Kakoor Kalavayal

Kakoor is a village which is about 55 km away from Ernakulam District, Kerala. The place is known for Kakoor Kalavayal, a post-harvest festival celebrated by the farmers. The festival falls on the ‘Kumbham’ (February-March) month of Malayalam calendar.

 

The main highlight of this festival was the Cattle Market which is the literal meaning of “Kalavayal’.  

 

The most exciting event in the festival is ‘Maramadi’. It is a unique and attractive race of paired oxen in a mud filled paddy field along with a flogger and a runner. This cultural event attracts a huge crowd. The Maramadi happens on the last day of the festival. Bullock cart race is also held during the festival. 

 

Entrance to the field

Everything ready for the shoot...

 Well before the crowd arrived, the field was filled with lots of photo shooters...

 

         

a trial run....

on your mark...get set...GOOOOOOOOO...

 

 

 

 Each pair of Oxen is raced seperately and the Winner is announced based on the Best Time.

 

 

Finishing Line...

 

 

Have a break...have a bath...

Sad moments....

 

 

 

 

 

 when compared to the  olden days, cruelty against these animals has come down...still...

Risk involved...some times it may overshoot the boundary and dash into the crowd

 

a decorated Bullock Cart...

 

beauty on the way.. when we returned...


 

 

How to reach : The place is easily accessible by road and rail. (Ernakulam>Thripunithura>Mulanthuruthi>Arakunnam>Piravom)

 

 

BENN PHOTOGRAPHY ©: Nelliyampathy - a scenic locaton in kerala

BENN PHOTOGRAPHY ©: Nelliyampathy - a scenic locaton in kerala:     Nelliyampathy is one of the beautifull place to visit in Kerala. Its a hill station about 60 km from Palakkad, Kerala. It is surrounded by tea plantations and has a good weather condition.

Nelliyampathy - a scenic locaton in kerala

 

It's been a while since we went out for a trip..but this time trip to Nelliyampathy was all of a sudden. We (myself, Durai and Visakh) started early morning by 4.30 a.m. It was my third visit to Nelliyampathy and other two were going for the first time there.

 

Nelliyampathy is one of the beautifull place to visit in Kerala. Its a hill station about 60 km from Palakkad, Kerala. It is surrounded by tea plantations and has a good weather condition.

 

 

To reach Nelliyampathy, one has to take the road starting from Nenmara that proceeds to the Pothundy Dam. There are about 10 hairpin bends that have to be negotiated on the way to Nelliyampathy.

 

There is no Petrol Pumps in top, but  few are there at Nenmara which open by 7 a.m. only. So if you want to save time, its better your vehicle fully equipped with enough fuel.

 

Paddy Field @ Nenmara
 

The first view point is Pothundy Dam. The morning view of Pothundy Dam is very fascinating. You can spend some time there. There is a small garden too there but it opens by 9 a.m. only.

 
 

 

 

We continued the journey, as Visakh's Friend was waiting us on the way. Biju is working as Wellfare Officer in AVT. He was the inspiration behind this trip. 

Pothundy Dam, view from top...
 
all the way you can stop in few places, where you can catch the beauty of the nature.
 

 

view of sky...
 

when view of the hill reflected....



a bus stop on the way...



"the way "....we came in....
 

 

Biju's Bungalow ...
 

After having breakfast from his Bungalow, we started towards Seethargund

 

Seethargund is another view point in Nelliyampathy, where you can have a fantastic valley view and a 100 m high waterfall (during rainy season only) providing an added attraction.

 

 

 

 

There is POAB's Retails Shop, where you can get factory fresh tea, fruit pulp etc. There is Paid Toilet facitlity too for the visitors.

 

 

There is one Animal Husbendary Farm. On the way you can visit that too.

 

 

 

The main attraction here is , three monkeys shepherds nearly 100 goats. He makes the goats turn right or left by tugging gently at their ear. And he attacks anyone who ventures near the goats.

 

You can watch Emu and Ostrich also there in farm.

 

On the way, those interested in bio farming can take a close look at the privately managed farms and also vast expanses of tea estates managed by different plantation companies. The hills of Nelliyampathy are also well known for its orange cultivation

 

 

On the way we get down at Vegitable and Orange Farm there. There too you can get fresh orange, Fruit Pulp etc.

