“It’s all dried up,” the ranger at the Eravikulum National park replied to my question in broken Malayalam when I asked him where I could find the Neelakurinji which blooms once every 12-years. Our guide who had been to the park with his guests earlier in May 2019 claimed the blooms were still visible, so…
Tag: Kerala
Cherai Beach: After the Rain
If I could bottle my favourite scent I’d call it ‘After Rain’. It will capture the fresh scent of wet grass, vegetation, palm frond, fresh earth and the subtle scent of tropical flowers. The scent of nature scrubbed clean, and the fresh cool air especially after a heavy downpour. The shots below were taken on…
Curves in Silhouettes
My views of curves are the ones I see in silhouettes which are free of the distraction of the objects around. These are just some of my favourite pictures of silhouettes – usually at sunrise or sunset. Inspired by WordPress Discover Prompts: Day 8: Curve
Street of Lights
One of my favourite photos – oil lamps illuminating this unnamed lane in Cherlai Bazar in Fort Kochi, Kerala, India. The Hindu residents in homes along this lane had lit the lamps on the eve of the Festival of Lights last October to celebrate and signify the victory of light over darkness. #Daily Prompt #Day…
Heritage Trail: Jew Town
Jew town in the old quarter of Fort Kochi in Kerala was built by the Jewish community who moved to Fort Kochi in the 14th century. In it are an array of old buildings including a synagogue that at one time served the community of traders who operated from the area.
A Bet With My Belly
Ignoring all caution on eating at roadside stalls and shady joints in India, we decided to be adventurous and stop at a Toddy Shop on the way to the Athirappilly Waterfalls in Thrissur, Kerala. The risk of developing a tummy upset was high, and that wouldn’t go well in a place where toilet facilities might…
‘Baahubali’ Falls
The Athirappilly or ‘Baahubali’ waterfalls as it is popularly known, after a scene for that film was shot at the site. Seen here in its full glory thanks to heavy rains in the area late October. It is quite a walk to the foot of the falls – about 400m through the forest along a…
Sunset Ceremony: India
On a trip along the backwaters in Kerala in June, we spent the night on a houseboat docked next a village along the waterway near the Punamada Kayal lake. It was just before dusk and all the homes in the village were lighting oil lamps in the from of their homes as they recited prayers….
Tea Plantation Tranquility
After a gruelling four hour drive through early monsoon showers, and bumpy pot-holed and landslide ridden roads, we arrived at the Gruenberg Tea Plantation Haus which was to be our home for two days. The three storey building set in a valley in Munnar – a hill station in Kerala, India is surrounded by tea…
Backwaters Adventure
I heard of Kerala’s Backwaters for the first time from my 93 year-old grandfather who was at that time, slowly slipping into early stages of dementia. “I used to sell pots from a boat,” he announced one afternoon. I was puzzled but didn’t heed his comments. He had just eaten his second lunch, because he…
Church By the Water
The St Mary’s Forane Syro Malabar Catholic Church was packed with devotees when we stopped by Sunday afternoon. Many made their way to mass on passenger boats that ply the backwaters of Alleypey. This church has been rebuilt several times on its foundation that was constructed in 427 AD. It serves the community in a…
Sunrise: Alleyppey, Kerala
Kerala is well known for its beautiful backwaters. It is one of the best ways to take in the scenes of urban and rural life in this South Indian state. The backwaters are an intricate knit of rivers, lakes, islets, canals and streams that pass through towns, villages, paddy fields, forests, markets and houses of…
Maria Dass the World 