Joy Alukkas in Tirunelveli

<b><i>Joy Alukkas, followed in his visionary fathers footsteps and expanded the ‘Joy Alukkas’ name to a global level. His father Varghese Alukkas started his first jewellery showroom way back in 1956 and since then Joy Alukkas has made ‘Joyalukkas’ an household name in jewellery. Joy Alukkas took his first step by setting the jewellery showroom in UAE in the year 1987, since then there has been no looking back for Joy Alukkas. Today Joyalukkas is a USD 1 billion plus global conglomerate which has been personally created by Joy Alukkas in a span of merely two decades and with the single minded vision to consolidate Joyalukkas’ position as the world’s favourite jeweler.  Joy Alukkas’s success is the result of his forethought. In 1987 he flew to UAE to explore the untapped market and little did he realize that he was going to change the way the world looked at jewellery. He set up his first shop in Abu Dhabi followed by Dubai, Sharjah, Al Ain and Ras al-Khaimah. The expansion since then has continued to rope in countries like UK, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

As a part of its Indian expansion, Joy Alukkas opened a number of outlets in his native state of Kerala, India in 2002 and soon he started expanding in states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi. The flagship company of Joyalukkas touches the lives of over 10 million customers across eight countries through its 80 retail outlets and the success of which is credited to the chairman of the Group, Mr. Joy Alukkas.

Despite running a multi dollar retail gold and diamond jewellery business halfway across the world, Joy Alukkas wears his success lightly. He has his ear to the ground, his finger on the pulse and his feet on the ground. The fact is Joy Alukkas got to where he is because he never compromised with its corporate values and strongly believed that satisfied customers are the backbone of a company.

Joyalukkas became the first jeweller in the Middle East to be awarded both the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification and to be recognized by the Dubai government with the Dubai Quality Award under Trade category in 2008. He has a long list of awards which Joyalukkas group got under his leadership.

It was due to his vision again that, Joyalukkas CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) efforts were given shape through unique business models. Such an effort is the first of its kind taken up by any jewellery retail chain. For someone who has rarely –if ever –based his decisions on the more modern management tools such as graphs, scales and projections, Joy Alukkas‘s meteoric rise is a role model of entrepreneurial grit and intuitive enterprise.

Joy Alukkas revolutionized retail jewellery trade in India by introducing training programs for its employees and also brought the concept of “wedding centre” within the jewellery store. Many a feathers are attached to the success hat of Joy Alukkas, including the opening of the world’s largest showroom and the first Diamond Cave in Chennai, India, considered the jewellery hub of India. The phenomenal success of this showroom and this unique concept has proved his foresight and business acumen.</b></i>

Railways in Tirunelveli

The city is beautified by a majestic looking structure with a high elevated façade,^[2] is one of the busiest and most important stations in Tamil Nadu It is connected to major cities in all four directions, Madurai/Sankarankovil to the North, Nagercoil to the South, Tenkasi/Kerala (Kollam) to the West and Tiruchendur to the East.

Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur route is a broad-gauge network. A large engine maintenance and service station is under construction. At present, all engines and coaches with problems are being sent to Nagercoil for maintenance. This station is facilitated with computerized ticket booking and touchscreens to know the train schedule and status. A computerized ticket booking center at Palayamkottai is operational. There are three express trains starting from Tirunelveli - Nellai Express, Hapa Express, Bilaspur Express and Jammu Link Express.

The Tirunelveli railway station produces a substantial profit for the Madurai Railway division

. TheNellai Express, — a super-fast train connecting Tirunelveli and Chennai-Egmore runs fully packed almost throughout the year. The station has six platforms . Tirunelveli Junction is coded as TEN. Any train passing through the station halts in Tirunelveli Junction station. It is one of the oldest and most popular stations in Indian Railway

