Dragonfly - Kerala

                                               Odonata Picture - Kerala  ( Location: Vaalillapuzha , Areekode , Kerala , India )

Fauna in Kerala

 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.

Kerala consists of wet evergreen rainforests at lower elevations and highland deciduous and semi-evergreen forests in the east, is subject to a humid tropical climate. however, significant variations in terrain and elevation have resulted in a land whose biodiversity registers as among the world’s most significant. Most of Kerala's significantly biodiverse tracts of wilderness lie in the evergreen forests of its easternmost districts. Kerala contains 9,400 km² of natural forests. Out of the approximately 7,500 km² of non-plantation forest cover, there are wild regions of tropical wet evergreen and semi-evergreen forests , tropical moist and dry deciduous forests ,  and montane subtropical and temperate (shola) forests . Such forests together cover 24% of Kerala's landmass. 

Raja Seat , Madeikeri- Coorg ( Karnataka )

Raja Seat: Raja Seat Located at Madeikeri. This spot was a favourite place of recreation for the Rajas and hence was permanently associated with them. the Kodagu Kings spent their evenings in this place. It is built on a high level ground with a commanding view of the cliffs and valleys to the west.

Kodagu:  Kodagu ( Kudak ) also known as Coorg, is an administrative district in Karnataka, India.  It occupies  in the Western Ghats of southwestern Karnataka.Madikeri (English: Mercara) is theheadquarters of the Kodagu. The district is bordered by Dakshina Kannada district to the northwest, Hassan district to the north, Mysore district to the east, Kannur district of Kerala to the southwest, and the Wayanad district of Kerala to the south. Coorg is famous for its enchanting landscape and its natural bounty. Madikeri is known as the Scotland of India. It is located 260 km from Bangalore , 120 km from Mysore , 110 km from Kannur , 108 km from Thalasseri , 180 km from Kozhikode and 100 km from Wayanadu.


Places to see in Coorg ( Kudak ) and around


Dubare: Dubare is located near Madikeri in the Kodagu District of Karnataka , India. The rafting in river Kaveri is  major attraction in Dubare.  Dubare is known for its elephant camp, and is a forest camp on the banks of the river Kaveri in the district of Kodagu, Karnataka. . There are opportunities for trekking, elephant rides,and fishing. these activities are hosted by Jungle Lodges and resorts. The Forest Department also conducts some treks along well-defined routes.

Madikeri Fort: This fort was first built by Mudduraja in the last quarter of the 17th century. He also built a palace inside the fort. In the north-east corner at the entrance are two life size masonry elephants and a church is present in the south-east corner. There is a famous Lord Ganesha temple  just at the main entrance of the fort.

Omkareshwara Temple: Located at Madeikeri .Omkareshwara temple was built by king Lingarajendra in 1820. The temple has both Islamic and Gothic styles of architecture, built around a central pool.

Nagarahole National Park : Nagarhole National Park also known as "Rajiv Gandhi National Park", is located 94 kilometers (58 mi) from Mysore in Karnataka . It is spread between Kodagu district and Mysore district. Located to the north-west of Bandipur National Park, Kabini reservoir separates the two. The park has rich forest cover, small streams, valleys, and waterfalls. The park is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

Iruppu Falls : The Irupu Falls ( Iruppu Falls) are located in the Kodagu district of Karnataka, bordering the Wayanad district of Kerala. It is a fresh water cascade and is situated at a distance of 48 km from Virajpet on the highway to Nagarhole. The Falls are also known as the Lakshmana Tirtha Falls, derived from the name of the tributary of Cauvery which starts from these falls.

Abbey Falls: Abbey Falls is in Kodagu, in the Western Ghats in Karnataka. It is located 8 km from Madikeri. During the monsoon season the water flow is very high. During the dry seasons the flow is considerably diminished.

Talacauvery ( Thalakaveri ) : Talacauvery is the birthplace of the river Cauvery and is located at a distance of 44 km from Madikeri.  It is located in the Brahmagiri hill  near Bhagamandala in Kodagu district, Karnataka.

Bhagamandala:  Bhagamandala is a pilgrimage place in Kodagu, Karnataka, in India. It is situated on the river Kaveri in its upstream stretches.The temples in this area are built in Kerala style which is also similar to the temples in Nepal. Bhagamandala is located about 33 km from the district headquarters Madikeri and is connected by paved roads from Madikeri, Virajpet and nearby places in Kerala. Government and private buses are available on all of these routes.

Tibetan Monastery : Tibetan Monastery in Bylakuppe is the Tibetitan Refugee resettlement, location of "Lugsum Samdupling" (established in 1961) and "Dickyi Larsoe" (established in 1969), in the west of Mysore district. The nearest town is Kushalnagar in Kodagu in the State of Karnataka.  This Tibetan settlement at Bailkoppa or Baylkuppe is the the second largest Tibetan settlement outside Tibet. There are over 10,000 monks and students at the Tibetan monastery. Golden Temple is the main tourist attraction in Bylakuppe. Stepping inside the temple feels like walking into another world. Three beautiful golden Buddha statues each of 40 Feet namely Padmasambhava, Buddha and Amitayus look down at visitors above the altar. The gold-coated Buddhist statues in the monastery are imposing and unique, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the Tibetans.

Nisargadhama: Kaveri Nisargadhama is an island formed by river Kaveri and is used as a picnic spot near Kushalnagar in the district of Kodagu in Karnataka. It is approximately 3 km  from Kushalanagara, off the State Highway and 30 km from Madikeri and 95 km from Mysore. The island is accessible through a hanging rope bridge.

Chiklihole dam: Chiklihole reservoir in Coorg is located in between Madikeri and Kushalnagar and is around 15 kms from Kushalnagar.

