Exotic Flowers - bits and pieces

Kodakanal is not only a tourist destination or summer paradise; it’s a wonderful place to explore exotic as well wild beautiful flowers. Kodaikanal has one of the best climates to grow variety of flowing plants to blossom at vibrant colors, enriches the already fascinating atmosphere and gracefulness at exists. Many a time I had said Kodaikanal is one of my favorite place and among many a thing that cherish me at sense, flowers had been my enormous passion and desire to ahead there just like many other flourish my heart.

Even I feel sorry for the evergreen, mist and moisture environment being draw backed into a concrete jungle where only man could live other than any others. I still hold breathe though the remnants and hope left around the mountains in protection of nature and wildlife. Comeback to flowers, I had wonderful opportunities while staying there a good few times at different locations and each cottage or house has at least few flower plants to bloom at exotic and even the general flowers look enhance and more refreshing in vibrant colors.

The flower you see in the picture above is called 'Sweet William'. Doesn't it rely upon the essence? But there’s an interesting yet bad reputed  story behind the flower which bears a common English title, even it believed truly uncertain, Sweet William is often said to honor the 18^th century Prince William, Duke of Cumberland.  Prince William, the younger son of King George II is infamous for his generally brutal treatment on the enemies and his savage after the Battle of Culloden earned him the title Butcher Cumberland. It is also claimed that the Scots sometimes call the flower as Stinking Billy and to this day, there are many in Scotland who will not grow this plant in their gardens.

Also the English botanist John Gerard referred Sweet William, a member of the large Dianthus family in his garden catalogue of 1596, 150 years before Culloden. Sweet Williams are a hardy biennial flower that sown during mid-years, blooms in pretty colors of pink, white, red and purple.

The green flower you see in the photo below is called Sedum, a flowering plant from the family of Crassulaceae whose members are commonly known as stone-crops  The sedums are cultivated as garden plants, due to their interesting and attractive appearance. The various species of the plant differ in their requirements: some are cold-hardy but do not tolerate heat and some are quite opposite. The so pretty blue color delphinium on the photo down right is little harming to humans because of the presence of toxic in them. The plants commonly seen on high elevation areas significantly cause cattle poisoning on rangelands in western US.

First travel of the year – Javadu Hills

My first travel of the year happened on the weekend and we did a trip to Javadu Hills; which is a part of the shattered Easter Ghats Mountains, rose between the Vellore and Thiruvannamalai Districts of Tamil Nadu, India. Being a low-lying hill station among the others visited, it wasn’t too cold but being winter there was moderate cold at night, comfortably. And it was the reason for me to choose this time for experiencing some cold, and as I expected the morning was immense refreshing with atmosphere foggy or mist. But it doesn’t wonder me, because it was almost same the way sensed on plains once we touched the highways, out of city and home.

This is not from a hill station, but the hills beyond the Chengalpattu town among the fog.

It wasn’t like every day morning: for me regularly the morning means only after 8 or 8.30 am, the usual time I wake up whether it’s cold or hot no matter what. But I try my best everyday to wake up early and if not the passion for traveling, I wouldn’t be checking sunrise at all or unless bladder filled up to wake me early, that too not much less than the usual time. We experienced a fog of Kodaikanal or any other hill stations on the morning of Saturday and the fog visibly makes invisible the distance buildings, trees and towers and even the Kolava Lake of Chengalpattu lose its trace in gray white. Unlike the usual sight of stunning sunrise over the lake during our early morning rides and the fog lasted until 9.30 or 10am. The roads after Chengalpattu were state highways, which are my favorite lanes taking via scenic countryside’s that hardly visible through NH.   

Jamunamarathur is the capital village of the entire mountain range of Javadu, which has two ways to reach – one via Polur and Alangayam; and Jamunamarathur was the only place to accommodate on the hills, that too the government provided BDO (block development office) guest house. There are many towns close to the foot hills easily accessible via road and railways which also holds many hotels and lodges to accommodate. Gladly we took the Polur route which has a long ghat road section with half a dozen hairpin bends passing through forest division. Before taking the ghat or uphill road, someone needs to sign at the forest check post writing a reason to visit.

