Kannur’s famous Peralassery Subramania temple – the largest step well in Kerala

By Mithun Divakaran
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Oct 17, 2017
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India, Kerala, Travel

Sri Subramanya Temple in Peralassery in Kannur district is home to the largest step well in Kerala. Located 14 km from Kannur town, it is located in the neighbourhood of Peralassery, just metres off state highway 38 (Kannur-Kuthuparamba road).

Local myth has it that Ram and Lakshman halted at Peralasseri temple on their way to Sri Lanka to rescue Sita. (The tale of Ramayana for the uninitiated). The temple in itself isn’t what makes Peralassery famous. The reason for its fame is a massive step well just outside the temple.

Peralasseri step well Kannur Kerala — If you visit the temple on any given weekday, you should find ample parking space just outside the temple

I was at Peralasseri temple one weekend for a cousin’s wedding. The bride’s family wanted to conduct the wedding ceremony (garland and thaali exchange) inside the temple premises.

Hindu wedding Peralasseri temple Kannur — The wedding ceremony didn’t take long as there are other wedding groups waiting for their turn

Perallasherry stone temple Kannur Kerala — I couldn’t take too many photos of the temple. I was outside the inner sanctum and photography is usually restricted. Also, it was quite muddy inside due to the rains and I was barefoot.

Snake statues Perallssery temple Kannur — I’ll take stone-carved snakes over real snakes (sorry Lord Vishnu).

But in all (religious) seriousness, the snakes represent ‘Sarpam/Nagam Dosham‘ (Sarpam = snake). Devotees visit the temple to shed themselves effects of ‘serpent curses’ based on their individual horoscopes.

Peralasherry temple stepwell Kannur Kerala — It was still raining outside which made taking photos tough

Perallasherry stepwell Kannur Kerala — You have to leave your footwear outside if you wish to enter the stepwell

Step wells Peralasherry temple Kannur — Stepwells of this design are indigenous to India

Stepwells were built deep where groundwater was abundant and the steps make it easy for people to reach the water especially when water levels fluctuate throughout the year. The steps also make it easier to maintain the well, as supposed to a traditional cylindrical well which is harder to clean over time — unless you want to risk going down one.

Peralasherri old well Kannur Kerala — The rain was non-stop

It wasn’t the best weather to shoot photos but I’ll probably come back some other day when it is sunny and try to get some better photos and update this blog.

Peralassery temple is an impressive sight and one of Kannur’s best attractions. Best come here during weekdays — and obviously when there is no rain. Stepwells are more common in states like Rajasthan and Gujarat, so it’s quite unique that Kannur, Kerala has one.

Getting to Peralassery temple

From the Kannur city bus stand, or any other stop in the city, board any bus going to Kuthuparamba (കൂത്തുപറമ്പ്). Just ask for a ticket to Peralassery.

By car, it’s an easy drive from Kannur city as it’s one straight road. Once you reach the Peralassery bus stop, take a left turn towards the temple. Ask any local, they can guide you.

How to Transfer Files from Macbook to OnePlus 5

By Mithun Divakaran
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Jun 27, 2017
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Blah

I am writing this on the same day I received my brand new OnePlus 5. If you are reading this, chances are when you plugged in your OnePlus 5 using the USB cable to your laptop — be it a Macbook Air or Macbook Pro — nothing happened. Well, it does charge the phone but you probably expected to see a file folder appear on your desktop just like it does when you insert a USB drive. Turns out, that doesn’t happen.

Firstly, you need to change a setting on your phone to make it so that you can enable file transfer when you plug in your device via USB. If you do not get a prompt the first time you plug in your device via the USB cable, then follow the instructions as outlined in this video to find Developer Options under the System settings.

Double click this icon

Once you have done that, you will now see an icon appear that looks like a compact disc (CD). It will have some numbers underneath it. When you double click the disc icon, you will see a few files in a folder like the one below. But you will not be able to copy files into it.

Instead, double click on the AndroidFileTransfer(OSX).dmg and install the Android File Transfer software into your Applications folder (by dragging and dropping it). Once installed, open Android File Transfer and you should see the below screen…

Android file transfer mac — You don’t really have to press Get Started

… and the folder containing all the sub folders on your OnePlus 5 should appear in a window behind it.

One Plus 5 file folders on Mac — Look familiar, right?

Now you can copy files into the respective folders!

The process also works on Windows laptops if the device does not show up as a USB device when plugged in.

This is how I copied over my mp3 collection into the Music folder of the OnePlus 5 and some of the photos I had taken on my previous phone.

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Thailand: Taking a stroll in Lumphini Gardens, Bangkok

By Mithun Divakaran
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Mar 12, 2017
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Thailand, Travel

Date: 06 April 2015

Today was my last day in Bangkok. Being a short layover from my Japan trip, I still managed to go to the Maeklong Train Market and Amphawa Floating Market — two attractions I hadn’t been to before. I wondered what else to see before leaving Bangkok. And so I looked at the map and decided to head to Lumphini Gardens, Bangkok’s largest public park.

The easiest way to get to Lumpini park is to take a BTS to Sala Daeng Station and leave via Exit No.6.

But before entering the park, I stopped by Burger King to have lunch.

Burger King whopper meal Bangkok — Burger King doesn’t sell beef burgers back in India, so this would be my last before departing Bangkok

Lumpini park entrance Bangkok Thailand — After lunch, I walked across Rama IV Road to the memorial statue of King Rama VI.

Lumpini park map Bangkok Thailand — A map of Lumpini Park

Cycling in Lumpini park Bangkok — Lumphini is a multi-purpose park, popular for cycling, jogging or simply relaxing

Lumpini lake panorama Bangkok city — There is an artificial lake

Monitor lizard in Bangkok public park — Which has a surprising number of monitor lizards

Lumpini park monitor lizard Bangkok — Who all appear to be an attraction at the park

Monitor lizard approaching man Bangkok — Except when they get a little too close to humans… that freaks some of us out

Monitor lizard Lumphini gardens Bangkok — They are the second largest lizards only after the Komodo Dragon

Swan boats Lumpini park Bangkok — You can rent these pedal boats to go for rides across the lake

Lumpini park bridge Bangkok — I walked around some more

Lumpini park children play area — Lumpini park is a multi-purpose park, with sections for children…

Performance dome Lumpini park Bangkok — … amphitheatres for live performances

Lumpini park garden Bangkok — …and plenty of lawns to relax in the shade

Water sprinklers Lumpini park Bangkok — It was really hot today so I walked closer to the sprinklers

Lumpini gardens hearts Bangkok Thailand — I’m guessing this area is popular for wedding photography

Chinese Tower Lumpini gardens Bangkok — There is a Chinese pavilion

Lumpini park two way Bangkok — It was scorching hot and I found myself walking towards wherever it was wet

Cycle track Lumpini Park Bangkok Thailand — Or walking in the shade

Lumpini gardens BTS station Bangkok — But I was bored and decided to leave

Lumphini Gardens isn’t much of a tourist attraction but if you want to see some greenery away from Bangkok’s concrete city center, or if you want a quiet place to cycle or skateboard around, then this public garden is worth visiting. I took the subway and went to a mall just to kill time before I headed to the airport to catch my flight back to Bangalore.

Previous post from this series:

Thailand: Amphawa Floating Market in Samut Songkhram

Thailand: Maeklong Railway Market in Samut Songkhram