Kannur- a district with hopes for tourists!
Published June 30, 2010 | Kannur, the north Malabar district of Kerala is known as the land of looms and lores. For most Keralites, Kannur is famous for violence and bombs than a serene-beautiful place which offers lots of potentials to the tourism of Kerala.
Kannur in Kerala, is always famous with media for various happenings taking place. Its a place of strategic military importance and famous for its pristine beaches, Theyyam (the native performing art) and the handloom industry. Kannur has many tourist destinations like Moppila Bay, Payyambalam Beach Resort, St. Angelos Fort, Thalassery Fort, Gundert Bungalow, Ezhimala Naval Acadamy, Pythal Mala, Pazhassi Dam, Parassinikkadavu Snake Park and many others. The district is also blessed with hill stations, rivers, backwaters, historical monuments and religious centres.
Lately, Kannur has drawn attention of many tourists worldwide with the plans of setting up an International Airport here. The proposed Airport at Kannur is to have international standards of safety and comfort. If this will happen, Kannur can bring in many more developments and can draw more tourists which will in turn benefit the tourism industry of the State.
Another factor that will create more inflow of tourists to the state and district is “Ayurveda“. The Kerala unit of the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and the health department has entered into a partnership to set up an Ayurvedic Village in Kannur. The CII is planning to cultivate precious herbs and medicinal plants in the village with the help locals here.
Ayurveda and its treatments have gained great popularity among foreign tourists and, Kerala as a state with Ayurveda has lots of scope in this. Soon, the other districts of Kerala with tourist potentials can also expect a speedy development, as there is a master plan for cities in the state has been planned.
Rising gold prices – Kasavu clothes on the decline?
Published November 10, 2009 | The rising prices of gold has adversely affected Keralites’ wearing of the traditional attire ‘Kasavu Saree and Mundu‘. The prices of the gold colour threads which are used for weaving the kasavu clothes have risen due to the price hikes in gold. This hike has put all kasavu lovers in agony and they have had to put off their wishes to buy new Kasavu clothes, for another time.
The golden threads which are used for weaving the kasavu dresses are brought to Kerala from Surat in Gujarat. The silk threads which are wrapped in silver is then dipped in gold to make Kasavu threads. These threads are sent to Kerala in rollers each containing 30 grams. The prices for 240 grams of kasavu threads is now raised to Rs. 7, 100 from the Rs. 2,700 it was two years ago. Usually for a four metre Mundu, they use kasavu in ¼ inch or 1 inch for sides and for borders they use 2 inches to 2 ¼ inches in thickness.
The prices for original kasavu saris range from Rs. 5000 to 25, 000 and, if you want a wider gold border or need more designs, the prices will increase gradually. The hike in gold prices has pushed all those who are in the handloom industry into a great crisis. A great amount of hard work is needed to weave a Kasavu sari. It takes almost a month and a half to weave a single sari.
Kasavu embellishment in clothes have been on the rise but the hike in gold prices may in fact end up with people choosing the simpler designs in traditional clothes.