Best Places to Visit in Kerala

Best Places to Visit in Kerala

MYB   12:00 AM

 Here are the list of best palces to visit in Kerala, India 

1. Munnar

Munnar is a town in the Western Ghats mountains in India’s Kerala state. Munnar, a hill station and former resort for the British Raj elite, is set within rolling hills dotted with tea plantations established in the 19th century. Eravikulam National Park, home to the endangered mountain goat Nilgiri tahr, is a seasonal trekking destination encompassing the Lakkam Waterfalls and 2,695m-tall Anamudi Peak.

Munnar is the most popular hill station in South India and one of the best places to see in Kerala. It has exclusive views of extreme mountain slopes which are covered with about 80,000 miles of green tea farms like organic bedding over mountains which offer views of low-flying clouds and misty valleys. Munnar is usually cold and relaxed and gives you a incredible sensation, with the dense spray around you in the center of the organic tea farms. Munnar was once the summer season of the erstwhile English and English settlers found that the elevation, slope and alignment of the hills were particularly designed for the farming of tea. The modern end result is the lavish organic mountains decorated by tea gardens which is the sight to look out for in modern Munnar. There are also lot of waterfalls and hiking routes in Munnar for the adventure seeking guests. With its drowsy little bungalows, bungalows, old play areas and tea factories, Munnar is one of those unique hill stations in India with an old world colonial feel to the area.

2. Thekkady

Thekkady (Idukki district) is the location of the Periyar National Park, which is an important tourist attraction in the Kerala state of India.

 Thekkady is located about 257 km (160 mi) from Trivandrum, 114 km from Madurai City and Madurai Airport, 145 km from Cochin International Airport and 114 km from Kottayam railway station. Thekkady is located near to Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. The sanctuary is famous for its dense evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist deciduous forests and savanna grass lands. It is home to herds of elephants, sambar, tigers, gaur, lion-tailed macaques and Nilgiri langurs.

The Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is spread across 777 km2 (300 sq mi), of which 360 km2 (140 sq mi) is thick evergreen forest. The wildlife sanctuary was declared a tiger reserve in 1978. The splendid artificial lake formed by the Mullaperiyar Dam across the Periyar River adds to the charm of the park. The greatest attractions of Periyar are the herds of wild elephants, deer and bison that come down to drink in the lake. The sanctuary can be accessed through a trekking, boating or jeep safari.

Periyar Wildlife sanctuary in Thekkady is a popular wild life sanctuary preserving various species of animals including elephants, tigers, sambars, gaurs and the very rare lion tailed macaques. The forest is situated on the banks of the lake, Periyar. Of the 777 sq kms of area, 360 sq km has been taken up bythe thick evergreen forest. Thekkady’s scenic beauty along with its wildlife has been attracting tourists and visitors from all over the world for years. Probably the best position in Kerala to see wildlife while doing a boat trip trip in Thekkady lake. From the mighty Indian elephant to the Great Indian tiger to leopards, boars, bisons, deers etc Thekkady has it all that a wild life sanctuary has. The tourism department provides going up the right into the middle of the jungles either on feet or on top of elephants. If you want some more awesome adventure,you can take the path from Moozhiyar to Thekkadi via Gavi spinning through the thickest wooded miles of Kerala. Elephants are a common sight in Thekkady and boating is the favortie past time for most tourist who visits Thekkady.

3. Alleppey (Alappuzha) Backwaters

 Alleppey also known as Alappuzha, is the administrative headquarters of Alleppey District of Kerala state of southern India. Alleppey is the 10th largest city in Kerala with an urban population of 177,029  and third among the districts having highest literacy rate in Kerala. Alleppey is considered to be the oldest planned city in this region and the lighthouse built on the coast of the city is the first of its kind along the Arabian Sea coast.

