Kerala gets its first-ever chartered flight service
Published September 27, 2011 | 
Welcome aboard the only private jet charter service in Kerala , which would ensure air travel affordable to everyone without compromising on safety and luxury. Kochi, which has emerged as the business capital of Kerala and an IT gateway in South India gets its first-ever chartered flight service in Kerala. This move will surely add impetus to its business prosepcts in the days ahead.
The Joyalukkas Group acquired a five-seater business jet Embraer Phenom 100 made in Brazil, which became the first ever nonscheduled’ twin-engine jet aircraft owned by a Keralite. The Joy Alukkas Group has also immediate plans to set up an aviation company with a fleet of four light aircraft including a helicopter. These aircrafts would be put to use to cater to the needs of the tourism industry as well as medical emergencies and business needs.
The Embraer Phenom 100, costing Rs 21 crore is one of the most advanced planes in its genre and can attain a speed of 0.70 Mach with a climb rate of 4,760 ft per minute. It can travel a distance of 1,320 nautical miles and can hit a maximum altitude of 41,000 ft. The best part is that it needs only a takeoff distance of 3,400 ft, which makes it convenient for remote access and short airstrips. It was flown from Brazil to Chennai in 10 days and stopovers in 19 different countries. Embraer Phenom 100 would be using the facilities of Nedumbassery International Airport and once the chartered flight fleet gets ready, it will throw open an array of exciting options in adventure travel and tourism. So, in case you fancy a solo flight or a family flight tour, this could well your chance.
Kerala to get a Coastal shipping route soon
Published September 23, 2011 | 
The meandering waterways in the form of lakes, backwaters and rivers in Kerala puts it in the league of countries like the Netherlands, Denmark and Greece, where coastal shipping plays an important role in easing the traffic bottlenecks. With the proposed coastal shipping route that will be completed in 2012, Kerala will be making the best use of its long coast line like these European countries. In the initial stage, this channel will be used to ferry containers from Vallarpadam Container Transshipment Terminal, which will take off a substantial part of heavy traffic from the roads leading to Kochi.
Various shipping companies and industrial representatives have evinced keen interest in this project, which will be of immense benefit to the cashew industry in Kollam, the rubber units in Kottayam and Pathanamthitta and especially the construction industry. Coastal shipping has become the need of the hour as road transport network has proved insufficient in handling the smooth slow of traffic considering the exponential growth in the goods movement in recent times.
The Great Sea Shipping Pvt Ltd based in Cochin has confirmed its plans to launch river-sea vessels on both fixed schedules and charter basis to ensure container transportation services. The company plans to start its operations with two vessels each with a cargo capacity of 52 containers connecting Kollam port and Vallarpadam terminal, by April 2012.
The coastal shipping route will infuse a fresh lease of life to the limping cashew and coir industry. It is estimated that over 10,000 containers of cashew kernels are transported from Kollam for exports and around 35,000 containers of imported raw cashew is brought back to Kollam by road and the exporters have to shell out an exorbitant sum on transportation charges. However , once the coastal route gets ready, the transportation charges can be brought down by over 40 per cent of what it currently costs by road. In the second phase of the project, the non-coastal pockets will be integrated with the minor and major ports in the state, that would make a comprehensive network of inland waterways, rivers and backwater routes, which will be of tremendous use for the rubber industry mainly centred around Kottayam and Pathanamthitta areas.
Kochi- the most preferred Indian city to live
Published September 20, 2011 | It seems that the clichéd statement of India being a land of paradox never goes out of fashion! The exponential growth of its rapid economic development hasn’t done much in managing the contradictions.
A survey has now revealed that cities such as Gurgaon, which are the most preferred places to earn a living are not the best places to live! This interesting data surfaced during the research conducted by the economics research firm Indicus Analytics on residences, earnings and investments. Paradoxically none of the top ten cities that offer the greatest career opportunities feature in the list of top ten Indian cities to live! Six vital parameters including health, education, environment, safety, public facilities and entertainment were taken into account while preparing the index of cities that are conducive for living. Whereas the list of cities that offered the maximum earning potential was based on growth rate of employment, per capita income and listings on popular job websites.
Interestingly the four metros of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai did not fall in either of the two lists as these failed to feature in the list of ten best cities to reside, earn or invest! Nonetheless, these bustling metros were listed among the cities preferred by the deep pocketed elite class to spend their life.
The top 10 places, which offer the best employment opportunities include Gurgaon, followed by Silvaasa, Noida, Faridabad, Rupnagar, Chandigarh, Surat, Bangalore, Gandhinagar and Pune. The best cities to live are Kochi, Kozhikode, Shimla, Thiruvananthapuram, Mysore, Goa, Thrissur, Pondicherry, Kannur and Thiruvalur. The fact that five of these cities are in Kerala, should be a matter of pride for any Malayalee though it could have come as a rude shock for many considering the pathetic state of affairs.
