Photo credit: Ramesh Kidangoor
The Painted Sawtooth is a rare butterfly seen in Kerala’s forest settings only during January – April. The males fly extremely fast and have reddish orange spots on the back side of their wings.
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
This festival takes place in Sree Bhagavathy Temple near Alleppey during the month of Vrischikam (November/December) in Kerala’s lunar-based calendar; the time when the glory of the Goddess is at its peak. This is one of the state’s most renowned festivals, where tens of thousands of female devotees gather around the temple days before the function. The women line up on both sides of the main streets and each arranges an area for offering the Pongala (cooking demo) in front of them. Each one brings an earthen cooking pot with rice, coconut and jaggery. Continue reading
Photo credits: Shaji Kumily
Most of the 40 odd rivers that originate in the Western Ghats flow west to the Arabian Sea, but three flow east to the neighbouring states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The Kabini is one of these rivers. It develops from two separate rivulets that wind around a 950 acre wooded island nestled amidst sylvan surroundings, called Kuruva Dweep. Continue reading
Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala
Kovalam Beach lies 16 km south of Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala. Ruled by the Chera and Chola Kings and later by the Dutch, Portuguese and British, Kovalam has historically attracted tourist around the world. The beautiful area is comprised of three crescent-shaped beaches separated by rocky outcroppings that form the main attraction of this beach. Continue reading
Photo Credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
Kerala has an extensive network of backwaters which includes the entire network of canals, estuaries and water bodies formed by the inimitable craftsmanship of nature. There are 29 major lakes in the backwaters which give life to this unique eco-system. Continue reading
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
Kumbalangi is a tiny village facing the backwaters in the western part of Cochin. Described as the first eco-friendly tourist village in India, the village has been preserved in such a way that nature can be seen in its essence in order to strike a balance between tourism and the ecosystem. 
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The government of Tamil Nadu recently honored Colonel J. Pennycuick, the architect of the Mullaperiyar Dam which had been built in 1895. The chief minister of the state commissioned a small memorial building which includes a statue of Pennycuick and a rare collection of photos taken during the dam construction. Continue reading
A group of 20 guests at Cardamom County enjoyed a traditional Kerala welcome today with a caparisoned elephant, traditional Chenda melam band, flower garland and sandalwood paste Tikka.
The village of Periyakanal is situated about 20 km from Munnar on the road towards Thekkady. The Periyakanal Tea Factory is one of the oldest in the Munnar region. Continue reading
Munnar is famous for its tea plantations, most of which are privately owned. With its rolling hills, sparkling waterfalls, sprawling tea estates and undulating valleys, Munnar has all the makings of an ideal hill destination. The ‘discovery’ of Munnar dates back to the 1870’s when British Resident JD Munro recognised the agricultural potential of the region and started planting crops such as coffee, cinchona, sisal, tea and cardamom. The pioneer planters found that tea was best suited for the area. Continue reading
Bananas are a member of the musa family. Kerala’s tropical weather supports more than 10 different varieties. Continue reading
Since we border the famous Periyar Tiger Reserve we are familiar with unexpected wild visitors and welcome these guests from the national park. Yesterday we had Nilgiri Langur, Southern Rustic, Common Grass Yellow and the Bush Hopper Butterflies. Continue reading
Plain Tiger Butterflies are commonly seen throughout the year in the grass lands and open forest areas of Kerala. Their wings are reddish yellow with white spots on the upper side. Continue reading
Betel is the leaf of a climbing vine that belongs to the Piperaceae family. A member of the same family as black pepper, they both require a support tree to grow. The plant has many traditional medicinal uses; in Kerala people use the betel leaf to treat headaches, arthritis and joint pain, in China and Thailand the root of the plant is used for toothache. Continue reading
A native of India’s Western Ghats, Cardamom belongs to the Ginger family. Known as the “Queen Of Spices”, it is one of the most famous and popular spices used in India and the Middle East. The dried berry of the plant is called chotti elaichi in Hindi, which means small cardamom. Continue reading
Fulvous Pied Flat Butterflies are found inside deep forest habitats. Both genders are reddish brown in colour but the male has two large yellow hyaline spots on the upper wings. Continue reading
The Indian Owl Moth is named based on the large yellow ringed eyespots on lower side of their wings. When their wings are spread the moth resembles the head of an owl; this visual trick is used to escape from predators. Continue reading
Bonnet Macaques are the most commonly seen of the four species of primates found in Periyar. They are particularly prevalent close to human habitation in places such as the boat landing, picnic spots and the parking areas of Thekkady. Continue reading
Kerala’s dance traditions are not merely living traditions but cultural documents that reflect the socio-cultural surroundings. The story reflected in the dance forms are rooted in the rituals of the indigenous people. Continue reading
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