st.xaviers college,Tirunelveli

St. Xavier’s is the brand name for quality education in the South. It is the only one of its kind to have left its indelible mark on and adorned with its uniqueness, the sacred pages of higher education in Tamil Nadu. St. Xavier’s College was founded in the year 1923 by a dynamic band of Jesuit Missionaries from France, as a leaven and boon to the educationally and economically backward southern districts of Tamil Nadu. Within a short span of time it created a tradition of academic excellence and universal outlook. The task of upholding this high tradition and moving forward, combining excellence with relevance is no mean task. Yet, relentlessly it has been striving hard to pursue this path by providing the right ambience and adequate facilities to students. St. Xavier’s has been in the forefront of this noble task of producing a new brand of intellectuals imbued with human values. In and through all its curricular, co-curricular and out-reach programmes, the college aims at empowering the students to face challenges, solve problems and to contribute in real terms to nation-building. In other words, the students are challenged and enabled to become men and women for others or agents of social change. The Jesuit Management adopts a secular policy of admitting students without any discrimination, while at the same time cherishing its identity as a Catholic minority institution and its option for the poor, the dalits and first generation learners.

Bell school in Tirunelveli

Bell School, founded in 1992, is run by Indrani Chelladhurai Charities, a registered charitable trust. It was started in memory of baby Indrani (aged 2), the founders' daughter, who passed away back in 1955. Bell School commenced its service with Smt. Lily Darling Chelladhurai as the first Correspondent and it had just 47 students in the inaugural year. Today, 15 years later, it stands as one of the southern districts’ best schools, not just in educating over 2500 children, but also radically transforming the local community with families from diverse and multiethnic backgrounds. The institution aims to achieve a global standing by its 25th year (in 2017) by edifying over 5000 elite students.
From the primary school upwards, we follow the Matriculation syllabus for private schools. The curriculum and the books followed for the basic education have been carefully chosen and the teaching methods followed by our teachers are scrutinized on a weekly basis by the co-ordinators and the members of the board governing the academic quality. Books are frequently updated as information changes, especially in volatile subjects like computer science. In languages, children learn English, Tamil, French and Hindi. Bell School has exceptional standards in imparting skills.

The Matriculation Board exams for Std X and the State-board syllabus for Std XII are of prime focus in Bell School’s academics. Teachers and students of these two classes are not involved in any activity in the institution because of the attention required for the public exams. This fact is proved by our consistent high marks in std X and in the higher secondary examinations.

Classrooms and laboratories in Bell School are exceptionally well furnished and well-equipped. The ratio of children to teachers is maintained as low as 20:1 in most classes for a good individual attention to all children. All kindergarten classes have well qualified teaching assistants in addition to the main teachers, who support and assist children in every way they can.

Saranaalayam,Tirunelveli

The word ‘Saranalayam’ means sanctuary in tamil. ‘Saranalayam’ was started in 1993 to intervene in the issue of stree children, thrown away babies, destitute women who strand at the streets of Thirunelveli Town, one among the southern most districts in Tamil Nadu State, India Saranalayam’ is one of the development units of Tirunelveli Social Service Society. HISTORY ******* Tirunelveli Social Service Society has been actively engaged in the development of child labour since 1985. While working with the target people for the development of child labour in the villages, we faced the problem of run-away children in the villages. These children were found in the district head quarters in Tirunelveli. These children are known as street children, and these children are those who made the street as their home, living on their earning, eating and breeding on the streets. These children used to live on pavements with out any one to take care of them. From our initial survey we found quite many children on the streets. Tirunelveli Social Service Society as a development organization which showed a special interest in child labour took up the cause of street children also. The aim of this programme is to prevent and rehabilitate the street children who are living on the streets and the pavements. The rehabilitation centre provides shelter for the abandoned, deprived and destitute who are on the streets. The centre tries to rehabilitate these children by various measures like home placement, formal school placement, Technical school placement, job placement and skill development.

The Agricultural College and Research Institute, Killikulam

The Agricultural College and Research Institute, Killikulam was established in 1984 - 85 as the third constituent College of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. At the beginning, the College started functioning in rented building of MDT Hindu College, Pettai in Tirunelveli. Subsequently, after the acquisition of lands and buildings from the State Seed Farm, Killikulam, a part of the educational activities was shifted to Killikulam during 1986-'87. Consequent on the completion of hostel buildings, entire academic activities were shifted to Killikulam campus from 01.11.1989. 

