A Few Salient Features of Agasthyarkoodam – The Breathtaking Peak in Kerala

Kerala is a gift of the Arabian Sea. The state is abundantly blessed with natural resources. It is also called as ‘God’s own country’ and no wonder why the state has been bejewelled with the title. The marvellous beauty of the state lures travellers from various parts of the world. Words are insufficient to express the beauty of the state. The meandering rivers bubbling over rocks, sparkling waterfalls flowing through the thickly populated woodlands, undisturbed backwaters, avalanching movement of sand in pristine beaches, emerald forest ornamented with wilderness and tweaks of birds, magnificent bowl-shaped valleys and awe-inspiring mountains blanketed with the lush green carpets of tea and coffee plantations and many more. One whole essay would not be enough to beautify the charm of the state. The state is adorned with many historic monuments and herbal rejuvenation centers. Most of the foreigner avails of tour packages for participating in various kinds of Ayurveda treatments. The climate of Kerala is favourable not only to Indians but also to people from other nations. It is being a decade that the state started to give prominence to the tourism sector. And as part of enhancing tourism sectors, many disquieting hill stations and historic streets were being unveiled. Thousands of travellers visit the state by purchasing the packages for a cheap price to explore the magnificent gem hidden in unexplored parts of Kerala. Kerala is a haven for adventure lovers. The breathtaking hill stations and offers immense chances to improve their skills in trekking and rock climbing. It is not possible to describe each and every sparkling destination of the state with its peculiarities. I would like to dedicate this essay to explain the salient features of the famous hill called Agasthyarkoodam.

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Agastyarkoodam hill is the second tallest peaks in Kerala. It is situated in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala. It is one of the utterly bare and precipitous hill stations in Kerala. It is situated in the premises of Neyyar Wildlife sanctuary with a height of 1868 m. The hill is known as Pothigai Malai hill in Tamil Nadu. The slopes of the hills are blanketed with purple orchids. The hill shelters to various types of birds. Famously the hill is known for trekking but most of the Hindu believers consider the hill as a pilgrimage. On the top of the hill one could find a statue of Agasthya sage withholding a stone crusher on one hand and a bowl of medicines on other hands.  Worshipers climb to the top and offer prayers to him. He belongs to one of the seven sages (Saptarishis) of Hindu ideology. He is considered the father of Indian traditional medicines and Tamil literature. The surroundings of the hill are occupied with a tribal community called ‘Kanis’. They are engaged in various activities conducted by the forest department.

The Story Behind the Agasthyarkoodam Hill

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For long years women were not allowed to climb to the top of the hill as the Agasthya muni was celibate i.e. Bhramachary and intervention of women will affect the purity of the mountain. But 2 years ago the ban on women climbing the hill was removed and in January 2019 the first lady to conquer the mountain was Dhanya Sanal. Followed to her 100 women registered their names for trekking to the Agasthyarkoodam hill. There is also a story revolving around the hill is when all the sages (munis or maharishis) went to Himalaya for attending the wedding of Lord Shiva and Lord Parvathi the tilt to one side. Then Lord Shiva insisted Agasthya Muni to go the southern portion and balance the earth. He obeyed the commands. Gradually he liked the place and decided to reside there.

Trekking to Agasthyarkoodam Hills

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Unlike other hills in Kerala, you can plan out trekking to Agasthyarkoodam hill when you wished to do. As aforementioned the hill is dedicated to Agasthya sage and hence trekking on it is possible only in the month of January i.e. the trekking routes will be opened on Makaravilaku till Shivarathri. Actually there are two routes that lead to the hill. First is through the Neyyar wildlife sanctuary and that is closed and the second route is Bonacaud village. The village is situated 69 km from the Trivandrum International Airport. So travellers coming from Delhi, Punjab, and Bangalore can either travel in local transport or can purchase the tour packages from Dream Holidays and the tour guides will guide you to the village. Trekking the hill will require three days. Before reaching the Bonacaud village trekkers have to avail of an entry pass of INR 500. Per day 100 pass will be issued. The issuing of passes will be started a couple of days before the Makaravilaku. Trekkers can purchase online also.

Itinerary for Trekking

  • 1st-day Bonacaud – Athiramula Base Camp

Travellers will have to reach the Bonacaud base by 7 am. It will take around for registration and verification. Do not forget to carry the necessary identity cards. Collect the food coupons and purchase the water bottles. You can start your trekking by 8 am. It will take 6 hrs to reach the Athiramula base camp. Over there you can rest and encash your coupon and satiate your hunger. After refreshing, you can stroll through the jungle. Do not make a loud noise as it will disturb the animals. You can build a camp and can spend your night in it. The canteen in the base camp works from 6.30 am to 8.30 pm, therefore, collect the food coupons for the next day before you sleep.

  • 2nd-day Athiramula Base Camp- Agasthayrkoodam Hill

After having light breakfast you can continue your trekking to the hill. It will take approximately 5 hrs to reach the top of the hill. On reaching the top of the hill you can capture the pictures of serene nature and soak yourself in nature’s bliss. Don’t forget to pack your lunch. Spend a few hours on the hill and return your journey before the sunsets. You can rest in the tent in the Athriamulla base camp.

  • 3rd-day Athiramulla Base Camp – Bonacaud

Followed to the breakfast travellers can descend to the village. It will take 6 hrs to reach the slope. From there you can return to your hometown. If you are new to Thiruvananthapuram you can visit the historic places of the district before concluding the trip.

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Dream Holidays are one such travel operator in Kerala that curates special packages for adventure enthusiasts. If you have any concerns regarding the same without any hesitation you can contact their customer representatives.

A Blissful Travel Diary Through Andaman

The things which make me feel alive and happy are travel and food. Being raised by a typical Malayali family traveling and exploring new places was not always a big yes for me.  But the story changed entirely when I moved to Chennai for my Job. Here I found someone who is a super foodie and travel junky, Jeffrin, my colleague. Every weekend we went on a trip and he is the one who introduced to me the different aspects of traveling. One such fine day he sent me an article about Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The exciting and delightful thing in Andaman, the food, culture, adventures. Without any second thought, we just decided to make a trip to Andaman, the land of white sandy beaches where the sun kisses the crystal clear turquoise lagoons.

