Kovalam Beach Kerala

• "Kovalam" means a grove of coconut trees and true to its name the village offers an endless sight of coconut trees. The crescent-shaped beach has three parts. The southern most beach, and the most popular, is light house beach. It offers an amazing sight of Vizhinjam mosque. 

• The northern Samudra is a laidback one and time seems stands still here. The middle, hawah, in the early day, is a beehive of activities with fishermen setting out for sea. Beaches Evening time view of the beach Kovalam has three beaches separated by rocky outcroppings in its 17 km coastline, the three together form the famous crescent of the Kovalam beach Lighthouse Beach The southernmost beach, the Lighthouse Beach is the one most frequented by tourists, Lighthouse Beach got its name due to the old Vizhinjam Lighthouse located on a rocky promontory here. Its intermittent beams at night render the beach with an unearthly charm. See some images of Kovalam here. Hawah Beach Eve’s Beach, more commonly

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• Thekkady, is one of India's most fascinating natural wildlife sanctuaries, where you can watch wildlife at close range. The vegetation, the flora and fauna and the birds of Thekkady are uniquely rich, vast and varied that it does not bear semblance to any other wildlife sanctuaries in the world. Even a casual visitor to this place will not fail to observe the special ecological pattern of Thekkady. Thekkady (Idukki district) is the location of the Periyar National Park, which is an important tourist attraction in the Kerala state of India. Situated in Kerala, close to the Kerala - Tamil Nadu border town - Kumily, it is located about 257 km (160 mi) from Trivandrum, 114 km from Madurai City and Madurai International Airport, 185 km from Cochin International Airport and 114 km from Kottayam railway station.

• The sanctuary is famous for its dense evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist deciduous forests and savanna grass lands. It is home to herds of elephants, sambar, tigers, gaur, lion-ta. Thekkady is tantamount to proud mountains, winding valleys, scented plantations and crisp air. The periyar forest of Thekkady is abode to one of the finest natural wildlife sanctuaries in India. Spread over a picture perfect landscape, it holds great opportunities for wildlife watching and photography. A cruise on the lake might just strike that long forgotten string of the heart. Set off on a memorable plantation tour, spice garden trek, walking through the cardamom, coffee, pepper and tea plantations. Make most of it by walking into tribal settlements and watching their life from close. Ride through the jungle on elephant back and see how it feels to walk in grandeur and style. Thekkady in the south Indian state of Kerala is one very appealing town of India with vast forest areas and some finest nature views. The very sound of the word Thekkady recollects images of elephants, unending chains of hills and spice scented plantations.

• Periyar forest in Thekkady is one of the finest wildlife reserves in India, and spread across the entire district are bewitching plantations and captivating hill towns that hold great opportunities for treks and mountain walks. Around 700 elephants and 42 tigers! This is the least that Thekkady (Periyar) offers. Nestled in the verdant high ranges of the Western Ghats, the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is the cynosure of all eyes here in Kerala. The sanctuary covers a huge area of 777 sq km and harbours species like Nilgiri langoor, Nilgiri tahr, Bison, Sambhar, Deer, Antelope, Tortoises, Black Tailed Monkeys, etc. The avian species count to 265. To add to your experience all the more, there are aromatic spice gardens in the vicinity of the park. The pride of Kerala, Thekkady is a dream destination that offers a thrilling combination of wildlife safari tours and a hill-station holiday that leaves the tourists spellbound. The very mention of Thekkady conjures up images of elephants, rolling hills and spice plantations. Here, in the crisp, cool air of the Western Ghats you will experience the most enchanting holiday with the animals of the wild and the simple unsophisticated mountain people.

