Hearitage

  The shores of Kerala have seen the arrival of people from distinct lands who came for trade, some who came as travellers to know more about the land & many who came to propagate religion. One such person who came to the shores of Kerala was Malik Ibn Dinar & he is said to be the person who brought the way of Islam to India. The Malik Deenar mosque in Kasargod district is a symbol remembering this great soul who brought the word of the Prophet to people in India. His party included 12 associates & they are said to have docked at the port of Kanjiracode, the old name of Kasargod in 624 AD.  The mission of Malik Ibn Deenar & his associates was not just propagation of Islam but also trade. Though this was what they had set out for, the mission soon lost touch with building relations for trade to building relations with the locals & bringing the way of Islam among all. The people of Kasargod & around found the teachings of Prophet relatable to how they perceived li

  Today when you come to Thalassery, the town showcases heritage at every turn with its old rustic buildings, narrow roads & timeless monuments. Among all these stands a temple in a place that was once known as van-kaad which became Thiruvangad due to the presence of Lord Sriramaswamy. The Thiruvangad Sree Rama temple is an ancient place of worship & is considered to be one among the four most revered temples dedicated to Lord Rama in Kerala. The temple origins are not known but most believe it to be over 2000 years. The reverence of the temple is not just in the presence of Lord Rama at the shrine, but over the centuries the temple has also been a place of importance for rulers, invaders & the pilgrims who took note of the beauty of this temple.  The temple's origin is based on many legends with no clear evidence as to who built this beautiful temple. One common thought is that Parasurama consecrated the temple which may be true as he is known to have built many templ

The Varakkal temple on a hillock & next to the beach is a beautiful place of worship which holds a lot of history to it. This temple is considered to be the 108th & last Devi temple consecrated by Lord Parasurama. It was not an easy feat to achieve due to the geology of the place which was full of rocks & boulders. The Goddess is said to have challenged Parasurama to find an appropriate place to have built the temple & to impress the Devi he ploughed the whole area which would have been a mountain effort during his time. It is said as per legend that Parasurama made the idol of Durga with his axe & he performed the Vavubali here to pay gratitude to all whom he had killed & conquered. Durga Devi was so impressed by the penance & meditation of Parasurama that she promised to bless her devotees on the auspicious day of Chothi & Vavu. This was the last temple consecrated by Lord Parasurama & it went to neglect for many years as it was out of bounds for t

  In the sweet town of Tirur in Malappuram stands the iconic Mampuram Mosque which is not just a symbol of Muslim heritage but also a patron of communal harmony one sees in the state of Kerala. The mosque is a haven to the Sunni Muslims but people from all faiths can pray here & are always welcome to know the man who is credited to have spread the word of Islam in these parts. The person who is remembered is Sayyid Alavi Thangal who was fondly called Mampuram Thangal made this land his own and his efforts of getting people of all walks together is what gained him respect from all. Thangal is said to have come to the shores of Kerala in the 19 th century. Kerala was a land which had seen many Islamic preachers before him but what made his arrival important was the importance he gave to education. Education for all was the not the way in the social fabric of Kerala & Thangal gave all an access to education which made many convert to Islam. The Mampuram Makham was built as a smal

The state of Kerala is a landscape laced with many beautiful dams but none is as important as the Banasura Dam, the largest earth dam in India & second of its kind in Asia. The dam is a beautiful construction built with stones & boulders which easily blends in the scenery of Wayanad giving visitors a feel of natural beauty. Built along the Karamanathodu tributary of the vast Kabini River, the dam was built with an eye to support the Kakkayam hydro electric project & fulfils the demand of irrigation in the region. The dam has for decades been a place which attracted all tourists who came to Wayanad & it still is a must visit site for all who come to this heavenly destination. The dam is named based on the hills around it which ironically takes its name based on a mythological character. Banasura was a demon king who succeeded the most loved king of Kerala – Mahabali. It is believed that Banasura performed a penance in these mountains & thus the name of the mountains

  Kerala has been a place where St Thomas the apostle came & preached the Jesus way of life. His travel blessed every place that he went & one such is the land of Malayatoor where he came after establishing the famous set of Seven & a half churches. The Malayatoor church is revered not for the structure but for the beliefs of divine presence of the apostle himself. The church is associated with the most important trek performed by Christian devotees when they walk uphill to the mountain where they pray at the church called Kurisumudy. The church is also one among the eight International shrines in the world & the only one in Asia. The church is also the largest pilgrim centre in the name of St Thomas among all places in India. The church is also a beautiful site for many who come here as the Periyar flows along the mountains. The church is said to have been constructed around the 10 th century but the origin of the belief goes back further to the 1 st century. St Thom

