Munnar With Parents

It was during my trip to India in April 2024 that we thought of spending some time in Munnar. We were there for 2 days and went around and saw whatever we could possibly see in those two days.

The drive itself was quite nice, with greenery all around and plenty of viewpoints along the way. Since we were short on time, we didn’t follow a strict plan and instead stopped at places that looked interesting.

Munnar has some good sunset points, though you need to reach a bit early if you want a decent spot, especially if you’re planning to take pictures. We managed to catch one sunset, and it was worth the stop.

 

There is this “waterbody” that people call a lake. It looked good in person, but somehow the pictures didn’t come out as expected.

We also visited a few gardens and nurseries. Cameras were not allowed in some places, so I couldn’t take pictures everywhere. I did take quite a few flower photos where it was allowed, but I’m sharing only a few here. 

The last place we visited was Eravikulam National Park. It’s a fairly long drive uphill, but the views along the way make it worthwhile. 

This place is known for the Nilgiri Tahr, a type of mountain goat. They didn’t seem particularly bothered by people and were seen grazing nearby. 

Overall, it was a short and simple trip. We didn’t cover everything, but we got to see a good mix of places in the time we had.

Birds from My Hometown, Palakkad

 

Disclaimer: I am not an expert on birds and I do not know the names of most of the birds posted below.

Having said that, there are a few very common birds that we often see around Palakkad. Among them are the eagle and the myna.

These next ones are small, cute birds I managed to capture while moving around. Nothing planned—just quick clicks when they showed up unexpectedly.

These birds look like migratory ones to me. They were much bigger in size and immediately caught my attention when I saw them.

                        

I took at least a dozen pictures of kingfishers, and choosing just one was really difficult. This shot was taken right after it came out of the water after an unsuccessful hunt.

                             

                                                                                                           

This medium-sized bird was sitting quite high up on a coconut tree. It stayed there long enough for me to frame the shot, looking calm and completely at ease.

Though this blog is about birds, I couldn’t resist adding this squirrel enjoying his meal. It was such a simple, everyday moment, but it felt right to include it.

Aanapandhal

If you’ve ever attended or seen on TV a temple festival in Kerala, you might have noticed a tall and beautifully decorated structure where the elephants stand in all their glory. This is called an Aanapandhal.

An Aanapandhal is usually built using betel nut palm trees and bamboo. It serves as the stage or resting area for decorated elephants during temple festivals, especially during the grand celebrations known as Vela or Pooram.

What makes these structures special is their design. Many Aanapandhals are created as replicas of famous temples, palaces, or traditional buildings, complete with intricate decorations and lights. When illuminated at night, they become a breathtaking sight and a highlight of the festival.

Here are some pictures of illuminated Aanapandhals from past Nemmara Velas, showcasing the creativity, devotion, and craftsmanship that go into building them every year.

Blood moon of September 2025

Sharing a few shots from my attempt to capture this year’s blood moon. It was happening right outside my window, and I just couldn’t resist pointing my camera at it. The photos may not be perfect, but the experience was too captivating not to share!