Pookode lake - Wyanad,Kerala

Pookode lake is perenial fresh water lake among hidden away among the lush green forest.It has boating climate being just wonderful that was the plan for the day. The guy who took through the lake was the best thing that happend to us.Firstly he loved his place Wayand and that transcended in every word he uttered and he loved his job and the tourists whom he took around.He told us that the lake is 8.5 hectare with more than 6m depth and aerial view revealed that the lake shape was that of  India map. River Kabani from panamaram rivulet originates from this lake. 

He even taught us name of many herbs that thrived on the lake.Best part was he never rushed us through he happily explained stopping the boat and rowed effortlessly though there were 8 people including him.Though it was hard to remember the herbs and its benefits we could definitely spot blue water lily all around.

Later just walked through the stone pavement built around the lake enjoying the perfect day.

There is a childrens park too

Its a plastic free zone hence carrying plastic cover inside.There are handicraft, spices and tea sold at the entrance of the lake.
the lake

Lakkidi, Wayanad , Kerala - View to Paradise

Lakkidi is the gateway to Wayand another beauty @ gods own country..I  had heard a lot about this beautiful but honestly I was not prepared for this though..

It was the site of paradise of earth ..just as it dawned on the horizon with chilly breeze caressing through at 700m above sea with slight drizzle all onlookers lost track of time and people around it was just the beauty of mother earth and its heights and I felt blessed for a life god has showered upon me..

This view you can enjoy if you taken up NH 212 from Kozhikode Thamarassery ghat road..One may prefer private vehicle through the twist and turn of the hairpin bend but for me nothing could offer that experience a KSRTC (Kerala state road transport corporation) can offer.I love the way they traverse through the 9 hairpins spanning around 14 km..If you think this is the best view then wait till its dark it looks as if earth is reflecting the starry sky.

As the horizon brightens one can get a better view of the hair pin bend..

 zooom

bit moreeee!!!

King of ghat section KSRTC bus

For a traveler this is the best welcome gift a place can offer..I could hardly wait for the rest of the places to unveil

Athirapalli, Vazhachal-monsoon diaries Thrissur, Kerala

Born mallu I have always lived my life outside Kerala. For me Kerala means vacation, fun time with my cousins and loads of pampering. Tamilnadu has always been close to my heart with my schooling and college life back there.The whole vantage of Kerala changed ever since I started my doctoral research in Kerala. It is then I started to experience a whole set of wonderful experience of gods own country. The best part being monsoon..Monsoon just crashes into my life like love flooding in with heavenly like feeling.Its as though the whole earth blooms with life ..Lush green life all around..Fresh moss upon wall,algal life, even cacophony of frog feels all beautiful.Except for the drenching in rain in the morning on my way to work and the dampness of the clothes I love every single thing that monsoon gifts..

For the love of monsoon and some monsoon travel fun Athirapalli was the chosen destination..Hill station seemed to be too calmer for the taste  and waterfall falls somehow seemed more exciting..

Athirapalli is 63 km from Thrissur situated on the edge of Sholayar forest, monsoon is best time to explore 80 feet waterfall that merges to chalakudy river. Though many would say october as an ideal time, nothing would make up for thye monsoon experience..

The first distance glimpse of the falls with forest as the backdrop the place is amazing

The day was quite rain free surprisingly..

And the falls

The walk around the falls..

The view

Look what my bestie leslie clicked on our way

Everywhere you can find beautiful mini falls on your way.

Told you that monsoon is a beautiful time for a ride

And slowly the sky darkened..

 It rained, it rained yeah, yeah...

After some traditional cuisine that was finger licking fantabulous we started off to vazhachal falls

How to reach

63 km from Thrissur which has the nearest railway station.

Hire a vehicle and be your own boss..

Bike would be an exciting option but on monsoon car would be safer..

Don't forget to drink in the beauty and relish your monsoon time.

Kudakkallu parambu-Megalithic burial site Thrissur, Kerala

Being with your best friend is a special treat you can give yourself and travelling with one is a double treat.I am blessed with some of the best things in my life and friends find a special place among them.My best friend leslie is my best travel companion..Her bike unicorn which she calls(Kudira meaning horse) no place is too far for us. Recently we had been to a marriage (actually she did a job of a driver of taking me there)..The marriage was at Chalakudy, Thrissur district in Kerala and she was thoroughly bored with all the waiting for me..On our way back we stopped for a while for some refreshment (though we were full with wedding feast) and started browsing through for places around.Suddenly Kudakkallu parambu a megalithic burial place caught our attention and interest , sooner maps were downloaded distance calculated and feast slumber was no longer pressing upon us. Cherumanangad is 55 km from Chalakudy. The clime was just great as it had been raining for a week now , thanks to the depression in the Arabian sea.We were too happy chatting way with the travel bug fluttering high, but that was when the most unfortunate thing happened to us, both our mob ran out of battery  as the night before we were too immersed in our girly talks  to charge our mobile.So from modernity we took a step back and became old types of travelers asking for direction.We were on a lucky day mode as most people didn't know about the burial place but thankfully knew the place at the least and  well few helped us with the wrong direction .After many twists and turn it seemed like we reached the place when it hit us that we had got 20 km ahead of a junction we were supposed to take right . Praying that this might be the last wrong turn we set off and we landed at the site around 4:30 pm.