A lake near Uthiramerur

It took more than an hour to reach Jamunamathur from Polur and thanks to the GPS in my galaxy player; it was very easy for us finding routes on Google maps. We already booked rooms at the BDO guest house, seeking their phone number at the Thiruvannamalai district govt. website, the guest house had been handed over to a private person in charge who maintained it well. We requested for a ground floor room and also before reaching there we contacted the person in charge on the way, but initially he told someone had haired the ground floor and later discussing with the other describing my state, they decided to shift the room so kindly and humble. Thanks so much to those unknown kind hearted and the wise man who arranged the rooms for us.

(To be continued…)

Kukkal – Lake and Village

It’s always exciting exploring a place, where the road less traveled and not many foots imprint the soil and cameras stole the scenery; an environment rich in flora and fauna as well pleasure where not many virtual developments take place. Remote from the tourist sight and protected by nature, Kukkal is not so far from the crowded Kodaikanal, the hill station that losing its spirit and pristine beauty unprotected from becoming a quite concrete jungle.

During my vacation at Kodaikanal, last summer, I explored this little paradise called Kukkal or Kookal on the Western Ghats Mountain range of Palani and about 32km from Kodaikanal; the place is so blissful with tranquilly lake and sleepy village atmosphere, comprising shoals and grasslands adjoining the terrace farming. Nestled near the northern ridge of Palani Hills, Kukkal is notable for the high biodiversity of the area and fascinated by frequent mist and rainfall, which account for large variations over short distance.  

Riding on the Poombarai road after certain distance, the mist began to block our way, delighted as well become obstacle going through its dense and even I have travelled on this road once, I’m only familiar with its route map in Google. :D We were traveling on two cars and since I only know where to turn, my uncle left our car to first go – even he was to Kodaikanal many a times, never know this place until I located.

The road to Kukkal is a narrow one, turning on the second left from the road to Poombarai village; the tar road seems relayed by rusted leaves and tall trees standing besides as festoon and green pastures enticing the sightseeing. The road winding down near the Kukkal Lake was very beautiful; alongside the view of the mist floating over the lake was awesome… The lake is the main stream source of the cultivation, even though it doesn’t look clean, but with overall sight of mist and mountains background it was astonishing!  Well I don’t need to say much of the lake, since my photo captured it all to you viewer’s amusement.

There was a Little Grebe swam across the lake leisurely, creating mild ripples tracks which I thought first to be caused by some insects, but only later zoom in on I realize it was a small water bird ‘Dabchick’. I spent only a brief moment on the power wheels (chair) moving on the Lake Bank or road, the mist turned abundantly gray began to rain nonstop leaving only few minutes gap before we leave the place. My cousins, who tented on the green patches opposite to lake, couldn’t withstand the density of rain and leakage in the pretty blue tent forced them to take their seats inside the car, whom enjoying the pitter patter of rain and warmth inside the tent.

Knowing there won’t be anything available to have for lunch, since it’s a remote village and except Kodaikanal there isn’t a decent eat out or affordability around the hills,  so we took ‘cooked rice and sambar’ in hand from our home stay and planned to buy chicken and make fry on spot visited. Though we enjoyed the hot spicy chicken pieces, the rain restricted us from experiencing a quite zeal and destroyed my plan of exploring the beauties around the place on my own wheels power and giving pose in front of those unlike my cousins! Lol

The lake located in a valley, has cultivation lands from its lowest to higher elevation; and except the monsoon, the terrace farming happens with the catchments of shoals around the lake, which is also a basin for Kudiraiyar River that flows through Kukkal. We rode few meters on road above the lake to check the Kukkal village; even while it was raining we tried to get a glimpse of the village that taking a nap under the mist blanket. Since being an afternoon, there was no one around to receive us but the stair cultivation and its texture were amazing, and I feel glad seeing them very close unlike the distance views of Poombarai and Mannavanur.

