Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
Nagarhole National Park (also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park) is among the most well maintained wildlife reserves in India. Located in the state Karnataka, this national park has an abundance of fauna, including large mammals such as wild elephant, bison, tiger, leopard, wild dog and spotted deer. Continue reading
Photo credits: R R Ranjith
Bharatanatyam is a famous Indian form of classical dance. Dancers often use bold and colourful makeup to show grace on the stage. The makeup is very thick and dark with a lot of emphasis placed on the eyes, cheeks and lips. Bold use of kohl on eyes and brows help the audience notice expressions. Lots of powder and blush are used to give the face a clear, smooth apperance and lips are bright red to emphasize smiles and pouts. Continue reading
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
Pondicherry is the capital city of “The Union Territory of Puducherry”, one of the famous tourist destinations in South India. The main attractions are the backwaters, palm-fringed beaches, fishing villages and the French boulevard town with its French heritage–not to mention the charming and picturesque beach side promenade. Pondicherry was the largest French colony in India with a long and interesting history of trade and war. Continue reading
Brian Harkin for The New York Times. Conductor Zubin Mehta, right, leading the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra at Carnegie Hall in New York, on Feb. 22, 2011.
Thanks to India Ink for this notice:
Beethoven Comes to Kashmir
By VISHNU VARMANEW DELHI— Zubin Mehta, the renowned Mumbai-born conductor of Western classical music, is going to perform in Srinagar, the summer capital Continue reading
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
Avani Avittam or Upakarma is one of the ancient Vedic rituals practiced annually in India. This year the ritual day falls on August 20th, 2013. Avani Avittam is a highly auspicious ceremony for the Vedic Brahmin community. The main activity performed is the changing of the sacred thread worn by devotees. Continue reading
This past weekend, I had the opportunity to go Bamboo Rafting, one of the unique experiences that the Periyar Tiger Reserve has to offer. From my knowledge about bamboo, I understood that it was naturally hollow so it made sense to use it to make a floating raft. Being naïve I expected the raft to be like any water worthy vessel and stay completely above water; that’s where I was wrong. My initial experience with bamboo rafts was at the beginning of the trek where all participates had to cross a narrow section of the Periyar Reservoir. When the raft was just sitting on the water it looked perfectly dry, but when people began to step aboard the middle slowly became covered with water, which happened to be exactly where I was standing. It really freaked me out when we started moving from the shore and my water-proof boots were being put to the test. I remember saying to the person next to me “I hope you can swim” because at the time I was feeling a bit of panic that I might have to. Continue reading
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
Hoysaleswara temple was built during 12th and 13th century Hoysala Empire by King Vishnuvardhana. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the ground-plan of the temple is the characteristic star shape common to all the Hoysala temples. Hoysaleswara is actually formed by two temples joined by a common veranda. The temple of the north is known as the Shantaleshwara temple and is named after the beloved Queen Shantala Devi. Continue reading
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
India is primarily an agricultural country and agriculture plays an important role in the economy. Many times the small scale farmers and middle class customers are exploited by the middlemen. In order to eliminate this problem, farmers have introduced a new concept called a “Farmer’s Market“. These markets offer customers fresh vegetables and fruits directly from the farmers at a reasonable price. Continue reading
Photo credit: The Hindu. Thiruvananthapuram Airport along with the Cochin International Airport joined six other elite airports in the country to issue T-VoA
Thanks to the Hindu (click the image above to go to the source) for publicizing this new information about India’s ever-easier visa procedures. Decades ago, when it was downright Kafka-esque to obtain a visa, no one predicted that by 2013 efficiency would be a relevant word in a sentence about obtaining a visa. But, to the credit of India, it is so. While not quite Hemingway lean, the prose is simplified, especially if you are from one of these countries:
Kerala on Wednesday became the gateway to India for holidaymakers from 11 countries who can get tourist visa on arrival (T-VoA).
Kuni Takahashi for The New York Times. Juhu beach in Mumbai, India.
