Kerala - The Inception!

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

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

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!!!