Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
The Badami Cave Temple in Karnataka was the capital of the early Chalukyas, who ruled much of that area of India during the 6th and 7th centuries. Badami is a treasure trove of Indian rock-cut architecture and sculpture. It is set in a picturesque countryside at the mouth of a sandstone ravine . The caves overlook a large lake known as Agasythya Teertha.
Letchmi Tea Estate is situated about 10 km from Munnar town att an altitude of 6000 ft above sea level. The estate is famous for the best quality tea of Kannan Devan Hills. Continue reading
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
The Siva Temple at Ettumanoor has a unique festival called Ezhara ponnana — meaning “seven-and-a-half golden elephants”. Each of the statues in the procession contain nearly 13 kg of gold. Seven of the elephants are two feet high, only the eighth is one foot, giving the festival its unique name. Continue reading
Pansy flowers belong to the Viola species, a group of hybrid flowers found in gardens worldwide. With their enchanting wildflower charm and numerous color combinations these flowers are probably the most popularly grown and most recognizable cool season plant growing above 1500 meters in the Western Ghats of India. Continue reading
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
Sandwiched between the Arabian Sea and Vembanad Lake on a sliver of land barely 4 km wide, Alappuzha has the dual advantage of cheap inland water transport on its eastern end and calm seas suitable for an all-weather port on the west. Its criss-crossing canals, which were once busy waterways, historically evoked comparisons with Venice. Continue reading
Heliconia Collinsiana is an ornamental plant native to Central America that grows widely as a popular garden plant in India’s Western Ghats above 800 metres. Continue reading
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
Standing on the southern bank of the Tungabhadra River, the Vitthala Temple is the most magnificent of the religious edifices at Hampi. Vitthala portrays the aesthetic perfection of the Vijayanagar style during the time of Devaraya-II (A .D. 1422-1446). Continue reading
Bracted Strawflowers are a native Australia perennial that has naturalized in the hill stations of India’s Western Ghats above 1500 meters. The parchment-like flowers bloom in a wide range of colors, including yellow, white, red and pink.
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Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary is Kerala’s first officially recognized bird sanctuary. Named after the late renowned ornithologist Dr. Salim Ali, the small but intensely biodiverse area lies snugly between two branches of the Periyar river and the serenity of the Anamalai hills. This bird watcher’s paradise was once a rubber plantation, but due to its abundant wildlife and in order to protect the wide range of resident and migratory birds it was declared a sanctuary in 1983.
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
India is the largest producer of Araca nut and at the same time the largest consumer. The nut, popularly known as supari, is extensively used during religious practices. Kerala produces about 30 percent of India’s total production. Continue reading
Kerala has about 700 domesticated elephants. Of these 90 percent are tuskers (the local term for male elephants), who play a major role in religious festivals. Apart from their role in temple ritual, the elephant’s strength and power has been effectively harnessed in work in the logging industry, primarily in loading timber for transport. This is unique to this region. Continue reading
Azalea plants are flowering shrubs with colorful, trumpet shaped flowers in the genus Rhododendron. Native to Asia, North America and Europe, they are widely planted as ornamentals in the Western Ghats of India above 1500 meters. Continue reading
Kerala’s Temple Art is rich, vibrant and tells vivid stories. Most of Kerala’s temples built during the 15th and 16th centuries have murals depicting gods and goddesses, sages and episodes from Hindu mythology. These are mostly painted on the outer walls of the sanctum sanctorum. Continue reading
Although native to South America, the Peruvian Lily now grows widely in India’s Western Ghats above 1500 meters. This member of the lily family blooms in a wide range of colors including yellow, orange, pink, red, lavender, purple, cream and white. Continue reading
Periyar’s diverse forest types and ecosystems- moist deciduous and evergreen forests, shallow banks and wet lands – attract more than 360 species of bird life. The Brown Fish Owl chooses habitats near the ponds, streams and lakes of Periyar. Continue reading
The Fishtail Palm is an attractive flowering plant with fishtail shaped leaves that grows in the tropical rain forest from India to Burma. In Kerala the tree is tapped for the local kallu (toddy) and the leaves are also a favorite fodder for elephants. Continue reading
The Indian Coral Tree is native to tropical and sub-tropical regions of the Indian sub-continent, They are found widely in the Western Ghats, blooming during January to March. Continue reading
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
Kumbakonam (translated roughly from “Jug’s Corner”) is one of the oldest towns in the state of Tamil Nadu. It has unique position in Hindu myth as containing the only temple for Lord Brahma due to the legend that he filled a clay pot with the seed of all living beings on earth. Continue reading
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
In Kerala almost every church in every village has an annual celebration called Perunnal. All members of each church participate in a festive procession during this community event.
Kumily, Kerala
Organikos 