Nehru Trophy Boat Race 2012 - A Water Olympics!

Nehru Trophy Boat Race , the most competitive and popular of the boat race is an annual event which is organized at the Punnamda Lake, near Alappuzha. The snake boat race will be held on the second saturday of august. In connection with the diamond jubilee of the nehru trophy boat race, the race is to be made into a three day event this year, on August 9, 10, 11.

The three-day event will kick off with the competitions of small boats and friendly race off snake boats. Kayaking, canoeing and competitions of speedboat will be held on the second day and the event will conclude with the snake boat race on the final day.

On the day of the event, the tranquil lake front is transformed into a sea of humanity with an estimated two lakh people.

The major attraction of the boat race is the competition of snake boats chundanvallams or snake boats.Chundans (snake boats) are an impressive sight, measuring over 100 feet in length, with a raised prow. Each snake boat accommodates 100+ rowers sitting in two rows and 5 other oarsmen. There are other group of people standing in between; singing the ‘Vanchi-pattu’ (boat songs with hymns) which gives a rhythm for the rowers to charge forward, all-together.

This synchronized way of rowing needs long and devoted training and inherent aptitude. Team work is so important that even a silly neglected act of one participant can lead a boat to lose the race.
when the boats race to finishing point, the atmosphere will be beyond words !!!

Technical Specifications

Track length – 1400 M.
Chundan -
Amaram - 5 Persons
Nilakkar - 5 Persons
Total no. of team members- 111
Tracks –
4 tracks of 10 M. wide from East.

How to reach Alappuzha

080 Km. South of Cochin International Airport – 70 minutes journey by NH 47
062 Km. South of Kochi – An hour drive from Kochi by NH 47
170 Km. North of Kovalam – 3 ½ hours journey by NH 47
155 Km. North of Trivandrum – 3 hours journey by NH 47
125 Km. West of Thekkady – 3 hours journey by road
050 Km. West of Kottayam – 1 hour journey by road

Distance

80 Km south of Cochin International air port . 70 minutes journey by N.H 47.
60 Km South of Cochi . An hour's drive from Cochi by N.H.47.
170 Km North of Kovalam . 3 & 1/2 hour's journey by N.H 47.
125 Km West of Thekkady . 3 hour's journey by N.H 47.
From Alappuzha Railway station to venue about 5 Km.
From Alappuzha K.S.R.T.C Bus station to venue-Walkable distance.

Reach Alappuzha before 11 AM and occupy your seats.
Boat Services will be available from 10 AM to 12 Noon
After 12 noon boat service will not be available


source: boat races

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Mattupetty Dam And Lake - An Ideal Picnic Spots

Mattupetty, The beautiful hill station is situated at a height of 1700 m above sea level. The main attractions at Mattupetty is the dairy farm, run by the Indo-Swiss Livestock Project. The dairy farm is a unique one of its kind with several varieties of high-yielding cattle being reared. 

The Mattupetty lake and dam, Just a short distance from the farm, is a very beautiful picnic spot. The sprawling Kundala tea plantations and the Kundala Lake are other attractions in the vicinity. DTPC Idukki provides boating facilities on the Mattupetty Dam. Speed launch, slow speedboat and motorboats are available on hire.

Best Season: September to May
To Reach: Nearest airport and railway station is at Kochi (130 km west of Munnar)

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Experience With Ashtamudi Lake

The most popular tourist attraction of Kerala is backwaters cruise. Its really a wonderful and unforgettable experience!. The palm-fringed, tranquil backwaters were once the state's trade highways. With 41 west-flowing rivers, the backwaters stretch to almost 1,900 kilometers. The backwater routes date back over the centuries and have been long used for all transportation needs, in particular trade in coconut, rubber, rice and spices. The Ashtamudi lake, surrounded by red cliffs and swaying coconut palms, still bears traces of its former links with China. On a backwater cruise from Kollam to Alappuzha all along the waterline you can see the famous Chinese fishing nets gracefully hanging over the lake, as covered country boats ply the backwaters.

