From the Fairytale Kerala to the End of the Earth

Make a fairy tale for yourself for a New Year. The only way how to get to know Kerala, is visit it. This country – surrounded by one side with ocean, from other with small mountains - where in woods stroll elephant herds, and in festivals acts real fun. Here you can spend precious moments, take a break from the usual bustle.
 

KERALA, COCHIN, KALADY, VARKALA, KANYAKUMARI, MADURAI, RAMESHVARAM.

PILGRIMAGE TIME: From 26 of December year 2012 till 9 of January year 2013.  Please fill in till 1 of November year 2012. Pilgrims from another countries – you have chance to join us in Delhi

PILGRIMAGE PLAN (there can be some changes):
Yoga, meditation, if tou want – learn mudra
1 day – depart from Riga or another city
2 day – arrive in delhi, flight to Cochin, settle in, rest
3 day – Kalady
4 day – Journey along the canals
5 day – Arrive in Varkala
6 day – Varkala
7 day – Varkala
8 day - Kanyakumari
9 day – Kannyakumari
10 day – Madurai
11 day – Rameswaram
12 day – Rameswaram
13 day – Madurai
14 day – Delhi or flight to ayurvedic clinic
15 day – Delhi – Riga or another city

KERALA. “Gods earth”, “India’s Venice”, “Heaven on Earth”.
In India it is believed that when God create world – He create Kerala personally for himself. This country is extraordinary beautiful and located in south of India and comply all dreams about exotic and wonderful relaxation. Kerala consider as one of 10 most wonderful places that definitely must been visited. Here nature beauty compatible with abundant cultural heritage. Guests live in houses with traditional architecture that had a thousand years of history. Here is a wonderful sandy beach, although you can find out what to do in addition to beach holidaymaking. Picturesque Old Town, lot of temples with various confessions, reserve, National Parks. This fabulous land locate in the Southwest Indian Ocean waves along the cradle of Western ghatu that. In Kerala, spices and coconut palm malkara; In Kerala, Rice, tea and coffee plantations. In Kerala, silver beach location, cane booths and picture channels. Kerala- often called „Gods earth”, surf and magic place. This country provides so many holiness's and happiness that all those people who have passed through here, had fallen in love with their. It is paradise, where wake up and get sleep with waves rustle.

KALADY (located 45 km from Cochin) – it is a birthplace of Adi Sankaracharya, the great Indian philosopher and saint. Adi Sankaracharya evolved the philosophy of Advaita one of the two principals of the Vedantic school. At Kalady, there are two shrines dedicated to the memory of the Adi Sankaracharya. Sharing the same premises is another spot called Brindavan, where Shankaracharya's mother Aryamba was cremated. There is the famous bathing ghat called the Crocodile Ghat outside the temple. It is said the Crocodile Ghat is the place where the young Shankaracharya once got caught by a crocodile.
His mother was against his taking the Sanyasa and so he utilized this opportunity to coax her to give him permission to take up Sanyasa or renouncement. When she said yes to Sanyasa, the crocodile let him go easily.

It is a pleasure to go for a journey along the canals with rise boats. Canals differ by the languid beauty, slow life rhythm of their banks.

The air is full of the smell of exotic spices.

Dharma Bharti ashram, - amazing christianity's and Vedic combination.

VARKALA. Varkala, a calm and quiet hamlet, lies on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram district. It has several places of tourist interests like a beautiful beach, a 2000-year-old Vishnu Temple and the Ashramam - Sivagiri Mutt a little distance from the beach. Every night taking place in various interesting measures: are burned hundreds of candles, singing mantras, perform the rituals and celebrate weddings. In seashore- near from beach, where tourists take sun bath- is a sanctuary where every day after sunset Indians make puja

KANYAKUMARI - Kanyakumari or the Cape Comorin, the southern most tip of peninsular India is sprawled over an area of 1672 sq. km. Also known as Kanniyakumari in Tamil Language this city is the confluence point of three oceans - the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. According to a legend Kanya Devi, an avatar of Goddess Parvati, was supposed to wed Lord Shiva. But he did not turn up at the auspicious time and the wedding never took place.
Vivekanand Rock Memorial
This rock memorial is one of the most popular and most visited tourist attraction of the city. Vivekanand Rock memorial is an island fort. Built in the year 1970, it is believed that Swami Vivekananda had meditated on the rock here seeking enlightenment. Vivekananda Rock Memorial is open for the travelers everyday and attracts many visitors constantly.
Marunthuvazh Malai - It was believed Lord Hanuman dropped a piece of earth as he was carrying a mountain with a life-saving herb, Sanjivani, from the Himalayas to Sri Lanka during the Rama-Ravana war. This chunk of earth is called Marunthuvazh Malai, which is literally translated to "hills where medicine lives".

MADURAI - is ancient south India city. It is famous for its temples, especially for the celebrated Meenakshi Temple. Situated on the banks of river Vaigai, it derives its name from the divine nectar (Madhu) that was showered from the locks of Lord Shiva according to a popular legend. The city has a rich cultural heritage which it has inherited from the great Tamil era, which is more than 2500 years old. Madurai's glory reached its peak, during the reign of the Cholas and then during the Pandyas' regime in the 13th century.

RAMESWARAM –The holy island of Rameswaram is known for one of India’s most venerated and most visited Shiva shrines, dedicated to Sri Ramanathaswamy. It is so intimately associated with the life of Sri Rama, the hero of the epic Ramayana, that both Saivites and Vaishnavites consider every grain of Rameswaram’s sand very sacred. There is a traditional belief among the Hindus that a pilgrimage to Kashi will be complete only after a visit to Rameswararn, also hailed as “Benaras of the South”. Pilgrims aspire for a holy dip in the sea at Dhanushkodi, revered as Sethu Theertha, where the Mahodathi (Bay of Bengal) meets Ratnakara (Indian Ocean).
It is also considered one among four most sacred pilgrim centers of India. They are Rameswaram in the South, Badrinath in the North, Puri in the East and Dwaraka in the West.
According to Hindu Mythology, if one visits Rameswaram and prays to Lord Shiva one will be relieved of one’s sins.
Besides pilgrimage, Rameswaram Island has several places; there are beautiful beaches at Olaikuda, Dhanushkodi and Pamban. The Olaikuda beach is 1 km from the main temple and s engulfed by coral reefs, which makes bathing in the sea safe and enjoyable. With diving glasses and respiration tubes, scuba diving is safe and possible. Flamingos, sea gulls and a variety of birds migrate to the Rameswaram Island during winter.