Karimbam Farm , Kannur

Karimbam Farm , Kannur

The multiplicity of different plant varieties at the District Agricultural Farm at Karimbam in Kannur is sufficient to draw the attention of botanists. Its history is only an added attraction that gives it a special ambience. Established in 1905 , District Agricultural Farm , Kannur is one of the oldest farms in South India . Located at Taliparamba, this station was started by Sir Charles Alfred Barber at the behest of the erstwhile Madras Government, based on the recommendation of the Famine Commission of 1880 of Government of India . Although the initial objective was to do research on pepper , activities of the Farm were further extended to agro climatic experiments, hybridization and production and distribution of seeds and seedlings .

 Covering a total geographic area of 56.35 hectares, the Farm has a rich biodiversity with a variety of indigenous and exotic fruit trees (such as Mangosteen , Rambootan, and Durian ), spices and medicinal plants . The lush greenery with its array of crops such as Coconut , Areca nut , Cashew , Mango , Sapota , Jack , Coffee , Cocoa , Nutmeg , Clove and Pepper and the adjoining paddy field attracts many nature lovers and environmentalists to the farm. 

 The biodiversity of the farm, which is now maintained by the District Panchayat, hardly requires any further testimony than the fact that it has been retained as a biodiversity-rich area for a century. 

The importance of the farm could not have been greater as 64 rare mango selections collected from different parts of the country have been planted in the farm since 1938. The farm also supplies quality planting materials to farmers in the neighbouring districts.

The plant species in the farm include trees, different species of shrubs, woody climbers, large palms and herbs, among others. 

 

 Quite reputed for its Mango orchard with more than 64 varieties, the farm is a treat to Mango lovers during the months of March to June. With a rich collection of varieties from all over India, the farm has produced 4 hybrid varieties of Mango namely, H 45 , H 56 , H 87 and H 151. Benganappally, Alampur Banishan, Neelam, Alphonso, Kalapady, Himayudheen, Jahangir, Chinnarasa, Panjarakalasa, Priyori and Malgoa are among the popular varieties of Mango grown and multiplied in this farm.

How to reach :

Kannur - Taliparamba - 20 Kms

Taliparamba > Sreekandapuram Road - Karimbam Farm 

courtesy: word of mouth , internet  

Arakkal Palace , Kannur

Arakkal Palace , Kannur 

The Arakkal Palace is located in Kannur district and is owned by the only royal Muslim family in Kerala known as the Arakkal family and the Arakkal museum is dedicated to this family. The museum is only a section of the palace which holds the durbar hall. Even though the museum has been renovated by the government at a whopping cost of rupees 9,000,000 the Arakkalkettu is still owned by the Muslim family. The Arakkal family trust does not fall under the control of any of the government department primarily the archaeology department. It is located three kilometres from Kannur town.

 The architecture is interesting exhibiting local flavours such as using materials like wood and laterite and there is a large open ground to offer the daily Muslim prayers which is done for five times called “Namaz”. “Kettu” is the palace complex which interconnects the Namaz area. There are four mosques around the palace. One of these blocks has a cot, seating chair and a lamp is always lit as this place is considered sacred. It looks like business was booming at this time as there were trade houses and warehouse facilities. The family followed a matrilineal system of descent and there was no discrimination done based on gender. The male rulers were known as Arakkal Raja and the female rulers were known as Arakkal Beewis.

 Structurally, the upper floor of the palace has large halls with wooden floors. Windows of the palace are mostly double shuttered and have colored glass panes of red or blue, providing colorful display of light inside. The roof construction involves wooden rafter, purlin, reaper and tiles system. Rafters comprise wood and bamboo tied to the purlin and reapers. The two-layered roof tile is fish tiles and Mangalore tiles.

Those with a genuine interest in architecture and also in history would find the Arakkal Palace in Kannur a destination worth visiting more than once.

How to reach Arakkal Palace:

By Air: Karipur International airport
By Train: Kannur railway station
By bus: Kannur bus stand

Courtesy:internet , word of mouth 

SREE ANDALUR KAVU DHARMADAM THALASSERY

SREE ANDALUR KAVU DHARMADAM ,THALASSERY

Andalurkavu is located at Andalur in Dharmadam village. It is the one of the prominent place in northern side of the Kerala.  It is one of the ancient temple dedicated to lord Rama who is in the form of Daivathar in this temple. The name Andalurkavu means the place where the holy weapons of the deities are kept. It can be divided as Andar-Villu-Oor Kavu. The chief deities of the temple are Lord Rama, hanuman and Lakshmana. Lord Shiva is also worshipped in this temple. According to myth it is believed that this temple is formed by Sree Parasurama who is the fifth living form of Vishnu.

Andalur kavu (also theyyam or theyaattam) is the main ritual of worship. Its one of the rare places where Yuddha kanda of Ramayana — the great epic — is visualised and performed. The main deities are Sri Rama, Lakshmana and Hanuman. One significance for this kavu is that it has two holy places called Mele Kavu and Thazhe kavu.

The Thaze Kavu is a sacred grove which harbors several rare plants species typical of the Myristica swamps, notably Syzygium travancoricum, an endangered endemic plant. Much of the flora of the sacred grove has been lost due to poor regeneration and the disturbance from cattle and human activity in this thickly populated area.

The annual festival is a wonderful visualisation of devotional unity of a place where people still follow very old and sacred customs throughout the season. Its the time the village gets themselves into a feeling in which they becomes part of and enjoy the happiness of being part of the glory of Lord Rama. Its the festival where it pictures the great culture merging the normal and common life with great old mythologies. Once the festival starts @ the temple , all residents of Dharmadam - Andalur become vegetarian .People used to greet the visitors and guests with puffed rice (Aval) and bananas.

Direction

Kannur -Thalassery Route

>Dharmadam>Melur Road >Andalurkavu.

courtesy:internet,word of mouth