KERALA TRAVEL EXPLORER VOL 01 ISSUE 05 by keralatravelexplorer

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Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Note

Deepak N Nair

Dear Reader, At the outset, I wish to thank you all, our ardent readers, for the heartwarming support, and the wonderful reception you have accorded us in our honest efforts to get you some serious reading of a different kind about Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Own Country. Your encouragement has ensured that we have emerged as the leading English language magazine in the travel, leisure and lifestyle segment of Kerala. We have sincerely endeavoured to describe an unknown Kerala to the discerning traveller who is hungry to know more about this fascinating land of enchanting folklore and myriad fables. Kerala Travel Explorer was envisioned to showcase the best of Kerala to an oblivious outside world that was bereft of that awareness. This is a landmark issue for all of us in the proud KTE family as it marks the first anniversary of our magazine that is gaining more popularity with every issue. This anniversary issue also marks the revival of the tourism industry which had suffered immensely due to the heavy rains and unprecedented floods in August that resulted in the destruction of unimaginable magnitude. It also celebrates the spirit of resilience of the people of the state. For our anniversary issue, we have put together a compelling mix of interviews, destinations and festival stories. The readers will find some rare perspectives and interesting articles about Ezhome, Bekal, Thirunelli, Kasargod, and Konni destinations. Since our issue is being released during the month of Christmas, we have a beautiful account of how Yuletide is observed in Kerala by a serious and senior observer. We have included some insightful conversations with eminent personalities too. The multi-faceted actor Saiju Kurup, Flavour-of-the-Moment, documentary film director Deepti Pillay Sivan, talented and upcoming actress Nimisha Sajayan, reputed entrepreneur Varghese Kurian, and hotelier Manoj Mathew have all been interviewed by our editorial team. I would also like to thank you all for the meaningful feedback that you have been sending to us over the past year. I assure you that we seriously consider and implement suggestions that are valuable and consequential. We have revamped our digital platforms, including our website which is more visible and attracting more visitors each passing day. You will be glad to know that from the next issue onwards, we would also be including a new section titled 'Keralites Outbound' that would feature the favourite holiday destinations of Keralites going abroad. So this is a chance for you to write to us and let us know about your favourite destinations abroad. Send us a first-person account of your holiday with pictures to share with other readers of KTE. We also encourage readers to share stories and pictures of travel destinations within Kerala. Kerala Travel Explorer wishes its readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Happy Reading! Until next time!

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Contents

Vol 01 ISSUE 05

Travel/Destination/Culture/Tradition/Art

Kochi Muziris Biennale

Kerala Christmas Eve And Beyond

Ezhome

A Jewel of North Malabar

Kannur International Airport

Enchanting Misty Mornings In Kochi

Remnant of the Erstwhile Jews of Kochi

32 Bekal Beckons

Interviews & Features

Ponmudi

A Golden View From the Top

The Thirunelli temple

Konni, Endurance After Floods

Explore The Unexplored at Kasargod

The Visionary Entrepreneur

66 Interview with

Varghese Kurian

Manoj Mathew The Unconventional

77 Heroine 85 Traditional cookware products RESTAURANT Review

The Maverick Actor Shaiju Kurup

UPTURN OF 92 FORTUNES Column

Nandini Valsan

73 Decoding

Deepti Pillay Sivan |5

ART AND CULTURE

Kochi

Muziris Biennale Shaping the Artistic Fabric of the City

By Raina Paul

ochi is re-awakening its cosmopolitan spirit when its British-era buildings and galleries open its doors to welcome the fourth edition of international contemporary art festival, Kochi Muziris Biennale 2018, the largest of its kind in South Asia.

Kerala, this year will witness over 40 Indian and international artists contributing their work in a live auction that is scheduled to be held on January 18, 2019

The courtyards and interiors of various Dutchstyled buildings which manifest colonialism and control are now being replenished with multifaceted arwork; contemporary and freestyle among others, soothing both eye and mind. Hundreds of artists will, this time exhibit their creations to thousands of visitors who promenade along the seafront at Fort-Kochi, where majority of the artworks and illustrations will be showcased with pomp and fervour.

ART AND CULTURE

Titled, 'Defile', - corpses dressed in designer clothes by a Russian Artist

One exhibition during the previous year showcased the concept of death, decomposition and beauty through the photographs taken by the artist

Artists predominantly from Latin America, Africa, and South Asia among others will exhibit their artwork for a span of three months starting from December 12, this year. It will be one of the best times to visit Kochi, as the city presents its best, with numerous art galleries, hotels and restaurants flaunting their facilities and delicacies, tempting the visitors. Kochi Muziris Biennale is not just about its pride, emanating from art forms with perfect borders by popular artists, but that which transforms the city walls into a multi-coloured blanket of freestyle art, making it a platform of expression for aspiring artists. Woman Curator The Biennale, for the first time will have a woman curator - Anita Dube, who is an art historian and critic by training, and a visual artist by practice. She was quoted as saying that the Biennale this year will promote the concept of inclusiveness. During her travels across the globe, she is said to have met artists who foster the concept of non-alienation. Therefore

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she asserts that there is a need to listen to the marginalised, including women, queer community among others. As a result, the latest edition of this art festival will host women artists, who account for more than half the number of artists enrolled for Biennale. The festival also calls for representations from LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) community artists from the third world countries among others. Visitors will also have an opportunity to present their own artwork, in forms of their choice during Biennale this year. For this purpose, Biennale ‘pavilions’ are being set up to have discussions, debates, interactions, and performances. The public can organise programmes as well as showcase their talents. “The idea is part of the curatorial vision. Everybody who comes to witness biennale is a curator,” said Manoj Nair who is the editorial director of Kochi

Muziris Biennale, 2018. Kochi Muziris Biennale also plans to recycle the pavilion conversation space and build 12 homes of 600 square feet area for those affected by the floods that devastated the state in August 2018. The Biennale this year will have nine venues sprawling across parts of Kochi, with a majority of venues located in Fort-Kochi. The three month Biennale is expected to bring at least six lakh visitors to witness over 90 projects the city will be hosting. It will also be an opportunity to expose graduate and postgraduate students from art colleges in India to an international platform. The visitors get to witness artwork by students not only from the country, but from other SAARC countries; Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. Apart from exhibitions, Biennale

The all-encompassing nature of Kochi paves way, not just for multi-faceted art work but the coexistence of various communities in a single land.

Titled, 'Chronicle of shores foretold,' depicting histories and mythologies of labour, religion and maritime trade.

Titled ' descension'. the picture depicts churning and frothing water spiralling endlessly in a circular pit

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ART AND CULTURE

Titled, 'Room of Lies,' - old photographs framed and walled.

Another artist filled an exhibition hall with old frames and documents that were walled with little whitespace between the photo frames.

intends to educate children by fostering creative education in them. The project which is called by the name ABC (Art by Children) will see the programme reaching out to around 100 schools in 14 districts in Kerala engaging over 5000 children. Art forms are also taken to hospitals as part of a healing process. Kerala, this year will witness over 40 Indian and international artists contributing their work in a live auction that is scheduled to be held on January 18, 2019. Visitors to the state will witness artwork, contemporary and modern being sold under an umbrella. Kochi - the ideal venue â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kochi represents the vision of how the world should be. We have about 44 communities in Kochi; Guajarati,

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Marathi, Anglo-Indians etc.â&#x20AC;?, said the editorial director of Biennale. The all-encompassing nature of Kochi paves way, not just for multifaceted artwork but the coexistence of various communities in a single land. It is this aspect of the city that culminated in the hosting of Biennale every alternate year starting in December 2012. One who travels to Kochi during Biennale carries bountiful wealth, not only because of what the city showcases, but because it turns out to be a meeting place of people from different backgrounds. It becomes a sharing ground in terms of experiences and perspectives. The sight of the streets on a usual Biennale day is awe-inspiring. The streets are busy during days with thousands crowding the pavements,

There were artworks that involved music, cinema, documentary that sprawled across venues in Fort Kochi. while nights become equally alive with lit up alleys and boulevards. This time of the year offers an amalgamation of the local and foreign communities. The previous Biennales brought over a million visitors to Kochi, and by now Kochi resonates the term ‘Biennale.’ “Not many knew this small piece of land named Kochi until Biennale started being organised in the city,” said a person associated with Kochi Muziris Biennale, who requested anonymity. Biennales of the Past Biennale is not anymore a new coinage for Kochi. Its consistent existence has also helped spin the artistic fabric of the city. The city has become accommodative over the years not only because of the influx of visitors but also due to the variedly faceted expressive art that has an educative nature to anyone who witnesses them. One exhibition during the previous year showcased the concept of death, decomposition and beauty through the photographs taken by the artist. Although, a strange concept to many, it proved its point. Yet, another artist filled an exhibition hall with old frames and documents that were walled with little whitespace between the photo frames. There were artworks that involved music, cinema, documentary that sprawled across venues in Fort Kochi. While the venues were 12 in the previous Biennale, this year, it has reduced to 9, probably due the fact that Biennale this year limits artists mostly from the marginalised sections of the society. Like its curatorial vision, it envisages non-alienation at its fullest.

(above) Titled, 'Pyramid of exiled poets,' depicts life of exiled poets (Below) Titled, 'River of Ideas,' depiction of flow of ideas.

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Plan your

PERFECT HOLIDAY trip to Kerala! By Nayanathara S

an Ayurvedic treatment package. It would be better to choose Green Leaf & Olive Leaf classified Ayurveda centres that are approved by the Kerala Tourism Department. Monsoon is the best season for Ayurvedic treatments. The best time to visit Kerala is from September to March. So, get yourself an Ayurvedic massage or treatment and heal your body, inside out.

as Kerala been on your bucket list for the last couple of years? Are you ready to go on an exciting holiday to God’s Own Country? If you have already booked the tickets, arranged a tour package and is all set for the trip, then here’s the ultimate travel checklist for you.

1 If you are planning a trip any time

between February and May, during the hot, simmering summer, and wish to spend a few hours at the beach, don’t forget to carry sunscreen. And, even if you forget to carry one, no worries. There are several medical stores and pharmacies where you can get it.

hile visiting temples, it would W be good to keep certain things in mind. Non-Hindus are not allowed in some temples in Kerala, and there are strict dress codes and regulations that you need to adhere to. In certain temples like the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, you will have to leave your footwear outside the temple premises.

3 Want to make your holidays

absolutely rejuvenating and refreshing? Stay in one of the many resorts in Kerala and avail

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4 Depending on the climate and the

activities that you have planned, carry comfortable clothes and accessories such as cotton outfits, hats, sunglasses, sunscreen lotion, mosquito repellent, walking shoes, flip-flops, umbrellas etc. By the way, if you are planning to spend a week or two in a hill station like Munnar, Thekkady or Wayanad, do carry sweaters to keep yourself warm and cosy.

Do not carry too much cash, precious jewellery or gold, and even if you do, keep it to the bare minimum. You can use debit or credit cards for transactions. On weekdays, most of the banks are open from 10 AM to 3:30 PM and till noon on Saturdays.

6 Get bottled water or fresh juice from shops, and keep yourself

hydrated throughout your journey. Stay refreshed!

7 While in Kerala, pamper your

appetite with some authentic Kerala food. Kerala cuisine is absolutely delectable! As it is medium spicy, your taste buds may take some time to get adjusted. So, before ordering food, always enquire with the chef or waiter about the amount of spices and other ingredients present in it.

8 For sightseeing, you can take

rental cars or other vehicles including bicycles. However, ensure that they don’t take extra charges.

9 If you are a foreign citizen and

wish to drive around in a vehicle in Kerala, do carry your international driving licence.

10 Smoking is banned in public

places in Kerala and you are liable to be prosecuted if you are found smoking in public.

11 Refrain from public kissing as it is not acceptable in Kerala.

12 It is wise not to travel to remote

areas during night hours. Stay in a reputed hotel or a resort and continue the journey early morning.

Welcome to the choicest abode in Munnar

Nestling snug in the embrace of misty nature at Aanachal, a mere 12km away from Munnar town, this sprawling resort gives you endless options for a truly memorable getaway. A quick break from the everyday chaos, a fun-filled family vacation, a quiet and relaxing time of rest, a quest for creative inspiration, the honeymoon of your dreams. Whatever your fantasy, The Leaf Munnar is the just the place for you.

The Leaf Munnar unfolds a fine spread of amenities so that you can indulge in a luxurious stay with the loveliest of memories to take away. The Leaf offers you a great selection of uber-comfortable rooms, each one tastefully appointed to enfold you in perfect cosiness with 24-hr room service.

AMENITIES infinity pool with kids pool free wifi club house multi cuisine restaurant childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s play area led tv basketball court

Contact The Leaf Munnar Chithirapuram P O Aamakandam â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Anachal Munnar, Idukki- 685565

activities trekking vegetable garden walk local sightseeing jeep safari resort activities

Reception

+91 9995882488

Reservations

+91 7558896786, +91 7558888678

Email: reservations@theleafmunnar.com Web: https://www.theleafmunnar.com/

CHRISTMAS

Kerala: Christmas Eve And Beyond By Major General Jacob Tharakan Chacko, SM (Retd)

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alter Mendez would have definitely received divine help in coining the enticing phrase ‘God’s Own Country’ for Kerala. The lush green, wet canopy over the state, countless virgin beaches on Arabian Sea coast, its fertile land and a conducive climate might be inadequate to justify the tagline ‘God’s own country’ for Kerala. Home to countless places of worship, each one a work of art by master craftsmen, Kerala is home to many Gods and their devotees. Peaceful coexistence of many religions and their subsects in such a small place makes Kerala, truly God’s own country. Like Onam, a predominantly Hindu festival, celebrated by all Keralites, Christmas celebrations

in Kerala, transcends religious boundaries. This unique inter-religious reach out may be the most defining attribute of Kerala that confirms Kerala’s status as God’s own country.

Preparations Kerala is home to a large number of Christian denominations, each with its own liturgy. Some of these homegrown Christian denominations have strong foothold in foreign lands. Irrespective of the denominations that Christianity follows, Christians celebrate Christmas in an atmosphere of gaiety. Churches and Christian households start transforming themselves from the third week of December. Not to be outdone,

shops, malls, restaurants and almost all business entities join the bandwagon. The infectious makeover is complete by 24th December. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s truly remarkable to see the nightskies above the landscape of the state transforming over the week with countless glittering stars and decorative lights. This festive look will outlast Christmas into New Year. This is compelling enough a reason for an explorer to visit Kerala during Christmas. The styles and patterns of decoration on display are peculiar to areas and regions. It will be practically impossible for a touris, to see all that from North to South in a single Christmas season.