There’s a lot to share about this place and plenty of beautiful pictures hold to cherish this charming and fascinating location, filled with picturesque scenes; I don’t want to mess up this post writing them all in a single attempt and crowded with pictures. I captured few photos at 16.9 ratios, to get wide views on slopes and mountains and I recommend this place only for those seeks tranquilly and unwilling to spoil the pristine beauty in name of tourist. (My blog header is also belongs to Kukkal)

Thank you J

Simple Pleasures - Kodai

Visiting Kodaikanal is always cool and comfort since this place accompany me easily or I got to be familiar as I visited it unlike any other places and the climate is completely blissful at any time of the year. At other hand I feel sorry for this princess of hills station which is turning into concrete valleys and mountains being carved for real estate lands and natural environs polluted by carefree tourist and vehicle population had turned down this pristine town, but we can’t blame anybody as they all come to enjoying what I cherish, a little concern on its behold state will do better.

There are many places to steal our heart and sight at Kodaikanal but for better refreshment and entice one need to extend their limit out of the town and I wish only people who love and care for the nature should led so. During one of my visits to Kodaikanal I find the pretty little church in the picture above, bound to a mist environment and light blue sky behold my attention for its simple white blue structure, on the Pillar Rock Road.

Following the church, the little falls with stream like structure is another wonderful sight that come along the way near a shopping complex that sells homemade chocolates and eucalyptus balms. It seems only during the rainy season the water flows here but today it looks pathetic with plastic wrapper shattered around and growing shops on one side. It could really be a good attraction to the visitor if it was taken into cleaning and cut wild shrubs and protect from people throwing wrappers in. 

Kumki – almost melody

Mynaa fame Prabu Solomon’s forthcoming Tamil movie Kumki – a wild love story, is out in audio holding half a dozen songs that mesmerize through pleasant lyrics and unique render in music. Kumki is a name referred to trained Indian elephants that used for taming and training wild elephants and helps in driving away the wild elephants that stray into human settlements.

The movie produced by director Lingusamy has Vikram Prabhu and Lakshmi Menon as lead and the songs are composed by D.Imman and lyrics written by Yugabharathi. The movie was my personal anticipation towards the title and stills which hold similar remark to Mynaa which is one of my favorite films.  Here we go with the songs:

There are 10 songs in the album in which three are Karaoke... ‘Ayyayoo Aananthamae’, is a joyous song sung by Haricharan and the blissful lyric make it more fascinating and gives a feel of listening to Ilayarajas songs. The music of this song was just reverberates like a flow of stream and the humming of violin at the rear end was eternal.

‘Nee Yeppo Pulla’, is a song beings at high pitch in the volume of composer Alphons Joseph, is so humble and impressive through the feeling of lyrics and its one among the solo to hum.  'Onnum Puiyala', is a soothing melody stroke the heart with a unique string of guitar and the music director himself have sung the song, except the interruption of the high beats in-between it’s awesome!

‘Sol Sol’ is a wonderful folk song, sung by Magizhini Manimaaran who hail from the bird paradise Vedanthangal and the lines are simple and meaningful and even it gives a feel of Jingu Chikku of Mynaa, it comes under the rural melody. ‘Sollitaley Ava Kaadhala’, is a very beautiful song sung as a duet by Ranjith and Shreya Ghoshal, leaves listening again for surpass of love and magic in there vocal. The flute tack was just moving...

‘Yella Oorum’, is a jumbo track to cheer and it almost related to life of mahout and elephant. I’m sure it gonna rejuvenating and make rejoice everyone, in the tone of Benny Dayal and D.Imman. I’m much looking forward to the release of the movie and to watch all the songs in the video format. What special about the album was its almost melody!

Fairy falls, Mist and Fun evening

It was a lovely dawn for me on the hills of Kodaikanal during our second day on vacation and the sun beams flashes between the trees just made my day very refreshing and warm from the cold night. The frost window panes were melting slowly from moisture to droplets to cause beautiful texture reflecting to the woods green backyard of the Yorke House of CSI Retreat Center. The Yorke House, nested atop the center surrounded by tall trees of pine, eucalyptus and yellow mimosa quite retreat weather is wet or sunshine.

Whom i consider my world, Parents (click each image for enlarge)

After the breakfast in the restaurant of CSI Retreat, we spent some time taking photos to one of a picturesque background of green and mist passing and they all come out very beautiful as family photos. Thus we aren’t new to Kodaikanal and having no plan to go where, it’s my choice to choose the place I haven’t revealed and certainly there’s a place  not to miss this time and it’s the Fairy Fall.

