Coffee Plantations of Nelliyampathy - Dec 2008

Coffee estates at Nelliyampathy hills, Kerala and the road passing through it.

Photo ID: NLPY_013

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.

Photo ID: NLPY_012

This evergreen forest accommodates a variety of wild fauna like elephants, bisons, antelopes and different species of monkeys.

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.

Photo ID: NLPY_011

This gives an idea of the four tourist spots of the region namely Kaikatty, Kesavanpaara, Seetharkundu and Manpaara.

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.

Photo ID: NLPY_009

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.

Photo ID: PTHD_007

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.

Photo ID: PTHD_002

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.

Photo ID: PLKD_002

Decorated Elephant at Sree Poornathrayesa temple festival - Dec 2008

Caparisoned elephant during Vrischikotsavam festival at the Sree Poornathrayeesha temple in Tripunithura.

Photo ID: TPRA_001

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'.

Photo ID: TPRA_039

Panoramic view of rice fields, Palghat - Dec 2008

Vast rice fields of Palghat countryside - a panoramic view

Photo ID: PLKD_001

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.

Photo ID: TPRA_026

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

Photo ID: TPRA_006

Vrischikotsavam, TRIPUNITHURA - Dec 2008

Sree Poornathrayeesha temple, TRIPUNITHURA during Vrischikotsavam festival.

Photo ID: TPRA_010

Photo ID: TPRA_011

`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.

Photo ID: TPRA_019

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.

Photo ID: FKN_077

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.

Photo ID: TMKH_072

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.

Photo ID: TMKH_060

Photo ID: TMKH_061

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

Photo ID: TMKH_058

Inside of Thommankuthu Rain forest - Nov 2008

Pictures of Thommankuthu forest

Photo ID: TMKH_029

Photo ID: TMKH_031

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.

Photo ID: TMKH_028 "It’s truly a natural rain forest"

Fallen Leaf on the Rock, Thommankuth - Nov 2008

An oil painting by mother nature. Fallen dried leaf on a rock covered with mosses.

Photo ID: TMKH_037 "Picture of the leaf with larger area of the rock included"

Photo ID: TMKH_038 "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.

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.

Photo ID: TMKH_045 "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.

Snake in the wild, Thommankuth - Nov 2008

Pictures of a snake in the forests of Thommankuth I photographed while on my trek.

Photo ID: TMKH_041 "That's a huge one - measuring about 8 feet. Saw this creature near a water hole"

The Evergreen Thommankuth - Nov 2008

The tropical rain forests of Thommankuth is a forest of tall trees, shrubs and clinging plants.

Photo ID: TMKH_030 "Thommankuttu forest - feel the sound of falling leaves and the brittle popping of dry leaves under your feet"

Waterfalls of Thommankuth - Nov 2008

Thommankuth in Idukki district of Kerala is declared as an ecotourism destination. Shown below are panoramic pictures.

Photo ID: TMKH_001 "Tree hut with rungs inside Thommankuth forest"

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.

KVLM 044 Original Panorama size : 9076 x 3545 pixels	KVLM 045 Original Panorama size : 4154 x 2715 pixels
KVLM 046 Original Panorama size : 4313 x 3374 pixels	KVLM 047 Original Panorama size : 4081 x 2570 pixels
KVLM 048 Original Panorama size : 5614 x 3587 pixels	KVLM 049 Original Panorama size : 4182 x 2402 pixels

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.

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.

KVLM 019

KVLM 020

KVLM 021

KVLM 022

KVLM 023

Athachamayam day pageantry in Thripunithura, Ernakulam - Sep 2008

ATM 173	ATM 174	ATM 175	ATM 176
ATM 177	ATM 178	ATM 179	ATM 180
ATM 181	ATM 182	ATM 183	ATM 184
ATM 185	ATM 186	ATM 187	ATM 188
ATM 189	ATM 190	ATM 191	ATM 192
ATM 193	ATM 194	ATM 195	ATM 196
ATM 197	ATM 198	ATM 199	ATM 200

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.