Plum Cakes Like Nowhere Else Kerala is home to its integral brand of plum cakes. Nowhere in the world can one find a replica of the special cake that is baked and sold in hordes across Kerala during Christmas season. Raisins and dry fruits, soaked in the chosen alcohol like wine,

rum, or brandy is a key ingredient. Home-made plum cakes can be a heavenly experience for those who can manage to visit Christian households. Many traditional families are in possession of a combination of ingredients, often passed on from the matriarch to her daughters and daughters-in-law that make their cakes unique. Though the market would be flooded with many brands of plum cakes, home-made plum cakes have nothing in parallel.

Carols During Christmas season, Kerala comes alive with a large number of carol groups that visit homes in their localities. While churches undertake | 17

CHRISTMAS

carol visits to the parishioners’ houses, many local clubs, organize carol services and visit houses in the locality irrespective of their religious affiliations. These groups belt out devotional songs proclaiming the arrival of Infant Jesus. While the quality of music may leave much to be desired, the inherent energy levels are invigorating. It should not be difficult for a tourist with good intentions to join one of these groups and be assured of firsthand knowledge of local traditions besides goodies that one gets to eat during home visits

Christmas Appoopann: It is normal for carol groups to have amongst them a ‘Christmas Appooppan’, the Keralite Santa Claus. Since copying Santa is not yet violative of intellectual property rights, Kerala has its own version of Santa referred to as ‘Christmas Father’ or ‘Christmas Appooppan’, scantly resembling his western cousin just in the mask and robe. It’s a common practice in the local parish for someone to assume the role of ‘Christmas Appooppan’ and accompany the Carol visiting homes. In olden times when everybody knew each other in the parish, ‘Christmas Appooppan’ would strike up conversation with the family 18 |

latter marks the culmination of the Passion Week. Since there are no restrictions on entry to any church, participating in the midnight mass maybe a lifetime experience for one exploring Kerala. While footwear is restricted and ladies are expected to cover their heads in the church, there is no prescribed dress codes, being appropriately dressed may be appreciated.

Feasting Post Fasting

members during the visit and offers solace to anybody in need or in grief, advises the youngsters at home and offered hope for future. The pace of modernisation and resultant mobility of population has taken away the homely touch but the practice continues.

Church Activities Keralite Christians normally undertake the 25-day lent for advent prior to Christmas. With restrictions on eating meat and dairy products during lent, Christians are mandated to spiritually cleanse themselves to receive Infant Jesus. The period of abstinence concludes with the midnight Church service across Kerala. Though there are no historical links to reason why the services are held at midnight, it is believed that midnight service commemorates the declaration of the birth of Jesus to the shepherds by the angel. The two most important events in Christian calendar are the Christmas Holy mass and the Easter Holy Mass the former about advent and the

Feasting associated with Christmas celebrations is an event in itself. If Onam feast is an extensive vegetarian spread, Christmas celebration is an equally lavish nonvegetarian spread. Starting with ‘Appam’ (Hoppers) accompanied by varieties of meat stews for breakfast, followed by lunch and dinner lavished with meat and seafood, Christian households are places to be in for those who are foodies. Amidst these elaborate meals one can splurge on plum cakes and homemade wines. Each household has its own way of preparing dishes and traditional families have adopted modern cooking implements to deliver age-old tastes. Food lovers may do themselves a favour by stationing themselves at ‘Homestays’ and restaurants that serve traditional

Keralite non-vegetarian fare. The magic of Kerala spices can be best internalised first-hand, if one can manage entry into a Christian kitchen during Christmas.

Festivities and Shopping Christmas is not only about dining. One can get the best out of shopping in Kerala during Onam and Christmas as the best deals are rolled out during these festivals. With the range of elegant sarees and gold ornaments available in countless exclusive showrooms across Kerala, one can spend days choosing and buying.

Early Bird Advantage Considered the best for the cost, Kerala is flooded with tourists during Christmas and New Year. Hotels, house boats, resorts, homestays and backwater facilities are packed. In such a scenario the early bird normally enjoys tremendous advantage. If one has lost the opportunity to book oneself into a facility, there is no need to fret about it provided one is willing to call up an old Malayalee friend and revive old memories. Malayalees are a great race and will open up their house and heart for you.

The period of abstinence concludes with the midnight Church service across Kerala. Though there are no historical links to reason why the services are held at midnight, it is believed that midnight service commemorates the declaration of the birth of Jesus to the shepherds by the angel.

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DESTINATION FEATURE

EZHOME

A Jewel of North Malabar

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By K.V. Narayanan

zhome, is a quiet village, otherwise known as granary of erstwhile Chirakkal Kovilakam, cuddling in the midst of luxurious green foliage on the shore of calm, pristine and yet swinging Kuppam River. It is stretched out between Taliparamba and Pazhayangadi towns in Kannur District, and about two hours drive from the town of Kannur. The original name of this beautiful hamlet is said to be Ezhilakam, which, in course of time either got diluted or corrupted to form the present name Ezhome.

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DESTINATION FEATURE

Ezhome beckons you In the scheme of State sponsored Malabar Cruise Tourism Project, Ezhome finds a prominent place. Ezhome has a rich heritage historically, politically and culturally. This gorgeous village once played as a bellwether in the advent of land reforms, which revolutionised the State. Peasants of this village were the first amongst those who dared to voice against the barbarous and brutal feudal system prevalent then. Ezhome is vibrant culturally too. There are several celebrated performing artists in this milieu. Theyyam festivals are intrinsic to this village, which is as old as its history, performed in temples and select homes. The usual Theyyam season begins from October and lasts upto May. Tourists visiting Ezhome during these months will have an added advantage of watching this cultural extravaganza. Theyyams in local terminology are gods in human form or speaking gods, who listen to devotees, hear their woes and in turn bless them.

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DESTINATION FEATURE

Ezhome has produced exceptionally effervescent political activists, social workers, spiritual leaders, mystics, physicians, musicians, artists, artisans, teachers, engineers, judges, and world class academicians, one of whom found place as far as in Tokyo to embellish the chair of Vice Rector of United National University. Legendary technocrat late KPP Nambiarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s paternal home is at Ezhome. Late Kallen Pokkudan is another prodigy of this village, a renowned ecologist, who devoted a major part of his life in the care and preservation of mangroves along the banks of this river. He has authored many books on Mangroves and has also been honoured with a film â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Sthalamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (The Place) portraying his life. There are four varieties of high yielding, non-lodging organic rice named after this pretty village, styled and patented as Ezhome 1, 2, 3 and 4 cultivated in the saline prone polder lands protected by dykes. In local parlance dykes called as Kaippad, and is developed by Kerala Agricultural University with the active participation of farmers of this village.

The wateway is embroidered with lush green coconut trees and mangroves across the shorelines, which offers scintillating views, and will leave an everlasting impression in your hearts, even after your cruise sojourn at Ezhome.

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Other useful information: Nearest airport Kannur (Scheduled to open in December 2018) or Kozhikode/ Mangaluru. Nearest Railway Station: Kannur/Pazhayangadi. Line buses are available to Ezhome throughout the day from Kannur, Taliparamba and Pazhayangadi.

Cruise Tariff Fully day (10 pax) Rs. 8000/(10 am to 5 pm). Half day (10 pax) Rs. 4500/(10 am to 1 pm, or 2.30 pm to 6.00 pm).

Contact for Booking Mr. Venu Phone +91 8848744075. Mr. P. Govindan Phone +91 9447646236.

One hour cruise (10 pax) Rs. 2000/(Food and beverages provided. Check with the officials while you do your bookings. These rates and facilities are only indicative and never to be taken as authentic, which may change from time to time or may be relaxed).

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TRAVEL FEATURE DESTINATION FEATURE

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Kuppam river exploration by cruise boats Kuppam River cruise is a part of tourism project launched by state government with an idea to exploit the vast tourism potential in the North Malabar region unrevealed hitherto, of which Ezhome is a hot spot. Kuppam river originates at KeralaKarnataka border and finds her salvation in the Arabian sea. This river is navigable from Kooveri enroute Kuppam down to Mattool. This water beauty unfolds her flamboyant looks and charm throughout her expedition from Koovery to Mattool. The waterway is embroidered with lush green coconut trees and mangroves across the shorelines, which offers scintillating views, and will leave an everlasting impression in your hearts, even after your cruise sojourn at Ezhome. The flora and fauna along the river stretch undeniably is a feast to eyes. There are a good number of cruise boats available for whole day trip or for a short term on hourly basis for discerning tourists. These boats are provided with exquisite state of the art facilities, fulfilling mandatory safety norms prescribed by the authorities. Food, beverages, and snacks are provided on board. Speed boats are also available on request. Cruise boats are manned by professionals, who are well trained, well behaved and friendly. Roads of Ezhome are well laid out asphalted roads. Driving is indeed a pleasure on these roads in the midst of lush green paddy fields. In fact, the main road of Ezhome runs parallel to the river linking the towns of Taliparamba and Pazhayangadi. Ezhome Cruise service is an initiative by Ezhome Service Co-operative | 27

DESTINATION FEATURE

Bank Limited, whose headquarter is located right in the heart of Ezhome on the main road. This bank is the financial hub of the village and has seven branches in the neighbourhood, extending support to the local agrarian community, merchants and traders at low interest rates with strong NRI accounts. This bank plays a key role in the developmental aspects of this village. Homestays are available. Well appointed star hotels are available in the town of Kannur, and medium sized hotels and lodging houses are also available in the bordering towns of Pazhayangadi and Taliparamba suiting to oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s choice and budget. Therefore, when you next visit Kannur on a holiday, never forget to visit Ezhome, and enjoy the boat cruise there for a mesmerizing never before experience. In case, you choose to have an exclusive pickup and drop in service before and after your cruise, the officials who manage the cruise, assure that the same will be provided at reasonable cost. Feel free to ask the booking officials for your specific requirements. After the boat cruise, taking a stroll around the paddy and farming fields, or just watching the Kaippads, will get you rejuvenated. You will be surrounded with the unpolluted air all around you, in the midst of clean unexploited water bodies, with cool breeze pampering you all along. This is an experience you might never had before. For this outing spree, Kottakeel, and Ezhome Moola are the perfect spots, which are serene archipelagos in their own right, exactly right on the river bed, where you have an appointment.

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After the boat cruise, taking a stroll around the paddy and farming fields, or just watching the Kaippads, will get you rejuvenated. You will be surrounded with the unpolluted air all around you, in the midst of clean unexploited water bodies, with cool breeze pampering you all along.

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A DREAM COMES TRUE

n international airport with state-of-the-art facilities was a dream nurtured by North Kerala for over three decades. Timely intervention, steely resolve and proper follow up in the last two years has turned this dream into a reality. Kannur International Airport, one of the biggest infrastructure and development initiatives in Kerala, commences operations from December 9. Hon. Kerala Chief Minister Shri. Pinarayi Vijayan and Union Minister for Civil Aviation Shri. Suresh Prabhu will jointly light the lamp inside the terminal building, marking the inauguration of the airport. They would then flag off the inaugural flight by Air India Express to Abu Dhabi at 10 am.

Being a 21st century airport, Kannur International Airport has all the modern facilities including six aerobridges, three baggage belts that can be flexibly used for domestic as well as international services, in-line X-ray to avoid baggage X-ray, and also self check-in and self baggage drop. The airport can handle over 2,000 passengers in an hour, as there are 24 check-in counters now, which can be increased up to 48 as per requirement. Also there are 16 immigration counters for arrival and 16 for departure. The facilities would be increased once the number of passengers increase. The airport currently features a 3,050 metres runway which will be extended to 4,000 metres in the near future. The airport is located in Mattannur, just 25 km away from the city centre of Kannur. Spread across an area of 2,300 acres, the airport has a large land bank for aviation-related industries such as maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) operations. 30 |

Opening up new avenues in connectivity

More opportunities to land on the Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s runway

Equipped with world-class facilities, the airport offers domestic connectivity throughout the country. The improvement in support infrastructure and road connectivity will also attract more tourists. National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has declared the road between Madikeri and Kannur a national highway. A connecting road for two-lane traffic from Mattannur to Koottupuzha at the Kerala state border is being developed, which leads onwards to Kodagu. The airport is projected to have an annual traffic of approximately 1.8 million passengers in the first year of operation, of which around 1.65 million would be international passengers and 0.16 million domestic passengers.

Tourism industry is set to boom, with a big surge in import-export and the revival of a large number of industries. This will result in abundant job opportunities as well as an influx of several entrepreneurs-small and big. With all of its features and state-ofthe-art facilities, Kannur International Airport is not just another modern airport in the country. It stands tall as a growth and development centre for North Malabar and the larger region as a whole â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the perfect gateway to North Kerala and South Karnataka.

Powering the trade and business potential of the State The airport will facilitate exports of high-value handloom products, coffee, fish, meat, spices, pharmaceuticals and flowers, which is sure to improve the socio-economic conditions of the region. There are a large number of processing units for dry fruits, spices, marine and fishery products. An international air cargo complex of 1.05 lakh sq.ft. is under construction, and is being built in a modular format to facilitate future expansion. It will also serve the export opportunities arising from the proximity to South Karnataka and Mysuru.

A whole new altitude for the tourism industry Kannur, also known as "the land of looms and lore", has a rich cultural heritage and historical links with the people of Karnataka, continuing to the present time in many ways. With Kannur International Airport becoming a gateway to North Kerala and South Karnataka, foreign tourists will flock to popular destinations like Bekal, Wayanad and Kasaragod. Also with close proximity to Kodagu and Mysuru, the airport will bring in large waves of tourists and travellers from far and wide. | 31

DESTINATION FEATURE

Of Castles, Seas and Mysteries:

Bekal Beckons

By Keerthy Ramachandran

erala can be every bit as exciting for all kinds of travel enthusiasts. The scenic landscapes, scents and sounds of the land will inspire the minds with a lifetime of vivid memories. On your next vacation, if you are looking for a less explored destination nestled in greenery and yet with a seaside view, head on to Bekal. A perfect haven for the backpackers and ‘glam’ packers, the long white-sand beaches of Bekal is a treat to the soul. 18 km from the culturally reach land of Kasargod, this little town houses some of the most ‘un-spoilt’ historical architecture and blue beaches of the country.