Fairy Falls

The Fairy waterfall is 5km from Kodaikanal on the road leading to Observatory and there’s a small sign board indicating the falls isolated from the tourist attraction. A road slide down from the main road makes the ride narrow and the falls has been brought under the horticulture garden to close by gate but there was none to stop us, so we went opening the gate with no sign of falls and the only visible was bank of mist.

It was cool indeed and later the mist moved, we get to see the wet rock expose to lack of water and above the marsh beneath a round-turn platform is build to check the falls near. Even it was disappointing to see the falls without water, I could imagine the wonderful it was suppose to fill if there was enough water. Some websites claim the old famous Liril soap ad was shot here and it is also called as Liril falls, where the late pretty girl Karen Lunel clad in bikini play with soap and water. But I’m not sure it’s that Fairy fall or Pambar fall!

Mysterious mist... bliss

We still hold time for lunch and so went around and during the season time the road lead to Pillar Rock would be one way and we have to take diversion at upper lake view and it took us nearly two hours to come across the Pillar Rock as caught between heavy traffic jam! It was never like before crowded and vehicles were standing for few kms and it was completely mist blanked, cool and fun throughout the slow-motion. One of my dear cousins took the steering first time on hills and I was the guide of him on routes and encouraged him a lot to go ahead and him soon become familiar on Ghats.

My hummer, Scorpio car

In between the hide and seek of sun, clouds and rain we had great time playing after the noon lunch and we have nothing to do then than going on chatting and women playing  musical chairs, badminton and rings. I personally had fun identifying the silent deeds of movie names and I kept clicking with my camera while they keep on playing, laughing and smiling and it was a worriless moment indeed.

The Kodaikanal Lake was almost misted and crowded by tourist this time and we had a pleasant evening sit back to the bank of Lake Platform before heading to the CSI Retreat where the real fun and treat waits for us. It’s the camp fire which is very special to me and this is the first time I am experiencing it like ever fun indeed! My uncle arranged it for me and we were all around sat to chairs waiting for the service maid to light the fire woods and as soon it went to flame the gala time begins.

Fun around Fire

 The cold was almost drive away and a warm feeling began to embrace and the sense of dancing in others slowly caught fire to the songs played in our car. It was a wonderful experience for me enjoying the bonfire as well sharing the moment while others having fun dancing around. Our enthusiasm last over 10pm and even it rained amid we never mind of getting inside and used the chairs as umbrella holding about the head and kept moving creating a new dance style!

Camp Fire

It was a moment like never experienced before so enthusiastically and the night might always remind in mind as treasure and even the entire trip was remarkable and memorable to never hide away.

Kodai 2012

The day wakeup for us about 3 in the morning and driving out of home by 5AM in two cars, it was surprise to see still the signals at GST (Grand Southern Trunk) road works out on behalf a smooth traffic flow was on the road, since the international airport is on way.  It was a pretty wonderful dawn as we passed the suburb traffic, it was only on such occasions I get to see the sunrise which was vibrant this time with colorful hues and while passing the Kolavai Lake of Chengalpattu it glitter so beautiful on water which I couldn’t capture by poor chance.

Mist spread on mountains

We had our breakfast somewhere before and near Tiruchi and lunch on the hills half way to Kodaikanal, which we usual have at Tiruchi and only this time we were earlier on hills. The sun beating heavily at the foothills went gradually rising down as our msl level rose… the mist and clouds began to cool us under its white blankets and shower later.  We had no idea about rain as we come across the day with heavy sunshine; the bags tie to the roof rails were supposed to drench escaped with mild wet cloths.

Cousin sis Deepika collects Yellow Mimosa (see the flower at last pic)

As we reached the CSI Retreat Center House beside the Kodaikanal Lake by the late afternoon enthralled me in its pleasing cold and pleasant stay environment among the woods and lawn. It was just like a home stay where breakfast and dinner were provided by the retreat center and the Yorke House allotted for us has a spacious hall and a dormitory to accommodate 20 plus people, and it was like a dream come true of staying together with dear ones under single tiled roof.

