Aruvikkara Dam was once a recognized picnic spot, but is now disregarded by all. Hard to reach here (roads filled with potholes), no amenities (plenty of 'scope' for boating and other activities), & no refreshment (except a DTPC restaurant), you can just come here, relax for a few minutes on the lawn, whine how badly this location is kept and return home with nothing much to think about.
Aruvikkara Dam is just 16 km from Trivandrum city.
I feel a lack of good hangouts within the city of Thiruvananthapuram. When looking to spend some time idly, there are quite a few places to look for. The sprawling exterior of Napier Museum Thiruvananthapuram is one among them.
On all sides of the famous building is a beautiful garden. The proficiently managed beautiful turf, always receive visitors of all ages. Seeing it over and over again, I have really lost the attraction to the garden and the breeze there. However, when I like to spend some time doing nothing, I reach this place.
The 19th century Indo-Saracenic building wears a magnificent look, especially in the night, with neon lights bathing this building in golden light. The water work before the entry of the building recently saw a revival, probably in response to the Onam celebrations that had consumed the whole city.
Inside the building are rare collections of historic artifacts, curious ivory carvings, a majestic temple chariot, etc. The interior of the building is also naturally cool, even as the exteriors bask under sun. The architecture has a peculiar feature of air circulation that supplies cold air throughout the interiors, while not using any electrical or mechanical systems.
Plastic is strictly prohibited in the premises. A sign board at the entry point warns visitors against bringing plastic carry bags or packages to the premises. It is only nice to stick to the rules to keep the place beautiful.
Onam celebrations are officially over in Thiruvananthapuram City and the city dwellers now choose to go back the bustles of their careers and professions. School kids have time till Sunday for their celebrations.
It was a great Onam season at Thiruvananthapuram City that comes to a close. I can clearly tell this is the most hassle-free, trouble free, incident-free celebration in the city. Authorities have made all the necessary preparations to manage the mass event a great success.
I could see policemen and women, literally all over the city extending helping hands to the gatherers. There were also teams of firefighters ready near venues of mass attendance like the Nishagandhi, Poojappura ground, etc.
It was just a wandering through the city on the last day of the celebrations, but was not in the mood to watch Magician Samraj in action at Nishagandhi, although I have visited the ground and made some purchases, especially the sweet halwa from Kozhikode.
Kerala state capital Thiruvananthapuram is about to come off its festival mood, with the week-long celebrations coming to a close. Sixteen official stages of Onam celebrations within the city amused the city folk to no end. Ganamela (music programs), dance programs, Kalaripayattu (martial art form of Kerala), competitions of various kinds, all added to the festivities.
The ghazals at the Press Club hall and the Ganamela at Poojappura ground were the two items I preferred for the day. I was with my friend Suma Kumar while enjoying ghazals by Raghuram, where the audience could be counted to less than 35. My friend had to leave for home at 8.00 pm and I had to leave too.
Then I am all alone and free to wander on my own and I headed over to Poojappura, where Jassi Gift, Sayanora, Vidhu Pratap, Devanand, etc were amusing the crowd that stayed there inspite of a quick lash of rain. Dancing away in merry, the guys were enjoying the music to end.
Today, there is Magic Show by Prof Samraj at Suryakanti Auditorium.
Thiruvonam day is relatively low-note affair in Thiruvananthapuram city, with people still in the mood of hanging out at their homes after the sadya.
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I push myself out of my home, into the city, exploring the festivities. After a usual rounds through the Kanakakkunnu and Nishagandhi, I reached the stage before Government Secretariate, where a team of Kalaripayattu experts perform the acrobatics of the martial art. It was real nice to watch 7-8 year old lads performing the different steps of Kalaraippayattu.One could feel a chill passing through their spine, as he or she watches the performers using the double-edged belt-sword that creates sparks when it come into contact with another sword or with the road.