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How to reach By Air Nearest airport is at Mangalore at a distance of 50 kilometres from Kasargod. By Rail Nearest railway station is at Kasargod By Road Easily accessible by a wide network of roadways, linking it with major towns and cities of Kerala | 33

DESTINATION FEATURE

Here are some of the top attractions of Bekal:

BEKAL BEACH

BEKAL FORT

The unending stretches of white sands and calm water next to the Bekal Fort, makes the Bekal Beach the next favourite picnic spot of the leisure-seekers. Even those who have never been to Bekal before should be familiar with these beaches and the fort, thanks to the number of movies (Bombay’s Uyire Uyire.. for instance) which were shot here. Spread over 36 acres, the shores of the beach are lined by palm trees and the huge walls of the Bekal Fort. It appears as if there is a mysterious chemistry between the fort and the beach, that the beauty of the two is incomplete without the other. Flocked by tourists round the year, the beaches are considered unsafe to be in during the monsoons of Kerala (between June to December).

Built in the 17th century in laterite-brick, Bekal Fort is one of the oldest and best preserved forts of the country. Cascading the ancient glory, the majestic mansion is spread on a rocky headland and is dramatically surrounded by the sprawling Arabic Sea, setting an eye-catching scene. Akin to many other forts, the Bekal Fort was also constructed as a means of defense. Though there are many stories told about the history of the fort’s construction, it is widely believed that the creation is the work of Bednore’s Shivappa Nayaka. Since its construction in 1650, the fort has been a witness to several changing seats of powers from the royal Indian dynasties to the rule of the Sultans, sustaining the Colonial British era. Kolathiri, Ikkeri, Nayakas, Hyder Ali and even Tipu Sultan seem to have ruled the fort. Further to English East India Company’s exile, Bekal Fort became the headquarters of Bekal Taluk of South Canara district. A row of zigzag entrances, walkways and trenches lead to the giant fort which resembles the shape of a keyhole. One of the biggest attractions of the site is the grand observation tower built by Tipu Sultan during his reign that offers a breathtaking view of the ocean and the golden shores. Every component of the construction owns a certain degree of significance. Be it the winding roads to the mansion or even the innumerable holes in the outer walls that were used to target and attack the enemies, everything contributes to the defensive power of the construction. The fort marks a symbolic harmony of religion and culture with a Hanuman temple and a mosque, both situated in the same precincts.

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A slice of the northern Kerala cuisine that has consistently won many hearts across the world can be tasted at the local eateries on the beaches. Government of India’s Social Forestry Scheme has maintained the beach pretty well and you can see several trees and plants planted as part of the scheme, which significantly enhances the beauty of the location. Camel rides and horse rides have also been arranged for entertaining the crowds, along with a host of knick knack shops for those looking for some tangible takeaways.

ROCK GARDEN Soon after taking a long stroll at the beach, one can head to the beautiful rock garden situated just a kilometer away. Comprising of interesting sculptures, spectacular murals and laterite boulders of various shapes and sizes, brilliantly complement each other and together presents a fascinating experience to those on the lookout for for some meaningful art. If you are not sure about your skill to admire

Rajesh Bhagavath

fine arts or has little kids accompanying you, then proceed to the Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s play area adjacent to the rock garden that has a jungle gym, slides, seesaws and many more attractions.

of Taj Bekal Resort and Spa. There are several trekking trails by the Kappil beach. Interested tourists could take a long walk along the coastline to reach the Varkala cliff.

KAPPIL BEACH

The Bekal Hole Aqua Park is yet another popular tourist destination in the area which has a variety of water rides for adventure lovers.

If you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t gotten enough of the beaches, the land with the storied past has more to offer. Yet another destination to enjoy a peaceful walk along the coastlines of Arabian Sea, Kappil beach has the distinction of being one of the less-exploited and commercialized beaches of the country. Though not quite a sunbathing beach, there are plenty of reasons to consider it the place to be. The palm fringed beaches and blue waters make it an ideal spot to spend some quality family time or simply enjoy a book listening to the gentle murmurs of the tides.

Bekal has recently caught the fascination of the hospitality industry of Kerala and many premium hotel properties have been set up in this little town. The sun-kissed beaches, verdant coastlines and historic architecture are just few of the many attractions of Bekal. The several unexplored estuaries, lagoons and trekking trails make it a truly exotic location in an unassuming village hidden deep inside the south western tip of the country.

A portion of the beach serves as an exclusive private beach for the guests | 35

Enchanting

Misty

Mornings

In Kochi Lt Col D Purushothaman Pillay (Retd)

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ver generations we all have developed mental templates of climatic expectations from different geographic realms, like for instance, snow in the extreme altitudes, mist in the mountain folds and mirages on the desert horizons. Therefore, it is hard to believe oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eyes when one sees Kochi of today blanketed in a thick shroud of unprecedented dawn-fog. These pictures of a foggy Kochi were clicked over a few early mornings in November. The gloomy grey, low-lying cloud of smog that hung in the air, gave an unaccustomed cold wintry look to the vista. What one witnessed

is a November sunrise-view, that is characteristic of a cooler India, north of the Tropic of Cancer. One is normally used to witnessing misty mornings up in the mountains after a certain altitude, hence when Kochi, which is a town that is located at sea-level experiences this unfamiliar phenomenon, it is both intriguing and enchanting. This sight instantly reminded me of the poignant words of the talented Turkish author and playwright Mehmet Murat Ildan, which said â&#x20AC;&#x153;You can walk in a dream while you are awake: just walk in the misty morning....â&#x20AC;?. It felt like walking in a dream. Fogs are influenced by multitude of factors, some are natural, like

for instance the topography, temperature, vegetation, weather, geographic location, wind conditions, proximity to water-bodies etc and some others are man-made factors that include, setting up of factories, disappearance of farmlands, increase in road networks, atmospheric pollution due to a surge in automobiles on highways, construction with concrete and urbanization. I feel in the context of modern day Kochi, it must primarily be the two man-made reasons, of rapid industrialization, coupled with the increase in the vehicular population, that must have contributed in a big way to the prevalence of the blurry haze that was on view. Besides this the global impact of glacial-melt,

rising atmospheric temperatures and the resultant climate change must also be having a very important role to play in this new development in our geography. Notwithstanding the worrisome factors elaborated above, it must however be admitted that it is very beautiful to see this unfamiliar yet alluring sight of a thick misty blanket of unexpected grey enveloping this beloved town, shrouding it in an air of mystique. I particularly love the sight of the tips of the tall high-rises dotting the city skyline, emerging out of a snowy cloud of milky-white wispy vapors. Charming Kochi looks delightfully gorgeous draped in its new misty veil!! | 37

THE PARDESI SYNAGOGUE

By Raina Paul

Reaching there With around 600 to 1000 footfalls a day, the Paradesi Synagogue, also known as Jewish Synagogue, Mattancherry is one among the major tourist attractions of Kochi. Located over 40 kilometres away from the Cochin International Airport at Nedumbassery, it takes a road trip of almost an hour and a half to travel to Mattancherry, which is connected to the mainland, Kochi (Ernakulam), through a bridge. Kochi city has ample transport options, with frequent public and private transport services 38 |

that makes connectivity to Jew Town hassle-free. Reaching the Synagogue from Mattancherry town is a mere 10-minute walk through the winding Jew Street in the historic quarter called Jew Town. The streets from various directions converge into a single walkway, that lead towards the entrance of the Synagogue. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jew Street received its name from the existence of Jewish community within these areas during the 16th century,â&#x20AC;? said Thaha Ibrahim, who has been a resident in Jew town for the past 36 years. He is also a trusted employee of 96-year-old Sarah Jacob

Cohen, who is one among the only five Jews alive in town. She runs a shop in the street that sells traditional Jewish articles used during their holy service at the Synagogue. The walkway that leads to the door of the Synagogue, which once used to be crowded with Jewish shops is now lined with Kashmiri and Jaipuri jewellery shops along with outlets selling antiques ranging from wall hangings to showpieces on either side of the walkway. Chic cafes and restaurants strewn along the street side add visual appeal to the vista, while serving some exotic delicacies.

Erstwhile Jews Remnant of the

of Kochi

Paradesi Synagogue is the fourth and the last of Synagogues established in Kochi. Mattancherry hosted at least two more Synagogues, out of which one does not exist while another is in a dilapidated stature

As the gathering of visitors swelled at the entrance with locked doors at 1 pm on a weekday, a security guard who is in charge of the restaurant nearby informed “The Synagogue closes at 1 pm and will open only at 3 pm.” As was written on the instruction board hanging on the wall outside the Synagogue which indicated visiting hours from 10 am to 1 pm and from 3 pm to 5 pm. The Synagogue is closed on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays as they are Jewish holidays.

Jewish culture that adorns the interiors The heavy iron latch on the wooden doors of the Synagogue was unlocked at three in the evening giving relief to the two-hour wait for many of the visitors curious to enter the Synagogue. The caretaker of the Synagogue sat on a chair instructing the visitors to pay Rs.5 as entrance charge. “We do not allow photography as it is prohibited by the government due

to security reasons,” repeated the caretaker. The prayer hall of the Synagogue is placed across an open hallway. The blue printed tiles that carpet the floor, are an architectural marvel brought in from China in the 18th century. Keenly observing the tiles reveal that each tile is unique in itself. A series of coloured lamps and Belgian glass chandeliers hanging from the ceiling embellish the prayer hall. The pulpit is surrounded by shiny brass railings placed along the centre of the hall lending a golden glow to the setting. “It is in this pulpit that the Rabbi leads | 39

THE PARDESI SYNAGOGUE the service during special days,” said Joy, the caretaker. “Special days will have light emanating from the hall due to the lit up chandeliers,” he recalled. He said that services are rarely organized due to the dwindling numbers of Jews in Kochi. “But the synagogue will have service if we can assemble a minimum of 10 Jews” he added. The natives said Mattancherry now has just four Jew families and five members of these families who live in the town who often visits the Synagogue. The Synagogue houses carved teak ark which contains four scrolls of first five books of the Old Testament (Torah) of Bible, that are encased in silver and gold, two gold crowns considered gifts from the Kings of Cochin and Travancore. It has an altar-like structure similar to that of traditional Catholic churches, which is covered with a red velvet cloth. Large wooden windows with coloured window panes let in ample sunlight that adds to the elegance of the interiors of the Synagogue. Its preserved Jewish artefacts and objects used in the 15th-16th centuries that embody old Jewish culture practiced in the city.

Jew street received its name from the existence of Jewish community within these areas during the 16th century,” said Thaha Ibrahim, who has been a resident in Jew town for the past 36 years.

Ideal destination for short visit The placement of Mattancherry along with few other prominent and historically relevant sites in Kochi; Fort Kochi, Wellingdon Island among others, detached from the mainland makes one’s vacation all the more interesting due to the presence of a beach just over four kilometres from the Paradesi Synagogue. The area is home to multiple hotels and homestays which caters to visitors alone, apart from the century-old mansions and museums that pay tribute to an pristine colonial culture. Public and private transportation to the area is frequent and available even during the late hours of the night especially because the destination is popular with foreigners. Those wishing to stay here will find multiple options in every budget range. The tranquillity this destination provides the tourist makes it a very popular destination that is regularly revisited by travellers, local, domestic and international

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The Synagogue houses carved teak ark which contains four scrolls of first five books of the Old Testament (Torah) of Bible, that are encased in silver and gold, two gold crowns considered gifts from the Kings of Cochin and Travancore.

HISTORY'S MARVEL Paradesi (foreigner) Synagogue gets its unique name after it was established by the descendants of Spanish, Dutch and other European Jews. Although considered the oldest Jewish Synagogue in the state crossing 450 years since its inception, according to Thaha who has been collating data and researching on synagogues in the state, this Synagogue established in 1568 is the oldest functioning synagogues in the state. Paradesi Synagogue is the fourth and the last of Synagogues established in Kochi. Mattancherry hosted at least two more Synagogues, out of which one does not exist while another dilapidated one is in a pitiable state of ruins. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is one more Jew Synagogue in the city which is not popular, which is located near broad-way at Ernakulam,â&#x20AC;? he added. The clock tower adjacent to the Paradesi Synagogue houses a giant bell which rings every half an hour. It was an addition made to the Synagogue in 1760. | 41

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Ponmudi A Golden View From the Top By Anisha Rudrani

Getting there Location Latitude: 8.760902, Longitude: 77.110863 Nearest railway station Thiruvananthapuram, about 61 km away Nearest airport Trivandrum International Airport, about 67 km away Geographical Information Altitude: 945 m Above sea level

TRAVEL FEATURE

t is not easy to find an unspoiled and less frequented tour destination that fits the tag of the ‘one-day’ outing spot. Ponmudi hill station is such a niche on the mountains just 60 kilometres from the capital city of Kerala, India.

Ponmudi which in local lingo means “Golden Peak” is situated at an altitude of over 1,100 m above sea-level. It offers beautiful trails for trekkers while the narrow winding road skirting the hills would thrill and test the verve of the motorists. Serving as bonus along the way is the cool delights of Vazahuvanthole waterfalls and Kalarkad waterfalls. Curiously this nature’s pet nestled on the Southern Western

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TRAVEL FEATURE

Ghats mountain ranges draws lesser footfalls than in most hill stations. This is enough reason nudging to you to take a ‘dekko’. After you swerve through as many as 22 hairpins along the snaky winding roads you are rewarded with the ecstatic sight through the veil of mist from the hilltop. There is no other word to describe the feelings. There is plenty of indulging in Ponmudi-Trekking, hiking, paragliding, parasailing and rock climbing. So go packed. Ponmudi is safer than many peak points in the Ghat region, a fact that travellers and adventurers vouch. Those with a touch of bard in their veins could take leisurely walks along the meandering roads that wind up the hill. Ponmudi also sports many natural springs that help keep the valley clean and green. Icing on the cake is the serrated vista of tea gardens at the top. Though 46 |

BEST TIME TO VISIT This is one of those rare places when one can head to any time of the year for a truck full of fun. However, it’s better to avoid monsoon season because the wet climate does not offer much be it with the sight or with the adventurous sports. The best time to visit Ponmudi is after the onset of winter- November-December. The weather is pleasant for roaming around the place and to go on treks. And the best time to enjoy the mist.

an all-season destination, the time you choose to travel is bound to accentuate the effect on your experience. Rainy season would mean trickier roads and travel conditions but then vista of the rain clad mountains is something to be experienced. But if you want to avoid an adrenaline rush, it’s better to skip the wet climate. Novice to these adventure sports, there is not a better place to kick start the sporty adventure. For the experienced, the narrow winding paths and the hairpin bends gives the best of the experience. This hill station, so near yet far enough to lend an other-worldly feeling, is a blessing for the citydwellers but sadly it has its manmade woes. Apart from a KTDC cafeteria, there is hardly any place from where you could get even a bottle of water and pack of snacks.

