As I told you earlier, one of the most famous event which happens every year in Kerala is the boat races. There are different kinds of boats which are used for these races. The major among them all are the Snake boats, also called as “ Chundan Vallam” which is longest one than the others. The other boats which participate in this event are the “Churulan Vallam”, “Veppu Vallam”, Oodi Vallam etc…  

Among all the boats for race, snake boat is the longest boat and it is almost 100 to 120 feet long, also having a seating capacity of more than 100 rowers. The actual spirit of competition reaches the peak when the race of Snake boat’s starts, rather than the other boat’s race. In this region, each of the villagers owns their own boats, and each boat are named/ titled with their village names. During the earlier days each boats where been rowed by the strongest men in their own village. But later on as the spirit of competition and the money power increased, they started renting up different clubs where the people are especially dedicated for rowing. 

During the boat race time, both the banks of river will be crowded up with people from different villages, states, and even much foreigners. So, for making the boat  race event more entertaining, different types of programs like, music with drums (Shingari Mellam), speed boat adventures, helicopter adventures, different statues rallies  on boats etc.. will be organized during the breaks in between the race. Normally the boat races are rowed by the gents, but to spread the spirit and encourage women, show boat race of women’s are also conducted.

The boat races happens mainly during the period of June to September, mainly monsoon season. The boat races are named differently in each places where this event happens.

So I would like to share about the different boat race, which happens in Kerala, in my coming post…….

Today I would like to share you all about my home place – Champakulam. Champakulam is situated in the region of Kuttanad and comes under the boundaries of Alappuzha District. It is almost 16 to 18 Km’s distance from the Alleppey main town.

Champakulam is one the famous tourist spot in Kerala. It is covered with paddy fields which gives you all a feel of land in green and it also covered with lakes, canals rivers etc. The river Pamba passes through the middle of the village which splits the village in to two. Early the two banks were only connected with ferries, but new big bridge is under construction which will connect these to banks.

 As I told, as it is a tourist destination you can see lots of house boats passing through this river. Because of this, now day’s lots of resorts are coming up, which helps the tourists to stay back and have a wonderful look at the beauty of champakulam.

One of the major other thing which attracts the tourists is the church – Champakulam  Kaloorkadu St. Mary’s Forane church, one of the oldest Christian church in India. It is believed that it was built almost in 427 AD. It was rebuilt many times, but still we can find some things which explain about the age of the church. Also champakulam is famous for the boat race called Moolam Boat Race, which is always the first boat race which will be held in Kerala every year.

More detail about these boat races, I will be sharing to you all in my next coming post………………….

After giving you a short brief about the formation of Kerala and its name, now let me tell you about some of the places which I was been too as well as some other places which is very famous in Kerala.

First of all, I would like to introduce you the place Alappuzha – the district where I belongs too. Alappuzha, otherwise called as Alleppey  is also known as “The Venice of the East” as it is surrounded with backwaters, canals, beaches, lagoons etc. As the place is blessed with nature, it became one of the best tourist destinations in “ God’s Own Country”, even in India.

Alappuzha is mainly famous on its back waters, and the house boating through these back waters is its most attraction. People from different part of the world and even from different states of India use to travel to Alappuzha only to just have a fun on boating through the lakes and canals. If you go near to the Punnamada lakeside, you will feel like you are in some other country because the people whom we will find there will be foreigners more than the local people. If I say about Punnamada Lake, the first thing which will come up in my mind will be all about the famous Snake boat race “ Nehru Trophy Boat Race” which will be held on every second Saturday of August on every year. About the boat race, I have much to tell you about. So I will publish some good post about boat race in my coming posts……

 Some other specialties of Alappuzha are , the area Kuttanad- located at the center of backwaters and the region is largely cultivated with crops. Light House- which was built in 1862 and it is the first light house of western coast. Alappuzha beach- which is attached with Vijaya beach park, and it also entertain people with boating facility, swimming pool, and also attracts with horse ride, camel ride etc….

In each and every corner of Alappuzha you will find with famous worship places of different religion, mainly Hindu and Christian….  I will provide you with much information on the Famous worship Places in Alappuzha in my next coming posts…………..

Before going in to the beauty of Kerala, let me tell you something about the history or the formation of Kerala state. Kerala was formed by merging up some of the different states. Earlier Travancore and the Cochin was two different states and later after India got Independence; they merged together and formed in to a single state called Travancore-Cochin. Then on 1^st November 1956, through States Reorganization Act, our state was formed by merging up different places like Malabar, Travancore-Cochin and Kazargod.

So, on 1^st November of every year, we, keralites celebrates the birth of kerala. In this days we can see people wearing and going to their work by wearing some traditional dresses like- girls wearing set sarees and gents wearing Kerala Mundu etc..

I personally likes and recollect this day because 1^st November is my Birth day too….

Now let’s move in to the  basic thought on how the Kerala was named as “God Own Country”. As per Hindu believes, Kerala was actually created by Parasuram, an avatar of Lord Vishnu, by throwing his Axe across the sea to create a new land for his devotees to live peacefully. So, the place which was created specially by God now came to known as “ Gods Own Country”.

Hi viewer’s …..

I had created this account to blog something about Kerala or otherwise known as “GOD’S OWN COUNTRY”…..

While thinking about Kerala the things which will pass through everyone’s  mind will be all about the greenery, back waters, water falls, House boating, spices, Ayurveda Massage treatment, Kathakali shows…etc.    Yes, this is Kerala " Yente Keralam, Yethra sundharam!!" 

Here, in this blog I would like to share you all with the specialties in Kerala.. like places, happenings, foods etc. But I don’t want to make this boring telling fully about  the normal theories on  Kerala, rather than that, I would  also try to maintain this blog with some of my own experience linked with God’s Own Country’s specialties. The blog will be more on the major places and the places which I have visited, the major happening and the happening which I was been to and the traditional beliefs and my view about it…. Also I will try to cover about tourism based advantages and disadvantages………and also latest initiatives on Development of Kerala Tourism.

On the move, the blog will be provided with much links and references so that you will be able to know more about the said topics.

I am planning to start this blog with the formation of Kerala as well as the origination of the name “God’s Own Country”.

So please stay tuned for my next post……