On the next day, we pick some random travel agencies from which Andaman Tour travel is the one in which I feel more genuine and having some amazing tour packages. After all the planning and plotting we started our journey. From the Chennai International airport, we took Spicejet to reach Port Blair, which takes approximately 2 hours to reach there. And is the most convenient and cheapest way to reach Andaman from Chennai. On the way to our hotel, I was really surprised by seeing the dashing beauty of this heavenly paradise. After a healthy breakfast which includes an authentic Andaman local cuisine, we started our first day in Andaman. While planning our journey to Andaman we both made our wishlist clearly so on the basis of that our very first wish was to fulfill a deep dive in the enchanting emerald green water to explore the mystery of its beauty.

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We moved to Barracuda city in Havelock Islands for our first water adventure. He was so excited and keep on asking about the finest details about scuba diving but on the other hand, I was nervous and confused about my choice because I consider myself a hydrophobic. But keeping my fear aside we just dive into the turquoise crystal clear water. For a moment I feel very panic but the guide so friendly and helping. Trust me it was so refreshing, swimming near to a spectacular array of fishes, sea turtles, Batoids, multi-colored corals reefs and so on. It was so rejuvenating and it completely wipes out my fear of water.

Being a shopaholic, the next thing which I was eagerly waiting for was street shopping.  In every nook and crook, you will find a shop or stall with a huge collection of amazing handicrafts. From Aberdeen Bazaar to Delanipur, this Island will offer you a spectacular shopping experience for sure. In which Port Blair is the busiest zone with a vibrant array of shops that sells a wide variety of local handicrafts. From which I brought some shell jewelry and pearls for my niece and for myself. Shell jewelry is one of the most famous local handicrafts among tourists than precious jewelry.  While he was so busing in purchasing fishbone articles and it seems quite funny and weird for me. But then I came to know it is one of the top-selling handicrafts in Andaman and widely used as home decor. It is usually made from either dead or eaten fishes.

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After a 3 course heavy lunch we went for sightseeing. The travel agent suggested the rare view of turtles nesting in the Diglipur beach. This amazing process can only be witnessed from December to January where the turtles go on through its gestation period. We are lucky enough to watch this fascinating process and it was the first time that I’m seeing a huge turtle in my life. They are quite huge from the normal turtles and not afraid of the crowd. He was really tried hard to impress and pamper the turtles by feeding them fruits, gently rubbing through its body but the turtles were really don’t care about his existence and which was extremely funny to watch. December to January is the best time to explore Andaman where the climate is so pleasing and also so many amazing tour packages are available during this season.

Cellular jail was the next thing on my wishlist which I really wish to see because of the movie “Kalapani”, but Jeffrin was still in the mood for adventures. By seeing his extreme craving for adventure we have decided to do Parasailing in the Elephant beach in Havelock Island. Since it is a customized tour package it was really easy and exciting to fulfill our wishes in Andaman.  Parasailing is a recreational kiting activity where you can fly in the air like a bird and the most magnificent part about it was the alluring aerial view of the heavenly Island. It costs about an INR 3500 per person but it totally worth the money. One thing which was common in our wishlist was Barren Island. First I didn’t believe about the volcano eruption but the stunning view of the Island was really breathtaking. Barren Island is about 138 km away from Port Blair and it is the only active volcano in India. Barren Island comes under the restricted zone and special permits are necessary for the visit, even though thousands of tourists are coming here to experience this spectacular phenomenon.

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After all the adventures and shopping we both are so tired and really needed something refreshing. So we just entered to the first pub near to Govind Nagar beach in Havelock. The pub was so classy, sophisticated and well furnished. While I was enjoying my Martini and he asked me to come to go for a walk to experience a romantic sunset glimpse. Your Andaman journey doesn’t complete if you’re not enjoying a lovey-dovey sunset with your loved one near to a beachside. After a captivating sunset, we go to our hotel and the next morning I feel so sad and jealous of the blessed souls who are so lucky to spend their whole life in this paradise. We packed our bags with a lot of sweet and beautiful memories and said bye to Andaman.

The 5 Essential Museums You Should Not Miss on Your Andaman Trip

No one would ever expect that this exotic archipelago does encompass such a rich history of both its indigenous tribe and its British settlers. The reminiscent of their existence here in the forms of their ancient structures such as the places they lived in and activities they had been indulged in times immemorial are made observable to the present and the future. All these pieces of evidence are anyhow collected, protected and preserved for the posterity here in the same land where all of these had happened. Moreover, when visiting these museums with the utmost care, you would get to analyze how the whole picture of Andaman was and how that had impacted the present condition of the islets.

The following are the essential museums you are not supposed to miss while you are holidaying in Andaman.

Cellular Jail Museum

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Being the largest Museum established in Andamans, it would take longer to roam around and analyze the exhibits of Cellular Jail Museum. The thought-provoking historical premises of the Cellular Jail of Port Blair would indeed as a whole will resemble a museum. Or in other words, they are meant to function as a museum where the present generation and the posterity may visit for further research on the British settlers. With the light and sound show organized in the museum, you would get to witness the mishaps the prisoners had to face during the erstwhile freedom struggle. Moreover, the jail constructed here was one of the scariest places ever made by the British colonial masters, as they are situated in the most remote places that anybody could think of. Now, its remnants are very artistically set by the administrative institution of the museum.

Samudrika Naval Marine Museum

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Situated almost in the heart of Port Blair, the Samudrika Naval Marine Museum is meant for protecting the marine life inhabiting these environmentally rich regions of Andaman. Even though they are known as Naval Marine Museum, there are more exhibits of aquatic life such as the corals, fishes and other fauna, unlike the fighting ships found in the Navy Aircraft Museum of VizagFurthermore, the visitors could get to widen their knowledge about the marine life from the exhibits of dormant corals and seashells that had existed underneath the azure ocean waters of Andaman for ages. You may get to behold at those nature marvels when you are indulged in activities such as snorkeling and scuba diving that would be readily visible in the tour packages based in Andaman. But you would only scientifically get to know them on the tour from your visit to the museum.

