Mountains of Malnad

Posted on October 20, 2012 by madamescientist

Mountains of Malnad

We set off to the monsoon drenched mountains of the Malnad district of Karnataka, in southern India. Our hired car careened wildly past hairpin bends, narrowly missing the nonchalant cows strolling along at a leisurely pace, while we were chased by enthusiastic village dogs.ย  Out of place and out of time, every village hut boasted a satellite dish on the roof. Wizened monkeys peered curiously through the leaves, and patient elephants allowed their mahouts to bathe them by the river. Masses of white cranes nested in sanctuaries tucked into the Western Ghat mountains of the Deccan plateau.

We arrived at the Bananki plantation where our spirits were restored with old world charm. Our hostess took us on a tour ofย  the rubber plantations: sap dripping diagonally into plastic bags.ย  Cash crops of areca nut palms, cardamom and ginger plants, peppercorn vines, and banana trees. The emerald green of terraced paddy fields glinted jewel-bright in the sunlight. The next day, we pushed onwards to the mist covered Jog Falls, where we descended ~1400 steps to the bottom, into oppressive heat and humidity. We paid the price for our foolishness with the climb back up ๐Ÿ™‚

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78 Responses to Mountains of Malnad

  1. Unknown's avatar Ashok Verma says:
    October 20, 2012 at 12:54 am

    nice pic of nature beauty

    Reply
  2. Unknown's avatar Hung Do says:
    October 20, 2012 at 12:55 am

    Wow, spectacular!!! What an amazing landscape!!!

    Reply
  3. Unknown's avatar Jim Carver says:
    October 20, 2012 at 12:56 am

    True, my back is hurting now just by looking. Looks deathly humid and ridden with mosquitoes in the stagnant places. We’ve had a lot of blood suckers here this season and I hate ’em! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  4. Unknown's avatar Rajini Rao says:
    October 20, 2012 at 12:56 am

    These are some of the rainiest spots on the planet. Very lush to visit, probably a pain to live here ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  5. Unknown's avatar Rajini Rao says:
    October 20, 2012 at 1:01 am

    No mosquitoes, and humid only down below because there were no breezes. Up in the mountains, it was cool. They were killer steps!

    Reply
  6. Unknown's avatar Kevin Clift says:
    October 20, 2012 at 1:18 am

    Ireland in India – give or take the snakes.

    Ireland: Rainfall in the west generally averages between 1,000 and 1,250 mm (39.4 and 49.2 in). In many mountainous districts rainfall exceeds 3,000 mm (118.1 in) per year.

    Malenad: The Malenadu region is humid and has an annual rainfall of 1,000 to 3,800 mm.[1] Agumbe which is in Shimoga district receives the highest rainfall in Karnataka (close to 10,000mm).

    Reply
  7. Unknown's avatar Rajini Rao says:
    October 20, 2012 at 1:23 am

    That’s right, Kevin Cliftย , we were close to Agumbe. The rainiest place in India is in the northeast- Assam. A place called Cherrapunji, although I’m told that some seasons there is more rain in the Malnads.

    Reply
  9. Unknown's avatar Jim Carver says:
    October 20, 2012 at 1:50 am

    Kevin Clift We do know how to use to internet. You don’t have to always educate us because some of us are already educated. Just talk, that’s really all you have to do on here.ย  I had you circled for a long time and I still know next to nothing about you.

    Reply
  10. Unknown's avatar Roy Walter says:
    October 20, 2012 at 2:09 am

    These are spectacular. Thanks!

    Reply
  11. Unknown's avatar Akarsh Simha says:
    October 20, 2012 at 3:25 am

    เฒจเฒฎเณเฒฎ เฒฎเฒจเณ† เฒœเณเฒžเฒพเฒชเฒ•เฒตเฒพเฒ—เณเฒคเณเฒคเฒฟเฒฆเณ†! [Translated: I remember home]

    Reply
  12. Unknown's avatar Rajini Rao says:
    October 20, 2012 at 3:28 am

    Delighted that this brought back memories, Akarsh Simhaย . Good ones, I hope.

    Reply
  14. Unknown's avatar Akarsh Simha says:
    October 20, 2012 at 4:35 am

    Rajini Rao, Yes, good ones, certainly.

    Reply
  15. Unknown's avatar Mike McLoughlin says:
    October 20, 2012 at 4:54 am

    What an amazing place – your prose brought it fully to life Rajini Rao.

    Reply
  17. Unknown's avatar Chad Haney says:
    October 20, 2012 at 5:20 am

    A lot of similarities to Thailand (rice, elephants, humidity, etc). Nice photos. Did ย your daughter escape this part of the trip or just the camera?

    Reply
  19. Unknown's avatar Kawthar A says:
    October 20, 2012 at 10:08 am

    I love water falls!!!! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Great album again Rajini Raoย ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  20. Unknown's avatar nomad dimitri says:
    October 20, 2012 at 10:08 am

    Rajini Raoย beautiful! ย i have never been to malnad, though i love karnataka. ย i was disappointed with the overcrowded villages in nilgiri so i will look up malnad next time. ย  beautiful photos!

    Reply
  21. Unknown's avatar Desh Maharaj says:
    October 20, 2012 at 10:09 am

    Simply beautiful. The land of the most beautiful still sunsets. Butย oh God this is torture for me. i lived there once when i wasย studying in Karnataka.

    Reply
  22. Unknown's avatar Rahul Joshi says:
    October 20, 2012 at 11:04 am

    That place is simply beautiful! Did you also get a chance to visit Coorg while at it Rajini Rao ? I was there late last year and found it so quaint and lush colorful!

