Fourth Day:Kalpeni

Disembarked From the ship to a boat which took us to the beautiful island of Kalpeni.This island is known for its scenic beauty and small islets called Tilakkam and Pitti .It is a progressive island. It was in this island that girls first went to school. We were taken on a boat to the Thilakam islet. Had a good time snorkelling.Could spot many fishes in different colours darting in and out through the corals and the sea anemones .Could spot many sea cucumbers also. If we are not careful our legs may get scratched badly when we walk through the coral reefs. We were taken back to the main beach .I spend some time, picking curiously shaped shells and stones from the beach, which was found in almost all the islands. After the lunch we were taken to a hosiery factory, where we could see the process of baniyan manufacturing. This is managed by the government. Those interested can buy tee shirts from there. The tourists were taken back to the beach, where we spend some time and after some boarded the small boat which took us to the M.V.Kavaratti ship which was anchored in the sea. Decided to explore the ship a bit more and spend a lot of time on the topmost portion of the ship, after watching the sunset. Early morning around 9 am we reached Wellington Island, Kochi.

I was back to reality that this wonderful trip has ended when I stepped out of the Port. Words or pictures cannot put forth the real essence of Lakshadweep islands. It’s something that each one of you should experience in real.
You can get more details at their websites (www.lakshadweeptourism.com) for the Packages Offered by SPORTS
Reaching there :The Lakshadweep group of islands is well connected both by Air and Sea. While Islands like Agatti & Bangaram can be reached by Air, the other islands can be reached by ship from Kochi.
Best time to visit: November to March
Don’t forget to have enough supply of batteries for your cameras and other necessities because it is difficult to find good shops in these islands.

Padmanabhapuram Palace-Kanyakumari

The Padmanabhapuram Palace is situated in Kanyakumari district which is 15 km from Nagercoil and about 65 kilometers from Trivandrum.The Palace has a magnificent architecture structure adorned with Murals, innovative designs and time tested wooden carvings. The name refers to the image of the lotus coming from the navel of Vishnu (Padma - lotus,
nabha - navel, Puram - Town). The palace complex was constructed around 1601 A.D by Iravi Varma Kulasekhara Perumal who ruled Travancore between 1592 A.D. and 1609 A.D As the visitor enters the Padmanabhapuram palace a brass lamp hanging from the magnificently carved wooden ceiling greets you. It is known as "Kuthiravilakku".Its beauty is that whichever direction you turn it, it will return to its original position and remain absolutely horizontal, thus ensuring that no oil is ever spilled.The ceiling of the palace has 90 varieties of flowers. Although the flowers look alike on close examination we can find that those flowers are different. We can see the various Bows and arrows used during yester years kept there. A 17th century black bed of seven granite stones is housed in the hall of the Padmanabhapuram palace.


Climbing up we reach the Council of Chamber which is also called as "Uparimalika" which is a masterpiece of wooden architecture. During the yester years it was meant to hold discussions with Ministers and Prominent Senior Citizens. There are about 50 murals, depicting Lord Vishnu with his consorts and Lord Krishna with the Gopikas, adorn the walls of the prayer hall. There are several paintings, depicting incidents in the life of Marthanda Varma, displayed on the corridor leading to the guesthouse.

Navarathra Mandapam, an imposing granite structure, is probably the most beautiful part of the Padmanabhapuram palace.A big hall called the Durbar hall has shiny black flooring. It may seem like a granite floor at a glance but in reality, the floor is made of a combination of jaggery, lime, burnt coconut, charcoal and river sand. This floor could not be duplicated again in any construction. The palace also has a secret underground escape route (now blocked), open air swimming pool, dance hall, massive paintings and idols of Indian Gods and Goddesses, carved figurines carrying lamps, etc. There is also a unique stonewall that is held together till date without the use of mortar. Moving further you can see the Ootupura which is composed of 2 floors.Earlier the Maharajas used to give food to the people in these Ootupuras.Each floor can has a sitting upto 1000 people.The big jars which were used to store pickles can also be found there.

The visitor can move out of the palace through the passages inside the palace. At the further end the visitor can notice a well and a small pond which were being used in the olden days. Originally, the area comprising the fort, the palace and its surrounds covered a total of 86 acres. Today the area administered by the Kerala Department of Archaeology is 6.5 acres.Adjacent to the palace is an archaeology museum that should not be missed. Built where the royal stable and guard room once stood, the museum is a treasure trove of sculptures, carvings mural paintings, manuscripts, stone inscriptions, armory, coins and metal ware, dating from the 8th to the 18th Century.
How to Reach Padmanabhapuram
By Road: Padmanabhapuram is a two-and-a-half hour drive from Thiruvananthapuram on the highway to Kanyakumari. that stops at Padmanabhapuram. You can also hire a cab from Thiruvananthapuram.
By RailThe nearest railway station from Padmanabhapuram is at Nagercoil, 15 Km away.
By AirNearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram, 6 km from Thiruvananthapuram city.
The palace will be closed on Mondays

Amber Fort-Jaipur

Location :Amber Fort is situated about 11 kilometers from Jaipur.

