Category Archives: TOURIST PLACE

In this category, you will get all Tourist Place related posts in the English Language.

Wayanad – Kerala

December 23, 2021 admin Leave a comment

Wayanad is the 12th District in Kerala was formed on 1 November 1980 by carving out areas from Kozhikode and Kannur districts. Kalpetta is the district headquarters as well as the only municipal town in the district. The region was known as Mayakshetra (Maya’s land) in the earliest records. Mayakshetra evolved into Mayanad and finally to Wayanad. The Folk etymology of the word says it is a combination of Vayal (paddy field) and Naad (land), making it ‘The Land of Paddy Fields’. There are many indigenous tribals in this area. It is set high on the Western Ghats with altitudes ranging from 700 to 2100 m. Wayanad, the green paradise is nestled among the mountains of the Western Ghats, forming the border world of the greener part of Kerala.

Wayanad district is bordered by Karnataka (Kodagu and Mysore districts) to north and north-east, Tamil Nadu (Nilgiris district) to the south-east, Malappuram to south, Kozhikode to the south-west and Kannur to the north-west. The misty environs of Wayanad offer a wide range of trekking opportunities, plantation visits and wildlife tours.

Established in 1973, the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is contiguous to the protected area network of Nagarhole and Bandipur of Karnataka on the north-east and Mudimalai of Tamil Nadu on the south-east. Rich in bio-diversity, the sanctuary is an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Which has been established with the specific objective of conservating the biological heritage of the region. Consisting entirely of notified reserve, the sanctuary is very rich in fauna and flora. The management of the sanctuary lays emphasis on scientific conservation with due consideration to the general lifestyle of the tribals and others who live on the fringes of the forest.

Morickap Resort Wayanad Kerala:

Attractions in Wayanad:

Kalpetta:

It is the district headquarters of Wayanad, is the only municipality in this hilly region. The town has hotels, bars, restaurants and shops, making it a convenient base to visit this place while at the same time enjoying these facilities.

Pookot Lake:

Pookode Lake in Wayanad is a freshwater lake near Kalpetta resembling the map of India. Nestled between evergreen forests, surrounded by the Western Ghats, this breathtaking lake captivates every tourist who comes to Wayanad.

Pookode Lake (or Pookot Lake), a natural freshwater lake is located in Wayanad district at an altitude of 770 meters above sea level. It is the highest altitude freshwater lake in Kerala, and with an area of 5 hectares, it is the smallest too. Pookode Lake is also the point of origination for the Panamaram River, that flows through the valley to join Kabini River.

Edakkal Caves:

Edakkal Caves are two natural caves at a remote location at Edakkal, 25 km from Kalpetta in the Wayanad district of Kerala in India’s Western Ghats. They lie 1,200 m above sea level on Ambukutty Mala, near an ancient trade route connecting the high mountains of Mysore to the ports of the Malabar coast.

Pakshipathalam:

Pakshipathalam in Wayanad district is among the finest trekking spots in the entire country. At Pakshipathalam, one gets to walk through a thick evergreen forest that provides a safe haven to some of the rarest avian species. Ornithologists consider it a location of great interest and value. At 1,700 m above sea level, it is among the most frequented locations in the State.

People who seek a challenging yet enriching trek shall find their wishes fulfilled at Paskshipathalam. A local tribal guide leads you on an exceptional trip that canvasses this unique forest area. The deep caves at the northern end give one a great view of the biodiversity of the locality. The range of bird species found here is unmatched. Herds of gaurs can be occasionally seen passing through the place while Giant Malabar Squirrels greet all who pass by. It is a wonderful way to spend a day in Wayanad while being embraced by nature from all sides.

Lakkidi:

The gateway to Wayanad, Lakkidi is situated 700 m above sea level, at the crest of the Thamarasseri Ghat Pass. Lofty peaks, gurgling streams and luxuriant forests add magic to the journey up the winding roads to this hill station. (5 km south of Vythiri)

Sulthan Bathery:

This Place is situated at about 930 meters above mean sea level. One can find beautiful folded hills across the horizon. This town was part of Kidanganadu Village, which got its name because the presence of the Kidangans the tribes. Later, it came to be known as Sultan Bathery, the Malayalam version of its name.

