Category: Kerala

With an aim to upgrade the elephant rehab centre at Kottoor in Thiruvananthapuram to international standards, the state Forest Department has inked an MoU with the Kerala State Housing Board. The project, to cost Rs 113 crore, is expected to be completed by October 2020. The project includes the construction of enclosures for keeping wild elephants in herds and in isolation, special care centre for the calves, ponds to harvest rainwater, veterinary hospital, office complex, training centre for the mahouts, elephant museum, biological park, accommodation for the staff and mahouts, ‘mess’ for the elephants, canteen for visitors, toilet block, modernisation of accommodation for ... Read more

Ai India Express flight lands at Kannur Airport Air India Express Boeing 737 flight which can carry 189 passengers has landed in Kannur airport today successfully completing the trial landing. This a major step before the scheduled inauguration of the airport by November 1. The aircraft has departed from Thiruvananthapuram at 9.30 am and reached Kannur by 10.30 am. The airport is ready for commercial operation, but the final licence would be issued after the trial landing using a commercial aircraft. Now that the trail landing is successful, the airport authorities will submit a report to the AAI and is expected ... Read more

Asian Yoga Federation is conducting its eighth Asian Yoga Sports Championship from 27 to 30 September 2018 at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. During the event around 500 participants from 16 Asian countries will exhibit their yoga skills at the event. The three-day championship will begin from September 27 at Jimmy George Stadium. Participants from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Vietnam, South Korea, China, Dubai, Taiwan, Iran, Afghanistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal will come down to the capital city for this big event. This is the first time the state is hosting a yoga championship of such a grand scale. Last year ... Read more

Wayanad, renowned tourism destination in Kerala, popular for its natural scenic beauty and wildlife, is getting back to normal after the disastrous rain and flood. In order propagate the revival of the tourism destination; Wayanad District Tourism Promotion Council (WDTP) is organizing an inter-state bike rally with the tag line, “Wayanad Beckons’. Pookode Lake C K Saseendran, MLA of Wayanad District and N S K Umesh, Wayanad Sub-collector will jointly flag off the programme at Pookode Lake on 21st September 2018, at 9 a.m. The Bike rally to cover Bengaluru, Mysuru, Ooty and Coimbatore and will be back by 23rd ... Read more

Munnar ghats witness a visual extravagance once in 12 years – blooming of Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana). Mostly the flowers start blooming from July. However, due to rain and floods, the blooming has delayed this year. Neelakurinji flowers are usually visible at Vattavada and Rajamala region of Munnar. This year, a nearby valley of Kolukkumalai also blessed with Neelakurinji blooms. Advocate Haroon, a media person hailing from Thiruvananthapuram, has made a journey to Kolukkumai to experience the visual treat. Kolukkumalai is a tea plantation; spread across 500 acres and around 8000 feet high from sea level. It is said to be ... Read more

Rani George, Kerala Tourism Secretary presents the ‘Sun is out’ presentation to the media After the devastating floods, Kerala tourism is bouncing back with rigorous promotion programmes by the Ministry of Tourism. Kadakampally Surendran, Tourism Minister of Kerala, along with Rani George, Tourism Secretary and P Balakiran, Tourism Director, have conducted a press meet in Delhi, as part of the first ever India Travel Mart. Rani George has made a presentation of Kerala’s revival activities with a title ‘Sun is out’. The presentation expounded how Kerala is getting back to normal from the havoc of the flood. After the presentation ... Read more

Houseboat industry of Kerala, mostly concentrated in Alappuzha and Kottayam districts, is spreading its focus to other regions such as Eranakulam and Malabar. The Ernakulam District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) has sought the permission from the authorities to set up a houseboat terminal-cum-hub on Kadamakudy Island. “They can also operate from DTPC’s boat terminal at Marine Drive. The Chittoor-Cheranalloor route and the water body on the north western parts of the city are ideal to operate and berth them. We intend to procure a few boats once the houseboat hub is realised at Kadamakudy,” said S Vijayakumar, DTPC Secretary. One ... Read more