Jungle Myna

The house came entirely under our control and there are round tables for chatting and playing cards and having dinner together… even there’s a TV in the hall we aren’t interested to watch and more than it wasn’t playing gladly. Being nearby lake, dad and uncle went on their way walking after a small refresh and tea, we kept chatting and I was flashing around and found a couple of jungle mynas retreat at the lawn and there was a  dog lookalike a husky in spiky hairstyle! Lol

Spiky hair dog!

My uncle’s family is a regular visitor to the CSI Retreat Center and my cousin used to say Bison or Indian gaurs   are regular visitor to the retreat center for grazing and two days before our arrive too there were bison’s around the house, says the manager. But till we left the place staying there for 3 days, there wasn’t a bison but we saw a herd of them next to the Bryant Park’s forest area which extends beyond the CSI Retreat Center.

Indian guar captured near Bryant Park

It was a newly experience for me to sleep in a dormitory with cots one above another and it was indeed fun being together with cousins and even after lights turn off, we kept chatting and teasing like nothing. The younger once are all sent to sleep at upper berth and elders remained at the lower along with me and it was somehow warm at the lower berth since the contact with cold roof is prevented. It was quite wonderful being together and sharing our space and lean hands which I wish continues not only on this occasion alone.

Yellow Mimosa

More on the vacation is yet to continue…

Family vacation @ Familiar location

Kodaikanal has been my favorite place since I began visiting and falling in love with this so called princess of hills and u might be checking blog posts on it lately and early here and I was there again last week-end with my dear once for a family vacation. We went as families of four in two cars and it was completely fun and enthusiastic unlike ever cheerful, remarkable and memorable trip.

Along with our families who are close to my heart

We booked at the CSI Retreat Center Homes which is close to the Kodaikanal Lake with lake view is a treat in itself. There is couple of individual homes and suites and dormitory available to the budget and according to the number of people and we took the Yorke House dormitory on the top of the center and thus felt more individual and enjoyed the isolation provided by the undisturbed environment and away from people.

We were quite oneness and worriless being there and together provide a platform for sharing and understanding the phase of life and it was after six year we all were together on a holiday vacation that too to the same place of Kodaikanal. We always travel or go as a vacation by 6 or 7 people what our SUV can accommodate and it was very long time wish to enjoy the holiday as a group of people very close to us either.

CSI Retreat House, Kodaikanal

This time we explored a not well known and road less travelled destination on the northwest of Palani Hills and it was completely heaven site with pristine environment and freshwater lake and beside the terrace farming sleeps a pretty village alike Poombarai. Not to forget the leeches that are plenty ready to suck blood with no sense and the source provide there was bliss and solace to heart and the lake view through the winding road is an unwind sight.

Almost the vacation went off through passing mist, cold and rain and every time visiting there a change wait at phase and some places remains same and what worst was the traffic that lines the winding roads. Except staying atop the hills, the traveling was worst indeed through the heavy sunshine and only for this trip we woke up as early as 3am to avoid traveling under hot sun.

My white angel

Will post more on the trip in detail later at further posts…

Palani – cityscape and sky watch

Palani is a temple town in Dindigul district of TN, deriving its name from two Tamil words ‘Pazham and Nee’ which means ‘fruit you’ is renowned for Lord Murugan shrine on hillock and having it amid grows the town. Apart the arrival of devotees that keep busy this town with annual festivals around the years, Palani is surrounded by natural resources and agriculture and vegetation is a great to be sighted if went around its suburb.

(click image to enlarge)

Holding the Western Ghats to its southeast, Palani is a picturesque town with frequent sight of mist capping the mountains and green slopes to its backdrop enhances with vast green landscapes of many coconut and mango groves. The main source of water to the town is the spring water that kept flowing throughout the year from Varathamanathi Dam on the foothills of the Western Ghats that lead to the cold paradise Kodaikanal.

(click image to enlarge)

The Varathamanathi Dam is built on the rocks and it’s a wonderful picnic spot with a small park and cool breeze blow down from the mountain slopes. The Shanmughanadi, a tributary of Amaravathii River runs not far from the town and the town itself has a charming tank called Vaiyapuri and if it was maintained neatly would be an invite to the town, which can be seen in the first image above.