Surely, you must pack your travel bag with your favourite bites and also carry your drinks and water to avoid disappointment. It is all the more important if you are travelling with your family having kids. Ah, yes, forget not your camera for the peak and the below give you delightful vista of the golden ferns and wild flowers. If you are lucky, you may also come across a few naughty wild creatures- small Indian civets, wild goats, jackals, snakes, and colourful birds. At the base of Ponmudi Hills, you can take a dip in the wild stream before you say bid farewell to the beautiful place.

The plunge pool is the star attraction, and there are points where you are allowed to take a bath in the crystal clear water.

MEENMUTTI AND KALLAR Either on the way to Ponmudi or your way back, make a stop or two. Missing out on Meenmutty and Kallar is not advisable as they entire trip could come as a package—all rolled into one. As the name suggests, ‘Kallar’ is a river of rocks. The boulders are visible in the water during the dry climate and you can even take a walk on the river. Kallar village is the base to famous Agasthyakoodam trekking path. Dense bamboo trees adorn the pathway to the base of the waterfalls-The Meenmutty falls. The plunge pool is the star attraction, and there are points where you are allowed to take a bath in the crystal clear water. The sights, sounds and even the smell of the water makes the long and tiring trek a worthy experience.

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TEMPLE FEATURE

My journey to the

temple of inner transformation The Thirunelli Temple

By Darshana Sugathan

iving in Wayanad, home to the renowned Thirunelli temple, I have witnessed lakhs of devotees go to the Thekkan Kaasi for cleansing their papams/ sins and perform last rites for their loved ones. When you go during the busy season, you can see people thronging to the different parts of the temple to do various rituals. While I stood there, watching them, I could hardly figure out the reason for the mass attraction/power, even though evidently, I was being part of a phenomenon. The Thirunelli temple is unique as it has the presence of Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma- the trinities. It has many names like the Sahyamala Kshetram, Kashi of the

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South and so on. On a quiet day, while walking across the deities and other prominent places of the 5000-yearold temple, I felt that there is definitely a calling there, a power that reckons you to reconcile with life and God at the same time. If you ask me what I took back home from there, it is difficult to quantify or qualify. If you are born a Hindu, then you have to do Pithrutharpanam at Thirunelly is what the holy books say. The last rites are done for the souls of 7 generations of people in your fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s side and everybody associated with you. Unlike other places, there is a prayer and information session given to the people performing last rites before they set out to do so. They are asked to remember all souls departed

Thirunelli Temple

THE PAPANASINI

from their family circle and pray for forgiveness. Undividedly, they pray for well-being and a new start hoping their sins are washed away. Various theories in place According to mythology, Lord Brahma, during one of his travels, found the Brahmagiri hills to be beautiful and picturesque. As he was enjoying the natural beauty, he spotted a small deity of Lord Vishnu on an Amla tree known as ‘Nelli’. Hence the name Thirunelli, ‘Thiru’ signifying divine or holy highness. With the help of Devas, Lord Brahma pronounced the place as Lord Vishnu’s temple, the Sahyadri Kshetra. Lord Vishnu promised that the water surrounding the area would wash away the sins of mankind, if properly prayed to.

Not many know that after the regular 5 poojas in this temple, there is a secret 6th pooja performed by Lord Brahma himself during the Brahmamurtham.

Thirunelli temple, known for performing the last rites, has a huge mountain stream that flows from the Brahmagiri forest onto the temple premises. The sacred water from this Papanasini is believed to wash off sins and is also a place for immersion of cremated ashes while performing last rites. According to mythology, Lord Vishnu’s carrier, Garuda dropped a bead of nectar into the Papanasini stream which gave the purifying power to the stream. Garuda later rested in the Pakshipathalam, adjacent to the temple, known for varieties of birds. The river Ganga and the river Saraswathi joins in the Papanasini. It is interesting to note that Rajiv Gandhi’s ashes were immersed in Papanasini in 1991. Lord Parasurama had also performed Bali Tharpana in The Papanasini.

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TRAVEL FEATURE

You need to pray for all sins that has been done knowingly and unknowingly. When you are a baby in your mother’s womb, you might have kicked her naturally. From that point to this very point where you are here in Thirunelli, all the sins are requested to be forgiven. I have seen magical transformations happen here since time immemorial.

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Walking through the temple surroundings, you see pearls of wisdom in the form of scholars. Sukumaran Unni Moose, an enthusiast and a scholar at the temple says, “If you come to Thirunelli and recite Samasthaparadha Kshamiswa, your sins will be forgiven and you will get a rebirth. You need to pray for all sins that has been done knowingly and unknowingly. When you are a baby in your mother’s womb, you might have kicked her naturally. From that point to this very point, where you are here in Thirunelli, all the sins are requested to be forgiven. I have seen magical transformations happen here since time immemorial.” From up above, the entire temple resembles the sign of Om. Hence you feel a positive vibe here, more like enhanced spirituality and positivity. While traveling back through the jungle, the gentle touch of cool breeze on my face and the feel of the cold water from the Papanasini made me happy. At this point, the story of the Phoenix bird crossed my mind. The bird rose from its ashes, to a new life. Somehow the feeling seemed familiar.

THE SECRET

THE GUNNIKAN

ACCESSIBILITY Thirunelli is 30 kms from the city of Mananthavady. The temple timings are 5.30 am to 12pm and 5.30 pm to 8pm. The Thrissley temple and the Kottiyoor temple are considered part of the journey while visiting Thirunnelli temple. The nearest airports are the Kannur and the Kozhikode International airport, 100 kms away.

The deity is told to be established by Agasthya Muni. Some say it is the route to the famous Kottiyoor temple while others believe it is the way river Punarjani flows from Thiruvillamala temple to Thirunelli temple. An interesting aspect is that the Puja can be done at The Gunnikan only by sitting down as the roof holds very low. There is an Amla made of stone there that is supposed to come out during the era of Kali!

Not many know that after the regular 5 poojas in this temple, there is a secret 6th pooja performed by Lord Brahma himself during the Brahmamurtham. The priest keeps the things required ready before he leaves for the night and finds that that the puja has been performed the next day he opens the temple. Only the Namboodiri or the priest knows what is left of the Pooja and has not disclosed this to anyone ever. This is a well-kept secret of the temple and has been followed strictly over the years.

THE PINNAPPARA

THE PANCHATHEERTHAM This is the holy temple pond where water never ceases to exist. It is the culmination of 5 rivers and has Lord Vishnuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s footprint on a rock at the centre.

The last rites or Pithrukarma are performed near this rock named Pinnappara, especially during the new moon days of the Malayalam months of Karkidakam, Thulam and Kumbhom. Apparently, it is the bone of a demon who was killed by Lord Vishnu. His body is divided into 3 parts where last rites are offered- the foot is the Thirunelli temple, the body is Godavari and head is at Gaya. Offering prayers at any of these sites is considered to give happiness and expiation of spirits. It is believed that Lord Sri Rama and Lakshmana performed pithrukarma for Lord Dasaratha here.

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onni is a small town in Pathanamthitta district that borders Achenkovil reserve forests. The place is famous for Elephant training centres and watercourse projects. This is one of the tourist places to see in the district where you can stroll though woods and take a light glide in the waters.

Presently the place is being revamped, post the heavy floods that happened in Kerala in the month of August 2018. During the floods, Pathanamthitta was one of the districts which was trounced by waters. Konni, major town and Taluk headquarters in Pathanamthitta district was also vanquished in the aftermath of floods. When Kerala was besieged in incessant rains during the month of August, tourism sector was at the receiving end of the whole ordeal. However, if the latest news reports from the authorities, are anything to go by, Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Own Country is again ready to welcome tourists.

KONNI ENDURANCE AFTER FLOODS By Ravi Shankar P

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Rowing through the emerald ripples lets you watch the riveting forest patch in it full glory. The lush green ambience is enhanced by the musical notes of forest cacophony. The Coracle offers long and short rides with the long ones being preferred by those who seek adventure.

WHAT KONNI OFFERS ? Konni is full of options to satisfy the traveller in you. Konni gives you the experience of serenity and adventure on a single canvas. The road to Adavi Eco Tourism situated in the greens of Konni await the tourists to explore the wild. Situated at just 5 km from Mundommoozhy, on the proposed Achencoil-Chittar hill highway, Adavi is a perfect weekend gateway to refresh your mind and soul.

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According to a survey conducted by the state tourism department, it was found that 60 of the 70 major tourist destinations of the state have been restored and are back to being operational. In this regard, Konni Eco tourism project is also making up its losses. K Viswanathan, one of the guards at Konni forest reserve said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;After the floods, for sometime the tourist inflow was low. But now the inflow is increasing everyday and tourism is getting back on track hereâ&#x20AC;?. So what is so unique about Adavi that makes it distinct from other tourist spots ? The hauntingly beautiful Adavi is known for its coracle rafting or the bowl riding - the first of its kind in Kerala. A picturesque forest patch, 10 km from Konni on the banks of river Kallar, Adavi has nearly 5-km river frontage. Coracle rafting is an innovative venture, which promises a never-before experience to travellers.

the major elephant capturing spots and remnants of the elephant capturing pits of the area. The river banks are covered with riparian forests having rare species of trees. The river is blessed with rolling stones that make the riding thrilling and adventurous. The bowl ride The Coracle rafting available here is of two types. During summer season when the water is low, the guards will move the Coracle through the small stream of water in between the thick woods. Second one is during the rainy season and it is a one hour programme where they move the Coracle through down side moving water and it will be give a rafting experience to the travelers. The best time to enjoy the ride here is during a cool morning or a chilly evening.

Before the floods about 30 bowl boats were in service here. It had been one of the flagship projects under the District Tourism Promotion Council in Pathanamthitta. According to data provided by DTPC, Adavi generated an income of Rs 2.01 crore from April 2016 to March 2017. In May 2017 alone, the revenue was around Rs12.50 lakh. Interestingly, the revenue from the bowl boat ride crossed Rs 1 lakh mark on certain days.

One bowl boat can accommodate maximum of 10 people. One can see

During the time of flood some of the boats were destroyed but the DTPC

A waterfall near the Adavi eco-tourism project | 55

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The Kallar river where the coracle ride happens

was quick in revamping the area. DTPC was particular that the project should be back on track as soon as possible as it had been one of the income generating projects for the Council. Thankfully, tourism activities are back in full swing now. The short duration rides are charged Rs 400 per person, while a long duration trip costs Rs 800 per person. What more Konni offers ? Konni is traditionally famous for timber trade and wild elephant training centre. This charming town with lush meadows and hill stands on the bank of river Achakovil is surrounded by clove and pepper plantations. Apart from the Elephant Karal (training centre) and Adavi tourism project, there is much more for the tourists to 56 |

look into at Konni. There is waterfall near the Adavi where the tourists can take dip in fresh water. Getting there By Air From Trivandrum International Airport: 107 km From Cochin International Airport: 124 km By Train Nearby railway stations are Punalur 25 km, Chengannur 40 km, Thiruvalla 46 km By Road From Pathanamthitta 16 km

Tourists who wish to stay at Konni can make their day memorable by staying at bamboo huts built by the Forest Department on the banks of the Kallar river at Adavi. Presently there are five huts that are open to tourists and the daily rent of a hut is fixed at Rs 4,000. So Konni offers a multifaceted experience, where the tourists can stay in huts, undertake trekking, ride on a coracle in the Kallar river and visit the Konni Elephant Karal.

BEYOND SERENITY. BEYOND LUXURY

Let it be the serenity, service or luxury, it's all set beyond perfection at Amaana Plantation Resort, the verdant paradise where nature narrates the tale of tranquility. Tuck away in enthralling spice plantations and plunge into pristine silver streams to be a part of the untold tale. Discover inevitable moments of ecstasy enriched by paramount luxury. Follow the aroma of spices to delight yourself with a life set beyond everything!

Chottupara PO, Thekkady, Kerala, India - 685533. T: +91 9072340077 | E: info@amaanaresorts.com | www.amaanaresorts.com

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DESTINATION FEATURE

By Dilraj NP

ho would not need a break from their nerve-racking work hours and distance from the maddening crowd of a city for a few days? A true nature-lover cannot resist stepping into nature’s bounty, tae a stroll along the verdant valley and return with a handful of rejuvenating memories. It isn’t Shakespeare’s countryside beauty, but it sure is something close. It was the unexplored terrain, the virgin rivers, indigenous food that left my taste buds dazed and the friendly native

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of Kasargod district that left me spellbound. I happened to visit Kasargod, north of Kerala’s state capital, a couple of years ago as response to a friend’s invitation. Later, I returned several times only because of the irresistible charm that it left in me. The closest to reach the place is from Mangalore International airport which is about 70 kilometres from Kasragod, while one can reach the destination from Kannur, the nearest district which is about 95 kilometres. My first visit captured the serene and unexplored beauty of this place. The peace of mind, tranquility and the

bliss I enjoyed here were inexplicable. While one may thin that the destination is just a feast to the eye or a pristine land to experience a calm ambience, Kasargod is equally exciting when it comes to adventure. The place is may be enthralling to those who are interested in nature photography and adventure sports Adventure at nature’s bosom Kasargod’ treing routes are well laid, especially for tourists. Trekking destinations such as Thonikadavu, Ranipuram are popular among others. Kayaking at the bacwaters

Explore

The Unexplored at

Kasargod

Tabor hill in Palavayal provides a fascinating view of sunrise and sunset

of Nileshwaram in Kasargod is yet another specialty of the land. The stretches of river Thejaswani is suitable for both whitewater and bamboo rafting. Those who do not wish for a traditional Kerala lodging is provided with camping and tenting facilities. It cannot be called a day without an organic meal from the farmlands of their villages where a rare opportunity to spend an intriguing time with the farming community is available. Tabor hill in Palavayal, Kasargod provides a fascinating view of sunrise and sunset. It is for the experience

of the evening that tents are set up on hilltop where visitors can spend a night beside a campfire and have a sumptuous dinner. The route to Talakaveri, where River Kaveri originates, provides a mystical driving route filled with misty pathways, woods, mountains and waterfalls. The local authority arranges a treing route too, to the river. In the heart of its villages ‘Kalari’, the traditional training space for the martial art of K erala, ‘Kalaripayattu’ is performed, is

witnessed in various parts of this district. ‘Kavu’, sacred groves which are mostly a few metres away from a house are seen in parts of the district. They are associated with a presiding deity. Tours are conducted through the villages and mini-forests where there will be demonstrations of Theyyam, a ritual folk dance-form popular in this part of Kerala. A tour to the biggest sacred grove, Kammadam kavu is also indispensable. The grove is spread around a span of 60 acres, acts as a green carpet with rare orchids, medicinal plants and shrubs. | 59

DESTINATION FEATURE

While the land’s beauty is being shared to the world through tourism, employment to the natives is one of the prime objectives of tourism here. It helps farmers sell their produce and generate additional income for households by providing homestays and food for tourists.

