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Posts tagged ‘lake’

10
Aug

Magical Rains: Weekend Drive to Panshet (2013)

:: Galleries – Nature: Seasons – Monsoon:

Rains are one of nature’s blessings, and more so to countries like India that are largely dependent on the annual monsoon season – a lifeline for the sub-continent. Fortunately for us, we (individually speaking, that is) are not governed by the vagaries of the monsoon, and that gives us a chance to experience and witness the wonder of the rains.

Close to Pune, about 50km out from the western edge, is a (still) sleepy little place called Panshet. Nestled amidst the mountains of the Sahyadri Range, this is also a catchment area and a source of water supply to many downstream villages, including the rapidly growing town of Pune.

Recently, with the timely arrival of monsoon in India, it was time to head out and enjoy the lush scenery after a hot and scorching summer rendered the hill slopes, rivers and trees dry. It was this thought that took us on a weekend drive to Panshet, and the scenic vistas of lush fields, rain-cloud kissed hills and bouts of sunlight amidst the rain that unfolded cannot be described in words. See the album for yourself [and, we made a promise to come back for more, before the season ends!]

Click any picture below to view this album


Amazingly scenic settings like this one greet you on the way to Panshet, making you want to just stop and stay.

Amazingly scenic settings...enroute Panshet

In this album:
 
A lush field of paddy is drenched in the fresh rains, enroute to Panshet Farms, fields, river, hills, clouds...there's nothing more one can ask for in this picturesque place (enroute to Panshet) A lone cottage stands perched atop the rolling hills, as clouds appear to engulf the top of the hill in this picturesque place (enroute to Panshet)
Amazingly scenic settings like this one greet you on the way to Panshet, making you want to just stop and stay. (Can't get enough of it) The freshly sown paddy seems to glow a fluorescent green in this amazing season, amidst a spectacular backdrop, even as a kingfisher claims the best seat! A lush green patchwork of fields extends as far as the eye can see (enroute to Panshet) The magic of the rains is seen all around, as the surroundings literally come alive.
A scenic, albeit bumpy drive led us to Lake Weekend Resort, which provided a breathtaking view of the backwaters of Panshet Dam Overlooking the Warasgaon Lake at Panshet, as we stopped for what was to be a sumptuous home-cooked lunch! A closer look at the waters of the Warasgaon Lake, muddied by fresh rainfall The Lake Weekend Resort is situated in a wonderful setting, and the winding trails are calling to be explored!
Feels like a tropical rain forest - view of Warasgaon Lake A (bad) camera setting freezes the rain drops as a storm passes through, against the spectacular backdrop of the Warasgaon Lake Just can't get enough of the views at this spot! The sit-out at Lake Weekend Resort provides a great setting in this weather. Thoroughly enjoyable!

9
Dec

Trips: Kerala – Kumarakom, The Backwater Country

:: Galleries – Kerala – Kumarakom, Backwater Country

After the amazing landscaped tea plantations of Munnar, the scenic drive to Thekkady, and the serenity of Periyar Lake, it was time to head to the last leg of the journey: Kumarakom/Kottayam, the place renowned for the backwaters of Kerala.

The resort where we set base was in a quiet, laid back vicinity, allowing you time to watch life go by at a pace of it’s own, hear the soft ripples of the backwaters lap against the shores as a kingfisher waits amidst the greenery to catch it’s next meal…

The trip on the backwaters in, what else, but a beautiful houseboat, was nothing short of spectacular, and here’s the set of pictures from this album.

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Houseboats on the backwaters, Kumarakom

Houseboats on the backwaters, Kumarakom

In this album:
At the resort, overlooking the backwaters in a 'tropical' setting - the air thick with the humidity The Balcony (Verandah), overlooks the backwaters A Papaya Tree - brings the tropical feel A Hibiscus adds a dash of red amidst the greens
Driving by the lush paddy fields Driving by the lush paddy fields... The fresh green paddy is like a carpet... Wild flowers break the monotony of the paddy fields...
Through the paddy fields... Beautiful flowers bloom on the weeds (water hyacinth?) Setting sail in our houseboat (after a longish-hunt to strike a good deal!) The backwaters are an important lifeline in the region

There are lots of pics in this album, so more in the next post…

18
Nov

Trips: Kerala – The drive to Thekaddy (continued)

:: Galleries – Kerala – The drive to Thekaddy (continued)

The drive from Munnar to Thekaddy was absolutely scenic, and the scenic landscape unravelled one amazing vista after another. Part I of the album can be seen in the previous posting, and here’s the rest of this album.

 

Click any picture below to view this album

Scenic vistas complete with waterfalls and tea plantations mark the scenic drive to Thekaddy

Scenic vistas complete with waterfalls and tea plantations mark the scenic drive to Thekaddy

 
In this album:

Beautiful contrasts of nature Through the maze of tea plantations on the hill slopes Clouds come-a-rolling over the terraced landscape, enroute to Thekaddy Simply stunning panaroma!
Superb scenery! Tea plantations turn a flouroscent green even as clouds descend low Hills, more hills...even more hills, enroute to Thekaddy Waterfalls break the monotony of the tea-slopes...
A foamy white waterfall cuts across the hill slopes The towering waterfall A serene lake snakes its way through the landscape Following the winding lake
Gentle slopes covered with lush green tea plants span from top to bottom Ha! The grass was greener on our side this time Wonderful scenery Scenic views, at any angle, and any depth
Makes for a perfect picnic spot (except, these are privately owned plantations!) That's the mountain range we crossed over from Munnar... More spectacular carpetted green slopes At the water's edge
Wild flowers Wild flowers View from our resort at Ramakkalmedu - apparently, the windiest place in Asia

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