Kerala - God's own country

Elaveezha punchira

noreply@blogger.com (Saran S) — Wed, 7 Sep 2016 16:39:00 -0700

Athirappally waterfalls

noreply@blogger.com (Saran S) — Mon, 5 Sep 2016 22:37:00 -0700

Chavara backwaters

noreply@blogger.com (Saran S) — Mon, 5 Sep 2016 18:00:00 -0700

Church in fort kochi

noreply@blogger.com (Saran S) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 07:54:00 -0800

A church in fort kochi during christmas.

A walk through fort kochi

noreply@blogger.com (Saran S) — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 07:57:00 -0800

Marine drive.

noreply@blogger.com (Saran S) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 07:51:00 -0800

Bolgatty ferry

Hill palace, Thripunithara

noreply@blogger.com (Saran S) — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 07:49:00 -0800

A deer at Hill palace, Thripunithara.

Kochi

noreply@blogger.com (Saran S) — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 07:47:00 -0800

Two rusted boats alongside marine drive.

Incredible India

noreply@blogger.com (Saran S) — Sat, 5 Jun 2010 05:43:00 -0700

An Island!

noreply@blogger.com (Saran S) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:50:00 -0800

An island near neendakara,Chavara!

Boats...Houseboats...

noreply@blogger.com (Saran S) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 06:53:00 -0800

A boat in the backwaters..

Two houseboats!

Kallar,Thiruvananthapuram...

noreply@blogger.com (Saran S) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 06:45:00 -0800

Source:http://www.flickr.com/photos/keralatourism/

Kallar is small town in Thiruvananthapuram district in Kerala, India. Kallar is 45 km from Thiruvananthapuram, while the town of Ponmudi is a further 15 km away. The majestic Vamanapuram River flows through the town. Torrential rain can raise the level of the river and sweep away things that come in its way; recently, several dental college students of Trivandrum lost their lives in flash floods. Many varieties of birds and trees can be also be seen in and around Kallar.

Chinnar wildlife Sanctuary.

noreply@blogger.com (Saran S) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 06:37:00 -0800

Source:http://www.flickr.com/photos/keralatourism/

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, (CWS), is located 18 km north of Marayoor on SH 17 in the Marayoor and Kanthalloor Panchayats ofDevikulam Taluk in the Idukki district of Kerala state in South India. It is one of twelve Wildlife Sanctuaries among the Protected areas of Kerala.

It is under the jurisdiction of and contiguous with Eravikulam National Park to the south. Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary is to the north and Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary is to the east. It forms an integral part of the 1,187 km2 (458 sq mi) block of protected forests straddling the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border in the Annamalai Hills. The Western Ghats, Anamalai Sub-Cluster, including all of Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, is under consideration by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for selection as a World Heritage Site.

Thekkady Elephants!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Saran S) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 06:30:00 -0800

Source:http://www.flickr.com/photos/keralatourism/

Situated in kerala, close to the Kerala - Tamil Nadu border town - Kumily, it is located about 257 km (160 miles) from Trivandrum, 114 km from Madurai Airport, 185 km from Cochin International Airport and 114 km from Kottayam railway station. The sanctuary is famous for its dense evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist deciduous forestsand savanna grass lands. It is home to herds of elephants, sambar, tigers, gaur, lion-tailed Macaques and Nilgiri Langurs.

The Periyar Wildlife sanctuary is spread across 777 km² (300 sq. miles), of which 360 km² (139 sq. miles) is thick evergreen forest. The Wild Life Sanctuary was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978. The splendid artificial lake formed by the Mullaiperiyar Dam across the Periyar River adds to the charm of the park. The greatest attraction of Periyar are the herds of wild elephants that come down to play in the lake.

Thekkady is considered a heaven for natural spices such as black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon and clove.

RAndom wallpapers........

noreply@blogger.com (Saran S) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 01:58:00 -0700

A coconut tree

Neendakara.......Around the bridge....

noreply@blogger.com (Saran S) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 01:43:00 -0700

Neendakara, a village 8 km north of Kollam, thrives in fishing. It is the headquarters of the Indo-Norwegian fisheries community project established in 1953. The boat building yard at Sakthikulangara, the Fishermen Training Institute, the ice factory and the refrigeration plant comes under this project. Steps are initiated by the Government for establishing a fishing harbor at Neendakara, after considering the unique location and infrastructure available.

Neendakara Port serves as the intermediary port of Kollam District and acts as an important hub of fishing activities. Neendakara Bridge is a famous traveling point, standing on which the stretching backwaters can be seen.

