Keralapix.com - Gallery of Kerala Images

Backwaters of Kerala, Alleppey – January 2010

2010-01-14T12:42:00.002+05:30

The backwaters of Kerala are a web of rivers, lakes and canals which thread the state in a glittering, typically green, net. In some places, like the dyke lands of the Kuttanad, the water is held up by high rampart because it flows above the level of the emerald-green paddy fields on either side. If the pumps of the Kuttanad were to stop, the fields would become lakes starred with water lilies where white egrets fly silently over their own reflections.

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you can hire a traditional rice-boat revamped to include one or two bedrooms with suite showers, your own dining-lounge deck, and your own crew including a cook and guide. Your houseboat carries you slowly down palm-suspended waterways, past backwater settlements of thatched and tiled cottages, bright with crotons and hibiscus. Squadrons of ducks quack past; women immerse themselves to their necks, searching for the shy and delectable karameen fish with their toes because the karameen hides in the mud at the bottom. You set your own pace: stopping where you like, resting when you like, wallowing yourself with the freshest of foods bought from the farmers and fishermen on the banks of the backwaters. You're always within reach of other people and yet no one can intrude into your lives if you don't want them to. And when night falls, and the stars thrust silver spears into the dark waters, your houseboat ties up alongside. You don't need it when you're cruising in the cool, shaded, backwaters. You sleep reassured that your crew rests in the lounge outside your bedroom door.

Mountains and lake at Chimmony

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Illustrious landscape at Chimmini.

Chinese net shot with bicolor - 1001 – Nov 2009

2009-11-07T06:16:00.001+05:30

Chinese fishing nets on the edge of Cochin harbor, Fort Kochi. These colossal fishing nets are attractive by its largeness and creation.

Athachamayam Festival, Thripunithura - August 2009

2009-08-31T17:21:00.001+05:30

Onam celebrations of 2009 season was formally commenced by the Athachamayam festivities at Tripunithura near Cochin, Kerala in a conventional manner. Habitually, different folk art forms of Kerala, decorated elephants, traditional Panchavadyam drummers added grandness to the Athachamayam cavalcade.

Theyyams at the Athachamayam 2009:

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Theyyams that take part in Athachamayam are for demonstrative / display objective only. Unalike the original Theyymas that carry out rituals in Hindu temples of north Malabar which explicitly uses costumes and makeup composed of organic constituents, these Theyyams use costumes and makeup made of synthetic and artificial components like ensembles of a dance / drama artist. For instance, in factual Theyyams, the headgear borders are decorated with red shoe flower petals, whereas in demonstrative Theyyams, it is with red ersatz threads.

Personae from different Kerala Folk dances that staged in the course of Athachamayam

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Boys in Pulikali (Tiger Play) maquillage

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School Children donning ancient and traditional clothe

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57th NEHRU TROPHY BOAT RACE, Alleppey - August 2009

2009-08-17T21:58:00.001+05:30

The backwaters of Alappuzha is the venue of the impressive Nehru Trophy Boat Race. Elation and enthusiasm fill the air. Splendidly decorated Chundan Vallams, with raised stems resembling the hood of a cobra slit the calm backwaters powered by more than 150 oar men. Other than Chundan, Veppu Vallams (Parunthuvalans), Oadis or Iruttukuthies also compete in this boat race or Vallamkali (വള്ളംകളി). Champakulam chundan snake boat paddled by the Kollam Jesus Boat Club inched past the Payipad chundan to win the 57th Nehru Trophy Boat Race in a thrilling final on the Punnamada Lake, Alapuzzha. Captained by Jiji Jacob Pollayil, this is Kollam Jesus boat club's second consecutive victory in Nehru Trophy Boat Race. Earlier the event was formerly inaugurated by UPA chairperson and Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Kerala Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan gave away the prizes to the winners. Here are some images of the exciting moments from the boat race held on Saturday, 8th August.

