Kalaripayattu: Ancient Martial Arts

Kalaripayattu: Ancient Martial Arts

There are many institutes and organizations in Kerala that are engaged in the preservation and promotion of art form of the regions of Kerala and its surrounding states. One such organization if Cochin Cultural Centre that is involved in the promotion of many art forms like Kathakali, Mohiniattam, Bharatnatyam and Kalaripayattu.

Cochin Cultural Centre is situated on the Sangamam Maniketh Road adjacent to Fort Kochi Bus stand. Every evening the place is alive with performances. The performances are slotted and the entire programme is of a duration of four hours starting from 5 pm till 9 pm. Viewer have an option for enjoying the whole programme or watching selected art forms. In this post I will talk about the ancient martial art form of Kalaripayattu.

Talking about Kalaripayattu, let us first know about Kalaripayattu and its history.

About Kalaripayattu

Sage Agastya is believed to be the founder and patron of Kalaripayattu. It has a legend attached to is that is popularly narrated by the people of the region. Sage Agastya was a short height and lean man. He devised Kalaripayattu as a defensive tactic against wild animals. In those times, the population of tigers was large and other wild animals also used to attack human beings. He developed this form to defend and protect from the attack of the animals. Sage Parshuram is also associated with Kalaripayattu.  He modified the original form and added it to war tactics. He also popularized the use of arms as a combat art. Parashurama was a master in the art of weaponry and he emphasized more on weapons than striking and grappling.

Kalaripayattu is an old martial art form. This is one of the oldest form that is still popular. The credit of keeping this old tradition alive solely rests on the efforts of the local people. The warrior communities of Kerala like the Nair’s and Chavhan have played an important role in the continuation of this art. These communities used to practice this martial art for honing their warrior skills. It is also a form of combat. Historian Elamkulam Kunjam Pillai dates the development of the present form of Kalaripayattu to the 11^th Century extended period of warfare between the Chera and Chola dynasties.

History

The word Kalaripayattu is derived from two words: kalari and payattu. Kalari means a battlefield or combat arena while payattu means practice or working hard. Nair and Chavhan communities used to train their children from a very young age. They were admitted to specialized schools where they were trained in Kalaripayattu rigorously. Training at that age, the children were flexible and with time they became quicker, more agile and imbibed the art of Kalaripayattu. Once they were adept in it, they were imparted the training of fighting with arms like sticks and other arms.

Kalaripayattu has three regional variants that are distinguished by their attacking and defensive patterns. These styles are related to the different regions of Southern India

Source 

Southern Kalaripayattu

This style is related to the region of Travancore. This form uses the preliminary empty handed techniques only.

 

Northern kalaripayattu

This style is popular in Malabar and the emphasis is more on weapons than empty hands in this style.

Central kalaripayattu

The Central kalaripayattu is practiced mainly in northern parts of Kerala like Kozhikode, Mallapuram, Palakkad, Thrissur and Ernakulam. It is a mix of the Northern and Southern styles of Kalaripayattu.

The Cochin Cultural Centre showcases all the three styles of Kalaripayattu.

source

There is a big difference in seeing the styles live than on the television screen. It is amazing to see the tactics followed by the performers. They charge with the speed of lightning and the flexibility of body is immense. Young performers are masters in this form of martial arts. They depict the aglity of a cheetah and strategic thinking of a fox that leaves the opponent in awe.

If you happen to visit Kerala, then Kalaripayattu is a must watch for you.

Till we meet next with a new destination and new stories.

Be happy and keep travelling.

Your friend and companion

Dr. Kaynat Kazi

Paragliding

Fly Like a Bird - Enjoy Paragliding at Sikkim

Imagine yourself spreading your wings and exploring the infinite expanse of the limitless sky. Since times in memorial human beings have made various attempts to fly like a bird. And if you also want to break free like a bird, then paragliding is an adventure you should definitely try. Take time out of your busy schedule and rush to the nearest place that offers you to lose yourself in the vast sky. Head to the Himalayas where mountain and hills, valleys and mighty rivers attract you to try the adventure you have been thinking of from a long time. There are many spots in India where you can enjoy paragliding. Solang Valley, Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh and Gangtok in the North-east are some of the few.