Neendakara lies on the National Highway 47 and the towns of Karunagapally (20 km) and Kayamkulam (35 km) are north of Neendakara. Inland water navigation is also possible from Neendakara.

Wayand dams n valleys.........

noreply@blogger.com (Saran S) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 01:38:00 -0700

In a world of sound and fury signifying nothing, an escape to some lively, green, soothing experiences will be quite refreshing as well as rejuvenating. As your vehicle enters Wayanad, the evergreen, idyllic, charming hill district of Kerala, you will be convinced that you have chosen the right place. Located at an altitude ranging from 700 to 2,100 metres above sea level, Wayanad has subtropical savannas, evergreen verdant spice plantations and rolling paddy fields.

This time, let us have a trip to some of the aqua tourism destinations of Wayanad. Kalpetta, the district headquarters of Wayanad is the most convenient and comfortable place to stay back and explore these destinations. If you come via Kozhikode, passing Thamarassery churam, the mountain path, drive 12 more kilometers to reach Kalpetta. This is one of the major towns in Wayanad, the others being Mananthavady and Sultan Bathery. Abundant in tea and coffee plantations, Kalpetta offers good accommodation facilities as well.

Travelling 15 kilometers from Kalpetta, you will reach Pookkot Lake, a perennial fresh water lake, nestled among wooded hills. You can explore this vast, blue lake better in motor boats, with feasting eyes on the lush green vegetation on the shores. There are also an aquarium and a spice emporium to drop by.

Another attraction is located 23 kilometers away from Kalpetta. It is Sentinel Rock Waterfalls, locally known as Soochippara. Set at the backdrop of the dense forest, this beautiful waterfall forms a pool at the foot, where you can have a quick dip. If you don?t feel like, it is all right, relax a little, feeling the small droplets of water caressing your body and cooling your mind.

If you feel the sound of the cascades is haunting you, have a trip to Kanthanpara waterfalls, just 22 kilometers from Kalpetta. The 30 meter high waterfalls can ideally be called ?picturesque?. You seldom expect such a visual wonder in the heart of the thick forest.

When you return, feeling the caressing wind of Wayanad inviting you back to its lap, keep with you the solacing, intimate experience with nature. Cherish the pleasant poised moments... ask, how long? Of course, until you come back, to explore the remaining wonders of this land.

Wayanad Valleys and Hills.

noreply@blogger.com (Saran S) — Fri, 22 May 2009 05:33:00 -0700

Travel Video Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Saran S) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 05:02:00 -0700

These are some of the videos from Travel Video Festival conducted by the Kerala Tourism Department in connection with Youtube....

Sasathamkotta Lake, also categorized as a wetland, is the largest fresh water lake in Kerala, a state of India on the south of the West Coast. The lake is named after the ancient Sastha temple (a pilgrimage centre) located on its bank. It meets the drinking water needs of half million people of the Quilon district and also provides fishing resources. The purity of the lake water for drinking use is attributed to the presence of large population of larva called cavaborus that consumesbacteria in the lake water. The lake is a designated wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention since November 2002.

Location: Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary, about 19 km from Kozhikode and 7 km from Beypore port on the Arabian Sea, Malappuram district, north Kerala

The Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary is spread over a cluster of islands in a scenic area surrounded by hillocks where the Kadalundi River flows into the Arabian Sea. The place is locally known as Kadalundi Nagaram.

This virgin land is the abode of a hundred species of native birds and over 60 varieties of migratory birds that flock here in large numbers during February-March.

A hillock nearby, which is 200 m above sea level, offers a splendid view of the river mouth and the sea. Kadalundi is also known for a wide variety of fish, mussels and crabs.

Kuamarakom Backwaters

Munnar Tea Plantations

Vishu special:Pictures of Kanikkonna

noreply@blogger.com (Saran S) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 01:17:00 -0700

The Kanikkonna or Golden Shower Tree (Cassia fistula ) is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, native to southern Asia, from southern Pakistan east through India to Myanmar and south to Sri Lanka. Its blossom is the national flower of Thailand. The tree was first discovered by Susan Caroline Lee while on a research project based in Thailand.

It is a medium-sized tree growing to 10-20 m tall with fast growth. The leaves are deciduousor semi-evergreen, 15-60 cm long, pinnate with 3-8 pairs of leaflets, each leaflet 7-21 cm long and 4-9 cm broad. The flowers are produced in pendulous racemes 20-40 cm long, each flower 4-7 cm diameter with five yellow petals of equal size and shape. The fruit is a legumeis 30-60 cm long and 1.5-2.5 cm broad, with a pungent odour and containing several seeds. The seeds are poisonous.

