Kerela Kozhikode Calicut

Kerela  Kozhikode Calicut

Kerela

Kerala is reservoir of great things; this small State in the southernmost part of the India is a true winner owning to its immensely beautiful landscapes, intriguing customs, cultural lifestyle and education. From Kasargode to Thiruvananthapuram Kerala is full of great surprises that attract tourists and travelers from all over the world….

Calicut …… Kozhikode

Kozhikode, formerly called Calicut was the traditional capital of Northern Kerala under the Samuthiri raj. Calicut, even today the district continues to be a centre of flourishing domestic and international trade. Wallowing in the tranquil setting of the serene Arabian Sea on the west and the proud peaks of the Wayanad hills on the east, this district fascinates visitors with its unruffled beaches, rich countryside, historic sites, filled with warmth and wonderment……..

The Chaliyar

Hello and welcome, we are at the banks of Chaliyar River the 4^th longest and the most imp river in Kozhikode district of Kerala. It starts its journey from the Elambalari hills in Tamil Nadu. Chaliyar River covers a distance of 169 kms and has 7 important tributaries…. Called the Beypore River by the end of its course …. Finally emptying itself in the Arabian Sea in Kozhikode near Beypore….

And here comes a Surprise….for this trip we’ll be staying right next to the Chariya river, in the 5 star Kadavu resort!!! Howz that?

At the banks of Chaliyar river….

Kadavu resort:

Nice place indeed …..

Kadavu resort is spread over an area of 10 acres surrounded by coconut trees….

House boat rides the second one where they have shot inside the boat….

One of the major attractions of the kadavu resort are these …… special boating fishing and sailing expedition over the chaliya river…..

boarding the house boat

These traditional Kerala House boats are locally known as Ketuvolums …… They are a unique in their design built …… They are all equipped with fully furnished bed rooms….attached baths and kitchen………. 

Now that is called peace and tranquility

House boats look amazing moving at low pace gliding over mesmerizing water of Chariya river passing through Thick green cover, coconut groves and exceptional settings ……..  The ride leaves you speechless…

Peaceful living is all we dream of the waters and fresh air..

lay back relax and take in all this wild beauty around with its calmness….live a moment of mystical silence….take the opportunity to connect with nature….

SLATE

Kozhikode or Calicut is the third largest urban agglomeration and the third largest city in Kerala. During the middle Ages, Calicut was famously known as the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading port on the Malabar Coast for eastern spices. Kozhikode played an important role in promoting trade relations between Kerala and the rest of the world. It also served as a capital of an independent Kingdom once a time.

We are off to do some sightseeing …. This small looking structure that looks like a usual keral house is actually a Museum….housing the history of Kerala 

Located on the East Hill at a distance of 6 km from the Kozhikode The Pazhassi Raja Museum and art gallery has a huge collection of Paintings and all sough’s of items…..

This museum is a tribute to Pazhassiraja Kerala Varma A.K.A “Lion of Kerala” from the Kottayam royal family…..For his bravery against the intolerable British rule in 1700’s

Very educating and interesting place to be……..   Gives you a lot of handy insights about Kerala and the History …

On the move…… next we anchor at a famous Port

 Beypore port

To reach Baypore port there two ways … by road or boat…

It seems almost half the city is going to board this boat….. People, cars, bikes and all goods you can imagine….  

To I just paid 2 rupees for the ticket…

Hang on people …… I hope we sail through to the other side safely……  

WE are crossing the area where Chariya River meets the Arabia Sea…

We made it to the other side….These boats are pretty high performance and can carry quite some load ….

Beypore port is a historic port where trading between the Middle East and south East Asia first stared.

The port is located at the mouth of river Chaliyar about 10 kilometres away from Kozhikode town (Calicut)

One of the major attractions of this place is the existence of the 1,500 years old shipbuilding industry.

This is the place only place where Uru’s are still made and exported to the Arab nations…

The country ships made at Beypore completely by hand are known as Dhows’ (Arabian Trading Vessels) or in the native language as ‘Uru’. Even now, Arabs cross the Arabian Sea to buy ‘Urus’.

This age old knowledge of building country ships is possessed by a select group of people here.
known as Khalasis, Known international for their exceptional craftsmanship.