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Women participants at the Nehru Trophy Boat Race, Alleppey - August 2009

2009-08-13T12:30:00.001+05:30

An enthralling characteristic of Nehru Trophy Boat Race is the presence of 'Thekkanodi' boats with women rowers. In the featured photos, ten international rowers wearing traditional Kerala Sarees or 'Kasavu Settu Mundu' also known as 'Mundum Neriyathum' along with local women, row their boat in the Punnamada lake, that hosts this annual Boat Race. The boat 'DEVAS' of Vembanad Vanita Boat Club, bagged the first prize in the 'Thekkanodi' women category of 57th Nehru Trophy Boat Race.

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Crude Oil Tanker PRATIBHA WARNA, Cochin Port - July 2009

2009-07-27T18:37:00.001+05:30

M T Pratibha Warna (Oil Tanker) docked at Cochin Port, off Marine Drive, unloading crude oil to Bharat Petroleum Kochi Refinery. This tank ship belonging to Pratibha Shipping Company Limited, Mumbai has a Gross Tonnage (GRT) of 23926.00 (MTS). It was built by Hashijama Shipbuilding co. Ltd., Japan in the year 1988 with an overall length of 172.20 (MTR) and Extreme Breadth 32.20 (MTR).

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Fisherman, Veeranpuzha cove, Kochi - July 2009

2009-07-07T20:17:00.001+05:30

A fisherman paddling via Veeranpuzha bay that is the northern elongation of Vembanad Lake. The port of Kochi exists at this lake's outlet to the Arabian Sea. A lot of fishermen like this man find their living risking their lives fishing in this deep seaward lake, which is also the shipping channel of Kochi port.

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When you travel by boat between the main land Ernakulum and the surrounding islands, you will be able to witness a large number of these people in small canoes made out of wooden planks that can hardly carry two persons, fishing in this lake particularly at the harbor mouth with Fort cochin and Fort Vypin on either side. Bottom picture shows top angle discernment of several such wooden canoes moored ashore.

Platform supply vessel "Hellespont Dawn" built by Cochin Shipyard - July 2009

2009-07-06T18:00:00.001+05:30

"Hellespont Dawn" constructed by Cochin Shipyard is the second platform supply vessel delivered to NFC Offshore, Norway on April 8 2009 with the previous one being delivered on March 30. In the featured picture, the vessel is on its way for a trial run into the Arabian Sea.

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These platform supply ships are of the standard UT 755 LN design for the offshore implementation. The ship is intended for fulfilling the definite requirement of transporting the deck cargo, liquid cargo, cement and offloading to rigs and production platforms. Cochin Shipyard, Kerala is presently building 16 identical ships of this type for several foreign clients. Moreover, the shipyard is also constructing an aircraft carrier for the Indian Navy.

Enticing Sunset at Fort Kochi Harbor - July 2009

2009-07-05T14:03:00.001+05:30

Every time I click my camera shutter to capture these renowned, enormous spider web like Chinese fish nets and the setting sun at Kochi harbor, I get distinctive tint of orange and yellow each time. Also seen in the photographs is the dredging ship entangled with the work for deepening the outer and inner channels leading to the Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal of Cochin Port Trust. Jaisu Shipping has won a integrated contract for maintenance dredging and capital dredging at Kochi Port.

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The huge suspended fishing nets look impressive against the setting sun. These fishing nets introduced by Chinese traders in the 14th Century are one of the captivating attractions of Kerala coast. No visit to Kerala is complete without taking a look at the resolute men manning these enormous structures at Fort Kochi. They are an ineluctable part of this place, imbued in history and inheritance.

Illustrious mountain ranges of Munnar - June 2009

2009-06-18T18:10:00.001+05:30

The mountains in and around Munnar, Kerala varies in altitude from 1,600 meters (5,249 ft) to 1,800 meters (5,906 ft) above sea level. Verdant tea plantations, picturesque mountains, twisting roads, trekking and holiday facilities make Munnar an incomparable tourist destination.

