GOA

 The enchanting Goa trip starts on the eve of X mas

The beautiful picturesque nature of Goa have been haunting all these days in our mind

We fifteen from Kannur  planned the trip……….

Now we are at PANAJI, the Capital City of Goa.

Occupying a narrow coastal area between the Altinho Hill and Mandovi River lies Panaji .By 16 th Century came into existence as a guarding post, tax collection Centre and a stop over for sailors en route to Old Goa during Muslim and Portugueese regimes. In 1843 Panaji was declared as the capital

Other important cities are Margoa, Old Goa, Ponda, Mopusa……..

There are many beautiful beaches.

 COLVA Beach, Anjuna Beach, Calangute , Baga are some of the exquisite natural beaches …….

Mangos and Cashewnuts are widely grown here. The delicious variety of alfanso locally known  as Hapus is very famous.

 The rural people finds their livelihood in roasting and keeping Cashew shells carefully broken up and maintain the kernel intact. This delicate job is done by the women workers as a household self employment like our Beedi rolling work in Kannur.

 Fenny is another product like Jam, Squash which flourishes and makes huge income and employment opportunities.

 This makes a great inspiration to keep Goa a wonderland for tourists all over the world and makes Goa enjoying

Goa Fort

Murudeswar Temple is world famous.

Murudeshwara Temple




Around 165 km from Mangalore on the National Highway, Murudeshwar Temple of Bhatkal taluk in Uttara Kannada district attracts lot of devotees and tourists to the place, especially since the place situated in the picturesque landscape between Honnavara and Bhatkal. Bounded by the Arabian Sea and the rolling hills of Western Ghats, the place is a favourite picnic spot and probably has the finest beach, temple, restaurants, guest houses, resorts & beautiful garden in coastal Karnataka.

The sea is an intrinsic part of the temple landscape at Murudeshwar. The sea on three sides surrounds the temple towering on the small hill called Kanduka Giri on three sides. Two life-size elephants in concrete stand guard at the steps leading to the temple. As one ascends the hillock, there is a shrine of Jattiga seated on a horse. There is a huge fort behind the temple, which is said to have been renovated by King Tipu Sultan of Mysore.






The main attraction of the Murudeshwar is the Shiva temple. That sacred place presents some beautiful carvings and statues, which has a history that dates back to a few centuries (Threthayuga). The temple which embodies a Shivlinga is believed to have erupted when Ravana (Demon King of Lanka) flung the cloth covering the Atmalinga at Gokarna while lifting it. Lord Shiva, following a complicated sequence of events, declared that Murudeshwara should be one of his five holy places.

Behind the Temple, there is a huge fort, the Murudeshwara Fort which is said to have been renovated last by Tipu Sultan of Mysore.

Going at any time of the year is a good idea, you could reach there by car, on trains which ply on the Mangalore-Goa-Mumbai route, and should you choose to fly down, the nearest airports are at Mangalore and Goa

GOA

GOA is a land of the Sun, the beaches, the adventure activities and the quaint ambience and also of distinct traditions and customs. all in the same breath. Guests visiting Goa quintessentially return back home wanting for more. The charisma and charm that accompanies the place almost casts a magic spell on anyone who comes to this place. Be it the history of the place or the geography, the language or the customs. Goa entices one and all. On a sojourn of this place, the traveler is treated to traditional Indian hospitality in the most unique way. The festivals and carnivals that are held here throughout the year offer one a better understanding of the lives of the Goans. Located in the Konkan region of India, its proximity to the Arabian Sea attracted many merchant communities to come and settle here, thus paving the way for several faiths and cultures to come and exist here

Goa celebrates all Christian festivals with much enthusiasm. Read about the major Christian festivals in Goa.

Goa Christian Festivals


The Portugal rule in Goa left a deep and ever lasting Christian influence in this state of India. At that time, people were converted to Christians on a large scale. Though they follow the Christian practices and believe in the Christian faith, but they have not forgotten their roots. People in Goa celebrate all Christian festivals with much joy and enthusiasm. The houses are beautifully decorated with lights and flowers and every Christian house will have a lovely Christmas tree. The splendor with which they celebrate the Christian festivals is worth seeing. Given here are some major Christian festivals of Goa.




Good Friday


Every genuine Catholic in Goa celebrates Good Friday with much devotion and enthusiasm. The Christians decorate their houses beautifully and the celebrations usually go on till Easter Sunday. The churches of Goa are beautifully decorated and all devout Christians visit the churches and take part in the celebrations.