 Forest Museum

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The art of Andaman can experience to its fullest in this sophisticated Forest Museum of Port Blair that is located in the historic premises of Saw Mill in Chatham Island. The unique artefacts that are exhibited in the museum were sculpted from the timbers of Satinwood, Padauk, Peuma, Gurjam and Marble. You would get to stroll around the beautifully set garden composed of endangered flora and the stuff related to wild animals in the zoo adjoining the museum.  So the travellers of Andaman would pull over their vehicle and visit the museum in large groups, every now and then. Various woodworks installed here say much about the adventure and the art culture of Andamanese archipelago. Therefore, you must take your effort to drop in the museum on your mandatory visit to Chatham Saw Mill.

Zonal Anthropological Museum

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Owned and maintained by the Anthropological Survey of India, the museum offers a wide perspective to its visitors. The travellers visiting the Zonal Anthropological Museum would get to know briefly about the indigenous tribes who had dwelled in these islets namely, North Sentinelese, Onges, Great Andamanese and Jarawas. Various sections of the museum are meant for each of these tribes. However, among which they are more into the Shompens and Nicobarese as these Mongoloid tribes are separately set in the ethnic section of the Museum. The installations and exhibits of the museum will make you aware of the hostility of the most dangerous tribe of the world that is the Jarawas. Despite the ban of the entry of the remotes places where they live in, visitors would now find the reasons for such a restriction once visited the informative museum.

Zoological Survey of India Museum

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Yet another museum located in Port Blair is meant for the preservation of marine species. When you are visiting the museum on your tour, you would get to see and widen your knowledge about their survival of various other specimens of wildlife. The aquatic creatures preserved here consist of starfish, corals, anemones, whales and the dead fossils along with their skeletons. While strolling through the premises of the museum you would get to witness the birds such as hawk and parakeets stuffed scientifically. Moreover, these remnants of underwater marvels are collected from the adjoining Andaman Sea. Therefore, the Zoological Survey of India Museum is preferred by the researchers and science students to study about the exclusivity of the marine life around these parts of the Andaman Islands or the group of islets as a whole. Apart from all these, the museum is home to a sizeable population of diverse kinds of beetles, butterflies, birds and other mammals.

 

Besides these intriguing museums, other various spectacular experiences should never be missed while holidaying in the surprising islands of Andaman. There are beaches, historical monuments, shopping places and above all that the most exciting water sports. For indulging in all such experiences and beholding such marvels of nature quite effortlessly, you may contact Andaman Tour Travel. They are one of the best operators of Andaman based in Port Blair. The efficient travel firm will aid you in finding the best accommodation and cab facilities wherever you are wishing to stay and the sort of activities you are wishing to indulge in. Moreover, they had also curated some diverse tour packages with the inclusion of sightseeing to different scenic locations and that too at incredible rates.

Top 6 Stunning Sun-Kissed Beaches in Dubai

Dubai is one of the most captivating cities in the United Arab Emirates. To study the latest changes in the technologies, fashion, education, hospitality services and many more one should definitely visit the eccentric emirate of the United Arab Emirates called Dubai. Dubai is the only place on the planet where impossible things take place. And the skyscrapers are the perfect examples for it. The city is also known as ‘the city of superlatives’. The world’s tallest skyscraper Burj Khalifa is situated in the downtown of Dubai. Burj Al Arab is one of the luxurious hotels in the United Arab Emirates. Even though it is a 5-star hotel it offers services of a 7-star hotel. One could grasp the stories of ancient Dubai by strolling through the streets of Dubai Creek and also a tall mirror is built-in Dubai called Dubai Frame that exhibits the old Dubai as well as new Dubai. If you want to see the largest candy shop avail of Dubai tour package from any places like Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and etc. and visit the candy store. Students and romantic couples will love to indulge in snow activities in the snow park in Emirates Mall. The observation decks situated on two floors of Burj Khalifa will provide a fascinating panoramic view of the entire Dubai city. Dubai has undertaken several new projects such as the Dubai Museum, Bluewater Island, Aladdin city and many more. No wonder if one says that people in Dubai never sleep and how it could not be possible if a King with strong determination and imagination is ruling the emirate. There is only one man behind the tremendous success behind Dubai is the most respectable Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The key to the prosperity of Dubai is the oil fields. They export oil and petroleum products to various countries in the world. I don’t think that the emirate only gives importance to technology and infrastructure. They also give equal importance to entertainment and sports too. The amusement parks like Bollywood Park, Wild Wadi Adventure Park, Hollywood Parka and many more are the exquisite examples for the same. Apart from these, they encourage water adventure activities like parasailing, jet riding, banana rides and many. All these sports take place in the sun-roasted beaches of Dubai. Just like the oil fields, one could enormously see beaches in various corners of Dubai. The following sections will help you to study more about it.

1. Sunset Beach

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Sunset Beach is one of the famous beaches in Dubai. It is situated between Arabian Gulf and Umm-Suqeium beach. The beach is famous among families and youngsters. The beach has been seen in many selfies and is it gives a spectacular view of sunsets which other beaches do not give. You can indulge in various beaches activities over there. The beach provides all the basic facilities like showers, washrooms, changing cubicles, and Smart Palms that supply free Wi-Fi to beach lovers. To enjoy the strength of tidal waves one avail of the surfing activities. Tourists of any age can try it. For swimmers, there is good news it is the only beach in the whole of Dubai that allows swimming in the night! Isn’t it interesting?

2. JBR Beach

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JBR beach is located between the Arabian Gulf and Dubai Marina. The beach is located close to the famous Jumeirah Beach Park. It is famous in Dubai and has been accredited with the title ‘Blue Flag Beach’. The certification is credited to the beaches that strictly follow the international standard. The beach park is an ideal destination for small children and adults. The park offers numerous facilities to entertain visitors such as cafes, barbeques, play stations, recreational centers, sports activities and many more.