You can see them in action and witness the creative process of building the Uri at the shipyard.

You can see a lot of wrecked and broken down ships lying still half sunken in the water……

This is the place where old ships are sold and bought…

MONTAGE OF THE PORT

Let’s go and have some fun on a beach………

KAPPAD BEACH

The closest beach is Just 16 kms from the main town of Kozhikhode is the one of the most pristine beaches of Kerala Tha Kappad beach

This unpolluted and fairly secluded beach, looks stunning with rocks studded at places……

The calm waters, untouched beach, I think I was lucky….

 Shots of Anchor Jumping and playing in the water…….

You can simply Forget everything and be child for a while ……

This beach also has its place in the history ……...On 27th May 1498, After taking an adventurous trip around the world, discovering new lands, experiencing different culture….Vasco D agama the Portuguese explorer Finally found what he had set out to look for …. The Great land of India ……. Yes it was right here on this beach where he set his foot for first time on Indian soil…….along with 170 men and 3 vessels…..

This opened up sea route for trade between Europe and India and Malabar soon became the gateway of east.

This is the memorial of Vasco Da Gama…This area was then ruled by…

Time to head back to the hotel Kadavu resort …..

Road Shots

It was a fruitful day, went to quite a few places……….

HOTEL NIGHT SHOTS

Next take an entire day to explore the Kadavu resort…and in the evening we are in for a energy pack dance performance….

Time to wake up and find out what to do the entire day today

Shot of sun rissing

SHOTS OF ANCHOR WAKING UP AND MAKING A CUP OF TEA

Set on the banks are 17 rooms……

Kadavu is caringly landscaped using local plants and trees, which give authenticity to the entire area and it blends well with the surroundings. The resort has a unique appearance…owing to the warm rust laterite stone used to build the structure, which is also indigenous to the Malabar region.

There is an Ayurveda center in Kadavu resort…

This must be bone cracking stress buster routine…. Everyone should get a massage …. A holiday is not complete without getting one of these …

There are professionals who check you on some parameters and advice you the appropriate treatment you need…

 I feel fresh and I’m ready to start my day…

The day in Kadavu is all about lazing around this beautiful and unique property… This place is amazing … Surrounded by graceful groves of swaying palm and coconut trees…..and sleepy back waters at one side.

Make the most of your stay here

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Evening shots with drum beats……..

The drums are beating….It’s the call….An invitation for everyone to gather at the amphitheater in the resort for a dance performance and the dance form we witness today is called Thayiyam…..

Thayyiyam is a ritual dance

This performance was truly electrifying or should I say burning hot…. Lol!!!

This heavenly little town in North Kerala was once described as the "great province of Malabar", by the renowned traveler Marco Polo….  Much of the richness has worn down today……… But the glory of a magnificent past can still be seen around……..You must visit Kozhikode, Where the world has come and they all fell in love with it………..

How to Reach:

Air: Kozhikode has an airport at Karipur.

Rail: Kozhikode is served by a handful of costal expresses and several passenger trains.

Road: A well-built network of roads connects Kozhikode to the other parts of the state.

Weather of Kozhikode:

The weather is overall pleasant in these parts of Kerala although humidity might be something that bothers.

Summers in Kozhikode are pleasant with temperature rising up to 33o C….

The winters are also pleasant with average temperature being around 23 oC.

The average annual rainfall is 3266 mm

Leh Ladakh

Ladakh Introduction
Here we are in Ladakh region in India… and we continue our special journey through this age old peaceful civilization inhabiting one of the most challenging yet surreal places to live on this planet earth…..  We will pass through two of the world's mightiest mountain ranges, the Great Himalaya and the Karakoram Range, drive on world highest motor able roads and see the land like no other……….. up, close and personally…..
 