Christmas

Christmas is undoubtedly the most popular Christian festival in not just Goa, but all over India. The entire state looks like a little paradise that is decorated in shades of red, green and white. December 25th is a very important holiday in Goa and the entire state is decorated with gleaming streamers. Every shop has its own Santa Claus to attract customers and it is the perfect time for merry making.

St. Xavier's Feast

The feast of St. Xavier is celebrated every year on the 3rd December, marking the death anniversary of this revered saint. St. Xavier was a saint who came to Goa along with the Portuguese to propagate the teachings of Christianity to people. He was respected by one and all in Goa and people followed whatever he taught. All through Goa, elaborate feasts are organized in the honor of this saint on this festival.

Margao Feast

Every year in the month of Nay, the Margao Feast is celebrated in the commercial town of Margao. People from all over Goa come to Margao to celebrate this festival with joy and enthusiasm. Feasting and celebration takes place in a large scale all over Margao

GOA
For most of the people heading towards Goa, it is one long beach. But once they are there they realize this folly of them. Goa is a state though a small one and there is a large number of famous beaches, many towns and a good network of roads. It is a state of seven rivers and their estuaries, there are hills with lush green vegetation, and most of the tourists are needed to cover large distances to move from one place to other. Goa has a total coastline of 125 km and that makes people believe that it is a long big beach however illusionary it is.

Beaches of Goa are much ahead of other beaches in India in terms of popularity and the facilities that are available here. The beaches here have been accepted as a matter of life, there are exotic cuisine backing the pleasure of have on sun and sand, and water sports facilities that include from water scooters to water gliding. To add on you can shake your legs for some time with a glass of feni and beer, engaged in shopping on the beachside, or have midnight bonfire on the beach.

G OA
GOAof the Mauryan Empire in the 3 rd century BC. This was followed by the rule of the Satvahanas of Kolhapur and the Bhojas who made Chandor their capital. From 580 – 750 AD the Chalukyas of Badami held sway over Goa until the Silharas took control in 1086 AD.
Gulhalla Deva of the Kadambas, originally from Mysore, consolidated his hold over Chandor in the 11 th century AD until the 13 th century today. The Fr Agnel monastery on the hill at Pilar houses the museum that has notable collections of this period.
Jayakeshi-I 1052-1080 AD proclaimed himself Lord of the Konkan and Emperor of the Western Seas. On his death Goa fell to the Chalukyas of Kalyani and later to the Yadavas of Devgiri.
Muslims held sway from 1312-1370 AD over the Konkan region. However with the breakup of the Tughlaq Kingdom, it was the Bhamani Sultans who then controlled Goa.
Madhav Mantri, who headed the army of Harihara of Vijaynagar, reclaimed and ruled Goa as its Viceroy. He fortified its ports and through these Arab steeds were imported for use in the Vijayanagar army. In 1469 the Bahamani Vizier Khwaja Mohammed Gawan of Gulbarga laid a two-year siege of Goa’s seaside forts and ended Vijayanagar’s rule.
Yusuf Adil Shah the adopted son of Gawan, moved his capital to Ela in Old Goa in 1498. He later built himself a palace in Panaji which until recently housed the State Secretariat. His rule lasted 12 years. On 25 November 1510 he lost Goa for good to Afonso de Albuquerque, a Portuguese who had taken the city earlier in March that year. The Portuguese ruled for 450 years.
On 19 December 1961 troops of the Indian Union marched into Goa. By choice Goa remained a Union Territory of the Indian Union for 26 years and on 30 May 1987 Goa attained its statehood. In August 1992, Konkani the mother tongue of Goa was included in the Indian Constitution.

COORG

Coorg (Kodagu) is a mountaineous district located in the south of india, know for its beautiful scenery and hospitable people. Those travelers who love nature, the unspoiled charm of villages should get off the beaten track and visit Coorg, a wild and rugged region located in the state of Karnataka.
The wooded slopes, quaint villages, colorful scenery and undulating landscape has fascinated tourists until today. Endless mountain ranges, ridge after ridge of grassy and forest clad slopes raising to the sky, give Coorg its unique & irreplaceable character.

