Cardamom Hills

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Cardamom Hills
Munnar Top station.jpg
Tea plantation on Cardamom Hills
Highest point
Elevation 2,695 m (8,842 ft)
Coordinates 9°52′0″N77°09′0″E / 9.86667°N 77.15000°E / 9.86667; 77.15000
Naming
Language of name Malayalam
Geography
India Kerala relief map.svg
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Cardamom Hills
Parent range Western Ghats
Geology
Age of rock Cenozoic, 100 to 80 mya
Mountain type Fault
(Archaean continental collision) [1]
Climbing
Easiest route SH 19, SH 33 (Satellite view)
Cardamom Hills near Thekkady in Kerala Cardamom Hills.jpg
Cardamom Hills near Thekkady in Kerala
Periyar National Park Periyar National Park 02.jpg
Periyar National Park

The Cardamom Hills or Yela Mala are mountain range of southern India and part of the southern Western Ghats located in Idukki district, Kerala, India. Their name comes from the cardamom spice grown in much of the hills' cool elevation, which also supports pepper and coffee. The Western Ghats and Periyar Sub-Cluster including the Cardamom Hills are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. [2]

Contents

Geography

The Cardamom Hills central point is about 9°52′N77°09′E / 9.867°N 77.150°E / 9.867; 77.150 . They cover about 2,800 km2 of mountainous terrain with deep valleys, and includes the drainages of the west flowing Periyar, Mullayar and Pamba rivers. It includes Idukki Dam and Mullaperiyar Dam. They conjoin the Anaimalai Hills to the northwest, the Palani Hills to the northeast and the Pothigai to the south as far as the Aryankavu pass (at c. 9° N). The crest of the hills form the boundary between Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Anamudi (8,842 ft (2,695 m)) in Eravikulam National Park, is the highest peak in Western Ghats and also the highest point in India south of the Himalayas. [3] [4]

Peaks in Cardamom Hills

Elevation ranges between 300–2,700 metres (980–8,860 ft) and 2,695 metres (8,842 ft) above MSL.

There are several named peaks over 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) in the mountain range including:

NameAltitude Location
Anamudi 2,695 metres (8,842 ft) [3] Eravikulam National Park
Meesapulimala 2,640 metres (8,660 ft) Munnar
Kattumala 2,552 metres (8,373 ft) Idukki
Devimala 2,523 metres (8,278 ft) Devikulam
Kumarikkal Mala 2,522 metres (8,274 ft) Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
Eravimala 2,400 metres (7,900 ft) Munnar
Nandala Mala2,372 metres (7,782 ft) Marayur
Kottakombu Mala2,144 metres (7,034 ft) Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
Kottamala 2,019 metres (6,624 ft) Thekkady
Karimkulam2,585 metres (8,481 ft) Munnar
Pambadum Chola2,438 metres (7,999 ft) Vattavada
Karimala2,100 metres (6,900 ft) Idukki
Devicolam2,130 metres (6,990 ft) Devikulam
Vagavara2,400 metres (7,900 ft) Idukki
Anchanad2,164 metres (7,100 ft) Idukki
Peradu Mala2,225 metres (7,300 ft) Idukki
Ghudoor2,408 metres (7,900 ft) Idukki
Kabula2,195 metres (7,201 ft) Idukki
Mukuthi Mala2,560 metres (8,400 ft) Munnar

Climate

The hills experience average daily temperatures of 15 °C in winter to 31 °C in summer (April–May). The annual rainfall of 2,000 mm to 3,000 mm in Periyar decreases to less than 1,500 mm in the east in Srivilliputtur Wildlife Sanctuary. On the western side, two-thirds of the precipitation is received during the southwest monsoon from June to September. The areas also receive rainfall from the northeast monsoon (October–December) and from pre-monsoon showers (April–May).

Biome protection

These hills are made up largely of several contiguous protected areas intended to restrict human access, protect specific endangered species and preserve some of the still undeveloped forest biomes. The central part of the hills comprise the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary covering an area of 777 km2. The 350 km2 core zone of the sanctuary is the Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve. Periyar is a major ecotourism destination.