      The institution was upgraded as Agricultural College and Research Institute in 1989. The college was also upgraded as a Post-graduate teaching institute from November 1990. The first batch of B.Sc. (Ag.), graduates passed out in 1988. The institution was made into a co-education institution from 1990-'91.

KRISHNAPURAM SCULPTURES

The Venkatachalapathy temple at Krishnapuram village on the Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur main road about 12 km from Tirunelveli is one of the few specimens depicting the architectural marvel and grandeur. It is indeed a treasure house of stone sculptures. Many rare intricately carved sculptures made of  granite stone are fine exhibits of architectural skill. This temple is dedicated to Lord Venkatachalapathy with his consorts Sri Devi and Bhu Devi on either side. The temple is complete in itself, since it is following the temple agamas.

It is said that Krishnappa Nayakkar of Nayak dynasty had commissioned some famous sculptors from  Vijayanagaram and they have left behind a wonderful collection of sculptures that tell us tales of heroic love and tragedy.

Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve Wild Life sancturies

The Mundanthurai-Kalakad wildlife sanctuary in Tirunelveli district is developed as a National Tiger Reserve  from the year 1988 with a total area of 817 sq. km in the south most western ghat ranges.  The nearest stations are Cheranmahadevi, and Ambasamudaram which are 20kms  and 15 kms respectively from Tirunelveli. The nearest airports are Madurai and Trivandrum. One can reach this place by road also from Ambasamudaram and Kalakad. Frequent buses are plying from Ambasamudaram and Kalakad to this place. Out of 817 sq. kms.459  sq.kms is in core zone and 358 sq.kms. is in buffer zone.

The mountainous undulating to topography is the characteristic feature leading to tropical dry deciduous forest on the lower slopes and tropical wet evergreen forests on the upper reaches.    The climate is dry humid and hot at plains and pleasant cold in the higher elevations.  The reserve is the southernmost habitat of the tiger.  Other predators like panthers, jungle cats, civets, dholes, jackals, striped hyenas are also found here. India is the home of 18 non-human primate species of which five primates occur in this reserve namely lion-tailed macque, slender loris, Nilgiri langur common langur and bonnet macaque.  Other endangered species found here are Nilgiri tahr, sloth bear, Indian bison, Indian elephant, Malabar giant squirrel, mouse deer, pangolin etc.  In addition to that sambar wild boar, spotted deer, porcupine and mangooses are also found here. We can also come across reptiles and amphibians like king cobra, common krait, russels, viper, darkpit viper, monitor lizard, garden lizard, tortoise, crocodiles and rare species of frogs.  Regarding avifauna there are more than 80 species of birds found in this region.  To mention a few spotted frequently here are egrets, herons, jungle fowl, spurfowl, partridge, quails, emerald dove, minivets, bee caters, sparrows, owls, night jars, kites, paradise flay catchers, and parakeets etc. There are 24 identified nature trails which is spread over the reserve.  It gives a thrilling experience to trekkers.  This Tiger Reserve is open on all days between 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. throughout the year.  However the best season is September to January.  Forest Rest Houses and dormitories are available at Mundanthurai and Thalayanai.

திருவள்ளுவர் இரண்டடுக்கு பாலம்

The two tier, namely Thiruvalluvar Bridge at Tirunelveli Junction was constructed to avoid the railway line crossing. The total length of bridge is 800 meters. This type of two Tier Bridge constructed in Tirunelveli is the first of its kind in India. This bridge was opened for traffic in 1972. This two tier over bridge consists of 25 spans of which 13 are of bow string arch, each with a width of 30.30 meters and 12 are single tier R.C.C girder each having a width of 11.72 meters.

Tirunelveli halwa

The time has come to initiate the uninitiated into the world of Tirunelveli Halwa. Tirunelveli is situated in southern Tamil Nadu close to Tuticorin & Kovilpatti and its name has become synonymous with the 

The halwa has been in Tirunelveli for about 300 years & in that time, its fame has spread far and wide. So much, that anyone passing through Tirunelveli is bound to buy atleast a packet of halwa.

The halwa is brown in colour & is just barely translucent. It has a very sticky texture & is high up in the list of messy food. But the taste more than makes up for it. The halwa is made from wheat & sugar. It is soaked in ghee & looks as well as feels oily. The best part about this halwa is that it melts in your mouth. So it can be enjoyed even by people without teeth. However it is very fattening & too much will put inches around your waist line. It tastes best when it is hot. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t eat it when it has cooled down.

