MALABAR

Malabar, the land that has been bestowed upon by the bounties of nature had literally alienated itself from the onslaughts of human intervention. The land, where Vasco Da Gama stepped off his ship into history, was also an important stretch in the famed silk route to the Indian sub-continent. Down the centuries, the Portuguese, French, Arabs, Chinese, Dutch and of course the British left their footprints on the sands of its psyche. Malabar’s tradelinks with West Asia date back to over 1500 years. Malabar stretches from Kasargode on the Northern most tip of Kerala to the unscathed tropical forests of Silent Valley in Palakkad. Malabar is an assortment of colours of a varied culture, diverse flora and fauna. Malabar is also home to world famous ritual dances like the Theyyam and martial arts like Kalaripayattu (which predates every other known martial art) and Poora kali, aiming to cultivate a sound mind in a sound body. The places that are part of this wonderland are Kasargode, Kannur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Wayanad and Palakkad. Let us explore these must know places, to which the journey is yet to begin….. The cultural map of Malabar cannot be complete without panning this fascinating stretch of land called Kasargode. Bekal Fort, that hoary fort that stands tall in the cultural history of Kasargode tells amazing stories of conquests and invasions in this land, stretching far back into the mists of time. The mighty fort is located on the sea-side, and is one of the most sought out tourist destinations in the region. Realising this place’s huge potential, many tourist establishments have already sprung up on this unspolit land. Kasargod is also the land of Poorakali, Perumkaliattam, Yakshaganam, and Kaalapootu. The abode of Lord Ananthapadmanabha-the Ananthapuram Temple is an architectural marvel with an awesome ambience, resting languidly in the middle of a lake. The historic beach at Manjeswaram is an equally great balm for the weary traveller seeking a respite from the world at large. The city of looms and lores', Kannur is the heartland of folk art and folk music. Apart from this, Kannur is ahead of other parts of Kerala in promoting the concept of Heritage tourism. Ancient temples, serene countryside, and monuments that mark the rule of many a valourous rulers find due prominence in the cultural history of Kannur. The land also flourished with a multitude of the famous folk art form - theyyam, with around hundreds of them being performed before the Karkidakom season. The tiles manufacturing units of Kannur is renowned all over Asia. Herman Gundert, the German missionary who redefined the Malayalam language had left his mark on this land. Thalassery claims to be the place of origin of the Indian circus. The drive-in beach at Muzhapilangad is the only one of its kind in India. The St Angelo's fort at Kannur, by the seaside, silently speaks of the heroic deeds of its one-time inhabitants Historically, the city of Kozhikode (Calicut) is probably the most important part of Malabar, its very heart. It was this ancient land that was India’s first trade-link to West Asia and the world as a whole. Kozhikode is famed for its hospitality and a rich blend of art, culture and music. This land is equally important for its tempting cuisine. Vasco da Gama, in 1498, anchored his ship on the beautiful shores of Kozhikode, opening up India to the world. But Kozhikode has an equally important place in history for its craftsmanship. It is home to the traditional wooden ship builders whose vessels sailed the world’s seven seas, taking trade and culture beyond known horizons to bridge the gap between different cultures. Kozhikode was a major attraction to the Europeans and the Arabs for its abundance of spices and other agricultural products. Malapuram is the land that contributed many martyrs for the freedom struggle. The sepoy mutiny that the British carped about took place in this very land in 1921. The father of Malayalam literature- Tunchathu Ezhuthachan belongs to Malappuram. Football is to Malappuram what it is to Brazil. Football fever grips this land not just during the world cups but also throughout the year with small soccer events happening in its villages and towns. At times of disturbances in the Middle East, the economy here, which relies greatly on the remittances from its hardy migrants abroad, suffers tremors. The Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Salai is considered as one of the greatest Ayurvedic hermitages, the world over. A predominantly Muslim district, Malappuram is also known for its fine instances of communal tolerance. A small instance: There are a number of Muslim families who cultivate lotus flowers in large ponds in Tirunnavaya, to be delivered for use in worship at Hindu temples across Kerala. Be a part of the eternal journey to the mystique land, Wayanad. The land that smells of pepper and cardamom, the land that embraces age-old works of art and architecture. Wayanad is perched at an altitude between 700 and 2100 metres above sea level. The wind here whistles through the virgin bamboo stalks and wild rearing canopies of the forests creating an ambience that is as pristine as the first dew of a misty morning. These pictures aim to catch the melody of rivulets and the chirping birds, the air reverberating with the rustic innocence of country songs punctuated by valourous stories of legendary heroes like the Pazhassi Raja and Tipu. The Mighty Western Ghats stand proud with the evergreen forest that is home to many medicinal plants and wildlife. This biodiversity breathes life into each and every living being, that at some point is a part of this paradise. This land also boasts of one of the world's most ancient cave engravings in the Ambukuthi mountain that dates back to pre-historic times. Now listen to a tale that’s told by a river as she flows gently but mightily taking in her course tiny rivulets, hundreds in number—this is Bharatapuzha that flows through Palakkad. This is the land that speaks of a rich culture, performing arts, festivals like Pooram, Kaala vela, Kaala poottu and fields that run in acres. It was from this land that great litterateurs like O. V. Vijayan and M T Vasudevan Nair drew their legendary characters. The architecture and Vaastu of Palakkad is acclaimed for their simplicity, novelty and aristocratic touch. The world famous National park- Silent Valley stretches across this land. The famous ornithologist Salim Ali has unraveled to the world some of the rare species of birds of this land through his acclaimed works. The photographs here are the throw ups of my passionate and professionally challenging attempts to soak up Malabar’s life and times over the past ten years and more, with firm contextual moorings. The enduring and breathtaking aspects of this fascinating land captured live would, hopefully, make it come through as a virtual paradise undisturbed by the world at large, and steeped in legends and lores. This collection successfully unravels the lesser-known yet explicit landmarks of Malabar, the subtle nuances of its culture and tradition, and its essence. It targets research students; particularly students of History who would like to explore the untouched and un-documented parts of Malabar. It would also be a great opportunity for tour operators, and tourists from within and outside India, to know Malabar up close from behind a highly perceptive lens. This could also help Malabar’s own population in looking at their land from a different angle and thus help them rediscover it