Madurai: Srivilliputhur Andal temple: Sankarankovil Sankaralingaswamy Temple:

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1 Madurai: Madurai is one of the major cities in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the banks of river Vaigai - ancient capital of Pandya Kingdom. The City has a number of historical monuments, with the Meenakshi Amman Temple and Tirumalai Nayak Palace being the most prominent. Madurai is closely associated with the Tamil language, and the third Tamil Sangam. Srivilliputhur Andal temple: Srivilliputhur Andal temple (also called Srivilliputtur Divya Desam) in Srivilliputhur, a town in Virudhunagar district (famous for its temple )in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Lord Vishnu. It is located 80 km from Madurai. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th 9th centuries AD. The tower of this temple rises 192 feet high and is the official symbol of the Government of Tamil Nadu Sankarankovil Sankaralingaswamy Temple: Sankarankovil Sankaralingaswamy Temple is home to the Sankaranayinar temple. It is situated at Tirunelveli District and 56 km away from Thirunelveli City. It is very noted for the "Adi Thabasu" festival. Even now it is called as Sankarankovil. It was built by Ukkira Pandiyan AC 900.It houses the deity by the name Sankara Narayanan, which is half Lord Shiva and the other half Lord Vishnu.

2 Shandurney Wild Life Sanctuary : Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in the Western Ghats, India. It is located in Kollam district of Kerala and comes under the control of Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve. Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary is unique in its scenic beauty and authentic ambience of nature. The sanctuary is having an artificial lake of nearly 18.69Sq.km size and also surrounded by the reservoir of Thenmala Dam. The Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary is a treasure house of plant diversity. Tenmala Eco Tourism: India s first planned eco-tourism destination, Thenmala gained popularity owing to its unique vistas, bio-diversity and functioning. Located 60 km away from Kollam. Thenmala share its resources with the famous Shenduruney Wildlife Sanctuary at the foothills of the Western Ghats. Trekking, mountain biking, camping etc. are the highlights here. Palaruvi Waterfalls: Palaruvi Waterfalls which literally translates to Stream of Milk, comes down through rocks from a height of 300 feet located 72 Km from Kollam. This has turned into a delightful picnic spot where one can enjoy a spectacular view uninterrupted. The rocky terrain one has to traverse before reaching it can be cumbersome but once these majestic waterfalls come into sight, any kind of fatigue disappears immediately

3 Punalur Hanging Bridge: Punalur is a city situated near the Tamil Nadu- Kerala border in the Kollam district. It is situated on the banks of the Kallada River. The Punalur Suspension Bridge, located in Punalur is the oldest motorable Bridge in Kerala, which was built by the British and is now a historical attraction. Kottarakkara Sree Mahaganapathy Temple : Kottarakkara Sree Mahaganapathy Temple is an ancient temple of worship dedicated to Lord Shiva but the sub deity Ganesha gained prominence amongst devotees over many centuries. It is very popular temple where even non hindus are permitted to pray. The main offering of the temple is Unniyappam a sweet, small and round, brown flour cake boile in oil. Thangasseri Fort, Lighthouse & Breakwater: An enclave of the Portuguese, Dutch and the British in succession, Thankasseri is a home to the ruins of an old Portuguese Fort and churches built in the 18th Century, the destination s located 5 km from Kollam town. The Thankasseri Lighthouse is another attraction here. The view of the breakwater here from atop the lighthouse is an added delight.

4 Munroe Island: Named after Col. Munroe, the British Resident of erstwhile Travancore State, this island is located 12 km away from Kollam. The peculiar village backwater tours on offer here are so spectacular that they have earned international recognition in the magazine, Lonely Planet. Cashew Factory Kollam or Quilon is known as the Cashew Capital of the World. Kollam is the largest processed cashew exporter in the world. As of 2011, there are more than 600 cashew processing units in the city. About 800,000 tonnes of raw cashews are imported to the city for processing every year. 90% of India's export quality cashew kernels are prepared in Kollam. Vallikavu Amritapuri Ashram: Vallikavu is home to the residence and headquarters of Matha Amritanandamayi, one of India s great spiritual living gurus. Amritapuri Ashram is 30 km away and known as an international pilgrimage centre for those searching for solace, inspiration and inner peace.