3. Kite Beach

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Kite beach as the name denotes is famous for kite surfers. The beach is an elongation of Umm Suqeium beach. The beach is famous for various kinds of sports activities like sandboarding, kite surfing and many more. Visitors could fill their tummies with food form the mobile trucks. Along with it, you can beef dishes in the restaurant on the beach. The beach has a 14 km long jogging track. All above this is one could a clear view of Burj Khalifa- the tallest building in the world.

4. La Mer

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La Mer beach is one of the few beaches that provide cent percent of entertainment to its travelers. Thousands of people visit the beach every year from various places like Hyderabad, Delhi, and Mumbai by availing of the tour package to Dubai. The main attractions of the beach are laguna waterpark – a theme park with five water slides, playground for kids, lazy river ride, and water hammocks and many more. Visitors can also practice kayaking, flyboarding and wakeboarding and etc.

5. Black Palace Beach

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Black Palace Beach is sandwiched between Palm Jumeirah and Burj AL Arab. The beach is also called as a ‘Secret Beach’. Over here travelers cannot find any basic facilities such as changing rooms, or sunbeds, etc. if travelers are lucky they can find the luxury yacht of the Sheikh.

6. Al Mamzar Beach

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Al Mamzar beach is all-time favorite beaches for families in Dubai. The four corners of the beach are guarded by safeguards. The beach comprises of swimming pools, picnic spots, playgrounds and many more. The beach gets highly crowded on Fridays with families and small kids. The beach provides basic facilities like changing rooms, bathrooms, and etc. travelers can avail of small tents with air-conditioner equipped in it. The famous Sharjah Palace hotel is situated close to Al Mamzar Beach.

From the above paragraphs, you might have understood various beaches in Dubai. Spending a few hours on the beach will help you to rejuvenate. If you are lured by reading the above sections you can avail of tour packages from Dubai Tour Trawell, a leading travel operator in India. They always curate packages by focusing on the customer’s satisfaction. If you have any doubts regarding their services, you can contact their customer representatives without any hesitation.

Mango Meadows – An exquisite place for children and couples

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It is always said that life changes when you get married. And it is true in my case. I was just recollecting my old days when my mother used to wake me up early in the morning. Even though I have an alarm in my room I just open my eyes to stop it. Again I will cover my face with the blanket and enjoy my sleep. Those olden days were the glorious days of my life. And it is not for me alone…. It is the same for each and everyone who is reading this blog. In my deep sleep, I was recollecting my school, and college days where I wholly depended on my mother for every minute thing. She would be always busy in the kitchen in the early morning but whenever I call her… she would run to me to solve my issues… suddenly I felt like something was crawling on me… and it continued for a minute …. I thought it would be some ant… therefore I did not open my eyes and continued to be part of the dream… but something again interrupted me …. But this time it was not the ant but something else… someone was hitting with a hard material… without any second thought, I decided to uncover myself and to my surprise, it was my second child beating me with his water bottle… he is the only person in our house who wakes up so early that many a time even if we forget to set the alarm he will be there to wake up us…. thank God for gifting him for us… by the time my husband woke up and we together sort out all the household chores… later we both got ready for our office… he used to drop me to the office everyday…. That day I shared my dream that I saw in the morning and old school days with my husband…. I really miss those days I told him…. I expressed my wish to go back to the olden days…. for a moment he remained silent… and then told that we can plan an exotic vacation during the summer holidays. I was thrilled… he asked me to find a fascinating destination for us as well as for kids.

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As we both had a shortage of leaves I did not surf any places outside Kerala. More than the duration of the trip it is the way how much we enjoy it… therefore we decided to search places in Kerala itself… many places came into my mind…. at first we decided to plan a stunning trip to hill stations like Munnar…but when I discussed the same to my hubby.. he said that it will be boring for kids…as our kids are too small and they cannot enjoy the adventurous activities… then we thought of amusement parks…but over there only kids can enjoy and we will have to look after them and we will not be able to celebrate the trip in our own way… even spending more than an hour on the computer we were not able to finalize the destination…hence with disappointment, we shut down the system… to refresh my mind I started to spend some time surfing social media sites …. suddenly I came across the family pictures of my friend … she and her family had an amazing vacation somewhere in Kerala…after zooming one of the pictures I got the name of the place… it is the Mango Meadows… it is for the first time I am hearing the place… I showed the same to my hubby… he found it interesting and asked me to inquire about it to her… the very next day I contacted her … and asked about the place…she told me that it is the Mango Meadows in Kottayam. It is the biodiversity park and best place for vacationing… she gave me their contact numbers… before ending the call I ask her whether the park is suitable for couples she replied that the park is suitable for both couples as well as for kids… there are separate sections for kids and adults. Therefore we availed of the family tour packages from Gogeo Holidays. The name of the travel operator was suggested by my friend… we utilized the online services.

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It took nearly two hours to reach the Mango Meadows. It is situated in Kadathuruthy in Kottayam district. It is one of the largest biodiversity parks in the world. The park is sprawled in an area of 30 acres with more than 4500 varieties of trees and various species of birds and animals could be seen there. It was Mr. Kurian’s dream to build an amusing agricultural and he took 14 years to accomplish his dream. As my friend told the park comprises separate sections for couples and kids. For kids, there are amusement parks and for couples, there is a special place called ‘valentine’s corner’ and only married couples are permitted to enter. As we both were busy we hardly found time to spend with each other and this valentine’s corner really helped us to spend some quality time. We indulged in many activities like badminton, cycling, shooting, pedal boating and may more. For more than a decade it was for the first time I was riding the bicycle… It took half an hour to regain the cycle balance. And we also had a cycle competition. And in that our kids defeated us. Followed to it we played badminton too… by noon we savoured traditional Kerala foods in their restaurant the food was served in a long banana leaf. Over there we saw many families coming from various parts of India as well as foreign countries by availing of the family tour package. It is the traditional custom of Kerala to serve food on banana leaf…it was a new experience for many of the non-Keralites. Followed to it we visited the sacred grove called ‘sarpakavu’… It is the place where serpents were protected. Then we moved to the ‘Nakshtraval’ it is the place where you can find trees corresponding to your zodiac signs. Many of the foreigners found it difficult to identify the trees related to their birth star and I helped them. It was a proud moment for me. We clicked on many lovely photographs. In the night we opted for treehouse to refresh. It was a mind-blowing experience for us. It was for the first time we spend a night in the midst of trees. As aforementioned it was our son who wakes up early in the morning. On that day it was the melodious chirp that called us back from the deep sleep. A one day tour really gifted us life long memories. We are really thankful to the Gogeo Holidays for organizing such a wonderful trip and also to our friend for suggesting this place.