Let’s admit it! The ground reality that exist in all these cities in Kerala are far from rosy. From pot holed roads to garbage ridden pathways and ill planned cities and the infrastructure facilities that clearly fall short of the needs of the swelling population, the city life is nothing short of a struggle for any ordinary citizen! The local administration and the public should brace up their acts atleast now to make these cities truly the most preferred cities in India and to live up to the celebrity status bestowed upon them!
An underground Amazon river named after a Malayalee
Published September 2, 2011 | A mighty underground river that is flowing 13,000 feet beneath the Amazon river in Brazil has been named Hamza after the lead researcher, Valiya Mannathal Hamza of the team, which discovered it. The researchers at Brazil’s National Observatory believe the subterranean river is of the same length as that of River Amazon and is about 6,000 km long. This startling discovery was made while studying the temperature variations at 241 inactive oil wells drilled in the 1970s by Brazil’s state-run oil company Petrobras.
The team led by Hamza, a Malayali who studied in Kozhikode, could detect the movement of water around 13000 feet below the Amazon from the information provided by Petrobras. The subterranean river follows a similar flow pattern as that of the Amazon at over 3,000 cubic meters per second. This underground river is thought to originate from the region of Acre and plunge into the sea at Foz do Amazonas after traversing the basins of Solimoes, Amazona and Marajo. This amazing discovery has made indeed the tiny state of Kerala proud of its immense contributions in science and technology. Read more on the exciting Amazon Voyage in this blog,Ropes and Limits which has some spectacular snap shots of the pristine beauty of the Amazon as well.
Burgher Street in Fort Kochi keeps alive the Dutch history
Published August 30, 2011 | 
The sleepy bylane of Burgher Street in Fort Kochi has lost its history somewhere down the time line, however it still holds the vital links that connect this city to the Dutch legacy of the yore!
Though most of the residents and the tourists who throng Fort Kochi, pass by this street which is located close to many tourist attractions like art galleries, most of them seem to be unaware of the historic connection associated with the Burgher street. There are only two streets in Fort Kochi which still bear Dutch names, Burgher Street and Petercelli Street as the other streets have been renamed by the British who came later.
The word Burgher in Dutch means ‘clerk’ in reference to the Portuguese descendants of clerks here who had built the street. Though there are no Burghers on the street anymore, it remains a mute testimony of a 300 year old Dutch legacy. It is ironical that this erstwhile Dutch street has a number of Portuguese descendants but no Dutch residents.
The legacy says that in the 15th Century when thePortuguese first came to Kerala, they built a fort in the area and the city around it was called Fort Kochi. But soon the Dutch came in and they destroyed the fort and many other Portuguese buildings and brought in the Protestant reign which made them unpopular among the local populace, which ultimately forced them to leave the area for the Portuguese.
Even today, the Burgher Street has some ancient buildings that showcases specks of Dutch architecture including high ceilings, thick walls and a small courtyard. However it is alarming to note that many modern constructions have come up in the heritage zone, violating the norms, which makes the conservation of these vestiges an uphill task. Like the many pieces of forgotten history, the Burgher Street too has lost its historical significance somewhere; nonetheless let us hope that these vital links of history are not lost forever. Read more on the Dutch influence on this city in this Deccan Chronicle article.
Alappuzha gets decked up for the Nehru Trophy boat race
Published August 9, 2011 | 
Punnamada lake, the venue of the fabled Nehru Trophy boat race has been a beehive of activities for the last few days as snake boats, each rowed by over 100 oarsmen in quick unison started their practice sessions, ahead of the grand competition on Aug 13. The last few days marked a surge in the number of tourists arriving at the Punnamada lake to witness this unique water sport.
The snake boat race is something exceptional to Kerala and the length of a snake boat varies from 120 feet to 140 feet and will have about 120 oarsmen, who will display a marvelous spectacle of rowing in unison well complemented by high pitched songs and resonant drum beats to add up to the mood. 16 snake boats and around 40 small boats will be participating this year in the 59th edition of the race, which is being sponsored by a single sponsor for over 2.50 Crore, which incidentally is the highest ever. Another highlight of this year’s event is that one of the snake boats of United Boat Club, Kainakary has roped in a group of 51 soldiers from the Madras Engineering Group in its team of oarsmen.
The boat race, which dates back to 1952 was held as an impromptu race in honour of the then Indian prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru who visited the state. Nehru, who was thrilled by the performance of the oarsmen had suggested to make it an annual event. On returning to Delhi, Nehru donated a silver trophy, a replica of a snake boat placed on a wooden abacus with an inscription and his signature, which is awarded to the winners in the snake boat race.
