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Location
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Pathiramanal
The island is located in the Vembanad Lake. It is at 9°36'54?N
76°23'1?E
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Vembanad Lake
Vembanad (Vembanad Kayal or Vembanad Kol) is the longest lake in
India, and the largest lake in the state of Kerala. It is also counted
as one of the largest lakes in India. A lake spanning several districts
in the state of Kerala, it is known by different names in different
localities viz. Punnamada Lake in Kuttanad, Kochi Lake in Kochi.
The celebrated Nehru Trophy Boat Race is conducted in a portion
of this lake; in the Kuttanad region, known as the Punnamada Lake.
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Kumarakom
Bird Sanctuary
The 14 acre bird sanctuary is the favorite spot for migratory birds
from all parts of the world. It is situated on the banks of Vembanad
Lake. The bird sanctuary houses a wide range of birds including
cuckoo, water duck, owl, kingfishers, woodpeckers and egret. The
migratory birds that attract attention include Siberian cranes,
teal, wood beetle and many more. It is a birdwatchers’ paradise
and you could make best use of your visit to this place by hiring
houseboats and motorboats.
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Ambalappuzha
While the town of Ambalappuzha is small in size, it's quite big
when it comes to one of its attractions. And that is the Sri Krishna
temple. It's one of the three most important Sri Krishna temples
that are in the state of Kerala.
The estimated time of travel from Pathiramanal
is 1 hour 15 minutes.
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Marari Beach
Within close proximity of Alleppey, Marari Beach is very quiet and
not well known but a great spot to travel to when you're exploring
the Kerala backwaters. Marari is a condensed version of Mararikulam,
a small fishing village.
The estimated time of travel from Pathiramanal
is 20 minutes.
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Alleppey Beach
All sorts of water sports can be enjoyed at Alleppey Beach. Experience
everything from surfing and parasailing to swimming and boating.
In addition, you can check out a thousand-foot pier from 1862, a
lighthouse, beautiful garden, and two parks.
The estimated time of travel fromPathiramanall
is 40 minutes.
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Kumarakom
Sunset at Kumarakom
Kumarakom is a collection of islands on Lake Vembanad. Discover
mangrove forests, paddy fields, coconut groves, and a 14-acre bird
sanctuary. Specialties of the area include Karimeen, a very tasty
fish and a local drink called as toddy.
The estimated time of travel from Pathiramanall is 40 minutes.
Kumarakom
Backwaters
Kumarakom backwaters is a scenic place where you can enjoy the bliss
of nature. It is home to a wide range of plants and animals. The
best way to enjoy the beauty of Kumarakom backwaters is to go on
a houseboat that takes you through various canals, lakes and river
around here. The houseboats offer you the best possible facilities
you need for a comfortable journey on water. Be a passive admirer
by sailing along or indulge in various water sports such as skiing
and wind sailing. You could get lucky if you attempt at fishing.
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Aruthunkal (St. Sebastian Church)
Situated about 12 miles north of Muhamma/ Alleppey - Aruthunkal,
known as St. Sebastian Church, is a major pilgrim center for Christians
who reside in Kerala. The church, which was established by Portuguese
missionaries, hosts the annual 11-day Feast of St. Sebastian each
January.
The estimated time of travel from pathiramanal
is 50 minutes.
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Alleppey Boat Cruises
Make sure to put a boat cruise on your to-do list. Take a leisurely
trip past canals and islands where you'll enjoy incredibly scenic
views. Along the way you'll encounter paddy fields, coconut palms,
and Chinese fishing nets.
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Alleppey Snake Boat Race
Kerala's most traditional event, the snake boat race, takes place
from August to October. Powered by 120 oarsmen, the long thin boats
are cheered on by spectators who stand on the banks of Punnamada
Lake. Of all the snake boat races, the Nehru Trophy Boat Race is
the most popular.
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KUTTANAD
Kuttanad - The Rice Bowl of Kerala
The
Kuttanad region in Alappuzha district is named the ‘rice bowl
of Kerala’ for its picturesque expanse of paddy cultivation
which forms Kuttanad-Alappuzha-Kerala the main source of the famous
‘boiled rice’ of the state. As a tourist destination,
it holds some geographical peculiarities. It is a vast area of partly
reclaimed land, covered with the bright green paddy fields, separated
by dykes. The unique feature about paddy cultivation in Kuttanad
is that the level of water is a few feet higher than the level of
the surrounding land. It's the area with the lowest altitude in
India, and one of the few places in the world where farming is carried
out below sea level. The place is an amazing labyrinth of shimmering
waterways composed of lakes, canals, rivers and rivulets. Lined
with dense tropical greenery, it offers a glimpse into the rural
life-styles of Kerala. Kuttanad is a backwater paradise and an ideal
destination for a backwater cruise in Kuttanad-Alappuzha-Kerala.
It is possible to drift along in a houseboat and enjoy the scenic
view of the Kerala countryside.