Palavayal, a village in Kasaraod is noteworthy. Visiting a cluster of smaller villages within the village is rejuvenating. People in Palavayal are fascinated to introduce their guests to the rich, unmatched and unseen cultural heritage of Malabar region. The village is about an hour’s drive from the nearest railway station in Payyannur, Kannur. There are buses plying regularly to the closest town, Cherupuzha which is 35 kilometres from Payyannur. Several villages in Palavayal are located 5 to 20 kilometres away from Cherupuzha town. Organic fruits, pure honey, pure mil and mil products all add to the charm along with the handloom showrooms that sell authentic product. Inclusive Tourism Tourism in Kasargod has taken an uphill trend with the inflow of inbound as well as outbound tourists due to the numerous and exciting destinations within the state. While the land’s beauty is being shared to the world through tourism, employment to the natives is one of the prime objectives of tourism here. It helps farmers sell their produce and generate additional income for households by providing homestays and food for tourists. The infrastructure for tourism activities is built in a sustainable way with active participation from all the sections of the society. 60 |

Farmers who migrated from South Kerala during early 1920 to 30’s constitute a majority of population here. They widely produce coconut, areca nut, coffee, turmeric, ginger, honey, cocoa, vegetables, fruits etc. Most of them follow natural methods of farming and have to their credit, award winning organic farmers. They are proud to cultivate crops without the use of chemical fertilizers. Tourism and the people of the land are intricately connected. The tribals are included in tourism projects as supporting-staff as they are familiar with the local terrain. They help the guests in treing, farm visits, swimming and rafting and other expeditions. It is the natives who drive the guests around for off-road expeditions. People involved in tourism have chosen places those are rustic and least explored. They have not made any big investments here in constructing new structures instead gave facelift to homes and farmhouses, which are close to evergreen forest and waterfalls and are now registered homestays under the local government authority. Social media helps them spread the popularity of the district and the activities involved. Contentment and spirituality is not all about living the present to the full but going back in time to the cultural and historical trails and taking inspiration from age-old customs, traditions and

culture of the Northern Malabar. They also encourage their guests who are interested to stay bac and learn organic farming, honey bee rearing, Kalaripayattu, Pottery etc., from the experts in these fields. Now the promoters are planning to extend this form of sustainable, responsible and inclusive tourism concept in other parts of the state. The aim is to make this model pervasive in Kerala and slowly in other parts of the world. People behind this concept also believe that in the era of digital media, consumers’ voices should be the first and foremost inputs in branding. The brand attributes should include consumers’ aspirations and expectations. So they involve the visitors in branding and promotion. The brand should also resonate to sensuality, cultural, spiritual ethos and beliefs of the people. This is the corner stone of their branding philosophy. It is an assurance, that Kasargod will have more to offer each time one returns to the land.

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BUSINESS PERSONALITY

Varghese Kurian

The Visionary Entrepreneur By Sabeenose Paul

“Kerala is a paradise of visual treats. Millions of tourists flow into this Gods’ own country every year. It is our responsibility and a major challenge to ensure a delightful experience for them,” says Varghese Kurian, an entrepreneur who has built his empire, VKL Group, across the Gulf countries and India, with Bahrain as its Head Quarters. Collaboration with ‘Stay Well Holdings,’ an international Chain of Hotels, is a grand leap in the growth of VKL group. Leisure Inn, Kochi - the second project of ‘Stay well Holdings’ in South India, is a prestige venture by VKL group. Leisure Inn gives an enchanting experience where one can enjoy the pristine lake-view on one side and the charming city-view on the other. A roof-top swimming pool is another unique feature that the hotel embodies. Varghese Kurian’s successful break into the hotel industry was with Dream Hotel at Kochi, today popularly known as Radisson Blu. He believes that luxurious and modern hotels are imperative for the growth of tourism which in turn will accelerate the growth of the country. “Kerala has many unexplored destinations and one reason why they go unnoticed is we don’t have good hotels and places

which provide essential facilities,” he says. VKL group keeps on expanding its horizons and its latest projects are also in attractive locations. One is adjacent to Trivandrum Technopark with 180 rooms and the other project is close to Punnamada lake at Alappuzha. The finishing point of the popular Nehru trophy boat-race can be witnessed from any of the 200 rooms of this upcoming splendid resort. Both these colossal projects are expected to be accomplished within two years. The hotel project in Alappuzha is set in a scenic ambience with park and many other amenities to make sure that one who lodges in the hotel would love to stay within its’ enormous contours. A township at Kottayam is also being planned on a large tract of land VKL group has acquired from Tecil Chemicals. The project comprises of schools, hospitals, hotels, shopping malls, leisure areas among numerous other facilities. VKL has started working on this mammoth project which is expected to boost the commercial landscape of Kottayam. Kurian is passionate about experimenting with innovative ideas in the tourism industry. He does not hesitate to make wise investments and industrialists like him are rare.

VKL had also invested in the ambitious seaplane venture earlier, which unfortunately got caught in bureaucratic hurdles and was a setback to Kurian’s dreams. However, he is still hopeful about the enormous possibilities seaplane can bring in the tourism industry. He believes that the diverse geography of Kerala offers the potential for such a project. “Along with the short haul, seaplane saves time from traffic congestion. This means of travel through water and air simultaneously will definitely attract tourists in large numbers to Kerala. The project is perhaps much ahead of times”, says the visionary. VKL groups’ chain of hotels is spread across many Gulf countries with 12 hotels to its credit. Recently VKL group has initiated a new project in Georgia too. VKL continues its success journey far and wide. From Civil Engineer to Entrepreneur The success story of this industrialist began when he reached Bahrain as a civil Engineer in the 80s. He worked in a construction company until 1992, when he started a construction and real estate company, christened VKL Al-Namal Group. Today this group has turned out to be the best in its field in Bahrain. VKL Al-Namal Group hasn’t restricted its growth to construction and real estate alone, but has spread | 63

PERSONALITY

Kerala has many unexplored destinations and one reason why they go unnoticed is we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have good hotels and places which provide essential facilities

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itself into education, healthcare, oil and gas, trading, marine dredging and other activities, providing employment to more than 5000 people. The Philanthropist Varghese Kurian is not just a successful business magnate, but an embodiment of humanity who refuses to forget his homeland during testing times. He contributed Rs. 8 crores to flood relief programmes in Kerala of which 2 crores were donated to Chief Ministersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Relief Fund, as part of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s CSR initiative. Apart from this, VKL Group did not hesitate to extend its helping hand to flood affected people in Kuttanadu by providing essential requirements like food and clothing. In Seethathodu near Pathanamthitta, his hometown, he reconstructed more than 500 devastated houses and supplied home appliances to

more than 6000 houses. His social service is not limited to CSR activities, but extends to medical and financial support to the needy, monetary help for marriage of the poor and other charity works, he does throughout the year. Kurian is known to various parts of the world though his activities in several prestigious organisations. He is an advisor to the Tourism Board of Sri Lankan Government, director of Inkel, a public and private partnership initiative, which promotes investment and business in Kerala. The Government of India honoured him by awarding him the much coveted Pravasi Bharatiya Samman for the year 2014. He is also the proud recipient of P.V Swami Award, Global Visionary Award and many more. Undoubtedly one can say that here is a man who leaves his trail to be followed by others.

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INTERVIEW

Manoj Mathew VM

‘ Kerala is an ideal destination for promoting wellness and medical tourism’

Manoj Mathew VM, General Manager of Taj MG Road, Bengaluru hailing originally from Kozhencherry, Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, has spent 15 of his 32 year hospitality career with Taj group of Hotels in Kerala. He did his schooling and graduation from the steel town of Bhilai (Chhattisgarh State) where his father was employed, prior to doing his hotel management diploma from the Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, Mumbai. Having worked and travelled extensively in Kerala, the gravitational pull towards Kerala is palpable. During his occasional breaks, he dabbles in a bit of farming in his home town Kozhencherry and is passionate about Kerala cuisine. Even in Bengaluru, he experiments with kodampuli (cocum)for the Alleppey fish curry and select cuts of meat for the Irachi Ulartiathu. In a tete-a-tete with KTE Editor Deepak N Nair, he shares his rich experiences and invaluable insights.

ou are now the General Manager of Taj MG Road, Bengaluru, from where you started your career 32 years ago. When you look back, how has been the experience? What made you chose a career in the hotel industry?

was encouraged to think out of the box and allowed to make mistakes without fear of reprimand. We worked hard but we enjoyed what we were doing. More importantly we worked as one big family celebrating success and sharing failures together.

It was indeed a dream run. When I look back on how I started my career with Taj from this very hotel in Bangalore then known as “ Taj Residency”, from where I will retire next year. In my early days with Taj, this hotel was instrumental in inculcating the value of high standards in service excellence and customer engagement. I had great mentors who constantly guided and inspired me. I

Each property that I worked for had its own set of challenges, a fair share of triumphs and immense learnings. Along this journey I made some lifelong friends and visited many exotic destinations. Taj is indeed a preferred employer and I will always be proud to be part of the TATA Group. During my youth, hotel management was not the preferred choice as a

career for many. My family had a conservative approach towards career planning and initially I was discouraged from pursing this line of interest in hospitality. But my persistence paid off and my parents agreed to my joining a course in Hotel Management. The rest is history. Your career has almost entirely been with the Taj group. What made you stay on with Taj? Where all have you worked in your long career? What have been your significant achievements at these places? As I mentioned earlier, Taj is an aspirational brand for many pursuing this profession and I was no exception. As you continue to work for | 67

INTERVIEW

the Taj you start imbibing the value system of the TATA Group. This is pervasive and Taj Group of Hotels is an integral and important part of the TATA group of companies. Taj gives its General Managers the freedom to operate as entrepreneurs so there is a great sense of ownership and belonging. I was fortunate to work in Zambia and Sri Lanka apart from India. My assignments were varied and exciting, yet challenging. All achievements cannot be attributed to any single individual but is a consequence of the commitment and efforts of many dedicated teams. I was always fortunate to have a committed and pro-active team with a customer-centric approach. Which are the Taj Hotels you worked for in Kerala? How was the experience? My experience in Kerala has been rich and varied! You also have to graduate from the “University of Hard Knocks!”. I started with the picturesque Taj Malabar Cochin, where I worked for 5 68 |

As far as tourism is concerned, there is a lot of awareness about Kerala and what it can offer. There is a tremendous goodwill generated due to sustained efforts by the government — both National and State, Tourism bodies, Hotel groups and individuals in promoting tourism.

years. As you are aware, Taj Malabar is one of the most beautiful hotels of Taj in Kerala. In many ways, being the first Taj Hotel in Kerala — we were the trendsetters and generated tremendous awareness about the brand and destination all over the world. My first role as a General Manager was at Taj Kumarakom and it was “baptism by fire”. I was actively involved in developing and setting up of the Resort and it was also a period of huge learning. As this Resort was located next to the Bird Sanctuary, this assignment also brought me closer to nature and made me into a keen bird watcher. I also briefly worked in the Taj property in Varkala which is a unique destination with a lot of hidden treasures waiting to be explored. Another enriching assignment was setting up the first Taj Hotel in the Capital of Kerala Thiruvanthapuram. I cherish the warmth and whole hearted support received from the government

agencies, the guests and residents of Thiruvanthapuram who encouraged and patronised us when we opened our doors. What do you think needs to be done to further promote tourism to Kerala? As far as tourism is concerned, there is a lot of awareness about Kerala and what it can offer. There is a tremendous goodwill generated due to sustained efforts by the government — both National and State, Tourism bodies, Hotel groups and individuals in promoting tourism. The focus now should be in promoting ‘’Experiences” – those intangibles which will make the guests come back again and again. So the need of the hour is for different destinations, hotel groups, cultural groups, et al, to collaborate with each other and create those ‘unique experiences’ which will have an indelible impression in the hearts and minds of the guests coming to Kerala. The destination or the hotel should have a good story to tell, to entice the guests to come and experience it. This will increase referrals and consequently the footfalls. If Kerala can achieve this synergy consistently, it will truly take the tourism to a different level. Kerala is also an ideal destination for promoting wellness and medical tourism and should be looked at critically and fine-tuned so that their fair share can grow considerably. Are you happy with the standards of star category hotels in Kerala? There is a great improvement in standards of hotels in all categories. Focus on hygiene, safety and security, clean environs are prerequisites and a must for all category of hotels. The visitors to Kerala will not necessarily seek out only star category hotels as their preferred choice of accommodation, as they are now seeking unique experiences and destinations which will make

everlasting impressions. The need of the hour is to increase awareness amongst all hotels to maintain the highest level of hygiene and safety standards so that the guests perceive Kerala to be at par, if not better than destinations like Sri Lanka and Maldives. In your view what kind of hotels/ accommodation have the best scope in Kerala? Kerala has just come out of a very traumatic time, ravaged by the floods and has achieved remarkable progress in bouncing back in a reasonably short time. There are many lessons to be learnt after this calamity and entire focus on development should be relooked once again. Environmentally conscious activities which promote the development of tourism will have an upper hand in rebuilding the state infrastructure. The hotels will have a major share in such development and will have to be role-models in building eco-friendly habitats and adopting eco-friendly practices. We are blessed with an abundance of natural resources in Kerala and the guests have become very conscious of their role in preserving these resources. Hence the number of guests seeking such hotels which promote ecofriendly practices is increasing day by day.

From a business perspective, a hotel should be a complete destination where business and leisure can go hand in hand. Most of the guests’ even while on a holiday would like to stay connected and be able to conduct business, even if it is for a short while. Working under a high level of stress makes it imperative to have de-stress and wellness options while on a holiday. A glimpse of the local traditions, art, culture and cuisine will be great opportunity for the guests to announce to the outside world their ethnic connect! If any resort or hotel is able to package all this under one roof, they will have a winning combination. | 69

INTERVIEW

We are blessed with an abundance of natural resources in Kerala and the guests have become very conscious of their role in preserving these resources. Hence the number of guests seeking such hotels which promote ecofriendly practices is increasing day by day.

