Mahé River - the English channel of India

A serene spot

Mahé River, an important river in the northern part of Kerala originates from the Western Ghats, traverses the hilly Wayanad region, to join the Arabian Sea at Mahé. This region has historical importance being under the French administration before India's independence when the neighboring Tellicherry (Thalassery) was ruled by the British and the Mahé river separating these two territories came to be known as the 'English channel of India'!

Enjoy the cool breeze!

Mahé river occupies an important sequence in the famous novel 'Mayyazhippuzhayude Theerangalil', by Mr. M. Mukundan, the renowned writer. Mahé is known as 'Mayyazhi' in Malayalam and 'Puzha' denotes river. 

Plenty of photo opportunities!

This is a recently built walk-way strip from the Manjakkal boat jetty area. The walkway at the Tagore park section is what most people are familiar with. This side also is beautiful!

A comfortable walkway

Those who visit North Kerala particularly Thalassery, Mahe and the nearby regions have so many options like this which are all wonderful spots worth visiting. Spending an evening here enjoying the greenery, fresh air, and the cool breeze would be unforgettable!

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Subhash Bose Park, Kochi

Sit, watch, and relax :)

The renovated Subhash Bose park is situated at Marine drive in the heart of the city of Kochi in Kerala. A beautiful view of the backwaters, lush greenery, tall trees, flowers, lawns, good walkways, comfortable seating arrangements, play areas for kids, some outdoor exercise facilities, a small eatery, music, and beautiful lighting are some of the notable features of this park.

Lush greenery 

This is a wonderful spot where people in the city can enjoy the cool sea breeze, walk or jog, sit relaxed, watch Sunset enjoying the beautiful view of the skyline bordering the backwaters where ships, boats, and valloms (country-boats) glide. There is no entry fee; the park is very well maintained.

Enjoy art

The highlight of this park is the wonderful artworks restored when the park was renovated recently. It is a wonderful feeling looking at these beautiful pieces of art totally in sync with nature in this park. Everything in nature is an artistic creation in its own right but something created that blends seamlessly with the scenery is a rare sight. Hats off to the authorities and to the group of artists who had the determination to make such wonderful things happen! 

Art in sync with Nature

For many people enjoying art means going to a museum to view paintings, antiques or artifacts but what about getting a feel of such amazing sculptures right in the middle of nature? Art in any form is powerful, soothing, and comforting. It is a creative activity watching art, thinking, and interpreting it. Spend some time quietly with them, get the feel of your own creative thought processes which are unique to everyone. Anyone can enjoy art!

Backwaters view

Kochi is a happening place in the State of Kerala in India! The Biennale was a unique experience to our place and its next edition is almost due at Fort Kochi. Artistic installations of the previous Biennales were a treat for the eyes, can't wait for it to start!

Restored art

This is a restored work by Saurab Roy Choudhary, son of the late Sabari Roy Choudhari who first created it. With whatever that could be found he restored it. A great example of the fact that art never perish! Some way or in some form it makes its presence felt in nature; sometimes it remains forever in the minds of people even after its disappearance from the original form! Art is immortal!

Beautiful!

There are many more here; maybe later I will post a YouTube video about this park. Make it a point to visit here, you won't be disappointed!

This is an ideal spot for those interested in cloud watching. Check my blog post https://magicalpresent.blogspot.com/2018/10/cloud-watching-meditative-activity.html

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Dharmadam beach - a serene destination!

An unforgettable picture!

It was not a pre-planned visit to this beach when I had to go to North Malabar last month. But I feel lucky to capture these amazing pictures of Sunset at this beautiful spot. Dharmadam (Dharmadom) beach is a must-see destination on the way from Thalassery to Kannur very close to Thalassery. No one will be disappointed visiting this amazing destination where nature is blessed with beautiful scenery everywhere!

Another fascinating photo!

The sea had receded more than the usual limit when we visited there. Such unusual phenomena were quite common along the coastal lines of Kerala after the dreadful floods recently.

The twilight scenes were a treat to the camera eyes!

Amazing capture!

There is a beach park at Dharmadam packed with a lot of activities so kids will not be disappointed visiting here. Overall, this is a very cool beach!

Dharmadom Thuruthu

A panoramic view of the famous Dharmadam island (Thuruthu) is another attraction. This is a small island filled with lush greenery surrounded by the Anjarakkandy river on its three sides and the Arabian sea on the other side.

The soil at the Dharmadam beach is not loose like other beaches and is much alike the Muzhappilangad beach, the only drive-in beach in Kerala.

Check the old post,  https://magnificentdewdrops.blogspot.com/2013/04/muzhappilangad-drive-in-beach-hidden.html for more details about Muzhappilangad beach.

No doubt Dharmadam beach is a must-see destination in North Kerala!

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Happy friendship day...

Wishing a very happy friendship day! @Subhash bose park, Kochi

Wish you all a very happy friendship day!!!

I take this opportunity to wish all my blogger friends a very happy friendship day😊

As you all know, today is friendship day! It is interesting to dwell deeper into the origin of the concept of friendship day during this very cool occasion. Probably originated from an idea floated by the greeting card industry to boost their sales, this movement has picked up momentum triggered by the popularity through the social media. Now it has been recognized worldwide as an important day. People value friendships a lot and it is very true that good friends help in personal growth through mutual support and serve as anchors in times of need. It is of no surprise that the need for a unique day to celebrate good friendship was adopted very fast by the people from different parts of the world.