Amber Fort is a truly a masterpiece constructed of white and red sandstone. It was once the citadel of the ruling Kachwa clan of Amber. The Amber Fort is set on top of a hill and represents an architecture which is a hybrid of both the Hindu and the Mughal architecture styles. Amber Fort is a fort with its aura offering us a wonderful feast for our eyes. The walls of this Fort are covered with Murals, Frescoes and several paintings. Some walls are ordained with carvings, mosaic and mirror works. Every door bears some mosaics and sculptures. There is Public audience hall. It is only here that the Maharajah held audience and received the petition of his subjects during the royal rule. Tourist can find the royal carts which were once used by the Maharanis intact, preserved well over these years. There is a hall called the Hall of Mirrors. The walls and ceilings are covered with colorful glasses. As the sunlight falls over these glasses it radiates the sunlight all over the area in different colors.


Structure:Amber Fort is divided into four sections. Each is accessible via large staircases from a central location, or from a broad pathway leading to each of the sections. The pathways are currently used to transport tourists via an elephant ride. The main entrance of Amber Fort, Surajpol, leads to the Jaleb chowk, the main courtyard of the Fort where the staircase to the palace is located. In ancient times, Jaleb Chowk was the area where returning armies were paraded back home and where they would display their war earnings to the population at large.


Today, tourists can ride up to the fort from the base of the hill on elephants. On the ride, one can see the skyline of Jaipur, and in the foreground the Maotha lake which is just breathtaking, and the original city walls. The fort can be toured with a guide or you can engage a guide of your own. There is also a sound and light show held here during the evenings, which should not be missed.

How to reach the top of the Fort?

The hilltop has to be climbed on an elephant back or you can also go walking. Better try the elephant ride and have that royal feel ,enjoying the sights from the top of the majestic animal


Reaching the Amber Fort .

Tourists can either take local buses from various points within the city to reach the central museum or they can hire rickshaws, tempos and taxis.

Kumarakom Backwaters-Kottayam,Kerala

Kumarakom a small village is situated 15 kilometers from Kottyam on the Vembanad Lake. The fresh water lake acts as an integral part of the backwater cruises in Kerala. It is a much sought after back water destination in Kerala.Kumarakom consists of a number of small islands on the Vembanad Lake. Boat races, house boat cruises are some of the main attractions of this place. The Huge houseboats traditionally known as Kettuvalams provide every amenities of a house, which includes living rooms, kitchen and toilets and also a balcony, from where the tourist can have a good view of the backwaters.The Vembanad Lake is one of the largest fresh water lakes in Asia. It flows through the verdant lands of Kerala and offers one of the best backwater cruises. The Vembanad Lake, the largest backwater in Kerala, is the habitat for many marine and freshwater fish species and it teems with 'Karimeen' (Pearl Spotted Fish), shrimp (chemmeen in the local language) and prawns. Kumarakom is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna.


Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary: The bird sanctuary extends over 14 acres (57,000 m²), and came into existence following preservation efforts from the government. It is a major tourist attraction. This is a perfect place for any body who loves birds. You can walk through the forests and watch variety of birds in the size and might, flying past you or resting on the trees .You can enjoy these sights along with the chirping of the birds. Birds are seen fluttering here and there. For the tourists it is heartening to see so many species of birds together in a single trip. The local population of the birds includes Waterfowl, Cuckoo, Owls, Egrets, Herons Water Ducks, Parrots, Teal, Larks, Flycatchers and Wood Beetle.The Siberian Cranes which are migratory birds can also be seen here, if we visit the place during the month of November to March. These migratory birds remain for a short visit at Kuumarakom Bird Sanctuary.


The best way to watch the birds of the Kumarakom sanctuary is a boat trip round the islands, either on a housing boat or a motor boat. Along with the birds the tourist can see lots of coconut trees lined up by the side of the backwaters.Boat trips make us possible to sight a number of birds without actually disturbing them. What makes these cruises all the more special is the kind of tranquility felt while sailing through the serene waters of the Vembanad Lake. The Island of Pathiramanal ( meaning Sands of night) which attracts a large number of migratory birds is also easily accessible from the boats


Enjoy Walking Tours - Another option to spot the bird species of the park is to set out on foot on the one and half km long walking track. Chances are that a large number of birds on our stroll.Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is a golden feather in India's ecological crown, despite being one of the smallest parks in the country. A visit to Kumarakom, nesting on the banks of the Vembanad Lake, will give you memories to cherish.

