Friday, December 26, 2008

Coffee Plantations of Nelliyampathy - Dec 2008

Coffee estates at Nelliyampathy hills, Kerala and the road passing through it.
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Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Peak with unadorned head, Nelliyampathy - Dec 2008

Peculiar kind of peak at Nelliyampathy range, Kerala with plain prairie on top segment and thick tropical rain forest on the fragment below.
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This evergreen forest accommodates a variety of wild fauna like elephants, bisons, antelopes and different species of monkeys.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Kerala Forest Dept. display board, Nelliyampathy - Dec 2008

Name board of Kerala Forest Department en route displaying location map depicting the tourist spots of Nelliyampathy and Kollengode forest ranges.
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This gives an idea of the four tourist spots of the region namely Kaikatty, Kesavanpaara, Seetharkundu and Manpaara.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Mountain road through summits, Nelliyampathy - Dec 2008

Hill road from Nermara village that leads to Nelliyampathy passing through mountains, lake, forest and hairpin bends. It's a thrill to drive along this well maintained ghat road.
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Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Pano view of Pothundi dam and the mountains - Dec 2008

Pothundi is an rampart earth-filled dam which is uncommon in the state of Kerala.
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Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Pothundi Dam and lake, Palghat, Kerala - Dec 2008

Pothundi is situated about 6 km from Nemmara and 122 km from Kochi. Nelliampathi hill station is around 24 km away uphill.
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Monday, December 15, 2008

Rice fields and country side, Palakkad - Dec 2008

Below are some pictures of vast rice fields bordered with coconut palms surrounding outskirts of Palakkad city and Nelliampathy hills in the eastern horizon. A common sight of suburban Palghat.
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Saturday, December 13, 2008

Decorated Elephant at Sree Poornathrayesa temple festival - Dec 2008

Caparisoned elephant during Vrischikotsavam festival at the Sree Poornathrayeesha temple in Tripunithura.
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Friday, December 12, 2008

Caparisoned elephants during 'ezhunnalluppu' at Sree Poornathrayeesha Temple - Dec 2008

Eight-day long Vrischikotsavam of the Sree Poornathrayeesha temple ended here with kazhchasiveli and aarattu procession accompanied by panchavadyam. Caparisoned tuskers, colourful parasols and other paraphernalia were on display during the 'ezhunnalluppu'.
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Thursday, December 11, 2008

Panoramic view of rice fields, Palghat - Dec 2008

Vast rice fields of Palghat countryside - a panoramic view
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Palghat is the second most rice cultivated region of Kerala after Kuttanad, Alleppey.

'Kazhchasiveli', view from posterior - Dec 2008

'Ezhunnalluppu' at Sree Poornathrayeesha Temple viewed from rear. The deity in this temple is Lord Vishnu who is in the form of Santhanagopala Murthy.
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Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Colorful 'Kazhchasiveli' at Sree Poornathrayeesha temple - Dec 2008

'Kazhchasiveli' held as part of the culmination of the Vrischikotsavam festival at the Sree Poornathrayeesha temple in Tripunithura near Ernakulam
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Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Vrischikotsavam, TRIPUNITHURA - Dec 2008

Sree Poornathrayeesha temple, TRIPUNITHURA during Vrischikotsavam festival.
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`Panchari Melam’ during the Siveli at Sree Poornathrayeesha Temple as part of Vrischikotsavam - Dec 2008

The rituals began with 'nirmalya darshanam' at 4 am. Peruvanam Kuttan Marar presented the `panchari melam’ during the siveli held from 7.30 am to noon.
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Friday, December 5, 2008

Sunset, Fort Kochi Beach - Dec 2008

Sunset viewed from Fort Kochi headland characterizing the distinctive moods of sun before plunging into the Arabian Sea. A ship in the horizon adds drama to this colorful twilight.
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Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Exceptionally beautiful Thommankuth waterfalls - Nov 2008

This is a spot one can witness the real natural beauty of Western Ghat wilderness with lot of cascades, forest trees, jungle streams, large cluster of rocks and more with out the risk from larger wild animals like leopards, tigers and the mighty elephants. Of course you must be cautious of poisonous snakes which are predominant here.
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Charming Thommankuth falls, Kerala - Nov 2008

The seven step waterfall here is a well known picnic spot in Idukki district of Kerala. Thommankuthu is a perfect location for escapade tourism.
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Monday, December 1, 2008

