Museum of Kerala History

Museum of Kerala History

                 One of the best and important place in Ernakulam is the Museum of kerala History. The Museum of the History of Kerala in Cochin city of Kerala is not  an ordinary museum. Importance of the museum "living" is that it tells the story through the spectacular light and sound show and informative. Here you can view a description based on the life stories of 87 prominent personalities who played a key role in shaping the future of Kerala. A popular haunt for tourists, local students and intellectuals, the museum highlights the history of Kerala for everyone, ranging from the early days of the people of Kerala today.

A Painting

There is an emphasis on social, cultural and literary narrative. Kerala's history is represented in 36 visual light shows and sound that covers the history for the past 2000 years. The names of some tracks in the sound and light are the first peoples, and Senguttavan Ezhimala Nanna Venmans Ilango Ay Andiran Pothiyilmala Aryan migration, St. Thomas, Shankaracharya, Alwar and Kulasekhara Cheraman Perumal Nayanar.

Kerala History Museum was designed by R Madhavan Nayar, general manager of the end of the Foundation Madhavan Nayar. It was a great industrial philanthropist and a pioneer in the seafood industry for export to India. It was a great connoisseur of art as well, which is the main reason they built the museum. Besides the exhibition of light and sound, the other major attractions of the museum includes a special gallery for paintings and sculptures. Primarily represents the Indian contemporary art exhibitions in a period of 200 years.

A painting

Works by the Company of the school's paintings are "breeding" Bengal School, the group of progressive artists, Indian Law Summary, narrative painter and mystic style symbolic bridge. The splendid Dolls Museum here needs special mention. Perhaps unique in South India, this museum has a collection of 150 dolls. Each is handmade and comes from different states of India, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. Dolls through their clothing, hairstyles and jewelry, which reflects the socio-cultural tradition in their country.

Museum of Kerala History-Entrance

Location: It is situated at a distance of 10 km from Ernakulam.

Details: Visiting time from 10.00 am to 12 noon and 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm on all days except on Mondays.

Fort Kochi

Buildings in Fort Kochi

Fort Kochi is a region in the city of Kochi in Kerala, India. This is one of a handful of water-related areas in the south west of mainland Kochi, and collectively known as Old West or Kochi Kochi. Next to it is Mattancherry. Even a casual stroll through the Fort Cochin is located in the port city of Kochi in Kerala is enough to make you feel transported to another world and time. The architectural style of buildings and layout of the city and easy to do in Fort Kochi in Kerala is different from other cities. 

Since the Fort Kochi was held under the Portuguese, Dutch and British at various times, the area is still a significant impact on architecture. Fort Kochi or Fort Cochin is one of the three urban areas make up the present city of Kochi in Kerala, India. The other two regions together comprise the city of Kochi Mattancherry and Ernakulam. Interestingly, the port city of Cochin was the first municipal borough 1866-1967. 

Chinese Fishing Net

It 'was in 1967, the three largest municipalities, and some neighboring areas joined to form a new company in Kochi. Fort Cochin is counted among the main attractions today Kochi in Kerala, but there was once a fishing village of no importance in the pre-colonial Kerala. He was baptized as Fort Kochi after the territory was given to the Portuguese in the year 1503 by Raja of Kochi. Raja gave the Portuguese permission to build a fort near the water to protect their commercial interests.

Fort built by the Portuguese, so here was named Emmanuel Fort, which is the name of this fort that derivatives "Fort Kochi" the first part of its name. Fort Emmanuel was destroyed by the Dutch. He was behind the Emmanuel Fort, the Portuguese built their settlements and a wooden church was rebuilt in 1516 as a permanent structure that the world famous St. Francis Church at this time. Considered the first church built by Europeans in India is here the Vasco da Gama was buried, just before his remains will be sent to Lisbon in Portugal later. 

St. francis Church

 From Cochin in Kerala was an important trading area for foreign tourists and seafarers holding Fort Kochi area passed many hands. It remained, however, held by the Portuguese almost 160 years until 1683, k, when the Dutch in the region. They then held the possession of Fort Kochi 112 years until 1795, after the British took over, defeating the Dutch. 444 years of foreign control of Fort Kochi or Fort Cochin was finally gained independence in 1947. 

Location: It is located at a distance of 10 km from Ernakulam.

