Beaches of Kerala

Enough of the back waters!! I have decided to take you on a tour of one of the most beautiful beaches here in Kerala. Our destination today is a secluded beach in the suburbs of Alappuzha/ Alleppey. Basically inhabited by the local fishermen community, this place is perhaps the only clean beach to be found in the area. The reason is that it is rarely visited, even by the locals. It is usually around the time when the near by ancient church celebrates its annual feast.

The church 
The number of visitors peaks around the time of the annual church festival. The St. Thomas Church located here was built by the Portuguese nearly 500 years before, which accounts for its thriving Portuguese ambiance. Like all the churches in southern India this church is also known to celebrate the feast of its patron saint, St. Thomas with great pomp and splendor attracting people from near and far. Although named after St. Thomas, the most famous of its feasts is its December 8 celebrations of the Immaculate Conception. During this time of the year people throng the place so much so that one could easily vouch that  a needle thrown in the air would never touch the ground. Apart from the locals many foreign visitors also love sight seeing the area for its rich ancient architecture and Portuguese influence. 

Enough of the history? Okay, time for the tour!

All Along the way to the beach one can see little landmarks like these built by ye old faithful to mark places of worship or the various stations of the Way of the Cross.

The beach road leading from the church 

The perfect day for a trip to the beach

Little houses, tea-shops lie along the way.

On either sides of the road are lush grassy patches which serve as places of rest and prayer during the festival season.

Long before we saw the sea, its spray was on our lips, and showered salt rain upon us.
-Charles Dickens in David Copperfield

By now we know the lovely frothing sound  to be that of freedom, close at hand.

There is indeed, perhaps, no better way to hold communion with the sea than sitting in the sun on the veranda of a fishermen’s cafe.
-Joseph W. Beach

"I find myself at the extremity of a long beach. How gladly does the spirit leap forth, and suddenly enlarge its sense of being to the full extent of the broad, blue, sunny deep! A greeting and a homage to the Sea!"
-Nathaniel Hawthorne in "Foot-prints on the Sea-shore"

"At the beach, life is different. Time doesn’t move hour to hour but mood to moment. We live by the currents, plan by the tides, and follow the sun."— Sandy Gingras

"I could never stay long enough on the shore; the tang of the untainted, fresh, and free sea air
was like a cool, quieting thought." — Helen Keller

Towards the left of the beach

Towards the right of the beach

“Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.”
― Henry David Thoreau in  Walden

The sea hath no king but God alone.
-Dante Gabriel Rossetti in The White Ship

"You roll back to me.”
― Ernest Hemingway in 'Islands in the Stream'

  "My connection to the earth is reinforced through the rhythm of the waves." -Mike Dolan

The sea pronounces something, over and over, in a hoarse whisper; I cannot quite make it out. 
-Annie Dillard 

The dog's day out at the beach  :)

“There is a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.”
―Steven Wright

The true peace of God begins at any spot a thousand miles from the nearest land.
 -Joseph Conrad

“Earth's crammed with heaven...
But only he who sees, takes off his shoes.” 
― Elizabeth Barrett Browning in Aurora Leigh

" Never a ship sails out of the bay
But carries my heart as a stowaway"
       -Roselle Mercier Montgomery in  The Stowaway

The Church (far view)

"Art is the signature of civilizations.". - Beverly Sills

And then it was time to move one. To newer destinations, to more seen  yet undiscovered places in Kuttanaad, the land of the backwaters.

"Some part of our being knows this is where we came from."
-Carl Sagan

For now, Adeus. :)

Back Water Evenings

 In my previous posts,we talked about the travelling  to Alalppuzha via the Alappuzha -Changancherry Route (see here: www.kuttanaddiaries.blogspot.in/2014/02/picture-postcards-from-alappuzha.html). But, what I didn't mention is that bus rides during the evenings through the Alappuzha -Changanasherry Road, more popular as the AC Road, are a breath taking experience.

As the sun prepares to plunge into the water logged paddy fields, one wonders if that is why the rice from the region is slightly golden yellow in color. As farmers retire from a busy day on the fields to the comforts of their little traditionally tiled houses far off the coconut trees that surround the fields sway to the little cold yet pleasant wind blowing in from the sea.

As the http://www.keralatourism.org/ site will tell you the Alappuzha Tourism Department have many laid-back villas in these serene locations that provide comfortable accommodations at affordable rates to the tourist. Or if you prefer the way of the locals, long-drive in, have a cool dip in the canal, and lay back to enjoy the view on your car hood. Monsoons can be spectacular but a bit uncomfortable for those not particularly into rain-dances, as you can see here www.kuttanaddiaries.blogspot.in . So as night falls, if you are lucky to be in on a clear day, you can witness the widest and most remarkable night sky that a human eye can see.

For now, enjoy these photographs from God's own holiday spot. :)

      

St. Mary's Church, Champakulam, Alappuzha

Founded in AD 427 the St. Mary's Church, Champakulam in the district of Alappuzha is located along the idyllic banks of the backwater canals. The community around the church originated from the Niranom church founded by the apostle St. Thomas himself. The church was built following the seven first generation churches founded by the apostle.Back then it was famous as the Kaloorkaddu church. 

On one of my travels there I managed to take a few clicks which I post below to share the experience with you.