Photo credit: Praveen Bhaskaran
Vagamon is a land with undisturbed forests, exotic flora and fauna — green glades and verdant meadows interspersed with shola forest combine to create a picturesque landscape. 1200 metres above sea level, Vagamon is located approximately 45 km from Thekkady; a true paradise for hikers and trekkers. Continue reading
Photo credits:Ramesh Kidngoor
Periyar Lake comprises about 26 square kilometers within the Periyar Tiger Reserve, a sanctuary for wildlife next to Cardamom County. Periyar River, which flows from Periyar Lake, is not only the lifeline of the Periyar Tiger Reserve, but also of central Kerala. It originates in the Sivagiri peaks in the Western Ghats, 1830 meters above sea level, across the border into the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu. Continue reading
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
Kavadi Aatam is a religious dance offered to Lord Muruga during a pilgrimage, made mainly by men, which originated in Tamil Nadu. It is a colorful (as you can see in the photos) ritual dance widely prevalent in the Subramanya Temples in Kerala and Tamil Nadu during the festival season. The Kavadi, which are set on top of the dancers, can reach 10-15 feet high, and when the dancers twist and spin in a row it creates a quite beautiful effect.
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple is believed to be at least 2,000 years old, and is a Vedic Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It rests in the heart of the city of Trivandrum, Kerala. Treasures with an estimated value of around US $18 billion make it one of the richest temples in the world, if not the richest. Continue reading
Cardamom Harvesting
At Cardamom County we believe in organically grown vegetables and spices to provide our guests with the best produce that can be used to make the most sumptuous meals. We grow organic vegetables, fruits, spices and even eggs from our own farm. These pictures show our cardamom being harvested by staff members. Continue reading
Herd of Sambar Deer
Sightings in the Periyar Tiger Reserve can sometimes be a difficult task owing to the rich flora of its landscape, but with the promise of water from the Periyar lake it is habitual for the animals to come near the lake hence giving an opportunity to spot them while they quench their thirst and rest. Here are a few such sighting on the lake shore. Continue reading
Photo credits: M N Shaji
Every year both Cardamom County staff and guests look forward to Christmas Eve; from the eco-friendly bamboo and paper tree to the fun and games at our restaurant roof top. This year was also a blast with guests mingling with each other and being good sports by taking part in games as both families and couples. Continue reading
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
Munnar is the highest point in the Idukki district of Kerala ranging at above 4,500 feet, it is also one of the major tea producing areas of the country and has now become the headquarters for major tea producers in India. Continue reading
Photo credit: Dileep Narayanan
Theyyam is one of the most popular ritualistic dances of Kerala. Of the variety of performing arts, most have roots in folk tradition and are often related to religious rituals and mythological stories. Theyyam is a devotional performance with surrealistic representations of the divine. Continue reading
Photo credit: Ramesh Kidangoor
The Ananthapadmanabha Swami Temple is situated in Kasargod district in the midst of a serene natural lake. The temple, rich in murals, is believed to be the original seat of the Sri Ananthapadmanabha Swami Temple in Trivandrum. Continue reading
2,088 field staff taking part in the eight-day exercise in five landscapes
Today’s Hindu newspaper reports that:
The eight-day phase-one of the all India tiger estimation 2013-2014 by 2,088 field staff began in the forests of the State on Monday.
The estimation, at the initiative of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), is a countrywide exercise conducted every four years to assess the status of wild tigers, co-predators, prey species, and their habitat. Continue reading
Photo credit: Ramesh Kidangoor
The Jacaranda is a deciduous tree native to South America that can grow up to 20 meters high with magnificent snaking branches. These trees are planted as an aesthetic addition within the tea plantations of Munnar for their beautiful and long-lasting blue flowers. Continue reading
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
The Ettumanoor Mahadeva temple is one of the most revered temples of Hindu worship in Kerala. Built in the 16th century, the presiding deity is Lord Shiva; it is believed that the Pandavas and the sage Vyasa established this shrine. This traditional Kerala style temple has a conical roof above the main shrine which is copper plated — exquisite wooden carvings of scenes from the Ramayana and Krishna Leela are depicted within. The temple is also rich in mural paintings depicting various Hindu myths and lore. Continue reading
Wild Mushrooms
Mushrooms are found on almost every continent and due to the rich flora of Kerala they usually flourish unattended in the Western Ghats. Wild mushrooms are used for cooking various dishes from curries to dry starters and are relished by vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. Continue reading
Appam And Egg Roast
Appam is a sort of rice pancake which is usually accompanied with savory curries ranging from meat, fish, egg to vegetarian. This light and tasty dish is commonly eaten for breakfast with Egg Roast, and is the closest one would find to the usual toast and egg in the state of Kerala. Continue reading
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
Alleppey, situated at the south-western tip of the Vembanad Lake, is famous for its criss-crossing canals, lakes and lagoons, and is popularly known as the “Venice of the East.” Tourism is its primary industry, which has revitalized the area and given a new charm to the entire district. Continue reading
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
Palayam Mosque is located in the heart of Trivandrum, the political capital of Kerala. Typical of Kerala’s comfortable blend of religions and cultures, a temple and a church stand in its vicinity. Continue reading
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
Kumily is a plantation town, closely associated with Thekkady, the home of Kerala’s first promotion of environmental tourism. Both Thekkady and Kumily are situated in the Periyar Valley, making them a convenient base to explore the beauty of Periyar Tiger Reserve. Continue reading
Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor
The tranquil backwaters of Kerala turn into a sports arena once every year as more than a dozen snake boats, some manned by 100- 125 oarsmen, fiercely compete with each other in the boat races called “Vallamkali”. Vallamkali are an integral part of the history and culture of the people of Kerala. Continue reading
Idukki Dam Catchment area; photo credit: Ramesh Kidangoor
Idukki is one of the largest district in Kerala, covering 13 percent of the state’s total area. With rugged mountains, dense forests and three big rivers, Idukki generates one third of the state electricity. But the district is more famous for its natural beauty; numerous trekking trails, stunning views and diverse wildlife make it an outdoor enthusiast’s dream destination. Continue reading
Organikos 