Chettikulangara Bharani Temple

Chettikulangara Bharani

Would you miss a chance to enjoy one of the most amazing visual and cultural treats of Kerala? If no, then make sure you are here for the renowned Chettikulangara Bharani, the annual festival held at the Chettikulangara temple during the Malayalam month of Kumbham (February-March). The festival and the temple are dedicated to Goddess Bhagavathy.

What makes the festival stand out among the other festivals of Kerala is a spectacular event called Kettukazhcha, a ceremonious procession of brightly decorated structures. The dazzlingly decorated structures; the bigger ones assumed as horses and the smaller ones as chariots, and cultural performances are the highlights of this spectacular pageant. These architectural and aesthetic marvels would certainly etch a remarkable artistic impression on the minds of the spectators, especially at night when the arena is illuminated by colourful lights. Kettukazhcha is an offering of the people to the deity, and stand testimony to the architectural and aesthetic expertise of the people of this region. The chariots proceed from different points in the village, representing that particular region, and demonstrate the harmony that is there in these hamlets.

Venue: Chettikulangara temple, Mavelikkara, Alappuzha district.
Location: Mavelikara
District: Alappuzha

Keywords: Chettikulangara Bharani

Gokarna Tourism

Gokarna :is a small and remote holy town, with four of India's most secluded and pristine beaches nestled nearby. It draws both pious pilgrims and hedonistic holiday makers with equal enthusiasm. Travel to Gokarna to get a feel for what Goa was like in its heyday, although time is limited as developers are already seeing the potential of this area. Gokarna is historically known as one of the seven important Hindu pilgrimage centers and is located on what was once unspoiled beach near the estuary of river Aghanashini with its palm trees, other colorful tropical fruit and flower trees. Of late due to the numbers of tourists the character of this town has changed. This town is no longer just a center of pilgrimage though massive numbers of devotees still visit the town for the purposes of offering prayers and worship to Lord Shiva.

Kudle Beach : The Kudle Beach is the largest of the five beaches and it is crowded during the peak season November to February. It must be noted that this is a dangerous place for a swim.

Mahabaleshwara Temple : The Mahabaleshwar Temple, Gokarna is a Hindu temple located in Gokarna.The temple, built in a classical Dravidian style of architecture, was first constructed by Mayurasharma of the Kadamba dynasty.

Maha Ganapati Temple : Maha Ganapati Temple is located on the east side of the Mahabaleshwara temple. The temple marks the incident when lord Ganesha tricked the demon king Ravana and took the Atmalingam from him. The temple features a black stone idol of lord Ganesha and it is considered to be a usual ritual for the people to visit this temple before the Mahabaleshwara temple.

Kotithirtha : Kotithirtha is a sacred water body located near the Mahabaleshwara Temple in Gokarna. This sacred tank is believed to contain one crore sacred springs, thus the name Kotithirtha. Kotithirtha is surrounded by many temples and devotees come here to bathe in the tank before entering them. Some of the pilgrims come here to perform rituals for their departed loved ones. The tank has granite steps constructed around the banks. Sheltered stone platforms are also built near the tank to perform the rituals. A small temple lies at the center of the tank.

Mirjan Fort : The Mirjan Fort (kn: is located on the west coast of the Uttara Kannada district in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. The fort known for its architectural elegance was the location of several battles in the past. It is about 0.5 kilometres (0.31 mi) from the National Highway 17 and 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) from Gokarna, the famous Hindu pilgrimage centre on the west coast of India.

Gokarna Beach : Gokarna beach is the town's main beach and pilgrims gather here when they visit the Mahabaleshwar Temple .

Om Beach : Om Beach has a beautiful coastline that forms the shape of the Hindu symbol Om. The curve of the symbol forms a pool which can be a safe bathing area for even non-swimmers.

Location: Gokarna is located in the state of Karnataka, an hour south of the Goa border.
Travel tip: Gokarna is historically known as one of the seven important Hindu pilgrimage centers
Best time to visit : February & March

Jog Waterfalls

 Jog fall is located in the district of Shimoga in the state of Karnataka in India at the distance of about 400 kms from Bangalore. Jog is the highest waterfall in the country. The best time to plan out the trip to the Jog fall lies in between the month of August and December. Its height is 830 feet and is located on Sharavati River. The falls are in four distinct cascades called as, Raja, Rani, Roarer and Rocket. There is an hydro electric power generating station name after Mahatma Gandhi.

Honnemaradu It is situated on the backwaters of the river Sharavathi. The region is beautifully surrounded by the lush greenery and is a haven for the water sports. Windsurfing, Coracling, Conoeing, Kayaking and Scuba Diving are the most popular water sports which can be practiced here. Sunset and Sunrise view from Honnemaradu or the Golden Lake are truly rewarding. 

Lion Tiger Reserve:Lion Tiger Reserve located at the distance of 10 km from the district of Shimoga, gives you the Golden opportunity to enjoy the Lion safari. The park is home to several other animals such as Royal Bengal Tiger, Cheetah, deer, bear and Gee Golden langurs. You can also carry the binoculars along with yourself as the park offers the excellent birding site.