• Thekkady's premier tourist attraction is the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Centered around an artificial lake of Thekkady, the national park is home to a great variety of wildlife species such as elephants, sambars, tigers, gaurs, lion tailed macaques and Nilgiri langurs. The Sanctuary also doubles up as a Tiger Reserve and you can explore the Thekkady forest at leisure on elephant rides, cruises on the lake and jungle safaris to the heart of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. On tours of Thekkady, you will also come across other places of interest such as Kumily and Murrikady, where you can see the exotic spice plantations of cardamom, coffee and pepper. If you feel like picnicking, no other spot is better than Pandikuzhi that offers great opportunities for trekking and photography. Travel to Chellarkovil in Thekkady to enjoy the spectacular view of the plains and cascading waterfalls during the monsoons. Thekkady is king of jungles. The drumming calls of Nilgiri langurs, probably a coded message to the denizens of the forest to be alert and careful, will greet the visitors who enter the forests. Moving further, barking deers, a characteristic alarm signal to the inmate species, may shake the visitors. Amongst Thekkady worthy inhabitants, there is an exclusive charm in watching the majestic tuskers and the bright-eyed tigers in their exclusive kingdom.

• It is meaningless to think of returning without a sweet brush with animals.That is fun. It is mandatory to have a guide. Most of the guides are poachers turned. The poachers were roped in as protectors as part of ecotourism and rehabilitation. The sprawling Periyar Tiger Reserve, in an area of 777 Sq Km, is rated as one of the 18 hot spots in the world in bio-diversity. Its tropical rain forests present worlds most ancient and complex environments. Home to elephants, tigers, leopards, deers, gaurs, antelopes, variety of reptiles and birds of numerous species. The location is ideal and adaptive. Amidst mountain ranges, valleys, lakes and rivers superb dramatic settings. The largest sanctuary in the State, it is in the south end of Western Ghats with splendid cardamom hills, in an altitude upto 6000 ft. The boathouse is the starting point. Just 2 Km from the entry gate. Eco-tourism centre is near the boathouse. Booking is to be made here for guide, treks, boat rides and other activities

Periyar National Park

• The Thekkady lake as seen from Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.The Periyar National Park is spread over an area of about 777 km and comprises a thick evergreen forest with exotic wild life. The sanctuary was declared a tiger reserve sometime in 1978. It has an artificial lake formed by the Mullaperiyar Dam, built in 1895 across the Periyar river.Bamboo Rafting during guided tour through Periyar[disambiguation needed] Wild Life Sanctury Murikkady .This place consists of spice and coffee plantations. It is about 5 km from Thekkady.

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Chellar Kovil

• This is located about 15 km from Kumily and leads to the Theni district of Tamil Nadu. This place has a lot of waterfalls and cascades. It is very beautiful and extremely serene.

Anakkara

• Located at about 13 km from Kumily on the Kumily-Munnar road, Anakkara is an upcoming spice tourism destination in the state. There is also a new airport proposed at Anakkara and is under review by the Airports Authority of India.

Mangala Devi Temple

• It is situated about 15 km from Thekkady and sits at an altitude of 1337 m above sea level. It is surrounded by lush greenery and is closed throughout the year except during the Chitra Pournami festival. At other times tourists can still view it by getting a special letter from the forest ranger. The view from the temple premises is spectacular and one can see part of eastern ghats and some villages from adjacent state of Tamil Nadu.

Plantation Resort

• Plantation Resort situated in Vandanmedu (near Thekkady, Kerala, India) which is perched 4000ft above mean sea level (MSL), and this little town is the largest producer of Cardamom in the entire world.

Tour destinations in Kerala,India

• Kochi (colonial name Cochin) is a vibrant city situated on the south-west coast of the Indian peninsula in the breathtakingly scenic and prosperous state of Kerala, hailed as 'God's Own Country'. Its strategic importance over the centuries is underlined by the sobriquet Queen of the Arabian Sea. Informally, Cochin is also referred to as the Gateway to Kerala. Kochi(, formerly Cochin, is a major port city on the west coast of India by the Arabian Sea. Kochi is part of the district of Ernakulam in the state of Kerala. Kochi is often called by the name Ernakulam, which refers to the eastern part of the mainland Kochi. The civic body that governs the city is the Corporation of Cochin, which was constituted in the year 1967, and the statutory bodies that oversee its development are the Greater Cochin Development Authority and the Goshree Islands Development Authority. The city of Kochi (pop. 601,574) is Kerala's second largest city and is part of an extended metropolitan region.

