Vallarpadam Terminal

Usually a 64 km drive from Cochin to Alappuzha in early January will be a exhausting experience. But scenic beauty of Kerala all along NH 47 highway is a mesmerizing .The drizzle that is a part of normal Kerala weather almost through out the year makes the journey even more charming . Alappuzha has a unique history as a port since16th century. Dalwa Raja Kesavadas said to have made significant contributions towards the development of this town .The Britsh nick named the place “Venice of the East “. It was during this period the town became center of tourist attraction .”Alappuzha” the term means”Land between sea and rivers joining the sea”.

Backwaters have always been a tourist attraction in Alappuzha .A one week stay in house boats may cost you dearly but once you are into it you appreciate the cost. Cool nights in the house boats is ideal for romance ,chat and enjoyment. Couples can have very pleasant and private time here. Looking into the darkness lighted by blue moonlit is a refreshing experience. A few may get some new insights about themselves but mostly everyone will have some thing to talk in this atmosphere. A cool breeze pampers you as the boat men take you for a tour of the lake. We can see houses on small islands and natives rowing small boats during day time.

Prime Minister Nehru came to see a snake boat race in Alapauzha and was so impressed that he sent Trophy for the race and since then this race is a major tourist attraction every year. Snake boats called Chundanvallams by natives are very prestigious possessions in here. People group under the banner of there own locality names, make teams and row these huge boats in during the race. The competition is so intense that this leads to many heart breaks after the event.

Back waters are the major asset God has given to this part the world .Besides tourism the natives have coconut and paddy cultivations as a major source of revenue.

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Kerala, located on the west coast of India, is known as ‘God’s Own Country’ because of its scenic beauty, and Kochi is the shining jewel in this beautiful state. Vallarpadom, which forms part of Kochi, is a small idyllic island on the Vembanad lake, with a serene and calm atmosphere. The serenity and peace, which is a salient feature of this island, can only be attributed to the presence of the historic church of Our Lady of Ransom. This church forms part of the diocese of Verapoly and revered by Catholics as a very sacred church.

The church was built by Portuguese missionaries in 1524. It is said that the missionaries discovered a painting of the Lady of Ransom, and later in a dream, they were asked to establish a church in Vallarpadam, which they dutifully did. Many miracles have been attributed to the Lady of Ransom and most are of people being saved from accidents at sea. As per tradition the church was earlier known as the church of the Holy Spirit. The original building was destroyed by floods in the 17th century and rebuilt later. The present building is said to have built in 1676.

As per local folklore, a lady and her child from a Hindu family who were shipwrecked, survived for three days, sheltered under a rock. The lady prayed that she would commit her life to serving the Lady of Ransom, and she was saved. Even today, all processions in connection with festivities of the church begin from the ancestral house of the Hindu lady, which is called Paliath. The images of the lady and child are also seen in the picture of the Lady of Ransom inside the Vallarpadom church.

The local fishermen always bring their new boats to be blessed by the Lady of Ransom before they are taken out to sea for the first time. When prayers are answered, the blessed devotees dedicate their lives to the Lady of Ransom, and sweep the church compound to convey their spirit of dedication. The altar of the church is filled with offerings of devotees who had been blessed by the Lady of Ransom.

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