The paragliding site at Bir-Billing in Kangra district near Baijnath is known as the second best site in the world for Paragliding. Every year in the month of October, Paragliding Competitions of international standard are organized here.



Paragliding aero-sport is an adventurous sport. It requires you to have faith and believe on your trainer more that you trust yourself. One can enjoy paragliding near Gangtok, the capital city of Sikkim. The site is located approximately 10 kilometers from Mahatma Gandhi Road. This site is in the vicinity of the Banjhakri waterfall.

Paragliding requires you to undergo training before actually trying it. But one can enjoy a short trip with a trained instructor also. These certified instructors ensure that you have a safe and adventurous trip. But you need to keep your weight under check. In case you weigh more than 90 kgs, then you should considering losing weight before attempting to fly like a bird.

One can find many operators who provide the gear and training for paragliding in Sikkim. There are two types of flights that could be undertaken- Medium and High flight. As the name suggests, Medium flight takes off from an altitude of 1300- 1400 feet. One can experience the breathtaking aerial view of the entire city of Gangtokas well as the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas during this flight. Baliman Dara, which is atop a hill, is the take off point of this flight. The pilot and instructor are buckled into a harness with a glider. Then the pilot made to run down the hill and in a flash takes the leap of faith. Within minutes one is soaring into the deep blue sky like a bird. Colorful hand gliders line the expansive sky just like birds. After a round of the entire valley one can land safely in the stadium. The flight though lasts only 15- 20 minutes but the experience is totally out of the world.

Till we meet next with a new destination of the Himalayas and lesser known aspects.

Be happy and keep travelling.

Your friend and companion

Dr. Kaynat Kazi

 

Jibhi Camp

The Great Himalayas Calling: Day One

Majestic and mighty Himalayas, the crown of our country, have been attracting wanderers, philosophers, explorers, trekkers and travelers like me since times in memorial.  Each person is enticed towards it for a different reason. Some are trying to find inner peace, some are in search of nirvana and a few others just want to lose themselves in theirnatural and scenic beauty.



The Himalayas are home to great rivers too. On one end we have the Indus whereas the other end is marked by the Brahmaputra. Greenery and nature’s bounties abound the entire landscape. It is said that the Himalayas have an enigma that attracts people like a magnet. I too have been fascinated with the charm of the Himalayas.

I have already shared my Leh-Ladakh travel diary with you. This time I would take you to the outer areas of the Himalayas. The great Himalayan range is so big that it is not possible to cover the entire expanse in one trip.

The range is divided into four categories:

• Trans Himalayan Range


• Greater Himalayan Range


• Middle Himalayan Range


• Shiwalik Range

Let us begin our journey with information about the Himalayas



The Northern-most range also called Trans Himalayas is the oldest range. It consists of Karakoram Range, Ladakh Range and the Kailash Range and is an extension of the Tibetan plateau having a width of 40 km.

The Himadri or the Greater Himalayas is the highest range of the Himalayas. The Zaskar Range of Jammu and Kashmir is part of the Himadri. Some of the highest mountain peaks like Mt K2, Kanchenjunga, Mt. Everest, Annapurna, NamchaBarwa etc. are found in the region

To the South of the Greater Himalayas lies the Middle Himalayan or Himanchal range. The Kashmir Valley in the west and Kathmandu valley in the east are two of the biggest valleys found here.  It consists of the PirPanjal range of Jammu and Kashmir, Dhauladhar range of Himachal Pradesh and Mahabharat range of Nepal.



The Sivalik range is also called the outer Himalayas or Lesser Himalayas. This is the youngest range and has peaks that are comparatively less in height. It runs continuously from Himachal Pradesh to the easternmost part of India. Although it is inconspicuous in Bhutan and West Bengal, but emerge again in Arunachal Pradesh in the form of Miri, Mishmi and Abhor hills. The Doon Valley is situated between the Middle Himalayas and the Shiwalik hills.