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Eravikulam National Park, Rajamala, Idukki

Located in Idukki district along the Western Ghats administered by the Kerala Forests and Wildlife Department, Eravikulam National Park is the habitat for the largest surviving population (estimated less than 800) of Nilgiri Tahr - the endangered mountain goat. In India, Eravikulam is the only National park exclusively dedicated for the protection of Tahr. Eravikulam is also the first National park in Kerala. Because of the geographical proximity, Idukki district is having the most number of wild life sanctuaries in Kerala. In Idukki there are about four National parks and four wildlife sanctuaries. Among these, the Eravikulam National Park is the highest at 5000 feet above mean sea level. This national park are mostly covered with grasslands, steep rock cliffs and lacks tall trees. 94 varieties of grasses are found here and about 10 are exclusive to this region.

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From here one can get a birds eye view of the whole Munnar. This park is situated about 12 kilometers from Munnar town ( Munnar - Marayoor route) in Devikulam Taluke.

Nilgiri Tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius)

The Nilgiri Tahr also called Nilgiri Ibex is an endangered mountain goat found high up in the Western Ghat mountain slopes of southern India. These pictures of Nilgiri Tahr that includes male, female and Juvenile tahrs were taken at the Eravikulam National Park in the Rajamala mountains ranges.

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Both sexes have curved horns, which are bigger in the males. Adult males weigh between 80 to 100 kg and stand about one meter tall at the shoulder.

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Mattupatti Dam, near Munnar, Kerala

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Mattupetty is located about 13 kilometers from Munnar at an altitude of 1700 meters.

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Kundala dam site, Munnar

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Museum of Kerala History, Edappally - June 2009

2009-06-16T09:54:00.002+05:30

Established under the Madhavan Nayar Foundation located at Edappally, on the national Highway NH 47 between Ernakulam and Alwaye town at about ten kilometers from city center. Founded by the late R. Madhavan Nayar (1914-1996), a distinguished Industrialist, Philanthropist and a pioneer in Sea Food Exports, this museum complex includes three buildings, viz - Museum of Kerala History, Gallery of Paintings & Sculptures and Centre for Visual arts.

Museum of Kerala History

Centre for Visual Arts

M.N.F. Gallery of Paintings & Sculptures

Museum of Kerala History

This Museum is a Light and Sound show of three-dimensional visuals. 87 figures who shaped the history and culture of Kerala in the last two thousand years have been represented here. The story, from the Early peoples of Kerala to the modern age is interspersed with Social, Cultural and literary facets is a fascinating one. The known history of Kerala is represented in 35 visuals which cover the sweep of history over the last two thousand years. These visuals are:

