We have been to this beautiful Village on the Valleys of Ezhimala, Kannur district of Kerala state on 7th April 2009. At a time when people running behind the so called advancement and luxuries of life, here at this small valley, an amazing lady lives alone, caring thousands of birds!!! You may feel it unbelievable...But on this Earth day i would like invite all of you to this paradise; Paradise of lovely birds and their mother, who has dedicated her life for the birds and animals.
Narayaniyamma with her Children
Chemballikkundu is situated at the eastern Valleys of Ezhimala Hills (in Western Ghats). Almost 3 Sq.Km in this valley and the lake surrounded by Kandal trees(Mangrove forest), one can find thousands of migratory birds through out the year!!! This area is not maintained by government or any other organization. That makes the difference...Here we found the relation between the birds and Narayaniyamma, a 75 year old woman, who considers all these birds as their children and dedicated her life for them!!! In Chemballikkundu valley, within 3sq.km area we could find only her house. She has been maintaining her 'natural bird sanctuary' over the past few decades. According to her so long as she live she would like to live with these birds, without their singing she cannot sleep!! without their wakeup calls her days are meaningless!!! She doesn't know much about the scientific names or species of the birds coming over there, however she has developed her own ways to identify each and every birds and the season they arrive in her land!
Chemballikkundu Puzha Surrounded by Kandal(Mangrove forest)
"Please be sensitive to the birds.. Do not be noisy when visiting...Do not do anything that upsets this mother and her children..."
A Close shot..They Live in big groups...
White Ibis_A closeup
Black Necked Ibis
Another Verity
White Ibis
Indian Pond Heron. One can find thousands of these..
They sing beautifully...
A few more..
On the way to Chemballikkundu
Travelogue
Since a few months we have been thinking of visiting this fairy land. However we could make our dream into reality after a long time. Before starting the trip, we tried to collect some basic information about the place and the mother of birds-Narayaniyamma. However, we could not find anything worthwhile! Anyway we decided to give a halt to all busy activities and proceed towards this beautiful valley on 7th April 2009.
Reached Pazhyangadi-The nearest'City'(almost 15km) to Chemballikkundu, Ezimala, Kannur, Kerala- at around 9.30am. Thanks to the friends who lent their bikes to us. After finishing a quick breakfast we headed towards Chemballikkundu. We had a short chat with a few localities about the approximate distance and all.. Unfortunately many of them are not aware about Narayaniyamma and her children! (We heard about her from a small article came in the 'Mathrubhumi' daily). Anyway with that knowledge we drove towards Chemballikkundu. The route is so beautiful, this may be the only place in Kerala we could find a lot many verities of Mangrove forests (Kandal trees).
Enjoying the landscape, the beautiful river, trees and butterflies we reached on a small bridge across the mighty Chemballikkundu Puzha. There we found a lady selling fresh fish. We stopped there and enquired about the place. Lucky this time!! She heard about Narayaniyamma!! But not exactly knowing her house.. Anyway she gave us some guideline. After crossing the bridge, on the left-hand side there will be a narrow road leading to railway lines. One can go till the railway line. Then need to walk.....
Just after crossing the bridge, we found a narrow village road, going through mangrove forest-hardly one can walk over that- ..We can see the mighty Chemballikkundu river flowing over the sides as well...We carefully drove our bikes and managed to reach under the railway bridge...On the way we have seen so many birds resting on the Mangrove(Kandal) trees afar.. We could barely see ..it was difficult to identify the birds...
We have parked our bikes under the railway bridge and checked whether we can take the bikes further. Anyway we could somehow manage to ride the bike not more than 200meters and parked there under a coconut tree and started walking. It was awesome...No more writing.....See the landscapes...
And finally we found a house a little far ....We were happy and decided that’s the place......On the way we found so many verities of little crabs too...
When we entered into the land, we found the presence of the birds .........Under each and every coconut trees.....See this....
Immediately after we reached there a few little dogs came towards us barking...We called "Amma"..."Narayaniyamma.." very loudly...What a surprise!! All of them calmed down...and waited for their mother....
We kept our cameras, tripod and small bag on the varandah and looked around.....Hoh!! Unbelievable !!!.We are in the paradise!!! We heard the birds singing from far…But not many were there around..
Meantime Narayaniyamma came from the land behind the house escorted by a few dogs, cats and cow.....We greeted each other....She asked about our where about and narrated the story of her life and children!!! Next few ours we were in a different world!!!
Until and unless one could visualize the bonding between this mother and the nature, its even difficult to imagine this special life....She has been protecting this birds over past few decades and so many verities of birds comes here in different seasons ..all over the year...
In her words:"All of them are my children, i enjoy the life with them. All my relatives force me to sell this land and go with them, But so long as my breath stands i will be here... I cannot sleep without their song, Without their wake up call my mornings are meaningless.....and i will live and die with my children....."
Yes, her life and experience is much different than any other human being... In this beautiful valley she finds all the happiness of life...protecting, observing, waiting for the chicks to fly......She narrated a day......
Much earlier than the daybreak all her children--Thousands and thousands of birds- local, migratory-of different species -- go to the ponds and water bodies nearby her land(unfortunately we missed that!!)- Around 3sq.km there is no other houses than Narayaniyamma's-. When the sun rises, they all slowly moves towards isolated Mangroves situated in the middle of the river.....
They spend their day time there .. At around 4.30-5pm they start coming back as big groups occupy each and every corner of the coconut tress and other trees around her house.... That’s amazing...we enjoyed and experienced the scene with all its glory.... Very interesting thing is most of the birds sleep on top of coconut trees and do not have their own nests!! Different verities stays together.........In fact so many crows too lives amidst!!!!
The evening was awesome...We are very sure nowhere in the world one can find these many verities of birds living in harmony......
Till 8pm the atmosphere was noisy (We could take one or two snaps only, since it was very dark and also we don’t wanted to upset the birds by flashing the camera)...Above all, we were in a state of exitement!
We were really astonished to watch the bird activities in the evening…That one can only experience.. No words to describe....
Once they settled...by 9pm the atmosphere become very quiet.. By the time Narayaniyamma has lighted a lamp at her small temple... sat on the varandah continued to narrate her experiences....Meanwhile we had a cup of tea made of fresh milk.
She said.. during rainy season all of them stay in her land only.. and the scene then is so amazing..--"On the right side of the land 'vella kilimakkal'(white little children), one the left "chara kokkukalum makkalum (she has her own way of naming the birds), here and there 'neerkakkakal' , niraye niramulla valuthum cheruthumaya othiriyere kokkukalum avarude makkalum...."(Those who do not know Malayalam please excuse. we will write in detail about the different verities of birds very soon)..
She then narrated her encounter with bird hunters ...Her sleepless nights....and many more....
Anyway.........the life and story of Narayaniyamma is so distinct ...and the day with her too....
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On 22nd of April 2009, Smt.Narayaniyamma has been honored with the Kannur district Paristhiti Samathi sponsored Sri.Janardanan Master Memorial Environmental award for her commitment towards the nature.
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Narayaniyamma receiving the award
The News came in Mathrubhoomi Daily
More updates after next visit..
