KERALA TO BECOME GLOBAL PILGRIM TOURISM CENTRE.

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy  said that the state government would place more thrust on pilgrim tourism and was planning to introduce a special package, 


Kerala with its large number of temple, churches, mosques and several other places of worship, will soon become global pilgrim tourist centre.
The Keral Government has decided to launch a pilgrim tour called "Darshan Yatra" across the state to promote pilgrim tourism and thus to woo more tourists to the state.


The state tourism department has drawn up a special package for the  "Darshan Yatra" as per which tourists can choose the pilgrim destinations for their choice.


Under the plan, Kerala been divided into three zones according to the presence of major pilgrim centres. The yatra will be arranged in three packages lasting two days, tourism officials said.


The first tour beginning from Thiruvananthapuram, will cover places like Kovalam, Tiruvallam, Attukal, Padmanabha Swamy Temple, Veli and Neyyar dam.


Another group will begin from Kochi and cover the Ernakulathappan temple, Kaladi, Thripunithura, Athirampuzha, Guruvayur and Kadampuzha. The third group will start from angamali and cover the places like Kanniyur, Bharananganam, Malayattur, Pala and Valiyapalli, source said


Chief Minister also said the government plans to set up a global village in kerala's commercial capital kochi to woo foreign tourists.

KSWTD has decided to start Alappuzha-Kuttanad circular Cruise Boats services.

ALAPPUZHA: Taking cue from the success of Alappuzha-Kollam tourism cruise boat service, the Kerala State Water Transport Department (KSWTD)has decided to start Alappuzha-Kuttanad circular cruise to tap the tourism potential of the district. The construction of the two boats with a capacity of 90 seats is in the final stage at the Kannur Azheekal Boat Construction Yard of Steel Industries Kerala Limited (SILK)
 “The new services will begin in a month. And with the introduction of the new low-cost cruise boats, people will get an opportunity to enjoy the scenic beauty of Kuttanad, Vembanad and Ashtamudi lakes with just Rs 300,” KSWTD director Shaji V Nair said.
“The KSWTD started its low-cost cruise for tourists in 2010 and it turned out to be success,” said Shaji V Nair, KSWTD director.
“The collection of the Alappuzha-Kollam cruise boats between September 2010 and May 2011 was over 50 lakh,” he added.  “When private parties are collecting Rs 350 for one hour journey in the back water, the KSWTD is charging only Rs 300 for eight hour journey in Alappuzha-Kollam tourism cruise boats,” he said. The boat journey covers Punnamada lake, Kuttanad paddy fields, the statue of Karumadikuttan, one of the largest statues of Lord Buddha, Pallana Kumarakodi, Thrikkunnapuzha coir village and Amrithapuri-the head quarters of the Matha Amrithanandhamayi mutt,” said Ashokan, finance officer of the SWTD.

Kochi turns art mart destination

Durbar Hall Art Centre, the State Lalithakala Akademi's modernized art gallery of international standards, was dedicated to the nation by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at a function at the Durbar Hall premises on Sunday.
The modernisation project of the gallery that took about a year and cost Rs.3 crore taken up by the Kochi Biennale Foundation has provided over 10,000 square feet of space for displaying works of art in two floors, making it a premier space that the artists will enjoy here, said Mr. Chandy.
With the opening of the all-new Durbar Hall art gallery and the mushrooming of several big and small art galleries, Kochi is being transformed into one of the most important art circuits in the country. Quite a change from its earlier static and uninspiring art scene.
Now the harbour city is set to become a favourite destination for the artistic fraternity across the country.

“The Durbar Hall art gallery is now the finest gallery in the country. It will undoubtedly attract the most talented artists from across the world,” predicted Riyas Komu, secretary of the Kochi Biennale Foundation, which had undertaken the gallery’s renovation.
The gallery has been remodeled along international standards, using lights imported from Germany and climate and pest-control facilities, he said.
The renovation was done by the Mumbai-based conservation architect, Vikas Dilawari, with lighting arrangements by Sathish Rane from Pune.
The city has seen the mushrooming of several small and big art galleries in the recent past. Fort Kochi and Mattanchery are dotted with a number of galleries displaying creative works.

“The Durbar Hall gallery has been converted into one of the best galleries in the world. This is really going to be an international space. After the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, more international shows will come to Kochi,” says Mr. Rajan M Krishnan, a renowned artist.
T. Kaladharan, a veteran artist who was behind the establishment of the state’s renowned Kalapeedhom, welcomes the arrival of this modern gallery.
“There will be a host of exhibitions in the city now, especially with the Kochi Muziris Biennale exhibition scheduled in 2012. With the proliferation of galleries, there could be a tendency to come out with prints, which should be discouraged,” he cautioned.
The creative contribution of the younger generation of artists from the state like Riyas Komu, Bose Krishnamachari, Rajan M Krishnan, Zakeer Hussein, N.N. Rimson and many others have contributed to Kochi’s growth as a major art centre.
“There was a time when most Kerala artists preferred to move to other cities to continue their art career. But now the trend is showing a reversal,” adds Rajan.

