My Travel

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World's largest flower carpet ('Sneha pookkalam') was formed under the leadership of district administration, Kozhikode at Swapna Nagari on 21 August 2010 Saturday. It has an area of 17, 622 sq.ft., using 15 tonnes of flowers under the guidance of 30 drawing instructors, completed in a record time of 2 hours and eight minutes at an expected cost of Rs.6.75 lakh. The flowers used are marigold, jasmine, arali, kozhi poovu, tube rose, vadamalli and jamanthi (chrysanthemum).



Video 1 >> Video 2 >> Video 3

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St. Mary's Forane church is located 5 km from Pala at Bharananganam in Kottayam district of Kerala. It is a major Christian pilgrim centre having the tomb of India's first Saint St. Alphonsa (1910 -1946). Pope Benedict XVI declared Sr Alphonsa to be a saint.

Contact : St. Mary's Forane church, Bharananganam. P.O., Kottayam- 686578, PHONE : 04822 236244, 238644.

Video

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Green insect video

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Alappuzha-Nedumudy boat trip

Location : Kerala, India

What to See : To the lap of Kuttanad to feel Backwaters, houseboats, village scenery, small islands, Kerala cuisine, peral spot fish curry, toddy (alcoholic drink from coconut tree), paddy cultivation below sea level, narrow canals, village life and birds. Punnamada kayal (backwaters) near Alappuzha town is the venue of the popular Nehru Trophy snake boat race.

A number of houseboats are available for day trip. The cheap way to enjoy the beauty of Kuttanad is the Government ferry boat service. There are boat service from Alappuzha jetty to Nedumudy, Pulinkunnu, Changanassery, Kottayam, Kollam etc. Boat travel is cheap, slow permitting one to enjoy the natural beauty. All the boat destinations are well connected by road.



Houseboat

[Dave101]

where does those places and things can be find?Seem to be very traditional and ethnic. I wanna experience some of those...

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Sorry not to include the country and State for the travel reports.

All travel in this thread is performed within India, an Asian country. States will vary and is mentioned along with the posts.

Alappuzha-Nedumudy boat trip is performed in Alappuzha district of Kerala state, India.

India is a beautiful country with a wide spectra of culture, heritage and customs worth a visit.

India Photo gallery

[Perfection]

Kuruva island



The Kuruva Island, 950 acres of evergreen forest on the tributaries of east following river Kabani, is an ideal picnic spot, far away from the disturbance of city life. The island is uninhabited. Rare species of birds, orchids and herbs are the sovereigns of this supernal kingdom. It is 17 km east of Mananthavady and 40 km north west of Sulthan Bathery in Wayanad district of Kerala, India.





I traveled from Sulthan Bathery to Pulpally (25 km) and then to Kuruva island (11 km). The last 4 km was unmetaled forested route. The nearest town was Mananthawady (17 km). There was a small hotel serving basic meals (limited in number).

The island visting time is from 9 am to 4 pm. Visitors have to vacate the island by 5 pm. The island has a width of around 300m and a length of 4 km.

[zarxt]

I place which i recomend for everyone to visit is Marrakech in Morocco.

[Perfection]

The Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary forest is part of the larger Nilgiri Biosphere in the Western Gahts and is proposed be declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It is 321 sq km in area and 17 km before Gudallur on the Mysore - Nanjangud - Gundulpet - Bandipur - Mudumalai - Gudallur - Ooty Highway. After Bandipur, you enter Tamilnadu state. A huge gateway with "Thank You. Visit Again" board by Karnataka state bids you goodbye. Across the river is Tamilnadu . At both side of the border are check posts manned by guards. They stop the vehicle and checking.

Masinagudi hill station is famous for its resorts and Home stays and is 7 km away from Theppakadau junction. The Masinagudi road crosses Moyar river bridge near Mudumalai Sanctuary. The nearby Theppakadu elephant training camp worth a visit. The camp has a 3 month old baby elephant. There is bus on this route to Moyar going via Masinagudi.



Baby elephant video

From Masinagudi, a 29 km steep route with 36 hair pin curved road takes one to Ooty. There is regular bus service on this route (Rs 10, 2 hour). After 14 km, the hairpin curves starts and the route is via 122 m high Kalhatty waterfalls (13 km before Ooty). The hairpin road joins the Main road (Gundulpet-Gudallur-Ooty road/NH 67) 7 km before Ooty. This road entry is closed at 5 pm due to safety reasons.

Mudumalai is famous for preserving wild creatures, especially elephants. The summit of Kargudi Hill offers an outstanding panoramic view of the sanctuary, including the Moyar Gorge.

Animals : Wild dog, Asian Elephant, Gaur (Indian Bison), Tiger, Leopard, Striped Hyena, Leopard-cat, Rusty Spotted Cat, moving in large hordes is a common site in the reserve. Also Small Indian Civet, Striped-necked Mongoose, Ruddy Mongoose, Sloth Bear, Indian Giant Squirrel, Sainbar, Spotted Deer (Chital), Barking Deer, Mouse Deer, Chowsingha (Four-horned Antelope), Indian Pangolin etc are also seen.

Bird life : Grey Jungle fowl, Red Spurfowl, Grey Fraticolin, Painted Spurfowl, Painted Bush Quail, White-bellied Woodpecker, Lesser Yellownape, Greater Fiameback, Streak-throated Woodpecker, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Emerald Dove, Green Imperial Pigeon, Pompadour Green Pigeon, Grey-bellied Cuckoo, Indian Cuckoo, Alpine Swift, BLick-hooded Oriole, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Black-headed Cuckooshrike, Grey-headed Bulbul, Forest Wagtail, Crimson-backed Sunbird, Loten`s Sunbird etc. Birds` raptors like Changeable Hawk Eagle, Black Eagle, Oriental Honey-buzzard, Jerdon`s Baza, Bonelli`s Eagle. Crested Goshawk, Besra, Mottled Wood Owl, Brown Hawk Owl are common inhabitants.

Best Season : Mid January to mid April.
Safari Timings : Bus and jeep operates jungle safari trips with tourists in the morning and evening.
How To Reach : There is regular bus on this forest route (Mysore - Ooty Highway).

Distance Chart :

Famous Nanjangud temple is 30 km from Mysore ( 1 km deviation from high way). Gundulpet is further 30 km away (NH 212). Gundulpet - Bandipur National Park (NH 67) : 20 km. NH 67 goes from Ooty via Coimbatore-Trichy-Tanjavur-Nagapattinam.

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The park is famous for elephants, tigers, crocodiles and gaurs. The park has around 70 tigers and more than 3000 Asian elephants. Other animals found are dholes, leopards, sloth bears, wild boar, osprey, mouse deer, cheetals, antelope, hyenas and barking deer. Teak is the main tree.



Jungle Safari >> Bandipur Deers video >> Langurs

Bird life : Green pigeon, honey buzzard, hornbill, brown hawk owl, Nilgiri flycatcher, little spider hunter, plain flowerpecker, Malabar trogon, grey headed fish eagle, red headed vulture etc.

Reptiles : King cobra, cobra, water snake, python, adder, frog, tree frog, lizard, chameleon, tree frog, tortoise etc.

Best Season : November to March

Safari Timing : 6 to 8 am and 3 to 5 pm. Jeeps and mini buses operates Safari trips to forest.

How to Reach : The nearest rail head is Mysore/Ooty/Kozhikode. The sanctuary is 20 km from Gundulpet on the Mysore - Ooty road.