Overview

Munnar is situated near the Anaimudi Peak, the highest peak in the Western Ghats at an altitude of 2,695 meters (8,842 feet) from the sea level. Munnar's sprawling tea gardens with tall trees jutting out of sharp cliffs, and a plethora of wildflowers in a riot of colors, make it look like a painter's canvas. Drive around and explore the points of sightsee. Watch little wisps of clouds drift past you and shroud the tea estate that was conspicuous only a while ago. All along you will be serenaded by the sound of gurgling brooks or waterfalls seeping through narrow rocks. Pause on the way, maybe to buy farm fresh carrots from a hawker or small souvenir shops selling wooden artifacts and a range of authentic spices. Photographic opportunities abound here.

History

Munnar's history goes back to the period of British rule in India. The hill station was developed to cultivate tea plants by British planters. It all began in the 1870s when J.D Munro, a European, realized on a hunting safari the agriculture potential of the land. He then leased about 580 sq. kilometers of the land in 1877 from the Maharaja of Poonjar who owned the area. At that time the tract was stark wild, greatly unexplored and covered with thick forest full of wild animals. The efforts of Munro in conjunction with that of the H.G Turner of the Madras Civil Service led to the foundation of the North Travancore Land Planting and Agricultural Society, whose members developed their estates in various parts of the high ranges.

The first cultivation was taken up in 1877 by A.W Turner near Devikulam Lake. An array of crops such as coffee, cinchona, sisal and cardamom were tried out on this ground before settling for tea - a crop best suited to the region. The first tea plantation was started by A.H Sharp on a 50 acre clearing in a dense jungle at Parvathi, now a part of Sevenmullay estate. The concession area that was bought from the local maharaja went into the hands of Muir and Co. in 1893-95, which later became James Finlay & Co. In a few years, the Kannan Devan Hills Produce Company was formed to manage the estate of Finlay & Co. Many years later, much after India attained independence, the Tata Group - an Indian business conglomerate - collaborated with the Finlay's to form the Tata-Finlay group. However, in April 2005, the tea estates owned by the Tatas were transferred to a new company called Kannan Devan Hills Produce Co. Pvt. Ltd. Today the same group looks after 16 estates spread across 8600 hectares.

For a long time in the 1900s, tea produced in Munnar was transported to Top Station by a 24-inch railway line and further shipped from there by ropeway to Bottom Station. And the tea leaves would subsequently be sent to Bodinayakanur for shipping across the world. Though, the ropeway linking Top Station with Bottom Station between 1900 and 1969 is no longer functional. For much of the time, the locals of Munnar were engaged as laborers on the plantations. Though the trend continues, over the past few years tourism-related occupations have also found a way into Munnar's economy. Adimali or Adivaaram is the closest relatively big neighboring city to Munnar on the Kerala side of NH 49.

Today Munnar is home to two prominent educational institutes; the Government Arts & Science College and College of Engineering Munnar. The hill station also has its share of hospitals; this includes Tata General Hospital, Matha Hospital and Arun Hospital, outside of clinics such as John's Clinic in Kunchithanny.

Overview

Thekkady conjures up images of aromatic spice plantations, a never-ending spine of hills and elephants moving in herds near the water's edge. This wildlife centre and scenic hill station in central Kerala gets visitors from the world over. Sail in a motorboat on Periyar Lake past ancient tree limbs protruding out of the water and look out for sambhars grazing with gay abandon, or a rare bird perched on the bare tree trunk, and if you are lucky, the great Indian tiger in his natural habitat. The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary offers ample scope for treks and mountain walks.

History

Situated close to the Kerala-Tamil Nadu, Periyar and Thekkady are a part of the Idukki district of Kerala. Blessed with dense green forests, semi-evergreen, moist deciduous forests and savanna grasslands, Thekkady's continuous residents have been the animals: elephants, sambar, tigers, gaur, lion-tailed Macaques, and Nilgiri Langurs.

Though some evidence of a Stone Age civilization has been found, there is no authoritative history of the region. There are some indigenous tribes, such as Mannan, Malayarayan, Muthuvan, and Oorali that still reside in the remotest regions of the park.

The history of the Periyar Tiger Reserve is more definitive. The Periyar Lake, around which the reserve is sited was formed by the construction of Mullaperiyar Dam in 1895. Four years later, the are was declared the Periyar Lake Reserve. The Nellikkampatty Game Sanctuary was founded in 1934. A few years after independence, these two parks were consolidated and the area was recognized as the Periyar Tiger Reserve. It was duly notified as a National park in 1982.