  Kerala is a land which has many temples & most temples follow a certain style of architecture with stone base, beautiful sculptures, murals, tiled roofs. The temple near the village of Anchal in Kollam district is a unique place where there is no such structure but is a rock cut temple similar to the shore temples of Mahabalipuram. The temple called the Kottukal cave temple takes the name from the Malayalam words kothiya - kallu (rock-cut) & is in the centre of paddy fields. The rock which forms the temple seems like an elephant lying in the field & is dedicated to the Elephant God Ganapathi. There are no official records of when or who built the temple & why a rock temple was made which needed exemplary craftsmanship, something not found in Kerala. Many historians however believe that the temple dates back to the 7 th century & has been standing as it was made till today. The temple has two caves, one small & the other a bit larger both having monolithic Li

  This ancient temple is one which is dedicated to Lord Krishna in the unique form having 4 arms & is said to be how Vasudev & Devaki saw the Lord while being imprisoned by Kamsa. The Guruvayur temple known as the Dwarka of South is a beautiful temple & one of the most important temples in South India. The temple is so revered that it is also termed as Bhuloka Vaikunta which means the Holy abode of Lord Vishnu on earth. The origin of the temple is quite difficult to pinpoint as most believe the temple to be over 5000 years old. The existence of the temple is related to the idol of Lord Vishnu which goes back further to the time when the Chandravanshi King Sutapa & Queen Preshni prayed to Lord Brahma for a child. The couple were ardent devotees & Lord Brahma gave this idol to them. The idol was presented to Lord Brahma by Lord Vishnu himself having four arms, one holding the Sudarshan Chakra , another having the holy conch Panchajanya , the lower hands holding the ma

  In Kerala, the town of Mahe is unique in terms of its demographics & way of life. Though the place connects the districts of Kozhikode & Kannur, the administration belongs to Pondicherry. The town is also a French colony & the sights still resemble any of the countryside villages in France. Inside this beautiful town stands the most iconic heritage structure of St Teresa’s Shrine which is also the symbol of life in Mahe. The shrine for centuries has been a place for not just Christians but for all who stayed and passed the town. It is also said that the grace of the mother at the church is such that in a place which traditionally had non – Christians the importance of the church is glorified by the fact that Hindus are said to visit the church more than the Christians. The church celebrates the feast of Mother which starts in the second week of October & ends in the fourth week is a time for people from all over to come to  Mahe & be blessed by the mother herself.

There are many iconic churches in Kerala & one such is the Arthunkal Church dedicated to St Andrew, the apostle which today is one of the famous pilgrim centres in South India. The church though is dedicated to the most revered apostle; the fame of the church is based on the feast of St Sebastian. The church celebrates the life of the Roman Martyr who was brutally killed by the emperor for having faith in Christ. The church also is a site of unique secular belief. The church is the place where Lord Ayyappa devotees who visit the Sabarimala shrine & come to pray to the church to finish the pilgrimage.  The church rose to the status of a Basilica when it was ordained in 2010 by the Roman Catholic Congregation. The belief in the Basilica is not just among the Christians but people from all faiths consider the place a spiritual & divine site. The story of the church traces its origin back to the 16 th century when people of Kerala along the coastal areas were getting attracted

In the sweet town of Mannady in Pathanamthitta is a museum that glorifies one of the most feared & respected warriors of the Travancore dynasty. The life size statue of Velu Thampi Dalawa stands proudly at the entrance to make one remember his revolt against the corrupt & later the British. The museum houses a beautiful stone statue of Buddha along with some of the most unique artefacts which belonged to Velu Thampi including his daggers, swords & other weapons. The museum also has a collection of coins & manuscripts with portraits of all Travancore kings from Marthanda Varma to Sree Chithra Thirunal. One look at the statue of Velu Thampi Dalawa makes you want to know more about him & how he influenced the masses to revolt against British Supremacy. Born in the 18 th century to a Nair family he was named Velayudhan Thampi & was part of the family which held the title of Chempakaraman for having ownership of the Kanyakumari province under the Travancore kingdom.