Leaving the city, you can also stop at the Khadakvasla Lake, sip chai and eat corn cobs and masala mangoes from roadside stalls and stop to take photos or to just breathe the fresh air. There are stone masonry works along the tree-lined roads. You can find stone turrets, too, on the way.

Now, the history of the fort. It belonged to the Mughals, and was called Kondhana in their times. Maratha warrior Shivaji had had an eye on this strategic fort for quite some time, when Tanaji Malusare, a general in his army, expressed a wish to capture it. Yashwanti, Shivaji’s pet monitor lizard was sent up the fort’s wall, at midnight. And as they have a dreadful grip it allowed the soldiers to climb the wall using a rope tied to its back.

But Tanaji died before the complete capture of the fort, and Shivaji named it after him. Shivaji’s words were: “the fort has come but the lion (Sinha) has gone.” And thus naming it Sinhagarh Fort. Near the fort is a manmade water tank Dev Taka, that used to meet the water needs of the fort’s residents for many centuries.

An interesting thing about this tourist highlight is the presence of several shacks nearby that sell genuine Maharashtrian food. You can relish bhakris (local jowar rotis), kanda bhajjis (onion fritters) and bhaingan bharit (spicy aubergine paste) at these ‘homemade’ food stalls.

India, too, has its share of glory. How many countries can boast of having had so many women in power – as ministers, police personnel, prime minister and president? Indian women are known for their meekness and humility. In the recent years, they’ve known to have broken boundaries that otherwise seem unsurmountable!

They have proved their mettle in all fields and shine in areas such as politics, defence, sports, etc. Every year many awards are given away to prominent women. Functions are held to commemorate their achievements and to felicitate them, too. This year, too, the president and other ministers have put up quite a number of reservations and concessions.

Whether at home, workplace or society, the respect women command have increased. It will continue to go up in the days ahead.

The first round of Holi is played with dry powders and then the next with wet colours. Holi ushers in spring, a season associated with love and wellbeing. Sweets, special dishes and ornate cuisines colourfully decorate eachand every house where Holi is celebrated.

There are many legends associated with Holi. The most popular one is: Brahma granted Hiranyakashipu, the king of demons, a boon that made it impossible for him to be killed. After his long penance he demanded that he not be killed “during day or night; inside the home or outside, not on earth or on sky; neither by a man nor an animal; neither by astra nor by shastra”. His arrogance reached the zenith, and he attacked the Heavens and the Earth. He wanted people to stop worshipping gods and start praying to him.

Prahlad, his son, was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. In spite of several threats from Hiranyakashipu, Prahlad continued offering prayers to Lord Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu tried several times to kill his son, but failed. He once ordered Prahlad to sit on a pyre on the lap of his sister, Holika. Now, she could not die by fire by virtue of a shawl which would prevent fire affecting the person wearing it. After the fire was lit, the shawl flew from Holika, who was then burnt to death, while Prahlad survived unharmed. The shawl moved to cover him. The burning of Holika is celebrated as Holi. On Holi Day, Holika Dahan is undertaken, where her effigy is burnt.

Lord Vishnu came in the form of a Narasimha (who is half-man and half-lion) and killed Hiranyakashipu at dusk (which was neither day nor night), on the steps of the porch of his house (which was neither inside the house nor outside) by restraining him on his lap (which is neither in the sky nor on the earth) and mauling him with his claws (which are neither astra nor shastra).

Every year, different states of North and Western India vie to outdo each other in the celebration of Holi. Gulal Goti, a balloon filled with colours, was very famous with the royal families of Rajasthan. Nowadays, even the common man plays with it. West Bengal’s specialty is Bhang Holi. After or during the celebrations, Bhang (a mixture of milk, almonds and marijuana) is drunk by the people. It is very much permitted by the government and has several religious associations and mentions.

As with all festivals now, Holi, too, is being increasingly celebrated by people across all religions and regions. South Indian, too, celebrate it with much pomp.

According to the last tiger census using the pug-mark identification technique, the Parambikulam forests is home to an estimated 15 tigers.

St Valentine, a martyr of third-century Rome is credited with the observance of this special day. There are many theories and legends as to its origins. Some believe that St Valentine helped lovers to get married in secret at a time when Roman soldiers weren’t allowed to get married. Another story goes like this: Valentine himself was in jail and sent the first Valentine greeting to his secret love. But, whatever the story, youngsters of the day spend hoards on Valentine’s Day goods to please their friends and lovers.

A lot of conservative communities in India and other countries have come out harsh on them, though. Not many like the idea of their youth tugging along on this day, to a park or beach or even for a meal, with their lovers!! But whatever said and done, the day – February 14 – is a day much awaited and much celebrated. Greeting stores, shops, pubs and restaurants make bomb on this single day, wooing youngsters. If it falls on a weekend, then the whole weekend, too, will be celebrated.

Visit: www.beachresortkerala.com

This Ornamental Fish & Accessories Exhibition and Trade Fair is being organised by the Department of Fisheries, Government of Kerala, along with the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. It will be a great chance for exhibiting and marketing fish, fish-related products and accessories.