The halwa is available all over Tirunelveli,but a profusion of shops near the Railway station & the Nellaiappar Temple bring fame to the city. The most famous of these is the Iruttukadai (Dark Shop). Another contender is Shanti Sweets. Iruttukadai gets its name from the fact that there are no electric lights in the shop & no sign board. Business in the evenings is carried out in candle-light as it has been so, since the time the shop started.

The popularity of the halwa is evident from the fact that these shops are packed at all times of the day. I guess, people from Tirunelveli never seem to have enough of the Famous Tirunelveli Halwa.

Churidhar Materials

Stylish, savy and extremely fashionable Pothy’s collection of churidhar materials have a designer feel and hi-end appeal. These materials come in a wide selection of designs, colour combinations and embellished with intricate embroidery and sequins work. The range also includes ready-to-stitch materials, which gives a boutique look to the garment. These churidhar materials are available in a wide range of fabrics, ranging from cotton to crepes. The collection consists of party wear designs, festive wear designs, casual wear designs and also formal wear pieces. So go ahead and choose what looks best on you.

Kancheepuram Silks

Pothy's brings to you authentic and designer Kanchipuram silks in a wide range of colour combinations, designs and patterns, these are designed to make you feel traditionally fashionable and can be worn on my special occasion. All our sarees bear the silk mark which assure you 100% pure silk, so go ahead and make your choice today.

Samudrika Pattu in pothys

A beautiful woman is the epitome of the perfect creation, in other words she is endowed with "Samudrika Lakshanam" according to vedas. At Pothy's our designers and weavers have achieved in capturing such admirable characteristics in our Kanchipuram sarees and have christened this creation as "Samudrika Pattu - Sarva Lakshana Pattu"

Courtallam Location

Courtallam is just 22km from Kadayanallur, 6km from Tenkasi, 160km from (temple city) Madurai, 137km from kanniyakumari, 112km from Tiruvananthapuram and 64km from Rajapalayam. Tuticorn airport is the nearest airport to courtallam place(TCR) approximately 86km far away. The nearest railway station to courtallam is just 6km from Tenkasi which is just 5km from Tirunelveli. Travelling way for courtallam from tenkasi is either by a private bus, car, auto, van or by sharing we can reach.

Courtallam Falls

Courtallam is a small village of a panchayat town which is approximately situated 164m beside western ghats in tirunelvli starts in the month of july and ends in September. Many rivers such as the Chittar River, Manimuthar River, the Pachaiyar River and the Tambaraparani River are specified being here. The fall of water from courtallam falls is a medicine for the people that flows along the forests and herbs, as they flows they get a soothing effect. The most famous waterfall in Tirunelveli and more over it is surrounded by lots of health resorts.

Karayar Dam / the Roja Falls (Banatheertham)

The moment when we think about waterfalls in Tamilnadu, Courtallam Falls of Tirunelveli will strike in our mind and at the same time the Banatheertham falls of the same city is giving more pride to the city because the song ‘Chinna-Chinna Asai’ from Roja film was shooted here (‘Dil hai Chhota sa’ in Hindi release). Banatheertham is a part of Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve which is just above the Karayar Dam and it is situated in the western origin of the river down. There is a boat ride of 20minutes for a person from dam across the lake which cost Rs.20. There is also 10minutes trekking that takes to the gorgeous and beautiful waterfalls, which is fully surrounded by a closely packed forest can be viewed. Waterfall is mind-blowing when we view from lake view. While boat riding they can also awe-inspiring view of water-slide of hills. This range is called for its plant varieties. The famous aromatic plant of healing Agasthiya which is pride to be father of all plant-based natural medicines is proved to have scattered these hills by collecting the herbs of plants.

Tiruvalluvar Two tier Bridge

This tiruvakkuvar over bridge is in Tirunelveli junction this was built to avoid the train crossing. The total length of the bridge is 800metres. This type of two Tier Bridge in Tirunelveli is first time in India. In 1972 this bridge was opened to avoid traffic. This two tier bridge totally has many matters, they consists of 25spans of which 13 are bow string arch, each with the width of 30.30 meters and 12 are single tier R.C.C girder with the width of 11.72 meters.