Banasura Sagar Dam:

This project is the largest earthern dam in India and the second largest in Asia. It is located in the midst of lovely, mist-clad hills with a wildlife sanctuary and park full of flowering trees.

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary:

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is an animal sanctuary It is spread over 344 km² & It is Situated on the way from Mysore to Sultan Battery in Wayanad, Kerala.Wild animals such as Indian Bison, Elephant, Deer and Tiger can be spotted here.Peacocks and Peafowl tend to be very common in the area. This is the second largest wildlife sanctuary in Kerala.

Neelimala View Point:

Closer to Vaduvanchal, Neelimala is an excellent venue for trekking with lots of stimulating trails. The summit of this hill affords a great view of the cascading Meenmutty fallsand the beautiful valley in its foreground.

Meenmutty falls:

An interesting 2 km jungle trek off the main Ooty road, Meenmutty is the largest and most spectacular waterfall in Wayanad. A unique feature is that water drops about 300 metres over three stages.

How to Reach:

By Air:

Kozhikode airport is located at a distance of about 25 km from the centre of the city. Kozhikode is well connected by air to Mumbai, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Goa, Madurai and Chennai.

By Rail:

The Kozhikode railway station is located south of the Manachira Square. The city is well connected by train to important places like Mangalore, Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai, Coimbatore, Goa and Mumbai.

By Road:

Kozhikode is well linked with various destinations in Kerala and beyond. National Highway 17 links Kozhikode with the rest of the cities in Kerala and neighboring states.

ENGLISH, TEMPLES, TOURIST PLACE

Vittala Temple – Hampi

December 23, 2021 admin Leave a comment

The Vittala Temple or Shri Vijaya Vittala Temple is dedicated to Lord Vittala, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. An idol of Vittala-Vishnu was enshrined in the temple. The Vittala Temple is presumed to be the grandest of all temples and monuments in Hampi. The temple exemplifies the immense creativity and architectural excellence possessed by the sculptors and artisans of the Vijayanagara area.

Architecture:

The Vittala Temple is presumed to be the grandest of all temples and monuments in Hampi. The temple exemplifies the immense creativity and architectural excellence possessed by the sculptors and artisans of the Vijayanagara era. The Vittala temple is built in the Dravidian style of architecture. It has traits and features that are characteristic of typical south Indian temple architecture. It’s elaborate and artistic carvings and magnificent architecture is unmatched by any other structure found in Hampi.

It is believed that the main shrine of the temple originally had one enclosed Mantapa. An open Mantapa was added to it in the year 1554 A.D. The temple complex is a sprawling area that is surrounded by high compound walls and three towering gateways. The temple complex has many halls, shrines and pavilions located inside it. Each of these structures is made of stone and each structure is a beauty in itself.

Notable among these structures are the shrine of the Goddess (also known as Devi shrine), Maha Mantapa or main hall (also known as Sabha Mantapa or congregation hall), Ranga Mantapa, Kalyana Mantapa (marriage hall), Utsava Mantapa (festival hall), and the famous Stone Chariot.

Main Attractions of Vittala Temple:

The Vittala Temple is regarded as the most ornate of the Vijayanagara temples. The temple comprises of several attractions that makes it a must-visit structure for tourists. In fact it is the most visited monument in Hampi and as such, it is also the most photographed monument in Hampi.

Among the main attractions of the Vittala Temple are:

Maha Mantapa:

The Maha Mantapa, situated in the inner courtyard of the temple complex is a beauty decorated with carvings of warriors, horses, swans and several other ornamental designs. The intricately decorated pillars have beautiful sculptures of Narasimha and Yali. he Maha Mantapa comprises of four smaller halls. The steps on the eastern side of the Maha Mantapa are decorated with elephant balustrade. There are forty pillars lining the facade of the temple. Each of these pillars has a height of 10 feet.