Bolghatty Palace

Bolghatty palace

Interior-Suit Room

Built by the Dutch in India, Gorgeous Bolghatty Palace is located in the Bolghatty islands, Cochin in Kerala. Appeal of the castle due to the fact that this is one of the oldest buildings of the existing Dutch East Indies, during the time before the British. Cochin has long been an important commercial centers in India to attract traders and sailors from far and near. In 1744, Dutch traders built this palace originally wool.

Later, the house was enlarged and lush gardens have been added all around. In those days, Bolgatty challenge Palace the residence of the Dutch government. Later, in 1909, the building was leased to Great Britain, who moved to Britain to suspend the governors of central banks. In 1947, when India gained independence, the palace became the property Bolghatty Cochin State, and later amended by the Heritage Resort Hotel. Also known as Bolgatty Palace Hotel is now the seat of the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC).

Set amid a beautiful garden, the palace has been slowly transformed into a heritage hotel, he said. With spectacular backwaters of Cochin in the background, the landscape around the Palace is simply breathtaking. Boghatty Hotel Palace is a two storey building, tastefully decorated, with bedrooms and a spacious living room, showing historical portraits.

Interior-Living Area

The hotel pronounce executive suites, deluxe rooms and cottages and honeymoon in the lake along the edge of the lake for your stay. Other services for guests consists of a mini-golf, swimming pool, Ayurvedic center and daily Kathakali performances. Being an important city in southern India, Kochi (Cochin) is a hub for tourists. When you land here you can take a ferry to Boghatty Palace is located on the island Boghatty. Speed ​​ferry is frequent, and is just five minutes drive through the beautiful creek.

Location: Only 30km from Cochin  International Airport. Only 1km from each bus and railway station.

Details: 24 hr Coffee Shop, Laundry, Gymnasium, Swimming Pool, Beauty Parlour, Halls, Bar Pub, Doctor on Call etc. are some of the services provided by the palace.

Marine Drive

Marine Drive Bridge

Marine Drive is a beautiful walk in Kochi (Cochin), Kerala state in India. Marine Drive is built facing the backwaters of Kochi. It is a meeting place for locals and tourists.

Marine Drive-Kochi

Although it is called Marine Drive, but cars are not allowed on the sidewalk. His popularity among tourists and locals made Marine Drive is a major center of economic activities in Kochi. Marine Drive has a wide range of shopping and making it an important center of shopping in Kochi. You can find many popular fast food along the walkway. The view of the setting and rising sun over the sea mouth, and the gentle breeze from the Vembanad Lake has made Marine Drive an important tourist destination in Kochi.

Hundreds of people throng the Marine Drive promenade in the evening watching the sun rising over the mouth of the sea and feel the gentle breeze from the nearby lake Vembanad. Marine Drive walk starts from the junction of the High Court and extends until the Rajendra Maidan. Several boats dot the bridge pillars, which has two bridges, the Rainbow Bridge and the Chinese fishing nets Bridge.

Rainbow Bridge-Marine Drive

Location: It is located at a distance of 30 km from Cochin International Airport. Nearly 1 km from the railway station.

Thattekad Bird Sanctuary

A view from the Sanctuary

              Thattekad Bird Sanctuary is famous  for  the large varieties of bird species. This sanctuary is now known as the "Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary" as an honour for the renowned bird scientist, Salim Ali. It is located at  an latitude 76deg. '40-76 deg.45 'N latitude and 10deg. 7'-11 degrees. E. The bird sanctuary is located in Kothamangalam Taluk of Ernakulam district on the north bank of the river Periyar. At the height of 35-523m above sea level, this wonderful bird sanctuary sits atop Njayqapilli. 13 km northeast of Kotyhamangalam, Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary is home to some of the rarest bird species in India.

          Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary has a tropical climate. The annual rainfall is 3000mm recorded here throughout the year. The climate is pleasant throughout the year, when the monsoon comes to this place in the months between May and July. It would be advisable to visit this park during the monsoon as most of the area becomes inaccessible here. Thattekkad is famous for its birds only. 