The Palani hillock is 137.16m height and has a flight of 697 steps to climb and there are also alternative sources like cable car and rope winch to reach the top. From the hillock one can get a panoramic of 360 degree of vast plains and cityscape beneath; and the cold Kodaikanal mountains at back which is 60km by road from here.

The last two pictures above are shots on sky along with the temple and bell towers, and all the amazing photo here were taken by my mother and edited by me. My parents were glad to check the temple at hillock through the winch which I was unable to board to left at plains to explore the beautiful suburbs of Palani.

Chennai, masked in smoke

Unlike before, Chennai came under a giant mask of mist and fog in form of smoke created by bursting firecrackers last evening due to festival of lights – Diwali, has seen a Chennai unseen ever in a worst bad weather condition. Nothing can be seen in front of us except smoke after few feet’s away and air were so much polluted to inhale has stopped me from joining exploding firecrackers after taking a brief drive around my area.

Like how weather changes in GTA (PC game), after dusk its quite became grey and darkness everywhere and even the dazzling fireworks display were diminish at sky and created a fear of becoming breathlessness and lung infection. It was challenge for my cousin to drive through the smoky weather and passing streets where kids and youngsters bursting crackers and leaving rockets in invisible state.

The already clouded weather and witness of constant heavy rain throughout the day forced all of them to burst firecrackers in evening is the foremost reason for this unwanted weather and the clouded sky that refused to open to give way for smoke and unwind surface are all lead to this helpless situation. It’s obvious that firecrackers are polluting our environment and it is also uneasy to leave all of sudden this practice but sure we need to bring a change in this and find a way to reduce its cause without affecting the festival of light and joy.

I realize the noise had been reduced this year comparing yesteryear's and the firecrackers usually begin there explode at early morning, has extended its wake-up call by 8am and thanks to the heavy rain that worked as an interference in reducing the havoc. The increased price of firecrackers up to 7-8 % could also be the reason in bringing down the purchase of firecrackers and increased awareness about its disadvantage had helped a lot to drop in practice. Being an ardent of firecracker, for me it’s hard to defocus on fireworks towards the festival but I came down now from abundant to least; thanks to the price rise which brings down the item numbers to shot. Wish someday I will quit it completely!

Cloud

(Click image for enlarge to read)

Inspired while watching via evening sky. The sky photo was captured while visiting Avalanche dam, near Ooty .

Mist Haiku

Just thought to write something and tried Haiku style of poem, inspired by the cool mist.

Kotagiri – at arrival

Leaving home in Chennai at 7 in morning and reaching Kotagiri about 8 at night, the whole day went on traveling via en route Dharmapuri, Mettur, Sathyamangalam... it was partially wonderful as we travelled half the way through state highways which are my favorite routes that goes through small towns and villages. We stopped at Mettur Dam to have our fish fries for lunch and the home we know through our past visit treated us with fish fires identifying our latter visit.

While the fish fries get prepared; we explored the nearby shops by buying sweet corns, murukku, color candies… and the mobile vendor who selling porridge got lot of attention from people and being a hot summer day cousin’s chose to have it. We moved further from there and stopped for our lunch break under a shadow tree and after sometime leave to Sathy in search of rooms as we had book for only 3 days in Kotagiri and wanted to stay in Sathy and go to Bhavanisagar and Bannari temple, but we couldn’t get any rooms in ground floor so called the Belair cottages in Kotagiri and they were glad to advance a day in our booking and we went directly.

From Sathy to Mettupalayam, it was a wonderful evening time passing through the winding roads and Eastern Ghats followed by the Western are very pleasant while the sun settle down with different shades and shapes of clouds at various moment. After reaching Mettupalayam we took the Kotagiri road directly without going through Coonoor and the adventure begins here as we passed through the forest road that bears the warning signs of elephant crossing. As we were looking for something interesting, a wild elephant come into our way and it wasn’t hindering but standing beside the road eating bamboo leaves and leaving the dung on the road as a sign of exist.

We didn’t expect an elephant to be standing on a bend and we managed to pass him without fear unlike either vehicles standing on road to let him move and the thrilling part was when a guy suddenly tries to turn his car in scare of seeing an elephant interrupted our path with elephant behind. Parents and the drive come cousin whose fear about wild animals got little tension over this and I and other cousins who were expecting something like this – I mean the elephant, were excite more seeing a wild elephant.