There will be competitions for ornamental fish, on features such as breeding, innovative practices, technology and display, for breeders, amateurs and traders. You can also check out the exclusive pavilion for imported aquariums. Prizes will be given away during the show, with highlights on cultural and art performances during and after the prizes distribution.

This aqua show will benefit manufacturers and distributors of aquarium, aquarium accessories and related products. Those dealing in fish medicines, drugs, treatment chemicals, fish food, fishery products, publishers of fisheries-related literature, and exporters of ornamental fish will be able to promote their business as well as interact with government bodies and the public.

Source: www.aquashowkerala.com

One can see beaches, backwaters, houseboats, hill stations, wildlife, and boat races. The captions are ‘Chalo Kerala’ in Hindi and ‘Go Kerala’ in English. This will run for 6 months, till June, 2010.  Kerala is the first state to try its hand at this unique form of advertising. More than half of India use the railways as its major means of transport. This will be a definite boost to that.

And it’s not just the passengers who will be enticed by this grand visual display, passing drivers, pedestrians, and onlookers, too, will come to know of Kerala and its beauty. Even international tourists use the trains to travel within the country, so this will showcase the state like no other campaign can. That, too, in a novel way.

Check out: http://www.hotelsthekkady.com/2010/01/thekkady-lake-alive-with-tourist-boats/

India’s Constitution – the largest in the world – came into force on this day. The seeds of a Republic were sowed at the Lahore session of the Indian National Congress on 31 December 1929. Pt Jawarhar Lal Nehru presided over it, and the members of the meeting pledged to mark January 26 as ‘Independence Day’. The session led to the Civil Disobedience Movement. It was in order to honour this day that India’s Republic Day is now observed on 26 January.

The country has made great strides in the 60 years of it being a sovereign secular Republic. The parade, floats and celebrations can be watched live on television. You can even send Republic day greetings online, watch specific videos as well as download patriotic songs and wallpapers from government web sites.

It’s true that the hawkers crowded on streets leading up to a temple, monument or any tourist spot can be quite revolting. Not only do most of them sell fake goods, some even ‘train’ young boys and girls to steal tourists’ belongings (read camera, purse and phone) while the older ones distracts the tourist(s).

But then again, don’t we all buy that li’l key chain from a tear-eyed girl, if only to help her get a square meal? Shooing away hawkers or ignoring them does not take away the problem. The government should take steps to clear streets and areas near tourist spots of hawkers as well as provide them with legitimate shop spaces to sell their wares. Why not have a welfare society or a common building for groups of hawkers to showcase their items than let them inundate the streets?

Also, tourists – both Indian and foreign – should be aware of their constant presence and be prepared to deal with them, if necessary. An idea about original and fake goods will help, too.

It is organised by Alliance Francaise De Trivandrum.

It will be inaugurated by Writer C. Ayyappan on January 8. This festival will see intellectuals and academics opening seminars, interacting with students, conducting science programmes, and in discussions.

The avenues at the festival will give authors a chance to understand their readers, and how best to suit their writing for them. A common public discussion and thinking will aid publishers, authors as well as the readers. Prominent cultural activist and film maker Sashikumar and noted academic and thinker Dr Nizar Ahmed will be at the forefront of the activities.

“Thinking goes public” is an apt tagline for the festival that will be a convergence for thinkers, public, photographers, critics, writers and activists.

Here’s a list of the authors and participants of Kochi Life 2010:

Slavoj Zizek                        Gail Omvedt
C. Ayyappan                      Akeel Bilgrami
Prabhat Patnaik                C. K. Janu
J. Devika                              T. M. Yesudasan
Tejaswini Niranjana         Gopal Guru
Ram Rahman                      Kumar Shahani
Annapurna Garimella       Usha Zacharias
Javeed Alam

Slavoj Zizek	Gail Omvedt
C. Ayyappan	Akeel Bilgrami
Prabhat Patnaik	C. K. Janu
J. Devika	T. M. Yesudasan
Tejaswini Niranjana	Gopal Guru
Ram Rahman	Kumar Shahani
Annapurna Garimella	Usha Zacharias
Javeed Alam

Here’s an interesting story: William the hornbill was the Bombay Natural History Society’s own pet for 26 years! This “office canary” lived in a cage behind Millard’s chair in Phipson & Co.’s office for 26 years and died in 1920.

Also check out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Hornbill

http://changlang.nic.in/namdapha.html

If you go via Thodupuzha, you can visit Bhoothathankettu Dam and the waterfalls there. Thommankuthu waterfalls, one that cascades over various steps, is a beauty to behold. Besides bathing there, you can go trekking up the hills near the waterfalls.

A little further is Malankara Dam. It’s not a famous one; tucked away in the approaching hills towards Idukki. We go down to take a look at it. There is no thoroughfare allowed – you need prior permission from the hydel project’s authority to walk above the dam or to go for walks in the nearby areas.

