Standing an astonishing 20 feet tall, the Chendu is a towering structure that temple devotees balance precariously on their heads during the vibrant Kumbha Kudam festival of Kerala. Holding and dancing with such a monumental object is no small feat — it is hazardous, demanding incredible focus, strength, and grace. Devotees chant the name of […]
From an aerial vantage point, the village knows no secrets from him. Twice daily, he ascends and descends towering palm trees, his sturdy physique forged by this demanding ritual. In one hand, he wields a buffalo femur bone, and in the other, a black container—once carved from the shell of a bottle gourd, now often […]
How would you describe it? A bird without feathers? A mother that nurses her young—yet flies? A creature often confused with its blood-feeding cousin, yet far more helpful than harmful? Welcome to the misunderstood world of the Indian flying fox (Pteropus giganteus), a species of megabat in the Pteropodidae family. By night, these flying mammals […]
The arrival of the South West Monsoon in Kerala is more than a change in weather—it’s a symphony of transformation that touches every corner of the land, water, and sky. Heralding this shift is a surprising visitor: the Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens), a dragonfly that travels from as far as South Africa, crossing oceans and […]
In the realm of elephants, he once had two towering competitors. One lives on, while the other is a memory. The living one roams the forests of Bardia National Park in western Nepal. With a shoulder height of 11 feet 3 inches, he holds the record as the largest wild Asiatic elephant ever documented. The […]
It’s easy to accept that the Gaur—its glossy black hump rising above the undergrowth—is the largest bovine in India. And when the majestic Dalmatian Pelican spreads its broad white wings, few would argue that it’s the largest flying bird in the country. But when it comes to India’s largest butterfly, our minds instinctively wander to […]
The various pigments derived from hydrated iron oxide and ferric oxide are known for their longevity—chemistry explains their durability when imprinted on surfaces. But what explains the lasting brilliance of the greenish-blue hue extracted from the leaves of the Indigo plant (Indigofera tinctoria)? And what about the soot from a cotton wick soaked in sesame […]
A feisty little carnivore, quick-witted and daring—the Indian Grey Mongoose (Herpestes edwardsii) is one of nature’s most remarkable survivors. It’s the most adaptable among India’s six mongoose species and has carved out a place for itself in some of the most unlikely environments—right alongside humans. Thanks to Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book tale of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, the […]
The Rhythm of the Oars: Experiencing Kerala’s Snake Boat Races To truly hear the rhythm of a snake boat race, you must be there—on the banks of the backwaters, feeling the pulse of tradition, teamwork, and raw energy. A snake boat (Chundan Vallam) is no ordinary vessel. Measuring 100 to 120 feet in length, these […]
Its song bursts forth with the energy and joy of a schoolboy, which is precisely why the British, during their colonial reign in India, fondly nicknamed it the “Whistling Schoolboy.” Found near streams, rivulets, and shaded forest glades, the Malabar Whistling Thrush (Myophonus horsfieldii) fills the cool morning air with an almost human-like whistle, repeating […]