Bear Circuit- Himachal Pradesh, Shiwalik and Dhauladhar Mountain Range

Beas Circuit in Himachal Pradesh is spread over the Dhauladhar range of the Shiwalik Mountain range. They are also called as the new mountains of the Great Himalayas.

Day 1- Delhi to Jibhi

Day 2- Jibhi and Banjar Valley

Day 3- Kasol

Day 4-Kullu

Day 5- Naggar

Day 6- Manali

Day 7- Kasauli

Day 1- Delhi to Jibhi

To befriend the Shiwalik hills, I chose the Beas circuit this time. I had heard that this part of the Himalayas is even more beautiful than Kashmir and all the hearsay actually turned true. It is my endeavor to choose and showcase a destination that is not frequented by regular tourists and not a clichéd destination. Hence, I decided to travel through the Beas circuit.

I started my journey from Delhi early morning at 5 am. We reached Shimla at 2 pm which was hustle bustle with tourists and regular visitors. We halted our journey at Kufri, adjoining Shimla for lunch.  Shimla and Kufri have become so commercial and look like any metropolitan city. Today is 28 May and the entire India is reeling under heat wave and here I was enjoying a cooler weather near the Himalayas.

To reach Kufri, we travelled through the Himalayan National Expressway via Parwanoo and then reached Shimla. The expressway is a four lane highway till Parwanoo and the drive is smooth and convenient. Wide roads and scenic beauty make the journey even more enjoyable.

The moment we crossed Parwanoo, the roads become narrower and curvy. Parwanoo is also a good destination to take a break. You can have a lunch at Timber Trail and enjoy the cable car ride here as the restaurant is situated on the hill running parallel to the Expressway. We decided against stopping at Parwanoo and took the route of Banjar Valley. One can reach Banjar valley through the Jalodi pass. Tall Pine trees bow to the visitors and refresh them with their cool breezes. You are instantly reminded of the proximity of the Himalayas.

Making roads on hilly terrains is a task in itself. The mountains are cut and roads constructed so that travelers can set on their path of exploration and movement of goods and services continue unabated.  The breathtaking view of the valley and nature’s beauty in every nook and corner of the mountains make me speechless. I attempt to capture it in my limited vocabulary but fail. The out of the world experience mesmerizes me.

Small villages spread over distant hills and surrounded by orchards with trees bearing fruits like apples, peaches, cherries, almonds, apricots etc. The farmers cover these trees with thin nets to protect them during hailstorms. Hilly cottages covered with brightly colored tin roofs add to the beauty. These cottages are made of wood of pine trees that provide strength to these cottages. The houses are beautiful and very cozy just like cottages depicted in fairy tales. One can see fresh fruits like apples, peaches and farm fresh cherries, green almonds being sold on the curvy hill tracks. Farming is the main occupation of people of Himachal Pradesh. Rice and wheat fields and fruit orchards abound in this landscape. We wanted to reach Jibhi as soon as possible before the dark. Hence without wasting our time we were heading towards our destination Jibhi for our first stop over. Jalodi pass is one of the most treacherous passes in the world. National Geographic Traveler has placed it in the list of ten most difficult passes of the world. The path was becoming even more challenging as we were nearing our destination. We were anxiously waiting to reach our destination. The roller coaster ride and deceiving turns were testing our patience. Each turn gave us a hope of reaching a destination and as we crossed it, a new hill emerged to be travelled. Snow covered peaks were also conspicuous during our entire journey.

As we approached Jalodi, the road became very narrow and was covered with potholes too. This is the only pass of India that is open for traffic throughout the year. It is imperative and advisable to adhere to the issued traffic rules to travel on this pass. The moment you reach this pass, many government safety signboards would catch your attention. Drive in first gear, drive slow, deep abysses and steep roads and blind turns etc.

The height of the pass is 3120 meter above sea level. It is hard to find snow in the summers here but in winter the snow covered roads welcome you. This pass connects Kullu Valley with Rampur in Himachal Pradesh. The entire pass is surrounded by high peaks and deep abysses. Breathtaking view of the valley makes the journey enjoyable. Rivers escort you throughout the route changing their direction as you travel. Crystal clear water falling over rocks createsrhythm and pleasant music. I would recommend that someone travelling on this route should cross this pass only during the day time.

