FOR Booking : Gramika Tours : 0995809975, 09745482028, 0471 - 3084500
Explore Aranmula | ||||||
Brief | Experience the cultural and traditional heritage of Aranmula | |||||
Duration | 3days & 2 night | Overnight stay | Stay in River front Heritage Home Stay | |||
Timings | Dep: | 9 am | Arr: | 5 pm (3rd Day) | Tariff | 11000 INR/Pax ($220) |
Package Highlights | ||||||
Day 1 · Presentation on Aranmula · Palliyodam Tour – Myth, Traditions, history and festivals and Taste delicious Vallasadhya with 52 items · After noon Walk with Elephant and enjoy elephant bath · Dinner & Night stay @Home stay | Day 3 · Early Morning cycling · Mural Art Gallery Visit · Bamboo craft unit Visit · Plantation Tour Ø Vettila Farm Visit Ø Vegetable Farm Visit Ø Paddy Field Visit | |||||
Day 2 · Early Morning River Cruise in country craft · Demonstration on Aranmula Metal Mirror making process · Learn Kerala Architecture from Vasthuvidhya Gurukulam · Traditional house visit · Temple Visit · Overnight stay at Heritage Home stay · Dinner and cultural performance | The package includes · Welcome drink · Rural snacks and refreshments · Meeting Rural Art Performers · Vallasadhya Options Ø Theyattu Ø Padayani Ø Kathakali Ø Bhatathanatyam Ø Mohiniyattam Ø Extended river exploration cruising Ø Arts training | |||||
Ø Customized options are available for the guests according to their choice of duration Ø Minimum pax required is 2 (Rate is inclusive of food & accommodation) Ø Rooms are twin share basis | ||||||
Day 1
Presentation on Aranmula
Our journey starts with a presentation on the rural destination Aranmula. The guide and team will explain you the uniqueness of the package, iteneries, features and instructions on the tour. It helps you to select and see more rare attractions and activities in Aranmula. Without loosing your suspense lets start our trail.
Palliyodam Tour
Palliyodam means boat of Lord Parthasarathy, presiding deity of the centuries-old Sree Parthasarathy Temple at Aranmula. Aranmula palliyodams are unique in their shape and structure. The boats are equal in length at the front, centre and rear. Only the central portion touches the water. It has a lot to say about the Myth, Traditions, history and festivals of this rural destination. Visitors also have the opportunity to taste delicious Vallasadhya (elaborate and sumptuous meal) with 52 items. Valla Sadya is a famous offering in Aranmula Temple. On this the offered village will conduct a boat race in the Pampa River and will have a feast at the temple. The feast will have 86 items and sweets. The Vallasadhya will conduct usually on Onam times i.e. August - September. The famous Astamirohini Vallasadhya will be conducting on Ashtamirohoni day. On that day, more than 42 Boats from different place will gather in Aranmula temple and will take part of the feast. Devotees can also conduct vallasadhyas as an offering. On that day, the specific palliyodam will play and take part of the offering.
After noon Walk with Elephant and enjoy elephant bath
The Elephants are an integral part of the daily life in Kerala; India. These Indian elephants are loved, revered, groomed and given a prestigious place in the state's culture. Elephants in Kerala are often referred to as the 'sons of the sahya.' As the state animal, the elephant is featured on the emblem of the Government of Kerala. The elephant bath provides an opportunity to observe the big animal close.
Walk with elephant is an enjoyable experience which provides you some delight moments. Obviously elephants are surprisingly good swimmers and love water. Wild herds seek out ponds and rivers for bathing. The elephants can use their trunks as a snorkel and hose pipe. Feel the friendliness of wild and try your hand with elephant while it takes bath.
Dinner & Night stay @Home stay
Let’s relax sometime in a heritage river side home stay. Feel free to mingle with the family members. It definitely gives you a special opportunity to know more about the local culture and heritage. You also can spend some pleasure full moments in dinner which offers some tasteful indigenous cuisines. Be ready for a calm sleep, by memorizing this joyful day….. enter in to sweet dreams.
