Neelakurinji

This is the famous Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana). This beautiful flower comes once in 12 years in the neelgiris . Its a kind of a small shrub.

Took it in September 2006 in Rajamala, Munnar.

Bheemeshwari

Shot from the watchtower in bheemeswari. The beautiful view is of the flowing cauvery river and the forest the other side.

From the watch tower, we trekked down to the river bank. Water in the river was less, good enough for a good bath in the fresh flowing water:)

The two snaps here are taken around 200 to 300 meters form the flowing water. We were told that after rains, around September-October, we will not be able to see any of the trees above water.

Almost all the big trees have the roots coming out.......

Life for trees can be really hard in these conditions.....more like the survival of the fittest.

Indian Myna

Took this on the way to bheemeshwari.It was playing around in the banyan tree where we halted for about 15 mins for breakfast :)
(The picture quality is not the best but considering its taken with my S2Is........)

Moon kisses Venus

June 18th 2007:

It was a beautiful scene when the venus and the moon seems to be really close to each other. For human eyes, it seems as if both will kiss each other in some time.

The scene was really cute scene and would have attracted almost everybody out under the sky.
It was only the next day i came to know about this beautiful love affair between moon and the venus :)

One interesting thing i liked about the houses in kerala back water region is the style of living and their love for nature.
It was really good to see a house like the one in the above picture which is just by the side of the lake. The lake is a part of the famous vembanad lake. If you take a boat and travel around the kuttanad area, you will come across lots of such houses. The plants that people use as compound wall is really interesting. For many of them, there is no proper road connectivity and small boats to reach to the other bank might be better option.

Southern flycatcher....

Southern Flycatcher

Saw this near the paddy field in kuttanad, Alleppey. This is the best photograph i have taken of a bird with my S2IS.
I never thought that this bird with wait in the coconut leaf for such a long time and i was able to take my time to focus it well.

Mathoor Temple...

16th June 2007


After the relaxing 3.5 hours boat journey in the Vembanad lake, Alleppey, Our next destination was Mathoor Bagavathi temple. We need to take the state highway connecting Alleppey to changanacheri, around 20 km from alleppey we need to get down at Jyothi junction. Then its a walk for about 1.5 kilometers to reach the temple. Its a beautiful stretch of 1.5 kilometers with paddy fields on both sides of the road. On one side of the road, the paddy filed stretches to infinity.


As we approach, we see the beautiful pond and the temple just behind. Its really a peaceful place with the soothing sounds of birds and relaxing breeze..........

Kuttanad....

16th June 2006

Kuttanad...it has been one of the most enjoyable time in recent times .....a memorable boat journey around kuttanad in Alleppey District, kerala.
















Myself, Aravind, Balaji and Banarji started from Alleppey boat jetty. After a small passage, we launched into a vast vast area of water around.
The scenery was excellent in all the four directions :)
This is the famous Vembanad Lake. It covers a major area connecting a lot of small islands.

The weather was ideal, the breeze was smooth.
The 3.5 hours in boat in this weather is an ideal relaxation.

The beautiful landscape on all sides.......
This place is one of the famous movie sites , used for many song scenes. Its just a very small piece of land surrounded by water and it has one just one mango tree in that which makes it really beautiful spot.

















The drizzles came time and again to make the weather better and better.
This view is just after the rains when the water is really still and looks fresh. The green leaves looks really energetic after the rains.

















Kuttanad is one of the few places in the world where farming below sea level. The entire area is below sea level and the rice/paddy fields makes up a major portion.


These kinds of boats are one of the major means of commutation in major part of this area where many islands dont even have proper road connectivity.

The drizzles became heavier and heavier as we approached towards the starting point. We got down at the same spot where we started and then from there we started towards "Mathoor Bagavathi temple", near alleppey temple.

Will come up with more interesting pictures taken during the trip.......:)

Butterfly!!!

Took when i had been to Thrippunithara 2 weeks back. This guy was relly moving fast . Had to wait for 10 to 15 mins till he decides to rest in this money plant leaf.

I am back!!!!

After a long break i am back !!!!!!! So.....Expect more and more pictures from me in this blog!!!!


and expecting your valuable comments......:)