Friday, December 31, 2010

Cherai Beach Festival 2010 - photos

Kerala Beach Festival - Cherai

Cherai beach festival 2010 is famous for its variety of events the elephant ceremonial parade crackers
















Sunday, November 7, 2010

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Thursday, September 16, 2010

How to travel safely,economically to Cherai Beach

Cherai is located about 30km from Kochi, the commercial hub of Kerala. Cherai enjoys a unique ambience with a just right combination of green paddy fields, coconut palms, backwaters and the ubiquitous Arabian Sea. Relax and unwind, at Cherai beach, to get away from the din of city life.
The private buses are very cheap for traveling to Cherai. The city is well planned and well maintained. There are plenty of private buses available for travel from Ernakulam to other cities. They operate from High Court Junction, Railway Station and Kaloor Junction.Every 5 minutes you can get a bus from Highcourt junction.From fort cochin get ferry and jangar to vypin and also get buses from the ferry point.


Goshree Bridge from Ernakulam that stretches out across the backwaters connecting the islands of Bolghatty, Mulavukadu, Vallarpadam and Vypeen make tourist access to this beach much easier. There is another road route via Edappally to North Paravur and from there to Cherai, a distance of about 25km. KSRTC Central Bus station is near the Ernakulam Junction railway station. It runs express and fast services from Ernakulam to other major cities within Kerala and into the neighboring states. Reciprocal services from other States are also available.

Cherai beach can also be approached directly from Kochi International airport via North Paravur, approximately 30km away which takes 30mins. The nearest railway station to Cherai beach is at Aluva, whilst Cochin has two stations: Ernakulam Junction and Ernakulam Town; both around 35km away. Cherai lies at the northern end of Vypeen Island, and is a part of Pallipuram Panchayath in Ernakulam District, Kerala.
www.cheraihotel.com
www.cheraihotel.mobi

The oldest European monument in India-Pallipuram Fort

Portuguese Fort: Built in 1503 by the Portuguese and also known as “Aya Kotta”, this fort is the oldest European monument in India. It was constructed as an outpost to safeguard the ancient port of Muziris. The Dutch captured the fort in 1661, in 1789 it was sold to the King of Thiruvathamkoor, and in 1795 it came under the ownership of the British East India Company. The three-story hexagonal structure is a very well-preserved Portuguese bastion. The fort was repaired between1596 and 1605 with a facade added in pure Manuelino style, possibly the only such building in India.It is 4k.m from Cherai Junction near Munambam Police station (north end of Vypeen). The foundation stone was laid on 20th September 1503. On 1st October it was christened as Manuel after the reigning king of Portugal. Gasper Correa writes “…It was completed in 1508 to hold the entrance to the back-water. It was garrisoned by 20 men. Each of its octagonal facets was pierced for cannon. This is the first European building in India.” (Source: Extract from the letter of Mr. A Galletti ICS to the resident of Travancore and Kochi).

Structure of the Pallipuram fort: - The outpost is a hexagonal structure. The lowest floor inside the Fort is raised to height of five feet. There is a cellar which was used to store gun powder. The gate, the door posts, and the lintels are finely dressed and arched. There is a square well of dimension 3’3”. Earlier, it was the source of fresh water.

There is an opening to the north which leads to the cellar. There is a circular slab stone, on which was installed a pillar on which the radiating wooden struts supporting the upper two floors must have rested.

Each face of the fort measures 32ft in length, 34 feet in height, and the walls are six feet in thickness. Each face of the fort has three embrasures, one above the other. The central opening of the embrasures measures 2’x 2 1/2’. The fort could have mounted as many as guns commanding all quarters round it. There is an open space inside affording easy passage to the cellar.

The fort is constructed using laterite, chunam, and wood. The walls are thickly plastered using mortar. The door way in the central circular slab is made of granite. All the six sides of the fort are overgrown with vegetation.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

One of the "10 paradises of the world"

The unique culture and extremely picturesque setting, which contrasts with the fast-paced modern world, make Kerala the perfect destination for relaxing and rejuvenating and of course romancing!!!


The attractive thing about the beaches of Kerala is that they're not as crowded or as developed as the beaches or more touristy areas in India, particularly Goa. Varkala, Cherai, Kovalam beach and Marari beach are some of the most picturesque beaches in Kerala. Cherai beach is perfect for a romantic getaway in Kerala.
Kovalam, the beach located about 15 kilometers south of the capital city of Trivandrum, at first sight I must say was disappointing. Sitting along the crescent shaped cove, hanging like an earlobe from the Arabian Sea, it's the color of the sand that surprises you first. It's a dull gray, almost black. Then you see unusually laid back trucks and workers, busy in rehabilitating the damage caused by the Tsunami.

The setting of the Varkala beach is striking enough to take your breath away, with a long winding stretch of cliff and views that extend over the Arabian Sea. A paved footpath runs along the length of the cliff, bordered by coconut palms, quaint shops, beach shacks, hotels, and guest houses. Nestled at the bottom of the cliff is a long stretch of sparkling beach, reached by steps leading down from the cliff top. It's not surprising that Varkala is one of India's best beaches. If you're there during late March/early April, try and catch the temple festival.

Mouth-watering Sea Food, Friendly people, Smiling Sun, sapphire Blue water and swaying palm trees, all add their charm to the Fascinating Kerala Beaches. Well maintained, neatly kept and securely guarded, the Beaches of Kerala are acting as an elixir to the people in city who are rushing day in and out of their busy schedules.