Picnic at setting of ‘I’

During our vacation come travel to Kodaikanal last month, we took a drive up to Kavunji - a terrace farming village on the far western end of Kodaikanal on the Palani Range of Western Ghats. First time going beyond Mannavanur, exploring the country sides of Kodaikanal; we picnicked on a patch of green adjacent to the Kavunji government school, facing a scenic foreground. As soon we land, a rock like structure caught our attention, alongside a gateway and fencing in raw woods fascinated to know what they are.

But I was sure it was not a real rock and thought it should have created by the students as a school project. And when one of us went neat to touch and see in curious, the watchman of the school (that shut for vacation) shout from a distance, warning, not to go near the structure as it may fall down. Being a kind old being, he came near clearing our doubt on the structure reveling that it was a setting of Tamil film ‘I’ from the renowned director of grandeur, Shanker. The rock made of wood and cardboard causes a natural setting of rock at about 25ft in cone shape.

Actually it doesn’t wonder me but the background it beholds was picturesque and stunning. The days for us in Kodaikanal were so cold like ever and expose to sunlight seems a pleasure, brought us under the open sky for lunch on a patch of green. There was enough light and shadow in turning off brilliant blue sky to passing clouds, carries some warmth and chillness around the landscapes. I saw this lonely raw wood bench left aside the settings of ‘I’ as photogenic, I recommended our families to take photos by sitting on the bench as I hope it deserve beautiful photography - covering a part of step farming and Sholas.

The elder man also lean us water for washing the plates and instructed to use the dustbin to put waste things. At this far end remote village, someone truly care for environment simply impressed me and I hope he is much wise what even city dwellers don’t follow right? We spent more than an hour relaxing and taking group photos standing in front of the setting and simple fascinating countryside background. Among the many, I just love the photo I composed on the wise man before leaving, stood strong in my mind and posing so cool.

Preserve nature

Instead of blaming each other we need to learn lessons from disaster. However powerful we are can’t beat certain things and nature is foremost and if we try to overtake it will end at accident. I don’t believe in god exist but consider nature is the preparation of everything; and idols are nothing but a man made natural formation in shape of men, women and symbols he sees sacred. It was terrible reading different stories each day on the Uttarakhand flash-flood and landslide that buried number of lives, livelihoods and dwellings. I spent some time on the Google maps tracing the routes to Badrinath and Kedarnath, and find it quite awful that the roads were winding thoroughly beside the river Ganges for nearly 300 km.

I don’t believe people who went there were quite contributed to devotion, but tourist in name of pilgrimage to enjoy holiday in Himalayas. It’s simply the bliss nature holds there drags tourist to these remote places despite tough condition in weather and landscape, putting risk at each pace across the mountains and valleys. No wonder, I do wish meeting nature at its farther and I think it’s the facilities that want us to go there and moreover its man’s mistake laying roads deep inside the nature resources inviting devastation himself.

I have traveled across almost mountains and ranges in Tamil Nadu and some of the routes were challenging without proper roads, hire me to unspoiled nature and forest environment. There is nothing fascinates me in this world like nature and at the same time I care for its stable… and thinking on this lane, some time latter in days I decided not to write or post picture on places that are enrich and raw in  environment. Thus, I avoided posting on some wonderful places that I loved visiting however pristine, pleasure and exciting it was, I want to keep it away from public view thinking it may preserve damaging the nature wonders.

I too feel that I am doing injustice to others by not unfolding the folder of pictures and lack of description about the places that I relish a lot with nature at best. But I think not many would be hidden for long, as I get to know that one of a place that I think nature’s summit has turned into Eco-tourism. The government is promoting anything available with nature exist but I hope they preserve it as well quite. 

PowerShot Sunday - Muttukadu Lake

This picture was shot two years back, before the construction of a small bridge across the backwater lake, adjacent to Muttukadu Bridge, to bear pipe’s carrying drinking water from the Seawater Desalination Plant in Nemmeli, to support water scarcity in Chennai. I have crossed the Muttukadu Lake number of times but ever got a picturesque moment or scene like this where the lake shares the sky blue.

I lightly touched the contrast to just highlight the blue tone and I was totally impressive with the outcome in image and alive as well then. I indeed disappointed with the look right now and after the construction of bridge, the sight was almost interrupted and water wasn't clean due to unclear soil and sand that block the inflow of sea.

Muttukadu is a famous tourist spot and boatyard on the ECR (east coast road) toward Kovalam or Mamallapuram. 

P.S. Btw. Goodbye to Google Reader… going to miss the wonderful and easiest tool that assist me following blogs, from the beginning. First time I shifted the blogs (to bloglovin) and there are many alternates but I don’t think anything could be comfort like reader. 

Magic of rain

Image courtesy: 123rf.com

Magic of rain
in droplets grain
plays splash game.

On earth bed
it kiss and intimate
reducing innermost heat.

Droplets sperm
shatters everywhere
producing immense offspring.

Annamalaiyar Temple and Viewpoint - Yercaud

Called as poor man’s Ooty (perhaps, because it’s a less expensive hill station), Yercaud has number of places to visit and among the many Annamalaiyar temple is quite away from tourist sight, even it was mentioned on the board of places of interest in Yercaud it doesn't drag anyone. No, the place isn't less attractive anyway and moreover it was my most favorite place in Yercaud. May be lack of directions could be a reason people could not visit the place and moreover road to this temple was narrow and steep.

The temple has nothing to do with this viewpoint but only adding an ingredient to its quiet, calm and scenic location with awesome views on the Shevaroys or Servarayan Hills. At the top of 1400 m, you get a panoramic view on the series of mountains from here and the wind was embracing to cool since it was drizzling during our visit. One of the prime attraction of this site apart enchanting weather and nature was, a temple (tower) like structure built on a slightly grass mound for lighting lamp capture our attention, just being brightly painted in red.

Named as Annamalaiyar Temple, for anyone it would remind Thiruvannamalai but it has no connection with the popular Siva temple out there which is renowned for the grand festival - Karthigai Deepam. Anyhow, perhaps, it seems to shares a custom of lighting lamp on the full moon day, similar to Thiruvannamalai Deepam that lit on the Annamalai Hill. Being a summer vacation, the children from the nearby villages were playing around the temple and some even take advantage of climbing the pyramid like lamp tower.

The temple is also a simple yet beautiful structure with one small and moderate towers decorated with idols and painted in various colors. There was also a pretty well on one corner of the viewpoint with great scenery at background; the courtyard of the temple has a nice lawn created by natural green. The way up to the temple or viewpoint (one of the best bviews in Yercaud), was enveloped by quite green coffee and cardamom estates and the road was also narrow to allow only a vehicle to pass at a time. But gladly, rarely vehicles take this road and we encounter with an auto. But don’t you know an auto could pass with even a cycle gap? Lol

Visitor info: Annamalaiyar Temple is about 8km from Yercaud Lake, in the village of Thalaisolai.