With
the Kuttanad region and the Vembanad Kayal nearby, Alappuzha attracts
tourists throughout the year. The criss-crossing canals in the area
evoke comparisons with Venice, but the differences are also substantial.
Each has an identity of its own. Amongst the notable sights is the
palm-covered Pathiramanal Island in Vembanad Kayal, which can be
accessed through an hour’s cruise by boat from Alappuzha.
The district is famous for its snake boat races and also houses
a number of historic colonial buildings and a beach.
The
Kuttanad region is broadly classified into three divisions:
• Lower Kuttanad
• Upper Kuttanad
• North Kuttanad
The
major occupation in Kuttanad is farming, rice being the staple crop.
Kuttanad-Alappuzha-KeralaMore than two crops are grown alternately
each year.
Large
farming areas near the Vembanad Lake were actually reclaimed from
the lake. Following the Land Reclamation Act which decreed that
whoever reclaims land from water can own it, many enterprising farmers
took up the challenge leading to massive redemption of land from
the lake.
As
the farming in the area increased, farmers felt themselves constrained
by the two cycles a year for rice cultivation owing to the limited
availability of potable water in Kuttanad. During the monsoon seasons,
the water from the mountains flow through the rivers to the sea,
bringing potable water to Kuttanad. But during summer, due to the
low level of the region, seawater enters Kuttanad and makes the
salt content of the water high making it unpotable.
Origin,
history & Contributions
There is no recorded history on the origin of this land. But the
oral history among local people, transferred from generation to
generation, is a blend of myths and legends. There is reference
to Kuttanad in the epic Mahabharata of ancient India. During their
exile, the five Pandava princes are said to have travelled through
this land. In those days, Kuttanad was part of a dense forest, lateKuttanad-Alappuzha-Keralar
destroyed by a forest fire which is also mentioned in the epic.
Thus came the place name Chuttanad or the burnt place. In course
of time Chuttanad became Kuttanad. Reportedly one can still see
kari or coal if we dig deep into the soil of Kuttanad, pointing
to the fact that the place was once a forest, destroyed by wild
fire. In Kuttanad most of the local place names end in ‘kari’,
some familiar ones being Ramankary, Oorukkary, Mitrakkary, Mampuzhakkary,
Kainakari and Chennamkari.
Kuttanad
is known for its contributions to the field of Malayalam literature
and cinema besides the classical dance-drama of Kathakali. Jnanpith-winning
novelist, Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai, hailed from Kuttanad, so
is late Malayalam poet Dr K. Ayyappa Panikkar. Scholar-folklorist
Kavalam Narayana Panikkar and his musician son Kavalam Sreekumar
are natives of this place, so was late filmmaker John Abraham. Renowned
film actor Nedumudi Venu too hails from Kuttanad-Alappuzha-Keralathis
belt. Another famous film personality hailing from Kuttanad is filmmaker
Vinayan.
Among
the leading Kathakali exponents from Kuttanad today are Mankompu
Sivasankara Pillai, Mathoor Govindankutty, Thalavadi Aravindan,
FACT Padmanabhan and Kalamandalam Shanmughan. Its Kathakali masters
of earlier days include Mathoor Kunhukunhu Pillai Panicker, Chennithala
Kochu Pillai Panicker, Mankulam Vishnu Nambuthiri, Champakkulam
Pachu Pillai, Guru Gopinath, Pallippuram Gopalan Nair, Harippadu
Ramakrishna Pillai, Chennithala Chellappan Pillai, Ambalappuzha
Sekhar and Kalanilayam Mohanakumar.
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Thanneermukkam Bund
The major occupation in Kuttanadu is farming. Rice is the important
agricultural product, giving Kuttanadu the monicker of "The
Rice Bowl of Kerala". Three crops are grown every year now
instead of the traditional two per year. Large farming areas near
Vembanad Lake (Vembanadu Kayal) were actually reclaimed from the
lake. The king decreed that whoever retains land can own it leading
massive redemption of land from the lake. As the farming in the
area increased farmers felt themselves constrained by the two cycles
a year for rice cultivation. The reason for which is the availability
of potable water in Kuttanadu.
During the monsoon seasons, the water from the mountains flow through
the rivers to the sea, bringing potable water to Kuttanadu. But
during summer, due to the low level of the region, seawater enters
Kuttanadu and makes the salt content of the water high making it
unpotable. During 1968, government of India proposed a project,
in which a bundh (Dam) will be made across the river so that seawater
will not be allowed to come inside Kuttanad during summer, allowing
farmers to cultivate and extra cycle per year. The project was planned
in three phases, the south side, the north side and another phase
to join the two sections. The project was delayed and by the time
the first two phases were complete the entire money alloted for
the project ran out and left the final phase in limbo. The farmers
who were expecting lots of financial benefits after the completion
of the project decided to take matters into their own hands and
one night in 1972, a large group of farmers filled the gap between
the north and the south side with earth. To this day, the earth
embankment between the two sections of the bundh remains.
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