To the south of the Periyar Tiger Reserve are the reserve forests of the Ranni, Konni and Achankovil Forest Divisions. The Srivilliputtur Wildlife Sanctuary and reserved forests of the Tirunelveli Forest Division are contiguous with Periyar on the eastern side of the hills in Tamil Nadu in the rain-shadow area with mostly drier forests. The Meghamalai reserve forest, also contiguous with Periyar, is proposed to be the 600 km2 Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary to protect several threatened species including: Bengal tiger, Indian elephant, Nilgiri tahr, lion-tailed macaque, slender loris, grizzled giant squirrel, Salim Ali's fruit bat, great Indian hornbill, Hutton's pitviper and Vindhyan bob butterfly.

Cardamom Hill Reserve

The Cardamom Hill was an administrative area under two revenue officers (Tahasildar) created by the royal proclamation of Kingdom of Travancore in April 1822 to promote cardamom cultivation and to give facilities and protection to cardamom farmers. The Cardamom Hill Reserve (CHR) is within the Cardamom Hills Idukki District. It comprises about 15,721 acres (63.62 km2) as per 1897 royal proclamation of the Kingdom of Travancore. But the extent of land in accordance with the boundaries of the notification is about 334 Sq miles (2,13,720 acres). It is bordered by the Tamil Nadu border to the east, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary on the south, the Periyar River on the west, and Bodimettu, Chokkanad and Muthirapuzha to the north. The rain forests of CHR are a natural wildlife corridor to Periyar National Park from the Anaimalai Hills and Palani hills of Tamil Nadu and is the catchment area of six major hydro-electric projects in Idukki District. Now it is situated in the Idukki District of Kerala.

According to the Chief Secretary of the Government of Kerala, Cardamom Hill land is Government land under the control of the Revenue Department for more than a century. The total extent of the Cardamom Hill area was 1,071.9746 km2 (264,890.7 acres) of which 568.6 km2 (140,500 acres) was assigned under various Land Assignment Rules. The balance of 503.38 km2 (124,390 acres) is leased to farmers for cardamom cultivation The CHR accounts for about 70 percent of the cardamom production of India. [5] CHR contains the Cardamom Research Station, situated in the Pampadumpara village of Udumbanchola taluk. It is located on the eastern side of Kumily-Munnar road. [6] See:map.

CHR is the centre of a controversy between the Forest Department and the Revenue Department over control of the cardamom plantations in the reserve. Non-cardamom cultivation, illegal land conversion and large scale destruction of trees in the CHR have been blamed for flash-floods and landslips in Idukki and siltation problems in the Idukki dam. [7]

According to the report dated 7 September 2005 [8] of the Central Empowered Committee, appointed by the Supreme Court of India, the status of the Cardamom Hill Reserve is forest, and the extent is about 334 sq miles. The CEC concludes that in the Cardamom Hill Reserve, which still holds dense forest, illegal assignment of lands or grant of patta, illegal sales of land, large scale encroachments, transfer and sale of land and consequent deforestation, by the rich, the powerful and the influential, continue unabated in gross violation of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and this Honourable Court’s order dated 12 December 1996. This is causing irretrievable and immense loss to the dense evergreen forest holding rich bio-diversity on steep slopes and destroying the watersheds, water catchments and streams and rivers which flow through these forests. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Munnar</span> Town in Kerala, India

Munnar is a town and hill station located in the Idukki district of the southwestern Indian state of Kerala. Munnar is situated at around 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) above mean sea level, in the Western Ghats mountain range. Munnar is also called the "Kashmir of South India" and is a popular honeymoon destination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Idukki district</span> District in Kerala, India

Idukki is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala in the southwest of the country. It is the largest district in Kerala and lies amid the Cardamom Hills of Western Ghats in Kerala. Idukki district contains two municipal towns - Kattappana and Thodupuzha, and five taluks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Western Ghats montane rain forests</span> Ecoregion in South India

The South Western Ghats montane rain forests is an ecoregion in South India, covering the southern portion of the Western Ghats in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu at elevations from 1,000 to 2,695 m. Annual rainfall in this ecoregion exceeds 2,800 mm (110 in).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anamudi</span> Mountain