Day 2
Early Morning River Cruise in country craft
Day 2 starts with a river cruise through Pamba which has a great influence on life of local people. We can realize how the life of people connects with the river. The small country craft which is made of wood and local raw materials gives you an amazing experience. It also offers various activities and attractions nearby the river.
Demonstration on Aranmula Metal Mirror making process
The famous 'Aranmula Kannadi', the metal mirrors are made in this village by the traditional artisans. This is a unique art which is currently probably not practiced anywhere else in the world. Some seven families still make the metal mirrors using a closely guarded mix of metals. It is not made of glass but with bell metal. Its techniques are handed down from generation to generation.The Aranmula Metal Mirror is a unique object, mysterious in its creation unequalled in its beauty. The metal mirror, a marvel in the annals of metallurgy was in vogue long before the appearance of today's Silicon synthetic glass mirror. It was in use far off Egypt and Bagdad
Learn Kerala Architecture from Vasthuvidhya Gurukulam
Vasthu sasthra is the branch of Veda which deals with traditional Indian way of environmental friendly construction adopting universal principles of creation. This is a combination of science engineering and spirituality.
This institution, under department of Culture, gives out consultancy services for Vastu vidya and Mural painting (Traditional Kerala Temple painting)
Traditional house visit
Next we can have a brief halt in the Typical Kerala model house where variety of vegetables and other fruits were cultivated. Alongside you can observe cattle rearing and ducks, cows, hens, dogs can also be seen here. In addition they grow papaya, cucumber, tapioca, mango etc. Whatever is needed by the household can be obtained from the garden. The visit thus offers an exceptional chance to see, experience and understand the close interaction between nature and common life in the Keralite house.
The architecture of Kerala is a unique amalgam of external influences that are both foreign and Indian, in origin. The manifestation of external influences is evident in Kerala's architecture with its gabled roofs and all wood, coconut-frond thatched constructions. The 'Nalukettu' is flanked by out-houses and utility structures. The traditional houses of Keralities are built in accordance with the principles of 'Thatchushastra', the science of carpentry and 'Vaastushastra' the ancient Indian science of architecture
Temple Visit
The temple is on the left bank of the Pampa River. It is from here that the sacred jewels of Ayyappan are taken in procession to Sabarimalai each year. Aranmula is also known for the water sports involving a spectacular procession of snake boats. It is also linked with legends from the Mahabharata.
It is one of the most important Krishna temples in Kerala, the others being at Guruvayur, Trichambaram, Tiruvarppu and Ambalappuzha. The temple has four towers over its entrances on its outer wall. The eastern tower is accessed through a flight of 18 steps. Descending 57 steps through the northern tower, one can reach the Pampa River.
Overnight stay at Heritage Home stay
Dinner and cultural performance
Cultural performance is optional and it depends on your interest.
Day 3
Early Morning cycling
Cycling – not only cherishing but also somewhat adventurous. In this early morning you can ride through the interiors of rural village Aranmula. If you are more energetic, don’t hesitate to enter to the hinterlands of this Kerala Village. Feel the fragrance of a rural village, experience the lush, green and enchanting beauty of this historical village. This morning cycling definitely provides you a cheerful experience.
Mural Art Gallery Visit
The history Murals in Kerala can be traced to the seventh or eighth century AD. Though the art form developed as a temple art, it soon spread its wings and became universal. The Murals of Kerala bear the stamp of uniqueness in aesthetic composition and technique. Kerala has the second largest collection of archaeologically important mural sites. It exhibits different types of Murals and temple paintings.
Bamboo craft unit Visit
The bamboo craft is associated with cane and bamboo, and had been a part of Indian crafts giving rise to the expression of tribal art and provided them livelihood. As India is blessed with deft artistry, these types of crafts developed in this country very soon and the changing style and trend, the craft has developed its design and deftly blended traditions with fashion.