Tunga Anicut Dam: Tunga Anicut Dam is located at the distance of 12 km from Shimoga. The dam remains open from 10 am to 5pm on all days. It is favourite picnic spot among the tourists coming to Karnataka. The main attraction among the tourists here is the boat riding in the lake. You can also make a visit to Sacrebyle, an elephant camp near the dam. The camp is a home to several elephants.

The best time to plan out the trip : August to December.

Nearest best place to stay is: Shimoga the district headquarter

Travel tip : One of the highest in India and the 7th deepest waterfalls in Asia

Dandeli Resorts and Wildlife Jungle Resorts

•  Dandeli is an ideal vacation destination in north Karnataka for those who love nature. It offers tourists an incomparable mix of scenic beauty. The modern town on the river is surrounded by deciduous forests and a renown wildlife habitat where rare animals and birds roam in deep valleys and hilly terrain.

• Located 125 KMS. from Goa and well connected for international travelers, Dandeli offers white water rafting, night camps, nature walks, boating, bird watching, tiger and crocodile spotting and angling, along with picnics, eco-tourism, and trips to nearby caves and temples.

• Dandeli Holidays is the best compared to other hill stations like ooty and kodaikanal, because they are more crowded and Dandeli is cool and calm place". And some of them said "Dandeli is beautifull place and more beauty of it's, we need not travel more to reach Dandeli. It is a question of 4 to 8 hours journey from many big cities of Karnataka, Goa and Maharastra State.

• One more beauty of Dandeli tours is that it is surrounded by many religious temples, which is liked by many elder peoples. For middle aged people there is always the beutiful of forest and river along with the beauty of power generation where the same water is used thrice for power generation in three different beautiful spots. For youngest there are many adventurous activities like jungle safari,rafting, tracking, spotting wild animals and birds

• The Dandeli Resorts provide you visitors the traditional and Continental food according to the taste of the customers. Even the visitors get an opportunity to meet many tribal people and even the provision can be made to stay in their dwellings according to the wish of the visitors.

• One more Very interesting thing of Dandeli is out of nine varities of Hornbills, four types of Hornbills are spotted in Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary Forest. Hornbill needs about 30 varities of fruits and when we find four verities of Hornbills here .You can imagine how dence the Dandeli jungle is. 100 percent of spotting of Hornbill is assured as they are large in number.

Nearest city: 4 to 8 hours journey from many big cities of Karnataka

Travel tip: Dandeli is cool and calm place

Adventurous Activities: jungle safari, rafting, tracking, spotting wild animals and birds

Bheemeshwari Tourism

• Bheemeshwari is a small town that lies between the Shivanasamudra falls and Mekedatu falls, on the Cauvery River in Mandya district of Karnataka.
  

• It is a great spot for eco-tourism and is a natural habitat for the mahseer fish found in the waters of the Cavery. Mahseer is considered as one of the finest game fish in the world. The surrounding lush forest cover is home to many animas like elephants, wild boars, monkeys, jackals, crocodiles, otters and leopards; as well as a variety of water birds like herons, ibis, cormorants and kingfisher.

• The river Cauvery has made Bheemeshwari a major fishing hub. Hoards of enthusiastic anglers throng here every year to try their luck at fishing. A number of fishing camps have sprouted here for catching the mahseer – the finest game fish in India. These camps provide comfortable tents equipped with all basic facilities like cots, mosquito nets, shower and toilet. Food is usually served in the openair common dinning room.

• Bhimeshwari is nestled amidst the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, It is also known as the  ‘Angler’s paradise’, because of the Mahseer fishes found here. Both professional angling and amateur fishing is encouraged in these nature camps

Cauvery Fishing Camp : This fishing camp is located by the Cauvery river and is very popular with the tourists. The place, set amidst lush green forests and hills is the perfect place to rejuvenate you. This is a beautiful and peaceful spot and is the camp is an excellent place for the tourists to stay when they come to Bheemeshwari.  The fishing camp provides certain basic amenities to the travelers during their stay there. Food is served in the open air dining room. 

Doddamakkali Nature Camp : This is an isolated place tucked away 7 km away from Bheemeshwari. Tourists can trek up to this place and spend a quiet day before returning to the town. The Cauvery River flowing through the region comes here and collects into a pool. Since there is no current the pool is ideal for water sports. There are 6 tents which are located around the place and this is perfect to spend some time in isolation. This is one place which must be visited while touring Bheemeshwari. Tourists can explore the unexploited beauty of the region and return feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. 

Mekedatu : This beautiful land is situated close to Bheemeshwari. It is fast becoming a popular tourist spot because of its hitherto unexploited regions.  The place in Bheemeshwari has some of the most majestic landscapes and beautiful natural surroundings. It is located far from the hustle and bustle of the city and makes for a relaxing holiday gateway. The tourists can come here to witness the majestic Cauvery gushing through a narrow gorge before flowing through the southern edge. This is an amazing sight to behold and should not be missed. The site is a must-visit while you are on a tour to Bheemeshwari .