5 Ochira Temple : Oachira Temple is an ancient temple located in Oachira in Kollam district in the South Indian state of Kerala. Oachira is on the border of Kollam and Allappuzha districts, This very ancient pilgrimage center is centered on the ParaBrahma temple (that is dedicated to the Para Brahman The Absolute. Krishnapuram Palace: The Krishnapuram Palace is a rare specimen of the Kerala style of architecture, complete with gabled roofs, narrow corridors and dormer windows, located 35 km away. The most fascinating exhibit here is the 49 sq.m Gajendra Moksham- the largest single band of mural painting so far discovered in Kerala. Other collections at the museum include rare antique bronze sculptures and paintings. Sasthamcotta Lake Temple Shri Dharma Sastha temple is a Hindu temple located at the village Sasthamkotta. It is surrounded three sides by the largest fresh water lake of Kerala, Sasthamkotta lake.the temple here is well known for the inhabitance of monkeys. The temple monkeys are believed to be the divine retinue of the prime deity. The Sasthamcotta temple is one among the five ancient Sastha temples in Kerala - AchanKoil, Aryankavu, Kulathupuzha, Sasthamcotta and Sabarimala. The concept of Dharma Sastha represents the unison of Vaishnava and Saiva beliefs.

6 Attukal Bhagavathy Temple : The Attukal Bhagavathy Temple is situated near Trivandrum. Goddess Bhadrakali (Kannaki), mounted over 'vethala', is the main deity in this temple. Bhadrakali is considered as the goddess of prosperity and salvation. The temple is renowned for the annual Attukal Pongala festival, in which over three million women participate. A festival that has figured in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the single largest gathering of women for a religious activity, the Attukal Pongala continues to draw millions of women with each passing year. Pazhavangadi Ganapathy Temple The Pazhavangadi Maha Ganapathy temple is situated at East Fort in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram City. The main Deity of the temple is Sri Mahaganapathy (Ganesha). The main idol is installed in a seated posture with the right leg in a folded stance. The temple is situated in close proximity to the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple. Thiruvallam Parasurama Temple: Thiruvallam Sree Parasurama Swami Temple is one of the most ancient temples of South India. It is situated on the banks of Karamana River near Thiruvallam, Thiruvananthapuram. It is the only temple in Kerala dedicated to Lord Parasurama. It is famous for Balitharpanam (a tribute to ancestors). Legend has it that Lord Parasurama is the creator of Kerala and the temple dedicated to him is considered as a holy place for his devotees.

7 Kappil Beach: The pristine Kappil Beach and backwaters is situated 7 km away from Varkala, the famed beach destination. The ideal blend of the backwaters and sea, it offers an idyllic escape from the world. Located close to the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram, people come here to enjoy the scenic backwaters and the various water sports options. It is a peaceful area with ample chances to simply relax or take a comforting boat ride. A drive along the coastal road is also a delightful way to experience the delightful view. Varkala Beach: The Papanasam Beach (also called as Varkala Beach), which is ten kilometers away from Varkala, is renowned for a natural spring. Which is considered to have medicinal and curative properties. A dip in the holy waters at this beach is believed to purge the body of impurities and the soul of all sins; hence the name Papanasam Beach'. Beach, mineral water springs, the Sivagiri Mutt final resting place of the legendary leader, saint and social reformer of Kerala, Sree Narayana Guru and a 2000-year- old Janardanaswamy Temple are the main attractions. Anjengo Fort : Anjengo Fort is forever remembered in the pantheons of history as the location of the first trade settlement of the East India Company in Kerala. Legend has it that the English were given this site by the Queen of Attingal for trade purposes. Anjengo or Anjuthenu was a small stretch of land with five coconut trees at the time and the fort was named after the same. The old English Fort that once stood here would be constantly attacked by foreign powers for centuries.

