Category: Kerala

    After the very successful phase I workshop on underwater photography held at Thiruvananthapuram earlier in January, Bond Safari Kovalam is coming to Ernakulam with their second workshop. Here is your unique chance to meet and interact with the experts. The second workshop on underwater photography conducted by Bond Safari will be an eye opener for you. The workshop will be held on February 22 at Hotel Ibis, Ernakulam. The workshop organized for photographers and enthusiasts will be your first step towards shooting that perfect picture underwater. The speakers include Anup J Kattukaran, Dr. Capt Shanthanu, Subin J Kalarikkal, Shibin Sebastian ... Read more

The Cochin Bikers Club (CBC), in association with CGH Earth is also all set to celebrate the 69th Indian Republic Day, with a great ride to remember. The ride will be flagged off from Casino Hotel, Willingdon Island, and the destination would be about 50 km down south the coast, at the Marari Beach Resort-CGH Earth, which would be the turn-around point as well. The ride, dedicated to CBC’s supporter, Michael Dominic and Casino Group of Hotels for their invaluable support rendered since the inception of CBC, would be a funding rising charity ride. The amount generated through the registration ... Read more

In an exclusive interview to Tourism News Live, the Canadian footballer who has been winning the hearts of soccer lovers across Kerala, says he is mesmerised by the beauty of the God’s own Country after spending a day in the backwaters of Alappuzha. Jobin Joseph, Director of Spice Routes with Iain Hume. Phot Courtesy: Spice Routes Iain Hume spent a day in the newly launched luxury houseboat of Spice Routes with his wife Christine and children Alyssa Fay and Keira. “It was a great experience and I am gonna come back again,” says a very excited Hume. Hume is all ... Read more

The state capital of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, is all ready for the five day National Banan Festival 2018. The event, which is scheduled to be held from February 17 to 21, 2018, will be held at the Vellayani Grounds in Kalliyoor Grama Panchayat. Thiruvananthapuram-based Centre for Innovation in Science & Social Action (CISSA) is organising NBF 2018. A photography contest will also be held as part of the festival. The competition is open to amateurs as well as professionals. Photographs that are submitted for the competition should have ‘banana’ as the focal theme. Photographs can be of different varieties of bananas in ... Read more

Kerala is all set its eye on the European travellers with a handful of new projects and packages. The Department of Tourism has set apart Rs 7.5 crore for promotional activities to woo the European tourists to the state. Kerala Tourism minister, Kadakkampally Surendran, said the state’s tourism department has activated a rigorous promotional campaign involving diverse products to promote the state in Europe as it holds the top slot in the list of high potential markets for overall tourism growth. ‘Through this promotional and marketing campaign, the state aims to double the foreign tourist arrivals by 2021,”Rani George, Secretary, ... Read more

Photo Courtesy: Prakriti Shakti CGH Earth have always been innovative in coming up with new ideas and projects, which never fail to astonish us with its grandeur and wholesomeness. After having more than two decades of experience in Ayurveda healing at their hospitals in Kalari Kovilakom and Kalari Rasayana, the CGH group started this new project, Prakriti Shakti. Prakriti Shakti is situated on the pristine hills of Panchalimedu in Kerala. With 19 rooms and a well-equipped team, Prakriti Shakti practises healing through nature, the only way to heal you from within and rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit. The treatments ... Read more

Kerala will focus more on farm tourism, eco, medical, cruise and adventure tourism segments, said Kerala Governor P Sathasivom while addressing the 14th Kerala Assembly today. The government proposes to set up cultural corridors called ‘Natarangu’ in villages and towns where suitable open spaces are available. “There will be amphitheatres where local artistic and cultural performances could be held,” informed the Governor. A new Tourism Regulatory Authority Kerala (TRAK) will be set up to ensure quality services for tourists and curb unhealthy practices in the sector. The governor also commented that the state’s economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, tourism, ... Read more

