Vellore to Koothattukulam
About Vellore
Green Tree Tours and Travels takes to the Vellore is a city and administrative centre of the Vellore district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. In 2008, the 142 year–old municipality was made a City Corporation.
It is considered to be one of the oldest cities in South India and lies on the banks of the Palar river on the site of Vellore Fort. The city lies between Chennai and Bangalore and the Temple towns of Thiruvannamalai and Tirupati. The city has colleges, ancient temples and one of the best hospitals in India. Vellore is a major transist point for travellers, a hub for medical tourism and is emerging as a tourism hot spot. You can visit these place by Green Tree Tours and Travels
The newly established Vellore City Corporation has merged several areas into its borders including the area stretching East to West between Walajapet (including Ranipet, Arcot, Melvisharam and Sathuvachari) and Virinchipuram (including Shenbakkam and Konavattam) and North to South from Christianpet (including Katpadi and Gandhinagar) to Adukamparai (including, Thorappadi, Ariyur and Bagayam).
The places to visit to Vellore Green Tree Tours and Travels Fort is a large 16th-century fort situated in Vellore city near Chennai, in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The Fort was at one point of time the head quarters of the Vijayanagara Empire. The fort is known for its grand ramparts, wide moat and robust masonry. The Fort's ownership passed from Vijayanagara Kings, to the Bijapur Sultans, to Marathas, to the Carnatic Nawabs and finally to the British, who held the fort until India gained independence. During British rule, the Tippu Sultan's family and the last king of Sri Lanka, Sri Vikrama Rajasinha were held in as royal prisoners in the fort. The fort houses a Christian church, a Muslim mosque and a Hindu temple, the latter of which is famous for its magnificent carvings. The first rebellion against British rule erupted at this fort in 1806, and it is also a witness to the tragic massacre of the Vijayanagara royal family of Emperor Sriranga Raya.
Another places to visit to Vellore Green Tree Tours and Travels is the fortifications consist of a main rampart broken at irregular intervals by round towers and rectangular projections. The main walls are built of massive granite stones surrounded by a broad moat fed with water by subterranean drains from the Suryagunta tank. Within the fort is the similarly aged Jalakanteswara Temple. The fort is one of the most perfect specimens of military architecture in Southern India. One of the interesting features of this fort is that there is a Hindu temple, Christian church and Muslim mosque within its ramparts. The Fort also houses the famous "Tipu Mahal" where Tipu Sultan is believed to have stayed with his family during the war with the British. The graveyards of Tipu's sons are found at Vellore. The Fort is under the control of the Archeological Survey of India. The Vellore Fort has been declared as a "Monument of National Importance". The fort has become a tourist attraction for visitors to Vellore.
The state Government Museum is inside the fort and was opened to the public in 1985. The historical monuments of the North Arcot District are depicted in the Gallery. Special exhibits include a bronze double antenna sword from Vellore Taluk dating back to 400 BC., stone sculptures from the Late Pallava to Vijayanagar periods, an ivory chess board and coins used by the last Kandian King of Sri Lanka Vikrama Raja Singha. The educational activities of this Museum include an art camp for school students, the study of inscriptions and iconography for college students.
Vellore has a magnificent golden temple which is located at Sripuram near Thirumalaikodi. It is approximately 12 km from the Vellore bus terminus.
The temple is located on 20 acres of land and has been constructed by Vellore-based Sri Narayani Peedam headed by spiritual leader Sri Sakthi Amma. The temple covers 55,000 sq ft (5,100 m2) and has intricate carvings and sculptures in gold. The lighting is arranged in such a way that the temple glitters even during night. The temple construction was completed in on August 24, 2007. This places can be visited by Green Tree Tours and Travels
The Jalakandeswarar Temple is situated inside the Vellore Fort and has a majestic Gopuram (tower). Here Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of "Jalakandeswarar". The temple is located at sub-ground levels below the temple moat – hence the name Jalakandeswarar. The temple was closed for a very long period. The main effigy of the deity of the sanctum sanctorium was taken away to a distant location to save him from being dishonoured by an appraisal. It was brought back amd put in place in 1980 when there was a severe water scarcity. The then Collector was key in getting the deity back to its location.