Gorkhnath temple at Uttar Pradesh is going to have a face-lift with a project cost of Rs 6.5 crore. The renovation works will be carried out with the assistance from the Central Government. The authorities are planning to have a light, sound and laser show in the temple premises. Historic stories of Indian mythology and culture will also be narrated. Distinct equipment and engineers are invited from France to install machines and music units. Other than this, the entire temple premise will be adorn with lights, in a way that it would be visible from an airplane passing above the ... Read more

Kerala has been getting back to normal after the devastating rain and flood that has caused terrific damages to the state’s infrastructure and economy. Tourism was one among the major sectors experienced widespread damages. However, with the tireless efforts of the state tourism department and the government machinery along with the selfless support of the tourism fraternity, the state has been reinstating most of its tourism destinations to normal. All the restrictions on tourist destinations have been lifted by the authorities. Major tourist destinations like Munnar and Thekkady are ready to receive tourists and most of the damaged roads have been ... Read more

Tourists from Australia arrive at Kochi Airport (Screen shot from video of tourism minister) Kerala has been getting back to normal after the devastating rain and flood that has caused terrific damages to the state’s infrastructure and economy. Tourism was one among the major sectors experienced widespread damages. However, with the tireless efforts of the state tourism department and the government machinery along with the selfless support of the tourism fraternity, the state has been reinstating most of its tourism destinations to normal. To add to the joy and confidence of the tourism sector, the first chartered flight carrying around ... Read more

An aerial view of the flood affected state While Kerala is bouncing back from the havoc caused by the recent heavy rain and devastating flood, discussions are on regarding the rebuilding of Kerala with a new vision, than just mend the damages. Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala, has put forth the concept of a ‘Nava Kerala’ (New Kerala), while re-constructing the state and invited opinions and suggestions from people from all walks of life. P K Anish Kumar, President of ATTOI (Association of Tourism Trade Organizations of India) is sharing some of his ideas to rebuild Kerala. Being in the ... Read more

B Dileep Kumar, Chief Editor of Tourism News Live, interacts with K J Alphons, Minister for Tourism at his office in New Delhi Union Tourism Minister Alphons Kannanthanam said Kerala Tourism, which is in crisis after the floods, will get the best possible assistance from the ministry of tourism. “Kerala will be given special attention in the first Tourism Mart in New Delhi. The tourism sector in Kerala is coming back from the devastating floods in a tremendous speed,” said the minister while talking exclusively to Tourism News Live. “It is that time of the year where the Neelakurinji has ... Read more

Kollam port, in the southern district of Kerala, is expected to be a hub for cargo operations and cruise tourism, once the ongoing up gradation works are completed. As per the fisheries minister J Mercykutty Amma, cargo ships form Lakshadweep will be the first to dock in the port. “We will send a high-level committee to Lakshadweep for exploring the possibilities,” said the minister, after a discussion with experts in the sector on Friday, 14th September 2018. Recently a delegation from the Lakshadweep Development Corporation has visited the Kollam port stated that the port has huge prospects, as the port ... Read more

For the first time in the history of Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, the state government has sanctioned projects worth Rs 72 crore for the comprehensive development of tourism in the district. “With the timely implementation of these schemes, the dream of comprehensive tourism development in the district will become a reality,” said Tourism minister Kadakampalli Surendran announcing the projects. Rs 9.98 crore was allotted for the renovation of the Chala market, one of the oldest and largest markets in Kerala. The plan is to renovate the phase of the Chala market and turn it into a heritage project with in two ... Read more

Kerala is ready to host one of its best fashion shows – the Wedding Fashion Week 2018 from September 14 to 16. m4marry.com, the premier matrimonial portal in Kerala and Kalyan Jewellers, along with Ambika Pillai, one of the biggest names in the bridal makeup industry, join hands to present the ‘Wedding week 2018’. The three-day fashion extravaganza is to be held at Le Meridien, Kochi. The showstopper for the event will be Kiara Advani The three fashion legends Anju Modi, Tarun Tahiliani and Gaurav Gupta will showcase their ingenuity through their trends in bridal wear. This edition of the event is ... Read more