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Time Business News
10 hours ago
- Time Business News
12 days Kerala heritage tour
Kerala, famously known as 'God's Own Country', is a land where heritage and nature blend seamlessly. With its backwaters, ancient temples, colonial architecture, and hill stations, a 12 Days Kerala Heritage Tour offers an enriching travel experience for history buffs, culture seekers, and nature lovers alike. This tour is designed to take you on a journey through Kerala's rich past, traditional arts, Ayurvedic wellness, and pristine natural beauty—making it perfect for family vacations, senior travelers, and curious explorers. The 12 Days Kerala Heritage Tour is not just about sightseeing. It's about connecting with Kerala's centuries-old traditions, vibrant art forms, and serene lifestyle. Highlights include: Ancient temples and royal palaces Dutch, Portuguese, and British colonial history Ayurvedic treatments and cultural performances Houseboat stay on the backwaters Visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites and heritage villages Start your heritage journey in Kochi, a historic port city that was once a major hub for spice trade. Explore: Fort Kochi & Chinese Fishing Nets Mattancherry Palace (Dutch Palace) Paradesi Synagogue St. Francis Church Kathakali performance in the evening Overnight Stay: Kochi Drive to Thrissur, the cultural capital of Kerala. Visit: Vadakkunnathan Temple (UNESCO tentative list) Kerala Kalamandalam (renowned art and culture academy) Thrissur Zoo and Art Museum Overnight Stay: Thrissur Visit the famous Guruvayur Temple, one of India's oldest Krishna temples, then continue to Kozhikode, a coastal city steeped in history. Attractions: Kappad Beach (where Vasco da Gama landed) Pazhassi Raja Museum Sweet Meat Street (SM Street) Overnight Stay: Kozhikode Drive to Wayanad, a tranquil region known for its tribal heritage, caves, and spice plantations. Sightseeing: Edakkal Caves (prehistoric carvings) Wayanad Heritage Museum Pookode Lake Overnight Stay: Wayanad Explore tribal villages, ancient Jain temples, and lush plantations. Enjoy optional activities like: Bamboo rafting Visit to Kuruva Island Trek to Chembra Peak Overnight Stay: Wayanad Travel to Palakkad, known for its traditional Kerala architecture and temples. Highlights: Palakkad Fort (built by Hyder Ali) Kalpathy Heritage Village Malampuzha Dam and Gardens Overnight Stay: Palakkad Drive to Alleppey, the gateway to Kerala's backwaters. En route, enjoy a traditional lunch and observe coir-making villages. Evening: Board a houseboat and cruise the tranquil backwaters. Overnight Stay: Houseboat After disembarking, travel to Kumarakom, a peaceful village on Vembanad Lake. Activities: Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary Explore heritage homestays Traditional toddy tasting Overnight Stay: Kumarakom Drive to Thekkady, home of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and rich spice heritage. Experiences: Spice plantation tour Visit to a tribal heritage museum Optional boat ride on Periyar Lake Overnight Stay: Thekkady Travel to Munnar, Kerala's most scenic hill station once favored by the British. Attractions: Tea Museum Kolukkumalai Tea Estate (world's highest tea plantation) Visit to British-era bungalows Overnight Stay: Munnar Soak in Munnar's colonial charm and natural beauty. Optional activities: Visit Lockhart Gap Viewpoint Nature walk in tea gardens Attend a heritage walk about plantation history Overnight Stay: Munnar Drive back to Kochi for departure. You may stop at traditional villages or local markets en route for final souvenirs. Combination of historical sites , spiritual centers , and natural wonders , , and Accommodation in heritage hotels , traditional houseboats , and plantation resorts , , and Insightful interactions with local communities and artisans A deep dive into Kerala's cultural roots and eco-friendly lifestyle October to March: Ideal for pleasant weather and clear skies Ideal for pleasant weather and clear skies April to May: Warmer but still enjoyable in the hill stations Warmer but still enjoyable in the hill stations June to September: Monsoon season – lush greenery, fewer crowds, great for Ayurveda Light, breathable clothing Modest attire for temple visits Walking shoes Rain gear (monsoon season) Sunblock and insect repellent Reusable water bottle The 12 Days Kerala Heritage Tour is not just a trip, but a transformative journey through South India's most culturally rich and naturally blessed state. It's a chance to discover the real Kerala — its warm people, vibrant traditions, and timeless stories passed down through generations. Whether you're tracing temple carvings, sipping tea in colonial-era estates, or watching the sun dip below the backwaters, this Kerala tour will leave you with memories that last a lifetime. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Khaleej Times