 

 



a photo shoot during luch break...
 

After having a delicious lunch from the Bungalow we started towards Kesavan Para. Its another view point in Nelliyampathy.

 

 

 
Then we proceed towards Karapara Estate. A small water fall is there, which may be more beautiful during monsoon. 
 

 

 
 
 
  

In our return we came across a Sambar Deer. Biju was telling they are splendid here and there is chance of elephant, tiger, bison on the way.

 

 

This time we were not able to go to Mampara, another breathtaking vantage point at Nelliyampathy. The Jeep Journey to the top is a mindblowing experience. But unfortunately they have prohibited the travel towards there due to the recent accidents happened.

 

We returned from there by 5.30 pm since it will be difficult to drive in night.

 

if you are plan to visit nelliyampathy, start early morning (ideally by 6-6.30) from nenmara so that you can have the view of the rising sun too...

 

 

Nearest railway station: Palakkad.
Nearest airport: Coimbatore.

 

 





"Marottichal” The rain trekking

Marottichal - we came to know about this place from one of the travel blog. Heard there is a waterfall called Ilanjipara in thrissur district. So We were planning to go there for few days. Finally we got a chance in august 15. We started the trip bit late by 9 a.m. 

For the first time readers, Marotichal is an unexploited cynic village which is situated in Thrissur District. A beautiful place which is still unexplored by eco tourism. It is about 20 k.m. away from Thrissur. There is a big and small water falls in the middle of a reserved forest which is under Peechi Wild Life Sanctuary. A place for a soft trekking through the forest and two water falls are the main attractions ; Olakayam and Elanjipara.

The waterfall is best to view during the months of monsoon and after,ie; Jun – Oct. But it is difficult to go all the way to the top as it may be either raining or too slippery, walking 4km to the top while it is raining and route not clear, will be bit difficult.

Its very hard to find hotels or some good shops there, so its better you are equipped with everything which is required (including food) for a small trekking. 

There is not even a sign board other than a small board fixed by forest department. So identifying the entrance of Marottichal Waterfall is bit hard. Two wheelers and other vehicles have to park on road side. (so just look for that too)

After reaching there, take left through the sides of canal, it is a narrow path. After 10 mnts walk, you will reach the first water fall, Olakkayam.
There you could have space for swim and have an open bath.

There is a 4Km trek towards the top of  Ilanjippara and will require one hour time to reach . Leeches are rare in this area, compared to other forest ranges.

 The locals had informed that there is chance to see Elephants in top. So we were bit tensed. But unluckily we couldn't find anyone.

 when we reached here, it started to rain...there was a cave (actually its not a cave, its a space between two big rocks, but good enough to stay there for 6-7 people)

  

Ants are busy in rain too.....

  from here there are two ways to top...either you can go through the above way or you can take the path besides the cave...

End of the way...here you need to cross the stream..

Its about 4 km walking distance to the top...but you will not get borred on the way...

After an hour walk, we reached the mainwater fall, and the first scene itself was really mind-boggling. Now as we start walking further towards the top of the waterfall continuing to reach the origin of the stream. we spend some time there looking around and we had a bath also there

On top you can spend time in top most, where you can have bath also (with atmost care), you can go to the opposite side of the Waterfall. There you can have full length view of the waterfall and finally you can have your bath just below the water fall. Its really amazing and i think in very few waterfall you can have the bath beneath the waterfall itself.

 

 

SInce the place is not developed to an eco-tourism project, we can see lot more plastics there. Nature has kept a wonderfull place for us to enjoy. SO PLS DO NOT RUIN THE BEAUTY WITH YOUR PLASTICS.

 

How to reach?

If you are coming from Ernakulam through Ernakulam Palakkad Highway, after reaching Kuttanellur, you have to take Right Turn (have to take the way below the bridge). Marottichal is about 12 km through the Mandamangalam-Marottichal Road. If you are coming from Palakkad Side, you can come through Mannuthi-Nadathara-Kuttanellur and if you are from Thrissur come through Mission Hosptial-Ancheri-Kuttanellur.