THARU DR AJAY KUMAR OJHA: June 2013

Saturday, June 29, 2013

FROM the eyes of DR AJAY KUMAR OJHA: KOVALAM BEACH KERALA

FROM the eyes of DR AJAY KUMAR OJHA:

KOVALAM BEACH KERALA

(All the images are subject to IPR)

Kovalam is a beach town by the Arabian Sea in Thiruvananthapuram city, Kerala, India, located around 16 km from the city centre.

Photo(c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Kovalam means a grove of coconut trees and true to its name the village offers an endless sight of coconut trees. It is also known as the paradise of the south.

Photo (c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Kovalam first received attention when the Regent Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi of Travancore constructed her beach resort, Halcyon Castle, here towards the end of the 1920s. Thereafter the place was brought to the public eye by her nephew the Maharaja of Travancore. The European guests of the then Travancore kingdom discovered the potentiality of Kovalam beach as a tourist destination in the 1930s. However, Kovalam shot into limelight in the early seventies with arrivals of the masses of hippies on their way to Ceylon in the Hippie Trail. This exodus started the transformation of a casual fishing village of Kerala into one of the most important tourist destinations in all India.

Photo (c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Kovalam has three beaches separated by rocky outcroppings in its 17 km coastline, the three together form the famous crescent

of the Kovalam beach

Lighthouse Beach

The southernmost beach, the Lighthouse Beach is the one most frequented by tourists, Lighthouse Beach got its name due to the old Vizhinjam Lighthouse located on a rocky promontory here. Its intermittent beams at night render the beach with an unearthly charm.

Photo (c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Hawah Beach

Eve’s Beach, more commonly known as Hawa Beach, ranks second, in the early days, is a beehive of activities with fishermen setting out for sea. With a high rock promontory and a calm bay of blue waters, this beach paradise creates a unique aquarelle on moonlit nights.

Photo (c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Samudra Beach

A large promontory separates this part from the southern side. Samudra Beach doesn't have tourists thronging there or hectic business. The local fishermen ply their trade on this part.

Jelly Fish
Photo (c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

FROM the eyes of Dr AJAY KUMAR OJHA: PADMANABHASWAMY TEMPLE, KERALA

FROM the eyes of Dr AJAY KUMAR OJHA:

PADMANABHASWAMY TEMPLE, KERALA

(All the images are subject to IPR)

Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Thiruvananthapuram, India. The shrine is run by a trust headed by the royal family of Travancore.

Photo (c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

The temple is one of 108 Divya Desams (Holy Abodes of Vishnu) – principal centres of worship of the deity in Vaishnavism. Lord Balarama, according to Srimad Bhagavatam (10.79.18), visited Phalgunam (now known as Thiruvananthapuram) as part of his teerthyatra, took bath in Panchapsaras (Padmatirtham) and made a gift of ten thousand cows to holy men. The temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil literature canon of the Tamil Alvar saints , with structural additions to it made throughout the 16th century when its ornate Gopuram was constructed. The Temple is a replica of the famous Sri Adikesavaperumal Temple at Thiruvattar

Photo(c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple gave its name to Kerala’s state capital Thiruvananthapuram. ‘Thiru’ ‘Anantha’ ‘Puram’ means Sacred Abode of Lord Anantha Padmanabha. The city was also known as Anandapuram (City of Bliss) and Syananduram (Where Bliss is not far off). Ananda refers to Sree Padmanabha Himself. Hindu scriptures refer to the Supreme Being as 'Sachchidananda' (Absolute Truth, Absolute Consciousness and Absolute Bliss).

Photo(c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

The Principal Deity, Padmanabhaswamy, is enshrined in the "Anantha-sayanam" posture (in the eternal sleep of Yoga-nidra on the serpent Anantha). The Maharajah of Travancore bears the title, "Sree Padmanabhadasa’ (Servant of Lord Padmanabha).

Photo (c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

In line with the Temple Entry Proclamation, only those who profess the Hindu faith are permitted entry to the temple. Devotees have to strictly follow the dress code.