Plantation Tour
The village Aranmula is looking very beautiful with the presence of paddy fields, vettila farms and vegetable farm. Visitor can experience this greenly places through cycling or walking. This makes the village unique in attractions. This tour includes Vettila Farm Visit, Vegetable Farm Visit and Paddy Field Visit
OPTIONALS
Theyattu
Kerala has a rich tradition of artist rituals associated with worship of Devi (God Mother) in the form of Bhadrakali. This may be traced to the region's strong Dravidian and Tribal cultural roots. All these rituals are performed in places of worship called "Kavu" (roughly translated as grove) or small temples. Besides general welfare of the village, these rituals aim at warding off of such calamities like Small Pox and other epidemic diseases, by the benevolence of the goddess. This belief is stemmed in the story of Bhadrakali defeating and killing Darikasura, whose associates terrorized the entire universe by spreading terrible contagious diseases. Theeyattu is one of such performing arts, popular in the central part of Kerala. Like most others of similar lines, Theeyattu also is accompanied by a number of mandatory rituals, some of them artistic and others purely ritualistic, often associated with Bhadrakali worship.
Padayani
Padayani is the annual ritualistic festival celebrated in Bhadrakali temples of Central travancore zone with due dedications. It may be regarded as the remains of ancient Dravidian God concept and mode of worship offering Rathi (lust), Raktham (Blood) and Lahari (toxic mood) The very spirit of central travancore finds its appearance in Padayani as that of Malabar in Theyyam. All the Sixty Four art forms play their own vital role in Padayani. Actully this is a combination of music, dance, painting, satire etc. Padayani reflects the ancient socialist society before Aryanization and four caste system. So in Padayani all the villagers take active part without racial discriminations. Each and every Padayani Karappuram (centers or village celebrating Padayani) observe padayani in their own way. In different aspect such as observation of rituals, order of performance and span of Padayani days difference noticed is of course very huge.
Kathakali
Kathakali is one of the oldest theatre forms in the world. It originated from the state of Kerala. Kathakali is a group presentation, in which dancers take various roles in performances traditionally based on themes from Hindu mythology, especially the two epics, the Ramayana and theMahabharata. One of the most interesting aspects of Kathakali is its elaborate make-up code. Characters are categorized according to their nature. This determines the colours used in the make-up. The faces of noble male characters, such as virtuous kings, the divine hero Rama, etc., are predominantly green
Bhatathanatyam
Bharathanatyam may describe as the resplendent gem adorning the crown of Indian Culture. There are several classical dance styles practiced in India of these, Bharathanatyam, the pride of the Southern States, is perhaps the most aesthetically and technically evolved. This dance of South India came to be called Bharathanatyam, impliedly emphasizing the fact that it has maintained a continuous link with the ancient dance art, treated of in ‘Natya Sastra’ written by sage Bharatha.
It has two important facts: Nritta – the rhythmic and Nritya the emotionally expressive. The highly cultivated art of Bharathanatyam was developed and propagated in the sacred environment of the temples in South India thought the centuries. Even today, it exudes a deeply spiritual and devotional aura. The songs are purely devotional love songs, the dancer being the devotee and God the beloved. Bharathanatyam is not a mere entertainment, but a glorious art capable of taking human beings on to the path of divine consciousness.
Mohiniyattam
This classical dance form of Kerala was first performed by women in temples, over a thousa nd years ago, as an offering to God, their beloved. The movements may appear simple, but effort is required to capture the grace, suggestive of ocean waves, as seen in goddess Mohini, the Enchantress. This dance form exudes enchantment grace and passion. Mohiniyattam is a fusion of ' Bharathanatyam ' and ' Kathakali ', as it combines the graceful elegance of Bharatanatyam and dynamism and vigour of Kathakali. The performances are done only by women. In Mohiniyattam, the Lasya element of dancing is predominant, and the mood created is Sringaram (erotic) Mohiniyattam literally means the 'Dance of the Temptress'. |
Arts training
Aranmula is rich in art, culture and traditions. So that people also have great intimacy towards its culture. The training centre in this rural village offers training on all the mentioned art forms which is in rural and ritual ambience. A Wing of well experienced masters is willing to instruct you the same.
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