	The early Peoples of Kerala (Pre-History). The visual here shows the early Neolithic man and his family, the earliest inhabitant of Kerala.
	*Nannan of Ezhimala* (c.1st century A.D). In the 1st century A.D.,the Muvas ruled the northern parts of Kerala, mainly the present day Kannur and Wynad districts. Their capital was called Ezhimala and the most noted king was Nannan.
	Senguthuvan and Ilango Venmal (c.1st century A.D). The Cheras held sway over the central part of Kerala in the early centuries after Christ and they ruled from Thivanchikkulam. The most famous of them was the Senguttuvan - portrayed here in his chambers with Queen Ilago Venmal.
	Ay Andiran of Pothiyilmala (c.1st century A.D). The Ay dynasty ruled the southern portion of Kerala from their capital named Ayakudi. Ay Andiyan was the noted ruler of this dynasty.
	The Aryan Immigration. The Aryans brought to Kerala what was later styled as the Hindu culture and religion with its caste system, rites and rituals.
	St.Thomas (1st century A.D), was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, is believed to have reached Kerala in the year 52 A.D. in a mission to spread Christianity.
	Sankaracharya (788 - 820 A.D.) was an Indian philosopher who consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta, the most influential sub-school of Vedanta. His teachings are based on the unity of the soul and Brahman, in which Brahman is viewed as without attributes. He was born in 788 A.D. at a place called Kalady near Cochin.
	*Kulasekhara Alwar* (Ruled 800 - 820 A.D.). The Kulasekhara dynasty is one of the three surviving royal lineages that ruled the state of Kerala.There was a re-emergence of Chera power in the beginning of the 9th century A.D. and the second Chera empire comprised almost the entire Kerala. The first one was Kulasekhara Varman.
	*Cheraman Perumal Nayanar* (Ruled 820 - 844 A.D.). The Kolla Varsham (the Malayalam Era) was started in Cheraman Perumal's reign in 824 A.D.
	Mar Sapir Iso and Ayyan Adikal Thiruvatikal (849 A.D.). The visual shows Ayyan Adikal Thiruvatikal, The Governor of Venad presenting the famous Tarisappalli Copper Plate to Mar Sapir Iso, who arrived in Quilon in the year 849 A.D.
	*Bhaskara Ravi Varman and Joseph Rabban* (1000 A.D.). The visuals exhibits the grant by Bhaskara Ravi Varman to Joseph Rabban of the Copper Plate which bestowed on the Jews rights normally reserved for the state in 1000 A.D.
	The Devadasis (c. 11th to 14th centuries). Devadasi is initially described a Hindu religious exercise in which girls were "married" and devoted to a deity (deva or devi). In addition to taking care of the temple, and executing rituals they erudite and experienced Bharatanatyam and other classical Indian arts traditions, and enjoyed a high social status.
	*Ravi Varma Samgramadhira* (Ruled 1299 - 1314). Under Ravi Varma Kulasekhara, the small principality of Venad blossomed into a large and powerful Kingdom.
	Vasco da Gama (1469 - 1524). was a Portuguese explorer, one of the most successful in the European Age of Discovery and the commander of the first ships to sail directly from Europe to India.
	Mamankam Originally celebrated during the time of King Saamoothiri (Zamorin), the 15th century ruler of Kozhikode
	Kalarippayattu is a martial art from Kerala
	*Kunjali Marakkar (1507 - 1600).* Mohammed Kunjali Marakkar was the Muslim naval head of the Samoothiri Raja Manavikraman, a Hindu king of Kozhikode (Calicut), in present-day state of Kerala, India during the 16th century.
	*Oath of the Coonan Cross (1653).* The Coonan Cross Oath was taken in 1653. The Saint Thomas Christians who assembled at Mattancherry near Fort Kochi controlled by the leadership of the archdeacon and Anjilimoottil Itty Thommen Kathanar of Jacobite Syrian church to receive a bishop took the Oath.
	Marthanda Varma (Ruled 1726 - 1758). Marthanda Varma (Anizham Thirunal), was the Maharajah of the Indian virtuous state of Travancore from 1726 till his death in 1758.
	*Tipu Sultan (1750 - 1799)* was the ruler of the Indian Kingdom of Mysore from 1782 until his own death in 1799.
	*Kathakali* is a highly depict classical Indian dance-drama famous for its interesting make-up of characters, their detailed costumes, elaborate gestures and demonstrated body movements presented in tune with the anchor playback music and consummating percussion.
	*Revathi Pattathanam* is an annual gathering of scholars held since ancient times at Kozhikode in Kerala. Customarily seven day event, the festival used to be held under the support of the Zamorin of Kozhikode. The prime event of the conference, is the bestowal of the title Bhatta along with a panakizhi (purse of money) to picked out scholars.
	Astronomy in Kerala -Sankaranarayana (c. 825 - 900) who created the astronomical work Sankaranarayaniyam, was the astronomer in the Court of King Sthanu Ravi Kulesekhara in the 9th century .
	*Thunjath Ramanujan Ezhuthachan* (1494 - 1574) is believed to be the Father of Malayalam language, due to the fact that of his devotion to the language, his influence on the acceptance of the Malayalam alphabet, and his very much esteemed poetic works in Malayalam. He was born in the 17th century in Kerala.
	*Van Reede and Itti Achutan (1675)* At the completion of 16th century the Dutch East India Company arrived in Kerala in search of trade. Van Reede, the Dutch Governor of Cochin, compiled a methodical literature by gathering information from physicians of that time like Itti Achutan.
	*Kunchan Nambiar (1707 - 1770)* was a Malayalam poet. He was the master of satirist poetry. The chief contribution of Nambiar is the creation and popularization of a new performing art known as Thullal.
	*Dr. Herman Gundert (1814 - 1893)* was a German missionary and scholar, who composed a Malayalam grammar book, 'Malayalabhaasha Vyakaranam' (1868), the first Malayalam-English dictionary (1872), and translated the Bible into Malayalam. He worked principally on the Malabar coast, in Kerala, India.
	Raja Ravi Varma (1848 - 1906) was an Indian painter from the princely state of Travancore who obtained recognition for his portrayal of scenes from the epics of the Mahabharata and Ramayana.
	*Chattambi Swamikal, Sri Narayana Guru ( 1855 - 1924, 1856 - 1928)* Sree Vidyadhiraja Parama Bhattaraka Chattampi Swamikal was a Hindu sage and social reformer. Swamikal along with his contemporary Sri Narayana Guru, strived to reform the clumsily ritualistic and caste comprehended Hindu society of the late 19th century Kerala.
	*Shri Chithra Thirunal Balarama Varma (1912 - 1991)* was the last ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Travancore.
	*Sir Robert Bristow (1880 - 1966)* was a British harbor engineer who is best known as the chief architect of present Cochin port, Kerala.