Kanikkonna is the official flower of Kerala.It is used for arranging kani during Vishu.Vishu (Malayalam:വിഷു) is a festival held in the state of Kerala in South India (and malayali's in adjoining areas of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu). Similar festivals are celebrated in Punjab andAssam, in India, around the first day in the Malayalam Month of Medam (April – May). Vishu follows the sidereal vernal equinox and generally falls on April 14 of the Gregorian year. This occasion signifies the Sun's transit to the zodiac - Mesha Raasi (first zodiac sign) as perIndian astrological calculations. Vishu is also considered as the harvest festival of Kerala and thus the importance of this day to all Malayalees. In Assam this day is called Bihu, in PunjabBaisakhi (originally Vaishakhi) and in Tamil Nadu Tamil Puthandu or Vishu punyakalam.The word "Vishu" in Sanskrit means "equal". Therefore Vishu is more probably denoting one of the equinox days.

Dense Kanikkonna
Cool Yellow Kanikonna
A huge bunch of Kanikkona
Bit cool white Kanikkonnna
A close up of a Kanikkonna flower
A kanikkonna bud

Some fruits from Kerala.

noreply@blogger.com (scrapic) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 23:13:00 -0700

Banana bunch. Pazhakula
An unopened jathi
Champakka - A bitter and soft fruit. Pink in colour when ripe.
Jathikka - Salty in taste,Mainly used for pickles(Achar). Seed used as spice.
A jathikka which started opening.
Rambootan - Found in colder regions like selam. A sweet fruit with a big seed covered by a white pulp.

Idukki tea plantations,landscape,waterfall.........

noreply@blogger.com (Saran S) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 08:16:00 -0700

Pics took by my friend Akhil Raj.

Peermade in Idukki.

Tea Plantation
Road filled with fog-An early morning sight along the road to Idukki.
Fog yet to be cleared fully.

A waterfall

Idukki has an area of 5,105.22 km² (1,971.1 sq mi) and is the second largest District of Kerala. Rugged mountains and forests cover about 97 percent of the total area of the District. The district borders the Kerala districts of Pathanamthitta to the south, Kottayam to the southwest, Ernakulam to the northwest and Thrissur to the north and Coimbature, Dindigul and Theni Districts in Tamilnadu to the east. See:map.Anamudi, the highest peak in India south of Himalayas, is in the Kuttampuzha Panchayat of Adimali Block, in the K.D.H Village of Devikulam taluk. 13 other peaks in the district exceed a height of 2,000 m (6,562 ft). The Periyar, Thodupuzhayar and Thalayar are the important rivers of the district.

Valleys of kerala

noreply@blogger.com (SundharaKeralam) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 06:37:00 -0700

Green Valley
Round rocks-Nice photography
A blend of blue-Foggy valley
A Tree House

Periyar Tiger Reserve

noreply@blogger.com (SundharaKeralam) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 01:15:00 -0700

Periyar is a protected area, and a Project Tiger nature
reserve in the South Indian State of Kerala, set high in
the mountains of the Western Ghats at the border to Tamil Nadu.
It lies in the districts of Idukki and Pathanamthitta.
The protected area covers an area of 777 km², out of which a
350 km² part of the core zone was made into the Periyar
National Park and Tiger Reserve, sometimes dubbed the Periyar
Wildlife Sanctuary. The park is often called by the name
thekkady also. Thekkady is located four km from Kumily,
approximately 100 km east of Alappuzha, 110 km west of
Madurai and 120 km southeast from Kochi.

I think this is a Lion tailed macaque,in malayalam "Simhavalan korangan".Residing in the branch restlessly searching for something???

This is a type of squirell,and am not sure about it's right name,if you know just post it as a comment.In malayalam it is called "Malayannaan",isn't so??Look at it's feet,four of the tightly holding to the branch...
Tiger (Puli)-A tiger resting on a rock.
Wide and Green-How cool the view is.........

A bird resting on a dry tree trunk.
A herd of some type of deers.
Wild ox,grazing.In malayalam its "Kaatt poth"

Oh what a scenary.This is really "God's own Country"

Kumarakom backwaters.

noreply@blogger.com (SundharaKeralam) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 06:28:00 -0700

Keralas beautiful river and its riverbanks.

Houseboats add to it's beauty.

Boats are the common way for transport for the people near backwaters of kerala.

Sun rays peeping through the trees on to the water...

A lot of punchas are there near backwaters.

A houseboat

A wind powered boat.