May 29, 2009

Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculptur Park


Photo courtesy : www.meijergardens.org
Frederick Meijer Gardens
Spring is here and Pradheep and me decided to explore few places in Michigan that we had short-listed.We had heard about the Frederick Meijer Gardens at Grand Rapids,Michigan and finally one weekend we had decided to go.We were there just before 2 weeks to the Meijer Gardens.We were debating if we should go or not,because the weather forecast said that it would rain in the city where we lived.Finally we decided to go!I packed all our stuff made lunch and packed for the two of us.

Bonsai of White Cedar approximately 900 years old at the All State Michigan Bonsai show
We reached Grand Rapids and it was drizzling till we reached the gardens.Hoping that it was not a wrong decision to land at the botanical garden on a rainy day we went ahead with the Bonsai show that was the special feature for the weekend.I love Bonsai, amazed at how artistic
people can be."Bonsai"is developing woody or semi-woody plants shaped as trees, by growing them in containers. Cultivation includes techniques for shaping, watering, and re-potting in various styles of containers.The history of "Bonsai" stretches back to the Egyptian dynasty (4000 BC),the art was adopted and reformed by Chinese and Japanese later on.Pradheep had not seen "Bonsai" trees earlier and he was amazed at a few of them.I wanted to buy a "Bonsai" for home but decided against it as I was new to gardening and did not want to ruin a lovely tree by not knowing how to take care of it.

The Leonardo Da Vinci horse (24 ft high made of bronze)
The Frederick Meijer gardens is basically a botanical garden with nature trails,outdoor sculptor park and the botanical garden that had been subdivided into the tropical conservatory,carnivorous plant house,the arid garden,English perennial garden and the seasonal garden.I loved the tropical garden and the carnivorous plant house.We got to seem some trees belonging to the palm family,very much like the vegetation at India.The arid garden was also impressive as they had a lot of cacti and succulents that would grow to their best only in very warm temperatures and the temperature was very warm and dry at the arid garden.We also got to see few Pitcher plant at the carnivorous section.I had not seen a pitcher plant in real before so was a little excited.

Pitcher plant at the Carnivorous plant section
The sculpture park was okay, it was different, we were amazed by the bronze sclpture of the 24 ft horse.The sculpture was designed by Nina Akamu, an American sculptor.This serves as a homage to Leonardo da Vinci and his design to make a 24 ft sculpture at Milan.
We took a lot of pictures,had coffee at the Taste of the Gardens Cafe and drove back home.Was a good day.

May 14, 2009

Festivals and Places of Interest in Niligiris


From Left to Right My brother,grandma and me :)) (when i was 14 yrs)
At Ooty Botanical gardens

The summer usually commences with few traditional festivals that take place in Ooty.I remember visiting Ooty annually for the flower show each year.Our visits included the flower show,rose garden,Horse race at the race course and the dog show. My grandpa used to take me and my brother traditionally every year till i was in high school.The first flower show was organised in the year 1896.The flower show is conducted at the Government Botanical Garden during the third week of May every year.Elaborate arrangements are made to conduct the flower show.The flower show attracts large number of tourists from all over India.Flower show is held for two days. The floral decorations, Indian and Japanese flower arrangements, vegetable carving, flower rangoli, bonsai etc., are the few attractions during the show days. There is also a rose show conducted at the centenary rose park, Ooty.I have a photograph clicked with my grandma in the Rose garden when i was in high school,see how all of you like it ! The dog show was my most favorite , i used to be fascinated by the puppies when i was young.Good old days! Apart from this the fruit show is also conducted every year.Nilgiris is highly noted for its Horticultural wealth especially temperate fruits like apple,plums, peaches, pears, persimmon and citrus.There are a lot of places to see in Ooty.I have visited the Botanical gardens of Ooty,Centenary rose park and doddabetta.Doddabetta is the highest peak in Tamil Nadu.It is at the junction of the Eastern and Western ghats.

Conoor is a place near Ooty.I visited Conoor with my friend Anita to visit my collegemate's Reshma and Uma.We visited Sim's park and Dolphin's nose(which is a view point).Conoor is famous for it's tea plantations and trade.

Apart from Ooty and Conoor,i got to visit Kotagiri twice.The first visit was during my college days,and we just bypassed Kotagiri onour way to Catherine falls which is 8 kilometers away.We stopped at a place quite far from the falls and trekked our way

Photo courtesy:http://www.nilgiris.tn.gov.in/

Catherine falls

through Catherine falls.Our college had arranged the trek in collaboration with Youth Hostels Association of India (YHAI).It was one of my memorable tour.I got to see more of Kotagiri during my last trip to India, Dec 2008-Mar 2009 when i visited Kotagiri with my in laws.It was a memorable trip.