• The chinese fishing nets (Cheenavala) are distinctly unique to Cochin. It is believed that traders from the court of the Chinese ruler Kublai Khan introduced these nets here. Oddly, these nets are found only in Kochi, outside China! Many fishermen earn their livelihood by fishing using these massive nets. A whole stretch of the coast along Fort Kochi and Vypeen are dotted with these nets.

• Fort Kochi beach :A stroll along the beach, particularly at sunset with the chinese fishing nets and sailing ships in the background, is a memorable experience. Many European style bungalows can be seen along the shoreline. The coastal stretch has loads of small stalls, which make on demand mouth-watering traditional cuisines using freshly caught fish.

St. Francis Church, Fort Kochi

• It is the oldest church built by Europeans in India. On his 3rd visit to Kerala, Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese trader who reached India from Europe by sea, fell ill and died in Kochi. He was buried in the St. Francis Church. Later his remains were taken back to Portugal. In spite of that, his burial spot inside the church has been clearly marked out.

 Vasco House, Fort Kochi

• Vasco house, located on Rose Street, is believed to be one of the oldest Portuguese houses in India. Vasco da Gama is believed to have lived here. This house features European glass paned windows and verandahs.

Santa Cruz Basilica, Fort Kochi

• The original church, situated in Fort Kochi, was built by the Portuguese in 1505 and named as a cathedral in 1558. The British colonists destroyed the cathedral in 1795. The current structure was built in 1905 and raised to the status of a basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1984.

Jewish Synagogue and Jew Town, Mattancherry

• The synagogue, built in 1568, is magnificently decorated by Chinese tiles and Belgian chandeliers. Giant scrolls of the Old Testament can be found here. It is located near the Dutch Palace in Mattancherry.

Dutch Palace (Mattancherry Palace), Mattancherry

• The Dutch Palace was originally built by the Portuguese. Later, in 17th century, the Dutch modified it and presented it to the Raja of Kochi. Coronation of many Rajas of Kochi were held here. The palace has a fine collection of mural paintings depicting scenes from the Hindu epics Mahabharatha and Ramayana. The palace is located in Mattancherry.

Bolghatty Palace, Bolghatty Island

• This Dutch palace is situated on Bolghatty island which is just a short boat ride away from the mainland. The palace has been converted to a hotel run by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC). The island has a tiny golf course and the panoramic views of the port and the harbour, makes it an attractive picnic spot. Frequent boat service is available from the mainland.

Marine Drive

• A stroll along the long tree-lined coastal pathway that lines the backwater is well worth the time spent, especially late afternoon or dusk. The bustling backwaters, dotted with fishing boats, speedboats, ships, tankers and passenger boats, can be observed from this walkway that lines the coast.

Willingdon Island

• This man-made island was created in 1933 by sand dredged while deepening the backwaters for the Cochin Port, under the direction of Sir Robert Bristow. A while back the Airport, Sea port and the railway terminus (Cochin Harbour Terminus) were situated on this island. Today, it is the home of the Cochin Port and the headquarters of the Sourthern Naval Command. The airport continues to be the naval air station, while the main airport has been moved to Nedumbassery, 30kms north-east of Cochin. Most of the trains now terminate at Ernakulam Junction instead of Cochin Harbour Terminus.

Places To Visit in Wayanad, Kerala Tour Operators-GladTours

• WAYANAD:Known as the land of paddy fields, Wayanad is one of the most beautiful hillstations of India lying close to the Sahya ranges. This paradise on earth is located 76 km from the seashores of Kozhikode, and has almost one fourth of the total land area under forest cover. Known for its lovely mist clad hill stations, sprawling spice plantations, luxuriant forests and rich cultural traditions, Wayanad is also home to some of the oldest known tribes in South India.