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
'Felt like one of our own': Dubai filmmaker on casting Khalid Al Ameri in 'Chatha Pacha'
The Malayalam WWE-inspired action-comedy Chatha Pacha: The Ring of Rowdies has been generating quite the buzz lately, thanks to the unexpected guest appearance by Emirati social media favourite Khalid Al Ameri. But for Dubai-based filmmaker Shihan Shoukath, who is helming the big-ticket production under his banner Reel World Entertainment, the decision felt like a no-brainer. 'I often joke with [Khalid] that he's an adopted Malayali. The love Malayalis — especially in the Gulf — have for Khalid is something else. So when he walked onto set, it felt like one of our own showing up,' Shihan tells Khaleej Times. 'He brings this really warm, grounded, and humorous energy to everything he does, and that totally fed into the way we built his character. It was a fun mix of who he is, plus a twist to fit the tone of our crazy, chaotic world,' he adds. And with 30 days of filming now wrapped, Chatha Pacha is already turning heads, not just for the surprise cameo, but also for its star-studded cast, throwback WWE energy, and highly-anticipated soundtrack, marking Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's Malayalam film debut. Wrestling, rain and rowdies On paper, Chatha Pacha sounds like a fever dream: a Malayalam film set in Fort Kochi, where three estranged brothers come together to start their own WWE-style wrestling club. But in Shihan's hands, it's become a love letter to childhood obsessions, familial chaos, and the raw conflict of growing up in a place where dreams don't come easy. 'When the story came to me, I was instantly hit with this childhood memory of watching WWE with my brother and even my grandmother crammed into one living room, screaming every time someone did a chokeslam,' Shihan recalls. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Chatha Pacha: The Ring of Rowdies (@chathapachathefilm) 'That mix of chaos, brotherhood, and obsession with wrestling was so unique to our growing up. And I thought, what if we captured that energy, but rooted it in a very entertaining, local story? That's how Chatha Pacha was born. A total mad fusion of nostalgic WWE fandom and emotional Malayalam storytelling.' Star-studded cast and more With a star-studded cast including Roshan Mathew, Arjun Ashokan, Vishak Nair, and Ishan Shoukath (Dubai-based actor and Shihan's younger brother, last seen in a breakout performance in Marco), the energy on set has been anything but ordinary. 'It's been wild. Pure madness in the best way possible," says Shihan. "We were shooting in the rain, in real locations, with extras who are actual wrestling fans,' he adds. 'There were several moments when our legendary cinematographer, Anend C Chandran, framed our young child actors, and they spontaneously came up with improvised dialogues, wrestling moves, expressions. Everyone just froze. And I remember thinking to our director, Advait: this is connecting in ways we didn't even expect." And for the WWE fans, yes, there will be wrestling. Full-blown, sweat-dripping, bone-crunching wrestling. 'We're not taking wrestling lightly at all,' he adds. 'Our stunt director Kalai Kingson studied WWE's psychology, and even though it's stylised, it's grounded in real physicality. We even cast people with legit fight training. When the punches land, you will feel it.' How you could land a cameo Even before hitting the big screen, Chatha Pacha has been making noise where it counts. The film's GCC and overseas theatrical rights were recently acquired by Dubai-based distributor The Plot Pictures for a landmark sum, cementing it as one of the most valuable overseas deals in Malayalam cinema. Add to that, the music rights snapped up by a major Indian label, driven by the buzz around Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's debut. 'The soundtrack is on another level, honestly,' says Shihan. 'There's one track that's kind of a rebel anthem, which is already stuck in everyone's heads.' Meanwhile, the #ChathaPachaChallenge on social media has taken on a life of its own. Fans from across India and the Gulf are recreating their wildest WWE-style wrestling moves for a chance to score a cameo in the film. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Chatha Pacha: The Ring of Rowdies (@chathapachathefilm) Chatha Pacha: The Ring of Rowdies is slated for theatrical release later this year. And if the buzz is anything to go by, then our countdown has already begun!