Alleppy is situated 62 kilometres (39 mi) to the south of Kochi and 155 kilometres (96 mi) north of Trivandrum 

Alleppey is well known for the backwater trips on houseboats and always comes on top among the best destinations to check out in Kerala, simply because it is a exclusive encounter that you cannot get anywhere else on the globe. Alleppey was described as the one of the locations known as ‘Venice of the East’ by Lord Curzon. A houseboat vacation along the natural backwaters in Alleppey provides a chance to observe landscapes attractions like lavish paddy areas below the water levels, small chapels, fishing with netting, ducks in water, water lilies etc, sure to remain etched in your mind forever and this is among the best places to visit in Kerala in October to December. 

A vacation along the pathways with conventional Kerala food provided in a bananas leaves is fascinating with a meditative spell that is weaving a feeling of calmness and beauty around you . All months from Sept to May are fun to check out and go to Alleppey which has few of the best backwater trips in Kerala. Some other tourist destinations in Alleppey are Chettikulangara Bhagawathy Temple, Arthunkal Church, Krishnapuram Palace, Pathiramanal, Marari Beach, Sri Krishna Temple in Ambalappuzha etc other than the beach in Alleppey which may be among the closest encounters to Arabian Sea. All months from September to May are good time to visit and go to Alleppey which has few of the best backwater tours in Kerala. All months from September to May are good time to visit and go to Alleppey which has few of the best backwater tours in Kerala. 

4. Wayanad

Wayanad District is a district in the north-east of Kerala state, India with headquarters at the town of Kalpetta. The district was formed on 1 November 1980 as the 12th district in Kerala by carving out areas from Kozhikode and Kannur districts. The district is 3.79% urbanised, with three municipal towns Kalpetta, Mananthavady and Sulthan Bathery.

Wayanad district is in the southern tip of the Deccan Plateau. Part of the Western Ghats is in the district. In the centre of the district hills are lower in height while the northern area has high hills.

To know the greener side of Kerala, one must visit Wayanad which translates to the land of paddy fields in Local language Malayalam. It won’t be irrelevant to call it the ‘Green Paradise’ if you are planning for a sightseeing in Kerala. Calm and quiet, enriched with scenic beauty, tradition and wildlife, Wayanad is a blend of nature and heaven together and is one of the best places to visit in Kerala during summer. 

Wayanad is also famous for the richness it holds in the tribal heritage and agricultural abundance. Observing the lifestyle of over fifty tribes dwelling in this region will be a mind-blowing experience. The place is least populated when compared to other districts in Kerala, but the exoticness and landscape make it a must visit destination in the God’s own country. Wayanad all together has many exotic locations in and around the district like edakkal caves, banasura sagar dam, Wayanad Wildlife Santuary, Lakkidi, Tusharagiri Waterfalls, Kalpetta, and Sentinel Rockfalls. Wayanad is a popular trekking destination in Monsoons and is a must visit destination in Kerala in July and August for adventure tourism enthusiasts. in Checkout an article on Wayanad Tourism and an experience in the hills of Northern Wayanad.

Best Places to Visit in Chikmagalur, Karnataka, India

Best Places to Visit in Chikmagalur, Karnataka, India

MYB   12:39 PM

Chikmagalur (also known as Chikkamagaluru) is a town located in the Chikmagalur district in the Indian state of Karnataka. Located in the foothills of Mullayanagiri range, Chikmagalur is famous for its serene environment, lush green forests and tall mountains. Chikmagalur is also famous for coffee and is known as the 'coffee land' of Karnataka. It is one of the largest producers of coffee in India. National Highway 173 (India) passes through the city. You would enjoy the driving as it is awesome six lane road up to Hussan. It is 250 km from the state capital Bangalore.

 Chikmagalur is one of the most serene and picturesque destinations in Karnataka. When translated into English, the meaning of Chikmagalur is sure to raise your eyebrows – it literally means Young Daughter’s Town.

Legend has it that Rukmangada, the ruler of Sakharayapatna had a daughter. This city was given to his daughter as dowry. The town is a quiet and enchanting place. The climate over here is salubrious.

Set at a height of about 3400 ft, Chikmagalur is a very high hill station and there are a number of places to visit in Chikmagalur.

Chikmagalur is one of the top hill station destinations in India. The hill stations around Chikmagalur are famous summer retreats since they remain cool even during summers. Some of the most popular tourism attractions in Chikmagalur district include:
 
 Here’s a list of some of the best places to visit in Chikmagalur:

1. Mullayanagiri
 The highest peak in Karnataka is at Chikmagalur, called the Mullayanagiri. The height of this peak is close to 2000 metres. This peak is supposed to resemble a trekker’s backyard. Mullayanagiri, located at a distance of 16 Km from Chikmagalur is a part of the Baba Budan Giri Hill ranges. Mullayanagiri stands 1930 meters tall rewarded as the tallest peak in Karnataka state.

The nature walks here are among the best in the country. Located 12 km from Chikmagalur, Mullayanagiri is the highest mountain between the Himalayas and the Nilgiris. On top of the peak there is a small temple. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, hundreds of Shiva devotees trek all the way up to offer their prayers.  Mullayanagiri has amazing trekking trails.
The way to Mullayanagiri is very narrow that has a views from steep cliffs. Driving towards the peak is not possible and you will have to trek up the hill from the mid way point. There's a small temple located on top of the hill. From the highest point of the hill, you can view Arabian Sea on clear days. The small hillock in the temple compound is the highest point in Karnataka. The narrow road to the temple makes two way traffic impossible. It is a great trekking spot in Karnataka.

The way to Mullayanagiri is very narrow frrom Sitalayangiri temple that has a views from steep cliffs. Driving towards the peak is little difficult and you will have to drive on narrow road as road condition is not so good from Sitalayangiri to Mullayanagiri. The road was under construction when we visited on 10 Oct 2015.

There's a small temple located on top of the hill. From the highest point of the hill, you can view Arabian Sea on clear days. The small hillock in the temple compound is the highest point in Karnataka. The narrow road to the temple makes two way traffic impossible. It is a great trekking spot in Karnataka.

There is no doubt that trekking in this place is a memorable experience when compared to other places to visit in Chikmagalur. Even if you have done it once, the memories of it reverberate in your consciousness.

The mountain beckons you to scale it yet again no matter where you are. The trekking expeditions have all the ingredients of an adventurous outing. Exotic flora characteristics these nature trails. There are plenty of points that offer breathtaking views.

As you walk diligently on these precarious hills, the cold wind smacks your face with each passing gradient. Although things can become tougher, they don’t become less enjoyable. In fact, you will relish the challenge. You are determined to make your way to the top. More than fulfilling your ego, it is curiosity that drives you.

This mountain makes you curious and brings out the explorer in you. So you head to the top wanting to see more and more of the mountain.

The best time to trek here is during the spring season. During the summer, the heat could get slightly exasperating although the region has good climatic conditions. During the monsoon, the trails are inundated with water.

2. Kemmangundi
Kemmangundi, a picturesque hill station located at a distance of 55 Km from Chikmagalur on the Baba Budan Giri range of hills. Kemmangundi, at a height of 1,434 meters, is surrounded by thick forests as well as a enjoyable climate throughout the year.
This hill station is located in the Tarikere Taluk. The hill station is situated at an elevation of about 1400 metres. Also known as the Sri Krishnarajendra Hill Station, Kemmangundi was frequented by kings as a summer retreat centre. Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV started this trend during his time of visiting this place in the summers.

When Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV first came here, he was awestruck at the magnificent Baba Budan Hills in the backdrop. He was inspired to build a resort here. He then handed over this resort to the Government of Karnataka. In fact, it was donated to the government as an act of generosity.

The Department of Horticulture now oversees and maintains this place. Given this fact, Kemmangundi is a beautiful and outstanding hill station.

The gardens laid out in this region are landscaped to perfection. Surrounding Kemmangundi are magnificent mountains, hills and valleys. The scenic beauty on offer is spectacular. You cannot ask for anything better.

There is a guest house named Raj Bhavan in the vicinity. A must-visit attraction is the Rose Garden. The Raj Bhavan is used by visitors to experience beautiful sunrises and sunsets. The view of this magnificent routine of nature is best observed from here.
Kemmangundi is surrounded by the Baba Budan Giri range and blessed together with silver cascades of mountain streams as well as lush flora. Its beautifully laid out attractive gardens and charming mountain and valley views are a pleasure to the eye. Spectacular sunsets are a must see from different places in the district. For those adventurous, Kemmangundi provides a lot of peaks to climb and difficult jungle paths to discover. This place has a beautiful rose garden as well as other points of interest. There is a spot known as Z-point at about 10 minutes walk from this main location which gives a picturesque aerial view of the shola grass lands of the Western Ghats.

3. Kudremukh
Kudremukh range lies at a distance of 95 km towards southwest of Chikmagalur Town. Kudremukh literally means Face of Horse (in Kannada Kudure  means horse and mukha means face), so named for the reason that it has unique shape of the Kudremukh peak. Overlooking the Arabian Sea, the broad hills are linked to each other with deep valley and steep precipices. Situated at an altitude of 1,894.3 meters above sea level, Kudremukh is rich in iron ore deposits.

 A vacation at the Kudremukh National Park is a different experience from all places to visit in Chikmagalur. This place is located about 96 km from Chikmagalur city. Located in the pristine environs of the Western Ghats, the park is located at an altitude of around 1800 metres above sea level.

This high altitude presents multiple benefits. One of them is the climatic condition of this place. The national park has serene and mild weather even during the harshest summers in the state.

There is a hill here that is shaped like the head of a horse. In Kannada, a horse is called Kudre and the Kannada word for face is Mukha. Hence combining these two words, it becomes Kudremukh or horse’s face. The park is big. There are four sub-ranges here. The entire region is thickly covered with dense forests. There are tea and coffee plantations here in equal measure as well.
The way to Mullayanagiri is very narrow that has a views from steep cliffs. Driving towards the peak is not possible and you will have to trek up the hill from the mid way point. There's a small temple located on top of the hill. From the highest point of the hill, you can view Arabian Sea on clear days. The small hillock in the temple compound is the highest point in Karnataka. The narrow road to the temple makes two way traffic impossible. It is a great trekking spot in Karnataka.

  4. Baba Budangiri
To the north of Chikkamagaluru town is the Baba Budan Giri Range or Chandra Drona Parvatha as it was known in the ancient times, which has one of the highest mountain peaks between the Himalayas and the Nilgiris. The peak takes its name from the Muslim saint, Baba Budan, who resided here more than 150 years ago.
Chandra Drona Parvatha, Datta Peeta has several high mountain rises. Located in the Baba Budan Giri range, this is a popular tourist destination. The mountain is named after the Muslim saint Baba Budan.

 The Baba Budangiri range is very prominent in Chikmagalur. It is a picturesque destination with rich sightseeing attractions. Mullayanagiri is the highest peak in this region. This place rises to a peak of about 1900 metres.
The way to Baba Budangiri, road is completely newly constructed. It is awesome road. We visited on 10 Oct 2015. Thanks to Karnatak Government as it was long pending request.

There are three caves here. Three siddhas are buried here. Siddhas are religious oracles. An annual ceremony is held in these caves. When you are at the Baba Budan Giri mountain range, do try to make it to these caves. The scenery around this region is spectacular. The combination of scenic beauty and the intriguing caves makes this place a frequented one.
  
During the Deepavali or Diwali festival, a beacon is lighted. The beacon is placed here. You can also visit the Sri Guru Dattatreya Bababudanswamy’s Darga. This darga is an ancient institution. It was one of the most important during its time. Hindus and Mohammedans attested the highest accord to this darga.

There is a cave in this vicinity which is believed to be made holy by Dattatreyaswamy. It is said that he along with Hazrat Dada Hayath Mir Khalandar lived in this cave. Therefore this cave is a regarded as holy and people come here to offer their prayers.

5. Kallathi Falls
It is located at a disance of 10 km from Kemmangundi. Water cascades down from the top of the Chandra Drona hill from a height of 122 meters amidst breathtaking scenery. You can find an old Veerabhadra temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, built in a gap between rocks. This temple can be approached after crossing the waterfall. 

The Kalhatti Falls are where nature wraps you in its charm. Over here you experience the elements of nature as pure, refreshing and charming as they come. The magnetism of this waterfall is evident when you see it at close quarters. The surrounding regions of the falls are revitalizing. It makes for a refreshing round of nature walks.


There is so much possible here. You are in nature’s most verdant backyard. Located near Kemmanagundi, the Kalhatti Falls have all the blessings of nature. They are located in a pristine environment. The backdrop is numerous mountains and dense foliage.

You visit this place to make a pilgrimage of relaxation and fun. This is the best place for such activities amongst places to visit in Chikmagalur. There is a small temple in the vicinity. This temple is sandwiched in the waterfalls. The temple has idols and stone structures. Throughout the year, devotees visit this place and offer their prayers here.

Not only are the falls a place for fun and devotion, they are full of trekking trails as well. Trekking is a very popular activity around this region. There are impressive trekking trails that meander through dense foliage. Offering plenty of sightseeing attractions, the regions around the falls make for ideal locations for camping too.

There is a trail around the cascade that lets you trek all the way up and atop the falls. This is the perch point from where you can see the waters descend at full throttle.

There are adjoining attractions around the Kalhatti Falls. Z point is one. Then there is Rock Garden which is yet another scenic place with plenty of things to do and see.

6. Hebbe Falls 
Hebbe Falls can be visited as this cascade is in this region. It is 10 km from these falls. You can trek all the way if you are fit or opt for some transportation. The natural beauty of the surroundings never makes you feel tired and you are always asking for more.

Hebbe Falls are yet another picturesque destination in Chikmagalur. The falls are accessed from Kemmangundi hill station. It is located 8 km from this hill station. The falls are surrounded by astonishing greenery. Dense forests, thick foliage, rich flora and hills encompass this region.

You reach this waterfall by an 8 km trek from Kemmangundi. The path is narrow and steep. Along the way you see scenic wonders. But the effort to reach the Hebbe Falls is worth it. From a distance you can hear the sounds of splashing water, heightening your sense of suspense and excitement.

Hebbe Falls form an ideal location to experience a calm holiday in the backdrop of nature of all the Chikmagalur tourist places. It is the perfect location to unwind and distress. If you are bored and tired of the daily grinds of the city, visiting these falls every now and then recharges your energies.

Coffee plantations are sprawled across the expanses around the falls. Descending from a height of 168 metres, the falls is divided into two stages – the Big Falls and the Small Falls. Called Dodda Hebbe and Chikka Hebbe, the waterfall varies in height at these two regions. Moreover, one can enjoy the besthomestays in Chikmagalur with family and friends.

Top 10 Mind Blowing Optical Illusions

Top 10 Mind Blowing Optical Illusions

MYB   1:38 AM

Optical illusions neither trick the eye nor fool the brain, but are fascinating! They also teach us about our visual perception, and its limitations. Emphasis here is on beauty, interactive experiments, and attempts at explanation of the visual mechanisms involved.

Don’t let it irk you if you don’t see all the phenomena described. For many illusions, there is a percentage of people with perfectly normal vision who just don’t see it, often for reasons currently unknown.

If you are not a vision scientist, you might find my explanatory attempts too highbrow. That is not on purpose, but vision research is not trivial, like any science. So, if the explanation seems gibberish, simply enjoy the phenomenon ;–)

If you look at the original image on the left you might see white and gold colors, but if you look at the image on the right that is in lower light you might see the dress with its true colors: black and blue.


Optical illusion« sounds pejorative, as if exposing a malfunction of the visual system. Rather, I view these phenomena as highlighting particular good adaptations of our visual system to experience with standard viewing situations. These experiences are based on normal visual experiences, and thus under unusual contexts can lead to inappropriate interpretations of a visual scene (=Bayesian interpretation of perception).

The human brain is perhaps the most complex biological structure in evolutionary history. Yet, it's surprisingly easy to trick our brain into perceiving something one way, when in reality it's another. And scientists are only just now figuring out how some of these tricks work.
They're called optical illusions, and they can teach us a great deal about how our brain and eyes work together to understand the world around us.
Here are 10 of the craziest optical illusions and how they work:

1. Ames room

The Royal Institution on YouTube
This is an example of an Ames room that was first invented by American ophthalmologist Adelbert Ames, Jr. in 1934. This room toys with our brain's sense of perspective.
Almost any room we enter is either square or rectangular-shaped, meaning opposite walls are parallel to each other and meet at 90 degree angles. However, an Ames room is shaped like a trapezoid.
The far-left corner is farther from the camera than the far-right corner. So, as the man walks across the room he appears to grow in size when in reality he's just moving closer to the camera.


2. Peripheral drift illusion

Despite the swirling and twirling you think you see, this is a completely still image. It's an example of peripheral drift illusion, which refers to any optical illusion that our brains perceive as moving but, in reality, is still.
The human brain, although highly sophisticated, processes information in a very basic way: As we move our eyes from left to right, we pick up visual cues both directly and in our peripheral vision that our brain then processes piece-by-piece - not continuously.
And because our brains process high-contrast elements, like black on white, faster than low-contrast ones, like black on grey, that lapse in mental read time is ultimately what causes the apparent motion.
In a 2012 study, researchers at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, reported that subjects looking at the picture above only saw apparent movement if their eyes were actually moving. When the subjects maintained a steady stare at a single point, the apparent motion ceased.

3. Geometrical optical illusion

greeenpro2009 on YouTube
This example is just one of many types of geometrical optical illusions, wherein our brains fail at one of the most fundamental tasks: recognizing straight lines.
In case you're wondering, the only thing changing in this picture is the addition of the diagonal lines. The plank is not actually tilting to the right, despite what your brain is telling you.
There's no single explanation for why we perceive an imaginary tilt here. One possible reason could be related to a theory that researcher Mark Changizi of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York first proposed in 2008:
Rensselaer suggests that in the 0.1 seconds it takes our brains to process the light that hits our retinas, humans actually predict what we think we should see. Although, this does not clearly tell us why we only perceive the tilt once the diagonal lines are introduced, Rensselaer's "foresight theory" can explain another type of geometrical optical illusion called Hering illusion.

4. Dragon illusion

 brusspup on YouTube
Originally designed by the late American magician and writer Jerry Andrus, this optical illusion is a true work of genius. It does not use any holographic trick or clever camera work.
This type of optical illusion, similar to the Ames room, plays with our brain's sense of perspective: the dragon's face looks like it's sticking out toward us because, after all, we know from a life time of experience that faces stick out instead of cave in.
But the exact opposite is actually the case here, as Slate science writer Phil Plait explains on Bad Astronomy. Regardless of what you perceive, the entire face of this dragon is inverted making everything backwards: For example, the right eye is actually farther away from us than the left eye, and it's this inversion that confuses our brains and makes us think the dragon is constantly, hungrily staring us down.
You can make this illusion yourself very easily. There are numerous templates online where you simply print and cut out the shape and then fold it according to the directions.
 
5. Shades of gray illusion

 greeenpro2009 on YouTube
In 1995, an MIT professor of vision science, Edward Adelson, proved with his Checker shadow illusion that the human brain is easily fooled when asked to determine the true color of anything in shadow.
His experiment suggests that the human brain has a hard time perceiving slight changes in shade of the same color, like gray in the above example. Therefore, the brain is forced to guess or interpret the color we either think we see or want to see.
The best way to do this is through context, by comparing the color in question with other surrounding colors. Obviously, it's easy to trick our brain with the right setting.
 
6. Reversible image

 1cebergslim on YouTube
If you look at this infamous optical illusion long enough, you should actually see the woman change the direction that she's spinning and the leg she's standing on. This mesmerizing optical illusion was first made in 2003 by web designer Nobuyuki Kayahara. If you're seeing her rotate clockwise on her left left leg, you're not alone. In an online survey of 1,600 people, two-thirds said they initially saw her spinning clockwise.
Because we can easily perceive the figure to be spinning one way and then the next, this is called a reversible illusion - the most famous of which is the Necker cube.
What makes it possible is the fact that the twirling figure is completely black and offers no sense of depth such as shading or shadows on her body. Both her arms and legs seemingly pass through her body, so a distinct direction of motion is ambiguous.
Some people have a harder time seeing her change direction than others. One way to see the change is to take your direct gaze off of the figure so you can only see her in your peripheral vision.
 
7. The Dress

 You're probably familiar with this infamously confusing dress that first appeared on a Tumbler page last February. The colors of the repeating stripes on the dress are black and blue, but many of us perceive the colors gold and white.
It's this difference in opinion that had the entire internet talking and wondering about this optical illusion. Like the twirling woman in the previous example, this is an example of a reversible image where some people can see both sets of colors while others can only perceive one set.
However, this optical illusion is unique because it's the only known reversible image that deals with colors. Plus, there's a right answer to this illusion whereas there is none for the spinning dancer.
Neurologists are now trying to understand the reason behind this shocking phenomenon. So far, a few papers that explore possible explanations, have been published.
 
 8. Curious cat illusion

 crimefeed.com
An Investigation: Is This Cat Going Up Or Down The Stairs? We May Never Know
Is the cat going up or down the stairs? That's the big question everyone was asking themselves in April when this optical illusion went viral. Unfortunately, there's no set answer because there are compelling arguments for both sides.
To answer the question, people again use their brain's sense of perspective as well as draw from a lifetime of experience with stairs. For example, people examine dark smudges in the grainy image that could be shadows that would position of the cat's body.
Business Insider's Megan Willett, for example, is certain that the cat is going downstairs and you can all about her detailed argument in her post "The cat is definitely going down the stairs - here's how you can tell."

9. Hybrid image
ASAP Science
The longer you see this image the more it looks like Albert Einstein instead of Marilyn Monroe, so you might think it's just a skewed photo of the famous physicist. But that's the illusion!
This is an example of what is called a hybrid image that imposes one image on top of another. So, in fact, you are seeing both Monroe and Einstein. The trick is that the image of Einstein shows more detail than the image of Monroe.
The farther an object is from us, the blurrier it appears. Therefore, our brains instantaneously process the blurry image of Monroe when the object is small and apparently far away, but as it comes closer, our eyes and brain recognize the more detailed image of Einstein.





 10. Flattened moon illusion

 Flickr/NASA's Marshall Spaceflight Center

Believe it or not, that's a real photo of the full moon taken in 2012 by an astronaut on board the International Space Station (ISS). This is a different type of optical illusion in that what you see is not generated by tricking the brain. Rather, it's a trick of the light that is reaching astronauts' eyes (and camera).
When the moon and the ISS are on opposite sides of the Earth, the sunlight that bounces off of the moon and heads toward the ISS must first travel through Earth's atmosphere. During its journey, the light interacts with particles in the atmosphere that bend the light, similar to how water distorts light and why objects underwater look larger.
But light from the top-half of the moon travels through less atmosphere than the bottom half, which is physically bent upward to reach astronauts' eyes and is why the moon appears squashed from the bottom-up.

NOW WATCH: This colorful chameleon is actually a stunning optical illusion

This short from WB Production features the work of artist Johannes Stoetter. At first glance you might see a chameleon walking along a branch, but look closely as it begins to change before your eyes.