• Banasura Sagar Dam With the renown of being the largest earthen dam in India and the second largest in Asia, the Banasura Sagar Dam offers a spectacular view of the little islands forming its upstream, seamlessly merging with the background of surrounding Banasura Hills. Located 21 km from Kalpetta, the dam is an ideal starting point for the trek enthusiasts to explore into the surrounding scenic mountains.

• Chembra peak The highest peak in Wayanad located 2100m above the sea level, Chembra peak sits as a part of the Wayanad Hill ranges in Western Ghats adjoining the Nilgiri Hills in Tamilnadu and Vellarimala in Kozhikode district in Kerala. The major scenic attraction is a heart shaped lake en route to the top of the peak that also is an adventurous endeavour to the trek enthusiasts. The peak is also accessible by foot where tourists could set up temporary camps. District Tourism Promotion Council provides guides, sleeping bags, huts etc on hire charges to the tourists.

• Edakkal Caves Located on Ambukutty Mala 25 km from Kalpetta, the caves apart from imparting hypnotizing beauty to its viewers, impound historic significance in favour of ancient civilisation. The pictoral writings and stone age carvings found inside the caves are the only known evidences to exist in southern India that have greatly inspired and enticed the archaeologists and historians over the years.

• Kuruva Island Away from the chaotic cacophony of city life, harboring nature's rare exotic species of birds, orchids and herbs is an uninhabited island spread across 950 acres of evergreen forest. An ideal destination to spend a secluded holiday characterized by the peace and tranquility of nature, the Kuruva Island is located 40 km north west of Sultan Bathery. The island is a protected river delta system on the Kabini river.

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• Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary The largest abode of wild animals in Malabar, the Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary is located 16km east of Sultan Bathery. Spread over 344 sq.km, the sanctuary is a part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and is inhabited by wild birds, peacocks, peafowl and wild animals such as bison, elephant, tiger, cheetah etc. Elephant rides are a fascinating activity in the itinerary of tourists visiting the sanctuary.

• Pookot Lake With the lush green mountains forming the silhouette and salubrious weather lingering around, Pookot lake is a much sought after tourist spot in Wayanad. The natural fresh water lake is a hypnotizing beauty spread over an area of 8.5 ha. and has a depth of 6.5m. The lake has boating facilities provided for its tourists.

• Soochippara Waterfall The waters that fall from 100 ft down to 300 ft heights is a refreshing treat to eyes. To reach the waterfall follows a 2 km trekking down the steep rocks. The pool on ground provides for water rafting, swimming, bathing etc. The tree top huts at Soochippara are a great tourist attraction for they allow to breathe the scenic view of the valleys of Western Ghats and the surrounding shallow waters.

• Lakkidi Known as the Gateway of Wayanad, Lakkidi is home to nature's best beauty reserves. Located 5 km south of Vythiri, the journey to Lakkidi from Adivaram is an adventurous expedition with nine hairpin bends through thick forests. The place is located at a high altitude of 700m above the sea level and has recorded the second highest level of rainfall in the entire world. The soaring mountain peaks, cascading water streams, rich vegetation and bird's eye view of the Deep South valley atop are other fascinating tourist attractions.

• Pakshipathalam Located 1740 m above sea level in the Brahmagiri Hills at Thirunelli, Pakshipathalam is an ideal tourist spot for adventure seeking tourists that involves 16 km of journey through thick wild forests. The deep rock caves seated amidst thick blocks of rocks are abode to various birds and wild beasts. Pakshipathalam is also known by the name of Munekal caves.

• Pazhassi Tourist resort is located at Mananthavady in north Wayanad, 34 km from Kalpetta. Pazhassi Raja who was known the Lion of Kerala and organized warfare against British East India Company, was cremated here in 1805. Associated with historical significance, it is an ideal tourist resort situated at a height of 500m near to Kabini river. Boating, childen's park, aquarium, exhibition and sale of handicrafts and spices, are the main attractions.