8 VSSC Space Museum : Situated near the northern boundary of Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS), a few metres from the coastline, St Mary Magdalene Church, lined with high-tech artefacts and visuals, speak the tell tales on the birth of Indian Space Programme. Thripparappu Temple and water falls: Thirparappu (Thriparappu) is famous for its waterfalls and is located in Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu in the southern part of India. Thirparappu Falls is located 42 km from Nagercoil 55 km (34 mi) from Thiruvananthapuram and a distance of 5 km from Kulasekaram.This famous falls is in the Kodayar. The Kodayar makes its descend at Thirparappu and the water fall at this place is about 13 km from Pechiparai dam. Kanyakumari Devi Temple : KANYAKUMARI : It is also known as Cape Comorin in the Southern most tip of Indian Peninsula This temple is dedicated to virgin goddess (Kanya Kumari Devi ). Since Lord Siva didn't keep his promise to marry her on one particular day, she was very upset and angry, and her anger was diverted to kill the demons. The temple is surrounded by Vivekananda Rock Memorial, "Thiruvalluvar Statue and Mahatma Gandhi Mandapam.

9 Adhikesava Perumal Temple, Thiruvattar: The temple is surrounded on three sides by rivers Kothai, Parali and Tambraparani. River Paraliyar takes a turn in this place and diverges to flow forming an island and it is called Vattaru and when the temple of Adhikesava Perumal was created it came to be known as Thiruvattaru. Padmanabhapuaram Palace: Around 64 kms from Thiruvananthapuram lies the seat of the erstwhile rulers of Travancore, the Padmanabhapuram Palace. It is the largest Wooden Palace in the World. This masterpiece of indigenous Kerala architecture is located at Thuckalay, on the way to Kanyakumari. The wooden palace is well maintained and its murals, fabulous floral carvings and black granite floor continue to astound all who view it to this day Vellimalai Kumaraswamy Temple, Kumarakoil: Vellimalai Kumaraswamy Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Murugan located at Kumarakoil or Kumarakovil, a small village in Kanyakumari District of Tamilnadu. It is built on a rocky terrain about 200 feet in height. The whole place is filled with lush green paddy fields, banana gardens, coconut trees with the mountain in the background, natural beauty, a feast to the eyes

10 Kilimanoor Palace : Kilimanoor Palace is famous as the birthplace of Raja Ravi Varma, the celebrated Indian painter. Raghava Varma. The Palace complex covers more than six hectares, and comprises the traditional residential structures of Kerala, like the Nalukettu, small and medium-sized buildings, two ponds, wells and sacred groves. Raja Ravi Varma is said to have built and maintained some of the buildings from the proceeds of his paintings. Families related to the Travancore royal house continue to live here. Madavoor Rock Temple and Park: Madavoorpara Siva temple is a rock cut temple located in the outskirts of Trivandrum city. This temple is an ancient one dating back to 850 A.D. The temple and the surroundings is now under the protection of the State Archaeological Department. The temple has a carved idol of Lord Siva and a carving of Ganapathi on the wall in the right side. There is also a carving of the local chieftain on the left side of the temple. Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple: Located inside the East Fort in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of the State of Kerala. Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. This temple is a blend of the Kerala and Dravidian styles of architecture. It is believed to be the world s richest temple with discovery of treasure chambers filled with gold and precious stones recently.