A view from the Sanctuary

Among the animals found here, the elephant is an occasional visitor. Leopard, bear, porcupine, python and cobra can also be seen here. Rare birds like crimson throat Barbet, Bee-eater, Sunbird, Shrike, Kite Blackwing, herons and night herons are also commonly observed. India roller, cuckoo, common snipe, pheasant in flight, jungle nightjar, kite drongo, gray, Malabar Trogon, Woodpecker, laundress of various colors, soft sparrow, Grey jungle fowl, Indian Hill Myna, Robin bird, jungle babbler and cormorants are common birds found some here.

Way to the Sanctuary

 

Location: Located at distance of 42 km from Ernakulam town. And 110 km from Munnar.

Hill Palace Museum

Hill Palace

Hill Palace is the largest archaeological museum of Kerala, near Tripunithura, Kochi. It 'was an administrative officer of the Kochi Rajas. Built in 1865, the palace complex consists of 49 buildings in traditional architectural style is spreading everywhere is 54 acres (220,000 m2). The complex is an archaeological museum, the Heritage Museum, Deer Park, the prehistoric park and a playground for children. Surrounding the Town Hill is a rare medicinal plants.

Hill Palace

Centre for Heritage Studies (CHS) is an independent research and educational institution established by the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala is also working on the site. CHS was designated as "Conservation Centre manuscripts (MCC) and Manuscript Resource Centre (MRC) of the National Mission for Manuscripts.

The museum displays 14 categories of exhibits, including murals, paintings, sculptures in stone and plaster of paris, manuscripts, inscriptions, sculptures, etc. The exhibits in the museum are mainly from the royal family of Cochin. Some other parts are of Travancore Royal House, Devaswom Paliam and the Department of Archaeology. It has a golden crown encrusted with precious stones and many valuable coins, ornaments, majestic beds and samples of epigraphy.

Location: The building is about 12 km from the mainland Ernakulam and easily accessible by road. 

Details: Currently, the castle was transformed into a museum and is open to the public every day except Monday 9:00 to 12:30 and 2:00 p.m. to 4:30.

Willington Island

Wellington Island

Willington Island has modern port serving the city of Cochin in Kerala. The island is an artificial island created by man dug through the sand while deepening the Kochi port. It is named after Lord Willingdon, the former governor of Madras, which has contributed to the implementation of this project island. The senior engineer in charge of this project, however, was Robert Bristow. An inn port was built to accommodate passengers who want to stop for a short period and was named the Malabar Hotel.

According to draft a basic structure of the port was completed in 1939, just before the Second World War. A spring depth, one-lane bridge and road bridge linking the mainland have been made to provide a valuable infrastructure for the local war effort. A naval works was also built on the side Venduruthy island. When the time the war ended, those working on the project on the island was occupied landing craft for the construction of the alleged infringement of Japan. In 1940, a pier for passengers and Customs were built next to the hotel.

The other listed buildings nearby include a passenger platform and railway tracks. The vast expanses of virgin land was quickly purchased by the Royal Air Force has established a large airfield there. This artificial island near the city of Cochin has become a thriving military base. Malabar Hotel is served in neighborhoods offering all war workers, and soon the building was joined by a new administration block alongside. A new post office, a chic outdoor pool and a nearby bank of closed facilities.

When the British withdrew from India after independence in 1947, they left a traffic hub necessary and important. During his brief colonial mandate, handled Wellingdon island in Cochin nearly one million tonnes of cargo and by the year 1960, traffic has almost doubled. There is a large artificial port in India and is an important milestone in the city of Kochi in Kerala. Wellington Island serves as liaison between the city and some other ports in the world.

Location: It is linked to the mainland Kochi by road and rail Venduruthy Bridge.

St. Francic C.S.I Church

St. Francis Church

                             St. Francic CSI Church, Kochi, formerly known as Cochin, originally built in 1503, is the oldest European church in India and has great historical importance as a mute witness to the European colonial struggle in the subcontinent. Basque Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama died in Kochi in 1524 when he was on his third visit to India. His body was buried in this church, but after fourteen years, his remains were exhumed in Lisbon. The Basque Vasco da Gama's tomb can still be seen here. He is on the south side of the field. The tombstones are Portuguese one in the north and Dutch in the south wall. A cenotaph in memory of the people of Kochi, who fell in World War I was built in 1920.

Grave of Vasco Da Gama

Vasco da Gama, who discovered the sea from Europe to India, landed at Calicut (later renamed Kozhikode) in 1498th Vasco da Gama was followed by Pedro Alvares Cabral and Afonso de Albuquerque. They built a fort at Kochi with the permission of the Raja of Cochin. In the fort, they built a church with a wooden structure that was dedicated to St. Bartholomew. The area is now known as Fort Kochi.