Rameswaram Temple Built at 12th Century

• Rameswaram, also spelt as Ramesvaram or Rameshwaram is a town and a third grade municipality in the Ramanathapuram district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on Pamban Island separated from mainland India by the Pamban channel and is about 50 kilometres from Mannar Island, Sri Lanka. It is situated in the Gulf of Mannar, at the very tip of the Indian peninsula. Pamban Island, also known as Rameswaram Island, is connected to mainland India by the Pamban Bridge. Rameswaram is the terminus of the railway line from Chennai and Madurai. Together with Varanasi, it is considered to be one of the holiest places in India to Hindus, and part of the Char Dham pilgrimage. According to legend, this is the place from where the Hindu god Rama built a bridge, Adam's Bridge across the sea to Lanka to rescue his consort Sita from her abductor Ravana.

• The Ramanathaswamy Temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva is located at the centre of the town and is closely associated with Rama The temple along with the town is considered a holy pilgrimage site for both Shaivites and Vaishnavites. Rameswaram is the closest point to reach Sri Lanka and Geological evidence suggests that the Adam's bridge was a former land connection between India and Sri Lanka. Tourism and fishery employ the majority of workforce in Rameswaram. Another notable fact is that Rameswaram is the native place of the scientist and former Indian President Dr A.P.J.Abdul Kalam. The major religion followed in Rameswaram is Hinduism. Being a Hindu pilgrimage centre, majority of the visitor to Rameswaram are followers of Hinduism. There is a minority of Christians, predominantly from the fishing community of the region.St Antony's Church at Oriyur on the eastern shore of the island is a prominent Church in the island Ramanathaswamy Temple Corridor of 1000 pillars Ramanathaswamy Temple is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to god Shiva located in the centre of Rameswaram. It is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams, where the three of the most revered Nayanars (7th century Saivite Saints), Appar, Sundarar and Tirugnana Sambandar have glorified the temple with their verses.

• The temple in its current structure was built during the 12th century by Pandya Dynasty. The temple has the longest corridor among all Hindu temples in India The Temple is also one of the 12 Jyothirlinga temples, where Shiva is worshipped in the form of a Jyotirlingam meaning "pillar of light". Temple Tanks Main article: Tirthas of Rameswaram There are sixty-four Tirthas (holy water bodies) in and around Rameswaram. According to Skanda , twenty-four of them are important. Bathing in these tanks is a major aspect of the pilgrimage to Rameswaram and is considered equivalent to penance. Twenty-two of the tanks are within the Ramanathaswamy Temple. The first and major one is called Agni Theertham, the sea (Bay of Bengal).Jatayu, King of the Birds, who fought in vain with Ravana, the demon to save Sita, is said to have fallen down as his wings were severed at the point where Jadayu Theertham is now locatedVilloondi Theertham literally translates to ‘buried bow’, is located around 7 kilometers from the main temple on the way to Pamban]. It is believed to be the place where Rama quenched the thirst of Sita by dipping the bow into the sea water Other major holy bodies are Hanuman Theertham, Sugreeva Theertham and Lakshmana Theertham [edit]Gandhamathana Parvatham Kothandaramar Temple, Rameshwaram Gandhamathan Parvatham, a hillock situated 3 km to the north of the temple is the highest point in the island.

