It attracts huge congregation of people and more than 50 elephants to the city. Pooram day falls in the mid April to mid May period (Pooram day in the Malayalam month of Medom). The venue of the Pooram is the Vadakkunatha temple's thekkinkadu madian. In 2009, it was on 3 May. By 12 noon there was a pooram of 15 caparisoned elephants near the temple gate. A grand panchavadyam (a combination of five percussion and wind instruments) display of more than 250 artists were performed at around 1500 h in the presence of 15 caparisoned elephants. A sample fireworks display with huge colored umbrellas foretell the grand display of fireworks in the next day early morning 3 am.

Kudamattom is the main event of the Pooram day begins at around 4.30 pm. The temple premises will be an ocean of humans. Devotees form two groups (Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi) of 15 caparisoned elephants each, come with a number of colored parasols. The raising of Aalavattom and venchamaram will increase the spirit. The groups display these colored parasols in their turn with competitive spirit. At around 6.30 pm the event comes to an end and the crowd retreats to home. The next main item is the 3 am grand display of fireworks.

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**Perfection** · 08-03-2009, 03:17 PM

St. Angelo's Fort was built in 1505 by Dom Francisco de Almeida, the first Portuguese Viceroy of India and is on the Arabian sea about 3 km from Kannur town. The fort changed hands several times. In 1663 the Dutch captured it and sold it to the Arakkal Royal family in 1772. The British conquered it in 1790 and transformed it into one of their major military stations on the Malabar coast. The fort is in Cannanore cantonment area and open from 8 am to 6 pm daily.

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**Perfection** · 08-03-2009, 03:36 PM

Marad massacre

Special court in Kozhikode on January 15, 2009 sentenced 62 of the 63 convicts to life in the May 2003 Marad carnage case. The case relates to the murder of eight Hindu Arayan fishermen by an armed mob at Marad beach on the night of May 2, 2003. One of the assailants (Muslim) was also killed during the attack.

There is direct bus from city to Marad beach. The area has still armed police presence and patrolling. Suspected/ wanderers will be questioned by the locals and the police.

Marad Beach video Marad temple video

**Perfection** · 08-03-2009, 04:50 PM

Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours (Puthan Pally) is the tallest Gothic church in Asia. The foundation stone was laid on 21 December 1929, by Mar Francis Vazhappilly, the late Bishop of Thrissur. Has an area of 2,300 m2, it has soaring belfries (42.672 m height) at the entrance, double storeyed aisles all along the nave and transepts, and eleven altars, five on either side of the main one. Its exuberant interior decorations include fine specimens of murals, images of saints and scenes from the scriptures. The Bible tower (inaugurated on January 7, 2007) of 79.248 m height, located at the back side of the church has a lift going up to 48.768 m, from where viewers have to climb the steps to the top.

Location : Near the Vadakkunnatha temple, Thrissur, Kerala, India.

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