Peperomia pellucida - Kerala, India

Camera Model: NIKON D3100

Exposure Time: 1/200 sec.

ISO Speed Rating: 800

Exposure Program: Manual

Focal Length: 200.0 mm

Peperomia pellucida is an annual, shallow-rooted herb, usually growing to a height of about 15 to 45 cm.  it is characterized by succulent stems, shiny, heart-shaped, fleshy leaves and tiny, dot-like seeds attached to several fruiting spikes. It has a mustard-like odor when crushed. Flowering year-round, the plant is found in various shaded, damp habitats all over Asia and the Americas. It grows in clumps, thriving in loose, humid soils and a tropical to subtropical climate. 

Boat Race on the Chaliyar River , Kerala

The North Zone  Boat Race on the Chaliyar River , Kizhuparamba near Areekode - Malappuram Dt., Kerala

Kizhuparamba is a village and Panchayath on the northern boundary of Malappuram District In Kerala, India. Kizhuparamba is situated on the banks of the Chaliyar river and in the border of Malappuram and Kozhikode districts. Kizhuparamba Panchayat was formed on 1 August 1977 from the former Urngattiri Panchayat. Kerala State Highway (SH) 34 (Koyilandi-Edavanna) passes through Kizhuparamba. The name Kizhuparamba is derived from Keezhparamba which means "Low land" in Malayalam language. "Keezh" means "low" and "Paramba" means "land". It is believed that Tippu Sultan (1782–1799)'s army has used Kizhuparamba in their route from Feroke to Mysore. There was a very old route from Perunkadavu(Kuniyil)-Thrikkalayur-Kodityathur-Thamarassery-Mysore.

Bird eating papaya - Kerala

                               Location: Valillapuzha , Areekode , Malappuram , Kerala , India

Birds of Kerala : The Forest Department of Kerala has just completed the first-ever ornithological survey for the Malabar region recording 341 species of birds.

The survey is one of a kind notable for its sheer depth and span, more comprehensive than all such surveys undertaken so far in India. Hopefully, the five-member team including four eminent ornithologists commissioned by the Forest Department of Kerala, having completed such a through status report on the birds of Kerala, has established a new national benchmark for all such wildlife surveys in future.

The survey spans locations in North Kerala, which covers Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargode districts. The area extends from the Ghats, through the midlands, to the seacoast, which lies north of Palakkad Gap.

The forest areas studied are the Silent Valley National Park, Mannarkad forest division, Nilambur North and South divisions, the Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary, the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary and their neighbouring areas as well as the Reserve Forests of Kasargode district and the wetlands of North Malabar.

2 of the 341 species surveyed belong to globally-threatened category as notified by IUCN. Alarmingly, of the 22 threatened species 17 are residents and, of which 9 are specifically endemic to Western Ghat. 15 species of birds are found to be abundant in the region, of which two are migrants, and one endemic. They include Yellow-browed Bulbul, Small Sunbird; Green Leaf-Warbler, Large–billed Leaf-Warbler and the three species of Bulbuls including the Black Bulbul.

The surveyors spent a year (from November 1 2010 to the middle of October 2011) during, which they had covered over 4000 km, trekking through treacherous forest areas enduring extreme weather conditions and threats from wild animals.

Indian gooseberry ( aamla )

Indian gooseberry, or aamla from Sanskrit amalika, is a deciduous tree of the Phyllanthaceae family.  The tree is small to medium in size, reaching 8 to 18 m in height, with a crooked trunk and spreading branches. The branchlets are glabrous or finely pubescent, 10–20 cm long, usually deciduous; the leaves are simple, subsessile and closely set along branchlets, light green, resembling pinnate leaves. The flowers are greenish-yellow. The fruit are nearly spherical, light greenish yellow, quite smooth and hard on appearance, with six vertical stripes or furrows. In traditional Indian medicine, dried and fresh fruits of the plant are used. All parts of the plant are used in various Ayurvedic/Unani medicine (Jawarish amla) herbal preparations, including the fruit, seed, leaves, root, bark and flowers.AAMLA is full of medicinal properties and the richest possible natural source of vitamin 'C' and contains essential elements for keeping our body healthy and resistant to germs and infections. 

Spiders of Kerala ( tiger spider )

Spiders are ancient animals with a history going back many millions of years.  Spiders  are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms. Spiders are found worldwide on every continent except for Antarctica. 

Argiope anasuja is a species of Orb spider found in Asia ranging from Pakistan to the Maldives. 

India has some of the world's most biodiverse regions. The political boundaries of India encompass a wide range of ecozones—desert, high mountains, highlands, tropical and temperate forests, swamplands, plains, grasslands, areas surrounding rivers, as well as island archipelago. It hosts three biodiversity hotspots: the Western Ghats, the Eastern Himalayas, and the hilly ranges that straddle the India-Myanmar border. These hotspots have numerous endemic species.

Hogenakkal waterfalls ( Tamilnadu , India )

Hogenakkal Falls ( Hogenakal Falls )  is a waterfall in Tamilnadu ,at the borders of Karnataka, about 46 kms from Dharmapuri, the headquarters of the district of the same name. The river Kaveri which enters in Tamil Nadu as a big river flows here as natural falls. Dharmapuri district of the state of Tamil Nadu, about 180 km  from Bangalore .It is sometimes referred to as the "Niagara of India". It is a major site of tourist attraction. Carbonatite rocks in this site are considered to be the oldest of its kind in South Asia and one of the oldest in the world.  The River Kaveri is considered to form at Talakaveri in the Brahmagiri hills in Kodagu district in Karnataka and gathers momentum as the land drops in elevation. It becomes larger as various tributaries feed into it on the way down. At Hogenakkal, the Kaveri, now a large river, drops and creates numerous waterfalls as the water cuts through the rocky terrain. In places the water falls as much as 20 m and Soon after the falls the river takes a southerly course and enters the Mettur Reservoir. Hogenakkal Falls is a quiet and beautiful waterfall and is a good picnic spot.  Hogenakkal is located about 750 feet above sea level amidst the Melagiri Hills. Tourists can take a coracle trip from one corner of the river to the other. Boating in Hogenakkal is allowed during the dry-season as the water falls are not strong enough to disrupt the passage of the boats. Local coracles operate from both the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka banks of the gorge.

Tourist Places around Hogenakkal is,

*Yercaud
*Shivanasamudram
*Bangalore
*Ooty
*Palanihills