I also love Ghazals and a friend of mine passed me message over phone there is Ghazal performance going on at Press Club hall. I quickly reached there. The audience, as expected was very few and I could count the whole audience up to 32. Twenty of them seem to form a closed loop with the singer and her team. There are not many takers for Ghazals in Thiruvananthapuram I guess.
This onam is going great. Real feasts of dance, music and some yummy five star food items, on the festival grounds of Kerala capital.
Walking into the food festival ground Thiruvananthapuram, everyone gets stuck at the acrobatic skills of this chef from North India. I found myself, just as many onlookers, watching this guy in action, with wide opened eyes and dropped jaws.
If you are not happy with my photography, I am with you. I started photography five days back only (on Wednesday –Aug 22 to be precise).
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An elephant in the city, bearing advertisement of Khazana jewellery showroom, in Thiruvananthapuram city.
Last evening I see quite a bit of picking up of celebrations, albeit only around the main venue of Nishagandhi.
Having nothing special to do, I've gone out last evening with a neighbor, who wanted to purchase a new mobile phone. A break came, when spotted the illumination works on either side of MG road.
I never cease to amaze at the acrobatic skills of these guys who ride bikes and cars, literally horizontal to the ground, in a 'well of death'. Like in the previous years, this year too had one such 'well' on the ground before Kanakakkunnu palace.
The well is built up from ground to a height of about 30 ft. Onlookers have to climb that height to enjoy a glimpse of the acrobatic skills. I feel the stand trembling and a whiff of wind reaching my face, as the motorcycles move past me, at a height about my waist line. The only separation between the onlookers and the rubber side of the bike is a three inch wooden wall.
Some feel terrorized at the sight, wind and the feeling of the whole well trembling, while others thoroughly enjoy the skills.
The young men (and a woman on a motorcycle) never seem to care. They make their way, with hands off of the handle bar and steering, while moving at fast pace over the walls of the well. The motorcycles overtake the cars several times.
The museum compound is fully illuminated, but photographing the illumination works was a disaster. Official ONAM celebrations begins only today (Aug 24), and variety of programs like Ghazals, dance programs, music events are expected at various venues like Poojappura Ground, Shankumukham, Neyyar Dam and in the main venue of Nishagandhi.
I post a few photographs I have taken from the MG road, Napier Museum compound and Kanakakkunnu palace ground.
Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala once again tries to get into the mood of celebration, this onam season.
Apparently dampened by fever-attacks that stuck several people down, the celebrations in this city have not really taken off, when compared to the spirits of previous years.
Last evening I wandered into Nishagandhi, the main venue for celebrations – where amusement of various kinds and hundreds of merchant stalls are the order of the day.
The ten-day holiday is still away and the carnival grounds didn't start buzzing with the cheers of children. Maybe in the coming days the giant wheel and go-merry-rounds receive the visitors.
Poised take advantage of the spending habits of Kerala people, there were quite a few merchant stalls up and running.
From sweets and food items to finance and investment products, the stalls offer a little variety.
Probably after seeing me wearing spectacles, the guys at the stall of Vasan Eye Care Hospital invited me to take a free sight test, after which they suggested a Zyoiptix laser procedure for refractive corrections. Maybe, I take the treatment, because I want to throw my spectacles away.
There are also a number of stalls for financial and investment products –SBI Life insurance, 5Paisa.com, among several others. A Rat Vanish product that chases rat away, and the one stall by women self help group that sold extremely cheap studded ornaments, a few eatery stalls, and the list is almost complete.
Have you heard about Aranmula mirror made from a metal? Well, there was one stall for Aranmula Kannadi. They sell the mirrors for prices Rs.900.00, Rs.1300.00 & Rs.2300.00. There are however only very limited number of mirrors available. Kerala Mirror is the website of the guys who have set up stalls here.
At the VJT Hall, Thiruvananthapuram is somewhat better trade activity, with shawls, idols, curios, artworks, etc on display.
This is a blog on beautiful places and beautiful people of Trivandrum, the capital city of Kerala, in South India.
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