V.O.C. Mani Mandapam OR V.0.Chitambaram

The Towering personality of Freedom movement of Tamil Nadu who pulled cooking oil extractor (Chekku) in Coimbatore Jail. where he was imprisoned lot lighting against British imperialism. V.O.C. also started Navigation Company against British. He was not only a patriot hut a labor union leader also. Once the workers of Harvey mill going on strike, they were starving. At that time VOC sell his land, and provide loud to all the workers and thus continuing the strike. His colleagues are Mahakavi Bharathi and Subramania SIVA. V.O.C. Born at Ottapidaram now in Tutucorin District. Before that the village came under Tirunelveli District. So the Tamil Nadu Government Built a Manimandapam and opened by the chief Minister of Tamil nadu at Tirunelvel. Situated at the lower side of Trade fair Ground. The Total area of the Manimandapam is 41.37 cent. And coast goes up to 75 Lakhs. The P.W.D extended the Job. At the center of the mandapam there is a meditation hall. In this hall 6.5 feet height V.O.C Statue is installed, it is a Bronze Statue. There is also a model oil extractor in stone, which remind the V.O.C’s Sacrifices for National liberation task. At the entrance of the mandapam. Two ship shapes are installed which remind V.O.C’s dynamic approach against British. The mandapam is not only the memorial of patriotism but it is tourist spot also.

Pottalpudur Dargha

The centre of attraction of this place is the oldest dargha built around the year 1674. This dargha attracts not only the Muslims hut Hindus and Christians also in equal numbers. I his has been built adopting Hindu temple pattern. If the prayers of the pilgrims are answered, they pay their offerings, through the dargha in large numbers during Kanthuri festival with great reverence. In this dargha where the lebbais act as priest, customs almost similar to that of Hindus arc followed in the rituals. Here holy ashes obtained from tamarind bark. Ghee, and flowers cal led nerchai are distributed to the devotees

Kappal Matha Church

Uvari 72 Km from Tirunelveli. A small church for St. Mary which was under the control of pastors of Goa mission existed here. In course of time, in 1903, this church was converted into a school. On important occasions as per the wishes of the people, festivals were con ducted and prayers were offered to her. There was a custom among the young maidens to go to the nunnery in the night and sleep there. On one such occasion they saw a bright light surrounding this Selvamatha statue even though nobody lit a candle. Many people of Uvuri witnessed this light which was there for over an hour.

Birds Sanctuary at Koonthankulam

38 km from Tirunelveli. A small village in the far south, Koonthankulam in Nanguneri Taluk of Tirunelveli District is emerging as a new favorite of the migratory birds. It may soon be catapulted into the list of popular water bird sanctuaries in the country. This village is sparsely populated. Migratory birds start coming by December end and fly away to their northern homes by June or July after they lay eggs, hatch them and the young ones grow old enough to fly with the older ones. About 35 species of birds visit this calm hut congenial village for breeding.

District Science Center – Tirunelveli

The District Science Center, located on the banks of the river Tamiraparani in Tirunelveli, is a unit of the National Council of Science Museums, attached to the Human Resource Department (HRD), Government of India. It is an autonomous body focusing on popularizing science, inculcating the spirit of enquiry, fostering creative talents and infusing scientific temper in the life of the common man.

The Science Center features three permanent galleries on ocean; a semi permanent gallery on popular science and a six acre science park where the numerous exhibits help create an awareness of scientific development among the people. It has a well equipped planetarium and a sky observatory, where one could enjoy the view of heavenly bodies through a telescope. The center also regularly organizes video and planetarium shows, demonstration and lectures on everything from electronics to salts, apart from conducting mobile science exhibition, film shows, temporary exhibitions, science dramas and science fairs.

pattiyala chudithars in RMKV

New Arrivals of RMKV

RMKV silk sarees

RMKV sarees

Assam Gramin Vikash Bank Recruitment 2010 Posts

AGVB Recruitment 2010 or Assam Gramin Vikash Bank Recruitment 2010 for officers has been announced by Assam Gramin Vikash Bank on the official website of Assam Gramin Vikash Bank (AGVB) at www.agvbank.co.in. Eligible candidates may apply online as Assam Gramin Vikash Bank invites applications for the Recruitment for the Post of OFFICER JUNIOR MANAGEMENT SCALE – I & OFFICE ASSISTANTS (Multipurpose) in Assam Gramin Vikash bank. Checkout here for AGVB Recruitment 2010 or Assam Gramin Vikash Bank Recruitment 2010 for officers, Important dates, How To Apply details and Assam Gramin Vikash Bank (AGVB) online application forms.

Following are the Assam Gramin Vikash Bank Recruitment 2010 Posts :

1)Officer Junior Management Scale : 30 posts
Pay Scale : 14500-600/7-18700-700/2-20100-800/7-25700
Age limit : Minimum 18 years – Maximum 28 years

2) Office Assistant (Multipurpose) : 66 posts
Pay Scale : 7200-400/3-8400-500/3-9900-600/4-12300-700/7-17200-1300
Age limit : : Minimum 18 years – Maximum 28 years

APPLICATION FEES
For Officer Junior Management Scale Rs. 250.00)
Office Assistant (Multipurpose) OBC / GENERAL Rs.400.00 Rs. 250.00
For SC/ST only postage fees Rs 50

HOW TO APPLY :
1. Each application in the format given at the end of this advertisement accompanied by prescribed

fee and copies of required attested
certificates must be sent by ordinary post only in a cover superscribed “APPLICATION FOR THE POST OF

…………………………..,
POST CODE …………, AGVB Recruitment Project-II, 2010

upsc civil service patterns

UPSC CSAT Syllabus 2011 for Civil Services Aptitude Test or UPSC Syllabus 2011 / CSAT 2011 Syllabus Pattern has been announced on October 18, 2010 for UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination. Candidates can check here for UPSC CSAT Syllabus 2011 for Civil Services Aptitude Test or UPSC Syllabus 2011 / CSAT 2011 Syllabus Pattern. Civil Services Preliminary Examination (CSAT) 2011 Pattern, Syllabus consists of 2 papers of 200 marks each. Each paper will be of 2 hours. Previously UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Exam has an optional paper but the new Syllabus of CSAT 2011 there is NO optional paper this time and you can checkout for csat 2011 syllabus, UPSC CSAT 2011 Pattern
Paper I : 200 marks Duration : Two Hours

Current events of national and international importance
History of India and Indian national Movement
Indian and World Geography: Physical, social, economic geography of India and World
Indian Polity and Governnance: Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj , Public Policy, Rights issues
Economic and Social Development: Sustainble development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social sector initiatives.
General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, Climate Change,- that don’t require subject specialization.
General Science
Paper II : 200 marks (Duration 2 hours)

Comprehension
Interpersonal skills including communication Skills
Logical reasoning and analytical ability
Decision making and Problem solving.
General mental ability
Basic Numeracy (Numbers and their relations, orders of magnitude etc.) dat
Interpretation Skills (Charts, Graphs, tables, Data Sufficiency Class X Level)
English language Comprehension Skills.

Syllabus for tnpsc

General Knowledge
General Tamil
General English
Post Graduate Degree Standard
Degree Standard
Diploma Standard
Certificate Course
Intermediate Standard
HSC Standard
SSLC Standard
Law
Civil Judge
Assistant Public Prosecutor Grade II
Medical Speciality Subjects
Miscellaneous