11 Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Kanyakumari : The colossal and imposing Vivekananda Rock Memorial is located offshore around 500 m east of mainland of Vavathurai, Kanyakumari, in the southernmost tip of India. It is seated on one of the two adjacent rocks projecting out of the Lakshadweep Sea and comprises of two important structures, the Shripada Mandapam and the Vivekananda Mandapam. This awe-inspiring memorial was constructed in honour of the great spiritual leader and Hindu monk of India, Swami Vivekananda who is said to have attained enlightenment here after meditating for two days prior to his famous Chicago trip. Vaishnava Nambi and Thirukurungudivalli Nachiar Temple Vaishnava Nambi and Thirukurungudivalli Nachiar Temple in Thirukkurungudi, a village in Tirunelveli district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. It is located 45 km from Tirunelveli. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th 9th centuries AD. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Vaishnava Nambi and his consort Lakshmi as Thirukurungudivalli.The temple is locally referred as Dakshina Vaikuntam, the holy abode of Vishnu Sreevaikuntam : Srivaikuntam is a panchayat town in Thoothukudi district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the banks of the river Thamirabarani. Srivaikuntam has a temple dedicated to Vishnu, known as Srivaikuntapathi Swami, with a lofty gopuram. The Thiruvengada Mudaiyar Mandapam is rich with sculptures of Yallis, elephants and warriors. The Ekadasi Mandapam, which is opened on Vaikunta Ekadasi days, contains sculptures.

12 Papanasanathar Temple : Papanasanathar Temple in Papanasam, a village in Tirunelveli district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to Hindu god Shiva. It is located 60 km from Tirunelveli. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple has three precincts. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The temple has a seven-tiered gateway tower. The temple has artistic sculptures representative of Nayak art. Brahmadesam Kailaasanathar: The Brahmadesam Kailasanathar temple is located 4.2km from Ambasamudram and 43 km from Tirunelveli. The temple has huge towering wooden doors which are beautifully carved with Gods into panels on the door. Rajagopala Swamy Temple, Mannarkoil : Rajagopalaswamy Kulasekara Perumal Temple is dedicated to Hindu God Vishnu located at Mannarkoil near Ambasamudram in Thirunelveli District of Tamilnadu. The Temple is located at a distance of about 1 km towards west side from Brahmadesam Kailasanathar Temple and 7 Kms from Ambasamudram off the Tenkasi Kutralam Highway. Mannarkoil is an island bounded by the Thamirabarani river on the south side, and the Ghatana river on the north side.

13 Tiruchendur Murugan Temple : Tiruchendur is a panchayat town at the southern tip of India, in the Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu. It is home to Thiruchendur Murugan Temple, one of the ancient Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Muruga. It is one of the six major abodes, or sacred temples of the Kaumaram religion. The temple, which is built near the seashore, measures 91 m (299 ft) north to south, 65 m (213 ft) east to west, and has a seven-tier gopuram, or tower gate, that is 42 m (138 ft) high. The principal entrance faces south, and opens into the first of two prakarams, the first of which is lined with rows of Yalis. The inner sanctum of the temple is in a cave and the main deity, or moolavar, is Murugan as a saintly child, portrayed in a granite carving. Uvari Beach : Uvari is fishing village situated at shore of way of Bengal at Tirunelveli district, Tamilnadu, South India. This village is located just about 70 kms south from Tirunelveli, 50 kms east from Nagercoil and 100 kms west from Tuticorin Thoothukudi : Thoothukudi, also known by its British name Tuticorin, is a port city and a municipal corporation and an industrial city in Thoothukudi district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The city lies in the Coromandel Coast of Bay of Bengal. Thoothukudi is known as "Pearl City" due to the pearl fishing carried out in the town. It is a commercial seaport which serves the inland cities of Southern India and is one of the sea gateways of Tamil Nadu.

