Story Teller

Things disappear without your permission, then come back again without your permission. I just want to pass on some warped memories that came back from my Ooty train journey 10 years back exactly! I can't believe we just passed 10 years after getting married and I was looking back through our old photographs and so many loving memories flooded my mind. Nevertheless, I realized to share it here with snapshots from the old point and shoot! The journey happened soon after my marriage and we started searching for good destination (with my brother Santhosh) and we decided to go ahead with the Ooty one as we didn’t have enough time to look at other options. With Santhosh at Ooty garden spot Ooty is one of the best places to escape for an exotic holiday. The Nilgiri mountain train gives you best sights of this gorgeous Hill station.  It recaps the essence of Nilgiris, lush green tea-estates, towering Eucalyptus trees, stunning bridges, uncountable tunnels wher

From ancient days elephants have been an important part of the history and tradition of Kerala.  It’s not a fairy tale but I want you to take through the visuals that I come across at Elephant Rehabilitation Centre located at Kottur. The morning sun in its childish drive lures myriad figures in the water reservoir with the black majesties having their grand bath – Both big and the small. My son Abhinav standing behind the mammal with a prehensile trunk.  It's always fun to visit multiple locations on one trip, but I think it also actually depends on the ages of those on holiday. As a child, I loved spending time in one vacation spot, getting attached to the location, becoming comfortable, and feeling as though I were at home.  This is something I would like for my children to experience. Have you ever seen an elephant bathing in a lush forest?  Some of them joyfully get into the water reservoir for getting their tough skin scrubbed. Peace loving mammals!

Ponmudi – The Golden peak is located in the God’s own country, Kerala. The hill station is just 50 kms away from the city center, Thiruvananthapuram . We all connected and networked all through our life. I was just trying to break it out and welcome the nature with vast arms where silence greets you and you are cut off from the world.  I just did that and got away for a Sunday, a retreating into the hills, running away from the urban civilization with my family. We felt a change immediately after we passed Kallar. The ride has turned out to be a smooth one and quickly we were inside the forest area. The roads were curvy but it was fantastic and I was really enjoying the drive.  It was a thrilling experience to navigate all 22 Hairpin curves. The major picnic spot on the way to Ponmudi is the Meenmutti waterfalls. Have to trek 1km through the dense forest to reach the awesome waterfalls. We were really enjoying the climb through the thick forest.  Once w

The Padmanabhaswamy temple is located in Trivandrum, Kerala. This is a Hindu temple devoted to Lord Vishnu. The temple is presently run by a trust controlled by the royal family of Travancore.  The main Deity Padmanabha Swamy, is protected in the "Anantha-sayanam" stance. The Maharajah of Travancore stands the title, "Sree Padmanabhadasa’ which means Servant of Padmanabha Swamy The deity is made of 12,000 saligramams. These saligrams are brought from the Gandaki River in Nepal. The deity of Sripadmanabha is protected with, Katusarkara yogam and the daily worship is done with flowers. Those who own the Hindu belief are permitted to enter the temple. Devotees have to firmly follow the dress codes. The Samadhi of the Swamiyar is situated in the west of the temple. A Krishna temple was also constructed over the Samadhi.     The platform in front of the vimanam is where the deity rests. These are both carved out of a single ma

Aruvikkara dam in kerala is built across the river Karamana, located 15 km away from Trivandrum. The reservoir and the garden are the prime attraction of the dam.  A temple is located adjacent to the Dam which is dedicated to the deity Durga. which is built on a rock. People reach here not only to enjoy the beauty of dam and river but also for having blessings from the goddess.  The river is situated in northern Trivandrum which supplies water for the peoples of Trivandrum especially for farming and drinking. There is also a pond can be seen very close to the temple which occupies many fishes, and there is also a beautiful garden which gives a warm welcome for you to enjoy the dam and surroundings.