Kodaikanal Lake

The Kodaikanal Lake is a very beautiful lake I have seen among the manmade and it gives a picturesque shape to the Kodaikanal town which lay around the lake, in the Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu, India. The charming lake always fascinates me from the time of encounter to enhance more lately, the lake holds the pretty clean picture always even thought its water state has been revealed not so good according to reports.

Upper lake view of Kodaikanal Lake

The star shaped Kodaikanal Lake is the attraction of many tourists to this hill station and it is the foremost entertainment and core part of the visitors, with activities of boating, horse riding and cycling are the part of the 5km stretch of road that goes around the lake. The pavement along the lake is a best platform for walker to take brisk walk against the pretty coldness and beside the bliss of nature and store of spring of water as a wonderful lake.

Pretty calm lake

The Kodaikanal Lake was created by Sir Hendry Levinge in the year 1863 after he settled in Kodaikanal as a retired Collector of Madurai; he constructed the bund to form a lake and stocked with fishes and later brought his first boat from Tuticorin. In 1890 a boat club was formed and in the following year of 1910 a new boathouse was constructed and opened to public and tourist in 1932.

A beautiful lakeside adobe

Kodaikanal Lake is a freshwater lake created in a marshy where three streams flowed and it covers an area of about 24 hectares. The out flow of the lake forms a wonderful waterfall at the downstream of 8km from here is called the Silver Cascade, which flows from a height of 180ft.

Rowing oar at lake

(Click each image for enlarge...)

காதல் / Love - II

காதல்... பெண்ணின் மேல் மட்டுமல்ல
அவள் களையும் கூந்தால் மீதும்; 

காதல்... அவள் கண்ணில் தெரிவது
செவியோர  பூக்கள் கதைப்பது;

காதல்... இமை இதழ்கள் பேசிக்கொள்ளும்
மௌன அலைகள்;

காதல்... காற்றில் மிதந்து வரும் இலை
இதையத்தில் இதமாய் கரைசேரும்.

Translation of the Tamil version follows:

 

Love… not only on the women
on her blowing tress too

Love… what appears on her eyes
talked by her ear side flowers

Love… speaking of eyelids lips
silent waves

Love… a floating leaf by wind
pleasantly sails ashore the heart.

Image courtesy: superstock.com

Pleasant stay at Point Calimere

The dusk turned more darker when we reached the Point Calimere, cause is not alone the arrival of night but the power cut that shutdown all aspects of this last shore (Kodiyakarai) and the only visible through candle lit light. Point Calimere is a worst experienced place for us to go through the power cut which hold to every half an hour including the regular power cuts of 3 hours in morning and afternoon… the nights are more unwind for us inside the guest house and the only source of light was the inverter that light a single bulb in each suite.

First we landed at the Velliman illam, which is on the main road, to only move gladly to Thambusami Illam knowing there were no suites available at ground floor which turned gladder than regret to enjoy the isolated guest house away from the activities of man. Except the power cut, Tambusami Illam is a pleasant stay guest house where we enjoyed the cool sea breeze throughout the day blowing outside under the veranda and portico surrounded by trees.

The forest guest house looks glorious in the red tiled roof and painted in pale white with bordered red, splendor by the sight of peacock which is always there! When we reached this place following the government vehicle in guide of my dad’s ex-colleague from Nagapattinam Collectorate, who helped for us in booking this guest house and appointed a person to take us around… it was pitch darkness and had no idea what happening around except a blink of light from the elevated lighthouse at next compound.

Only the next day morning we get to feel the real enhance of this guest house holds around. The sight of frequent peacocks across the compound is a treat for eyes and sense to behold the beauty almost clear and near and with bloom of red hibiscuses and fall of rip leaves blend it more wonderful.   Also called as Flamingo guest house, it has two rooms naming Flamingo and Pelican and a common dining hall, we took refrain at Pelican and my uncle’s family at flamingo.

Thambusamy illam is a century old building built by a sea merchant called Mr. O.A. Thambusami Pillai who later donated the building to the government which took renovation in year 2000 to accommodate official visitors to Kodaikarai. The sign board and rock inscription on the wall claims the heritage and the rooms are spacious and facilitated without replacing the original doors and windows and also has open air meeting hall and umbrella sit-outs which are maintained unusable. Lol

The guard who is appointed to take care of the guest house and visitors is so friendly and soon become familiar to share his knowledge about this place and general thoughts on things. He claims that Point Calimere is nothing but refers to the Point of southeast and Calimere is the name of who discovers this place and the seashore of Kodiyakarai is the northern part of Palk Strait that stretches across the Gulf of Mannar between the India and Sri Lanka, which is 43km from here via sea and during the war in Jaffna the sound of explosions were heard clearly claims the guard.

Experience of Moon on Zoom

The cold moon at sky

We spy

The uncertain shades

The pretty white mass

In dimples cheek

Raises high above the eyebrow 

The full moon sphere

Is the only reliable vista
One could visit in near future

Footnote:

I captured these shots on late full moon night, using the maximum optical and digital zoom on my new Canon power shot sx220 hs. The details were mesmerizing me as this was my first capture on moon so near and clear, latter wondering many a times seeing others magnificent capture on moon. The whole set was wonderful taking off and I added few lines along with it here!

Abstract

The crows caw in chorus

The chirping birds from woods

Sing the song of nature,

A sense of Peace

At heart reconnects

The chanting melodies

Of yesteryears prayer,

The faith disappeared

But the truth at heart

Never denies the fact

That once I was faithful.

I don’t believe in mutter

In front of a stone sculpture

The deep felt heart

Indeed gives me content.