We reached Jibhi at 9 pm. This is our first stop over. It had become quiet dark outside as the moment the sun sets, stark darkness envelops the hills. We were also very tired after travelling 543 km that day. We spent our night in the vast campus of Jibhi camps and cottages beneath the twinkling stars shining brightly in the dark night. The waters of the Tirthanriver were creating soulful music and the thermometer displayed 6 °C at that time.

Till we meet nextwith a new destination of the Beas Circuit and lesser known aspects.

Be happy and keep travelling.

Your friend and companion

Dr. Kaynat Kazi

Keukenhof Tulip Garden, Holland

why visit Keukenhof Tulip Garden, Holland?

 

When it comes to visit Europe in the summers the first name pops up in my mind is-Holland. Holland is known for its rich Dutch culture, tulips & windmills. What else a nature lover wants? How many of you knows that there is a famous garden of tulips being prepared for months to welcome spring with the huge verity of tulips. This gardens is–Keukenhof tulip garden. A huge number of Dutch gardeners works day & night to cultivate more than thousand species of tulip flowers for months. The garden is just 35 kilometers from Amsterdam & 21 kilometers from Schiphol airport. It's located just south of Haarlem.



Tulip is the distinctive symbol of Holland, you will find it everywhere. The saga of the tulips is very interesting. It’s hard to believe that it’s not an inborn crop of Holland but originally cultivated in the Ottoman Empire (present-day Turkey), tulips were imported into Holland in the sixteenth century. The Tulip were originally a wild flower growing in the Central Asia and were first cultivated by the Turks in 1,000 AD. The tulip travelled far before arriving in the Netherlands. Tulips were originally found in the Tian Shan mountain region of the north-western Himalaya. Dozens of different types in all kinds of colours still grow there each spring. In the 11th Century the Seljuks, who lived there at that time, took the tulip with them to Turkey, where they drove out the Byzantines. The tulip became a cherished flower in Turkish culture, and is still so today. Sultans organised tulip parties each spring. And the most extraordinary tulips were illustrated in beautiful books. Tulips were also depicted on tiles and other household objects.



But these curvaceous flowers had got the patronage of Dutch dynasty & the immense love from the people of Holland & soon become a native crop of Holland. It is so popular here & become the eternal part of Dutch culture. There was a time when the weight of a bulb of tulip was worth of gold, and it was as precious as currency. People used to steal it from gardens. Decorating home with tulips was a status symbol.



Dutch loves being called their country-the flower shop of the world. As the dark & dull days of winters passes by the landscape of country side of Holland gets changed drastically. All of a sudden it becomes a sea of colors, full of blooms.  In the Kop van Noord-Holland, you will find millions of tulips & other flower covered fields.

The history of Keukenhof

Keukenhof started as an initiative on the part of ten flower bulb growers and exporters who create a showcase for the flower industry. In 1949, they opted for an ideal location: the gardens around Keukenhof castle.

For many years, Jacoba van Beieren was the hostess of Keukenhof. In the 15th century, she was the owner of the land where Keukenhof is now located. At that time the area was still a piece of untouched nature, used only for hunting and to gather herbs for the castle’s kitchen, which is where the name Keukenhof originally comes from.



Countess Jacoba van Beieren was born in 1401 and died in 1436. During the period from 1417 to 1433, she ruled Holland, Zeeland and Henegouwen. ‘Never a dull moment’ is perhaps the best summary of the life of this somewhat tempestuous woman, who married four times, spent a couple of years in prison, and lived in exile for some time in England. One of her favourite pastimes seems to have been waging war – she was even willing to go to war with former husbands. In 1433 she was forced to abdicate from all of her Counties. She withdrew from public life and, at the age of just 35, she died of tuberculosis in Castle Teylingen, not far from Keukenhof.



Following the death of the Countess Jacoba van Beieren in 1436, the large estate passed through the hands of several wealthy merchant families, including Baron and Baroness Van Pallandt. They asked the landscape architects Zocher, who were also responsible for the Vondelpark in Amsterdam and the gardens of Soestdijk Palace, to design a garden around their castle. The English landscape garden they created in 1857 still forms the basis for the Keukenhof Park of today.