Set away from the huzzle and buzzle of the state highway, Kudakkallu parambu is a megalithic burial site spread around two acres in a quieter area of Cherumanangad. You can find this site amidst dwelling around the fence of this protected monument of archaeological survey of India.It is believed that these might be 4000 years old tombs. These mushroom like arrangements are made as a memorial stone upon the dead of very important stature  perhaps of aristocratic lineage.

Megalithic refers to structures made of large stone that is used to construct a structure of monument, while monolith refers to large structure made up of single large stone.There are neolithic and mesolithic archaeological sites that have been discovered in Kerala.

Apart from umbrella shaped tombs, these types were also found in the site

The recent rains has given rise to life all over the tombs that added beauty to the site. 

The whole area is declared as a protected monument

Well maintained lush green grass are well maintained so are the mud pathways to each tomb.

With cool breeze and an approaching dusk made the whole experience memorable .There is a care taker and a helper who take of the whole premise.

This is the layout of the burial ground

image source

How to reach

20km from Thrissur , its is the nearest city

Entry is free .Its open from 9:30am to 5:30 but it could be extended bit more upon request.

St.Mary's Island and Malpe beach : a weekend outing

There are times when I'm caught up in the hectic web of my research that I need a break to shake myself so that I can get back with more energy.This Sunday was one such weekend that I didn't have much time to go for a long travel still I couldn't ignore the travel bug inside me, that is when I decided to let the traveler in me free. Malpe beach is 141 km from were I live and  that is the map I followed.

I started my day 7:30am from Kasargod junction in train number 12685 that reached Mangalore central at 9:00 am after a quick breakfast from TajMahal restaurant near the station I set off to Nehru bus stand for a Volvo to Manipal.I have always been in love with the bus travel in them I love the calm and soothing way the bus glides through NH 17.I reached Udupi something close to an hour .Not succumbing to the temptation to visit Sri Krishna temple, Uduppi, I  searched for a bus to Malpe beach.People there were quite friendly and directed me to the place were bus to Malpe beach halted. Malpe beach is around 10 km from the bus stand that takes roughly 15 mins.Now there are two options to get to St.Mary's island first stop that would take you to the place were you can get a ferry and the second place that would take you to the main beach were you can enjoy some time in the beach with some water sports for the adventurous soul. and there are ferrys available from the beach though that I understood later is at a higher cost.I opted for the second stop to my surprise turned out to be a better choice as the beach was just great.

Coast is cleaner and well maintained with many options for water
sports.I just loved to walk bare feet to feel the soft and whiter sand spread through the length of the beach.The beach is less commercialised hence not my options for food outlets are available still like any other south Indian beach spicy sea foods are available for hard core foodie.

I got in my ferry and set off to my journey to St.Marys island , it would close to 15 minutes to reach there.Have a clear look at your ferry and get your pick up time correctly so that you get back without any hazzels. That was the first view of St.Marys island from the boat..

Frankly I didn't know about this island until I read a report about a fisherman whom swam from this island to Malpe beach with his hands and legs tied..Some more research about the island enlightened me about its special rocklike columns made of basalt lava as a result of volcanic eruption some centuries ago when Madagascar was still part of India..Thus making this place even more interesting..

The place is plastic free zone , even if you don't see any sign kindly do not litter around the place and spoil the beauty..I read that the island has fallen pray to human abuse, but from I could see authorities have taken necessary actions and taken good care of it..The day was a bright sunny day so I had a great time enjoying my time in the island..The shore was filled with shell remnants something that I have not seen in other beaches..

The beach is shallow and water very clear that you can see the bed clearly..

This part of the island is not that swimmer friendly because of its rock formation still you can enjoy the feel of gentle waves crashing onto your feet I would call that bliss...

The tourism authorities have made hut like structures for the people to rest and hang around 

But somehow I still preferred to sit very close to the waves and enjoy my moment.

Around 2 I got into my ferry back to Malpe beach by then it was buzzing with people and energy..

After that all happend in a rush from beach to Uduppi and then to Mangalore in volvo then straight to railway station for train number 16603 Maveli express at 17:45.. I reached Kasargod around 18:24 and happily got home recalling my great day striking of yet another place in my travel list..

Note:

Carry enough water to get you through the day..Kindly avoid plastic covers .Its everyone's duty to take care of the place for our sake.

Also carry something to eat as not much options are available at the island..

Go in a gang to enjoy the water sports and its absolutely save for  girls who would like to explore all by themselves.

How to reach:

Malpe beach is 141km from Kasargod, 59.5 km from Mangalore.

I travelled by train to till Mangalore, there are trains till Uduppi for people interested just check the time for your convenience.