To generate great referrals about the destination and hotels, the guests should feel refreshed and rejuvenated while they experience a unique curated holiday in Kerala. Kerala is blessed with everything that a tourist cherishes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; beaches, back-waters, hills, temples, ancient churches, cuisines, art and culture. I have been fortunate to experience a bit of everything during my 15 years of working in Kerala. Each place has an emotional connect â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the hidden unspoilt beaches of Varkala and the breath-taking view from the Varkala cliff; the expansive Vembanad Lake with flocks of migratory birds and local fishermen; the picturesque country boat cruise through Kumarakom giving you a glimpse of the village life; the famous House boat experience of gliding through the canals of Kuttanad and enjoying the local cuisine; the estates of Vandiperiyar rich in its flora and fauna; Fort Cochin where you travel back in time, the strategically located Taj 70 |

Malabar, Cochin- offering one of the most mesmerising views of the sun set and the ships sailing by! If you are a foodie like me, you could go on an epicurean journey from one end of Kerala to the other end, which will startle your palate with the rich and delicate flavours of the native spices and condiments. Kerala has to be explored and experienced at leisure and each guest will have a very unique and personal story to regale. Tell us a bit about your family? We are a close-knit family comprising of my wife and two sons. In our early days, my wife was also working in the same group but once children started growing up, she focussed on bringing up and taking care of the them. My elder son Tushar is a post graduate in performing arts and is working in California and my younger son Nishant is pursuing his graduation in Economics from the University of

Victoria in Canada. We are happy that children are following their passions. How do you spend your leisure time? I enjoy my profession and am passionate about my job so frankly do not consider it imperative to seek out too many breaks. My honorary assignment as SKAL President also extracts much of my leisure time. However, I do play Badminton every morning which is a great way to start the day. I love photography and experiment often. On my off days I like to relax and occasionally become a part-time Chef at home. We are also keen wildlife enthusiasts and love to travel and explore whenever time permits. Which are your favourite holiday destinations abroad? I have a bucket list waiting to be tackled. From my past sojourns - Africa and Sri Lanka are great places which warrants repeat visits especially for the wild-life, people and scenic beauty. Cambodia and Vietnam are unspoilt destinations which are great value for money and great place to indulge in seafood. Italy is mesmerising for the amazing architecture, art, culture and food (and of course wine!). We have great hotels in Maldives which is a lovely destination to relax and rejuvenate. Each place tells a story which is unique and we cherish those memories.

The focus now should be in promoting ‘’Experiences” – those intangibles which will make the guests come back again and again. So the need of the hour is for different destinations, hotel groups, cultural groups, et al, to collaborate with each other and create those ‘unique experiences’ which will have an indelible impression in the hearts and minds of the guests coming to Kerala. The destination or the hotel should have a good story to tell, to entice the guests to come and experience it. This will increase referrals and consequently the footfalls. If Kerala can achieve this synergy consistently, it will truly take the tourism to a different level.

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INTERVIEW

Deepti Pillay Sivan

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Meet Deepti Pillay-Sivan director of documentary Film ‘Decoding Shankar’ - a documentary on Musician Shankar Mahadevan, that was screened at the recently concluded International Film Festival of India (IFFI) at Goa in November. Deepti has come a long way, since she started her film career in 1993 as a teenager in Kallippattam-a Mohanlal movie, where she acted as his daughter. Prior to IFFI, her documentary has already been screened at many international film festivals, including Stuttgart International Film Festival at Germany, Jecheon International Music and Film Festival, South Korea, and some other film festivals in the US and Canada. Married to filmmaker Sanjeev Sivan, the youngest of the famous Sivan brothers, Deepti has been successful in balancing her career aspirations along with her family life. Currently working as the Business Head of the newly launched Zee Keralam TV channel she opines she is basically a simple, girl-nextdoor with a happy-go-lucky attitude, who appreciates all the small things life has to offer. She believes, you get to live only once, so she wears her heart on her sleeve. “Where there is a will there is always a way is a saying that is very close to my heart, and defines my spirit that everything is possible.” In a tête-á-tête with Kerala Travel Explorer, Editor Deepak N Nair tries to decode this multi-faceted personality.

Congrats on the positive reviews received for your documentary film on musician Shankar Mahadevan. How did you happen to shortlist him? How did this film come about? What was the impetus? How was the experience? I was given the task of doing a documentary on a musician. Shankar Mahadevan was an entity who made an indelible mark in India starting as a Software Engineer, and moving on to be a singer and Music Director par excellence. He has been constantly evolving and reinventing himself and with every step he adds on to his repertoire. This was quite an inspiring story to share with the young generation. Here was a well rounded personality who, after going with the rigmarole of a working professional, dropped everything to move on and pursue his passion. That is what has got him name, fame, happiness and everything else he always loved. This story urges one to follow one’s heart and passion. On another note, by the time I was completely into the documentary, pre-production, I was 4 months pregnant, so I shot before and after delivery. I seemed to be following my passion. There was some hidden energy that helped me through it all. It was a great experience for me. The whole documentary took 2 ½ years to make. How does it feel to get recognition for your work at International Film Festivals? It is indeed an honour to be selected for International Film Festivals. Your work and vision gets a great audience and you get very valuable feedback from peers in the field, which allows you to evolve as a craftsman. Such recognition personally for me is very motivating, heartening, encouraging and makes all the sacrifices and hardships that one needs to undergo in pursuit of one’s dreams, worth it. Your film has been showcased at International festivals like Germany and Korea to name a few, what has been the response internationally? My very first presentation of this documentary - was on the 50th Birthday of Shankar Mahadevan. It was viewed by a whole group of A-listers , an august audience comprising of stalwarts from the industry, like Aamir Khan, Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar, Farhan Akhtar, Prasoon Joshi, Prahlad Kakkar, Sachin Tendulkar, Zakir Hussain and others. As a raw filmmaker, it was quite overwhelming for me to be felicitated and praised by them for my efforts. This gave me immense confidence. At the Festivals-the response has been very positive. I was overwhelmed by the praise it drew from very unexpected corners of the world. The audience appreciated the manner in which such a rich life of a creative artist was depicted and showcased. The film struck a chord with its core audience and that was so satisfying for me as a filmmaker. | 73

You started your film journey as a young teenage girl in front of the camera, now after many years you have transitioned behind the camera, where is it you feel most comfortable and fulfilled? I love being on both sides of the camera. This is because my actual film journey had started with acting and now I have found new recognition with my directorial efforts. I understood that they satisfy different creative urges that you feel as a filmmaker. I must say after this wonderful documentary film experience I had making the Shankar Mahadevan movie, I feel a little more creatively satisfied and fulfilled behind the camera, but if good characters to act come by then I might grab that opportunity as well, because for me I love being involved with creative environment and people. 74 |

Would you choose to remain a documentary filmmaker or can we expect feature films from you as well, going forward? Any new projects in the pipeline? I would definitely continue with documentary making, besides the lengths are shorter therefore the time and effort is lesser than that involved in making a feature film. However in the coming years after I relinquish a full time career, I have plans to make feature films as well. As of now my full focus and energy is dedicated for the success of Zee Keralam that we have newly launched this month. But yes there are a couple of ideas at a germination stage; that will be carefully cultivated for prospective projects, when there will be a career shift in future. Do you have any dream project in your mind? If so, what is the genre and who all do you wish to cast in it? I have always wanted to be part of filming a story around kids and I also have a historic epic in mind, which has its origins in the Mahabharata. As a genre we could classify it as a Period - Thriller. I would love to have the opportunity and budget to work with a mix of talent from different industries, in key roles, in that dream project. Who have been the biggest influences in your life? I would say I have multiple influences that have shaped me over time. Initially I imbibed from Lt. Col AVD Pillay - my father’s go getter & cando attitude, Vasantha Pillay - my mother’s resilience & determination, Purushothaman Pillay - my eldest brother’s spirit to chase the impossible and make it possible, my other brother Padmakumar Pillay's gregariousness, my sister Jyoti’s solid grounding. But then, I would not be where I am today if it were not for my Filmmaker husband Sanjeev Sivan’s support, encouragement and influence. He has given me the confidence and inspired me to achieve my higher goal. My 3 sons have taught me patience and bring laughter

and joy to my life. I am the queen-bee in my house with 4 boys (including my husband) doting over me. Tell us about your family? I come from a very close-knit family of 6 from my husband’s side as well as mine. We encourage free flow of emotions and embrace our differences passionately. I am a blend of North and Central Kerala. My paternal side have their roots in Kottayam and the maternal side belongs to Kannur. My inlaws are from Haripad settled in Thiruvanthapuram. So my roots cover the entire Kerala. Since KTE is a primarily a travel magazine we would like to know which are your favourite travel destinations in Kerala? I am basically a home bird and very family oriented. Due to a hectic work lifestyle, all my free time, I prefer spending with my family, besides the early morning temple visits within Thiruvanthapuram. So going by that I would say: Kannur is my first choice as that’s where my mother is residing - besides this is an unexplored location with multiple possibilities, pristine beaches, St Angelo Fort, Fisherman’s Bay, Arrakkal Museum, Rajarajeshwara Temple. It is also close to other attractive tourist locations - like the Bekal Fort, Mookambika Temple, Turtle bay etc. All the other historical places, palaces and mountains in Kerala, have something different, compelling and charming about them, that beckons you to explore and revisit them. What do you like most about life in your home state of Kerala? I adore the uncomplicated simplicity of life we all enjoy here the most. The culture, tradition and history of my state has a big role in nurturing this simplicity. Then of course, the obvious other reasons that has made God’s Own Country famous around the globe, like its verdant greenery and abundance of natural beauty, ayurvedic healing, the culinary traditions and unique tastes that one gets to experience here. I

also love the religious richness and temple traditions I get to experience in Kerala. I must hasten to add her that the Malayali sense of humour that is exemplified in its movies is another intangible attraction that makes life in Kerala so different from elsewhere. There is a commonness to all Malayalees worldwide. You hear anyone speaking in Malayalam and there is an immediate connection and the camaraderie of a long lost friend. What do you think needs to be done to promote Kerala’s tourism potential further? I feel we need to abandon the randomness that is the norm currently. A more focused, centralised approach with a clear vision about planned tourism promotion needs to be adopted, instead of the haphazard unplanned growth that we are witnessing. Creating better tourism infrastructure and improving connectivity must be prioritized. Training personnel to imbibe the right skills for the various roles that are needed to promote tourism is also very important. Medical, Cultural and Culinary tourism has immense untapped potential waiting to be unlocked. Creating the right climate to attract serious investment from the pedigreed brands involved in the business of tourism must be immediately initiated. What do you think is the differentiating factor from already cluttered Entertainment Television industry? Zee Keralam offers cinematic experience to its viewers shot on Sony F5 camera spread across different real locations in Kerala. Capturing the beauty of Kerala. Telling family inclusive stories from the soil in which characters are eternal optimists, adapters or change makers, who weave their own extraordinary destinies, by taking charge of their situation. All the stories are culturally rooted bringing together generations, which inspire people to rise above circumstances and weave wonders of life. That is our tagline as well “Neythu Edukaam Jeevitha Vismayangal”. | 75

INTERVIEW

Nimisha Sajayan 76 |

THE UNCONVENTIONAL

HEROINE Her home base may be in aamchi Mumbai but Mollywood seems to be where Nimisha Sajayanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future lies. The actor with the girl next door looks had a dream debut that most newcomers would kill for and even bigger laurels heaped on her that only her formidable acting prowess could bring to the table. Unlike many others of her ilk who claim that acting was an accident, Nimisha has no qualms in revealing that acting has always been her priority. The actor can only be called a girl woman -one who is still inhibited in her words and actions off screen with mischief writ large in her eyes but changes like a chameleon once the director yells action. The professional Nimisha who takes charge can then seamlessly slip into the skin of any character â&#x20AC;&#x201C; be it the older Sreeja of Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum who locked horns with seasoned actors like Fahadh Faasil and Suraj Venjaramoodu and still held her own. She has again proven that she is a bankable actor with her role of a lawyer in the Tovino Thomas starrer Oru Kuprasidha Payyan. Filled with laughter, innocence and candour, Nimisha takes Kerala Travel Explorer on a journey through her life and Priya S listens on.

Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum is a film that crossed boundaries and clinched awards. How did you become a part of this film? There was a casting call for the film which director Dileesh Pothen had posted on his Facebook page asking for a girl who looked 25-30 years. At that time I was just 19 but I still sent across my photos because it was a Dileesh film. Surprisingly I got a call and met the team. Born and brought up in Mumbai, I did not know Malayalam fluently and Dileesh asked me if I was not a Malayali to which I replied that I was. I was asked to act out a couple of scenes after which he told me that the film was in sync sound and that they

wanted a girl with rustic looks. In parting I was told to learn Malayalam and that I had good prospects in the industry. I felt very sad and I still remember looking at Dileesh with sad eyes and leaving. I had lost hope but after four days I got a call asking if I was free and if I could come down for a look test. I enacted a couple more scenes and also did different looks with different hairstyles and costumes. I was given some churidars and asked to wear them at home to get used to it. Even then I was not confirmed and it was after three days that the confirmation came. I felt like I had hit the lottery.

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INTERVIEW

Vaikom will always remain special to me because my career took off from there. I shot for Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum there as also Oru Kuprasidha Payyan. The elderly people of Vaikom consider me as Sreeja and call me by that name. They do not know my real name and I love that special affection they have for me.

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You were pitted against Suraj Venjaramoodu and Fahadh Faasil. Were you nervous? I was never nervous because I was taken to the sets three days before to familiarise myself with the environment and the workings and also to mingle with the team. I got very friendly with everybody and so there was no nervousness at all. The first day of the shoot began with me and Surajettan joined four days later. He corrected my pronunciation and helped me with the dialogues. It was a week later that Fahadh ikka joined the sets. I remember how I kept my distance from him since he was such a fine actor and one day he enquired why I was ignoring him but was chattering to all the others, I answered that he was â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;the Fahadhikkaaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and he laughed so hard. That broke the ice. The policemen on the sets used to sing with me and we used to dub smash together. It was such fun that even after my portions were shot, I still would not leave the sets.

Eada and Oru Kuprasidha Payyan has cemented your place as a bankable actor. Does that put pressure on you? Pressure comes when you think too much! Every artiste selects a project with the belief that he/she will perform well and that the project does good. The audience will accept me only if I perform well but also true is that fact that tomorrow another artiste will come in and her film will do well and the audience will sing her hosannas. What I have come to understand is that fame is not permanent and so I do not pressurise myself. I just give my hundred percent. Does your journey feel like a dream? Actually no, because this recognition is what I was craving for a long time! What does feel like a dream is working with people like Dileesh Pothen, Rajeev Ravi, Suraj, Fahadh, Madhupal, Tovino and Shane. I always knew I would act in films but never with such prominent names.

