PONNUYIN SELVAN STORY | THE LION OF KERALA PONNUYIN SELVAN

 PONNUYIN SELVAN

 Ponniyin Selvan was born in the year 1204 AD at Thiruvattar near Kollam (Kerala). He was the son of King Parakramabahu VI of Travancore and Queen Vijayalakshmi Devi. His father died when he was only three years old. Ponniyin’s mother remarried to Prince Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma who later became the king of Travancore. Ponniyin grew up under the care of his stepfather and half-brothers.

 

PONNU YIN'S EDUCATION AND TRAVELS

 When Ponniyin was young, he was taught the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Puranas, the Epics, the History of India, the Geography of India, the Art of War, the Science of Government, the Science of Religion, the Law of Manu, the Laws of Menu, the Laws of Dharma, the Laws of Artha, the Laws of Kama, the Laws of Yoga, the Laws of Politics, the Laws of Economics, etc. He was also trained in the art of war and horse riding.

 

THE BATTLE OF CHERAPUNI

 In 1301 A.D., Ponniyin went to Cherapunji where he fought against the forces of Malik Kafur, the Sultan of Delhi. In the battle, Ponniyin killed many enemies including Malik Kafur himself. After the battle, Ponnuyin returned home to Kerala.

 

 PONNYIN'S FAME

 After returning from the battle of Cherapunji, Ponniyin became famous throughout Kerala. People began calling him “The Lion of Kerala”. Many kings and princes came to meet him and ask for his help.

 

PONNYIN AS AN ARCHITECT

 Ponniyen built many temples and palaces in Kerala. He designed the temple of Guruvayoorappan and the palace of Raja Ravi Varma. He also designed the palace of the Zamorins of Kozhikode.

 

PONNYIN IN POLITICS

 Ponnyin was a great politician. He was elected as the Chief Minister of Kerala four times. He was also appointed as the Governor of Madras Presidency twice.

 

PONNYIN’S DEATH

 On the night of January 1st, 1406 A.D., Ponnyin had a dream in which he saw a beautiful woman named Padmavathi. She told him that she would give birth to a child who would become the greatest ruler of Kerala. On January 2nd, Ponnyin passed away.

 

THE LION OF KERALA PONNUYIN SELVAN

PONNUYIN Selvan (പൊൻണ്യിന സെൽബാ) is the king of all lions in India. He resides at Kallada Wildlife Sanctuary (KWS), located in Palakkad District, Kerala, India. His name comes from a local legend about how he was rescued. The tale goes that a young boy named Ponnuyin Thampuran (പഞ്ചുറിത്മീന థంప్రభా) had lost his way while travelling to Munnar in Palakkad district. While walking along the banks of the river in search of shelter, he came across a lioness who was nursing her cubs. As luck would have it, the young boy stumbled upon two lions and thus began the legend. The story continues that he saved the cubs from being eaten alive by humans. Thus, PONNUYI SELVAN was born.

KALADA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

 The Kallada Wildlife Sanctuary is a popular tourist destination in Palakkad, Kerala state, India. Located about 30 kilometers from Palakkad Junction Railway Station, Kallada Wildlife Sanctuary has over 633 hectares of land. The sanctuary is home to various wild animals like Tigers, leopards, panthers, bears, elephants, monkeys, deer, etc. In addition, the sanctuary also boasts of having the best bird population in Asia. There are many temples including Sri Anandhan Temple, Sri Vellayani Temple, Namboodiri Mahavishnu temple, etc., situated near the park. One can enjoy trekking on the forest trails and visiting the sanctuaries, waterfalls, and viewpoints.

 

 PAKKAD DISTRICT PALAKKAD TOWN

 Palakkad town is situated at the confluence of three rivers namely Periyar, Chaliyar and Muvattupuzha Rivers close to the Western Ghats. It is known to be the commercial capital of Malabar region. The city is rich in religious tourism, cultural heritage, and historical monuments. Many ancient and medieval churches, mosques, tombs and temples are present here. The famous pilgrim centres like Sabarimala, Sabarigiri, Arakuzha, Pattikkara, Mukkuva, Kodungaloor, etc. are located nearby. Palakkad lies on the National Highway 66 connecting North Kerala with rest of the country. The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport.

 

MUNNERI RAJABAH SHRINE

 Munnar Raja Bahshree Temple is one of the oldest Hindu shrines in Kerala. It is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi. The shrine is located 16 km from Munnar on the road to Ooty. To reach the shrine one has to walk from the bus stand on Munnar Road. It takes around 20 minutes to get to the temple. One can hire a rickshaw from the Munnar Bus Stand for Rs. 10 per person. The distance between the temple and the Munnar bus station is 8 km. People visit the shrine mainly during the holy month of Bhadra.

 

PERIAZ HILLS

 Periaz Hills rises steeply to a height of 1,400 metres above sea level. Situated at an elevation of 900 mts above sea level, Periaz Hill is a popular hill station in Idukki district, Kerala. Periaz hills offer scenic views of green tea plantations, rolling hills, thick forests, coffee estates and verdant valleys. Home to numerous indigenous flora and fauna, Periaz Hills is also a favourite picnic spot amongst tourists and locals alike. The annual flower show held here attracts thousands of visitors each year.

 

CHINATOWN

 Chinatown is a well established entertainment center and shopping area in the heart of Kochi City. Located in Fort Kochi, Chinaman's Creek is lined with shops selling clothes, accessories, gifts, food, and even services. The place is bustling at night and offers an interesting variety of restaurants and bars. The place is surrounded by attractions such as Mattancherry palace, Kochi backwaters, and Fort Kochi. The Fort Kochi beach is located nearby.

 

KOCHI BACKWATERS

 Kochi Backwaters is a network of waterways surrounding the city of Kochi in the Indian state of Kerala. The backwater travel connects the city with its suburbs and other districts in Kerala. Boating services connect them to different parts of the city. The backwaters are connected to the Arabian Sea by the Periyar River, which originates in the Western ghats in Mullaperiyar Dam. The dam regulates the flow of water into the backwater system.

 

ECR FARMING COLONY

ECR Farming Colony is a company based out of California developing a high-tech system using hydroponic techniques as well as vertical farming methods to produce massive amounts of food at a minimal environmental cost! We get our name from being both Environmental Conscious & Responsible yet not just simply doing what we feel obligated to do. We aim to reduce the amount of water consumed per square foot while increasing production.

 

The company was founded by two brothers who have been working with greenhouses/hydroponics since they were teenagers. They wanted to find a way to provide their customers with an alternative to mass-produced vegetables without sacrificing quality. Instead of producing hundreds of tons of crops each year, ECR Farming Colony aims to produce thousands of pounds of crops annually.

 

They currently use LED lighting systems to help keep costs down. Their first greenhouse is located in Californi