The windmill at Keukenhof is more than a century old. It was built in Groningen in 1892, and was used to pump water out of a polder. In 1957, the Holland-America Line bought the mill and donated it to Keukenhof.



Some interesting facts about Keukenhof Tulip Garden:

Facts and figures about Keukenhof

• This park is Internationally recognized in true sense, it receives 75% of visitors from abroad


• The park covers 32 hectares


• Every year, 7 million bulbs are planted


• Keukenhof features more than 20 flower shows


• The bulbs are supplied by 100 exhibitors


• There are eight inspirational gardens featuring gardening ideas for consumers


• Sculpture garden with approximately 100 works of art


• It opens up only once in a year for eight weeks only in spring season(from March to May)


• It welcomes approx. 800,000 visitors from across the world every year


• It is world’s largest Tulip garden-Keukenhof now has a hundred flower bulb growers supplying bulbs to the park and five hundred flower growers participating in the flower shows.


• Nearly fifty million people have visited the park since it first opened.

About The park

Keukenhof originally focused almost exclusively on flower bulbs, but now has much more to offer. The historic park, which dates from 1857 and was designed in the English landscape garden style by Zocher, forms the perfect backdrop for the flower bulbs. Visitors can become acquainted with cut flowers, plants and tree nursery products.

Each year, fourty gardeners plant bulbs at reserved locations throughout the park. At the end of the season, these bulbs are harvested, and a new cycle of planting, blooming and harvesting begins again in the autumn.



 

In order to ensure that Keukenhof always has a new look, the planting is redesigned every year. The plants are carefully selected so that visitors can enjoy bulbs in full bloom throughout the entire period Keukenhof is open. The seven million flower bulbs are supplied completely free of charge by a hundred exhibitors who could hardly imagine a better showcase for their products.



Keukenhof inspires its visitors with a range of different styles of gardens and interiors, in which flower bulbs and bulb flowers always play a key role. The different parts of the park vary from the English landscape garden to the renovated Japanese country garden. The garden offers surprising perspectives and exciting vistas and brings out the very best of the ancient trees. In the natural garden, shrubs and perennials are combined with naturalised bulbs. The historic garden is home to old varieties of tulip and uses these special varieties to demonstrate the tulip’s long journey prior to its arrival in the Netherlands.

The seven inspirational gardens give visitors the unique opportunity to gain ideas for their own gardens.

The park organize many events like flower shows, parade & auctions. You can enjoy live music & performance by Local Dutch artists in the partk.

For children, Keukenhof has a maze, a playground, a Miffy house and a petting zoo. A treasure hunt takes them along the most beautiful places in the park.

 

Keukenhof has its own sculpture garden. A network of artists will be exhibiting around 100 pieces. The art exhibition is characterised by a wide variety of styles. It has two full-fledged restaurant and many food points inside the part. If you feel tiered you can sit & relax over the cup of coffee & special Dutch wafers.

How to reach:

In 2017 Keukenhof tulip garden will re-open from 23 March untill 21 May 2017.

By car

Keukenhof is located between Amsterdam and The Hague and is easily accessible via motorways A4 (exit Nieuw-Vennep) and A44 (exit 3, Lisse). 'Keukenhof' is well signposted after the exit.

 

By Public transport:

It’s very easy to use public transport to reach Keukenhof Tulip garden. You can find dedicated busses outside Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to reach Keukenhof. It takes 35 to 40-minute to reach there. You can buy a combo tickets (bus & garden entrance) from the Amsterdam Tourist Information Offices (called "VVV" offices) for Bus 58 from Schiphol direct to the gardens. The buses leave every 15 minutes from the second island outside the arrivals-level entrance at the airport. See the Keukenhof website for more information.

 

Travel tips:

• If you are planning to visit Keukenhof Park in 2017, try to make your trip in the starting.


• Do not forget to buy a souvenir from local shop & artists


• Have a picture with ladies in traditional Dutch outfit


• If you want to go to direct from airport to park you can carry your luggage there as the park has locker facility available but check in advance.