People from many countries including India are celebrating friendship day, today, the 5th of August. In some other parts of the world people celebrate friendship day on other days, but in Asia, the first Sunday in August remain popular as the friendship day. However, WHO has officially named 30th July as the friendship day.

Join hands, let us celebrate a very happy friendship day!!!

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Awesome, yummy pizza...!

Pizza Hut is always a comfort food destination as far as I am concerned, and there are quite a few outlets in our city within easy reach. Today we visited the Pizza Hut outlet at the Centre Square Mall in Kochi, Kerala. This is a very cozy place where you can relax and enjoy yummy pizzas, drinks, pasta, and bread!

It was a family outing with some shopping on the agenda. Being the weekend the mall was busy. The Strawberry milkshake was very tasty!

Well, one cannot go wrong with this pasta. The garlic bread side dish was yummy! We enjoyed the ambiance, the staff was very co-operative! Great hospitality!

Lime soda was another cool drink!

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Once in a blue moon...

Kite flying in the backdrop of the moonlit sky!

(The picture is for representational purpose only)

The whole world is witnessing a rare astronomical event that occurs "once in a blue moon", a total lunar eclipse! The Sun, Earth, and the Moon get aligned in the same plane with the Earth casting its shadow on the Moon producing the brilliant color effects! Awesome!

Watch NASA Live TV for a comprehensive real-time view of this event! NASA dubbed this event as 'Super blue blood moon', a super, a blue, and a blood-red moon visible sequentially! 

As of now, on the NASA Live TV, the Moon appears red, waiting for the blue moon to erupt!

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Wish you a very happy new year

Happy New Year 2018

Wishing my blogger friends and the readers of this blog a wonderful, and awesome New Year 2018. A special day on which everyone all over the world makes it a point to greet others with a warm smile and new year wishes, a wonderful day on which numerous resolutions are made with much enthusiasm, and a beautiful day of renewed hope, joy, and fun!

Enjoy this beautiful video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6-E53zsdfI

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Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year

Merry Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR 2018!

I wish all my blogger friends a Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year! Let this joyous occasion bring you peace, happiness, and success. The whole world is celebrating the birth of a divine soul which has brought hope to the hopeless, joy to the unhappy and peace in times of trouble. Amidst the festivities let us also remember the oppressed, the less fortunate and extend help and support to such people as well so as to make them also feel better.

Please check the video that I have uploaded just now on my YouTube channel  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2BqS1hu5Ww 
Subscribe and scribble comments there as well🙂

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Lal bagh botanical garden, Bengaluru, India

Lal Bagh lake

Lalbagh botanical garden is situated in the heart of the city of Bengaluru (previously Bangalore) in India. Bengaluru is known as the garden city of India and Lalbagh which spreads about forty acres is a huge paradise of lush greenery, trees, beautiful flowery plants, ponds, and a lake.

Nature at its best

This garden was built by Hyder Ali, the ruler of Mysore in the seventeenth century which was later developed by his son Tippu Sultan. Following this, the British, the Rajahs of Mysore and after the independence dedicated officials toiled hard to add more and more beauty to this amazing garden. The notable names in the British rule are Sir Mark Cubbon and Sir John Cameron. Dr. M. H. Marigowda, who was the Superintendent of the garden had put a lot of effort to develop it.

Lush greenery everywhere, a treat for the eyes!

Now it is a sprawling space of about two hundred and forty acres filled with rare plants, trees, and flowers. Truly a paradise for nature lovers!

Lalbagh lake

A must visit place

This has become a must visit spot for the tourists visiting Bengaluru. School, college students, and botanists from all over the world come here frequently as part of their study and research because this garden has a wonderful collection of rare and exotic plant species.

      

Nature in its full glory!

A beautiful park

This garden is easily accessible since it is situated a few kilometers from the Vidhan Soudha, the State legislature house at the central part of the city. I have posted only a few images here, this is a very vast place and there are so many attractions with lots of photo opportunities. Bengaluru is our neighbor State.

Check the video of this beautiful garden https://youtu.be/FS9xkI5puTU

A beautiful fountain at Lalbagh

More info: http://www.horticulture.kar.nic.in/lalbagh.htm

Bengaluru is a beautiful city in India, check my old post about the amazing shopping malls in this vibrant city  https://magnificentdewdrops.blogspot.in/2013/07/shopping-malls-in-bangalore-south-india.html     

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Vishu - the beginning of the malayalam new year 2016

I wish you all a very happy Vishu!

We, Keralites, celebrated Vishu today, as usual, in a grand manner.

This auspicious day marks the beginning of the new year according to our traditional calendar. 'Kani Kanal' is an important event that takes place early morning in every Hindu household here when an elder person ushers other family members keeping their eyes closed to the pooja room to have darshan of "Kani", where 'Kanikkonna', the golden yellow flower that you see on the GIF image and many other sacred items are placed in an 'Uruli', a shining brass vessel in front of deities symbolically representing prayers and offerings for a prosperous, happy and blessed year ahead!

I have blogged about this festival before too, kindly check :

http://magnificentdewdrops.blogspot.in/2014/04/vishu-popular-festival-in-kerala.html

http://magnificentdewdrops.blogspot.in/2013/04/vishu-time-of-joy-hope-and-celebration.html

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