writing
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To many he was a madman. The road to Branthachalam Bhagavathy Temple on the hillock of Rayirenelloor does not announce itself with grandeur as it begins quietly, moving through villages, paddy fields and groves of trees, this is the place to meet the mind of one of Kerala’s most misunderstood sages, Naranathu Branthan. This travel is not merely a climb…
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In the town of Nedumangad near Thiruvananthapuram stands the Koyikkal Palace, a structure that does not have grand halls, yet carries within its walls the weight of a remarkable history. Unlike the opulent palaces of Travancore, this dwelling reflects the elegant simplicity and functional grace of a traditional Kerala household. Its charm lies not in ornamentation, but in…
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Thalassery, in North Kerala, is a town where history lingers gently at every turn. Known for its fort, coastal trade, and cultural firsts, the town also preserves memories of individuals whose lives quietly shaped the social conscience of Malabar. While the Thalassery Fort draws most visitors, a short walk behind it, reveals a far more understated yet…
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In the quiet village of Mannady in Pathanamthitta stands a museum that echoes the bravery of one of Kerala’s most uncompromising warriors, Velu Thampi Dalawa the man who dared to challenge both corruption within his kingdom and the expanding might of the British Empire. As you walk into the lush grounds, the imposing life-size statue of Velu Thampi Dalawa…
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There are places you visit, and there are places that make you pause & inviting you into a deeper world where language, culture, and history breathe together. Thunchan Parambu in Tirur, the birthplace of Thunchath Ramanujan Ezhuthachan, is one such sacred ground. Revered as the Father of the Malayalam language, Ezhuthachan’s legacy continues to echo through every…
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High in the misty folds of Ambukutty Mala, at an elevation of about 1200 meters, lies one of India’s most intriguing prehistoric wonders, the Edakkal Caves. Though popularly called “caves,” Edakkal is not a cave in the usual sense. The name itself reveals the truth: Edakkal means cleft in Malayalam. What visitors walk through is a naturally formed passage…
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If Kozhikode has a pulse, it beats strongest on SM Street traditionally known as Sweet Meat Street, and hailed as one of Kerala’s busiest and most iconic shopping lanes. Step in from the Mananchira entrance and you are greeted by the watchful bronze statue of S. K. Pottekkatt, the celebrated writer who immortalized this bustling stretch…
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Perched on a serene hillock at Illikunnu, a quiet suburb of Thalassery, stands a charming colonial-style bungalow that breathes history through every arch and corridor. This is the Herman Gundert Bungalow, a 19th-century residence that once housed one of Kerala’s greatest contributors to language and literature is Dr. Herman Gundert, the German missionary and linguist who gifted…
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As you walk in Wayanad, the forests whisper the name of a forgotten hero – Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja, the Lion of Kerala. In the town of Mananthavady is a place that in many ways is the signature of Kerala’s history and Pazhassi Tomb certainly is a place to remember his valor. Standing amidst the green…
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Standing tall on the rugged cliffs of Kasaragod where the Arabian Sea endlessly roars and recedes, is Kerala’s largest and most enduring fortress-Bekal Fort. As waves crash against its walls, drenching its ancient laterite stones, you can almost feel the pulse of history that has echoed here for centuries. Built in the mid-17th century by Shivappa…
STORIES by HEARITAGE 