Note: Images in this post are only for informative purpose and not available for purchase. All photos are copyright of Madhavan Nayar Foundation, Kochi, Kerala, India. It should not be copied or reproduced in any manner (web or print). They are from my professional portfolio collection that I have photographed for Madhavan Nayar Foundation way back in 2002. Shot in Kodak Ektachrome Transparency film and processed by myself.

Kadamanitta Devi temple & Padayani - June 2009

2009-06-08T10:51:00.001+05:30

The Kadamanitta Devi temple in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, India is well-known for the ten day long Padayani ritual performances held in connection with the annual festival in April/May, the main and more elaborate display being on the tenth day. Padayani is a ritual performing art held mostly in ‘Bhadrakali’ (A Hindu Goddess) temples of south Kerala specifically Pathanamthitta and Alapuzha districts.

Kadamanitta Devi temple

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Headgears of Padayani displayed at the temple

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Padayani performers at the temple

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The word Padayani fundamentally means group of soldiers, however in this folk art, there is a series of sacred incarnation wearing huge masks or 'Kolams' of different shapes, colors and designs painted on the stalks of areca nut fronds. The 'Kolam' or characters of Padayani will have a huge headgear with mural like paintings, a mask for the face and shields to cover the breast and abdominal region of the performer. The headgear and other accessories of 'Kolams' are made out of areca nut leaf pods or ‘palah’, which is called locally. The edges of these headgears are decorated with coconut palm tender leaves. Paints used in 'Kolams' are all extracted from natural sources. The most significant of the `Padayani Kolams' are `Pakshi', `Yakshi', `Kalan', `Marutha', `Bhairavi' etc. The beating of Thappu, a special kind of drum used in the Padayani, is the specialty on the second day of the festival.

Elephant transported in a Lorry, Kerala - June 2009

2009-06-04T14:13:00.001+05:30

An elephant being transported in a truck - In the hurry to take elephants from one temple festival scene to another, they are frequently transported in lorries.

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There are some mandatory rules for transporting elephants between festival venues. Elephants should not be made to walk for more than 20 km a day or paraded for more than three hours continuously. The trucks in which they were transported should have a minimum length of 12 ft. They should also not be transported for more than 150 km in a day. After six hours in a lorry or truck, the elephants should be allowed to rest for six hours. The rules also speak about maintaining a constant speed While transporting elephants by truck. Breaking these rules will lead to fatal accidents to both elephant and its mahout. Recently, a mahout, was killed and a tusker, Ayyappan, was seriously injured when both were thrown out of an over-speeding lorry in which they were travelling and dragged them together for nearly 200 metres before the vehicle came to a stop at Vamanapuram, near Trivandrum, Kerala. Another incident was a tusker named Kannan broke his tusks while being transported from Guruvayur to Kannur. The incident happened when the lorry in which Kannan was taken had crushed into the rear of a bus. The tusks of the elephant shattered as it penetrated through the steel and wooden cabin.