Coorg or Kodagu (originally called Kodaimalenadu) means 'dense forest on steep hill'. Dubbed as the Scotland of India, this town has a lot to offer to the tourist. Misty hills, lush forest, acres and acres of tea and coffee plantation, orange groves, undulating streets and breathtaking views are what make Madikeri an unforgettable holiday destination.
Coorg is on the Western Ghats. Set amidst verdant valleys, imposing mountains and teak wood forests, this is one of the most beautiful hill stations you can visit. It lies on Karnataka's southwestern end, covering an area of 4,102 sq km.The river Cauvery originates here at Talacauvery and is worshipped by the locals.
The Kodagu district comprises different communities - Kodava, Tulu, Gowda, Moplah out of which the largest is the Kodava community, both economically and politically. The economy depends on agriculture, coffee plantations, foretry and tourism.
There are many versions behind the origin of the name Kodagu. According to the Puranas, Kodava is the redifned name of Krodhadesa, meaning 'Land of Anger', said to have been inhabited by the Kodava tribe. While for some, it is believed to hve been named after the River Cauveri, where 'kod' means 'give' and 'ava' means 'mother' - which means Cauvery is the 'mother to the people'. Few believe the name originated from the Kannada kudu which means 'dense forest' on a steep hill. It is said that the history of Coorg dates back to as early as 888 AD.
The kingdom was ruled by many dynasties, starting with Gangas of Talakad, Kadambas, Cholas, Kongalvas, Changalvas, Hoysalas and Nayakas. Information on its early history has come primarily from the various inscriptions on stone and copper plates of 9th - 10th century.
The Haleri dynasty was the last noteworthy dynasty to rule the whole of Kodagu. It came into power around mid-16th century and was founded by a young price from Ikkeri. It was the first dynasty in the history of Kodagu, whch spanned 234 years and ruled the entire region.
While everyone talks about the tourism part of Coorg, Karnataka.com salutes Coorg for entirely another reason - a very important one. Coorgies in general opt for the military service in India. We thank them for their contribution in securing our borders.
Local Activities

Coorg is an ideal place for outdoor activities, food and shopping!
Trekking: Coorg has many verdant trekking routes in the midst of forests and hills, and it's best to go in the months from October to February. Some of the known trails are in the hills of Brahmagiri, where you could trek your way to the Irrupa Falls. You could also consider trekking to Pushpagiri, the second higest peak of Kodagu and Tadiandamol (the highest peak).
Golf: Avid golffers can tee off at the 9-hole course of Virajpet.
Angling: Valanoor is the backwater of the river Cauvery. It draws fishing lovers from all over India. You can try and catch the famous mahaseer and the best season is from October to May.
White Water Rafting: There are few good camps around Coorg that offer rafting down the Cauvery river. For some fast paced action, visit the Upper Barapole River to the south of Coorg in Brahmagiri. The best time for rafting is from mid-June to mid-September.
Food: Coorgi cuisine is famous and unique, especially for non-vegetarians as it is based on game meats, pork and other delicious ingredients. Popular dishes are pandhi (pork), koli (chicken) and yarchi (lamb) spiced with pepper, kokum, bamboo shoot, red chilly, bembla curry, kadumbuttu, noolputu, voti and excellent coffee.
Shopping: Some of the popular items to buy are coffee, honey, spices, cardamom, pepper, pineapple papads and oranges ( season). Coorgi silk saree are also very famous and they have a different style of wearing them.

Fairs & Festivals: Schedule your visit to coincie with one of the colorful festivals of the region. The festivals of the Kodava community are largely around agriculture military activities.
The 'Festival of Arms - Keilpoldu' is held in the months of June to September. During this festival the weapons are polished and worshipped before resuse.
Cauvery Shankaramana is based around the river Cauver is held in October.
The harvest festival 'Puthar' is celebrated in November or December. The festival is accompanied by folks songs and dances, performed by the different villagers at their temples.

Bounded by a wealth of natural beauty, days of glory of Kannur were under the Kolathiri Rajas. Noted by Marco Polo as a spice trading port, it is a key contributor to the cultural, religious, political and industrial heritage of the State. Though various colonial powers, including the Portuguese, Dutch and British, exerted their influence over this rich Malabar Coast region, Kannur enjoys the credit of having been the cradle of many a colourful folk art and folk music of Kerala. Most of the sites of Kannur are a few Km out of town. Formerly a major port area, Kannur is now a city known for its handloom and beedi industries. Some of finest weavers of Kerala come from this district.