7 Best Things to Do for Honeymooners for a Romantic Getaway in Andaman

Honeymoons are to be spent in any exotic locations. So is the beautiful place called Andaman in the South-eastern islets of Bay of Bengal. So once after deciding the location for your very first trip together, you might be pondering over the romantic things that you both can execute. While indulging on it, you will be getting to know the interests and disinterests of the other person very amusingly. After all, it’s your good time together from now on. Listed below are the best things to be done for honeymooners who are wishing for a romantic getaway in the exotic isles of Andaman.

Watch Sunset together at Chidiya Tapu Beach

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Almost all the beaches of Andaman islets are serene and beautiful. However, that particular beach that could be preferred by honeymooners for watching sunset would be the Chidiya Tapu beach near to Port Blair. The black mountains in this particular beach could make a perfect place for watching the honeymoon by holding their hands together. Here you could witness the sun hiding behinds the distant mountains. Apart from that, you could click pictures from in between their old tree branches and large boulders that are spread all across the tranquil beach. Quite contrastingly from the Indian mainland, in Andaman, these mesmerizing visuals do happen quite early. So you will have to reach at these locations than the stipulated time.

Go for a romantic cruise

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Once the sun sets on the island of Andaman, the whole atmosphere alters. It turns more calm and composed that are just perfect your peaceful time together in your honeymoon. Board a luxury cruise when the time is about to shift towards the evening. Then you could witness the varied hues of sun and then utter silence everywhere around you. Apart from that, almost all the reputed tour companies will be hiring private ferries for honeymoon trips. Even otherwise, you may demand such as a memorable activity of sailing along with your partner by including them in the packages.

Witness bioluminescence while kayaking

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Starry nights in the seawater! Sounds romantic, huh? This could be that ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ experience which should never be missed if you are honeymooning in an alluring travel location like that of Andaman. Right in the beaches of popular Havelock Island, you could astonishingly behold at the brightly lit water at night and even play in them with your partner. Or even otherwise, kayaking across the mangrove creeks in Havelock would instantly make you feel ethereal. However, these incredulous phytoplanktons do only glow in the silent nights from November to February. So if you are planning your honeymoon in Andaman, you may schedule them during these months.

Never skip a candlelight dinner at the beachside

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Dining with your life partner underneath the glow of a sheer candle can be really special. So is the dinner at the beachside your beloved new spouse. You may choose any of your desired beaches for this relaxing experience, as you will be simultaneously relishing your favourite cuisine. Also, a romantic mood will be created in both of us instantly in such a romantic ambience, when no one around is there to disturb you.  Moreover, many of the prominent resorts of Andaman are indeed located in the white sandy seashore. Henceforth, you will not be requiring much external stuff in such arrangement.

Adore the beauty of White Surf Waterfalls

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Not many people would know that waterfalls do exist here, but there are a couple of enchanting cascading falls in these island groups. Nevertheless, the most pretty and largest among them is the White Surf Waterfall situated in Little Andaman. Although it may take a whole day for reaching up to nature’s wonder, the travel will be worth it. Such is the bewitching beauty of these cascading waters alongside the beautiful rocky terrains that are covered in light green moss. At times, they even resemble the Bigar Waterfalls of Romania. Furthermore, the travel to such distant locations in the trip will allow you both to know about each other.

Click you best picture with the backdrop of natural Howrah Bridge

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Well, here we are not about the Howrah bridge of Kolkata, but about the natural bridge located in the Neil Island of Andaman. You may click your epic pictures of your tour, where you had the best honeymoon memories. If you are still not satisfied with the results, you may get the services of a professional photographer that can be made available in your honeymoon packages. Furthermore, if you are willing to stay over nearby, you click the best right from the first rays of the morning. Camping in such a secluded space can be yet another ravishing experience of your honeymoon.

Go trekking in Mount Harriet

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Such activity will not only bring adrenaline rush to the challenging lots, but also for any couples who are honeymooning in Andaman. As the green covers of Mount Harriet are at most proximity to Port Blair in Madhuban, you both could easily reach and climb up to them for a perfect getaway. The duration for that venture can be balanced with a shorter span of time taken for reaching up to the summit. On the up the trek, you may catch a glimpse of the diverse flora and fauna that are even endemic to Andaman. It is advised to accompany a local could guide you in the path, as it was can be treacherous.

So now the newlyweds have got enough romantic things to be indulged if they had planned to spend their honeymoon in the beautiful islands of Andaman. For the very same purpose, you contact Andaman Tour Travel. The popular tour company based in Port Blair had curated varied interesting honeymoon packages that could satisfy the travel needs of each of the couples. Here, you will not only be offered with clichéd romantic activities, but also diverse nerve-wracking adventure activities for the challenging couples. These honeymooning travel deals can be availed by any couples via both online and otherwise at affordable rates.

Tour to the Less-Touristy Travel Locations of Kochi in Kerala

The largest city of Kerala is a lot more than its backwaters and beaches. Actually, Kochi had been chosen by the erstwhile colonial masters for its most favourable geographical patterns. With evidence for that, they had built many colonial historical structures that are still operating as either some sort of government buildings or heritage hotels. Even otherwise, the district is home to earlier royal dynasties and so they too had left behind their footmarks in this land. Henceforth, Kochi has got to offer more surprises in the kitty to its international and domestic travellers. Discussed below are the less-touristy travel locations of Kochi.