Tribes of Niligiris

Photo courtesy:http://www.nilgiris.tn.gov.in
Hut of the Todas(Left) The traditional Toda(Right)

The "Todas"also know as Tudas / Tudavans / Todar are one of the primitive tribal groups in Tamil Nadu,India.The name "Todas" is derived from the "Tud tree",which is a sacred tree for the Todas.The Todas language dialect is an independent language which has influence of Tamil and Malayalam.The Todas live in a unique hut that is barrel shaped.

Photo courtesy:http://www.nilgiris.tn.gov.in
Kothas perforing their traditional dance
The "Kothas",live in Kothagiri.They are the artisans who are good in carpentry,metal works and pottery.Unlike the Todas the Kothas have excelled in education and are employed in many Government and private sectors.
The "Kurumbas" who are another sector in the tribes are traditional food gatherers as per occupation.They collect honey and produce.Due to their nature of work the Kurumbas stay in temporary houses called "Gudlu"

Photo courtesy:http://www.nilgiris.tn.gov.in
The Kurumbas and Irulas performing the tribal dance
The "Irulas" stay in parts of Kothagiri and Conoor.Earlier the Irulas were engaged in collecting few forest produce and took care of cattle.
The "Mullukurumbas" belong to Gudalur and they are one of the most primitive tribes as they still use bow and arrow for hunting.
The "Paniyas"(or workers) are inhabitants of Gudalur.They are considered to be one of the most backward tribes.The Paniyas were the sect of tribes who were bonded laborers earlier.Now most of them help in agriculture.
The "Kattunaikans" are another group of tribes who belong to Gudulur.


May 8, 2009

Niligiris District


Photo courtesy:http://www.nilgiris.tn.gov.in
The Niligiris District

The Niligiris district comprises of Panthalur,Gudalur,Udhagamandalam,Kothagiri,Conoor and Kundah.The Niligiris is very dear to me as i have memories of visiting Ooty, annually when i was a child.I remember tourisng Ooty with my parents,grandparents and my brother.As i am a dog lover i used to visit Ooty annually for the dog shows combied with the annual flower show in Ooty.I had a brief visit to Conoor as my friend who lives there hosted me a visit there with her family.It was a memorable visit during my college days.
Ooty is the most famous in the Niligiris.Ooty is also known as Udhagamandalam is the "Queen of hill stations" and the capital of Nilgiris district.Nilgiris - "Blue Mountains"used to be a summer getaway for the Britishers during the colonial days.
Ooty is situated at an altitude of 2,240 meters above sea level.Ooty was discovered by the Britishers in the year 1819,the roads connecting Coimbatore(Mettupalayam) to Ooty was laid by Mr. John Sullivan(the then Collector of Coimbatore),Mr. S.R.Lushingt
on(the then Governor) and few others.The inhabitants of Ooty speak the native Badaga language.Apart from Badaga,languages like Tamil, Kannada, Hindi, Malayalam and English are also spoken.The toy train that starts from Mettupalayam to Conoor is a unique expience to view the tea estates and greenery of the Niligiri mountains.Ooty has numerous tea estates that eventually made it famous.The annual "Tea and Tourism festival" attracts large crowds.

Photo courtesy:http://www.nilgiris.com
Toy train
The localites in the Niligiris celebrate the thaipoosam in Elk Hill Murugan Temple (February), Bookkapuram Mariamman Annual Festival (February), Ooty Mariamman Temple Festival (April) and the Coonoor Mariamman Temple Festival (April).Apart from that the boat races and boat Pageantry in Ooty (May),flower show in Ooty (May) and fruit show in Coonoor (May) are visited by both national and the international tourists.

May 6, 2009

Avinashi


Photo Courtesy :http://en.wikipedia.org/(Left) & http://rprabhu.blogspot.com(Right)
Avinashiappar temple(Left) & Avinashi temple car(Right)
Avinashi is a small town situated near Tirupur in Tamil Nadu.Avinashi is located in between Tirupur and Coimbatore.Avinashi was known as "Thirupukkaliyur" in the ancient times. It is famous for the Shiva temple.The present structure of the temple was originally built by the king of Kongu Chola, PandyaHoySalar and the King of Mysore.In 1756 Krishna Raja Udayar of Mysore renovated the temple.Avinashi is also referred as Dakshina Varanasi(Varnasi of the South).The Cholas, Pandyas and the Hoysalas have made their architectural contributions to the temples.The car festival is the most exciting of the festivals in this temple. This temple's car (ratham) is noted for its fine wooden carvings.There are many textile mills located in and around this town. These textile mills comprise spinning and weaving mills that work closing with various apparel manufacturing companies in Coimbatore and Tirupur. There are also many engineering industries. Agriculture is the major occupation of many of the people in and around this town.

Rakkiapalayam
Rakkiapalayam is a village near Avinashi where my husband belongs.Being married for two years now though i visit Rakkiapalayam often i got to visit the Avinashi temple only a few months back during my recent visit to India.My husband says he has fond memories of the temple as they used to visit the temple every week.