You have recently moved to Kochi to pursue your film career. How different is life here from Mumbai? Actually I have become vey used to Kerala. I like the people here and I am in a profession that I absolutely love so I do not miss Mumbai though I miss my friends there. I am close to actor Anu Sithara and her family here so that compensates Recently a video of you making porotta went viral. What exactly where you doing? (Laughing) This was during the shoot of Oru Kuprasidha Payyan and the location was supposed to be Tovinoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s workspace which is a hotel. I had a break and I do not like sitting in my caravan and was wondering what to do. I spied this chettan who was making porottas which looked interesting. So I asked him to teach me and he asked me to watch and learn which is how I ended up making those porottas. The incident was recorded by the crew and went viral. The secret of your long, lustrous hair? I do not use any chemical products on my hair and my mother has this secret oil with curry leaves that I regularly use. I have only used ayurvedic products on my hair. Being a Taekwondo black belt? I stared learning Taekwondo when I was in my nursery classes and earned my black belt in Class 8. I even took part in state level competitions representing Maharashtra but have lost touch now. You are also a volleyball player? Yes, I was active in sports because it also gave me a valid reason to bunk my studies (laughs). You favourite places in Kerala? Wayanad is a favourite because of the people, food and greenery around. I find my peace there. Vaikom will always remain special to me because my career took off from there. I shot for Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum there as also Oru Kuprasidha Payyan. The elderly people of Vaikom consid-

What really irks me is how the auto drivers fleece tourists and I have even questioned some drivers about the reasons for doing so. A tourist who knows he is fleeced will carry a negative impression of the state and that is degrading our country. Tourists are our guests and we should treat them as God.

er me as Sreeja and call me by that name. They do not know my real name and I love that special affection they have for me. In fact I am even asked if I am from Vaikom? What do you think needs to be done to improve the tourism potential of the state? What really irks me is how the auto drivers fleece tourists and I have even questioned some drivers about the reasons for doing so. A tourist who knows he is fleeced will carry a negative impression of the state and that is degrading our country. Tourists are our guests and we should treat them as God. Another aspect that irks me is the garbage that is strewn around. The recent floods should serve as an eye opener to the reality that the garbage we throw into our eco systems were what were returned to us. So we better clean up our act! Upcoming films? I have got the upcoming film Chola along with two other projects. I also have a Tamil film that I am considering signing up for. | 79

INTERVIEW

The

Maverick Actor Take a list of the hit Malayalam films of the past couple of years and one name that will constantly leap out of the credits section is actor Saiju Kurup. Right from his debut film Mayookham thirteen years ago, to the recent Theevandi, he has proved to be an adept acrobat juggling various roles and personas with ease. From the serious to the comical to the villainous, he has created a staunch fan base with a dedicated band of cheerleaders who cheer him on every inch of the way. His roles in films like Vedivazhipaadu, 1983, Trivandrum Lodge and Theevandi have left lasting impressions but it is perhaps his character of Aracckal Abu in the Aadu franchise that had the young, elderly and children eating out of his hands- thanks to his comic timing and punch dialogues. Talk to Saiju and one can understand that he knows the difference between handling his public image as well as remaining grounded to his true self. In a free - wheeling chat to Kerala Travel Explorer, Saiju talks of his early life, career and choices in life as Priya S listens in

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ow did you enter the world of films or more specifically how did Mayookham happen? A meeting with singer M G Sreekumar paved the way for my entry into tinsel-town. He told me about a project helmed by director Hariharan. So I left for Chennai and met Hariharan sir who asked me to come to the location of the film Mayookham. He had warned me about the huge cranes and jibs around and not to get overwhelmed seeing all that. I was actually not scared simply because I never thought of giving acting a shot. I also had a corporate job, so I knew I had something to fall back on. That being said, I took care to act

according to the instructions given to me. What presented a challenge were the lengthy dialogues which made me tense. Otherwise the entire shoot was a breeze. I got the freedom to shape my character the way I wanted to. I got to romance; fight as well as act in the grey zone- all this in one film. Later the film was delayed and once it released, it did not meet expected projections so that saddened me for some time. I also felt may be my acting and body mannerisms could have been better. But life had to go on and I received a couple of good offers where I got to act with superstars and some others which did not do so well.

Saiju Kurup | 81

INTERVIEW

After the success of Trivandrum Lodge, I decided to be more selective in my choices. My primary criteria was that the audience should not get bored nor should I be repetitive.

Trivandrum Lodge-the film that gifted your career a fresh lease of life. It was thanks to director VK Prakash that my character got the space it needed, which was almost equal to the lead role. Shibu Vellayani my character was the sub-editor of a sleazy film magazine and it was the comfort zone that V K Prakash provided that allowed my character to flower. I was already acquainted with him professionally through ads and a film, so I had an advantage there. After Trivandrum Lodge, my graph took an upward trajectory but I also decided to be careful about selecting my films. Mayookham and Trivandrum Lodge will always remain close to me heart. The lessons you learnt along the way? After the success of Trivandrum Lodge, I decided to be more selective in my choices. My primary criteria was that the audience should not get bored nor should I be repetitive. I am not claiming that all my choices are the right ones but I try to do as many diverse roles as I can. I think to a large extent, I have managed to get the love of the audience which is a huge responsibility vested in me. A villain always instills fear in the mind of an audience but the kohl eyed, sinister looking Aracckal Abu-the butcher, tickled the funny bone. That role has become your calling card. Aracckal Abu of the Aadu franchise with the tagline ‘Oru bheekaran aanu, 82 |

kodum bheekaran’ has been a memorable role. I actually asked actor/producer Vijay Babu for a role in this film and at first director Midhun Manuel suggested another role for me. After a week, he narrated Aracckal Abu’s character to me. He was supposed to be a terror and for a moment I wondered if I could pull it off. But since I had asked for a chance, I decided to take it up. I asked Midhun if any homework was needed and he just asked me to come to the location sporting a beard. Once the shoot commenced, it was thanks to Midhun’s guidance that I was able to slip seamlessly into Abu’s skin. The role garnered me a lot of fans and I am still Arackal Abu to the kids. Then came the sequel Aadu 2 and there I faced a dilemma. The audience knew me as the villainous butcher turned coward in the first part, so I was confused whether my body language should reflect a coward or a villain. I consulted with Midhun who suggested that a gradual change be seen from scene to scene. So I had to change my mannerisms and body language and oscillate between a coward as well as a villain which I enjoyed. You are not adamant about playing only the lead roles. Character roles are what have got you fame. What are your criteria while selecting a role? Keeping aside the lead factor, what is important to me is that I should find my character interesting. I look forward to playing negative shades

but I have certain iron clad rules. I will not play a character who is seen molesting or raping a girl simply because I am worried about my kids watching it on screen. Personally speaking, I myself do not find such roles comfortable. I remember when as a child I used to watch actors playing such roles, I used to harbour a resentment towards them for a week. I do not want any of my audience to resent me likewise. Otherwise, be it a murderer or a terrorist, I am not averse to acting in such roles. Personally, I like playing serious roles because that is close to real life. I remember during the shoot of Annmariya Kalippilannu, I was so relaxed because that character was me in real life. See, when I take up a role I want to fit in. Let me explain through an example. In Oru Kuprasidha Payyan, Madhupal chettan wanted me to play a diver and so I very frankly told him that I did not know swimming and that he cast another actor who did! What Madhupal suggested was that I try to learn

the wee hours of the morning. I never get fed up of staying in the capital, no matter the number of days. If my shoot is in the capital, I am a happy man! I also like the greenery, backwaters and food in Kumarakom. Chennai is also another place I love. What do you think needs to be done to improve the tourism sector in the state? The road culture in Kerala is bad. If you travel to foreign countries there is a civic and good road culture there which involves waiting patiently, not honking and not showering abuses on the driver. We have pedestrian crossings here but who waits for the pedestrians to cross or gives them preference? I also practice and preach not littering our roads. I ensure that I set an example to my kids by not littering the roads or my surroundings.

Thiruvanthapuram is my favourite place in Kerala. There is a vibe about the city that I cannot explain but can only feel! The roads are wide and the traffic is orderly. There are a lot of beautiful sightseeing places in and around the city. I especially love the food there.

swimming since he was not beginning the film immediately. So I decided to take the help of a friend who taught me the rudimentary aspects of swimming. Though I studied swimming for Madhupalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s film, which I eventually could not take up, that helped me in the film Vimanam where I had to swim. I have this habit of informing my directors if I feel I am not fit for a role. Some may not take it in a good sense but that is the way I am!

Your favourite destination in Kerala? Thiruvanthapuram is my favourite place in Kerala. There is a vibe about the city that I cannot explain but can only feel! The roads are wide and the traffic is orderly. There are a lot of beautiful sightseeing places in and around the city. I especially love the food there. I like eating in thattu kadas and it is only in the state capital that I find thattu kadas offering me hot dosas and chutney or puttu and kadala in

Upcoming films? Varthakal Ithuvarre which will see Siju Wilson turn a hero in which I play a police officer. I am also acting in the B Unnikrishnan-Dileep film Kodathisamaksham Balan Vakeel where I play a magistrate for the first time. Also in hand is a Biju Meon-Prajith film, as well as a film opposite Sunny Wayne titled Pidikittapulli where I play a comic character. I want to be a producer someday which I feel is easier than being a director. You have acted in Tamil? So any new plans there? I have already acted in four Tamil films but currently I am getting a lot of diverse roles in Mollywood which leaves me with no time at all. I even find it difficult to squeeze in time for my family with my schedules. I have no interest in the rat race nor do I wish to run after money so much so that I neglect my family and myself. I try to relax and balance my life.

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ENTERPRISE

Helping to bring back the taste in your food with traditional hand seasoned natural cookware The inspiration To get authentic hand seasoned natural cookware has never been easy until now. It was found that most people had started drifting towards toxic easy cookware, which was a clear problem and also the opportunity. Healthy cookware, huge available market to convert, and delight from initial set of customers (when it started), gave the founders the impetus for the formation of The Village Fair, one of the earliest providers of natural cookware. What was an idea has now transformed into a movement. Kitch. in is the result of that movement.

Social Impact This isn’t your typical good deed of the day. Every product that is bought from kitch.in contributes to the livelihood of craftswomen and men whose skills are at present undervalued. These are the same skills that enabled us to eat healthy in the past. Kitch.in aims to save these various crafts from certain extinction and simultaneously help those who deliver these great products. kitch.in encourages small-scale foundries and artisans to produce better quality products. Kitch.in works with women groups and trains them in the art of hand-seasoning. What started with a group of 3 women has 84 |

We make sure that each item you buy from us is hand crafted/seasoned using traditional methods. kitch.in also provides a livelihood to dozens of artisans and craftswomen/men who help bring out the best in your cookware. Traditional hand seasoning techniques is a dying art, and we at kitch.in are doing our best to keep this alive

now grown to over 25 women for whom this has turned into a viable source of income to support their families.

Priya Deepak the Co-founder of kitch.in enterprise.

A large part of the professional chef’s community seems to swear by cast iron. Most of them say that the best food comes out of cast iron cookware, and they are not joking. A cast iron pan is also one of the most versatile pieces of cookware you can own.

Hand-seasoned natural cookware Natural cookware such as cast-iron, clay, stone, bamboo and bronze cannot be used straight after production. These cookware need seasoning and that is where the magic happens. Seasoning of these utensils used to be done at home many decades ago, however, today there are just a handfull of people who possess the knowhow. You may have noticed that most natural cookware brands/sellers use the pre-fix “Pre-seasoned”; however, this refers to factory seasoning and not hand-seasoning. The process of hand-seasoning that we take up elevates these products to a league of its own.

Cast iron

Cast iron conducts heat beautifully and can go from stove top to oven

with no problem. Overtime, the cast iron will absorb some of the flavours and pass them along each time you use the pan. That’s why a steakhouse steak tastes so good - they’ve been developing flavours time and time again which seasons the steak each time adding more and more flavour.

Clay Cookware The most compelling reason to start cooking in unglazed earthen pots comes from the one thing it doesn’t do-leach harmful metals into your food. A well-seasoned clay pot can last you a really long time. However, unseasoned or badly seasoned clay cookware are at risk of cracking while cooking. Foremost health benefits of clay pot cooking come from its ability to circulate steam throughout cooking. This provides plenty of moisture and means that you can cook with less oil and fat.

HEALTH CONCERNS WITH MODERN COOKWARE A major reason why cast iron cookware is making a comeback is because of health concerns involving other types of cookware. For example, some non-stick coated pans are now known to emit toxic fumes when they are heated past a certain temperature. Cast iron poses none of these risks, and can be heated to extremely high temperatures without negative effects.

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ENTERPRISE

AN ARRAY OF PRODUCTS Keeping in line with the vision to bringing health, tradition and safety back into todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s modern home, the founders of kitch.in have travelled far and wide to find small-scale foundries and artisans who could deliver quality products.

Natural cookware will ensure that you and your family will stay safe and healthy. The radically traditional hand-seasoned , natural cookware for the smart, health conscious and active home-cook.

kitch.in sells an array of products in the following categories:

Copper

Stone including Soapstone Bamboo Clay

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Brass

Store Location

Global E-store

Kitch.in store is located inside green scenic art centre called Ente Bhoomi next to South Bridge, Kochi, and the self help group seasoning team works out from the island of Vypin and is growing, as Kitch.in is expanding rapidly. Kitch.in also has a 3 member operations team. Kitch.in works with craftswomen and men from across the country to bring you the best of natural cookware.

Kitch.in’s objective to reach as much homes was possible using digital space so it has its own e-store www.getkitch.in and it also sold through premium partner e-sellers. Kitch.in customers are from metros and tier 1 & 2 cities. The movement is spreading to smaller towns. It also has growing list of international clientele. Kitch.in uses best logistics provider Fedex and domestic shipping is free. For international orders shipping charges are on actuals.

PRIYA DEEPAK

JOSEPH GEORGE

Cast-iron

An entrepreneur at heart with a passion for problem solving, Joseph specialises in result oriented marketing. Ambiguity is his friend and hustling is his habit. He has worked across industries starting from event management to politics, Joseph has a wide spectrum of understanding when it comes to getting people to change their minds. Joseph’s last gig before kitch.in was as a political consultant specialising in election campaign strategy.