Kerala Tourism road show covers new area.

Kerala tourism conducted road shows in Scandinavian countries like Sweden, Norway, Denmark,Finland. This is being conducted as there is tremendous growth in the  tourists visiting in Kerala from these places. It is marketed to people through presentations, documentaries, trade interactions and visual display.  The road show were held at Oslo (Norway) Nov 14, Copenhagen (Denmark) Nov 15, Helsinki (Finland) Nov 16 and at Stockholm (Sweden) Nov 17. There is active participation from Indian ambassadors also. The consolation prizes to the winners were free holiday tour package to Kerala include Ayurveda treatment. Jet airways sponsored the free air tickets for "Go Kerala"  winners. In 2010, as many as 10,525 tourists arrived from Sweden (1.60 percent of the total tourist arrivals), Denmark 8,825 tourists (1.34 per cent), Finland 3,146 tourists (0.48 per cent), and Norway 2,583 tourists (0.39 per cent).

The Kochi skyline will again be ruled by the kite flyers from across the globe

KOCHI: The Kochi skyline will again be ruled by the kite flyers from across the globe. The third edition of the Kerala Kite Festival will be held from January 21 to 23. Along with Kochi, a part of the festival will be held at Vagamon as well. Kite making, flying competition and other exciting events will mark the festival, which has attracted many people during its previous editions.
The event is being organised by the Kite Life Foundation (KLF), an NGO promoted by a group of kite flyers, in association with the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) and Kerala Tourism. “The competition will be open for all age groups irrespective of gender,” said Reema Nair, KLF council member.
“The competition will be based on three themes - the big kite, the best humanitarian message kite and the best innovative kite.  Kite makers can use any material, which are either land filled products (recycled) or sourced from markets except plastic. “The winners will get prizes, certificates and membership in the Team Kerala Kite (Club) promoted by KLF,” Reema said.
“Team Kerala Kite has members from India and abroad. The KLF is invited to participate in many festivals in India and other countries. We also conduct workshops for students and offer new dimensions in kite making. The KLF uses kites for many cause related activities
that include scholarships for the students,” Reema added.
The KLF is promising an action packed aerial extravaganza with spectacular flying displays, awesome kites, colourful ground-based inflatable and air sculptors of various shapes and sizes. A spectacular array of air creations, including original air sculptures and collection of larger-than-life air kites. The festival will be held from 11 am to 6 pm.
Source IBN live

Kerala pavilion wins award

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : The Kerala pavilion, portraying a slice of the pristine beauty of God’s Own Country, has bagged the best stand award at the World Travel Market 2011, in London. Kerala Tourism, which set up the huge pavilion spread over 117 sqm on the theme of ‘backwater with Chinese fishing net,’ won the prize in the category of Best Stand Feature.

‘’This simple stand proved eye-catching for the judges thanks to a couple of features. A huge image of a Kerala backwater covering one wall was enhanced by a real-life fishing net stretching out into the stand as well as a canoe. The image told the story of the destination perfectly,’’ according to the statement by the award jury. Stark Communications Pvt Ltd had conceived and designed this stand. The pavilion by Kerala is the biggest of the kind by any State from India at the four-day WTM which started on November 7. Kerala Tourism is the lone State destination to win the best stand award while all other winners were national boards and international destinations. ‘’We are glad that we could present a slice of Kerala through this pavilion. We are conveying to the world that it is just a tiny glimpse of the beauty that our State has. It is a recognition for our efforts and big push to our future endeavours on the marketing front,’’ said Tourism Minister A P Anil Kumar, who is leading the Kerala contingent at the event.
‘’We are overwhelmed by the response received at the fair. The simple, classy stand was a major crowd-puller and gave the business visitors an endearing taste of God’s Own Country,’’ said Tourism Secretary T K Manoj Kumar after receiving the award. 
Source IBN live

DTPC is all set to introduce waterway tourism from Marine Drive to Kadambrayar.