Paris Peacock Butterfly, Thommankuthu - Nov 2008

Paris Peacock (Papilio paris) belonging to family Papilionidae. Wingspan is about 8 to 15 cm. This butterfly has a fluorescent -greenish band on the upper forewing and a large greenish-blue patch on the upper hind wing resembling the feather of a Peacock, that's how got it's name. Paris Peacock is distributed throughout the western ghat mountains.These are one of the most colorful butterflies in India. Below images photographed in the forests of Thommankuth
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Inside of Thommankuthu Rain forest - Nov 2008

Pictures of Thommankuthu forest
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Saturday, November 29, 2008

Wild Thomankuttu - Nov 2008

One can trek uphill along the cascades of Thombankuttu up to about 6 to 7 kilometers through this jungle although some part of this wild walkway is dangerously slippery and steep.
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Photo ID: TMKH_028 "It’s truly a natural rain forest"

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Fallen Leaf on the Rock, Thommankuth - Nov 2008

An oil painting by mother nature. Fallen dried leaf on a rock covered with mosses.
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"Picture of the leaf with larger area of the rock included"
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"Tight shot of the leaf with a micro lens revels the detailed texture and veins of the dry leaf"
Sunlight filtering through the forest canopy gives a grid light (a type of studio spot light) effect.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Six legged Spider, Thomankuttu - Nov 2008

This Giant Wood Spider ( Nephila Maculata ) I spotted at Thombankuttu had only six legs. Their webs can be found hanging from branches of trees throughout the Thommankuthu jungle.
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"On a mission to build a new home"
Why only six legs ???
This spider is reported to be harmless to humans. This species of spider spins one of the largest web.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Snake in the wild, Thommankuth - Nov 2008

Pictures of a snake in the forests of Thommankuth I photographed while on my trek.
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Photo ID: TMKH_041 "That's a huge one - measuring about 8 feet. Saw this creature near a water hole"

Saturday, November 22, 2008

The Evergreen Thommankuth - Nov 2008

The tropical rain forests of Thommankuth is a forest of tall trees, shrubs and clinging plants.
TMKH_030_thommankuth_kerala_keralapix.com_DSC0003 Photo ID: TMKH_030 "Thommankuttu forest - feel the sound of falling leaves and the brittle popping of dry leaves under your feet"

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Waterfalls of Thommankuth - Nov 2008

Thommankuth in Idukki district of Kerala is declared as an ecotourism destination. Shown below are panoramic pictures.
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"Tree hut with rungs inside Thommankuth forest"

Monday, November 10, 2008

Assorted Panorama Images of Kovalam - Sep 2008

The famous beach resort of south India located about 16 kilometers from the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram. Literally speaking Kovalam means garden of coconut trees.
There are a large number of beach resorts in and around Kovalam extending up to Poovar village which is the boundary of Kerala state with Tamil Nadu.
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The Proposed International Transshipment Terminal at Vizhinjam is just 3 kilometers south of Kovalam.
A colossal rock headland on the beach has made a bay of tranquil waters ideal for swimming and bathing in shallow waters. Hawa Beach is the popular of the three beaches of Kovalam.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Kovalam and Vizhinjam - Various - Sep 2008

Areal views of the Kovalam coast reveals the verdant beauty of Kerala mainly because of the abundance of coconut trees in the region. it' a stupendous sight from the air to see the deep blue colors of Arabian sea in contrast with the coconut coast of Kovalam that look like a green carpet covering the earth.
One can see the Vizhinjam Mosque at the tip of coastal line.
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Thursday, November 6, 2008

Athachamayam day pageantry in Thripunithura, Ernakulam - Sep 2008

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The Atham pageantry in Thripunithura announce the ten-day Onam festival with a colorful start. Thripunithura town was swarming with people from various places to see the procession that went around the town.
The procession, that started from the Government Boys High School ground at around 11 a.m.
Puiikali, Mayilattam, vanchipattu group, Velichappadu were among those on foot in the procession that was inter spaced by Kavadi, Theyyam, omong others.
Children from various schools of Thripunithura, dressed up in traditional attire, participated in this cultural festival.
Atham procession was arranged by the Thripunithura Municipality had a number of cultural programmes like classical concerts, ganamela, plays, mimicry and other traditional events.