Priya Deepak is a passionate leader with 20+ years of experience in diverse areas of business and has served in senior leadership positions across various IT organisations. Her passion to make it happen was crucial to take the idea and make natural cookware business an organised player in the market about 4 years ago. She immediately identified one of the biggest pain points, which was quality and seasoning. Since then, Priya has travelled far and wide to find the best artisans and foundries that make good quality natural cookware. The next task was hand-seasoning and this is where she created magic. Priya works closely with seasoning team of self-help women group to hand-season the natural cookware thus creating a source of income for them. Today this self-help group has grown to a team of 20+ women. All this came together under ‘The Village Fair’, which has effortlessly formed the foundation for kitch.in Priya brings grit to the table and carries a “lets do it” attitude wherever she goes. | 87

MISSING TEETH...

the problems & their solutions

ne of the greatest myths of the aging process is that tooth loss is inevitable- that losing teeth in old age is a fact of life and can rarely be avoided. The real fact is-tooth loss does not occur as a result of aging, but because of various conditions such as dental decay and/or gum diseases. Left untreated, these conditions will certainly cause loss of teeth in addition to influencing the overall health status of individuals. Therefore, the most important aspect of dental care is to maintain excellent oral health and hygiene.

What can happen if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t replace missing teeth If teeth are lost due to various reasons, the equilibrium in the chewing mechanisms is lost, in addition to initiation of several problems affecting the remaining teeth, gums and the jaw joints. In the long run, missing teeth contribute to loss of jaw bone contours, collapse of the cheeks and face (facial collapse) and the aged look. Lack of teeth compromise chewing patterns, food intake and proper nutrition, in addition to accelerating the aging process. Therefore, it is extremely important to have missing teeth replaced to avoid a multitude of problems.

Shift of the bite plane due to tooth loss

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Bone loss & Facial collapse after loss of molar teeth

Replacement Of Missing Teeth Removable dentures have been the mainstay in replacement of missing teeth for decades. Removable dentures may be complete (full) dentures or partial dentures depending on the extent of tooth loss.

• Inability to provide you the natural feel

However, dentures have several limitations. People suffer needlessly with wobbly and painful dentures. The disadvantages of removable dentures include:

• Less hygienic

• Not as effective & comfortable as fixed artificial teeth alternatives • Altered taste & temperature sensation while having food • Wears out faster & therefore requires periodic replacement • Clasps, if present, may turn out unfavorable & problematic • Bad breath using dentures-very common • Affects adjacent teeth-can cause unfavorable movements as well as decay • Removable dentures are also called “gum-strippers” as they tend to abrade the gums as well as cause gingival recession.

Complete Dentures

Having fixed teeth with the help of dental bridgework &/or implants is certainly better than having removable dentures. It isn’t as expensive as you think it is. Nor does it involve too many tedious and painful procedures stretched over a period of months. We are able to offer excellent and super-fast results, within a matter of a few days. Let’s help you kiss goodbye to your dentures ... for-ever!

Regular Dental Crown & Bridgework A bridge is fabricated by reducing the teeth on either side of the missing tooth or teeth by a preparation pattern determined by the location of the teeth and by the material from which the bridge is fabricated. In other words, the abutment teeth (teeth next to the gap created by the missing teeth) are reduced in size to accommodate the material to be used to restore the size and shape of the original

teeth in a correct alignment and contact with the opposing teeth. It is literally a bridge as the gap is bridged by taking support from the adjacent teeth. Thus a three-unit bridge is three crowns joined together with the middle crown being a false tooth, with the side crowns cemented or bonded to the adjacent natural teeth.

Fixed Artificial Teeth Advantages of fixed teeth: • Natural feel of teeth-functionally, cosmetically as well as psychologically. • Chewing efficiency becomes comparable to that of natural teeth in the mouth. Taste and temperature sensations during food intake turns normal and patient starts enjoying food in its real flavors • Dental Implants which are used to anchor the fixed artificial teeth into the mouth help prevent jaw bone loss and thereby help maintain the facial contours, thereby preventing “facial collapse” and the aged look. • Considerably reduces problems like bleeding gums, denture sores, mouth ulcers and bad breath • Improves interpersonal relations including sexual relations in healthy aged couples. Patient feels younger and turns more socially acceptable. They are able to be actively involved in sporting activities, if they are healthy to do so. Revolutionary dental treatment options employing a judicious mix of crowns, bridges and dental implants have come to provide a way to solve the issues of painful, loose fitting dentures. Dental implants are the next best thing to your original natural teeth. With the introduction of the advanced “Immediate Loading” strategies, the dental implantologist is able to provide fixed teeth in a matter of a few hours!

The disadvantages of conventional dental bridges are: 1. Destructive - If the tooth (beside the gap which is to be filled with the tooth) is a natural and healthy tooth, the preparation is quite damaging. In order to make space for the bridge, the teeth adjacent to the gap must be filed down. 2. Damaged nerves - When a tooth is prepared for a full crown, alone or as part of a bridge, 1-15% lose vitality (i.e. the nerve dies) and will require root canal treatment in the future. That is of course assuming a root canal has not already been carried out. 3. Difficulty in maintaining oral hygiene: Over a period of time, food entrapment can occur in the bridged area leading to bad breath and a host of other problems 4. The teeth which have been prepared for providing support to the bridgework turn prone to dental caries. Decayed cavities can develop on the tooth surfaces which tend to get exposed into the mouth, due to gingival recession which happens in relation to the teeth over a period of time.

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Implant supported crowns and bridges

Dental implants are the next best thing to your original natural teeth. With the introduction of the advanced â&#x20AC;&#x153;Immediate Loadingâ&#x20AC;? strategies, the dental implantologist is able to provide fixed teeth in a matter of a few hours!

Dental implants are a great way to replace missing teeth and also provide a fixed solution to having removable partial or complete dentures. Implants provide excellent support and stability for these dental appliances. Dental implants are artificial roots (usually titanium) that are surgically placed into the upper or lower jaw bone by the dental implantologist. Teeth which are attached to implants can be made very natural looking. Dental implants are strong and durable and will last many years. On occasion, they will have to be re-tightened or replaced due to normal wear. Traditional implants... also known as conventional implants, most often need minimum wait

Dr Prasanth Pillai MDS, FIBOMS, FISOI, FICOI Dental Specialist - Oro-Maxillofacial Surgeon & Implantologist Clinical Master in Immediate Loading, IF, Germany For more info, please visit: www.SmileCentre.in Dr@TheSmileCentre.in

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period of 3 months after the implant(s) have been placed, before the tooth crown is fixed on the implant. The introduction of Strategic Implantology, by Prof Stefan Ihde (Germany) has revolutionized the field of implantology by helping provide fixed teeth to patients without teeth within a matter of 3 days of the implant procedure. The advantage with the Strategic Implantology techniques is that they work very well even in situations where there is little or even no bone available for implantation. The strategic implantology techniques are a boon to smokers and diabetic patients too as these implants are uniquely designed to resist the unfavorable sequence of events which are likely to occur in such compromised patients.

A BIG SHOUT-OUT TO ALL AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHERS & ASPIRING PHOTOJOURNALISTS OUT THERE

Inviting readers of Kerala Travel Explorer to send their pictures of: 1. Travel destinations within Kerala 2. Travel destinations visited abroad. You may send these pictures along with a 1000 to 1200 word first hand account of your visit to the place. The write-up can include details like how you went, where you stayed, what you saw, what you did, what you ate and all such information, which could be helpful to other readers wanting to visit these places you have been to. The pictures need to be clear and in high resolution and every travel destination must have at least 8 to 10 pictures that helps to tell the story. If you are looking for the right platform to showcase your photography and journalistic skills, this could be one of the best opportunities. Bylines and photo credit would be accorded to all selected contributions and a complimentary copy of the magazine will be sent to them. Send in your contributions with full contact details to

editor@ktexplorer.com

FOOD

UPTURN OF FORTUNES

FOR KOCHI EATERIES THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA By Sabeenose Paul

ri Muruga Café, a small Kerala style eatery, located close to the mini bypass junction at Petta, Kochi is flooding with customers predominantly for its unusual menu combination of Sweet Banana Fritters (called Pazham Pori or Ethakka Appam in Malayalam) and spicy beef curry (called Nadan Pothu Erachi Curry in Malayalam). This classic combo is attracting hundreds to the café and making the road-side food joint immensely popular. And, today many hotels and restaurants around the city are also dishing out this unusual combination of menu. The ever widening reach of social media is behind the upturn of fortunes of this small cafe. The culinary culture in Kerala is going through an overhaul because of novel online food communities. Individual and group of food reviewers who are commoners, or rather foodies are volunteering to share their culinary

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as well as eating experiences from various food-joints and restaurants across the town through social networking platforms. One such group that is making heavy ripples across the city is ‘Eat Kochi Eat’ (EKE). This popular community which was created by an IT professional, Karthik Murali, now has over 1 lakh members. Sri Muruga Café’s super combination is now one of Kochi’s favourite dishes because it caught attention though Murali’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Eat Kochi Eat which was popularised by this techie has followers, young and old alike. They explore hotels in an around the town and discuss their culinary experiences through social media. These discussions drive people to delve into the realms of every food corner of the city. Eat Kochi Eat has played a significant role in success and popularity of many restaurants and eateries in Kochi today. Madhu was running a small restau-

rant in the outskirts of the city. He served spicy and tasty fish curry meals for lunch in his small but neat joint. This place was anonymous to many until it gained fame through the posts and reviews of EKE. The restaurant has turned out to be a hub for foodies now. The story is similar with the Puttu kada at Kumbalam, which is known for its traditional hot steam-cake. Jeff, the Biriyani hangout and restaurants like Vellakanthari, Periyar, Palaram, and many more, tell a similar story regarding their exotic dishes ranging from local to continental cuisines. “There were no online platforms where food was genuinely discussed,” said Murali. He discloses the history behind the inception of EKE. When he arrived at Kochi for job, he had to eat frequently from the local restaurants. Food from similar restaurants became monotonous to him. Being a foodie, he started exploring food corners in and around the town. This prompted him to start a group among

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FOOD

his friends and colleagues. Everyone in the group started sharing their food experiences and very soon it attracted thousands of food lovers in a short time span. Today, it is a massive group of nearly 1.6 lakh members. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They have different destinations in mind, some wants to know the places where they get tasty food while some seek places where food is affordable, and some searched for variety in dishes,â&#x20AC;? said Murali about his followers. He added that many restaurants have started approaching them to review their food menu. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We focus on reviewing the overall experience 94 |

Eat kochi Eat Members

They have different destinations in mind, some wants to know the places where they get tasty food while some seek places where food is affordable, and some searched for variety in dishes

Karthik Murali

rather than just the food,â&#x20AC;? he said. This includes star hotel restaurants to road-side eateries. If a dish is approved by the review committee, we will discuss it in the group, including itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s price. That is how Eat Kochi Eat evolved into the favourite community not just for foodies but also for the food bloggers, corporate chefs, restaurant owners, cooking experts and the like. Eat Kochi Eat members meet during all seasonal festivals like Onam, Christmas, Diwali etc. A sumptuous

feast accompanied by fun-loaded activities in an apt venue is also an opportunity for the foodies to meet other gourmets. For previous Diwali, EKE members explored Bikash Babu Sweets, a popular Bengali sweet shop in Kochi. People who are in the food business also become a part of the group to promote their business. Recently a member of the group introduced the concept of pothichoru. Kerala meal wrapped in smoked banana leaf for lunch, where affordable lunch packets reach customers in instantly. He announced this initiative through the group and it garnered applause. Another success story is of a member who started making homemade pickles and chutney and marketed

through the group. Even restaurant have owners started introducing their new dishes through the group. The month of August witnessed the humane face of Eat Kochi Eat. While Kerala was affected by flood, the members of EKE volunteered to collect and distribute food and other essentials to various parts of the state. Thousands of people benefitted out of the initiative. Eat Kochi Eat continues its success journey through the hearts of millions. Through the high ways and byways of the culinary map, Eat Kochi Eat keeps on exploring the food joints, the success recipes, the distinct food style and the savouring tale goes on.

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Christmas Reminiscences Nandini Valsan is a writer and film maker who currently lives in Doha, Qatar. She is a travel enthusiast and an avid foodie; who believes every moment in life is a learning experience.

hristmas was not a time of year I associated with Kerala when growing up. It was only in 2002, when I was well into my twenties, that I had my first feel of the magic of Kerala during Christmas. It was three weeks before my wedding, and I had arrived in Kochi, all set to live in India for the first time in my life. As we drove from the airport to Irinjalakuda, I was mesmerised by how the otherwise dark roadside had transformed into a galaxy of multi-coloured constellations. Star lanterns seemed to gleam from every household, regardless of the occupants’ religious beliefs. I had no idea that the Christmas spirit was so alive in my home state, and always had been. When my husband and I moved to Kerala two years later, I got an even

better sense of this. We experienced for the first time, the revelry surrounding the traditional Christmas carolers that go from house to house, singing carols in Malayalam for all to hear. Bakeries seemed to only stock rich fruit cakes at this time, and we soon became experts at finding the best cake for the season. But having grown up celebrating Christmas, I really wanted our son, who was barely one at the time, to experience a little bit of the festive spirit that I was familiar with. That which involved the fun of decking up Christmas trees and of course, the thrill of gifts from Santa Claus! That’s how we discovered Mather Bazaar in Ernakulam. This tiny alley in Broadway is a marketplace that comes alive every December, overflowing with all types of Christmas paraphernalia. Tinsel, stars, trees, ornaments, wreaths, fake snow, Santa outfits, fairy lights, literally everything you would need to create a jolly yuletide atmosphere at home! We bought our first tiny Christmas tree from there, as well as every other tree we have bought since. Soon it became an annual tradition to visit Mather Bazaar to get into the spirit of the season, as the entire atmosphere in that little cosmos rang with festive cheer. Even on years where life’s complications were raging away, a visit to this corner of the world was enough to brighten up the days again. And then there were the stars. These paper lanterns are so ubiquitous of Christmas in Kerala that there are entire stores dedicated to them during this season. The designs vary

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from simple monochrome five point stars to multi-dimensional glittering works of art with trendy names. And though it is the paper lanterns that are most popular, one can still find traditional stars made of white cloth and wooden sticks that bestow an old world charm wherever they are installed. We used to love taking a trip to Fort Kochi at this time to see the most extravagant and shimmering displays of these stars. Entire streets were laced with starry canopies, and each house competed to have the best exhibit of the year. But what always took my breath away was a stately old tree at Veli Ground that every year would be decked with a haphazard regalia of stars and fairy lights on its huge sprawling branches. I was fascinated by how in the night, the random twinkling lights that peeped through the thick foliage would actually make the grand old tree look like it was slowly and daintily twirling around like a ballerina. Christmas is now as much a part of my kids’ childhood as it is mine. And as 2018 fast approaches its end, I can sense the yearning for Kochi grow within me. That’s when you know a place has officially made itself your hometown I guess – when it starts calling you home for Christmas.

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