Train timing

Train name Train no. Arrives Departs Starting Station End Station
Quilon Fast Passenger 727 02: 20 02: 30 Madurai Junction Quilon Junction
Nellai Express 2631 08: 35 Chennai Egmore Tirunelveli
Kanyakumari Express 2633 04: 45 04: 50 Chennai Egmore Kanyakumari
Thirukural Express 2642 06: 30 06: 35 H Nizamuddin Kanyakumari
Kanyakumari Express 2665 09: 20 09: 30 Howrah Junction Kanyakumari
Chennai - Nagercoil Express 2667 06: 30 06: 35 Chennai Egmore Nagarcoil Junction
Chennai - Nagercoil Express 2689 09: 20 09: 30 Chennai Central Nagarcoil Junction
Anantapuri Express 6123 07: 30 07: 40 Chennai Egmore Trivandrum Cntl
MS Guruvayur Express 6127 19: 00 19: 05 Chennai Egmore Guruvayur
GUV - Chennai Egmore Express 6128 07: 40 07: 50 Guruvayur Chennai Egmore
CSTM - NCJ Express 6351 03: 45 03: 55 Mumbai CST Nagarcoil Junction
Coimbatore - Nagercoil Express 6610 05: 25 05: 30 Coimbatore Junction Nagarcoil Junction

our lady of snows church,kallikulam

People inhabited Kallikulam as early as 1700. They built a temple to a Hindu deity for worship. The village leader conducted religious service in the temple.

Some time after, a lady with her child in her one arm and holding silver stick on the other hand, frequently came in the dream of the village leader and asked a particular part of land at Kallikulam. The villagers found the land pointed out by the lady got wet with dew in a hot summer season. They were confused about that lady and thought that she might be their 'Amman' and she wanted them to build a temple at that place. That time they were fighting for the ownership of Kallikulam village land.

From a European priest of Vadakankulam parish, they came to know that the Lady is Mary and she wanted them to build a church at Kallikulam. The priest told them about many miracles of Mary and said them that Mary would help them in their effort to get the ownership of the Kallikulam land.

Before the final court verdict, the same lady appeared to the village leader and told him that 'You go in the front, and I will be with you'. In the final court verdict, the village people got judgment in favour of them. They believed Mary only helped them to win in that legal battle and possess the land. To honour her, with more gratitude they built a thatch church on 1770 at the land marked by Mary. As catholic population increased, this church was enlarged, by Frs. Martin and Mossette on 1838.

On 1884, the village people decided to build a new church for Mary. They were undecided about the size and boundary of the church. On a hot summer morning, they found a part of land wet with dew, marking the boundary of the church. On 5th September 1884, Rev.Father Cousanal laid the foundation for the present day church. With donation of people and hard workmanship the church was constructed. On 1886, the construction work was completed and the church was consecrated to Our Lady of Snow. The church tower work was started on 1941 and completed on 1942.

The church architecture is based on Roman architecture. It has three towers, one main tower and two sub towers. The Main tower height is around 160 feet and the sub tower height is around 68 feet. The church building height is around 55 feet. The total length of the church is around 151 feet and the width is around 56 feet. The main tower has internal spiral steps for 143 feet. The main statue of 'Our lady of snow' and the Church Bell were brought from France.

Papanasam (42 Kms)

This holy place is on the western ghat of Pothigai Hills. It is close to the Papanasam Falls, on the banks of the Thamiraparani river where Siva and Parvathi appeared before the great saint Agasthiya.Hence the falls is popularly called the "Agasthiya Falls". To commemorate the visit of the divine couple, the Agasthiya temple was built there.

Kanthimathi - Nellaiyapper Temple

This temple is situated in the heart of the city. This is a twin temple dedicated to Parvathi and Siva. Rare Jewels, the Golden Lily Tank, Musical Pillars, the hall of thousand pillars are worth seeing.

Tirunelveli

Tirunelveli is a city in Tamil Nadu state of southern India . It is the headquarters of Tirunelveli District. Tirunelveli is about 2000 years old and is a town of old tradition . Tirunelveli was the capital of the Pandya Kingdom for some time, next to Madurai .

Tirunelveli is situated on the banks of the river Thamiraparani; it is on the way to Kanniyakumari from Madurai . It is a twin town - Thirunelveli and Palayamkottai. The town is located roughly 400 kilometers away from Chennai.

The temple of Nellaiappar and Kanthimathi is situated in the centre of Tirunelveli. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and worshipped as Nellaiappar. Thiru-Nel-Veli (Thiru - Shri, Nel = Paddy, Veli = Fence). It is believed that food grains collected for worship at the temple were protected from the floods by the fence, hence the name Nel Veli came.

The famous Courtallam Waterfalls are located in Tirunelveli District . Tirunelveli is famous for Tirunelveli halwa .