LEH PALACE
I’m so so excited ……..
We start this leg of our journey from the capital and the largest city of ladakh, that is Leh…..
Leh is an enthralling destination with astonishing views, old-fashioned houses, lanes, lively markets and amazingly nice people…… Leh is the starting check point of your excavation of Ladakh
The usual itinerary of an average traveler in Leh starts with a guided tour of the world famous monasteries, but as you know we like to shuffle up things….. So let’s start our tour with an historic palace…. Yes there are palaces in Ladakh too here too ………

LEH PALCE
This structure was made by the founder of Namgyal dynasty…..
This worn out nine-storied symbol of The Namgyal rulers stands proud on the slope of the Namgyal hill, overlooking the gorgeous valley below…

TRADITIONAL HOSTING OF GUESTS IN LEH

TEA IS BROUGHT IN….. GUD GUD CHAI…: This is traditional ladhaki gud gud chai
Tea drinking shots,… TASTES LIKE SOUP  

Something smells really nice…..My nose tells me we are up for a nice meal…..
TRADITIONAL FOOD MOMO’S IS BROUGHT IN …  

          

YUMMY!!!
Momo’s are a staple food of the Himalayan people…
Oh god!!! I need to go for a walk, to settle all this food down…..Let’s go and check out the local market ….. We’ll walk, digest food and shop….3 birds in one burp, haha!!!
Let’s see who reaches first come on people…….

How to Reach

By Air – Leh has its own airport…. Regular flights connect Leh to destinations like Delhi, Chandigarh, Srinagar and Jammu.
By Rail - Nearest railhead from Leh lies at a distance of 680 km at Jammu Tawi.
By Road - By road, Leh is linked to Delhi via Srinagar- Zoji La Pass route and Manali Rohtang pass. Both the routes are open between the months June to October.


LEH MARKET
I’m at leh market which is famous for a lot of things…
Try and buy only local stuff like In Leh you can buy Pashmina Shawl, Handicraft Items such as Tibetan or Kahsmiri carpets, wall paintings, wooden masks and dragons, Ladakhi carved wooden tables and paintings, etc.

ladakh is famous for turquoise and coral stones and jewelry ...
Be smart and bargain as most of the stuff is highly overpriced …
You guys wanna see how these amazing carved wood table and wall hangings are made….

locals are very talented peopl they are the artist behind all that you see in the market ….
Come on hit the road people and make our way out of leh city straight into wilderness,  we should venture into the real rough and rugged Ladakh…..

Wow what a place…… this is truly out of the world……
Seems like a small road jam…..
Get out of the bus people and let’s start a snow fight ….
WE are set to go all aboard…..
From Leh when you drive to Khardungla the road sharply moves upward on steep mountain slopes and once you cross the paas the road radically dives down into a series of twist and turns like a swirl ……. It’s exciting like a roller coaster ride .

The camel safari
Is this for real or am hallucinating……. this sand, this is really sand, how is this possible? And are these camels or yetis????
Camels are ship of the desert
I never thought that camels can survive such severe cold….. look at their body wool
These camels are really cute…. Look at their faces….
Usually camel safari is in Rajasthan
I guess camels are quit adaptable as animals…. Quite like us humans….don’t you think…

I’m in Numbra valley and getting the feel
Who had thought that we’ll go on a camel safari in Ladakh…. That was killer fun….

IMPORTANT SLATE
Tips for being a responsible traveler:
Ladakh for centuries was an autocracy society surviving on agriculture, husbandry and trading. Since military access in the 1960s and opening to tourism in 1974, more and more people are pushing on already limited and difficultly accessible resources available in this rugged cold desert…..  
Approximately 40 to 50.000 tourists visit Ladakh every season, who have to eat and drink as well as use water for showers, toilet and laundry. There is no proper waste management in Leh… The ecological here or for that matter anywhere in the universe is very sensitive and to maintain the landscape the way it is today, there are some serious efforts to be made by us all.
 

Nubra Organic Camp
WE now are heading to The Nubra camp just 2 min walking distance from the sand dunes …….
The camp is situated in the beautiful village of Hunder

Situated in the fertile Nubra valley is this 5 acres of lush green paradise called the Numbra organic retreat…..
Also reffered as The ‘Valley of Flowers’ of Ladakh, Nubra was an important pass in the well known silk route connecting Tibet to Turkistan.

I’m at organic retreat camp
This nice look camp is spread over 5 acres of lush green fields of different plantations and small streams… You seriously feel intone with nature while staying here ….
The best part is that these people maintain their own organic garden so that you can enjoy the taste of fresh and locally grown vegetables.
The menu is huge, you can choose from a huge list of Cuisine and delicacies ranging from Tibetan, Chinese, and Continental and Indian dishes.