Paniyeli Poru

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No one would expect the existence for such a glorious confluence of three small rivers at this spot located near Kurupampady in Perumbavoor in the outskirts of Kochi. A single day tour to this splendid location will be offering you a different face of Kochi, as here you will behold the rare sight of the dark-hued river waters flowing across numerous slippery boulders. Such a sight would be a rare one as they are located at this region of Kerala instead of any hill stations. Since they are only gradually emerging as a tourist destination quite recently, you will not be availing the tour packages that would include Paniyeli Poru from all the travel firms.

Kodanad Elephant Training Camp

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If you are willing to travel some distance from the main Kochi city to the north-eastern region in Kodanad, you could drop in at one of the largest elephant training centres of the state. Here, a small tributary of River Periyar is flowing on one side the camp, so you could watch the numerous elephant dwelling in the centre taking bath in their own world. Besides that, you may take leisure strolls alongside the stone-paved pathways built very aesthetically. Most of these elephants were captured from the forest of Malayattor in the earlier days and trained here in the camp. But now they are functioning as rescue centres.

Njarakkal Aqua Tourism Centre 

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Set in a picturesque location in the Vypeen Island, precisely in Njarakkal, the Aqua Tourism Center could be one of the best examples of how a normal geographical condition existed in a place was effectively converted to a hot tourist spot. The fish farm maintained by Fisheries Department of the State is like any backwater space of Kochi, but except for the fact that these water bodies are more serene and is rich in a considerably larger aquatic life. Visitors coming here could also avail the boating facilities in either peddle boats or Dhow boats along with savouring the traditional spicy recipes cooked from the fish caught from the farm.

Paliam Palace

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The palace used to be a hideout place for the King of Cochin during the 16th century away from their original citadel space in the wake of any crisis or for recreational purposes in Chenamangalamn near North Paravoor. As they were recently, renovated under the Muziris Heritage Project you could easily tour them and experience the royal way of living life. Although they were mostly concerned when the Portuguese Army tried to invade them, the bastion was built without comprising on any luxuries enjoyed by those erstwhile royals. The typical architectural style of Kerala with remarkable sculpting can be gazed here.

Malayattoor hill of St Thomas

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When you climb up these hills in amid the wild green covers, you could feel more sanctified rather than visiting a mere pilgrimage centre. Most of the sights that you get to watch and know are concerned with the beliefs of Saint Thomas to have visited the place. Quite strangely, the religious centre is also situated adjacent to the River Periyar. Some startling relics do still exist here such as the Golden Cross, his footprints, Marthoma Mandapam and the chapel. You could even get to witness a continuously flowing water spring that is believed to acquire some healing powers. Moreover, the mandapam constructed here follows a combination of Indian and Greek architectural styles.

Pallipuram Fort

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It would be surprising to realize the fact that the first-ever European monument of the country is situated here in this part of Kerala. They are the Pallipuram Fort of Vypeen Island towards its northernmost region. In its structures, you should not expect anything like the Bhadra Fort of Ahmedabad, as they were constructed by the Portuguese in the early 16th with only the sole purpose of observing any potential enemies who could encroach by sea rather than by air. These large hexagonal ancient structures can be easily missed from your typical tour packages as they are not much popular unlike the other historical monuments based in Kochi. Yet you may plan for a single day tour to the spot concerning their historical significance.

Apart from the off-beat travel locations disclosed here, there are various other destinations in Kochi that can be explored if you are a true wanderlust. However, you will be in need of an efficient tour company to help you. Gogeo Holidays based in Kochi in Kerala is one such travel firm that had acquired absolute customer satisfaction for its exceptional services. The polite tour guides of the firm will accompany you from the moment you arrive at either your bus station or airport. Moreover, they had set the most diverse tour packages targeting each sort of travellers such as honeymooners, family tour groups and for even solo travellers. You just need to pick up your most suitable package, which could fulfil your travel preferences. Furthermore, the most striking feature of the company is that these travel deals could be acquired at most affordable prices.

Unveiling the Hidden Gem of Kottayam- Mango Meadows with My Better Half

I don’t know how to start writing. I rethink it is the 5th time I am trying to pen down my romantic days in limited words. Don’t think that I wrote one or two words in my last 4 attempts and then deleted it. More than a paragraph I wrote and then I thought the words are inappropriate or the introduction is not good without rethinking I just pressed the backspace key. After refreshing for a while I reattempted the task. I hope this time it may work. It is a normal custom that newly married couples plan an exotic honeymoon trip soon after their wedding. But for us, we planned our honeymoon after a year! Isn’t it strange? Whenever we share our honeymoon stories with our friends they used to wonder and ask what were you guys doing till then. And I hope after reading this you may also have asked the same question in your mind. To quench your anxiety I will explain the reason.

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The main obstacle for our honeymoon was our ‘job’. We both were working in a reputed multinational company. Soon after marriage like an ordinary couple, we weaved many destinations for our romantic trip but fate betrayed us. Suddenly my husband was assigned to do a project in the United States of America. With a broken heart, we accepted our destiny. The project was only for 6 months. After 184 days my hubby returned and we again started planning our pending romantic trip. But again destiny started testing our patience this time I got an assignment in the United Arab Emirates for half a year. For securing my job I was forced to accept the order. It was very hard for us to live without each other. I moved to the UAE. I started to countdown each day. Finally, I returned back. Each time when we successfully pass the tests given by destiny, destiny itself will reward us with precious gifts in return and it was true in our case.

As I am friendly in nature I never felt any kind of difficulty interacting with people whom I have never met before. When I was in the United Arab Emirates one of my colleagues who hailed from Kerala, a state in south India (NB: The majority of the population of the UAE is Malayalee), was very friendly to me. We shared all our personal stories. One day accidentally I got a chance to view her honeymoon pictures. To be very frank the pictures were really awesome. For a moment I thought the place will be somewhere outside India. I inquired her about her honeymoon destination. She with little shy told me that it was none other than Kerala. According to me, Kerala was a state comprised of only tranquil backwaters and breathtaking hill stations. It was hard for me to believe they celebrated their first love in a park. They mainly concentrated the Mango Meadows of Kottayam district of Kerala for sowing their first seeds of romance. I also asked her does she had any relatives or friends over there. They don’t have anyone in Kerala it was through the travel agency called Dream Holidays that helped them to make their honeymoon trip fabulous. They availed of their tour packages online. On returning to Delhi I discussed the same to my husband. He was very happy and agreed to purchase the packages.