• There is a two storeyed hall, where Rama's feet is found as an imprint on a chakra (wheel) The Ramarpatham temple is located on the hillock [edit]Dhanushkodi Dhanushkodi is the southern most tip of the island and houses the Kothandaramasamy Temple dedicated to Rama. Though Dhanushkodi was washed away during the 1964 cyclone, the temple alone remained intact It is 18 km way from the centre of the town and can be reached by road. A popular belief is that, Dhanushkodi is where Vibishana, a brother of Ravana surrendered before Rama in the epic Ramayana. Hindu Pilgrimage People taking a holy dip at Rameswaram shore Rameswaram is significant for many Hindus as a pilgrimage to Varanasi is considered to be incomplete without a pilgrimage to Rameswaram. The town along with the temple is one of the holiest Hindu Char Dham (four divine sites) sites comprising Badrinath, Puri and Dwarka.Though the origins are not clearly known, the Advaita school of Hinduism established by Sankaracharya, attributes the origin of Char Dham to the seer. The four monasteries are located across the four corners of India and their attendant temples are Badrinath Temple at Badrinath in the North, Jagannath Temple at Puri in the East, Dwarakadheesh Temple at Dwarka in the West and Ramanathaswamy Temple at Rameswaram in the South. Though ideologically the temples are divided between the sects of Hinduism, namely Saivism and Vaishnavism, the Char Dham pilgrimage is an all Hindu affair.The journey across the four cardinal points in India is considered sacred by Hindus who aspire to visit these temples once in their lifetime.Traditionally the trip starts at the eastern end from Puri, proceeding in clockwise direction in a manner typically followed for circuambulation in Hindu temples.The temple is one of the famous pilgrimage sites historically - the Maratha kings who ruled Thanjavur established chatrams or rest houses all through Mayiladuthurai and Rameswaram between 1745 and 1837 CE and donated them to the temple.

Organizers For A Trip To Holylands.

• GLAD Holyland Tours, is a top ranked, full-service, wholesale tour operator, whose agents have over 20 years experience behind them. Known for our high quality tour programs, dependability, friendly service and local expertise, let us be your professional guide to the most famous and spectacular sites of the biblical world and the Mediterranean. GLAD makes travel easy and whether you’re a seasoned traveler or going for the first time, we will show you the sites as you’ve never seen them before.

• Travel Preferences:Small and large Groups, Escorted Weekly and Daily tours, Family and Customized tours.

• Our Destinations:Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Greece and Turkey & Europe

• Why GLAD? We are committed to providing the very best customer service during each step of your trip. From planning your sightseeing tour or your dream vacation, to helping you select the best tour package to suit your needs. Our experts are there to share their local knowledge and to insure that you have the best possible experience.

• On your trip, knowledgeable, licensed guides connect the history, geography and theology of the places you’ll be visiting - in a friendly, and intimate atmosphere that we create for you. It’s important to us that each traveler receive personal attention and care from our local staff. Comfortable modern coaches transport you through expertly planned itineraries. Along the way you’ll sample delicious local cuisine. And of course, first class accommodations await you each evening. The combination of our extensive network, years of experience and talented associates makes it possible for GLAD to deliver award winning tour packages at fantastic rates.

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History of Velankanni- Best Tourist Places in South India

• Velankanni, officially spelled as Vailankanni (Virgin of Velai, the town), also spelled as "Velanganni" (due to Tamil to English Transliteration), is a panchayat town in Nagapattinam district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, and a parish under Tanjore Roman Catholic Diocese. It is a small town located on the shores of the Bay of Bengal 350 km south of Chennai (Madras) and 12 km south of Nagapattinam on the Coromandel Coast, in Tamil Nadu, India. Once a port that traded with Rome and Greece, the tiny commercial center gradually lost its importance to the larger city of Nagapattinam. The canal built to link this town with Vedaranyam still lies to the west. The Vellayar, a minor branch of the Cauvery River, runs south of the town and discharges into the sea

• The town is home to a significant Roman Catholic shrine dedicated to Our lady of Good Health. Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health Th e church can be traced to the mid-16th century and its founding is attributed to three miracles: the apparition of Mary and Jesus to a slumbering shepherd boy, the curing of a lame buttermilk vendor, and the survival of Portuguese sailors assaulted by a violent sea storm. Although all three events resulted in the erection of a shrine, it was the promise of the Portuguese sailors that caused a permanent edifice to be built at Velankanni. The chapel was dedicated on the feast of the Nativity of Mary (8 September), the day of their safe landing. More than 500 years later, the festival and celebration is still observed and draws nearly 2 million pilgrims each year. The Shrine of Our Lady of Velankanni, also known as the "Lourdes of the East", is one of the most frequented religious sites in India.

