Mountain Mist

I feel Mountain Mist will be the best suitable Title for this post. Wayanad is known for its lovely mist clad hill stations, sprawling spice plantations, luxuriant forests and rich cultural traditions. These snaps I have clicked on 20th August 2011, it was around 5’o clock evening full of mist and I was not able to drive due to heavy mist (fog). All the vehicles slowly started parking near to the view point, only red indicators were visible at that time. About half an hour I spent watching the chilled weather of Green Paradise.



The distance from the mean sea level and the amount of forest cover creates a pleasant climate in the region. Generally the year is divided into four seasons; cold weather (December to February) hot weather (March to May) South West monsoon (June to September) and North East monsoon (October to November). During the hot weather the temperature goes up to a maximum of 35 °C (95 °F) and during the cold weather the temperature goes down to 07 °C (45 °F). The greater temperature variation in the last 5–6 years is in the range of 18 °C (64 °F) to 28 °C (82 °F). The average rainfall is 2,500 millimetres (98 in) per year.



Lakkidi: One of the highest locations in Wayanad, Lakkidi also commands a picturesque scenery. It is about 58 kms. north east of Kozhikode and five kms. south of Vythiri. Lakkidi, the gate way of Wayanad, lies atop Thamarassery, a ghat pass at an elevation of 700 m. above mean sea level.The lofty mountain peaks, the gurging stream, luxuriant vegetation and the bird's eye view of the deep valley on the south, with its winding roads, are breath taking. The 12 kms.long journey from Adivaram to Lakkidi through ghat road with nine hairpin bends amidst thick forests, is a fascinating experience.

Grapes

The intoxication of anger,
like that of the grape,
shows us to others,
but hides us from ourselves.

Wayanad ghats.

I am inviting your attention to my home district, Wayanad. Wayanad is a hill station of Kerala state. This ‘green paradise’, is the border world of greener part of Kerala. Clean and pristine, enchanting and hypnotizing land has a history, mystery, culture and social epistemology yet to be discovered. This green paradise is nestled among the mountains of westernghats and is located at a distance of 76 kms from the nearest sea-shore of Calicut and 280 kms from Bangalore. The leading tourist centers of South India like Ooty, Mysore, Coorg and Kannur are around this region. The name Wayanad has been derived from the expression 'Vayal nadu' (‘vayal’ means paddy field and ‘nadu’ means land) the land of paddy fields. The district headquarters of Wayanad district is Kapletta.
These snaps clicked by me last year on the way to Wayanad from Kozhikode. The green Ghats enroute to Wayanad has nine hairpin bends, each turn taking one to a higher altitude offering a better view of the picturesque plains below. This route explored by a tribal was developed by the British. This is the main route which connects Kozhikode and Bangalore.

A misty morning does not signify a cloudy day.If we pass through this Ghats, feels like we are touching the heights of sky. The chilled breeze invites you to the green paradise warmly.

Chain tree.
Nearer to the gateway of wayanad we can see the big chain tree.The story says like this: An Adivasi (tribal) named Karinthandan, who discovered the route to Wayanad through the difficult mountain terrain. A British colonialist killed Karinthandan in order to get the credit for finding the route through the jungle. People believe that Karinthandan’s ghost had been haunting later travellers. It was calmed only after a priest chained the spirit to this banyan tree. There is a small temple near to this tree, people believes that the God of that temple protects them from the troublesome spirit of Karinthandan.