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.
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 beachLaying salted fish out to dry
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?
This. Just look at the amount of trash on the beach :/ And of course this being India, there’s a cow here too!Although there was variety on offer, a lot of it wasn’t very fresh to be honestWe 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.
There were people selling from the boats tooBirds and a pot-bellied man — both waiting for fishMe and my father walked around the area after buying the fish
What was surprising is how here too, most of the workers are not Keralites but Bengalis and others from the Eastern states The boats were done for the day I guess
I wanted to explore the area a bit moreSeemed like a good place to sit & relaxEagles were flying above… or they could have been Kites
I guess that’s the actual beach for AyikkaraI saw some people walking on the jettyWant your own catch but too afraid to go out to sea? Come here and fishThis open field was full of these pink flowersDon’t know the name of this flowerBut it was a pretty sightThis 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.
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.
The step well is the largest of its kind in Kerala (and probably all of South India)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.
The wedding ceremony didn’t take long as there are other wedding groups waiting for their turnI 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.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.
It was still raining outside which made taking photos toughYou have to leave your footwear outside if you wish to enter the stepwellStepwells 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.
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.
Today was my last day in Bangkok. Being a short layover from my Japan trip, I still managed to go to the Maeklong Train Market and Amphawa Floating Market — two attractions I hadn’t been to before. I wondered what else to see before leaving Bangkok. And so I looked at the map and decided to head to Lumphini Gardens, Bangkok’s largest public park.
The easiest way to get to Lumpini park is to take a BTS to Sala Daeng Station and leave via Exit No.6.
But before entering the park, I stopped by Burger King to have lunch.
Burger King doesn’t sell beef burgers back in India, so this would be my last before departing BangkokAfter lunch, I walked across Rama IV Road to the memorial statue of King Rama VI.A map of Lumpini ParkLumphini is a multi-purpose park, popular for cycling, jogging or simply relaxingThere is an artificial lakeWhich has a surprising number of monitor lizardsWho all appear to be an attraction at the parkExcept when they get a little too close to humans… that freaks some of us outThey are the second largest lizards only after the Komodo DragonYou can rent these pedal boats to go for rides across the lakeI walked around some moreLumpini park is a multi-purpose park, with sections for children…… amphitheatres for live performances…and plenty of lawns to relax in the shadeIt was really hot today so I walked closer to the sprinklersI’m guessing this area is popular for wedding photographyThere is a Chinese pavilionIt was scorching hot and I found myself walking towards wherever it was wetOr walking in the shadeBut I was bored and decided to leave
Lumphini Gardens isn’t much of a tourist attraction but if you want to see some greenery away from Bangkok’s concrete city center, or if you want a quiet place to cycle or skateboard around, then this public garden is worth visiting. I took the subway and went to a mall just to kill time before I headed to the airport to catch my flight back to Bangalore.