The cold increases in atmosphere as our elevation rise, we had our coffee at a roadside shop near a small village, where a Toda festival was going on and the speakers were singing aloud a Badaga song which we couldn’t understand anything but my cousin identified it was Badaga as he’d studied a year in St. Jude’s public school, Kotagiri. The adventure doesn’t stop and it continued this time in form of mist and it was enormous to quite hide the road for a while nearing Kotagiri and nothing could be seen opposite except a gray screen. We stopped somewhere to let it clear, but it never seems to be so we moved slowly following the road studs laid on the center of the road.

Even it is difficult to dive in mist I feel wonderful moving into enormous mist and cloud that last for nearly an hour, sitting next to diver seat. It was very cold and lightning crosses the sky with thunder when we reached Kotagiri and things become normal soon and we felt very comfort at the Belair cottage. We were allotted to stay at the main building built in British period which is at ground level with couple of steps was very easy for my wheels to get in and the new blocks were at elevation. The people at Belair are friendly and lean any help and in order base they provide lunch, dinner and breakfast and on the opening night we had chappathi-kuruma. The preparations and serving are made by Manipur guys.

mom in front of Belair cottages in Kotagiri

Back from Blue Mountains

Last week I was in Nilgiris (Blue Mountains) for a week vacation and stayed in Kotagiri with parents and cousins. It was a wonderful journey traveled across the Blue Mountains carried by enormous mist, twittering sparrows and fun floating amid cousins and the space for breathing fresh breeze off valleys and mountains are fabulous. Couldn’t still come out of the sights and scenes that carried on mind and memories still inhale the fresh breeze of Blue Mountains, which are greener and sandstones taking place.

Wild bellis

Traveled on paths that have never been or even imagined and checking the innermost nature as it is through mind, sense and images are a greater opportunity I got through this travel. It was well comfort and pleasant stable at Kotagiri for 5 days and 4 nights in the Belair cottages surrounded by somewhat tea plants and green lawn are best at leisure.

The intend of this travel was to visit avalanche and to stay in the forest rest house for at least a night, but I couldn’t get the chance as it was booked for nearly 2 month, we just checked in and out getting permission from forest office in Ooty. It was an awesome ride into the dense forest of Avalanche and Upper Bhavani, and the whole ride was among road-less with either sides of shoals and grasslands.

Belair cottages kotagiri

I decided not to release any pictures that captured inside the prohibited area as it is worth to be protected from outside world knowing that it could attract anyone easily to be disturbed and I never know that I need to travel through this thick forest to check upper bhavani backwaters. Throughout the way it was astonishing climate and weather and was splendid beautiful. There was an excitement carried on within everyone as there was no man’s activity along the way and it was quite silent except for twitter birds and streams and falls noise.

Most of the travel happens between Coonoor-Kotagiri and Kotagiri-Ooty as the places we wanted to check were laid on northwest we touched either city to connect the roads and was suppose to be tire hold to the many curves. Partially it was a successful and dream come true travel, but still I hang for these places to be revisited and wanted to go beyond these place next time. Thanks to the Scorpio and its tubeless tires, and excellent driver come cousin and without them it’s hard to move into this off-road terrain in and around avalanche towards upper bhavani.

Countryside near ooty

Travel to Palani

It was partially wonderful traveling from Thanjavur to Palani after our breakfast in Hotel Saravana Bhavan – popular for delicious taste across the state; we directed by our friendly caretaker in Thanjavur to reach Trichy. My only intention was to visit Thanjavur Big Temple on its 1000th year, so I missed many wonderful places within Thanjavur, including the Palace and Raja Raja Cholan memorial hall which we passed with an unease mind of just lookout structure.

On the way in the NH towards Trichy we find an interesting building in the name of Tamil University. Living in Tamil Nadu and speaking the language, I never know there is a university in name of Tamil dedicated to the classical language and to do advanced studies and research on its linguistics, literature, translation and art including conducting various programs regard to language, literature and sculpture. We stopped sometime to glance the building in a modern temple like structure with two tiger pounce statues on either side of compound.