FROM the eyes of DR AJAY KUMAR OJHA: MUNNAR, KERALA

(All the images are subject to IPR)

Photo (c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

FROM the eyes of DR AJAY KUMAR OJHA:

MUNNAR, KERALA

Photo (c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Munnar is a hill station on the Western Ghats, a range of mountains situated in the Idukki district of the Indian state of Kerala.

The name Munnar is believed to mean "three rivers" referring to the town's strategic location at the confluence of the Madhurapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundaly rivers.

Photo(c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Munnar town is in Kannan Devan Hills ( KDH ) Village in Devikulam taluk and is the largest panchayat in the Idukki district having an area measuring nearly 557 km².

The nearest major railway stations are at Ernakulam and Aluva (approximately 140 kilometres (87 mi) by road). The nearest airport is Cochin International Airport, which is 105 kilometres (65 mi) away.

Photo(c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

This green hill station is surrounded by the country's highest tea gardens. Layers and layers of tea estates, mountain mist, waterfalls and wildlife sanctuaries make Munnar almost surrealistically beautiful. The lofty mountain ranges with misty peaks, sprawling tea estates and serene climate provides a quite and peaceful resort.

Photo (c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

This little sleepy village atop the western ghats is situated at the confluence of three mountain streams namely Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. Panoramic views of lowflying clouds and mistfilled valleys make it a pretty little heaven with a cool, bracing climate. Misty mountain peaks blend harmoniously in Munnar to create a blissful atmosphere that is hard to describe.

Photo (c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Munnar is also famous for the wild orchids locally called Neelakurinchi which blooms once in 12 years. During this time the entire valley turns violet. It is also home to Nilagiri tahr, a rare breed of mountain goat. Munnar was once the summer resort of the British government in South India; it still wears the old charm of the British plantation days.

Photo (c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Munnar has a variety of attractions to feast your eyes like placid lakes, meandering streams, misty mountain peaks, sylvan valleys, rare orchids and wildlife. Plantation visits, treks, tea factory visits, cycling, boating, paragliding, day tours to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary etc. add to the excitement. Here you can also have a glimpse of gaur, langur, liontailed macaque, elephants and Nilgiri tahr that roam the stretch of grasslands or are seen climbing the pinnacles of the undulating hills.

Photo (c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

FROM the eyes of DR AJAY KUMAR OJHA: DEVIKULAM, KERALA

FROM the eyes of DR AJAY KUMAR OJHA:

DEVIKULAM, KERALA

(All the images are subject to IPR)

Devikulam is a small hill station about 5 km from Munnar in the Idukki District of the southern state of Kerala in India.

It is 1800 m above sea level. Devi refers to Sita Devi & Kulam means pond.

Photo (c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Photo ( c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Photo (c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

According to legend, the goddess Sita Devi of the Ramayana epic bathed in the beautiful Devikulam lake waters surrounded by lush, green hills, now named Sita Devi Lake. The lake draws tourists not only because of its sacredness but also for the curative powers of its mineral waters.

Most of the inhabitants in this town speak Tamil. Nearby, are the scenic Pallivasal Waterfalls, dense, green tea plantations, and the natural vegetation of slim red and blue and yellow gum trees.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

FROM the eyes of DR AJAY KUMAR OJHA: MATTUPETTY DAM KERALA

FROM the eyes of DR AJAY KUMAR OJHA:

MATTUPETTY DAM KERALA

(All the images are subject to IPR)

MATTUPETTY DAM is 10 Km away from MUNNAR (Most attractive, picturesque place of Kerala). There is a dairy farm in Matupatty village run under Indo-Swiss project. This dairy farm produces cows near to size of an elephant.

Speed Boating can be done in MATTUPETTY DAM.

Mattupetty Dam, near Munnar in Idukki district, is a storage concrete gravity dam. It is built in the mountains of Kerala, India to conserve water for hydroelectricity. It has been a vital source of power, yielding along with other such dams, huge revenue to the states.

The large amount of perennially available water allows wild animals and birds to flourish. However salinity caused by irrigation and water-logging are of concern to environmentalists.

The reservoir is also known to be one of the visiting grounds of elephants in the region.

Photo (c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Photo (c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Photo (c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Water of Mattupetty Dam is transported through huge pipes to Idukki District for production of Hydroelectricity.