The abundant wildlife and traditional culture of India, especially Kerala and its neighboring states in the south, are our most common interests, both on this blog and within the lodging properties we develop and operate. Salim’s brief, daily posts are a mainstay of these interests. Selveraj’s frequent posts capture, in a single snapshot, the uniquely south Indian on-the-road experience.
What we offer less of, for good reason, is an attempt to capture “India” in small snapshots. The quotation marks denote that India is the name of a country, yes, but that it is realistically more the name of an idea; an ideal; any attempt to capture that in a single view or experience is futile because of the complex, diverse and dynamic components.
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
Located in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka Aihole (pronounced: eye-HO-lee) served as the capital of the Chalukyan Dynasty from the 4th to the 6th century A.D. The Durga temple was built between the 7th and 8th century during a rich architectural era. Continue reading
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
India became an Independent nation on August 15, 1947 and celebrates Independence Day on that same date annually. Flag hoisting ceremonies and cultural programmes take place in governmental and and non- governmental institutions throughout the country. Continue reading
Lantana
Lantana is native to the American tropics but is now naturalized throughout India. A widespread invader, this plant has taken over large tracts of land. Lantana is an evergreen, strong smelling perenial with stout recurved prickles. It is commonly used in home and public gardens as the flowers and subsequent fruit attract butterflies, moths and birds. The leaves and stems are also used in traditional medicines. Continue reading
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
The Bull Worshiping Festival is celebrated by Indian farmers, mainly in the State of Karnataka. On this day farmers bathe their bulls, decorate them with ornaments and shawls, paint their horns, and place garlands of flowers around their necks. Continue reading
Uzhunnu Vada
Uzhunnu Vada is a very common snack in South India, and is often found at breakfast with items such as Idli, Sambar and Chutney. The main ingredients for this dish are black lentils, ginger, onion, salt and curry leaves. Continue reading
Thank you, Mr. Cardoz, on behalf of all those who resist the family’s gravitational pull to other professions, and choosing food. And thanks to the New York Times for bringing your story in brief, thoughtful form:
In Edison, New Jersey, “Floyd Cardoz was scanning the shelves at a supermarket called Apna Bazar Cash and Carry, looking for inspiration,” Jeff Gordinier wrote in The New York Times. Continue reading
The Arum Lily is one of the world’s most iconic and widely known plants. Native to Southern Africa, these long-lived flowers have been described with adjectives from the poetic: such as elegant, secretive, exotic, and expressive, to the mundane: decorative. Continue reading
A view of the Taj Mahal beneath the cloudy skies
Throughout my life I have had the privilege of frequently traveling and visiting new countries. However, I had not yet had the pleasure of seeing any of the deemed “Seven Wonders of the World.” A week ago, I was finally able to change that when I took a trip to Agra and visited the Taj Mahal with my father. Continue reading
Photo credits : Ramesh Kidangoor
The Sunflower is an annual plant and its name is derived from the image and shape of the flower, which depicts the Sun. Sunflowers are also an important source of food. It’s oil is valued as a healthy vegetable oil, making it a popular agricultural crop in south India. Continue reading
Grapes ready for harvest
The first thing that I noticed about Tamil Nadu was the juxtaposition to the Kerala landscape to which I am now accustomed. Unlike the mountainous western Kerala, where during monsoon rain is plentiful and direct sunlight a rarity, just across the border in Tamil Nadu the land is flat, and during monsoon the air is dry and the sun shining. It is a shockingly fast transition that you can see as soon as you are at the base of the mountains. I knew this part of Tamil Nadu was flat, but I thought it would all be made up of lush green farm land, but instead what I encountered resembled central Texas, dry and rocky. In fact, it made me feel quite at home.
After seeing the landscape it was not surprising to hear from a local organic farmer, that most of the water in Tamil Nadu comes from the Periyar River in Kerala via the Mullaperiyar Dam. The farm boasted many types of fruits, including grapes and pomegranates. It was well worth the trip to see a farm in action and to see how and where some of the local fruits are grown. Continue reading
Organikos 