Spectrum Tours

Area : 38,863 sq. K.M.
Capital: Thiruvananthapuram.
Boundaries: East and South East Tamil Nadu, West and South West Arabian Sea, North and North East Karnataka. '
Languages: Malayalam.

Important Museums
Cochin : Hill Palace Museum - Tripunithura; Parishath Thamburan Museum.
Trichur : Archaeological Museum. Thiruvananthapuram : Napier Museum and Sri Chitra Art Gallery.

Hlll Resorts

Name	Altitude	Convenient Railhead
Munar	1524 m	Idikki - 56 k.m.
Ponmudi	912 m	Thiruvananthapuram - 61 k.m.

History
Legends, myths and archaeological findings combine to provide interesting evidence regarding the early history of Kerala.

The most popular legend is that Kerala was raised from the depths of the ocean. Parsurama, one of the Avatars of Vishnu had waged an unique series of vengeful war on the Kshatriyas. A time came, when Parsurama was struck by remorse at the wanton annihilation he had wrought. He offered severe penance atop the mountain. In a mood of profound atonement the sage threw his mighty axe into the distant ocean. Waves foamed and frothed as a crescent -shaped stretch of land extending from Gokarnam to Kanyakumari surfaced from the depth of the sea.

The recorded history of Kerala dates back to 3rd century BC on Ashoka's rock edict. Later constant wars between Cheras, Cholas, Pandyas and Pallavas culminated in 1120 AD into the breaking-up of Kerala into many petty kingdoms. These kingdoms were ruled by the Thampurans or chiefs under whom Kerala attained its most brilliant period in history. The Thampurans were succeeded by the Zamorins of Kozikode during whose reign the Portuguese set foot in Kerala.

The phoenicians in 1200 BC were the pioneer in the sea trade with Kerala. In 1000 BC King Soloman's ships visited 'Ophix', (the modern Puvar, south on Thiruvananthapuram) to trade in ivory, apes, sandalwood and peacocks.. The fame of Kerala spices brought the Romans in 30 AD who followed soon after by the Greeks. The spice trade also brought Vasco da Gama to Kozikode in 1498 who paved the way for a fresh wave of trading history with the Europeans. Traders from the Malayan peninsula, the Philippines, Java and Sumatra also visited the ports. of Kerala. Gold was traded by these countries from the east and the west for spices, ivory and sandalwood.

The rulers of Kerala and the Zamorins of Kozikode gave these traders all facilities and permitted them to settle down on Kerala soil. The Portuguese gained trading rights in 1516 followed by the Dutch merchants who obtained a stronghold in 1602. But the Portuguese were forced out of the area by 1663 and in 1795 the Dutch too had to move out as the British traders had become the strongest power in India by that time and had established their supremacy.

In 1956 the present state of Kerala was formed comprising the Malayalam speaking tracts of South India.


Pilgrim Centres (A : Air; R : Rail)
§ Alwaye : Shivlinga on Sandbank; A - Cochin 21 k.m., R - Alwaye

§ Ambalapuzha : Famous Sri Krishna Temple with image of divine origin; A - Cochin 76 k.m., R - Alleppey 10 k.m.

§ Aranmula : Parthasarathi Temple. The snake -boat race is associated with this temple; A - Cochin 122 k.m., R - Chengannur 10 k.m.

§ Arthungal : St. Andrew's France Church; A and R - Cochin 35 km.

§ Baranaganam : Mortal remains of Sister Alphonsa; A - Cochin 85 km, R - Kottayam 30 k.m.

§ Beemapalli, Trivandrum : Tomb of Beema Beevi and son Chandrakudam. Muslim festival held here. A and R Thiruvananthapuram.

§ Chengannur : Temple of Goddess Bhagavati; A - Cochin 89 km, R - Chengannur.

§ Cliottanikara : Devi temple where the goddess is worshipped in three forms; A and R Cochin - 25 k.m.

§ Cranganore (Kodungallore) : Hindu, Christian and Muslim pilgrim attractions; A and R Cochin, - 32 k.m.

§ Ettumanoor : Temple of Lord Shiva, known for holy lamp, Valia Vilakku; A - Cochin 65 k.m. R - Kottayam 11 k.m.

§ Guruvayoor : Famed ancient shrine of Sri Krishna; A - Cochin 109 km, R - Trichur 32 k.m.

§ Irinjalakuda : The only temple in India to Bharata, brother of Lord Rama; A - Cochin 57 km, R - Irinjalakuda - 8 km.

§ Kalady : Birthplace of Adi Shankaracharya; A Cochin 45 km, R Alwaye 24 k.m.

§ Kottayam : Mahadeva temple with swayambhu Shivalinga; A Cochin 76 km, R - Kottayam.

§ Kozencherry : Maramon Convention held here; A - Cohinl12 k.m. R Chengannur - 30 km. '

§ Malappuram : Noted for Nercha Muslim festival; A - Cochin 165 km, R - Tirur 28 km.

§ Malayattoor : Church of St. Thomas famed for annual festival; A - Cochin 47 km, R - Alwaye 24 k.m.

§ Omallur : Manjanikkara Church with tomb of Patriarch of Antioch; A - Cochin 13.9 km, Chengannur 44 km.

§ Sabarimala : Temple of Sri Ayyappa. Reached by a trek through the jungle from Pampa; A Cochin - 214 k.m, R Chengannur - 88 km.

§ Trichur : Temple of Shiva as Vedakkunathan. Famous for Pooram festival; A - Cochin - 80 km, R - Trichur.

§ Triprayar : Sri Rama temple; A - Cochin 70 km, R - Trichur 25 km.

§ Tripunithura : Temple of Vishnu; A - Cochin 13 km., R Tripunithura.

§ Thiruvananthapuram: Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple; A and R - Thiruvananthapuram.

§ Vagomon : Kurisumala Ashram, Christian centre; A - Cochin 107 km, R - Ettumanoor - 35 km

§ Vaikam : The Shiva image here assumes three forms during the day; A and R Cochin 40 km.

§ Varkala : Jarardanswamy temple. Also Samadhi of Sri Narayana Guru; . A - Thiruvananthapuram - 55 km, R - Varkala.

Kerala is an exotic mixture of nature's very best. The high ranges of western ghats on the east, the Arabian Sea on the west, emerald paddy fields, virgin forests and backwaters make Kerala traveller's paradise. Kerala is also called' A SPICE GARDEN OF INDIA'.

How To Reach
Air : Cochin. Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram.
Road:The length of roads in the state is 1,42,000 k.m. The national highways that pass through the State are NH 17, NH 47 and NH 49.