14 Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameswaram: Rameswaram is a town on Pamban Island, in the southeast Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It s known for Ramanathaswamy Temple, a Hindu pilgrimage site with ornate corridors, huge sculpted pillars and sacred water tanks. Devotees bathe in the waters of Agni Theertham, off the beach east of the temple. Gandamadana Parvatham is a hill with island views. A chakra (wheel) here is said to bear an imprint of Lord Rama s feet. Ponmudi Hill Station is connected to Trivandrum by a two lane highway (SH2 & SH 45). The last 18km starting from Anapara has scenic views, as it winds through the mountains and tea gardens. The travel along this stretch provides a thrilling experience as drivers and riders have to navigate 22 Hairpin turns. Ponmudi is also a popular spot for backpacking and trekking. The climate is pleasant year-round. Agasthyarkoodam is a 1,868-metre (6,129 ft)-tall peak within Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala in the Western Ghats of South India. However peak lies in the border of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. This peak is a part of the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve which lies on the border between the Indian states of Kerala (in Pathanamthitta, Kollam and Thiruvananthapura m districts) and Tamil Nadu (in Kanyakumari district, Tirunelveli district). The perennial Thamirabarani River originates from the eastern side of the range and flows into the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. KUTRALAM WATER FALLS Nestled in the scenic Western Ghats, Kutralam is a popular tourist destination of South Tamil Nadu. Courtallam or Kutralam is a town situated at a height of 160 m (520 ft) above sea level in the foothills of the Western Ghats in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu, India. The very name of the place has become synonymous with the thundering waterfalls that flow here. It is also home to centuries old ancient temples and other famous places of interest. Several seasonal and perennial rivers such as Thamirabarani, Manimuthar, Pachaiyar and Chittar originate in this lush region.

15 Kunnampara Temple Location :- 8 Km South of Thiruvananthapuram city on the Kovalam route, the temple is situated at Vazhamuttam a serene village in between the Arabian Sea and the Vellayani Lake. The landed property owned by the temple comes around 21 acres and 21 cents which was donated in M.E by Shri. Kochukutty Vaidyar of Chettiyar Thoppil in Pachalloor, who was an ardent worshipper of Sree Narayana Guru. There was a temple and a rest house for Sree Narayana Guru. Kottarakkara Thampuran Memorial Museum of Classical Arts is dedicated to the creator of Kathakali (the classical dance drama of Kerala) Kottarakkara Thampuran is a museum established for the promotion of classical arts. The museum exhibits life size figures of Kathakali and Mohiniyattam characters in their original costumes; hastha mudras (hand gestures) used in Kathakali and Mohiniyattam and the books, ornaments, costumes used by great masters in this field. Police Museum at Kollam is the only such establishment in the country, that traces the history and development of the police force. On display are police arms of the 18th and 19th centuries and various other exhibits. The star attraction of the museum is the Martyr's Gallery. The musuem is also known as Sardar Vallabhai Patel Police Museum.

16 Achankovil Temple Lord Ayyappa presides there in the form of grihastha (householder) and the idol faces east. It is believed to installed by Lord Parasurama himself. The pratishta of Lord Ayyappa here is quite unique from that of other Sastha shrines in Kerala. The idol is known as Rudraksha sila. He is depicted as a grihasthashrami (one who leads a married life) along with his two consorts Poorna and Pushkala. The temple is famed for curing poisonous Snakebites and thus Ayyappa is often portraited as a Mahavaidya (great physician). Kulathoor Phanamugham Devi Temple is one of the ancient temples in south India. It is a famous temple situated in Trivandrum District, Kerala, India in Kulathoor village, Neyyattinkara Taluk. Thookkam is an important part of festival in this temple. The festival is conducted on month of February March (kumbham). On the days of festival, devotees from different parts of kerala come here and take part. People believe that those who come here and prays will get blessings from devi and will get solutions to all our problems. Aryankavu Sastha Temple a Hindu temple and one among the 108 Sastha shrines in the Indian state of Kerala. The idol here is believed to be consecrated by sage Parashurama. It is also one among Pancha Sastha temples in Kerala located in the Pathanapuram tehsil of Kollam district, in the eastern forest ranges.