Harangi Dam: Harangi Reservoir is located near Hudgur village, in Kodagu district  of Karnataka.The reservoir is formed by a masonry dam built across Harangi River, a tributary of Kaveri River. The dam is located about 9 km away from Kushalnagar town. 

Wild Elephant and Tree - Tholpetty wildlife sanctuary -Wayanad , Kerala

Wild Elephant and Tree  - Tholpetty wildlife sanctuary -Wayanad , Kerala

Tholpetty wildlife sanctuary is situated at Mananthavady in Wayanad district, Kerala, India. sanctuary situates along the northern region of Wayanad, which is bordering Coorg district of Karnataka. Tholpetty Wildlife Sanctuary is connected to Muthanga and to the Nagarhole National Park in Karnataka, and is an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.  Muthanga and Tholpetty forests in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary are the foremost and targeted tourism destinations in Wayanad District.

Tourist attractions in wayanad

Pookode Lake- is a scenic freshwater lake in Wayanad district, Kerala, India. The lake is surrounded by forests, and boating is allowed. There is a Sree Narayana Ashram near the lake, surrounded by flowering trees and their shades. There was a gallery of painting and sculptures.Now there is only a building there.There is a handicrafts shop near the lake owned by 'Uravu'.From there you can buy variety of household items made of natural materials.There are lot of curious items made of bamboo and coconut husk.Herbal medicines, Tribal medicines and spices are also available. There are groups of Blue water lilly flowers scattered here and there in the lake. Boats are available for rent but visitors are not allowed to touch lilly flowers while boating. Visitors may walk around the lake. There is a children's park and garden nearby.

Edakkal Caves -  are two natural caves at a remote location at Edakkal, 25 km from Kalpetta in the Wayanad district of Kerala in India's Western Ghats. They lie 1,200 metres above sea level on Ambukutty Mala, beside an ancient trade route connecting the high mountains of Mysore to the ports of the Malabar coast.

Wayanad wild life sanctuary, Muthanga- Established in 1973, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is the second largest wildlife sanctuary in Kerala. It is bestowed with lush green forests and rich wildlife. Also known as the Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary, this wildlife area houses some of the rare and endangered species of both flora and fauna.

Banasura sagar project- The Banasura Sagar Dam is located 21 km from Kalpetta, in Wayanad District of Kerala in the Western Ghats. It is the largest earthen dam in India and the second largest in Asia and an ideal starting point for hikes into the surrounding scenic mountains.It is an important tourist attraction.

Kanthanpara waterfalls-  22 kms south east of Kalpetta, a beautiful waterfall about 30 mts in height. 

Meenmutty Falls - is located 29 km from Kalpetta in Wayanad District . It is a three-tiered waterfall with a height of 300 metres.Meenmutty Falls, the largest and most spectacular waterfall in the Wayanad District,

Neelimala View Point-  27km from Kalpetta,is one of the major tourist attractions in the scenic Wayanad.  Closer to Vaduvanchal. The summit of this hill affords a great view of the cascading Meenmutty fallsand the beautiful valley in its foreground.

Chembra Peak  - is the highest peak in Wayanad, at 2,100 metres (6,900 ft) above sea level. Chembra is located near the town of Meppady and is 8 km south of Kalpetta.

Chethalayam Falls- Chethalayam is one of Wayanad's smaller waterfalls. Its surroundings offer a number of vantage points for bird-watching. About 17 kms into the majestic forest drive towards Pulpally.

Boat Race on the Chaliyar River , Kerala

The North Zone  Boat Race  ( Vallamkali or Jalolsavam ) on the Chaliyar River , Kizhuparamba near Areekode - Malappuram Dt., Kerala

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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.

A view from Kakkadampoyil - Kerala

Kakkadampoyil - This rural settlement is about 40 kilometres (25 mi) from the city of Calicut (Kozhikode). There are many indigenous tribal groups in this area. It is set high on the Western Ghats, with altitudes ranging from 700 to 2100 m. Kakkadampoyil stands on the Western top of the Western Ghats with dense forest, and deep valleys. The Cherupuzha  is one of the important tributaries of Chaliyar River. 

Places of Interest near Kakkadampoyil

Thusharagiri 

Thusharagiri is 48 km from Kozhikode and is one of the recently identified tourist centres. The waterfalls and streams amidst the hilly regions are really a feast to the eyes. Two streams originating from the Western Ghats meet here to form the Chalippuzha River. The river diverges into three waterfalls creating a snowy spray, which gives the name, 'Thusharagiri'. The word Thusharagiri means the snow capped mountain. Of the three, the highest waterfall is the Thenpara that falls from an altitude of 75 metres. The nearest town Kodencherry is around 11 kilometres  from Thusharagiri. The other main towns situated here are Thiruvambady which is 18 km away and Thamarassery which is 17 km away. One has to purchase all necessary things for trekking from here.

Nilambur

Nilambur is a municipality and a taluk in the Malappuram district of Kerala, South India. It is famous for its forests, especially its wildlife habitats, rivers, waterfalls and teak plantations. It is situated close to the Nilgiris range of the Western Ghats on the banks of the Chaliyar River. It is about 40 kilometres from Malappuram city and 24 kilometres from Manjeri on the Kozhikode–Ooty road. Nilambur is also an Assembly Constituency.

Nilambur is also home to the oldest teak plantation in the world, called Conolly's Plot. It is claimed that the world's tallest or biggest teak tree is in the Nilambur Teak Preserve. Nilambur is also famous for its bamboos. The name "Nilambur" means 'Place of Nilimba' . This region is suitable for planting teak and grows well here. Teak grown here is having good quality and hence Nilambur Teak has good demand all over the world. 

Peperomia pellucida - Kerala, India

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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.