Bekal Fort - Bekal (Kasargod District), Fort Kochi - Cochin (Ernakulam District), Bolgatty Palace - Kochi (Ernakulam District), Dutch Palace - Mattancherry (Ernakulam District), Bastion Bungalow Kochi (Ernakulam District), Jewish Synagogue Mattancherry (Ernakulam District), St. Francis Church Kochi (Ernakulam District), Vasco House, Palakkad Fort - Palakkad (Palakkad District).
Renowned Temples
Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple – Thiruvananthapuram, Chuliyar Bhagavathy Temple – Kanhangad, Lake Temple - Ananthapura, Mahaganapathy Temple – Madhur, Triruchambaram Vishnu Temple – Thaliparambu, Sri Mutthapan Temple - Parassinikadavu, Glass Temple – Kottamunda, Mahavishnu Temple – Thirunelli, Sri Mahaganapathy Temple – Thiruvangoor.
Renowned Churches
St. Thomas Malayattoor, St. Mary's Church – Cheriapalli, Thazhathangadi – Valiapalli, St. George's Church – Puthupalli, St. Joseph's Monastery, Mannanam, Kaduthuruthi Valiapalli, Vimalagiri Church, St. Thomas Church – Pala, St. Thomas Church-Cherpungal, Aruvithira Church.
Famous Forts :
St.Angelo's Fort, Bekal Fort, Palakkad Fort.
Religious Monuments
Chottanikkara Temple, Guruvayoor Temple, Sabarimala Temple, Vadakkumnathan Temple, Cheraman Juma Masjid, St. Sebastian Church, The Churches at Muttuchira, Aranmula Temple, Jewish Synagogue.
Forts & Palaces :
Bolghatty Palace - Bolghatty Island (Ernakulam District), Alwaye Palace - Mananthavady (Wayanad District ), Bekal Fort - Bekal (Kasargod District), Krishnapuram Palace - Kayamkulam (Ernakulam District), Mattanchery Palace - Kochi (Ernakulam District), Hill Palace Museum - Thripunithura, (Ernakulam District), Arakkal Palace & Kannur Fort - Kannur District, Koyikkal Palace - Nedumangad (Thiruvananthapuram District).
Houses, Bungalows & Memorials :
Vasco House, Thakur House, Pierce Leslie Bungalow, Koder House, Bishop's House, Bastion's Bungalow, Gundert Bungalow, Mannadi, Chittur Garumadam

K A N N U R

was an important port on the Arabian Sea and carried out trade with Persia and Arabia in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. It was also the British military headquarters on India's west coast until 1887. In conjunction with her sister city, Tellicherry, it was the third largest city on the western coast of British India in the eighteenth century after Bombay and KarachiSt. Angelo's Fort was built in 1505 by Dom Francisco de Almeida, the first Portuguese Viceroy of India, and this fort is situated along the Arabian sea about 3 km from Kannur town. The ownership of the fort has changed hands several times. In 1663, the Dutch captured it and sold it to the Arakkal royal family in 1772. The British conquered it in 1790 and transformed it into one of their major military stations on the Malabar Coast. It is fairly well preserved as a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India. A painting of this fort and the fishing ferry as a background is on display at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The head of Kunjali Marakkar was cut off body and exhibited in the Fort after his assassination. Here, Kerala Police has posted six tourism police officers for the protection of and guidance to the tourists. Among them, one policeman named Sathyan Edakkad has written and published a book on the history of this fort, named Vasco da Gaamayum Charithrathile Kaanaappurangalum (Vasco da Gama and the unseen pages of history). He has detailed knowledge about the fort and the surrounding places. During the British Raj, Kannur was part of the Madras province in the District of North Malabar. Kannur is the capital city of one and only Muslim Sultanate of Kerala, known as Arakkal. Before that, Kannur was under Kolathiri of Chirakkal.
Demographics