17 The RP Mall is a shopping mall in the city of Kollam, Kerala, Owned by one of the business tycoons in India, Dr. B. Ravi Pillai's RP Group. [ RP Mall was formerly known as K-Mall (Kollam Mall) and was the first mall venture from Malabar Developers and first of its kind in South kerala.kollam was the third city in Kerala (after Kochi and Kozhikode) to adopt the shopping mall culture.the 210,000 sq.ft Mall is located on Kollam's high street. RP Mall has about 100,000 sq.ft. of retail space, spread on seven floors. The Raviz House Boat The houseboats, also known as Kettuvallam are a throwback from the past when they were used to transport goods for trading. The modern Kettuvallams are more exotic and far-removed from the earlier houseboats. These amazing leisure boats are constructed entirely without using a single nail and include the use of locallysourced natural products like jack-wood planks, bamboo flooring, sticks and wood from the areca nut tree for the roof and coconut tree for beds and furniture. The body of the boat is lashed together with coir before being coated with a black resin from boiled cashew kernels. Water Sports Activities in Raviz Resort and Spa Ashtamudi, Kollam - 5-star deluxe hotel, is truly the best backwater resort in Kerala.

18 Tenkasi Kasi Viswanathar Temple: Tenkasi Kasi Viswanathar Temple in Tenkasi, a City in Tirunelveli district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Lord Shiva. The temple is believed to have been built by Pandyan ruler Parakkirama Pandian during the 13th century. Shiva is worshipped as Kasi Viswanathar and his consort Parvathi as Ulagamman. Shengottai Thirumalai Kovil : Thirumalai Kovil is a Murugan temple situated at Panpoli, Tenkasi taluk, Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu, South India. It is about 160 km from Madurai. The temple is situated on a small hill surrounded by the Western Ghats near the border with Kerala. The temple is also famous for its large number of steps because it has more than 600 steps Malamel Temple: At Malamel, there is a huge rock on which there is a famous Shiva Temple. The temple has 5 doors and is considered to be divine and ancient because of the close proximity of Jadayupara (Chadayamangalam) (the rock that Jadayu carried on his wings). This cave is believed to be a haven for very venomous snakes.

19 Ashtamudi Backwater Boat Cruise The southern gateway to the alluring backwaters of Kerala, Ashtamudi derives its name from its eight branches or channels. With a unique wetland ecosystem, Ashtamudi is second only to the Vembanad in terms of its size and beauty. The backwater cruise from Kollam to Alappuzha along the 61 km long lake is regarded as the best backwater cruise in Kerala. Nagaraja Temple, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari: Nagaraja Temple is a Hindu Temple worshipping Nagaraja (King of Serpents- Vasuki) situated at the heart of Nagercoil Town in Kanyakumari District of Tamilnadu. The name for the town Nagercoil originated from this temple. The temple has innumerable statues of serpents. Snakes are an important part of the Hindu system of worship. It decorates the neck of Lord Shiva and acts as a bed for Lord Vishnu. Snake worship is prevalent all through India. The temple is a symbol of four religions - Jainism, Buddhism, Saivism and Vaishnavism. Thanumalayan Temple, Suchindram, Kanyakumari: Thanumalayan Temple, also called as Sthanumalayan Temple is an Hindu Temple dedicated to Hindu Trinity located in Suchindram in Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu. Thanumalayan Temple is of importance to both Shaivite and Vaishnavite sects of Hinduism, as the name Sthanumalayan denotes Trimurtis; "Sthanu" means Siva; "Mal" means Vishnu; and the "Ayan" means Brahma.

20 Kottukal Cave Temple: It is an existing example of rock cut architecture built between 6 th and 8 th centuries of the current era. It consists of two unequal caves facing the east with the main diety of Ganapathy in between. The smaller cave has an idol of Hanuman and the larger one has a monolithic Nandi (bull) in it. Lord Shiva is also a deity in the temple in the form of a Shiva Ling. Chadayamangalam Jadayupara: Jadayupara World s biggest bird sculpture. Celebrated for its mythical links to the Hindu Epic Ramayana, the huge rock at Chadayamangalam takes its name from the mythical bird Jatayu who is believed to have collapsed on the rock after failing in his attempts to thwart Ravana s kidnapping of Sita. This picnic spot is situated on MC Road, and is 40 km away.