Thrivikramji & Class on Vallanad-Kudiramoli Teri Trip, Tirunelveli Dist, Tamil Nadu.

A welcome rising sun in the early morning of 27 Feb.10, on our way for the field study.

The party enjoying the first stop.

Temple premises are “Oasis” without a spring.

A brand new recharge pond in the pedimented slope of Vallanad ridge.- on the west facing side.

Western edge of quartzite ridge at Vallanad. Note the dipping quartz reef.

Main street at Sankarankovil on a hot noon.

Check dam and road bridge. Thamirabarani R at Sankarankovil. View from the right bank.

Check dam and road bridge. Thamirabarani R at Sankarankovil. View from the right bank.

Eutrophicated large pond.

Agricultural residue entering the waters enhances the eutrophication.

Snacking is part of any trip. There is no dearth of opportunities.

Chunai in the Ayyanar Shrine.

A view of Chunai.

Refreshing on the shore of chunai.

Proof of severe wind ablation?

A photo break in an “oasis” near Chunai Ayyanar Shrine.

Blue shirted young man is diffident about the success of the uphill walk.

Walking up the sandy slope is an ordeal especially after a long work day.

Equally enchanting and desolate.

Captivating view of the teri tract.

Kudiramoli Teri – a swale between the ridges in the mid ground.

Sampling is part of a any field study. A team is engaged in sampling.

View from the front yard of the Shrine in Terikudiyiruppu.

Shrine and parking on t he Manappad Hill.

Northwesterly view. The spit is creating a swale-lake

The foundation of the platform of the cross is bared by wind ablation

Twin captains ready to help the humans and the seafarers.The church and light house on top of the Manappad hill

These diamond shaped rills are fabulous to picturise. The shore face.

NE limit of the the exposed calcareous sandstone.

Team walking toward a sampling point toward NE.

Planar inclined layers of calcareous sandstone exposure away and above the current strand line.

Beach facies exposed at a higher elevation

Weatherd exterior of the exposed beach rock.

Beach rock exposures on the beach

Yet another view of beach rock

The darker patches are beachrock ledges, an indicator of the modern strand line.

West facing part of the Manappad Hill. The calcareous sandstone bluff is marking a previous SL stand. The Shore facies provide sure evidence for this.

Waves splashing on ledges of Beach rock

A view en route to home