St. Angelo Fort
According to the 2001 census of India,[1] Kannur has a population of 63,795. Males constitute 48% of the population and females, 52%. Kannur has an average literacy rate of 83%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. Male literacy is 84% and female literacy is 83%. In Kannur, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Places in Kannur
St. Angelo Fort. Mappila Bay is seen in the distance.
Indian Naval Academy: It is Asia's largest naval academy located at Ezhimala which is approximately 35 km north of Kannur.
St. Angelo Fort: It was built in 1505 by the first Portuguese Viceroy of India, Dom Francisco de Almeida. In 1663, the Dutch captured it and then in 1772, they sold the fort to the Arakkal King. In 1790, the British Captured it and it was under British until 1947.
Payyambalam Beach is a famous Kannur beach with an unbroken coastline of a few kilometres. From the beach, one can see ships in transit along the Malabar coast, from beyond Calicut (Kozhikode) moving towards Mangalore, Goa and Bombay (Mumbai). The well laid out garden and the massive landscaped sculpture of Mother and Child erected by noted sculptor Kanayi Kunhiraman makes it extremely captivating.
Arakkal Museum, located in Ayikkara, is a museum dedicated to the Arakkal family, the only Muslim royal family in Kerala, south India. The museum is actually a section of the Arakkalkettu (Arakkal Palace). The durbar hall section of the palace has been converted into a museum by the Government of Kerala. It was opened in July 2005 after a massive renovation work and is managed by the Arakkal Family Trust.
The Cannanore Lighthouse

near the Sea View Park is another place of interest. The first lighthouse at Kannur was built in 1843 by the British at St. Angelo's Fort. Over the years, the lighthouse was renovated and in 1948, it was moved to the current location. The lighthouse is still in use.
The Cannanore Cantonment

is one of the 62 cantonments in the country and the only one in Kerala. It was established by the British in the 19th century and is still an important location for Indian armed forces
The Defence Security Corps (DSC) Centre and DSC Records is located in Kannur town, on the road to Payyambalam Beach. The area is a part of the Cannanore Cantonment and is well-maintained by the Cantonment Board. The DSC centre at Kannur is the mother depot to all platoons in the country.
Baby Beach, so-called because it is smaller than its larger neighbour, Payyambalam Beach. St. Angelo Fort is adjacent to it. The baby beach is part of the Cannanore Cantonment and access may be restricted at times.
Meenkunnu Beach at Azhikode, just a few kilometres from the town.
Mappila Bay in Ayikkara, near the St. Angelo fort, is a major fishing harbor overlooking the Arabian Sea.
The Azhikkal Ferry — near Azhikode, about 10 km from Kannur town, where the Valapattanam river joins the Arabian sea. The Azhikkal ferry gives a magnificent view of the sunset. There is a granite pathway here which stretches 2 km into the sea.
The Kannur City Center is a prominent shopping center on Fort Road.
The Sea View Park, near the Payyambalam beach is overlooked by the Government Guest House. The Park is at an elevation from the sea level and gives a magnificent view of the sunset.
Kannur Central Bus Terminal,its Kerala's biggest bus terminal, located at Thavakkara,its also India's first bus terminal to be developed on a build-operate-transfer(BOT)basis.
Vismaya amusement park,the Vismaya amusement park is at Parassinikadavu, 17 km from Kannur town. The amusement park is located in 30 acres of land and can handle 3,000-3,500 visitors at a time.
Thana,The hot spot of Kannur,located on National Highway #17 through which most of the inter-district commutation takes place.
Peralassery Subrahmanya Swami Kshetram, 14 km from Kannur on Koothuparamba Road. It has been believed that Lord Rama stayed here when he was going in search of Sita Devi.
Anjarakandy,Asias largest Cinanamon estate is here 18 km from Kannur which was established by East India company in 1797 as a cinnamon plantation. A historical war between Pazhassi raja and British army was fought out from here in the year 1903, Kannur Medical college is also located here

Deepavali celebrations are extending well into the week for Kollywood with two of the three film released this weekend coming up trumps at
the box office. While KS Ravikumar-directed Surya flick Aadhavan has had phenomenal opening weekend collections, the Jeyam Ravi-starrer Peranmai too has done pretty well. Trade sources peg Aadhavan's opening weekend box office collections at around Rs 8.5 crore across the state. The distribution rights of the Rs 30-crore film, produced by Udhayanidhi Stalin's Red Giant Movies, is expected to be over Rs 25 crore. On the other hand, the Rs 15-crore-plus Peranmai has been produced and distributed by Ayngaran International (in which Eros International holds 51% stake). Its collections from Friday through Sunday is said to be roughly Rs 3 crore. "Both the films have been performing well at the BO and will definitely earn profits for their makers," veteran distributor Tirupur Subramaniam told ET. He went on to add that this was the biggest "blockbuster" Diwali after 2005, when the superhit Sivakasi (with Vijay and Asin in the lead) was released.

(Economic Times)