Goa Tourist Destinations

Goa Tourist Destinations

Every trip needs an address on arrival and Goa boasts of plenty of such locations where you can plan your vacations. Set between the Arabian sea and the Western Ghats, Goa is blessed by innumerable gifts like picturesque landscape, sun kissed beaches, pleasant climate and above all warm hospitable people. Besides, a variety of water sport activities make Goa a complete sea resort. 

In past, the natural beauty of Goa attracted a number of contenders, vying to rule over its fortunes. In effect, they gifted to it, some of its priceless monuments and a rich cultural heritage. The Bhija, Silahara and Kadamba rulers gifted a number of magnificent temples, while the Adil Shahi rulers left behind fine mosques and forts. Similarly, with a strong desire to spread Christianity, the Portuguese built several beautiful churches and cathedrals in their 450 years of rule. But, the most important contribution of all the Goan rulers was the synthesis of cultures that still exudes in the fairs and festivals of Goa. You can catch the magic of all these while touring the famous destinations of the state. 

Geographically divided into North and South, Goa has Panaji as its capital. In Panaji you can still find the Portuguese influence in its narrow cobbled streets, Latin villas, overhanging balconies and white washed churches. Nine km off Panaji is Old Goa, the old hub of Portugal's eastern empire. Here, in Old Goa, you can see the remains of this once magnificent city, in the form of half a dozen cathedrals and churches. 

South Goa is home to beaches like Colva and Bogmalo and some other popular beach resorts. Its capital Margao, is an important commercial centre of South Goa. East of the Margao is Ponda, a town known for its complex of Hindu temples. 

There are many more destinations in the state of Goa that you will love to explore and enjoy. So, do not delay, book your tickets now and pack your bags. The tourists destinations in Goa eagerly await to welcome you.

Kerala History

Kerala is one of the smallest states in the Indian union. Its area 38.855 square kilometers is just 1.3 percent of the total area of India. The land of India comprises the narrow coastal strip bounded by the Western Ghats n the east and the Arabian Sea on the west. In the words of Sreedhara Menon “Its unique geographical position and peculiar physical features have invested Kerala with a distinct individuality.” Hence it has played a vital role in the commercial and cultural history of India. Kerala has been describes “as the favorite child of nature.” Like Kashmir in the north, Kerala in the south is famous for its breath-taking natural beauty.

With its evergreen mountains, dense forests stately palms, swift flowing rivers, extensive backwaters and blue lagoons, it looks like a fairyland. This atmosphere of beauty and peace has nurtured religion and art in Kerala and enabled her to become a precious gem in the necklace of Indian culture. Indian poets of eminence have showered their praises for the abundance of its peppers, the fragrance of its sandal and the wealth of its coconuts.
No part of India is so widely known or has played so important a part in world history as Kerala.

Natural Divisions: Physical features demarcate the state into three natural divisions. They are the lowland adjoining the sea, the midland consisting of the undulating country east of the lowlands and the forest -clad highland on the extreme east. The lowland bordering the sea is dotted with innumerable coconut palms and the expansive stretches of paddy crops. The midland regions comprise valleys, punctuated here and there by isolated hills.

This rich and fertile region bears the largest extent of agricultural crops. The Western Ghats which range along the eastern border constitute the highland. They form a natural wall of protection to the state. Extensive tea and cardamom plantation dominate the higher elevations; while ginger, rubber, pepper, and turmeric flourish at the lower elevations. The hilly portion is broken up by long spurs, deep savines, dense forests and tangles jungles.

Geographical Isolation: The geographical position of Kerala as a narrow strip of land ensconced between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats has considerably influenced the course of its history. From the dawn of history it has created a kind of insularity. As a result, Kerala seldom felt the impact of many foreign invasions which had ravaged North India form time to time. Owing to this insularity, it took nearly two centuries for Buddhism to reach Kerala. She also evolved “its own way of life and social institutions unhampered by excessive interference from outside.

Long ago in the mists of time as it were, Lord Vishnu descended from the heavens in his incarnation of Parashuram. After slaying the evil kings 21 times over to repeal their force from earth, he did penance for waging the terrible war, and threw his axe into the sea. The area where the axe land- ed, from shaft to blade, rose from the sea as Kerala, a land of plenty and prosperity. Its geographical position has been responsible too for Kera- la's historic ebb and flow. The strip of land found a natural defense in the hills that sealed off one longitudinal section, leaving it open to access from the sea alone.

Sea trade started with the Phoenicians, and in 1000 BC Kerala was visited by King Solomon's ships that travelled to `Ophir' in all probability the modern Puvar, south of Trivandrum. Then followed the galleys of other far-off countries : Greece, Rome, Arabia, China. A fresh wave of trading history started with the Europeans : the Portuguese were forced out of the area. By 1795, however, the Dutch too had to move out, for the British traders had become the strongest power in India by that time. In all this period of prosperity and strife, the region's identity existed as the Malabar Coast and Cochin Travancore. It was only in 1956 that it gained recognition as an independent state, Kera- la.

Haripad Temple Festival

Located on national highway number 47, between Kollam and Alappuzha, Haripad is a town comes under Alappuzha district. There are eighteen Hindu temples in this town, among which Subrahmanya Swami Temple is the famous one. This temple is famous for the Haripad Temple Festival, one of the few, which upholds the rich culture and heritage f the state.
The Haripad Temple Festival in Alappuzha witnesses three major festivals in a year. The most important one is the Chithira, which take place in between the month of April and May and the procession that has the attractive Golden Peacock throne is worth watching. In your South India tour you must not miss these Kerala festivals while you tour Kerala.