THRISSUR Pooram - May 2009

2009-05-06T17:40:00.001+05:30

Pictures of Kudamattam, the frequently - changing display of colorful parasols by the Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu Devaswoms, in progress at the Thekkinkad Maidan in Thrissur on Sunday, 3rd May 2009.

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Delightful procession of mighty tuskers decorated with glimmering silk and golden adornments, carrying the deities of Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu temples is the most interesting element of this renowned festival of central Kerala, India.

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Tusker Thiruvambady Sivasundar carried the ‘Thidumbu' of Thiruvambady temple, while the tusker Kuttankulangara Arjunan carried the 'Thidambu' of Paramekkavu Bhagavathi during the main processions.

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The ‘elanjithara melam’ unparalleled so far in temple festivals, producing a symphony beyond worlds and the hour-long divine durbar of ‘kudamattam’ competition atop 30 mighty tuskers in the afternoon, offered a marvelous feast of art, culture and tradition to the large crowd gathered here to witness this decade old practice. The crowd cheered as each set of parasols is displayed atop the array of caparisoned elephants.

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Consequential Cruise ships that called at port of Cochin, Kerala during March 2009

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Luxury cruise liner ‘Queen Victoria’

Kochi, March 24 2009: UK’s luxury cruise ‘Queen Victoria’ on Tuesday berthed at Port Kochi by 11a.m., with about 1,800 international tourists and true to its name, received a grand welcome at the port city. The ship, that arrived from Phuket, left for Mumbai at 7p.m.

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Cruise Ship ‘Seven Seas Voyager’

Kochi, March 25 2009: MV seven Seas Voyager of Regent Cruises with 494 passengers and 433 crew, called at the Kochi Port on Wednesday. The vessel arrived from Phuket and sailed for Dubai the same evening. This is her second visit to Cochin.

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Cruise Ship ‘Arcadia’

Kochi, March 26 2009: Cruise Liner Arcadia of P & O Cruises that called on Thursday, 26th of March. Docked at Ernakulum Warf of Cochin Port.

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St. Francis church, Cochin - April 2009

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Known to be the first European church in India located near Fort Kochi beach, Kerala.

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Information board displayed at the church narrating the history:

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Actual text of the above information board is given below:

St. Francis church, Cochin

St. Francis church was the first European church to be built in India within the oldest European settlement of Fort cochin. Presumably it owes its origin to the Franciscan friars who accompanied the Portuguese expedition in 1500 A.D. Originally it is said to have been erected of wood but later rebuilt in stone and roofed with tiles by 1516 A.D.and dedicated to St. Anthony. It remained in the order of St.Francis till 1663 A.D. when it came under the control of the Dutch who reconditioned and converted it into a protestant church. Again during 1779 A.D. it was renovated as indicated by a tablet fixed over its facade but continued in the possession of the Dutch even after the British control over cochin in 1795, till it was voluntarily surrendered to the Anglican communion in 1804 A.D. presumably it was renamed after the patron saint during the later half of the nineteenth century. At present it has been taken over by the church of south India.

Surmounted by a bell-turret over the gable front, the church, facing west, has an impressive facade with arched entrance and windows flanked by stepped pinnacles.

Here in this church, Vasco Da Gama, the first European navigator from Portugal to India, was laid to rest in 1524 A.D. until his remains were removed and taken to Portugal in 1538 A.D.

The gravestones of the Portuguese and the Dutch that were removed from the floor of the nave have been refixed respectively over the northern and southern sidewalls of the church. The earliest Portuguese epitaph here dates back to 1562 A.D. while that of the Dutch to 1664 A.D.