Veli Picnic Spot-Trivandrum

Veli is a popular spot which is frequented mostly by the people who stay in and around Trivandrum district. It has got a beautiful lagoon, a beach and a children’s park. There are several artworks of Kaanayi Kunjiraman inside the park.



There is a ticket counter before entering Veli.After taking the ticket you can proceed.Once we enter we can see a stone work by Kaanayi Kunjiraman which looks like strange stonework. As we walk further we can find a pool for children which are not well maintained. After a little more strolling we will come across a fish pool, where we can see many coconut trees standing head held high with lots of coconuts. We can find a grass artwork by Kaanayi Kunjiraman nearby the pool. There are a number of fishes inside the pool. The Veli Lakeside stretches till Aakkulam.There is a side walkway till Aakulam.We can walk till Aakulam through this sideway. Also we can sit and rest on the stone benches on the sideway enjoying the breeze and beauty of the lagoon.


So are you planning a boat ride across the Lake? Enter the boat jetty, where there is a counter which sells the tickets for boating. From there we can select the mode of boating. Various type of boating services are available. You can go for speed boating if you want thrill and excitement and speed boating should be tried at least once if you enjoy adventure. Go for Peddling if you have the energy to pedal the boat. Else there is a motor boating facility also, where the boating service is provided for a group of people. After the boating you continue strolling and we can see the sea far away. There is a floating restaurant which is maintained by the Tourism Department of Kerala. Sitting on the deck of the restaurant enjoying the view from there will hold memories close to our heart. We can have a good view of a bridge from the deck from the floating restaurant .To reach one side of the beach we need to cross a floating bridge, which is real fun. We feel that we are swaying a bit when we cross the bridge. Several shops are lined up by the side of beach. Enjoy your time in the beach, and don’t miss the the sunset if you reached there by evening.Horse rides are also available across the beach.So a visit to Veli is a full package with the diversity of the lakeside and also the beach.

Location:7 kilometers from Trivandrum city
Timings :Veli is open from morning 8AM to 6PM

Kovalam Beach-Trivandrum-Kerala

Kovalam was brought to the public eye by the Maharaja of Travancore."Kovalam" means a grove of coconut trees and true to its name the village offers an endless sight of coconut trees.Kovalam beach, one of the finest beaches in the world and situated on the Arabian Sea is in the state of Kerala,India,It is situated 16 kilometers from Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) and has evolved into the most important tourist destination in India over time.Kovalam has three crescent shaped beaches separated by rocks. The larger of the beaches is called Light House Beach which is the most popular for its 35 meter high light house which towers over it. It offers an amazing sight of Vizhinjam mosque. It got its name due to the old Vizhinjam Lighthouse located on a rock there. The second largest one is Hawah Beach where local people are not allowed inside. It is frequented by foreigners .The northern part of the beach is known as Samudra Beach.The Northern most crescent is crowded on the weekends, is very popular with the locals, day-travelers, and passing-by tourist buses. Beauty and Serenity in this beach is supplemented by the facilities available there. There are a variety of restaurants to choose from including Indian, Continental, or Western.


Ayurvedic Massage centers and Yoga Centers are available for the tourists for reasonable cost. Shopping for various curios can also be done here. Various water sport activities are also being provided for the tourists. The sands on the beaches in Kovalam are partially black in color due to the presence of limonite and thorazite.Kovalam beach with its shallow waters stretching for hundreds of meters are ideal for swimming. The tourism department provides a vigilant life guard service on the beaches. There are strong underwater currents, so it is wise to follow the life guard’s instruction. Warnings boards are placed on the beach. The safe areas are marked with green flags and the danger areas with red flags. The beach is suitable for just roaming round in between the coconut trees and sanded can enjoy the sea breeze and also the beautiful sunset by sitting in restaurants facing the beach sipping your coffee. So rush to this Paradise of South. The months most suited for visit are from September to May

Welcome to Heaven on Earth:Poovar-Trivandrum-Kerala

Poovar is situated Thirty kilometers from Trivandrum city.Poovar is an unspoilt area.Poovar is surrounded by the calmest backwaters and the sea. The backwaters opens out into a clean sandy beach opposite, which became the dividing line between the backwaters and the sea .There is a place where you can see the backwaters kissing the sea.Poovar was once a famous trading center and also one of the ancient ports in the district. It is said that the legendary Jesuit Missionary,St. Francis Xavier, visited the place in the 16th century.Poovar is situated south of Neyyar river.Poovar in Malayalam means a stream of flowers. The view from the backwaters is a picture perfect view. The Canals in Poovar is a representation of rural life in Kerala. You can see village life here and there and watch people fishing. Boating service is also available through the backwaters. There are several resorts in Poovar,which offer you different facilities.The silence and beauty of Poovar will remain in our heart forever.