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The best time to visit the Mango Meadows is from September to March. By mid of January, we purchased the package. On reaching Cochin International Airport from Delhi Airport our tour representative greeted us with a garland made of lotus and also they applied a paste made out of sandalwood on our forehead. For a moment we thought after a year of marriage we again became bride and groom. From the airport, it took more than an hour to reach Kottayam district. On reaching Mango Meadows our tour representative guided us to lake resort. As we were very hungry we had lunch first and then we moved to our room. Words are insufficient to describe the relishing taste of food. Till then I had only seen varieties of cuisines in luxurious hotels but it was for the first time I am seeing this in the resort. By the evening we started our excursion. We first selected the shikari boating. We had already booked for the same while purchasing the packages, therefore, we didn’t have to waste our time getting the passes. Boating through the mangrove forests gave us a scintillating experience which we never had experienced before. Apart from boating, there were many couples who were engaged in various activities like shooting, cycling, badminton and archery and so on.

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There are many interesting things to enjoy and see. Our tour guide told us that the Biodiversity Park sprawls in an area of 30 acres with more than 4,800 varieties of flowering plants, 780 types of trees, and 174 species of fruits. The man-made park was constructed under the leadership of Mr. M Kurian. He is a true nature lover and took 14 years to build this park. In the park, we could not only see honeymoon couples but also many families and youngsters who come there to explore the serenity of the park. Most of the family bring their kids to the park for a picnic. It is the only place in Kerala where parents and children could enjoy their time in their own way.  As the parks consist of amusement parks for children and secluded areas for adults both can discover the gem hidden in nature in their way. As we wanted to spend a night in treehouse we asked our tour guide to make slight changes in the packages. And he agreed for it. Words are insufficient to express the feeling of spending a night in the midst of forests. we began our next day by hearing the meticulous chirp from birds.

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We also rowed in ‘Kotta vanchi’ (basket boat). We were afraid of whether it will break. But it was strong as a pillar. We also did fishing and fed food to the fishes while we were in the lake resort. It is the belief of Hindus that feeding fishes are like feeding to Lord Vishnu. We then moved to ‘Sarppa Kavu’. It is a place where serpents rest. It regarded as a sacred place by Hindus. People from various places come here to worship the serpents. It is believed that serpents have the magical power to cure wounds and illnesses of all kinds. There are many more places in the park. The park is actually divided into various sections such as Bird sanctuary. Over here we captured the beautiful images of varieties of birds in our camera the authorities have allocated special benches to sit and mesmerize the beauty of birds. Animal husbandry and Plant nursery is another place that helps to study more about nature. Nakashtraval is the place where people can find trees related to their Malayalam Zodiac sign. Bible Statute is another eye-catching place. The Bible is placed on a long wooden structure with its centre page opened.

After spending two days in Mango Meadows we moved to other places to explore the beauty of Kottayam. Places like Bay Island Drift Museum, St. Mary’s Orthodox Church (it is built-in Hindu architectural style), Poonjar Palace, and many more. After 4 days we departed to Delhi by carrying sweet memories and sweet gifts for our relatives and friends.

 

Top 4 Places for Trekking in Andaman Island

The stupendous archipelago of India is known as Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The island is famous among travelers for many reasons. People often tour the island for rejuvenation and relaxation. There was a time when the Andaman and Nicobar Island was unknown to the external world. The islands were once used to imprison the Indian freedom fighters in the cellular jail situated in Port Blair. Over there the prisoners were brutally torched. Now the jail has been declared as a national monument by the Indian government. Studies reveal that the islands comprise of more than 500 islands and among them, only 37 islands have been explored till now. The magnificent beauty of the islands, crystal blue waters, amazing species of various birds and animals, sun-kissed and silver-lined beaches and many more lure the travelers from various parts of the world. Travelers move to the island only to participate in a wide array of water sports such as snorkeling, scuba diving, jet riding, banana boat ride and many more.

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Scuba diving needs prior training whereas snorkeling can be practiced by people of any age. Most of the aqua venture sports demand a little bit of courage whereas sea walking requires only enthusiasm. Visitors will have to wear only a helmet and should walk in the water under the guidance of a professional trainer. Indulging in water sports in Andaman will take the travelers to a magical world of marine life and coral reefs. You will come across several species of the aquatic world that you were unaware of it. As the island is situated far away from the modern world it offers immense solitude and calm ambiance. And this is the factor that attracts thousands of travelers especially honeymooners to the island. Among the various islands in Andaman, Port Blair is considered as the busiest island as it acts as the governing seat of the island. Also, it carries the only airport of the island called Veer Savarkar International Airport. Havelock Island and Neil Island are the apt destinations on the island to view the scintillating beauty of nature. It is hard to believe that there is still a group of people who love to live in the nomadic lifestyle such as tribal people who are mainly seen in Jarwa Island and Sentinel Island. But communications to these people are strictly prohibited by the government.

Often people believe that the island is only famous for aqua venture sport and beach activities. But most of them do not know the island is equally famous for adventure activities such as trekking, mountaineering, and bird spotting. Travelers can be part of the enthralling activities by availing tour packages from Andaman Tour Travel. Every year they craft exciting packages to the travelers from Bangalore, Pune, and Mumbai to explore Andaman. There are some people who visit the island only to participate in adventure activities. The following paragraphs will help you to learn more about the places where trekking is widely practiced.

1. Chidiya Tapu and Kala Pahad

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Chidiya Tapu is situated in the southern parts of Andaman. The place is a haven for varieties of birds. Bird lovers from various parts of the world visit this place to capture the lovely photographs of the birds especially migratory birds. The place is not only famous for different kinds of birds but also for the gorgeous sunset. Most of the people are unaware of the possibility of trekking in the hilltops. Trekking is usually done from the Chidiya Tapu beach and it covers the ‘Kala Pahad’ or ‘Black Mountains’. The trekking over there requires only 40-60 minutes. Some may need less time than it. It depends on each individual. On reaching the top of the hill you can click beautiful snaps of yours and your family and friends with the serene nature as the background.