• The Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health was built in the late 16th century with modifications by Portuguese and further expansions later on due to influx of pilgrimages. The Gothic style of architecture is a unique feature of the church. The church itself is an imposing building with inspiring architecture. While the buildings have been painted white, the roof of the church is made of red tiles, providing a striking contrast to the colour of the walls. As a token of gratitude to Mary, Portuguese sailors who escaped from a severe cyclone, built a 24 foot by 12 foot shrine with a dome overhead. In their subsequent visits, they brought porcelain plates and other artistic offerings to beautify it. The main ornamentation was a statue of Mary holding her infant son, standing on a globe. The keepers of the shrine eventually built a museum to display the offerings.

• Periodically this is changed and the new items are added to the showcases. Our Lady of Good Health, Velankanni In the year 1771, Velankanni acquired the status of a parish with Antonio de Rozario as the first parish priest. The church building was raised to the status of basilica in 1962 by Pope John XXIII. Every year, 10 days of festivals are celebrated in August and September, attracting about 1.5 million people. Masses are conducted in at least eight languages including Tamil, English, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Konkani, Hindi and Marathi. 

Holy Land Pilgrimage April 15th 2013

• His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Samuel Mar Irenios, Auxiliary Bishop of the Major Arch Eparchy of Trivandrum will be leading the pilgrimage to the Holy Land on April second week 2013. This is going to be a pure charismatic pilgrimage ever had from Kerala. The pilgrimage includes confession at Garden of Gethsemane and Holy Masses and healing session at all important places. Kindly prepare yourselves for the pilgrimage and frequent confession will keep you Holy and hence we can make this pilgrimage an unforgettable event. We hope and pray that we may have a close encounter with Jesus in His own Land Israel….

•  His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Samuel Mar Irenios hails from Kadamminitta in Pathanamthitta District. He was Ordained as Priest on 22nd December 1978 by Most Rev. Benedict Mar Gregorios. He completed secular degrees of BA, MA, M Phil and PhD from University of Kerala. He was appointed as Lecturer in Mar Ivanios College and later served as the Principal of St. john’s college, Anchal and retired as Principal of Mr Ivanios College , Trivandrum.

We offer Travel Packages to Holy Land throughout the year. If you like to be a part of it then contact at
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Jai Garh Fort in India

• Jaigarh Fort :is situated on the premonitory called the Cheel ka Teela (Hill of Eagles) of the Aravalli hill ranges; it overlooks the Amber Fort and the Maota Lake, near Amberin Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.The fort was built by Sawai Jai Singh III in 1726 to protect the Amer Fort and the palace complex within it and was named after Jai Singh II.The fort, rugged and similar in structural design to the Amber Fort, is also known as Victory Fort. It has a length of 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) along the north-south direction and a width of 1 kilometre (0.62 mi). The fort features a cannon named “Jaivana”, which was manufactured in the fort precincts and was then the world's largest cannon on wheels.The palace complex (Laxmi Vilas, Lalit Mandir, Vilas Mandir and Aram Mandir) located within the fort has a well-tended garden where the royal family resided, the Shubhat Niwas (an assembly hall of the warriors), an armoury and a museum. Jaigarh Fort and Amber Fort are connected by subterranean passages and considered as one complex.

• The Jaigarh Fort, located on one of the peaks of the Aravalli range of hills is built about 400 m above the Amber Fort.[1] It provides an excellent view of Aravalli hills and the Amber Fort down below.The fort is 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) away from Jaipur city. It stands on a short diversion from the Jaipur-Delhi Highway, which leads to the Jaivana cannon at the Dungar