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About Koothattukulam
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Green Tree Tours and Travels takes you to the Koothattukulam is situated in the Muvattupuzha Taluk, towards the South East corner of Ernakulam District in Kerala, South India. It is a junction of three districts Ernakulam, Idukki and Kottayam, and its people follow a mixed culture of Ernakulam and Kottayam (predominantly the latter one). Koothattukulam covers an area of 2318.71 hectares, lies 17 km to the south of Muvattupuzha town and 38 km to the north of Kottayam town via the Main Central Road which passes through this village. Ernakulam is about 50 km Palai at 26 km and Thodupuzha 23 km from here.
Koothattukulam, which had once been a part of Kottayam District, has Palakuzha, Thirumarady, Veliyannur and Elanji as the neighbouring Panchayats. The annual income of this 'special grade panchayat' is about Rs. 20,00,000/-. Most people are engaged in agriculture, farming and trading. The main cash crops are rubber, paddy, coconut, areca nut, ginger, turmeric, 'kacholam' and pepper.
It is believed that originally this area had been ruled by the four Brahmin families of Athimannu, Kottanadu, Kattimuttam and Pariyaram. Today the Koothattukulam Grama Panchayat consists of the four distinct territories (locally known as 'karas') of Koothattukulam, Vadakara, Paittakulam and Kizhakombu and has a population of about 17,700.
There are interesting folklores connected with the current names of each of the territories. One of them relates to a lady who, while digging in an isolated hillock inadvertently hit the head of a sunken idol with her implement. Immediately, blood began to ooze out of the idol's head and on seeing this the terrified lady took to her heels. This shock and terror upset her balance of mind, driving her ultimately to madness and she spent the rest of her days wandering aimlessly ('koothady') from place to place. The place thus came to be called as 'Koothattakalam' which over a period of time became known as Koothattukulam. The spot where the idol's blood is believed to have spilt was called Chorakuzhy ('pool of blood').
Prior to the annexation of this area to his kingdom by the Marthandavarma Maharaja of Travancore, the land had been ruled by the kings of Vadakkumkoor. They had a weapons training centre at Oonakkur, and so, this place came to be known as 'payattukalam', which is the present-day Paittakkulam.It is believed that some members of the Keezhekkombil family who were experts in domesticating wild elephants came over from Elanji and settled over here, which is why the place came to be known as Kizhakombu.
In the beginning of the tenth century, a group of devotees from Vadakara in Malabar set out for the church at Kuravilangad, carrying with them a picture of Yohannan Mamdana. On their way to Kuravilangad, these people rested at a place near Paittakulam and on account of this, the area was subsequently known as Vadakara.
In his famous book 'Keralathile Sthalacharithrangal', the prominent historian and researcher V. V. K. Valath has pointed out that the cultural history of Koothattukulam dates back to the era of Buddhism and Jainism. Koothattukulam, thus, has an illustrious cultural history and the same is reflected in its very name, which suggests that this must have been a land of 'kooth' and 'aattam'. Looking at the forays made by current generation of this place into the arena of art and culture,such a guess is not too far off.
Even about 100 years back, establishments like a quasi-judicial court, hospital, sub-registrar's office, police station, post office, rest house (circuit house), tourist bungalow, Devaswam Board office and an excise inspectorate, all of which normally form part of a District HQs set up, had been established here.
From time immemorial, Koothattukulam has been a shining example of religious tolerance and comity. Hindus and Christians live here in complete harmony. Christian churches steeped in the cultural traditions of theBuddhist-Jainist era is a characteristic feature of this place. Though Christians form the majority of the population, there are a number of places of worship belonging to both the religions. The Mahadeva temple at Koothattukulam, the Onamkunnu Kavu, the Shiva temple at Arjunanmala, the Devi temple at Kizhakombu and the St. John's Syrian Jacobite Church at Vadakara are just a few of the places of worship dating back to several centuries. In addition, there is the Shirdisai temple, which is open to all communities, irrespective of any religious affiliations.
Green Tree Tours and Travels takes you to the Koothattukulam and makes the journey comfortable.