The Ashoka Blossoms

The Ashoka Tree

The Ashoka tree is considered sacred and the botanic name means sacred tree: Saraca Indica. It was later given the name of Jonesia Ashoka. Though a slow growing tree, it lives very long and heralds spring with its red and orange blossoms. the images above are taken in the Botanic Gardens.

From the bark of the tree the medicine Ashokarista is prepared in the Ayurvedic School of medicine. In homoeopathy the medicine is known as Jonesia Ashoka. It is used as a mother tincture. It is useful in protecting the uterine and cures diseases related to it. The flower has a light fragrance. The tree has a festival named after it, the Ashokashtami which fall in March-April every year in the month of Chaitra.

Nature in My Backyard- The Cannonball Tree

The Cannonball Tree (Couroupita Guinansis)

The Cannonball tree above is very large for a city. Called Naga Champa in Sanskrit, it is planted mostly in Shiva Temple courtyards. The flower has a pinkish white hue, very close to the lotus. The central petal curves like a hood above the base. Hence its association with the serpent.

The flower has a very mild fragrance. Its fruit is unusually large as seen in the photograph at the top. The fruit resembles a cannonball hence the name Cannonball Tree.

The tree is deciduous and suddenly one day, all the leaves would be missing. New leaves come up very fast. The flowering is around the trunk, and the flowers attracts insects flying at the middle levels. This tree is a cauliflory in which the flower and fruit appears in the trunk of the tree.

University of Madras , Marina Beach

University of Madras was established in 1857 and is a great institution in learning., along with University of Calcutta and University of Bombay. The complex near Marina Beach is in excellent condition, as is evident from the above photographs.

Kochi- A Sense of Belonging

Clock Tower at Tripunithura by Poornathrayeesa Temple.

When you do not know any one in a particular place, you know every one there. We landed at Kochi which has a small air port built anew in the traditional architecture of Kerala. The taxi driver from the airport was very honest and when we got out, I requested him as to how much it would cost to have the cab for a day. With good humour he replied that a full day was not required to see Kochi.

A small and sleepy town, Kochi is very friendly. It has a beautiful sea face and the churches, temples and the Synagogue have an atmosphere of their own. We were not fortunate to go inside the Synagogue as it was closed.

The food was superb in the restaurants. I found the Saree Shopping Plazas most attractive. In different floors, many types of sarees are displayed by a large number of staff. Some of the employees would move around with glasses of water for the customers.

The markets have their own fragrance and flavour. You could see large cauldrons heated with oil, with shimmering golden banana chips. It were, as if I had known Kochi all my life and belonged to it.

The Coconut Trees of Kerala

Kerala is deeply associated with the Coconut Tree. The oil of coconut is widely used, especially in frying banana chips. The Coir industry took off from Kerala. At every street corner one would find green coconut vendors.

In the cuisine also coconut milk is used frequently. The two images above look like picture post cards of Kerala Tourism.

Munnar Rubber Plantations

Rubber trees grow very tall and below these trees other spices could be planted. Both coffee and chocolate are under trees. With the rubber collection cups strung around the trees, we get a distinctive feel of harvesting activities.