The central part of the Maha Mantapa has sixteen intricately decorated pillars having beautiful sculptures of Narasimha and Yali. These set of sixteen pillars forms a rectangular court. The ceiling of the Maha Mantapa is a richly designed structure. The beautifully sculpted ornate pillars of the Maha Mantapa exemplify the splendour of this magnificent temple.

Ranga Mantapa:

The Ranga Mantapa is renowned for its 56 musical pillars. These pillars are also known as SAREGAMA pillars, denoting the musical notes emanated by them. The musical notes are produced when the pillars are tapped gently. Every main pillar is surrounded by 7 minor pillars. These 7 pillars give off 7 different musical notes from the representative musical instruments. The notes vary in sound quality depending on the instrument. The cluster of musical pillars were carved out of huge single pieces of resonant stone. The emission of musical notes from stone pillars was a mystery that fascinated many people down the centuries. To unravel the mystery, Britishers in the colonial era cut two pillars. Till date the ruins remain and the mystery remains unsolved.

Stone Chariot:

The Vittala Temple Complex has the richly sculpted Stone Chariot, which is considered to be the most stunning architecture of the Vijayanagara kingdom. The Stone Chariot or Ratha stands in the courtyard of temple. It is one of the three famous stone chariots in India. The other two chariots are situated in Konark (Odissa) and Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu).

This is located inside the Vittala Temple campus. You would be visiting the Stone Chariot as part of your Vittala Temple tour. In mythology Lord Vittala is an aspect of Lord Vishnu (See Gods of Hampi and Mythology of Hampi). Garuda (lord of eagles) is the vehicle (mount) of Lord Vishnu. The Stone Chariot once contained the icon on Garuda, though the shrine is empty now. This shrine is on the axis of the massive Vittala Temple and faces the sanctum of Vittala Temple.

It may appear to you (and sometimes even referred to) as a monolithic structure. In reality this stone shrine was built with many giant granite blocks. The joints are smartly hidden in the carvings and other decorative features that adorn the Stone Chariot.

The chariot is built on a rectangular platform of a feet or so high. All around this base platform is carved with mythical battle scenes. Though the chariot is not resting on it, the four giant wheels attached mimic the real life ones complete with the axis shafts and even the brakes. A series of concentric floral motifs decorate the wheels. It appears from the marks on the platform, where the wheels rest, the wheels were free to move around the axis.

You can still see the remains of the painting on the carvings of the chariot. Probably because it was relatively protected from the natural weather elements, the undercarriage of the chariot spots one of the best preserved specimens of this kind of paintings. It is believed the whole of the Vittala Temple’s sculptures were once beautifully painted in similar fashion using the minerals as medium.

In front of the chariot two elephants are positioned as if they are pulling the chariot. In fact these stone elephants were brought from elsewhere and positioned here at a later stage. Originally two horses were carved in that position. The tails and the rear legs of the horses can be still seen just behind these elephant sculptures. A broken stone ladder once gave access to the sanctum is kept between the elephants. You can still spot the marks on the floor and the doorsill where once the ladder stood.

There was even a dome like superstructure over the chariot. That too is missing now. However you can see them on the first ever photographs of Hampi taken in 1856 by Alexander Greenlaw.

Vittala Temple and the Stone Chariot inside are must do things in your Hampi itinerary. And also don’t miss that customary photo opportunity with the stone chariot as your background!

History:

The renowned Vittala Temple dates back to the 15th century. It was built during the reign of King Devaraya II (1422 – 1446 A.D.), one of the rulers of the Vijayanagara Empire. Several portions of the temple were expanded and enhanced during the reign of Krishnadevaraya (1509 – 1529 A.D.), the most famous ruler of the Vijayanagara dynasty. He played a significant role in giving the monument its present look.

Timings:

8:30 AM to 5:00 PM on all days of the week.