• Darwaza ('Darwaza' means "gate"), the same road leads to another important fort called the Nahargarh Fort. It can also be approached from the Amer Fort over a short climb along a steep hill track, arriving at the Awami Gate near the fort museum.The fort is highly fortified with thick walls of red sandstone and is spread over a layout plan with a length of 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) and a width of 1 kilometre (0.62 mi); it has an impressive square garden (50 metres (160 ft) square) within it. Ramparts in each corner are sloping and provide access to the upper level structures. The palaces have court rooms and halls with screened windows. A central watch tower on a raised ground provides excellent vistas of the surrounding landscape. The Aram Mandir and the garden within its courtyard, on the northern side of the fort complex, has a triple arched entrance "The Awani Darwaza" which was refurbished in recent times to get fine views of the Sagar Lake (an artificial lake); water from this lake used to be transported to the fort in pouches loaded on elephant backs and also by humans carrying water pots. The triple arch gateway with fortification walls above it is painted red and yellow. It is oriented in an east west direction and faces west. The architectural features are of Indo-Persian style with cyclopean walls built with dressed stone and plastered with lime mortar.There are two temples within the fort precincts, one is the RamHarihar temple of the 10th century and the other one is the Kal Bhairav temple of 12th century vintage.Charbagh garden at Jaigarh FortThe water supply facilities in the fort was met by creating water harvesting structures in the vicinity in the Aravalli catchment and conveying water through a canal on the west side of the fort over a 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) distance (seen at site) to be stored in three underground tanks below the central courtyard (one tank was used by prisoners for bathing, the second was used to store gold and jewellery and the third one was empty; the largest tank had capacity to store 6 million gallons of water. These tanks also created a stir in the recent political history of the fort when they were searched for hidden treasure stashed for gemstones and jewellery (said to have been kept hidden safely by the royal family), which turned out be untrue. It was also rumoured that a treasure belonging to the Kachwaha rulers of Amber had been stacked in the fort precincts. The search had been ordered during the Emergency declared by the Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during 1975–1977. A futile search was also launched, in 1977, of all the buildings in the fort, by the Income Tax department, usingmetaldetectors. There was also a Parliament Question on this issue where a question was posed whether a "Search for treasure carried out from 10th June 1976 till November 1976 by the Income Tax Authorities at Jaigarh Fort on the Jaipur Delhi Road was closed to ordinary traffic for one or two days so as to make way for military trucks carrying treasures to the residence of the then Prime Minister, Smt. Indira Gandhi?". However, the search carried out for treasures by an Army unit at Jaigarh Fort, after a three-month search had found no treasures. It was then conjectured that Sawai Jai Singh probably used the treasure to build the city of Jaipur.ArmouryThe armoury chamber here has a wide display of swords, shields, guns, muskets and also a 50 kilograms (110 lb) cannon ball. Pictures on display are old photographs of Jaipur's Maharajas namely, Sawai Bhawani Singh and Major General Man Singh II who served in the Indian Army as seniorofficers.MuseumThe museum is located to the left of the Awami Gate; it has exhibits of photographs of the Royalty of Jaipur, stamps and many artefacts, which include a circular pack of cards. A spittoon of 15th century vintage and also hand drawn plan of the palaces are seen in the museum.[5]Jaivana cannonThe Jaivana cannonJaigarh Fort was a centre of artillery production for the Rajputs. It is now home to the Jaivana – at the time of its manufacture in 1720, it was the world's largest cannon on wheels of the Early Modern Era. The foundry where it was manufactured is also located here. A plaque at the entrance to the enclosure where the Jaivan Cannon is displayed gives relevant information on the history of the Cannon, its size and use. This cannon was never used in any battle as the Rajput rulers of Amber had friendly relations with the Mughals. This testifies to well-preserved features of fort. The cannon was fired only once with a charge of 100 kilograms (220 lb) of gunpowder and when fired covered a distance of about 35 kilometres (22 mi).The Jaivana was manufactured during the reign of Maharaja Sawai Jaisingh II (1699–1743) at a foundry in Jaigarh. The barrel is 20.19 foot (6.15 m) in length and weighs 50 tonnes. It has a diameter of 11 inches (280 mm). The barrel has decorations carved on it which depict trees, an elephant scroll and a pair of birds (ducks). It is mounted on wheels and has the mechanism of two back wheels mounted on roller pin bearings, to turn it 360 and fire in any direction. A tin shed was built to protect the cannon against weather. The cannon had a range of 22 miles and used 50 kilograms (110 lb) balls.
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