Francisco de Almeida, the Portuguese viceroy, was organized in 1506 by the Raja of Cochin to reconstruct the buildings of wood, stone and masonry. The wooden church was rebuilt, probably by Franciscan monks, the bricks and mortar and a tiled roof was erected. In 1516, the new church was completed and dedicated to St. Antony.

Location: Located at a distance of 2 km west of Mattancherry in Fort Cochin.

Mattancherry Palace

                                                                              Mattancherry Palace, also known as the Palace of the Dutch in Mattancherry, Kochi, in Kerala, decorated with murals of the Hindu temple of Kerala, art, portraits and exhibits of the Rajas of Kochi.

Mattancherry Palace

        Mattancherry Palace with its medieval charm, is located in the Palace Road, Mattancherry, Kochi. It was built by the Portuguese and presented to Veera Kerala Varma (1537-1565), the Raja of Kochi in 1555 AD. The Dutch made some additions and renovations in the palace in 1663, and was then popularly called the Dutch Palace. Cracks also more improvements. Today is a gallery of portraits of Cochin Rajas and notable for some of the best mythological murals in India, which are in the best tradition of Hindu temple art. The palace was built to appease the king after looting a nearby temple.

Landing of Vasco Da Gama, the Portuguese explorers on Kapadu in 1498 was welcomed by leaders Kochi. They had the exclusive right to build factories. The Portuguese found the repeated attacks and Cochin Rajas Zamorins almost became vassals of the Portuguese. The influence of the Portuguese were expelled by the Dutch Mattancherry and took over the 1663rd Subsequently, the area was taken over by Hyder Ali and even later by the British East India Company.

Mural in Mattancherry Palace

The palace has a quadrangular structure built in the style Nalukettu, the style of the traditional architecture of Kerala, with a courtyard in the center. In the courtyard is a small temple dedicated to "Pazhayannur Bhagavati, the patron goddess of the royal family of Kochi. There are two temples on either side of the Palace, one dedicated to Lord Krishna and the other to Lord Shiva. Some elements of the architecture, such as the nature of their bows and the proportion of its rooms are indicative of European influence in the basic Naluketttu style.

Back of Mattancherry Palace

                The dining room was carved wooden decorated ceiling decorated with a series of brass cups. The palace also contains rare examples of traditional Kerala flooring that looks like polished black marble but is actually a mixture of burnt coconut, charcoal, lime, plant juices and whites eggs.

Location:  Located in the island of Cochin, west to Ernakulam.

Marayur

Sandal Forest-Marayur

Marayur or Marayoor is a place in the Idukki District of Kerala state, South India. Marayur is the only place in Kerala that has natural sandalwood forests. Ancient dolmens and rock paintings in Marayur date back to the Stone Age. As of 1991 Marayur had a population of 9,590.

Marayur claims to be a part of a Stone Age civilization that is as old as 10,000 B.C. Its is also home to a later period of large-scale dolmen-building. The land and its unique dolmens, caves, rock edicts and engravings declare its rich heritage. People migrated from Tamil Nadu to this area when the Madurai king Thirumalainaicker was defeated by Tippu Sultan, in the eighteenth century CE. Migrated people created five villages which are Kanthalloor, Keezhanthur, Karayur, Marayur and Kottakudi. These villages were called as ‘Anju nadu, literally meaning “five lands”. However these place names are very old and aboriginal tribes still live in these villages, with their unique customs.

Sandal Wood-Marayur

Marayur has more than 1000 species of flowering plants and is a well known repository of medicinal plants. There are 114 endemic species and the sighting of Aibizia lathamii, a critically endangered tree, was recently reported from the dry forests. Chinnar - the wildlife sanctuary in Marayur - has recorded the largest number of reptilian species, including the mugger crocodile, in Kerala. With 225 recorded species of birds, it is one of the richest areas of south India in avian diversity. The forests in Marayur preserve a population of the endangered Grizzled Giant Squirrel. The rare white bison has been recently reported in Chinnar wildlife sanctuary. Other important mammals found are elephant, tiger, leopard, guar, sambar, spotted deer, Nilgiri thar, common langur, bonnet macaque etc. The phenomenon of butterfly migration occurs in between the monsoons.