Overview

An erstwhile fishing village known for its fresh fish, fruits and toddy (coconut beer), Kovalam in Kerala is often referred to as the 'Paradise of the South'. Idyllic and flamboyant, the crescent-shaped beaches of Kovalam have a character of their own. Kovalam opens up a vista of soft sands, crystal-clear turquoise waters and a rocky promontory crowded by coconut groves with a lighthouse in the centre. The beach gets gentle waves making swimming refreshing and exhilarating. You can even wade into the sea for about 100 meters without losing ground! Look-out for some brilliant patches of coral reefs. Kayaking, surfing and skiing are other popular water activities in Kovalam. An erstwhile fishing village known for its fresh fish, fruits and toddy (coconut beer), Kovalam in Kerala is often referred to as the 'Paradise of the South'. Idyllic and flamboyant, the crescent-shaped beaches of Kovalam have a character of their own. Kovalam opens up a vista of soft sands, crystal-clear turquoise waters and a rocky promontory crowded by coconut groves with a lighthouse in the centre. The beach gets gentle waves making swimming refreshing and exhilarating. You can even wade into the sea for about 100 meters without losing ground! Look-out for some brilliant patches of coral reefs. Kayaking, surfing and skiing are other popular water activities in Kovalam. An erstwhile fishing village known for its fresh fish, fruits and toddy (coconut beer), Kovalam in Kerala is often referred to as the 'Paradise of the South'. Idyllic and flamboyant, the crescent-shaped beaches of Kovalam have a character of their own. Kovalam opens up a vista of soft sands, crystal-clear turquoise waters and a rocky promontory crowded by coconut groves with a lighthouse in the centre. The beach gets gentle waves making swimming refreshing and exhilarating. You can even wade into the sea for about 100 meters without losing ground! Look-out for some brilliant patches of coral reefs. Kayaking, surfing and skiing are other popular water activities in Kovalam.

History

This beach town on the Arabian Sea is about 13 kilometers (8.12 miles) from downtown Trivandrum. In the 1930s the European guests of the Maharaja of Travancore saw in a different light the beauty of the beach and the dramatic scenery it affords. But its true potential as a beach destination was realized only in the early seventies with the arrival of hoards of hippies.

In the early times when Kovalam was a mere picturesque fishing village, the Maharaja of Travancore took a fancy to its pristine stretch of sand curving into the turquoise sea. And he started spending a lot of his leisure time here, and even recommended it to his European guests. The European's quite fell in love with this place and began thronging in groups by the third decade of the 20th century. Not to mention, Kovalam - particularly its string of three crescent-shaped beaches - received the greatest philip with the arrival of the flower children in the 1970s. Enamored by its serenity the Hippy community started pouring in in droves and stayed on for a longish period. And in the process made Kovalam a highly sought after beach getaway on the tourism map.

Today, numerous national and international travel houses arrange regular packaged tours of Kovalam from different parts of the world.

Overview

Alleppey is the focal point of most trips to the famed backwaters of Kerala. Dubbed the 'Venice of the East', Alleppey (Alappuzha in Malayalam) is a backwater haven with a unique crisscrossing network of canals and lagoons that spread across the center of the town. The Venetian ambience of Alleppey is enhanced by the coir-made houseboats that punt along leisurely on the backwaters. A wealth of temples and churches add character to this understated seaside resort. The Alleppey Beach is another highpoint - it is a pristine stretch of sand lacing a choppy Arabian Sea, with an old character-filled pier, about 140 years old, extending into the sea.

History

When Raja Kesavadasan, the king of Travancore founded the town in 1762, there was just one canal through the strip of sand between the backwaters and the Arabian Sea. Gradually he developed it into a bustling waterway, complete with shops, factories and commercial establishments on either bank of the canal. This subsequently attracted merchants from as far as Europe and America.

By the mid-19th century, the sea had ebbed a mile, creating more land along the sand strip. Soon trading vessels began to call on Alleppey. In 1859 the first organized coir factory began producing matting from coir yarn on a loom developed by an English sea captain. Soon other British company-owned weaving establishments followed.

It was in 1851 that Alleppey had the honor of housing the first post office in the erstwhile Travancore State (Kerala).In the interim, in 1816, the Church Missionary Society set up its local headquarters in Alleppey. Christ Society of India and three years later the first Anglican Church was built. The commercial importance of Alleppey saw a downward trend in the late 1920s with Cochin, popularly referred to as the Queen of Arabia, coming into prominence as a major port city.

Today Alleppey is still a major center for trade in coir products, copra (dried coconut meat) and coconut oil for cooking and Ayurvedic products. Thanks to its long coastline, it is also a center for fishing and marine products processing activities. Meanwhile, the government continues to make efforts to promote tourism in this lovely seaside resort.