2. Mount Harriet

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Mount Harriet is situated in Madhuban in south Andaman. It is regarded as the highest peaks of the island. The place holds unique species of fauna and flora. Recently a new species of frog was founded from the place. Along with them mammals, green marine turtles, and moths were also seen there. The amazing creatures of fauna and flora are protected under the shadow of tall trees. One can start trekking from the Elephant training camp which is 16 kilometers away from the mountain.

3. Saddle Peak and Alfred Caves

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With 732 meter height from the mean sea level, the Saddle Peak is considered as one of the highest peaks in Andaman. While trekking one could see the Alfred caves and the transparent river. The peak is abundantly blessed with indigenous species of 6 trees, 13 birds and 36 insects. Alfred caves are formed by the combination of 22 caves. The only river that flows through this peak is the Kalpong River.

4. Baratang Caves

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Baratang caves are famous for rock climbing. The cave is formed due to the deposition of limestone years ago. Once you reach the island you can trek through the dense forest. During the trekking, you will come across mangrove creeks. It needs only 15-20 minutes to trek the caves. Near to Baratang Island, you can spot the nomadic tribe called the Jarwa tribe. As aforementioned interaction with the Jarwa by the visitors is strictly prohibited. Don’t forget to carry a camera to capture the stunning pictures of the interior of the caves and also its beautiful surroundings.

From the above paragraphs, you might have clearly understood the places in the Andaman that appreciate trekking widely. As the mountains on the island are not so scary when compared to mountains in our country, trekking in Andaman will definitely boost one’s enthusiasm and courage. There are many more places on the island that showcases a dazzling part of nature. Avail of the packages from the prominent travel operators and be part of the virgin nature as soon as possible. If you have queries regarding the services of Andaman Tour Travel without any hesitation you can directly contact their customer executives. Don’t waste your time. Grab the package before it expires.

Eleanor’s Tomb as the Epitome of Love in the Old Munnar of Kerala

The hill station of Munnar was even more beautiful and pristine in the late 19th century when the colonial powers did annexe many regions and started farming. You might have been to the CSI church at the hilltop of Munnar casually on your vacationing in Idukki. Moreover, the ancient spiritual structure built by the British in the early 20th century can be appreciated for its distinctive stained glass windows laid very beautifully amid the large primitive stone by which it was constructed. Nevertheless, the nearby laid tomb of Eleanor has got various touching stories behind it that are almost unknown to the present world. Below given are some intriguing facts which prove that the mysterious tomb for Eleanor was indeed an epitome of love.

Eleanor could predict her death

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The British deemed the place as a hot honeymoon destination and a young couple of Henry Knight and his young bride Eleanor Isabel May visited them. On reaching the picturesque location, Eleanor was very impressed by the impeccable beauty of Munnar. So on their casual talks, while they were strolling in the hills, she requested him that if she had breathed her last in this beautiful land, she must be buried here itself. It is believed that she was having an intuition that her final days were approaching hurriedly. Even an unlikely death at such a young age due to Cholera was quite tragic.

The graveyard was constructed well before the Church

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The popular spiritual centre of CSI Church of Munnar was only built 17 years later the graveyard was constructed where the young couples had been roaming in the hills. It was for the first time ever in the history that such as act was happening. Moreover, the church does follow the ancient architectural style of large Gothic buildings. The structure situated in the hilltop of this part of Munnar is laid out by hewn granites and marbles that were brought from England. At present, the British Association for Cemeteries of South Asia had included the tomb and graveyard in the ‘International Directory of Cemeteries.’

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People on tour to Munnar would inevitably get mesmerized of the aesthetic beauty of the place created by lush green shrubs, flowers and large trees. They can even be found hanging in every old structure quite adorably. However, quite strangely, the fresh flowers spread on this particular tomb of Eleanor that is being watched by a dog on most of the days are still a mystery. One could realize the true spirit of real love at such a sight. Henceforth, tourists who are travelling to this part of Kerala and those who believe in the concept of true love should never skip their visit to the ancient church and longing tomb, even if they are not readily included in their tour packages.

Eleanor used to be mourned by her husband at the tomb almost every day

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Her fond husband Mr Henry Mansfield Knight could not accept the sudden death of his wife at such an early age. Furthermore, there was only a 3 days gap since she had informed him about her last wish. Fulfilling her final demands, a graveyard was built in the same spot where they had spent their last romantic moments together. Before arriving at this particular spot, they had already strolled alongside the large Eucalyptus trees and expansive tea plantations. So the sweet memories that they cherished about the place were very close to their heart. The separation of Henry from his dear wife made him desperate and was seen breaking down every day near her tomb.

The adjacent CSI church was a place of refuge in the 1924 deluge

When you are travelling up to Munnar in any tour packages, once reaching up to Kochi by air, you would never feel that you are on tour in a disaster-hit region that had even fought back in 2018 Kerala floods. However, in the onset of heavy monsoon in 1924 was absolutely unpredicted in these high range parts. The mighty river of Periyar was in brimming with floodwaters. By the heavy shower, even the sleepers of Kundala Valley Railway (as it was called then) were washed off. In that gruesome instant, both the displaced locals and foreigners rushed on to the CSI church situated in the uphill. In the strongly built church was a place of refuge for them, just as the people from different communities stayed safe in the churches, temples and mosque, gurudwaras of Ahmedabad in the major floods of 2017.

Remnants of past histories like the Eleanor’s Tomb are quite many in the scenic hill station of Munnar, as it was a hot destination among the British. It was them who introduced and further expanded the cultivation of the major crop of tea in the vast slopes of Munnar and the nearby regions. In addition to the tea factories built by them, they had constructed many other monuments that are spread in various other locations in the state. So to travel up to those historically significant spots smoothly, you may contact Gogeo Holidays. The reputed tour company had set many varied kinds of tour packages to fulfil the travel requirements of each of the tourists to its fullest. Moreover, the popular travel firm had gained a remarkable customer satisfaction after working efficiently for all through these years of experience.