Trikkalayur Siva Temple , Kizhuparamba , Areekode , Malappuram

Trikkalayur Siva Temple is a Hindu temple located at Trikkalayur ( Thrikkalayur / Thrikkalayoor or Thrikkalayur ) , Kizhuparamba Panchayath , Areekode Block ,  Malappuram district ( Kozhikode Dist.  border ) , Kerala.  India's first dynamite explosion , which took place on December 28, 1884 at this temple. ( Ref. Malabar Manual )

An evening view after rain from my village

An evening view after rain from my village Valillapuzha , Areekode , Malappuram , Kerala , India 

Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) - View from Chokramudi hill , Munnar , Kerala

Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) - View from Chokramudi hill , Munnar , Kerala , India

Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) is a shrub that is found in the shola forests of the Western Ghats in South India. Nilgiri Hills, which literally means the blue mountains, got their name from the purplish blue flowers of Neelakurinji that blossoms gregariously only once in 12 years. This plant belongs to the genus Strobilanthes which was first scientifically described by Christian Gottfried Daniel Nees von Esenbeck in the 19th century. The genus has around 250 species, of which at least 46 are found in India. It occurs at an altitude of 1300 to 2400 metres. The plant is usually 30 to 60 cm high. They can, however, grow well beyond 180 cm under congenial conditions. 

Kerala rainy season photos - 2014

                                                   A view from Areekode - Kondotty road

Kerala rainy season photo from Kizhuparamba , Malappuram

 Kerala rainy season photo from Pathanapuram , Areekode - Mukkam road

Kerala rainy season photo from poonkudy , Areacode

 Kerala rainy season photo from Poonkudi , Areekode

 Kerala rainy season photo from Valillapuzha , Areacode

 Kerala rainy season photo from Malappuram

 Kerala rainy season photo from Kottakkal 

 Kerala rainy season photo from Poonkudy , Areacode

  Kerala rainy season photo from Valillapuzha , Areacode

 Kerala rainy season photo from Kuniyil , Areekode

Kerala rainy season photo from Valilllapuzha , Areacode

Monsoons bring to Kerala two rainy seasons-the southwest monsoon or the 'Edavappathi', bringing rains during June-September, and the north east monsoon or the 'Thulavarsham' during October to December.The rainforest areas of the state have humid tropical wet climate while the extreme eastern fringes experience a drier tropical wet and dry climate .Kerala receives an average annual rainfall of 3107 mm. 

Southwest monsoon is the main rainy season in Kerala begins by the end of May or early June with the outset of the southwest monsoon winds      North East Monsoon in Kerala Also known as 'Thulaavarsham'  hits Kerala during the return of the southwest monsoon winds. These rains are in the months of October and November.    

Monsoon Travel - From Nilambur - Kakkadampoyil ( Kerala )

Monsoon Travel - From Nilambur - Kakkadampoyil - Koompara - Thottumukkam road -  ( Malappuram - Kozhikode ,  Kerala ) - June 2014

Nilambur - Kakkadampoyil - Koompara - road

                                               Nilambur - Kakkadampoyil - Koompara - road

                                            Nilambur - Kakkadampoyil - Koompara - road

Nilambur - Kakkadampoyil - Koompara - road

View from Kakkadampoyil 

Nilambur - Kakkadampoyil - Koompara - road

A view from kakkadampoyil

Nilambur - Kakkadampoyil - Koompara - road

Nilambur - Kakkadampoyil - Koompara - road

Nilambur - Kakkadampoyil - Koompara - road

Nilambur - Kakkadampoyil - Koompara - road

Nilambur - Kakkadampoyil - Koompara - road

Nilambur - Kakkadampoyil - Koompara - road

Nilambur - Kakkadampoyil - Koompara - road

Kakkadampoyil town

View from Kakkadampoyil 

KSRTC Bus at Nilambur - Kakkadampoyil - Koompara - road

Waterfalls - view from Nilambur - Kakkadampoyil - Koompara - road

Waterfalls - view from Nilambur - Kakkadampoyil - Koompara - road

 Kakkadampoyil - Koompara -  Thottumukkam road

Kakkadampoyil - This rural settlement is about 24km from the Nilambur town and 40 kilometres (25 mi) from the city of Calicut (Kozhikode). There are many indigenous tribal groups in this area. It is set high on the Western Ghats, with altitudes ranging from 700 to 2100 m. Kakkadampoyil stands on the Western top of the Western Ghats with dense forest, and deep valleys. The Cherupuzha  is one of the important tributaries of Chaliyar River.

Places of Interest near Kakkadampoyil

Aripara Falls

Aripara Falls (alternate spelling: Arippara Falls) is a tourist spot in Anakkampoyil near Thiruvambady Town in Kozhikode district, Kerala. It is located on the Thiruvambady - Anakkampoyil route, 15 km from Thiruvambadi. The waterfall is a tributary of Iruvanjippuzha. 

Thusharagiri 

Thusharagiri is 48 km from Kozhikode and is one of the recently identified tourist centres. The waterfalls and streams amidst the hilly regions are really a feast to the eyes. Two streams originating from the Western Ghats meet here to form the Chalippuzha River. The river diverges into three waterfalls creating a snowy spray, which gives the name, 'Thusharagiri'. The word Thusharagiri means the snow capped mountain. Of the three, the highest waterfall is the Thenpara that falls from an altitude of 75 metres. The nearest town Kodencherry is around 11 kilometres  from Thusharagiri. The other main towns situated here are Thiruvambady which is 18 km away and Thamarassery which is 17 km away. One has to purchase all necessary things for trekking from here.

Nilambur

Nilambur is a municipality and a taluk in the Malappuram district of Kerala, South India. It is famous for its forests, especially its wildlife habitats, rivers, waterfalls and teak plantations. It is situated close to the Nilgiris range of the Western Ghats on the banks of the Chaliyar River. It is about 40 kilometres from Malappuram city and 24 kilometres from Manjeri on the Kozhikode–Ooty road. Nilambur is also an Assembly Constituency.

Nilambur is also home to the oldest teak plantation in the world, called Conolly's Plot. It is claimed that the world's tallest or biggest teak tree is in the Nilambur Teak Preserve. Nilambur is also famous for its bamboos. The name "Nilambur" means 'Place of Nilimba' . This region is suitable for planting teak and grows well here. Teak grown here is having good quality and hence Nilambur Teak has good demand all over the world. 

Apple tree, Kashmir , India

The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family (Rosaceae). It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apples grow on small, deciduous trees. The tree originated in Central Asia, where its wild ancestor, Malus sieversii, is still found today. Apples have been grown for thousands of years in Asia and Europe, and were brought to North America by European colonists. Apple (Malus pumila) is commercially the most important temperate fruit and is fourth among the most widely produced fruits in the world after banana, orange and grape. China is the largest apple producing country in the world. It is mostly grown in the states of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. 

Jelhum river - Srinagar (Kashmir)

Jehlam River or Jhelum River -  flows from Verinag, 80-km south of Srinagar ( Kashmir )  , to the Wular Lake in the north. Passing through Srinagar it's a wide, swift flowing, muddy looking river. The river draws water from the lakes around the city and many canals and rivers meander through the city area. 
Jhelum River -  that flows in India and Pakistan. It is the largest and most western of the five rivers of Punjab, and passes through Jhelum District . It is a tributary of the Chenab River  ( forms in the upper Himalayas in the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, India, and flows through the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir into the plains of the Punjab, Pakistan )  and has a total length of about 450 miles.  

Anamudi Shola National Park ( Mannavan shola , Idukki , Munnar , Kerala )

Anamudi Shola National Park is a protected area located along the Western Ghats in Idukki , Kerala , India. It is composed of Mannavan shola, Idivara shola and Pullardi shola, covering a total area of around 7.5 km². Draft notification of this new park was released on Nov 21, 2003 . Elevation ranges from 2,152 meters (7,060 ft) - 2,305 meters (7,562 ft).  This park is a very high rainfall area with annual average rainfall of about 4,500 millimeters. 

The Evergreen Rain forest, Mannavan Shola is the largest shola forest patch in Kerala, is near Kanthalloor. This is a 14 km² of unique ecosystem facing devastation. The vegetation, including many rare and endemic flora and species are part of Marayur’s great natural wealth. This is one of Kerala's unique and delicate ecosystems forever. The biggest high altitude moist-rain forest in the peninsula, located at altitude of 2100 meters. This great shola region is the haven of many rare and common species of animals, birds and plants. Mannavan shola was notified as a reserved forest through an order of the Government of the erstwhile Travancore State on October 22, 1901.

Old Bridge over the Jelhum river - Srinagar (Kashmir)

Jehlam River or Jhelum River -  flows from Verinag, 80-km south of Srinagar ( Kashmir )  , to the Wular Lake in the north. Passing through Srinagar it's a wide, swift flowing, muddy looking river. The river draws water from the lakes around the city and many canals and rivers meander through the city area. 
Jhelum River -  that flows in India and Pakistan. It is the largest and most western of the five rivers of Punjab, and passes through Jhelum District . It is a tributary of the Chenab River  ( forms in the upper Himalayas in the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, India, and flows through the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir into the plains of the Punjab, Pakistan )  and has a total length of about 450 miles.  The Jhelum is famed for its nine old bridges although some of them are being replaced by more modern structures.

Anamudi Shola National Park ( Mannavan shola , Idukki , Munnar , Kerala )

Anamudi Shola National Park is a protected area located along the Western Ghats in Idukki , Kerala , India. It is composed of Mannavan shola, Idivara shola and Pullardi shola, covering a total area of around 7.5 km². Draft notification of this new park was released on Nov 21, 2003 . Elevation ranges from 2,152 meters (7,060 ft) - 2,305 meters (7,562 ft).  This park is a very high rainfall area with annual average rainfall of about 4,500 millimeters.

Indian gray mongoose - Kerala

The Indian grey mongoose or common grey mongoose (Herpestes edwardsii) is a species of mongoose mainly found in southern Asia mainly India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and some other parts of Asia.  The grey mongoose is commonly found in open forests, scrublands and cultivated fields, often close to human habitation. It lives in burrows, hedgerows and thickets, among groves of trees, taking shelter under rocks or bushes and even in drains. It is very bold and inquisitive but wary, seldom venturing far from cover. It climbs very well. Usually found singly or in pairs. Being carnivorous it feeds on many species ranging from rat to snake.