Some of the heraldic designs and armorial bearings on the tombstones are of fine workmanship.

A few memorial brass plates and marble slabs erected in memory of important persons in service of the church are later additions adorning the walls.

Archaic town of Mattancherry, Kerala - March 2009

2009-03-30T13:57:00.001+05:30

Mattancherry is an old town in the western part of Kochi in Ernakulam district of Kerala near to Fort Kochi. It lies about 10 kilometers from Cochin city that is accessible by road and water. Earlier Mattancherry was the trade center of central Kerala especially spices like pepper and cardamom from cultivations of high range districts such as Idukki.

The streets of Jew Town, Mattancherry

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The main attractions of Mattancherry are Jewish Synagogue, Mattancherry Palace Museum, Gowd Saraswat Brahmin samaj temples including the Venkatraman temple, a Jain's Temple and innumerable number of antique shops.

Jewish Synagogue

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Antiques, Curios & Handicrafts shops of Mattancherry

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Idols of Hindu gods displayed at an antique shop

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Old Buildings, Mattanchery

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Dutch Palace, Mattancherry

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Mattancherry Palace with its medieval charm is located at Palace Road, Mattancherry near to boat jetty. It was built by the Portuguese and presented to Veera Kerala Varma ,Raja of Kochi, in 1555 AD. The splendor of the palace depends on the large number of murals, carried out in the traditions of Hindu temple art.

Cruise ship Queen Mary 2 which called on the Cochin Port, Kerala - March 2009

2009-03-20T11:17:00.001+05:30

The Queen Mary 2, the magnificent ocean liner, berthed at the Cochin Port at 6.30 morning on 18th March 2009 with 2,451 passengers and 1,253 crew. This is her second visit to the port of Cochin and the only port in India she is calling on her world cruise. This majestic ocean liner, which arrived from Singapore for a 12-hour visit was docked at the Ernakulum wharf and sailed for Dubai at 6 pm in the evening. The tourists visited different places around Kochi especially sites of historical importance, the spices and antiques shopping centers at Mattancherry and Fort Kochi. Cochin port has become a major stopover for many leading luxury liners in the world and this March itself eleven big cruise ships including Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria of Cunard Line, ms Rotterdam of Holland America Line, Seven Seas Voyager of Regent Seven Seas Cruise Lines, Arcadia of P&O Cruises, Saga Rose of Saga Cruising and Star Clipper have touched this port.

Arriving from Singapore in the morning through Arabian Sea

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Entering Cochin harbour. Cochin is a natural port and the major sea port of call in southwest India

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Berthed at Ernakulam Wharf of Cochin Port Trust, Willingdon Island - View from Kochi Marine Drive

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Sailing for Dubai at dusk passing the Chinese fishing nets, the landmark of Fort Cochin at harbor mouth

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Dazzling backwaters of Vaikom, Kerala - March 2009

2009-03-15T15:22:00.001+05:30

This amazing backwater is on the way to Kumarakam from Kochi via Vaikom. The backwaters are unique to Kerala that is a network of canals, rivers and big lakes extending throughout the state with numerous villages linked together by ferries and bridges. These coconut palm tasseled inland canals are the main passage for transporting people and cargo between island villages as well to main city of Kochi. Here you can see country boats fully loaded with sands mined from river (mainly used for construction) plying through canals. I don't know whether these sands are legally mined as sand mining is prohibited in this part of Kerala by the government since this cause a lot of ecological problems to the river. A passenger boat that connects Ernakulam and villages can be seen. In one photo a villager in a small dugout transports fresh water filled pots.

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Early morning sunrise near Kochi, Kerala - March 2009

2009-03-11T21:32:00.001+05:30

Stock photos of foggy morning sunrise photographed at a locale called Vaikom near Kochi.

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Chinese nets and the blue backwaters, Kerala - March 2009

2009-03-10T18:30:00.001+05:30

Chinese nets for fishing along the coast line backwaters of Kerala near Ernakulam, Kochi. A familiar sight when you travel through the backwaters of this region.

