Monday, November 24, 2008

Blue skies of Freedom



This picture was taken on November 21, 2004, en route to the Mudumalai National Park, at a place called Kalhatty, some 20 kilometers from Ooty. A group of friends decided on a bike ride to the edge of the national park on a Sunday and when approaching a steep hair-pin bend, this commanding view presented itself. I lost no time in urging my co-rider to stop and then took this picture and spent a few moments savouring the breathtaking view.

In the immediate vicinity is a turnip and radish field tended by the local farmers. The blue mountains (commonly known as Nilgiris, Nil for Blue and Giri for Mountains, owing to their shades of blue), are a very common and integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. In the distance, past the mountains, is the vast expanse of the Mudumalai Reserve which borders the Bandipur Reserve, famous, among other things, for being part of Project Tiger.

Together, these national parks are home to some of the finest wildlife India holds residence to. They include Tigers, Leopards, Elephants, Bison, Jackals, Deer, Hyenas, Wild Dogs and many more. These places are a must visit for all nature enthusiasts, where one can remain unconnected to the bustle of city life and feel truly rejuvenated and one with nature!

30 comments:

  1. Having lived there, in Ooty, for two years, I know so well, what you share here :)

    Nice to have those nostalgic memories refreshed again :) Thank you!

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  2. Seen this place! Been there! Now proud that i was under the blue skies of freedom :D

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  3. gr8 snap..
    the whole beauty of the place is captured in that wide snap

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  4. there is a saying: v work 6 days thinking v ll get a day off; v go 2war thinking we ll get peace; the photo was great..nothing like a good break..and ooty..i cant forget the cold when i visited several yrs ago..wishes..

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  5. Very true! Nature is the best. I really miss to experience this place and the stretch lead to Mysore, because we were climbing down when it was dark evening in summer vacation. Lovely view buddy, I love the Blue Mountains :)

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  6. nature is a healer.. wrote about my experience with the oneness in a blogpost...
    It is a bliss to witness God's miracles.. missing ooty! once have been there trekking with friends in my UG college days..

    Missing that a lot... Kind of nostalgia! reading this

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  7. WOW!! blues..November blues...

    was just thinking of walking into the sea at a sunset evening..now feel like flying up into the sky and the heavens...

    nature offers so much:)

    Lovely photo, Rak...and nice post...this could be your forte...not obituary! :)
    occasional is fine...

    remember that Jagathi's role as obituary writer..which movie was that? can't remember the name...he writes obituary of the still alive MS tripunithura..:))

    anyway..Certain Kind has a new one...see the last picture specifically...:))

    wishes,
    devika

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  8. hmm..a snap taken exactly 4 years back!! Does this place look the same even now? or.....u never know, humans consider themselves smarter than nature, u see !

    Btw, nice photography!

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  9. beautiful!!!

    been to ooty long ago. heard lately that too much of tourism has spoilt the place!!!

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  10. beautiful!!!

    been to ooty long ago. heard lately that too much of tourism has spoilt the place!!!

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  11. breathtaking land/skyscape!! the blues are amazing!

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  12. Usha

    Wow! U've lived in Ooty? When? Where? This is an amazing connection!

    Small world indeed!

    Warm Regards

    Rakesh

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  13. Vibu

    I'm sure that was a different experience altogether! Quite enriching and rejuvenating, correct?

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  14. Praveen

    Many thanks my friend! How I wish to call off everything and start anew in a place such as this!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  15. Ramesh

    Correct! We anticipate for all the good things to come and spend a lifetime yearning!

    And yes, the biting cold of Ooty!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  16. Jeevan

    Indeed, nothing that matches the nature, mother nature!

    Blessed are folks who spend their lives there!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  17. Bharath, my friend!

    Yes, nature is a wonderful healer! Nothing compares to it any which way!

    You should make regular trips!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  18. Devika Ma'am

    Thanks very much for your warm and appreciating comments!

    Indeed, nature offers bounties, if only we could capitalize on it!

    When was the last time you were in Ooty? You should travel sometime!

    And yes, I will do less on the obituary front, but then sometimes when inspiring people pass away, it is quite difficult not to pen a few lines.

    I don't recollect seeing that movie that cast Jagathi S, I'm sure that was hilarious!

    Visiting CKW shortly

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  19. Vimmuuu

    Thanks very much pal! I'm hoping that this place is untouched as it was many years ago!

    Sadly, I haven't yet got an opportunity to revisit the route we took! I hope to do that on my next trip to Ooty, hopefully in Jan 09!

    Quite right, people being people, always undermine the importance of nature and overstate themselves above all else!

    Thanks for your comments!

    Whens the next update on V-Lokam?

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  20. Satheesh

    When was the last time you were in Ooty?

    Quite correct, tourism and gross mismanagement have ruined the place very bad!

    Ooty is not what it used to be!

    Your next visit will be a disappointment!

    Rakesh

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  21. Hey Rak...

    POTTA...Ramaayanam muzhuvan vaayichittu...

    "CAPITALISING" on NATURE!!???

    CONTROL YOUR APPETITITES ..NATURE HAS A FREE LUNCH TO OFFER!!!

    engene oru pottan...

    Wishes,
    devika

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  22. Nice post
    you can see some of my bandipur mudumalai wildlife / bird pictures at http://www.wildlifesanctuaryindia.com/wildlife/
    Best regards
    Bala

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  23. As Bruce Nolan used to say in Bruce Almighty - B..E..A UTIFUL!
    Lovely serene places are nearly extinct. We have got to catch them when we can!

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  24. Devika Ma'am

    Lol! It is indeed quite a privilege to host pictures of Ooty on one's site! I mean my site ;)

    Hence capitalizing on nature!

    I agree when you say that nature has a free lunch to offer! What better than the serenity that comes with it!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  25. Bala

    Welcome here and thanks for your comments!

    Thanks also for the link to the pictures on Bandipur and Mudumalai!

    I enjoyed them!

    Do keep coming!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  26. Vivek

    Completely agree! Ever wonder what it will be for the generations to come?

    Scary, eh?

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  27. Simply beautiful and cool.... thanks for sharing :-)

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  28. Simply beautiful and cool.... thanks for sharing :-)

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