Even I never visited Kerala the
place is not unfamiliar to me. I have an enormous numbers of Malayali friends and
above all I ate, slept and prayed with a Malayali famly for 5 years. My
neighbour in I.I.T. Powai, the Bhaskaran family with whom I share a family like
bond. I had many invitations to visit Kerala but always missed the opportunity
due to work commitment.
I supposed to visit Andaman
this year and at the last moment I have to cancel due to sky rocking Air fare
and then I decided for Kerala. Last year we had gone to Andhra Pradesh with a
Local Tour operator and I decided to knock the door but I was bit late. After
many attempts I could not got a ticket in AC sleeper class and have to settle
for the sleeper class. I was not happy with it but then I realized that 90%
Indian travel by a sleeper class and I am not an exception. That realization
helps me to cope with the long train journey at both ways.
Day
1
October 9 was the starting day
and we have to start at 12.30p.m. As the instructions given to us by the tour
operator. As per their guideline we have to reach te station before 1.3p.m. We
reached well before the time and met Mr. Mukherjee, our tour manager/guide. Our
train Coromandel Express was in time. Upto Jajapur Orissa we enjoy whole
compartment without any other occupant but then we have company of a very
decent Tamil family of four.
Day
2
We reached Chennai on the dot
without any mentionable incident. We have to board another train Alleppey Express
for Ernakulum. This train gave us little pain as it arrived almost two hour
late. On 11th October morning we reached Ernakulam.
Kerala
West Bengal to Kerala
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Kerala is one of the southern
state in the India. Area of Kerala is
38.855 square kilometers and it is 1.3 percent of the total area of India.
Kerala has been describes “as the favorite child of nature.” With its evergreen mountains, dense forests
stately palms, swift flowing rivers, extensive backwaters and blue lagoons, it
looks like a fairyland. This atmosphere of beauty and peace has nurtured
religion and art in Kerala and enabled her to become a precious gem in the
necklace of Indian culture.
Tamil Nadu from the Train
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Natural Divisions: Physical
features demarcate the state into three natural divisions. They are the lowland
adjoining the sea, the midland consisting of the undulating country east of the
lowlands and the forest -clad highland on the extreme east. The lowland
bordering the sea is dotted with innumerable coconut palms and the expansive
stretches of paddy crops. The midland regions comprise valleys, punctuated here
and there by isolated hills. Extensive tea and cardamom plantation dominate the
higher elevations; while ginger, rubber, pepper, and turmeric flourish at the
lower elevations.
Geographical Isolation: The
geographical position of Kerala as a narrow strip of land ensconced between the
Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats has considerably influenced the course of its
history.
!!!Life
is an adventure in forgiveness. - Norman Cousins!!!