Anamudi is a mountain located in Ernakulam district and Idukki district of the Indian state of Kerala. It is the highest peak in the Western Ghats and in South India, at an elevation of 2,695 metres (8,842 ft) and a topographic prominence of 2,479 metres (8,133 ft). The name Anamudi translates to "elephant mountain" a reference to the mountain's appearance. Anamudi is the highest mountain in peninsular India as well as the largest mountain in Kerala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thekkady</span> Hill station in Kerala, India

Thekkady is a town near Periyar National Park, an important tourist attraction in the Kerala state of India. The name Thekkady is derived from the word "thekku" which means teak. Temperatures are lowest in the months of December–January and highest in the months of April–May.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palani Hills</span> Mountain range in India

The Palani Hills are a mountain range in the southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The Palani Hills are an eastward extension of the Western Ghats ranges, which run parallel to the west coast of India. The Palani Hills adjoin with the high Anamalai range on the west and extend east into the plains of Tamil Nadu, covering an area of 2,068 square kilometres (798 sq mi). The highest part of the range is in the southwest, and reaches 1,800-2,500 metres elevation; the eastern extension of the range is made up of hills 1,000-1,500 m (3,281-4,921 ft) high.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Periyar River</span> River in Kerala, India

Periyar, IPA:[peɾijɐːr], is the longest river and the river with the largest discharge potential in the Indian state of Kerala. It is one of the few perennial rivers in the region and provides drinking water for several major towns. The Periyar is of utmost significance to the economy of Kerala. It generates a significant proportion of Kerala's electrical power via the Idukki Dam and flows along a region of industrial and commercial activity. The river also provides water for irrigation and domestic use throughout its course besides supporting a rich fishery. Due to these reasons, the river has been named the "Lifeline of Kerala". Kochi city, in the vicinity of the river mouth, draws its water supply from Aluva, an upstream site sufficiently free of seawater intrusion. Twenty five percent of Kerala's industries are along the banks of the Periyar. These are mostly crowded within a stretch of 5 kilometres (3 mi) in the Eloor-Edayar region (Udhyogamandal), about 10 kilometres (6 mi) north of Kochi harbor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anaimalai Hills</span> Mountain range in India

The Anamala or Anaimalai, also known as the Elephant Mountains, are a range of mountains in the southern Western Ghats of central Kerala and span the border of western Tamil Nadu in Southern India. The name anamala is derived from the Malayalam word aana and the Tamil word yaanai, meaning elephant, or from tribal languages. Mala or Malai means 'mountain', and thus literally translatable as 'Elephant mountain'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anamalai Tiger Reserve</span> Wildlife sanctuary and national park in Tamil Nadu, India

Anaimalai Tiger Reserve, earlier known as Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park and as Anaimalai Wildlife Sanctuary, is a protected area in the Anaimalai Hills of Pollachi and Valparai taluks of Coimbatore District and Udumalaipettai taluk in Tiruppur District, Tamil Nadu, India. The Tamil Nadu Environment and Forests Department by a notification dated 27 June 2007, declared an extent of 958.59 km2 that encompassed the erstwhile IGWLS&NP or Anaimalai Wildlife Sanctuary, as Anaimalai Tiger Reserve under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. According to the National Tiger Conservation Authority, the Reserve presently includes a core area of 958.59 km2 and buffer/peripheral area of 521.28 km2 forming a total area of 1479.87 km2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Periyar National Park</span> Protected area in Kerala

Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary (PNP) is a protected area located in the districts of Idukki and Pathanamthitta in Kerala, India. It is notable as an elephant reserve and a tiger reserve. The protected area encompasses 925 km2 (357 sq mi), of which 305 km2 (118 sq mi) of the core zone was declared as the Periyar National Park in 1982. The park is a repository of rare, endemic, and endangered flora and fauna and forms the major watershed of two important rivers of Kerala: the Periyar and the Pamba.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eravikulam National Park</span> National park in India

Eravikulam National Park is a 97 km2 national park located along the Western Ghats in the Idukki and Ernakulam districts of Kerala in India. The park is situated between 10º05'N and 10º20' north, and 77º0' and 77º10' east and is the first national park in Kerala. It was established in 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theni district</span> District of Tamil Nadu in India