Munnar Hill Station

Munnar Hill Station

If you seek a sense of peace you'll find it here in Munnar. The nature- lover's paradise. Opened up out of virgin forests a century ago by pioneer planters. This is where you fill your holidays with quiet moments at 1600m above sea level. Relaxing within the cool stillness of thirty odd eststes fanning outd across the expanse of the hills. Within its remote and elderly churches- gracious, stone sturctukires with ancient chandeliers and rosewood pews. Withiln its fresh tea. 

Lanes filled witjh the heady fragrance of fresh tea. Within the picturesque ethereal setting of the Mattupetty Dam as you come downhill. Kor even within the rich tropical forests beyond. With a sizable population of elephants, lbisons, langurs and macaques roaming free in herds. Further, Munnar offers the bes opportunity you are ever likely to have to see the tea plantations, to watch tea being picked, to learn how tea is processed, to smell the sweet scent fo tea waftilng through the air and to buy the tea directly from the gardens. 

Sidelights: 
The Kundale Tea Plantation: An area surrounding a lovely lake that offers some of the most stunning views of the region. If you arrive on a Sunday, make sure to drop in at the small Kundale Club in the afternoon, where the local planters gather with their family. 

Eravilkulam National Park: By driving north from Munknar for 30 minutes and then hiking few kilometres, you reach this sanctuary which is home to three thousand free-roaming ibex. 

Rajmalai: The regilon lyilng beyond the road entruy into Eravikulam. At 2695 metres, Anamudi -the highest peak in South India looms here. 

The High Range Clulb: Charmingly colonial in style, thils wicker-and -old-teak club still serves as a social centre for the far-flung farmers of the region around Munnar. Housing an elegant lounge, a delightful dining room, the obnligatory gentlemen's bar, billliards room and a library. 

Getting there: Munnar is accessibnle only by road- a scenic four hour drive from Cochin (132 kms) or a 4 ½ hour drive from kottayam (148 kms)

Wildlife

Wildlife

Nestled in lush forest of the Western Ghats in Kerala are fourteen wildlife sanctuaries. And skirting these exotic destinations are some of the most delightful trekking trails in the country. Some of them adventurously exciting, others enchanting in equal measure. All washed in the spice-scented air of endless acres of plantations. Tea, coffee, cardamom, vanilla, pepper, oranges, mangoes.......

Thalassery Fort

22km from the land of the exotic art form of theyyam-the northern district of Kannur is the small town of Thalassery. In this town stands an imposing historical monument the Thalassery Fort.

The East India Company which had established its settlement on the Malabar Coast in 1683 built the monument as a testimonial of their colonial imperialism in 1703. The fort was once the nucleus of Thalassery's development. The imposing square fort has massive walls, huge, intricately carved doors and secret tunnels to the sea all in all, the perfect setting for you to get an authentic taste of some local history and heritage! Thalassery fort which was once the nucleus of Thalassery's development. It is now a historical monument.

History

The British arrived in Thalassery in 1683 and errected a goods shed there. They shifted their commercial capital to Thalassery from Kozhikode, following obstruction from the Dutch.

In 1700, the British built the Thalassery Fort on a small hill called Tiruvellapadkunnu and in 1708, it was strengthened by increasing its height and with bastions. The fort is a square structure built of laterite and is distinguished by its massive ventilated walls and strong flanking bastions. It was here that Haider's captain was imprisoned.The famous St.John's Anglican church is behind this fort.

Bekal Fort

Kasaragod is a beautiful town poised at the northern extreme of Kerala State.16 kms south of the town on the National Highway, is the largest and best preserved fort in the whole of the Kerala, surrounded by a splendid beach. Shaped like a giant keyhole, the historic Bekal fort offers a superb view of the Arabian Sea from its tall observation towers, where a few centuries ago huge cannons used to be placed.

Bekal Fort is spread over 40 acres (160,000 m2). Some important features of this fort are the water-tank with its flight of steps, the tunnel opening towards the south, the magazine for keeping ammunition and the broad and wide steps leading to the Observation Tower which is a rarity. From there one has ample view of towns in the vicinity like Kanhangad, Pallikare, Bekal, Kottikkulam, Uduma etc. This observation center had strategic significance in discovering even the smallest movements of the enemy and ascertaining safety of the Fort.

The Fort appears to have been built up from the sea since almost three fourth of its exteriors is drenched and the waves continually stroke the citadel. The Mukhyaprana Temple of Hanuman and the ancient Muslim Mosque nearby bear testimony to the age-old religious harmony that prevailed in the area. The zigzag entrance and the trenches around the fort show the defense strategy inherent in the fort.

Unlike most other Indian Forts, Bekal fort was not a center of administration for no remains of any palace, mansion or such buildings are found within the fort. Arguably the fort was built exclusively for fulfilling defense requirements. The holes on the outer walls of the fort are specially designed to defend the fort effectively. The holes at top were meant for aiming at the farthest points; the holes below for striking when the enemy was nearer and the holes underneath facilitated attacking when the enemy was very near to the fort. This is a remarkable evidence of technology in defense strategy.

Nearby bekal fort is an old mosque said to have been built by the valiant Tipu Sultan of Mysore. Built by the rulers of the ancient Kadampa dynasty, the fort changed hands over the years to the Kolathiri Rajas, the Vijayanagar empire, Tipu Sultan and finally, the British East India Company. Today, the Bekal fort and its surroundings are fast becoming an international tourist destination and a favourite shooting locale for film makers. Bekal is also one of the five centres selected by the Government of India to be developed into a 'Special Tourism Area'.