The annual butterfly survey in the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) recorded 178 species of butterflies, including nine species that are endemic to the Western Ghats. The survey was inaugurated by K.V. Uthaman, Managing Director, Oushadhi. Photo Courtesy: Wiki The 18th annual butterfly survey in the Aralam WLS that concluded on January 14 was jointly organised by the Malabar Natural History Society (MNHS) and the Forest Department. Around 142 butterfly enthusiasts from across south India participated in the survey. The major survey areas were Kottiyur, Meenmutty falls, Pariputhodu, Chavachi, Kurukathodu, Narikadavu, Bhoothankallu, Pookundu and Valayamchal. Nilgiri Grass Yellow and Silver Streak Acacia ... Read more

When you are heading up the dense forests and slippery boulders of Agasthyakoodam, you need to be very careful as it is a difficult climb. What would a trekker keep in mind while climbing the steep Agasthyarkoodam? Here’s some expert advice from Viswanath of Summiters India, who has climbed the peak more than 10 times!

Arya Aravind Though I have visited Wayanad, in Kerala, more than a dozen times, I have never travelled to the outskirts on the Gundlupet-Bandipur route. It was not a purposeful avoidance; since my travel were all unplanned, one or the other problems come in between from making me go beyond the Wayanad circle. This time I was particular that I will be taking a drive down the Gundlupet-Bandipur stretch. And, believe me I was awestruck and was taken away by the swaying sunflower farms on the Gundlupet stretch and could even spot a dozen of animal friends on the Bandipur ... Read more

Kestrel Adventure Holidays, in association with Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), is about to conduct two-day Munnar Marathon from February 10, 2018. photo courtesy:munnarmarathon.com “The marathon would boost Munnar as an adventure tourism destination as well as in creating a health consciousness among the people,” said Sriram Venkataraman IAS, Employment and Training Department Director, who is also the chief leader of the Marathon. The Marathon, second in terms of altitude after Ladakh marathon, consists of 4 categories such as Ultra Challenge, Run for Fun, Half Marathon and Full Marathon. photo courtesy:munnarmarathon.com ... Read more

  Madavoorpara. Photo-Courtesy: Praveen-Kattayikonam Kerala State Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran inaugurates the Rs. 7 crore historic Madavoorpara tourism project, on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram. “Madavoorppara would become a major tourist centre in the district once the Rs. 7 crore development work by Uralungal Labour Cooperative Society completes. The project is expected to be completed in a-year-and-a-half,” says the minister. The 300-ft-high natural wonder at Chenkottukonam would be having cottages, adventure zone, amphitheatre, cafeteria, walkways, and green huts.  The cave temple at ‘Madavoorpara’ is believed to have been built around the 8th century A.D. The site, at present, has a children’s ... Read more

The tourist authorities in Kerala have announced that the Chembra peak in Wayanad will remain temporarily closed from January 15, 2018, (Monday) onwards due to the forest fire in the area. Chembra was closed down in February 2017 following a devastating forest fire, which burnt down around 100 hectares of grassland. Chembra peak is the highest peak in Wayanad at 2100 m above sea level.

Web Desk With an aim to boost coastal tourism, the Ministry of Shipping has floated expression of interest for operating passenger ferry services connecting coastal cities such as Thoothukudi, Rameswaram and Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. Rameswaram “An interactive meeting would be convened with those expressing interest and tender would be floated subsequently,” says S. Natarajan, Deputy Chairman of V.O. Chidambaranar Port Trust. Across the country, the governments and other departments are slowly realising the water wealth of the country. If the coastal belts of states are connected, it will by and large boost the tourist inflow ... Read more

Web Desk Ashtamudi Lake. Picture Courtesy: Kerala Tourism The southern coastal district in Kerala, Kollam, is all set to get some exciting projects to boost the tourism in the district. The government of Kerala has approved tourism projects worth Rs. 27 crore in Kollam. Ashtamudi Lake, Kannetti Lake and Vattakkayal are some o the areas which would be getting a new touch. “A tourism project focussing on Ashtamudi Lake is under consideration. The possibilities of Kannetti Lake and Vattakayal will be explored,” says Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran said after inaugurating the Kannetti pavilion and lakeside tourism project. Ashtamudi Lake is ... Read more