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Tropical Sunset and Chinese Net, Fort Cochin - March 2009

2009-03-08T10:43:00.001+05:30

Stock photos of Picturesque Tropical Sunset at Fort Cochin, Kerala

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Keralapix.com - Gallery of Kerala Images

Backwaters of Kerala, Alleppey – January 2010

Mountains and lake at Chimmony

Chinese net shot with bicolor - 1001 – Nov 2009

Athachamayam Festival, Thripunithura - August 2009

Theyyams at the Athachamayam 2009:

Personae from different Kerala Folk dances that staged in the course of Athachamayam

Arjuna Nritham

Padayani

Kavadiyattom

Maritheyyam

Ammankudam

Mayilattom

Boys in Pulikali (Tiger Play) maquillage

School Children donning ancient and traditional clothe

57th NEHRU TROPHY BOAT RACE, Alleppey - August 2009

Women participants at the Nehru Trophy Boat Race, Alleppey - August 2009

Crude Oil Tanker PRATIBHA WARNA, Cochin Port - July 2009

Fisherman, Veeranpuzha cove, Kochi - July 2009

Platform supply vessel "Hellespont Dawn" built by Cochin Shipyard - July 2009

Enticing Sunset at Fort Kochi Harbor - July 2009

Illustrious mountain ranges of Munnar - June 2009

Eravikulam National Park, Rajamala, Idukki

Nilgiri Tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius)

Mattupetty

Kundala

Museum of Kerala History, Edappally - June 2009

Museum of Kerala History

Kadamanitta Devi temple & Padayani - June 2009

Kadamanitta Devi temple

Headgears of Padayani displayed at the temple

Padayani performers at the temple

Elephant transported in a Lorry, Kerala - June 2009

THRISSUR Pooram - May 2009

Consequential Cruise ships that called at port of Cochin, Kerala during March 2009

Luxury cruise liner ‘Queen Victoria’

Cruise Ship ‘Seven Seas Voyager’

Cruise Ship ‘Arcadia’

St. Francis church, Cochin - April 2009

Information board displayed at the church narrating the history:

St. Francis church, Cochin

Surmounted by a bell-turret over the gable front, the church, facing west, has an impressive facade with arched entrance and windows flanked by stepped pinnacles.

Here in this church, Vasco Da Gama, the first European navigator from Portugal to India, was laid to rest in 1524 A.D. until his remains were removed and taken to Portugal in 1538 A.D.

The gravestones of the Portuguese and the Dutch that were removed from the floor of the nave have been refixed respectively over the northern and southern sidewalls of the church. The earliest Portuguese epitaph here dates back to 1562 A.D. while that of the Dutch to 1664 A.D.

Some of the heraldic designs and armorial bearings on the tombstones are of fine workmanship.

A few memorial brass plates and marble slabs erected in memory of important persons in service of the church are later additions adorning the walls.

Archaic town of Mattancherry, Kerala - March 2009

The streets of Jew Town, Mattancherry

Jewish Synagogue

Antiques, Curios & Handicrafts shops of Mattancherry

Idols of Hindu gods displayed at an antique shop

Old Buildings, Mattanchery

Dutch Palace, Mattancherry

Cruise ship Queen Mary 2 which called on the Cochin Port, Kerala - March 2009

Arriving from Singapore in the morning through Arabian Sea

Entering Cochin harbour. Cochin is a natural port and the major sea port of call in southwest India

Berthed at Ernakulam Wharf of Cochin Port Trust, Willingdon Island - View from Kochi Marine Drive

Sailing for Dubai at dusk passing the Chinese fishing nets, the landmark of Fort Cochin at harbor mouth

Dazzling backwaters of Vaikom, Kerala - March 2009

Early morning sunrise near Kochi, Kerala - March 2009

Chinese nets and the blue backwaters, Kerala - March 2009

Tropical Sunset and Chinese Net, Fort Cochin - March 2009