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Background: The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world, dates back at least 5,000 years. Aryan tribes from the northwest invaded about 1500 B.C.; their merger with the earlier Dravidian inhabitants created the classical Indian culture. Arab incursions starting in the 8th century and Turkish in the 12th were followed by those of European traders, beginning in the late 15th century. By the 19th century, Britain had assumed political control of virtually all Indian lands. Indian armed forces in the British army played a vital role in both World Wars. Nonviolent resistance to British colonialism led by Mohandas GANDHI and Jawaharlal NEHRU brought independence in 1947. The subcontinent was divided into the secular state of India and the smaller Muslim state of Pakistan. A third war between the two countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. Despite impressive gains in economic investment and output, India faces pressing problems such as the ongoing dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir, massive overpopulation, environmental degradation, extensive poverty, and ethnic and religious strife.

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By Wed
December 25th 2008

Meeting the boys

Asia » India » Kerala » Allepey

P1000699

We arrived in Allepey a day before we were due to meet the boys, Nick and Chirstian. We spent the evening drinking beer in the guesthouse and the next morning we watched the owners feed their pet eagle. Yeah, we thought it was a bit odd as well. As it turns out, the eagle fell from a coconut tree and broke it's wing. The poor thing. It was only a chick. It's been there for three months, still too weak to fly away but getting stronger each day. We watch them feed it fish and omelette. Mmm, yummy! After breakfast we [View Full Entry]

By tj away
December 23rd 2008

The Backwaters of Kerala

Asia » India » Kerala » Allepey

Festival in Alleppey
There was a religious festival, so a crazy crowded carnival-like atmosphere downtown.

From Ft. Cochi, I made my way to Allepey, about 2 hours further south on the Kerala coastline. This is the gateway to the famed backwaters area (of Arundahti Roy's God of Small Things, and 1001 Things to See Before You Die. I arrived around 4pm and checked into my “homestay”, which turned out to be a nasty dirty boarding house. Leelu had made the reservation for me, and though the place was not in any of the guidebooks, since Leelu was in the guidebook, and since her place was decent, I trusted her recommended reservation would be fine. Not so. [View Full Entry]

Alleppey jetty for ferry and day-trip boats

By performinginkerala
December 22nd 2008

The Backwaters

Asia » India » Kerala » Allepey

Entering the lake

Every weekday when I get home from mohiniattom our cook, Tangama (who is really becoming more like our mother) comes to the doorway of the kitchen to laugh at how sweaty I am. My "working" pants and shirt are always absolutely drenched after the two hours of rigorous dancing in this heat. I actually caught myself thinking it might be nice to have some jacket weather today, which means it must be hot. Whenever I leave the program house, I am always equipped with my nalgene, (courtesy of Katie K) and some occasional breaks in the shade help to ward off [View Full Entry]

By MichaelOtto
November 16th 2008

Cruising the backwaters of Alleppey

Asia » India » Kerala » Allepey

my cottage in Alleppey
at Gowri Residences

I came to Alleppey after Varkala Beach, and it is the center for Backwater tours and houseboating on the miles of rivers, canals, and lakes that make up this area. They call Alleppey the "Venice of India". Well there are canals and rivers, but it is not quite Venice! It is very interesting though, crazy streets busy with Indian men wearing these skirt like cloth things around their waists (kind of like shorts)- probably beacuse it is so rediculously hot and humid! There are temples everywhere, and bells are ringing all day, the smell of incense all over the place, and [View Full Entry]

By ninabailando
November 8th 2008

Westghats: Periyar National Park and Munnar

Asia » India » Kerala » Allepey

On the way to Periyar
one of the bus stations

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary I stayed in an amazing accommodation in a bamboo hut with view on the national park - in the morning time I saw some huge brown animals from far away - wow! It was so difficult to find a cheap tour to the national park - I just couldn’t get it that there doesn’t seem to exist competition but a cartel. But anyway - the trip to the national park was worth it! We saw a lot of monkeys, elephants from far away, birds and followed the steps (in the dung) of a huge animal. Leaving Periyar was [View Full Entry]

By Rory Delamere
November 3rd 2008

Heading to Bibi's

Asia » India » Kerala » Allepey

Off to Alleppey And so after a few days in Kollam we took the train up to Alleppey which is about 90 minutes away. We were headed for our one bit of luxury on the trip a stay in Bibi Baskin's guest house. This costs about 150 euro a night as opposed to the fifteen euro we were used to paying every where else. As you can imagine this caused great curiosity amongst the rickshaw drivers. The place though was absolutely worth it - a great pool, lovely rooms and nice food. No bar though....hmmm. It was also just across the [View Full Entry]

By Rory Delamere
November 3rd 2008

Heading to Bibi's

Asia » India » Kerala » Allepey

By Lynn 2008
October 16th 2008

Alappuzha & Varkala, the end of our journey

Asia » India » Kerala » Allepey

open water
the backwaters of Alleppey

Alappuzha, referred to by everyone as “Allepey”, is known for its houseboats and backwater tours. If I mention Kerala to anyone who lives in B’lore I get the automatic response, “oh, the backwaters” and so I considered it pointless to go to Kerala and not experience a tour on a houseboat. It was possibly my favorite part of our Kerala trip and the bus ride to Allepey was equally eventful. Luckily there were buses that ran every 20 minutes through the small coastal towns so it was easy to make our way down the coast without much of a plan. It [View Full Entry]

By Joelboel
October 10th 2008

Backwaters

Asia » India » Kerala » Allepey

Halloj! Idag har vi varit pa de kanda Kerala Backwater med en kanot i fyra timmar, vi hade med oss en paddlare och det kostade ca. 10 euro. Da vi var pavag hemat med kanoten stannade han vid en liten by och vi blev bjudna in till en hydda dar nan lokalbefolkning bodde, de bjod oss pa mat utan att fraga ifall vi ville ha, forstas ville de ju senare ha betalt for maten, aven om vi inte at sa mycket. Det gor att man blir lite besviken pa att bli inlurad och som dum europe tro att de gor det [View Full Entry]

By Eryn
October 2nd 2008

Kerala Houseboat

Asia » India » Kerala » Allepey

Our Houseboat

Wednesday we explored the town in the morning. All the Muslim-owned shops were closed. Tuesday was the last day of Ramadan so Wednesday was a celebration day. Tuesday night they were doing prayer over a very loud loud-speaker right down the street from us. It was still going on when we went to sleep and the next morning it started again around 6 am. Around noon we got on our houseboat, home for the next 20 hours, to explore the canal system that Kerala is famous for. We definitely felt like royalty! There were 3 people all there just for us [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » Asia » India » Kerala » Allepey