Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Onam with Uthradom Tirunal

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It was an ‘Onakkazhcha’ with a difference on Wednesday for the head of the ruling family of erstwhile Travancore, Uthradom Tirunal Marthanda Varma. Lining up to present him with traditional gift items and books were children who are members of the Sancharam Club.

For many of the little ones, it was their first trip to the administrative capital of Kerala. Once in Thiruvananthapuram they soaked in sights including the Napier Museum, the zoo, the Padmanabhaswamy Temple, the Assembly hall and Kovalam beach. Accompanying the children on their visit to the Kowdiar palace was the Santhosh George Kulangara, the first person to be selected as a space tourist from India. He is also the president of the Club.

A press note issued here quoted Mr. Kulangara as saying that the aim of the Club was to enable children to travel far and wide with the minimum of expense and meet important personalities. The Club encourages its young members to get outside the four walls of their class rooms or homes, travel widely and thereby push back the frontiers of knowledge, Mr. Kulangara said and added that the Club, through such travels, also aims to instil in the young minds an awareness about history and about the environment.

The Club has plans to conduct a series of similar tours for children, the press note added.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu