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Travel

Photos and stories from many of my travels in the past 5 years

Getting to Munnar – Train ride from Kannur and KSRTC bus from Aluva

By Mithun Divakaran
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May 12, 2018
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India, Kerala, Travel

Date: March 11, 2018

I’ve been meaning to visit Munnar for quite some time. Although I’d been to Periyar back in 2009, I didn’t have the chance to visit the more popular town of Munnar, even though both are in the same district. My mother has been talking about visiting Munnar for a few years now. So in early March, I decided to take my parents to the famed hill station of Kerala.

There wasn’t too much planned. It was going to be two nights in Munnar and then one night in Kochi before heading back to Kannur.

Getting to Munnar

From Kannur, I assumed you had to get to Ernakulam first and then take a bus to Munnar. But upon doing some more research, turns out when coming from Kannur (or north Kerala), one can also get down at Aluva station and then take a KSRTC (Kerala State Road & Transport Corporation) bus from the Aluva bus depot which is very close to the railway station.

The train I booked from Kannur to Aluva was the NETRAVATI EXPRESS, which arrives (if no delays) into Kannur at 6:45AM and stops at Aluva 12:13pm.

On the day of our journey, our train was delayed :/

Since I woke up early to catch the train, I slept through most of the journey and missed most of the sights.

Aluva river Kerala backwater apartment — By the time I woke up, we were already nearing Aluva.

We arrived in Aluva 30 minutes late. We quickly had lunch from a restaurant nearby and then walked to the KSRTC bus depot which is only a short walk from across Aluva train station. Continue reading “Getting to Munnar – Train ride from Kannur and KSRTC bus from Aluva” »

Kannur’s Mappila Bay – Ayikkara beach, more a fish market than a ‘beach’

By Mithun Divakaran
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Mar 14, 2018
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Kerala, Travel

I’ve been meaning to visit Ayikkara for a while now. It’s a harbour and one of the main fishing ports in Kannur district. Fishing boats bring in their daily catch and often the fishermen sell the fish right on the beach.

Ayikkara village Kannur — After I got down at the government hospital bus stop (in Kannur city), one needs to walk through a fishermen’s housing colony to get to the beach

I had a picture of what I thought Ayikkara beach would look like. Brown sandy shores, fishermen’s boats all coming in fresh catch and a chance for the public to buy fresh fish cheap right off the boat.

The reality?

Ayikkara beach cow Kannur — This. Just look at the amount of trash on the beach :/ And of course this being India, there’s a cow here too!

Ayikkara fish market crab squid Kannur — Although there was variety on offer, a lot of it wasn’t very fresh to be honest

Crab fish Ayikkara Kannur — We bought some crab and some fish. Prices weren’t that low either.

I also saw trucks being loaded with fish. I guess all the good stuff gets sold at higher prices for exporters and suppliers to the big hotels & restaurants. And we locals get left with the stuff the big guys didn’t want.

Ayikkara harbour Kannur Kerala — There were people selling from the boats too

Birds in water Kerala — Birds and a pot-bellied man — both waiting for fish

Ayikkara fishing harbour Kannur — Me and my father walked around the area after buying the fish

Bengali workers Ayikarra fish market — What was surprising is how here too, most of the workers are not Keralites but Bengalis and others from the Eastern states

Fishing boats Ayikkara Kannur — The boats were done for the day I guess

Couple Ayikarra Kannur Kerala — I wanted to explore the area a bit more

Seaside road Ayikkara Kannur — Seemed like a good place to sit & relax

Eagle Ayikkara Kannur Kerala — Eagles were flying above… or they could have been Kites

Ayikkara beach Kerala — I guess that’s the actual beach for Ayikkara

Ayikkara jetty Kannur Kerala — I saw some people walking on the jetty

Fishing Ayikkara Kannur — Want your own catch but too afraid to go out to sea? Come here and fish

Flower field Ayikkara Kannur — This open field was full of these pink flowers

Pink flower bokeh Kannur — Don’t know the name of this flower

Flower field Kannur panorama — But it was a pretty sight

Ayikkara Muhyidheen masjid Kannur — This is Ayikkara Muhyidheen masjid, just opposite the harbour

After this we left Ayikkara. Mappila Bay could be turned into a tourist attraction if the authorities wanted to make it one. But first, the whole beach and the area needs a massive clean up. Then they need to establish a line of small eateries serving fresh seafood to visitors. It can be done but as is the case with our politicians… they couldn’t care.

Kannur’s famous Peralassery Subramania temple – the largest step well in Kerala

By Mithun Divakaran
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Oct 17, 2017
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India, Kerala, Travel

Sri Subramanya Temple in Peralassery in Kannur district is home to the largest step well in Kerala. Located 14 km from Kannur town, it is located in the neighbourhood of Peralassery, just metres off state highway 38 (Kannur-Kuthuparamba road).

Local myth has it that Ram and Lakshman halted at Peralasseri temple on their way to Sri Lanka to rescue Sita. (The tale of Ramayana for the uninitiated). The temple in itself isn’t what makes Peralassery famous. The reason for its fame is a massive step well just outside the temple.

Peralasseri step well Kannur Kerala — If you visit the temple on any given weekday, you should find ample parking space just outside the temple

I was at Peralasseri temple one weekend for a cousin’s wedding. The bride’s family wanted to conduct the wedding ceremony (garland and thaali exchange) inside the temple premises.

Hindu wedding Peralasseri temple Kannur — The wedding ceremony didn’t take long as there are other wedding groups waiting for their turn

Perallasherry stone temple Kannur Kerala — I couldn’t take too many photos of the temple. I was outside the inner sanctum and photography is usually restricted. Also, it was quite muddy inside due to the rains and I was barefoot.

Snake statues Perallssery temple Kannur — I’ll take stone-carved snakes over real snakes (sorry Lord Vishnu).

But in all (religious) seriousness, the snakes represent ‘Sarpam/Nagam Dosham‘ (Sarpam = snake). Devotees visit the temple to shed themselves effects of ‘serpent curses’ based on their individual horoscopes.

Peralasherry temple stepwell Kannur Kerala — It was still raining outside which made taking photos tough

Perallasherry stepwell Kannur Kerala — You have to leave your footwear outside if you wish to enter the stepwell

Step wells Peralasherry temple Kannur — Stepwells of this design are indigenous to India

Stepwells were built deep where groundwater was abundant and the steps make it easy for people to reach the water especially when water levels fluctuate throughout the year. The steps also make it easier to maintain the well, as supposed to a traditional cylindrical well which is harder to clean over time — unless you want to risk going down one.

Peralasherri old well Kannur Kerala — The rain was non-stop

It wasn’t the best weather to shoot photos but I’ll probably come back some other day when it is sunny and try to get some better photos and update this blog.

Peralassery temple is an impressive sight and one of Kannur’s best attractions. Best come here during weekdays — and obviously when there is no rain. Stepwells are more common in states like Rajasthan and Gujarat, so it’s quite unique that Kannur, Kerala has one.

Getting to Peralassery temple

From the Kannur city bus stand, or any other stop in the city, board any bus going to Kuthuparamba (കൂത്തുപറമ്പ്). Just ask for a ticket to Peralassery.

By car, it’s an easy drive from Kannur city as it’s one straight road. Once you reach the Peralassery bus stop, take a left turn towards the temple. Ask any local, they can guide you.