Marayur

Maryoor contains a number of sandalwood forests, and is the only place in Kerala where natural sandalwood forest is present. Processing of sandalwood and its associated oil forms part of local economy, a depot near Marayur town supporting this industry. Sandal wood or Santalum album is a parasitic tree having fragrant and close-grained yellowish heartwood. Sandalwood oil, also known as ‘liquid gold,’ is extracted from the roots and wood of sandalwood. This oil is a costly item marketed at a few choosy outlets all over the state. A climate with low rainfall is suitable for the growth of choice sandalwood trees from which good quality oil can be extracted. The 93 km² Marayur reserve forest is believed to have about sixty thousand naturally grown sandalwood tress, of which nearly 2,000 trees had been allegedly plundered in just one year since January 2004, when the last survey was conducted. The auction rate for first quality Marayur sandal is quoted at Rs. 1100 per kg, according to forest department sources (2004).

Location: Located at a distance of 40km from Munnar.

Peermade

Peermade

    Peermade, also transliterated as Perumade, Peerumed, Peerumade or Peermede, is a hill station in the state of Kerala, India. It is high in the Western Ghats, 915 meters above sea level.

The landscape of Peermade includes spectacular waterfalls, open grass lands and pine forests.It was once the summer retreat of the Maharajas of Travancore.

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the largest wildlife reserves in India, is 43 km away. It has herds of elephants and other wildlife as well as lakes.The name is sometimes related to the Sufi saint, Peer Mohammed, or means "hill of the Peer".

Peermade

The area is very fertile and the area had until recently lush plantations of coffee, tea, cardamon, and coconutThe area, with a long history of spice growing, now concentrates on producing organic black pepper, white pepper, ginger and turmeric.At a recent show spice growers from Peermade displayed samples of organically grown spices like cardamom, black pepper, white pepper, nutmeg, mace, cloves, turmeric, ginger, vanilla beans, vanilla powder and herbs like oregano, sage, thyme and rosemary. Oils of thyme and rosemary were also displayed.

Location: Around 85 km east of Kottayam on the way to Thekkady.

Periyar Wild Life Sanctuary

Boating In the Sanctuary

                    Periyar is a protected area, and a nature reserve in the South Indian State of Kerala, set high in the mountains of the Western Ghats along the border with Tamil Nadu. It lies in the districts of Idukki and Pathanamthitta. The protected area covers an area of 925 km², out of which a 350 km² part of the core zone was made into the Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve, sometimes dubbed the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. The park is often called by the name thekkady also. Thekkady is located four km from Kumily, approximately 100 km east of Kottayam, 110 km west of Madurai and 120 km southeast from Kochi.

The area bears a large variety of flora and fauna. Four species of primates are found at Periyar - the rare lion-tailed macaque, the Nilgiri Langur, the common langur, and the Bonnet Macaque.  Other mammals found here include gaur,Bison, sambar (horse deer), barking deer, mouse deer, Dholes (Indian wild dogs), mongoose, foxes and leopards. Also inhabiting the park, though rarely seen, are the elusive Nilgiri tahr.

Periyar Lake

The Periyar protected area lies in the middle of a mountainous area of the Cardamom Hills. In the north and the east it is bounded by mountain ridges of over 1700 metres altitude and toward the west it expands into a 1200 meter high plateau. From this level the altitude drops steeply to the deepest point of the reserve, the 100 meter valley of the Pamba River. The highest peak is the 2019 meter high Kottamalai.

The sanctuary surrounds picturesque 26 km² Periyar lake, formed by the building of Mullaperiyar Dam in 1895. This reservoir and the Periyar River meander around the contours of the wooded hills, providing a permanent source of water for the local wildlife.

Periyar Wild Life Sanctuary

The temperature varies depending upon the altitude and it ranges between 15° Celsius in December and January and 31° Celsius in April and May. The annual amount of precipitation lies between 2000 and 3000 mm. About two thirds of the precipitation occurs during the southwest monsoon between June to September. A smaller amount of precipitation occurs during the northeast monsoon between October and December.

Location: It is located 4km from Kumily, approximately 100 km east of Kottayam, 110 km west of Madurai and 120 km southeast from Kochi.