The roads were partially good even under constructions and after crossing Trichy it was pleasant and calm but certain diversion between lanes disturb and a small mistake divert us on Madurai road instead of Dindigul to later take a U turn in a km. It was really an uncertain signboard with least different in showing the direction could confuse any unfamiliar in this route.

I liked the floating clouds in this route and its dark shadows falling on the hills are a very nice and the big Murugan statue that stands on this way is one of an attraction which I missed couple of times to capture before. This stretch of road just feels like so dry with lack of green fields and farms but the hills provide a good set of views. The huge pipes transported in two trucks cause a wonder and got to think what purpose these pipes except the thought of windmill poles.

The many hills come across want me to guess about certain hills that ponder in mind but they all take diversion from my way and at last took right to Palani from Dindigul - the fort seen far away. It was truly pleasure drive thought this stretch with the enormous sight of my favorite Western Ghats following aside and the foothills are surrounded by green fields and the breathtaking views and breeze carries me away…

I really enjoyed my stay in Palani and going around the places was an enchanting trail in the witness of Western Ghats that almost visible from everywhere and sometimes mist capped. We reached Palani in afternoon and stayed in the New Tirupur Lodge booked by my dad’s friend’s relatives there and had our lunch in Hotel Nalapakam, which is in the ground floor of the same building.

I must really need to say about the Hotel Nalapakam which treated us in a very kind manner that I never felt like ever. The servers there are very friendly and esp. towards me, their way of showing concern and care at my content feed is enhance and moved me enormous to feel like at home. They have separate places for breakfast and lunch, and being difficult for me to enter the lunch hall; they allowed having my lunch in breakfast hall, and one of the servers was pointed to take care of my need and an old man in grandpa age brought tub for me to wash hand.

I wonder how many restaurants treat people like this in a very kind and home alike attitude and care. I feel gratitude towards their attitude to make certain that we feed content and more or less the price comes only next and they don’t stretch bills and what we pay in fair to cashier is taken into account. This showcase their trust in there customers but as fair as we are such attitudes will continue and I sure there must be someone noticing us silently.

We took leisure sometime after our lunch in the room before proceed to Hill Temple. We stayed in the first floor of the lodge which has a lift facility to make certain comfort and pleasure comes for the balcony of the lodge which cause cool breeze and views of the Western Ghats and the lake opposite. Presented in the main road lead to the foothill of Palani, the street provides a good time pass in the presence of shops, horse carts and people and being unseasonal the place lacks crowd.

continues...

Bonfire desire

I’m always fascinated about bonfire or campfire. Every time I visit hill stations I wish to have bonfire celebration and get warmth in cold weather.

But I never get a chance to experience the joy of sitting around the fire and mark a remarkable moment with my dear ones. Every time I ask for one, people never give it importance and try to sense what I like to feel. Whenever my cousins show me the fun pictures they took during their bonfire celebrations when they join together with there dad’s friend families, it used to strikes me with an impression why can’t I get such celebrations. I’m sure it must be a great sense of happiness and expressions of innocence while playing or having something fun around the fire along our family, friends or those who loves the share.

It was last evening in kodaikanal and dusk began to immerse. Like the day never returns, I was enjoying the cold weather sitting on the terrace looking down the twinkling lights from adobes and far away cottages, mist pass on to gloom.

While grasping the blanket, the mind began to carve about bonfire and I expressed my desire to my cousin who shares the moment. He left sometime leaving me alone and minutes later I hear roar of laughter and claps from somewhere far away beneath and I find a slight movement of flame from a distance. Been thinking about bonfire, I felt very surprise by the roar and blinking fire, I came to certain point that there was a bonfire celebration going on.

Later I indicated my cousin and uncle about the roar and fire, I expressed we need to do something now. When we asked the housekeeper, he denied doing such thing there and left. But we don’t want to miss the chance, since we no need such things in Chennai as it always burns us in heat, and thus my cousin went out in search of woods and brought some bunch of sticks and we burn it sitting outside the portico.

He then past us saying something and advised to be cautious about fire. We just sat around the fire, showing our hands on it and make warm our mass and relieve little. My dear ones are happy about doing something little to my desire and the moment last for sometime and thus we dropped some more sticks and it led glows a warm sense.