House boats provide an opportunity for exhilarating watersports. With a gentle breeze to aid, one may sail around the Ashtamudi Lake.The 9 hour boat ride from Kollam to Alappuzha along these backwaters can be an unforgettable experience. Located in Kollam district, Ashtamudi is famed for its panoramic and magnificent views.The Ashtamudi Lake is so named because of its eight 'arms' or channels is the gateway to the backwaters. 

Best Season: August to March
To Reach:  Nearest Railway Station: Kollam is connected to most Indian cities and is on the railway routes.
Nearest Airport: Thiruvananthapuram International and Domestic Airport 76 km away from the city.

the source: mathrubhumi

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Kerala Fish Pickle

INGREDIENTS
Fish fillet - 1, any white fish, I used tilapia,Sliced
Shallots - 5-6 nos, sliced thin
Ginger - 1 1/2 tbsp , julienned
Garlic - 4-5 cloves, slliced thin
Kashmiri red chilli pdr - 2 tbsp + 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves - 2-3 sprigs
Asafoetida - a big pinch
Salt  and pepper to taste
Oil - 1 1/2 tbsp + 1 tbsp

USAGE

First Marinate the sliced fish with 2 tbsp of chilli pdr,sat and pepper.Keep aside for 15-20 mins.
Heat some oil in a wide pan.Shallow fry the fish pieces. Sprinkle some asafoetida on top and transfer it to a bowl.In the same pan pour the rest of the oil and when its hot add mustard seeds.When it starts to pop add curry leaves,ginger,garlic and shallots.Add salt.When it starts to become light brown add the rest of the chilli pdr.Dont add any water..Lower the flame and stir for a minute until fully incorporated.Add the fried fish to this and mix well.Serve immediately ,warm or cold with some rice.

The Source:

Ranji's Kitchen Corner

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Punnathur Kotta - The Largest Elephant Park In The World

The very sight of pachyderms wallowing at Punnathurkotta is a splendid visual treat. The dweller elephants, all donated by the pious devotees of Lord Guruvayoorappan, are highly pampered at this   natural habitation near the Guruvayoor temple.

Punnathurkotta, considered as one of the largest elephant parks in the world, houses more than 60 majestic elephants. 'Guruvayoor Padmanabhan', honored with the title of Gajaratnam (meaning the gem among elephants), is the tallest tusker of the lot.

With the arrival of monsoon, elephants that have been taken to different temples for festival processions, are brought back to the sanctuary. The sick elephants are given traditional medical treatment. Though visitors are allowed to walk around and watch elephants being fed and bathed from a close distance, it is advisable for aficionados to avoid going very near the elephants.

The source
manoramaonline.com

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Chembai Sangeetholsavam 2011 (21 NOV - 6 DEC )

Chembai Sangeetholsavam is an annual Carnatic music festival held in Guruvayur by the Guruvayur Devaswom as a kind of homage to Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavatar, one of the legend of Carnatic Classical Music.

About 2000-2500 musicians participate in this festival every year, and it is held for about 12-15 days culminating on the Guruvayur Ekadasi day, when all the musicians sing 5 favourite songs of Chembai and also the Pancharatna Kritis of Thyagaraja. The entire audience join the chorus when the last mentioned song is sung with devotion and fervor, the music reverberating the hall sending everyone to ecstasy.

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Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple

Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple, in the town of Guruvayoor in Kerala is one of the five famous Krishna\Vishnu temples in India

Guruvayoor Temple is one of the largest and most famed temple in Kerala at national level, attracting more than 5 millions devotees annually, is located 29 kms north west to the cultural capital of the 'God's own country' - Thrissur - Kerala. This narrow coastline strip of land on the south western edge of Indian subcontinent is one of the 10 paradises in the world.

Guruvayoor is a thriving township in Trichur district of Kerala state in the South of India, its scenic beauty and serenity are breath taking.

Guruvayoor, nearly 102 km from Kochi and the nearest railway station is at Guruvayur. The nearest major railway station with better connectivity is at Thrissur. The nearest airport (75 km) is Cochin International Airport, at Nedumbassery near Kochi. Guruvayur is well connected from all major towns of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Various private and state government-owned bus companies operate regular services to this temple town.

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