Once you hit the road to Mundakayam, it slopes to such an extent your ears start to pop! Then comes Kuttikanam, a town colder than Thekkady and much more foresty, to say. There are a number of colleges and churches here. From then on the road goes down the slope a little as Thekkady is at a lower elevation than Kuttikanam. Enroute are small shacks and restaurants in Vandiperiyar and Pambanar, selling spicy foods and spices, of course.

Kumily and Thekkady are a few kms apart. And the Tamil Nadu border is only 4km from Thekkady. The Periyar Tiger Reserve and the Periyar lake are the main attractions. The forest office near the approach to the reserve gives a detailed list of trekking routes, nature walks, guides, forest guards, jeep safaris and what not. You can also visit Gavi, a forest area known for tree houses and waterfalls, just a 45-minute drive from Thekkady.

“Elephant junctions”, advertised in about 5 or 6 sections of the town are a newer version of an age-old practice, i.e. elephant riding. These ‘junctions’ provide elephant bathing, photo sessions, and many other offers, along with the usual rides. Tourists can also book seats at the Kalaripayattu and Kathakali centres and watch astonishing art performances.

The tribal settlement down the road has a 25-ruppee walk within their living area. You can see how they live, eat and go about their works. There’s also a Tribal Heritage Museum close by.

If you like shopping, look no further. There’s a lot to choose from – Kashmiri and Tibetan handicrafts, jewellery and clothes sold by yesteryear refugee families, eco-shops selling forest produces and clothes, spices, tea, and of course, souvenirs and postcards.

Thekkady is truly a ‘walk in the forest’. There’s silence all over once the clock hits six. But you will still see birds heading home, shopkeepers bargaining with customers, tourists looking for their stay, youngsters out on a walk and many more small-town sights. This touristy town has much to offer the eco-tourist. Check it out. For things to do, visit www.hotelsthekkady.com

It will be Kerala’s second tiger reserve, the other being Periyar Tiger Reserve. Areas within Parambikulam ranges from 300m to 1,438m above mean sea level. Parambikulam has seven major valleys and three major river systems. The sanctuary has three major reservoirs – Parambikulam, Thunakadavu and Peruvarippalam.

The sanctuary has semi-evergreen forests, dry as well as moist deciduous forests, tropical rainforests and Shola forests. Parambikulam is home to more than 1,400 species of flowering plants, many varieites of medicinal plants and 67 species of orchids.

Besides tigers and white gaurs, the sanctuary houses Nilgiri Tahr, elephants, lion-tailed Macaque, panther, wild boar, flying squirrel, sambar, Bonnet Macaque, Nilgiri Langur, sloth bear, Nilgiri marten, king cobra, Travancore tortoise, Indian day gecko, flying lizard, Indian rock python, Malabar pit viper, Travancore tortoise, mountain skink, mugger crocodile, pond terapin, spectacled cobra, krait, green keelback.

You can find birds such as lesser adjutant stork, grey-headed fish-eagle, Peninsular bay owl, broad-billed roller, black-capped kingfisher, great pied hornbill, little cormorant, black eagle, great Indian hornbill, and black woodpecker.

The sanctuary, located over 285sq.km, in Chittur taluk in Palakkad, will be extended to the forest divisions in Nenmara, Chalakudy and Vazhachal (about 358sq.km of area) in order to comprise a total area of 643 sq km. Parambikulam is approachable by road from Pollachi in Tamil Nadu, 90km away. The nearest airport and railhead is at Coimbatore.

The temple is flanked by hills and forests. The lake, too, is close by. The temple was built by a prince of the Pandhalam Royal family. The idol here is said to have been the swayambhu idol worshipped by Lord Rama during his trip to Lanka (now, Sri Lanka) in his search for Sita.

The temple’s 10-day annual festival is a colourful affair. The Kettukazhcha ritual procession and performances of folk arts such as Mayilattam and Ammankudam are seen here. The festival ends with the Arattu: five caparisoned elephants in a procession held at midnight. On important days and during festivals, scores of monkeys are fed at the temple premises. There’s even a trust formed to take care of their feeding and welfare!

The choir comprised senior and junior members. And the youngest was as young as 6 years! I found that the young ones sang without files or lyrics and that, too, without even forgetting a word!! There were Malayalam and English carols, interspersed with a couple of readings from the Bible relating to the divine birth of Christ.

Carols were not always Christian ones. The earliest carols, whose word meaning is ‘a song or dance of joy’, were sung by pagans dancing around stone circles during Winter Solstice and various seasons. The carols we sing in churches now are mostly from the 18th and 19th centuries. But some of the famous ones like ‘The Holly and the Ivy’, are from earlier periods.

The carol service was extra special, as the choir, once the sermon was over, sang John Lennon’s So This Is Christmas, which was composed in 1971, as a protest song against the Vietnam War. The interesting thing is that this song, sung in a church during X’mas, has been adapted and sung by many pop and jazz singers since Lennon.

In the week leading up to X’mas, many churches in the city will host Carol Services. Walk into one, and enjoy.