Groove of Coconut Trees ( Kolvalam )

Kovalam is a subrub and a beach town on the Arabian sea in the Trivandrum city, Kerala. It is located around 13 km from the city. The name kovalam means groove of coconut trees. Kovalam first received attention when the Regent Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi of Travancore constructed her beach resort, Halcyon Castle, there towards the end of 1920's. 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 1930's.

Kovalam has three crescent shaped beaches separated by rocky outcroppings. Shallow waters stretching for meters are ideal for swimming. The beach have steep palm covered headlands and are lined with shops that offer all kinds of goods and services. The larger of the beaches is called Light House beach for its 35 meter high light house, which covers over it atop Kurumkal Hillok. The second largest one is Hawah beach. The northern part of the beach is known as Samudra beach. A large promontary seperates this part from the southern side. Samudra beach doesn't have tourists. the local fishermen ply their trade on this part. And here is some of the favorites from my collection, Hope you all like this.

   view of the light house from the beach

kovalam beach from top of the light house

a mosque in kovalam

rocky part of the kovalam beach

a sand castle made by a tourist

a fishing boat coming after their catch

sunset from the lighthouse beach

shops on the shore 

Rusting Memories of the sea trade (Valiyathura Sea Bridge)

A km away from the Shangumugam beach and half a km away from the Trivandrum International Airport , the Valiyathura sea bridge is a rusting memory of the sea trade once existed in Trivandrum. It has a length of 703 feet and is one of the very few sea bridges in the state. the only port along the south Kerala had located here until it was declared inactive in the early eighties. today this almost ruined pier is used by the traditional fishermen for catamaran fishing. here is some favorites from my collection hope you all like it. 

a view of valyiathura sea bridge from shangumugam beach

a view from the bridge to land

rusted steps from the bridge to sea

a local fisherman engaged in string fishing

a sunday evening at the bridge 

Flower Show 2011 (part III photos)

Gerbera Daisy

Decorative Dahlia

Flower show 2011 (part II photos)

Flower Show 2011 (Part 1)

 The annual flower show  at Trivandrum was inaugurated on 7th  January 2011 and concluded on 16th January 2011. Its been after a gap of six years the flower show had returned to kanakakunnu. This was the 39th flower show, jointly organized by Kerala Agri-Horticulture society, Kerala Rose Society, Dept of Tourism and Corporation of Trivandrum. Large varieties of plants were exhibited at kanakakunnu hills. The show displays various collections from all over the country and several institutions. The flower arrangements at kanakunnnu was a fest to the eyes and refreshment to mind. And here is some of my favorites from this years flower show, hope you all like it.

  

The caterpillar does all the work but the butterfly gets all the publicity

If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies.