It's all in her genes. Telling stories comes naturally to Neethu Amit, the granddaughter of the great S. K. Pottekkat. While the great writer painted the sights and sounds of faraway lands with words, his young granddaughter brings us visuals of seas, birds, bees, forests, flowers, lands unseen, people and history through her photos.
Meet Neethu Amit, a traveler, a photographer and a model. You cannot expect S.K.Pottekkat’s granddaughter to sit on her haunches munching chips. Her grandfather never did. He traveled far and wide and treated his readers to some of the most endearing travelogues. So has Neethu Amit. Her camera has panned across the oceans to click the life and times of a world beyond her native Kozhikode. Pottekkat, not happy with just narrating “Oru Deshathinte Katha”, crossed the continents to write about the natives of Africa.
For Neethu, travel was always a fascination, right from childhood. Things came a full circle when Neethu found her partner in Kannur-native Amit, as crazy as her when it came to traveling. An avid bird-watcher, Neethu always had her head “up” in the air. The family joke was that the young lady would never look down. Her gaze was always up in the skies or in the trees looking out for birds. Her passion for traveling got a push when a camera came her way. A 100d camera she started off with was soon replaced by a 700d shooter.
Neethu was born to Pottekkat’s daughter Sumithra and husband Jayaprakash. An alumna of Presentation Convent and Providence College, Kozhikode, she later did a course in graphics and animation. This was followed by a brief stint in a foreign exchange company. Neethu’s husband Amit works in a Jordan Government firm. But the couple finds time to travel and take off on long trips regularly. Along with her travel and her camera, she squeezes in time for modeling and is quite busy with her hobby.
But travel gets utmost priority and she shares her fondness for five destinations in Kerala.
Mesmerizing Munnar
Wrapped in greenery and shrouded in mist, Munnar holds a mesmerizing allure. A trek through shola forests, rocks, boulders, meadows and shallow brooks, is an unforgettable experience. Blessed with a wildlife heritage in the form of elephants, rare birds, and the ibex, Munnar holds a special place in her heart. A trip to the hill station stays incomplete without a view of a misty sunrise after the chill of the night.
Wild and beautiful
Nature unbridled. That’s how Thekkady can be described. A boat trip along the lake and a patient watch for wild animals are what’s special about the place. Thekkady is the best place to see elephants in their natural habitat. The famous “Mile Sur Mera Hamara” has a shot of Thekkady to represent Kerala.
An all pervading silence
The rain-washed Vagamon will always stay green in one’s memory. A drive through its roads, although narrow, is quite an experience. You have to feel the greenery, the grasslands and the absolute silence of the place. It’s an awesome experience.
Wayanad beckons
Wayanad is special. The green, the trees, and the shade are to be savored. Walking down the roads leaves you flush with joy. The Chembra peak, Karuva isle, Pookkod lake and Edakkal caves are Wayanad’s attractions. She has always felt closer to the place than anywhere else.
Kannur is where cultures meet
Take a trip to the interiors of Kannur. You would be amazed by the beauty they hold. The place is dotted by tiny isles where a thousand migratory birds come to roost and the people are so warm-hearted. Kannur is one great confluence of cultures and traditions, a meeting place of art and life.
Also read: Travel | Destinations in Kerala | Beyond Kerala
