GODS OWN COUNTRY
A recent trip to Gods own country was an eye opener for me and my wife. We landed in Trivandrum on Monday evening by bus from Kanyakumari. In the evening we made a quick trip to Kovalam beach in the evening to have a look at sunset, but we missed the scenario because the local bus we traveled was too slow. We were greeted with scorning office goers in the bus. We could have been directed to a direct bus, from the bus terminus but the enquiry counter personnel directed us to crowded bus.
At the KTDC counter at TVR too we had a bitter experience with no local sight seeing trip being arranged or alternative arrangements made with limited passengers. They could have helped us by fixing a taxi on sharing basis. But alas their attitude seemed to customer unfriendly. In Kochi we approached the KTDC for a package we found a Five star package for Munnar and Thekady was offered. The booking staff mentioned foreigners are not their main client but black money businessmen from North India are their main clients. It was a real eye opener for us.
The surprise package greeting us at Kovalam beach was mosquitoes swarming on the sands. It was quite horrifying to experience the bite, with fear of chicken guniya and dengue lurking with precedents.
We visited Padmanabaswamy temple by auto, and while entering the temple we were literally stripped clean. I mean we had to change over to dhoti, and shawl, and deposit our shoes, and cameras along with the mobile for which we were charged Rs 76/- It is something very strange, but true experience of being re-converted to Hinduism despite being Hindu by birth. Other religion visitors are banned. Ladies are allowed only with saree otherwise they too are subject to changeover, luckily my wife was wearing a saree for a change, anticipating the move.
The temple is one of architectural splendour with mural paintings of Lord Krishna and other deities. It was enchanting sight to witness the apsaras and menakas with bare breast and nude figures. It will do good to the management to make a separate timing for non hindus to visit and experience the unique custom and sculptures. The temple collection can improve, the maintenance of the sculptures needs to taken care unlike Melkote in Mandya, which was robbed due to negligence of the priests.
The palace is lovely place to visit adjescent the temple and the Art gallery, Museum and the Zoo were wonderful. We managed on a shoe string budget of Rs 100/- by auto. It was an eye opener. We wanted to purchase Ravi Varma’s paintings booklet which was highly priced @ Rs 500/- for students it is Rs 250/-
The next destination was Kochi, which is more organized when compared to Trivandrum. Luckily I stayed with my friends family, who father was sick and had to be admitted to hospital on the day we arrived. We got the best guidance and managed to have a trip of Fort Kochi, Naval Museum, Indo-portugal art gallery, St Francis church, Jewish Synagogue.
Locales of kerela are lovely with lush green backwaters, wildlife preserves at Thekaddy, Silent Valley, Perambikulam, Munnar etc. There are plenty of Ayurvedic rejuvenation centres too, but beyond the reach of middle class tourist. In the absence of Industrial development the people and the government of Kerela need to urgently rework their strategy. As long as the NRI income is flooding shores of Kerela, they are least bothered I suppose. Tourism if harnessed Kerela will be the most properous state in India.