Preparations are in full swing and Alappuzha is getting braced up for the event, which is one of the most popular events in Kerala itinerary among tourists, including foreigners. So, make sure to be there to be part of this excepting spectacle, which is not seen anywhere else in India. It is interesting to note that it was featured in the online creative venture of the New Zealand community, the big idea, which shows its universal appeal and popularity.
Celebrating the rainy season with Wayanad monsoon carnival
Published August 2, 2011 | 
A monsoon carnival was organised in the Wayanad district in Kerala during the first two weeks of July to promote monsoon tourism and to soak up the mood of the rains. Aptly named “Splash”, this carnival which took place at the Chandragiri Auditorium in Kalpetta included an array of interesting indoor and outdoor events like cultural performances, singing, music, dance, magic, rafting, rock climbing, trekking, crab catching and archery. The gourmets too had a field day as there was a well stocked food court too at the venue. Stalls selling local handicrafts and spices had a steady stream of visitors.
While many tourism related activities took an off season rest, splash created a buzz in this hill district, which attracted over 200 tour operators including overseas operators who participated in this business-to-business meet. Various interesting sporting events and local games were also included in this year’s event to attract maximum participants.
One of the major attractions this year had been the fun activity of mud football. Some of the other rural games on offer included ‘kambukayattam’ (climbing the slippery tree), ‘vadamvali’ (tug of war), and also life skills like paddy transplantation. The water sports lovers too had a great time as there were many exciting activities like rafting, rain run, fishing, angling and rain trail, which brought out the charm of the monsoons at its best. I found this blog post by Sanjay-Sivadas really catchy as it has encompassed the beauty of Wayanad and the romance of the rains through some lively snap shots and descriptions.
Kabini- caught on frames
Published July 26, 2011 | 
Kabini – where time stands still
Published July 26, 2011 | 
Kabini, one of the most popular wildlife destinations of Karnataka was hand picked as the destination for our annual leisure trip not by chance but after a meticulous research and ground work by the seasoned hands of the Karma Kerala travel desk. At the end of it all, we are happy that it paid off by offering us one of the most beautiful holidays ever. Kabini is 3 hours drive from Wayanad and it retains its pristine charm even today. The lush green landscape surrounding a large picturesque lake and fantastic sightings of large herds of elephants, makes it a favorite choice for wild life enthusiasts.
It is only 80km away from Mysore and comprises the south-eastern part of Nagarhole National Park, now named as Rajiv Gandhi National Park. Spread over an area of 247 square miles, it is considered one of the best wildlife parks of India, famous for elephants , tigers, wild buffaloes and spotted deer among others. The landscape around is breathtaking and is made of gentle slopes and shallow valleys dotted with grass lands, swamps and deciduous trees.
In case you are looking for a quiet holiday away from the hustle and the bustle of the cities, plan a trip to Kabini, where time stands still. Apart from the occasional rumblings of the cars and jeeps ferrying the tourists, Kabini is secretive and silent. Enjoy a tryst with nature, tuck in a banter session with your friends around the bonfire, set out on a paddle boat or break free from the mundane. No matter whatever you choose to do in Kabini, the bottomline reads that you will go back recharged and refreshed, ready to take life head on!
Take a ferry ride to Maldives from Kochi
Published July 22, 2011 | 
For the first time in the maritime history of Kochi, a passenger-cum-cargo ferry service would soon be operated between Kochi and Male. A major initiative of the Shipping Ministry, it could boost the tourism potential of Kerala in general and the city of Cochin in particular in the days to come. This decision was taken at a high-level delegation meeting between India and Maldives to improve the bilateral maritime cooperation between the two countries. An agreement has also been made to promote leisure cruise service between India and Maldives.
Initially a regular passenger-cum-cargo ferry service will be operated between Kochi and Male, which would probably be a biweekly service run by a private operator. However, all the facilities on either port of call will be made by the concerned ports. The service is expected to be commissioned in two months. The shipping and trading relations between Kochi and Maldives has tremendous scope to be developed considering the fact that last year only 25,000 Indians visited Maldives against 1.55 lakh Chinese, mainly because of lack of awareness or convenient transportation facilities for the tourists. Only 10 percentage of Maldives’ imports are from India, which in turn is shipped through the Tuticorin port.
The Cochin Port is well poised to be a logistics hub in Asia after the commissioning of the Vallarpadom container terminal and Maldives could well be made the first focal point for the Kochi Port. The fun seekers and seafarers can indeed keep their chins up as world class cruise options are truly coming to their shores- finally!
Maldives, is a chain of over 1200 islands, most of them uninhabited and unexplored. Maldives touted as the tropical paradise is well known for its spectacular beaches and underwater coral gardens among others. The capital of Maldives, Male is the largest island and offers lots of shopping and fun apart from beach activities. Read more on the interesting things to do in this exquisite destination right here in Pushpitha’s Round the World Travel Blog.