Sangam : This is the place at which the Cauvery and the Arakavathi river confluence. It is a beautiful sight and tourists must visit this place when they are on a tour to the place. This is a popular picnic spot in Bheemeshwari. Both locals and tourists love to visit this wonderful place.  Tourists come here to enjoy the breath taking view of nature. They might also spot some animals including elephants, deer, tigers and many more which can be seen lazily wandering around. The tourists might also engage in bird watching as there are many different types of birds in the area. 

   

Best time to visit : February to december.

Nearest city : 100 km from Bangalore & 5-km drive from  Muttathi.

Travel tip : It is a great spot for eco-tourism

Hogenakkal waterfalls

• Hogenakkal, the majestic waterfalls, is often called Cauvery by the populace of Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts, where it is situated. Whenever foreigners think of the comforts of having a healthy oil massage near the river bed

• Hogenakkal will be the location which would linger in their minds. Hogenakkal is endearingly said to be the Niagara of India'. Hogeakkal is surrounded by Melagiri Hills in the backdrops and 750 feet above sea level. 

• The way to Hogenekkal falls is naturally endowed with beauteous Mulberry fields, titanic-sized Protector Deities (Aiyanars) made of terracotta, the gushig sound of river Cauvery and bountiful of vegetation. Travelling 46 kms from Hogenakkal one can reach Dharmapuri district and the mighty Hogenakkal shares its borders with Karnataka.

• The two Kannada words 'Hoge' means 'Smoke' and 'kal' means 'rocks' give meaning to the word Hogenakkal as Smoky Rocks.. Located around 150 kms from Banglore, the mind-bogging Hogenakkal is absolutely in the border of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. During rainy Seasons the lush green ambience of Hogenakkal presents a visual feast to the tourists pouring in. 

• The unique sight of the tall trees mounting upon the small island-like mounds clustered with giant rocks on the way and the fiercely flowing river pounding upon it makes even the dull hearts go awe-stricken. The river water is said to have some special powers as it travels through the forests filled with herbal plants and shrubs. 

• It is quite stupendous to see the tender-aged boys showcasing their diving skills. They exhibit their diving skills for a mere Rs 5 from the spectators. The courageous young children dive from tall altitudes which seem to be much more surprising for the spectators watching along the way.

• The best season to visit is soon after the monsoons, when the river is in full spate. But some tourists prefer to visit during off-season to skip the crowd. The temperature in summer varies between 23–34 °C (73–93 °F) while during the winter it is still pleasant and ranges from 13–27 °C (55–81 °F).

• Freshly caught fish are sold by the gorge and also various vendors selling water and snacks up and down the gorge rowing their coracles is not uncommon. The fish caught include katla, robu, kendai, keluthi, valai, mirgal, aranjan and jilaby. After leaving the gorge, on the left shore one can find improvised stalls set up on the sand. There, one can let the fresh fishes be prepared in one of the many kitchens. Also, many people can be found swimming or bathing around there.

Good for : Experience Seekers Adventure Seekers

Visit duration : Around 3 hours
Entry fees : 500 - 800 per 5 people for boating (3 hours) 
Season Months : November, December, January, February and March 

Boating Season : Boating in Hogenakkal falls will be great experience soon affter monsoon. Boating is not permitted in Heavy Monsoon season

Chethalayam Waterfalls

Probably many people may consider the long trek to the waterfall as the best part. The woods are thick and there are plenty of birds and butterflies.

• Chethalayam Falls are a beautiful sight nonetheless. The ideal place to relax while absorbing soothing views and listening to the melodious chirping of birds. This is one of Wayanad’s lesser-known falls, located 12 km away from town. Though it tends to dry up between monsoons, it’s a lovely place to visit and trekking enthusiasts are sure to enjoy the climb up the rocks.

• Chethalayam Falls, Sulthan bathery is one of the first things that comes to the mind of many people, while discussing Sulthan bathery. It’s true that there are quite a few other interesting things to see and do too. However, like all other attractions, the Chethalayam Falls in Sulthan bathery also has its own brand of unique charm. In fact, countless visitors just can’t stop gushing about the place. In short, rest assure that a trip to Chethalayam Falls Sulthan bathery will leave you with a lifetime of fond memories.

• This waterfall is situated close to the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary which is inhabited by the spotted deer, sambhar, gaur, elephants and sloth bear, amongst others.

Chethalayam Waterfall is located in Wayanad district at a distance of 15 kms from Sulthan Bathery. It lies in Pulpalli Main Road. In order to reach this waterfall, one can trek from Chethalayam for about 4 kms. This place is ideal for trekking and bird watching. This waterfall is a small waterfall and the water here is crystal clear. During summer season the water gets dried up and is the best time for trekking. A nearby tourist spot is Wayanad wildlife sanctuary where one can see animals such as elephants, deer etc and several species of birds

• This is one of the smallest and seasonal yet most famous waterfalls in Kerala, popular amongst trekkers. One has to trek for about 4 Kms from Kidangand to reach the falls.

• Though it tends to dry up during summer, it is a lovely place to visit and trekking enthusiasts will have an enjoyable time climbing up the rocks to the waterfall.

Ideal Trip Duration: One day trip
Nearest City: 37 kms from Kalpetta
Best Time to Visit: Post monsoon season is the best time to visit the falls