KOCHI: Tapping the tourism potential, District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) is all set to introduce waterway tourism from Marine Drive to Kadambrayar. DTPC is intending to introduce a leisure boat ride from Marine Drive to Kadambrayar. A trial run was conducted this year and the paper, to approve the proposal, has been submitted before the government.
The things to be done for the development of the waterway include dredging some shallow portions, removing water hyacinth from a few places and reintroducing boat service through this water route. For promoting the waterway and developing a tourism hub around Kadambrayar, the DTPC has selected the place as one among the four locales for ‘Utsavam’, which showcases Kerala’s ethnic art forms.
“An investment of about `50 lakh is intended for the first phase of the project. One of important things about the waterway is that it could decongest the traffic from Kochi to Pallikkara. House boats, speed boats and ordinary boats can be plied in this route. DTPC along with Destination Management Committee (DMC) will overlook the project and the basic infrastructure will be readied within a few months after getting the nod from the Tourism Ministry. A new DMC will be formed under the MLA and the work will be monitored by them. Currently, big boats cannot enter the waterway as bund created in Brahmapuram is blocking the route. The collector will visit the site to clear the work in Brahmapuram area,” DTPC official said.
As part of the project, seafood restaurants and shops will be set up on the either sides of the river. “The work of the walkway is almost over. The boat operators in Thevara, Marine Drive and Pallikara are ready to ply their boats in this area. The proposal also was given for setting up DMC office on the northern side of Boat Jetty near the High Court of Kerala. The Kadambrayar is all set to become one of the tourist hubs of the Kochi city with few years time,” DTPC official said.
Source IBN live

Kadalundi reserve all set to lure nature lovers.

KOZHIKODE: The beauty of the community reserve spread over 150 hectares of estuary area between Kadalundi and Valikkunu grama panchayats, which is little known to the world will soon be explored to develop it as a major tourist spot in south India.

The Kadalundi-Vallikkunnu Community Reserve Management Committee has prepared a ten-year-management-plan for the realisation of the challenging task.

The Kadalundi-Vallikkunnu Community Reserve was a first-of-its-kind initiative by the Kerala State Forest Department undertaken two years back for the conservation of nature with people's participation.

The committee has submitted a Rs 14.5 crore management plan to the state government and the Union Forest Ministry for approval. The plan envisages setting up a mangrove nursery and research centre in the area.

The committee also aims to make Kadalundi a major bird watching spot in the country. The place, known for migratory birds, is already a well-known bird sanctuary in Malabar.Thousands of birdwatchers throng the area during September to April to have a glimpse of rare migratory birds. It is one of the feeding grounds in winter for thousands of seabirds and shorebirds that include some rare ones hitherto unrecorded in Kerala. A plan to set up a watch tower to help the birdwatchers has proposed in the management plan. Around 60 species of migratory birds visit Kadalundi every year.

Another proposal in the plan is to set up a butterfly park. Services of tourist guides will also be ensured in the areas to help the domestic and foreign tourists.

"We are also planning to uplift the living standard of more than 5,000 people residing in the reserve areas," said Anil Marath, chairman of the Kadalundi-Vallikunnu Community Reserve Management Committee. We have already forwarded the management plan to both the State and the Union Forest Ministry and hope to get the approval soon, he said.

Tourism corridor for Malappuram

MALAPPURAM: Giving a boost to Malappuram's potential, a tourism corridor will be set up along the banks of Nila River from Ponnani to Kuttippuram. Heritage sites, pilgrim centres and backwater spots in the region will come under this plan. Sources say the project is likely to start in October.

It is learnt that centres like Ponnani Juma Masjid, Thripprangodu Shiva Temple, Thirunavaya Navamukunda Temple, and Alathiyoor Hanumankavu will add a religious feel to the proposed package.

The mouth of Bharathappuzha a seasonal home to hundreds of migratory birds and the ferry centre at Chamravattom will be listed as top spots.

The development of backwater tourism centres like Biyyam Kayal and Canoly Canal will come under this project. Biyyam Kayal is famous for its annual Onam boat race. The Centre has already sanctioned Rs 150 crore for the development of the Canoly Canal. K Madhu of tourism department said irrigation department is in charge of the canal's development work. "We can design the outer surface and walkways on the banks of the canal," Madhu said.

Additionally, Mamankam monuments on Nila's river banks will also be developed. Under the Nila Tourism Project local level tourist destination council with the support of archaeology depart ment has already renovated Changamballi Kalari, Nilapaduthara, Manikkinar, Pazhukka Mandapam, and Marunnara sites. They all are closely associated with the Mamankam festival that was last held in 1755.

"We will link the Nila heritage Tourism Project with the backwater and pilgrim tourism centres in Ponnani to further the districts tourism sector," Madhu said

Madhu added private players are welcome to help implement the project as the government is short on funds. "We are hopeful as the local self-government department (LSGD) expressed their interest to be a part of this scheme. The public are also showing their support with valuable suggestions," he said.