    Reply
  23. Unknown's avatar Rajini Rao says:
    October 20, 2012 at 11:44 am

    This place is around the same area, Rahul Joshi . Not quite Coorg, but similar.

    Reply
  24. Unknown's avatar Rahul Joshi says:
    October 20, 2012 at 11:47 am

    Cool. I believe Coorg lies in the region of Malnad, so yes, there would be many similarities Rajini Rao .

    Reply
  25. Unknown's avatar Rajini Rao says:
    October 20, 2012 at 11:48 am

    Next time, we should do a northern India trip Rahul Joshi . Haven’t been further north than New Delhi in ages.

    Reply
  26. Unknown's avatar Rahul Joshi says:
    October 20, 2012 at 11:57 am

    Great idea Rajini Rao ! Besides the obvious Uttaranchal, you must really have the “Sangla-Spiti-Ladakh” route on your list.

    Reply
  27. Unknown's avatar Rahul Joshi says:
    October 20, 2012 at 12:03 pm

    You sir, have a great taste. It is on mine too!

    Reply
  28. Unknown's avatar Linda Hedrick says:
    October 20, 2012 at 1:26 pm

    Sounds great – thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  29. Unknown's avatar Shiv Sankar says:
    October 20, 2012 at 3:54 pm

    I lykd all ur pic & pics r awsome…. truly… natural…i’ve saved for my gadget….

    Reply
  32. Unknown's avatar Gregory Esau says:
    October 21, 2012 at 2:10 pm

    I am loving these stories!! And pics!

    Reply
  33. Unknown's avatar romeo encluna says:
    October 22, 2012 at 4:30 am

    nature..nature..nothing compare the beauty of God’s perfect creation.

    Reply
  35. Unknown's avatar Sudhanshu Pathania says:
    October 22, 2012 at 3:35 pm

    Incredible India or as said in Hindi Atulya Bharat ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  36. Unknown's avatar Terry Hallett says:
    October 23, 2012 at 12:48 pm

    Thank you so very very much for posting these wondrous pics Rajini .

    You have truly made my day!

    Reply
  37. Unknown's avatar Rajini Rao says:
    October 23, 2012 at 12:51 pm

    I’m delighted you enjoyed them, Terry Hallettย . I wasn’t going to put them up..I wondered who would be interested in these ramblings. It’s nice of you to be so kind ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  38. Unknown's avatar Buddhini Samarasinghe says:
    October 24, 2012 at 5:25 am

    Ooops I missed these photos ๐Ÿ˜ฆ Absolutely stunning Rajini Rao and please keep posting them, as much as I enjoy your science posts, the food and travel posts are great too!

    Reply
  41. Unknown's avatar Madhhu Patil says:
    October 25, 2012 at 5:26 am

    Beautiful,feel it to go,Guide it

    Reply
  43. Unknown's avatar Mary T says:
    October 27, 2012 at 12:05 am

    Thank you so much for posting your beautiful photos!ย  I have always wanted to visit India, but haven’t made it.ย  I loved seeing the elephants, and it’s nice to see them well cared for.

    Reply
  47. Unknown's avatar Hudson Ansley says:
    October 31, 2012 at 1:33 am

    Beautiful pictures- looks like a wonderful trip, thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  48. Unknown's avatar Rajini Rao says:
    October 31, 2012 at 1:34 am

    Thanks for stopping by, Hudson Ansley ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  50. Unknown's avatar Avinash Dixit says:
    November 6, 2012 at 6:23 pm

    Great ! (at least you let the science take a rest)

    Reply
  51. Unknown's avatar mohammed kailik says:
    November 8, 2012 at 2:26 am

    very great and magnific

    Reply
  54. Unknown's avatar Rakshana Jothikumar says:
    May 21, 2014 at 5:08 am

    Jog falls is one of my dream destinations!!! We had planned a trip to Jog falls thrice, but could not go due to many reasons! I will not give up.. ๐Ÿ™‚ ย The pics look heavenly!! Thanks for sharing Rajini Raoย 

    Reply
  55. Unknown's avatar Rajini Rao says:
    May 21, 2014 at 10:31 am

    Definitely worth it, Rakshana Jothikumarย ! They’re even better in the rainy season.ย 

    Reply
  56. Unknown's avatar Ahmed Gaper says:
    January 11, 2016 at 8:29 am

    Kevin Clift ูƒุฒู‡ู†ุชู. ๐Ÿ˜ˆ๐Ÿ˜ˆ๐Ÿ˜ˆ

    Reply
  58. Unknown's avatar Samiat Akanni says:
    June 11, 2016 at 5:00 pm

    Fantastic view, feel like visiting.

    Reply
  59. Unknown's avatar karanti kumar karanti kumar raj says:
    July 31, 2016 at 2:52 pm

    เคฆเฅ€เคฒ

    เคœเคฒเฅ‡

    Reply
  60. Unknown's avatar Pgawda Pratima says:
    August 4, 2016 at 2:36 pm

    It’s look like my village from Karnataka

    Reply
  61. Unknown's avatar Pgawda Pratima says:
    August 4, 2016 at 2:38 pm

    Black pepper bananas elaichi rice fields oh nice

    Reply
  62. Unknown's avatar Kanhai Kumar says:
    August 29, 2016 at 1:24 pm

    Kanhai kumarkaranti kumar karanti kumar raj

    Reply
  70. Unknown's avatar Meena Loganathan says:
    November 12, 2016 at 7:32 am

    wow very nice superrrrrr

    Reply
  72. Unknown's avatar allen steve says:
    November 15, 2016 at 5:59 am

    Wow is this oppressive heat

    Reply

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