Kundala Dam, Munnar - Canon EOS 5D Mark III, September 2012

Kundala Dam arch dam on the way to Topstation, Munnar.

Canon EOS 5D Mark III  ISO: 800 Lens: EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM

Eravikulam National Park - Canon EOS 5D Mark III, September 2012

Eravikulam National Park, Rajamalai in Munnar, Kerala which is the dwelling-place of Nilgiri Tahr, the mountain ungulate threatened with extinction. When I visited the park this time, I could not see any herds except a solitary male Tahr in the proximity.

Canon EOS 5D Mark III ISO: 800 Lens: EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM

Munnar - Canon EOS 5D Mark III, September 2012

Tea estates of Munnar, Kerala with mist capped mountains in the background.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III, Lens: EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Focal length: 24mm, Shutter speed: 1/1600 sec
Aperture: 5.6, ISO: 1600

Oil Tanker Ship - Enrica Lexie – February 2012

Images of  Italian Oil Tanker vessel Enrica Lexie, from which on board Italian Navy personnel shot dead two Indian fishermen in their boat off Kerala coast misunderstanding they were pirates. Valentine aged 50 and Ajish Binki aged 21 belonging to Neendakara fishing village in Kollam district were the fishermen killed. The incident took place at 4 pm on 15 th of February off the cost of Alleppey, Kerala in the Arabian sea.

This ship now under the custody of Indian Coast Guard and Kerala Police for further interrogation, is
docked at Cochin Port Trust oil tanker berth near Marine Drive, Kochi city.

Wayanad Trip – January 2012

Panoramic View of Thamarassery Churam (Mountain highway with several hair pin bends between Kozhikode and Kalpetta).

Kalpetta in Wayanad is 270 kilometers away from Kochi – my home town. We started at 1.00AM and

reached here at 7.00 AM where we had our breakfast. I prefer to travel at these early hours to avoid traffic block on highways and also at Thamarassery Churam.
Road Block at Thamarassery Churam. Took these photos on our return journey: 

What I felt about Wayanad: Major towns are Kalpetta, Mananthavady and Sultan Bathery, Of these Kalpetta and  Sultans Battery is on the Kozhikode – Mysore National Highway NH 212 (new no. NH766). Comparing with tourist centers' and cities in other parts of Kerala, hotels and home stay tariffs are much cheaper for the same standard.

Sony Cyber-shot HX100V Sample Photos – January 2012

Sample images & videos taken with Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX100V super zoom camera.

Shutter speed: 1/400 sec,Aperture: 6.3,Exposure mode: Av,Exposure compensation: -2/3,Metering mode:
Multi-segment,ISO: 400,Focal length: 6.2mm.

Ernakulam – Athirappilly – Vazhachal – Valparai – Ernakulam Round Trip – November 2011

A One Day Round Trip from Ernakulam to Valparai covering Athirapally, Vazhachal, Malakkapara with my family & back via Pollachi road, Kollengode, Vadakkancherry. 

Sprawling Tea Estates at Valparai.

We started of around 6:30 in the morning from Kochi. From Angamaly, there are two ways to reach Athirapally, one is driving through NH47 and taking right turn from Chalakudy town straight to Athirapally. The 2nd option is taking a right from Mukkannur Jn. just after Angamaly town passing through Kerala Plantation Corporation’s oil palm estates. The Ferry across the Chalakudy River at

Misty Munnar Highlands – October 2011

Obscure mountain pass.
Curling tea gardens encased in haze.

All over Munnar, you could see the Tea Mountains stretching as far as the horizon. Winding up through the misty mountains, enjoy the beautiful mountain vista surrounding you. The tea plantations in this area were very impenetrably cultivated.

Idamalayar, Bhoothathankettu, Thattekad & Pooyamkutty – October 2011

Breathtaking view of the Edamalayar Lake

Edamalayar Dam surrounded by forests & the View Point

Idamalayar dam is located about 29 kilometers from Kothamangalam town and the Kochi-Munnar National Highway NH49. Bottathankettu dam is on the way to Edamalayar (Bottathankettu to Edamalayar is 18 kilometers). For Thattekad & Pooyamkutty you have to go straight at junction 4 kms before Bhoothathankettu. Thattekad is 7 kms and Pooyamkutty is 23 kms. from this junction. You can have a good one day picnic from Ernakulam / Kochi connecting these places. The elephant Kraal at Kodanad, is also nearby where captured elephants are trained. Edamalayar & Pooyamkutty, contrasting to other tourist spots of Kerala; do not record a ponderous rush of tourists. In the early morning hours and late evenings, elephant’s herds can be spotted along the way and on the banks of the reservoir formed by the creation of Idamalayar dam.

Local tribe man canoeing a bamboo raft through the reservoir

There is a cave called "Vaisali" which is about 3 kilometers ascending, which is approachable only by four wheel drive vehicles. An old Malayalam movie Vaisali   was shot here, which is why this cave got its name. 

 

Bhoothathankettu

In Bhoothathankettu, local tribal guides approved by the forest department are available for trekking. Forest near the dam site is safe and large wild animals like elephants or leopards are nonexistent. Families can enjoy a real wilderness here without any fear and have swim or bath in the Periyar River. Always take caution particularly children when taking bath in Periyar as the shutters of  Bhoothathankettu dam can be opened  without any warning at any time by the irrigation department that may result  in sudden rise in water level. Only expert swimmers should attempt to go beyond five feet from the river bank because of strong under currents and possible trenches between slippery rocks on the river bed.

 

Thattekad

Panoramic vista of Thattekad Bird Sanctuary

 

Pooyamkutty

Wide view of jungle stream, Pooyamkutty

Bekal Fort in Kasargode – September 2011

Bekal in Kasargod district located about 10 kilometers from Kanhangad town on the Kochi-Mangalore National Highway No. 17, is well-known for its ancient and historic laterite-brick fort. Originally built by the Kadamba dynasty in 5 c. A.D., it passed through the custody of several dynasties, in succeeding centuries, until it fell into the hands of the British. Bekal fort was a prominent military station of Tipu Sultan when he led the great military expedition to capture Malabar. The promontory on which it is situated runs into the sea. Perched on a rocky headland, the fort commands an extraordinary beautiful view. The archaeological importance of the fort and the breathtaking beauty of the adjacent beach mark Bakel as an ideal international tourist destination. Tourism activities have been taking place in the areas inclosing the fort, under the Bekal Resorts Development Corporation (BRDC), which is an enterprise of the Kerala State Government. Several Hindi & South Indian language movies have shot here. The hit song 'Uyire' in the movie 'Bombay' (Tamil) directed by Mani Ratnam is one among them.