Theni District is one of the 38 districts of Tamil Nadu state in India. Well protected by the scenic hill locks, the district is located besides Madurai district. The town of Theni is the district headquarters. The district is divided into two natural divisions: The hilly areas are constituted by parts of the five taluk's Theni, Bodinayakanur, Periyakulam, Uthamapalayam and Andipatti with thick vegetation and perennial streams from the hills on the western side and Cumbum valley which lies in Uthamapalayam taluk. As of 2011, Theni district had a population of 1,245,899 with a sex ratio of 980 females for every 1,000 males.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manjampatti Valley</span>

Manjampatti Valley is a 110.9 km2 (42.8 sq mi) protected area in the eastern end of Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park (IGWS&NP) in Tirupur District, Tamil Nadu, South India. It is a pristine drainage basin of shola and montane rainforest with high biodiversity recently threatened by illegal land clearing and cultivation.

Meghamalai, commonly known as the High Wavy Mountains, is a mountain range located in the Western Ghats in the Theni district near Kumily, Tamil Nadu. It is dotted with cardamom plantations and tea plantations. The mountain range is 1,500 metres above sea level, and it is rich in flora and fauna. The area, now mostly planted with tea plants, includes cloudlands, high wavys, venniar, and the manalar estates belonging to the Woodbriar Group. Access is largely restricted and includes largely untouched remnants of evergreen forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary</span> Wildlife sanctuary in South India

Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary is located 18 km north of Marayoor on State Highway 17 in the Marayoor and Kanthalloor panchayats of Devikulam taluk in the Idukki district of India's Kerala state. It is one of 18 wildlife sanctuaries among the protected areas of Kerala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary</span> Wildlife sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, India

The Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary (GSWS), also known as Srivilliputhur Wildlife Sanctuary, was established in 1988 to protect the Near threatened grizzled giant squirrel. Occupying an area of 485.2 km2, it is bordered on the southwest by the Periyar Tiger Reserve and is one of the best preserved forests south of the Palghat Gap.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kurinjimala Sanctuary</span>

Kurinjimala Sanctuary protects the approximately 32 hectare core habitat of the endangered Neelakurinji plant in the Kottakamboor and Vattavada villages in Devikulam Taluk, in the Idukki district of Kerala, a state in southern India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vattavada</span> Village in Kerala, India

Vattavada is a village in Idukki district in the state of Kerala, bordering Tamil Nadu, India. The village is located along Palani Hills in Western Ghats. It is an agricultural village known for growing a wide range of vegetables and fruits in the terrace farmlands.

The High Ranges of Kerala is a hilly tract located across the Kerala state of southern India and is treated as a part of the Western Ghats.

References

  1. Singh, A.P.; Kumar, Niraj; Singh, B. (2006), "Nature of the crust along Kuppam–Palani geotransect (South India) from Gravity studies: Implications for Precambrian continental collision and delamination", Gondwana Research, 10 (1–2): 41–47, Bibcode:2006GondR..10...41S, doi:10.1016/j.gr.2005.11.013
  2. UNESCO, World Heritage List – Western Ghats. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Anamudi". Kerala Tourism. Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  4. Frommer's Travel Guide (2007) Introduction to Cardamom Hills, Wiley Publishing, Inc. retrieved 9 April 2007 Archived 2017-07-29 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Shaji K A (14 April 2007). "KERALA RED GRABS KERALA GREEN]". Tehelka. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 13 August 2007.
  6. Kerala Agricultural University, Cardamom Research Station Archived 8 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  7. Govind M. Harish, "Row among departments highlights damage to Cardamom Hill Reserve", The Hindu, 18 December 2005. Retrieved 24 July 2007
  8. Central Empowered Committee, REPORT IN APPLICATION NO.305 FILED BEFORE THE CEC BY "ONE EARTH ONE LIFE" REGARDING THE ILLEGAL GRANT OF LEASES AND THE ENCROACHMENS IN THE CARDAMOM HILL RESERVGE, IDUKKI DISTRICT, KERALA [ sic ], 7 September 2005
  9. "1 Recommendation CEC Compact.doc". Google Docs. Retrieved 25 December 2016.