The hundred-year-old Chinese fishing nets along the coasts of Fort Cochin which were believed to have been introduced by Kublai Khan to India was an amazing sight. Interestingly, they still work for the people who derive livelihood through catching fish.
The night was reserved for a bit of entertainment which turned out to be a mesmerizing experience for every one of us, seeing for the first time the ‘Kathakali’ traditional dance story. The artistes’ detailed make-up which takes three to four hours to complete; the heavy colourful costumes; and the meaningful hand, eye and face movements conveying profound emotions and message reveal the theatrical genius of the state’s early artistes and writers. That night we were treated to a thirty-minute excerpt from a traditional love story. We were a group of seven from five different nationalities but we all understood the story and its message sans the dialogue gaining everybody’s nod for the show to be that experience we would forever remember.
The following day was a long drive from Cochin to Kozhikode. Along the road are clusters of orange flamboyant flowers crowning trees that never fail to capture every visitor’s attention; they are truly a sight to behold! Also predominant are majestic houses even in areas remote from the city. The houses are said to belong to Keralites who work in the Middle East. It is every Keralite’s dream to build a big house as a product of his years of toil in the arid region. Terracotta tiles are chiefly used as roofing material in a typical Keralite house, and white granite marbles from Rajasthan are in great demand. The houses usually have gardens abounding in greenery which normally includes mango, jackfruit and banana.
Kerala is also rich in bodies of water especially rivers. It is blessed with 44 rivers filled with fresh water brought by the monsoons of June to August.
We also passed by the St. Thomas Syrian Church in Paravur where the remains of Syrian Orthodox Archbishop St Gregorios Abdul Galeel were entombed. Next stop was the Cheraman Juma Masjid – the first mosque in India built in the 1300’s. It is probably the only Hindu-inspired mosque in the world. When we came to Guruvayur Shreekrishna Temple we witnessed hundreds of Hindu devotees throng the grand centre of worship to pay homage to God. Truly, Kerala is a melting pot of religions, where people are provided enough leeway to nurture their own faith.
The elephant farm in Guruvayur is a feast to the eyes of animal lovers as a colony of elephants roam around the temple. “It costs 2.5 million rupees to own an elephant in Kerala, but many of these elephants were given as a gift by devotees to the temple,” Joyce our tour guide told us. He further explained the elephant as being considered a symbol of strength and heroism by Keralites.
On the way to Kozhikode, one should not fail to pass by Kottakkal village, famous for ayurvedic medicine, and after our long journey our weariness was taken away with an ayurveda massage at the Kadavu Resort where we spent our last day of fun and discovery. Kadavu Resort is one such unique resort which offers a whole package of fun and relaxation. I was spellbound by the breathtaking scenery as I drew the curtains open in my room overlooking the meandering river of Malabar. I watched the sun reflected on the Malabar waters as the horizon slowly turned crimson. Later in the night we were amazed by Kairali fight, a traditional sport demanding great strength and precise skill and dexterity in handling different weapons.
In the morning of our last day we embarked on a small boat bound for Beypore where a huge boat was being constructed. “We have been working on this boat for the last two years; six months more and this boat will be delivered to Qatar,” said Haji of Boat Building Yard. Having been in existence for 60 years, they have already built around 200 boats, but sadly the industry might die due to lack of workers from the younger generation who would like to venture on carpentry job. Currently only 25 carpenters are working in the shipbuilding company.
Kozhikode is also famous for its textile industry. Established in 1844, Common Wealth Trust Company is one of its oldest factories. Traditional weaving equipment are used in the manufacture of their products well-known all over India and around the world.
In the afternoon, we wrapped up our itinerary through a sunset cruise in the meandering backwaters of Malabar. The cool Kerala wind caressing us and the warm smile and friendly hand wave of Keralites along the banks of the river dotted with coconuts made us realize the reason why more tourists keep coming back to Kerala.
Before even realizing it, the long tiring journey was over and I was in a Qatar Airways flight back to Doha, resting comfortably and lazily on a business class seat, but one thing dawned on me. I will surely miss Kerala and I will come back. I have to, and I hope it would not take long.