Ladakh is such an unexpected place….It is truly a land out of our world……. It’s impossible to get bored here…… it is dynamic….….ever changing…. …..and even then it seems that this region hasn’t changed much since the beginning of the universe……..If you wanna have an un heard of experience and feel closer to god…. You need to get a backpack…..get on a bike and drive straight to  Ladhak in Jammu and Kashmir India, it will hit you with endless adventures and wonderments  ……… Come here and literally feel on top of the world…..

How to Reach

By Air – Leh has its own airport…. Regular flights connect Leh to destinations like Delhi, Chandigarh, Srinagar and Jammu.
By Rail - Nearest railhead from Leh lies at a distance of 680 km at Jammu Tawi.
By Road - By road, Leh is linked to Delhi via Srinagar- Zoji La Pass route and Manali Rohtang pass. Both the routes are open between the months June to October.

Weather in Ladakh
The weather and climate of Ladakh display a great deal of diversities
In summers temperature Fluctuates between -3° C to 30° C.
Winters are extremely cold with heavy snowfall. The average temperature ranges between -20° C to 15° C.

Though the weather can be freezing cold, the smiles on the faces of the Ladakhi people are sure to warm your heart.


SLATE
What can you do to make our planet a better place to live in

• Firstly avoid plastic as much you can in any form like bottles and bags…. It is not biodegradable and very bad for the environment…
• When eating in the restaurants Preferably order dishes made from local produced ingrdiants.
• Give your empty batteries to Dzomsa or better take them home, where there is a proper system for recycling. Ladakh doesn’t have any possibilities.
• Put your rubbish in the garbage bins and give the organic waste to your guesthouse or some other people who have animals to feed.
• Water is scarce and Leh has big problems. Try to avoid water flush toilets and prefer Ladakhi style compost toilets if there are some. Try to shower or wash with only small amounts of water.
• Give your laundry to Dzomsa as they use eco-friendly detergent and wash it in a stream which leads.

INTRODUCTION TO JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Jammu and Kashmir is one of the holiest state of sacred Temples, mosques and monasteries in India …… A place full of legends and tales of gods walking the earth and every where the stepped they left their marks ……

INTRODUCTION TO LADAKH Today our search for divine take us  to one of the highest places in the world…..a place closest to paradise, also known as 'the Moon Land', Ladakh is one of the most unique destinations on the planet…Situated in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in India. Ladakh is vast land with some of most spectacular sights in the world…. This high altitude region of particularly challenging topography and extreme weather conditions is not just any hill station for everyone to visit…..   Ladakh is exquisite and possesses an endearing scenic magnetism and abundant natural gifts.

Ladakh the land of monks is home to some of the most amazing monasteries in the world…….

Buddhism is the prominent religion and a way of life here …

People lead a very minimalistic and happy life; they will always greet you with a smile, which reflects their inner peace which they have attained through their Buddhist believes….

Buddhism is believed to have first preached in Ladakh by missionaries sent by King Ashoka in 3^rd century B.C

Buddhism is divided into different sects mainly Hinayana and Mahayana. Hinayanis aim for self nirvana, or enlightenment, They lead a life of a sanyasi… whereas the Mahayanis believe in nirvana of all living beings…… Hence they are called Maha meaning Great, and Hina means inferior…  

Then later Mahayana gave way to another sect — Vajrayana, the vehicle of the thunderbolt. In the 11th and 12th century

Ladakh has a deep influence of Tibetan Buddhism, which follows the Mahayana and Vajrayana thought. Both these forms worship Buddha as a deity who has attained Nirvan.

Ladakh has around 30 monasteries each of them is a museum of a sort with detail mural work, beautiful idols, sacred writings and religious instruments. These monasteries are the pride of Ladakh and also the main source of spiritual and materialist needs of the people.

Monasteries are often built on a higher platform like a Hill or a mountain slope residing over the village below protecting it… These structures are no less than a fort and rise up floor by floor commanding over the entire area around……   

SLATES

Part of Jammu and Kashmir in India, Ladakh was opened to tourists in the mid-70s and since then, thousands of people from around the world have visited this citadel of Himalayan Buddhism. But Ladakh still doesn’t get the number of tourist it truly deserves…..