Ochira Kali - Kollam

This festival is one of those events in which you will feel the rustic spirit of Kerala in all its vibrancy. Ochira Kali is held as part of the festival of Ochira Parabrahma temple, Kollam, and commemorates the battle between the kings of Kayamkulam and Ambalappuzha, two erstwhile kingdoms of Kerala. Thousands of people come to see this rural event. Men, both young and old, dressed in colourful attire, step into the waterlogged paddy fields and engage in a dance like mock fight. This is a display of their physical skills as well, with hundereds of onlookers cheering from the sides of the field. Ochira Parabrahma temple is also unique for its having no visible deity. The whole worship here is centered around the concept of Parabrahma or Universal Consciousness. The Ochira Kali will be held on 15 and 16 of June 2008

Thekkady - Idukki

The very sound of the word Thekkady conjures up images of elephants, unending chains of hills and spice scented plantations. In the Periyar forest of Thekkady is one of the finest wildlife reserves in India, and spread across the entire district are picturesque plantations and hill towns that hold great opportunities for treks and mountain walks.
Accessing Idukki by Road: There are frequent buses from Kumily (4 km away) to various tourist centres.
Distance of a few major towns from Thekkady
Kumily: 4 km (15 mts) Sabarimala via Pullumedu: 50 km (2 hrs) Idukki: 65 km
(2 1/2 hrs) Munnar: 106 km (4 hrs) Kumarakom: 128 km (4 hrs) Sabarimala via Erumeli: 134 km (4 hrs) Kodaikanal: 149 km (5 hrs) Alappuzha: 164 km (5 hrs)
Kollam: 220 km (6 hrs) Ooty: 390 km (11 hrs)
us timings from Kumily: Thekkady: 0930, 1045, 1130, 1200, 1230, 1330, 1530 hrs Kumarakom: 0700 hrs Munnar: 0600, 0945, 1330 hrs Ernakulam: 0700, 1330, 1515, 1630,1715, 1930 hrs Thiruvananthapuram (from Kumily): 0840, 0930 hrs; (from Thekkady): 0820 hrs Kottayam: Frequent buses Cherthala: 1415 hrs Idukki: Frequent buses Chennai: 1630, 1900 hrs Pondicherry Madurai: 0115, 0515, 0525, 0645, 0716, 0720, 0730, 0755, 0835, 0940, 1030, 1045, 1120, 1155, 1300, 1315, 1320, 1420, 1515, 1540, 1550, 1650, 1705, 1800, 1840, 1905, 2045 hrs Dindigal: Frequent buses Kodaikanal: There is no direct bus from Kumily to Kodaikanal.
The Dindigal bus takes you to Vathalakundu from where there are frequent
buses to Kodaikanal (149 km) Trichy: 0855, 1045, 1925 hrs Palani: 0930, 1135, 1830, 1850 hrs.

Responsible Tourism comes to Kovalam

The famed beach resort of Kovalam is the second tourist destination in the State to introduce Responsible Tourism from 14-05-2008. Hon'ble Minister for Tourism Mr. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has officially launched the initiative at meeting held in Kovalam.
Kumarakom was the first tourist centre in the State that adopted the Responsible Tourism concept. Thekkady and Wayanad are the other two tourist destinations where Kerala Tourism is launching the project on a trial basis.
The Destination-level Responsible Tourism Committee has taken the initiative to establish a link between local entrepreneurship and the tourism industry. A survey of the consumption pattern of the 100-odd hotels housed in the beach resort was taken up. Based on the findings, steps have been taken to mobilise a part of their needs from the local community.
The plan is to deliver locally available products, especially farm produce, to the hotels, thereby establishing the critical linkage. Kudumbasree units are expected play a key role in the initiative.
Official sources said that an agreement had been reached to supply locally produced vegetables to a couple of hotels in Kovalam as per their needs. In addition, the self-help groups would take steps to make available eco-friendly baskets and paper bags.
Responsible Tourism aims at minimising negative economic, environmental and social impacts, generating greater economic benefits for the local society, and enhancing the well-being of host communities. It also focuses on improving working conditions and access to the industry, involves local people in the decision-making process that affects their lives.
Stakeholders ranging from the local community, tour operators to educational institutions are involved in the initiative. Women under self-help groups have been mobilised to take up vegetable and dairy farming enterprises.

Jews Synagogue - Kochi

This Synagogue is constructed in 1568 and this is the oldest synagogue in the Commonwealth. Destroyed in a shelling during the Portuguese raid in 1662, it was rebuilt two years later by the Dutch. Known for mid-18th century hand painted, willow patterned floor tiles from Canton in China, a clock tower, Hebrew inscriptions on stone slabs, great scrolls of the Old Testament, ancient scripts on copper plates etc. The Synagogue is situated at Mattancherry, Kochi and will be open for 1000 - 1200 hrs; 1500 - 1700 hrs. Closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays

Kerala Travel Mart - 2008

Kerala Travel Mart 2008 (KTM 2008) will be conducted from 21st to 23rd September, 2008 at Le Meridien International Convention Centre, Cochin. The inaugural ceremony will be held in the evening on 20th September. Kerala Travel Mart is the biennial event that showcases Kerala, Asia’s new age destination and India’s tourism Superbrand.
KTM is the only tourism event in the sub-continent that brings together the business fraternity and entrepreneurs behind the tourism products and services of Kerala. It is today the largest gathering designed, planned and scheduled to facilitate meetings involving Buyers, Sellers, Media, Government Agencies and others.

The KTM 2008 is conducted by Kerala Travel Mart Society, which is a permanent institution, constituted and registered as a Society under the Travancore – Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act, 1995.
The Society, has as its objectives, to conduct the Travel Mart in particular, and to become a mechanism for an effective and continuous public/private partnership to facilitate the promotion of tourism in the State of Kerala.

Edathua Annual Feast - Alappuzha

St. George Church, Edathua (24 km from Alappuzha, on the Alappuzha - Thiruvalla Road), established in 1810, the church is dedicated to St. George. It is believed that prayers and offerings at this church help to heal all mental disorders and other ailments. During the annual feast (5th, 6th and 7th of May) pilgrims from all parts of South India, irrespective of caste and creed, visit the church and seek the blessings of the saint.

You may have seen the magnificent churches of Europe and the West, so what is special about this grand old one, set on the banks of the River Pamba in God’s Own Country? The experience will of course be different. The best time to visit here is in April, on the eve of the annual feast of St. George on May 7th. On this day, the image of the saint, decked in gold is carried out in procession to be placed on the dais at the centre of the basilica. Processions and cultural performances are held everyday including dazzling firework displays in the initial as well as during the concluding days. Another highlight of the festival is the swarming of vendors and stalls in the premises of the church, selling all kinds of things from food items to utensils. Devotees from all parts of the state attend the feast which lasts for one month.

Nearest railway station: Thiruvalla, about 15km away.Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 85 km away.

Muzhappilangad Beach - Kannur

Muzhappilangad Beach (15 km from Kannur and 8 km from Thalasseri): Black rocks protect this long, clean beach from the currents of the deep, making its shallow waters a swimmer's paradise. Perhaps this is Kerala's only drive-in beach where you can drive down the entire length of 4 km.