Kerala- Munnar (2015)
-Description to be added later

IMG_3751

A peak at Tirumurthi Hills

DSC07476

Scenic route with peacocks , birds and monkeys

DSC07482

DSC07493

DSC07487

IMG_4027

Kerala has churches everywhere

Lovely Kerala starts

DSC07497

DSC07698

DSC07504

DSC07505

Tea plantation signals Munnar vicinity

DSC07511

DSC07512

IMG_3988

A Mosque in Munnar

Olive Brook, our cottage

Nice cottage with cardamom plantation above

Jack fruit tree across our room

Can't miss Cuckoo with its haunting melody

Bulbuls all over the palce

Eucalyptus trees around

Tea plants- can live for 100 years!

Cardamom Plants above our cottage

Fine tea with fresh cardamom from local garden

Start sight seeing with Rose Garden

DSC07516

DSC07518

Dam

Lake surroundings are scenic

Cited elephants drinking water in the lake

Elephants in their natural habitat

Very scenic

Kathakali (all male dance)- cultural show in the evening

DSC07593

Second show- Kalaripayattu- martial arts

Invocation

Action

Action

Fire Jump

Hotel surroundings

DSC07678

DSC07681

DSC07690

Best national park in the South

Known for Mountain Goat

Munnar means Tea..Tea...Tea

Excellent museum tells A-Z of Tea making and Munnar history

First step: weathering of tea leaves

Multiple Processing Steps such as Four Cuts, Oxidation, Drying and Size Separation

Final Product- Tea for packaging

Munnar and this museum are passionate about tea. We concluded Munnar trip with a cup of tea.

Kallil Cave Temple is originally a Jain (now Hindu) temple built in 9th century (or 3rd century BC?). It is on our way to Kalady

This big Boulder (75"x45"x25') stands on a cave temple. Padmavathy (Jain goddess) now known as Bhagavathy is believed to support the rock!

Kallil Bhagavathy Mulasthanam. Note the boulder is standing above.

Parshvanath who lived several centuries before Mahavira?

Another view of balancing rock

Jack fruit trees

Cashew nut tree

Cashew nut

Church resembling Brazil landmark

This is Kerala, not BrazilWe are approaching Kalady