Agastya Mala
Encyclopedia
Agastya Mala (also known as Agastyarkoodam or Agasthyakoodam) is a 1868 metres (6,129 ft) peak within Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala in the Western Ghats
of South India
. The mountain lies on the border between the India
n states of Kerala
(in Kollam
and Thiruvananthapuram District
) and Tamil Nadu
(in Tirunelveli
). The perennial Thamirabarani River
originates from the eastern side of this hill and flows into the Tirunelveli District of Tamil Nadu.
Agastya Mala is a pilgrimage
centre for devotees of the Hindu sage Agastya
, who is considered to be one of the seven rishis (Saptarishi) of Hindu
Puranas
.The shrine was installed under the auspices of the Chenkottukonam Madathipathi Jagadguru
Swami Sathyananda Saraswathi
Thiruvadikal who entered the forests with Hindu Aikya Vedi
activists and his followers especially from the Kani Tribe demolished the cross
erected by Christians. The Tamil language
is considered to be a boon from Agasthya. There is a full-sized statue of Agastya at the top of the peak and the devotees can offer pujas themselves.
Agastya Mala is located 32 km from Neyyar Dam
. The major city and airport nearest to Agastya Mala is Thiruvananthapuram
(Trivandrum) and its Trivandrum International Airport, around 61 km away. The nearest railway station is Ambasamudram
, Tirunelveli District
, Tamil Nadu. There is a trekking path, nearly 32 km, from Bonacaud
The peak of Agasthiyamala can be reached only by trekking up to it. While the Kerala government has been favourable to the pilgrims wanting to visit the peak, the Tamil Nadu government allows certain number of applications even though they have strict rules within the wildlife sanctuary. Every year in the month of May, Sundarampillai (late) from Papanasam used to organise a big group of pilgrims to go on a devotional trek.
treatments are found here. Europeans, particularly those from England
, were the first to establish tea gardens around the base stations of the mountain at Brimore
, Bonacaud
, and Ponmudi
.
The Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve
harbours rare flora and fauna. Tourists are permitted to the area only with permission from the forest department of Kerala
. Annual trekking passes to the peak are issued from the forest department during January-February only.
Other major rivers which originate from the mountain are the Karamana River
, which flows through the Thiruvananthapuram District
and is the major source of drinking water to the city, and the Neyyar River
(also in the Thiruvananthapuram District).
Western Ghats
The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...
of South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
. The mountain lies on the border between the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n states of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
(in Kollam
Kollam district
-Climate:Kollam's temperature is almost steady throughout the year. The average temperature ranges from 25 to 32 degrees Celsius. Summer usually runs from March until May; the monsoon begins by June and ends by September. Kollam receives an annual average rainfall of around...
and Thiruvananthapuram District
Thiruvananthapuram district
Thiruvananthapuram District is the southernmost district of the Indian state of Kerala. It came into existence in the year 1957. The headquarters is the city of Thiruvananthapuram which is also the capital city of Kerala....
) and Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
(in Tirunelveli
Tirunelveli District
Tirunelveli District is a district of Tamil Nadu state in southern India. The city of Tirunelveli is the district headquarters. A unique feature of this district is that it encompasses all five geographical traditions of Tamil Literature; kurinji , mullai , marudham , neithal and palai...
). The perennial Thamirabarani River
Thamirabarani River
The Thamirabarani River originates from the famous Agastyarkoodam peak in the hills of the Western Ghats above Papanasam in the Ambasamudram taluk and flows through Tirunelveli & Tuticorin districts of the Tamil Nadu state of southern India...
originates from the eastern side of this hill and flows into the Tirunelveli District of Tamil Nadu.
Agastya Mala is a pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
centre for devotees of the Hindu sage Agastya
Agastya
Agastya was a Tamil/Vedic Siddhar or sage. Agastya and his clan are also generally credited with uncovering many mantras of the Rig Veda, the earliest and most revered Hindu scripture, in the sense of first having the mantras revealed in his mind by the Supreme Brahman...
, who is considered to be one of the seven rishis (Saptarishi) of Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
Puranas
Puranas
The Puranas are a genre of important Hindu, Jain and Buddhist religious texts, notably consisting of narratives of the history of the universe from creation to destruction, genealogies of kings, heroes, sages, and demigods, and descriptions of Hindu cosmology, philosophy, and geography.Puranas...
.The shrine was installed under the auspices of the Chenkottukonam Madathipathi Jagadguru
Jagadguru
Jagadguru , literally meaning the Guru of the world, is a title used in Sanatana Dharma. Traditionally, it has been bestowed upon or used for acharyas belonging to the Vedānta school who have written Sanskrit commentaries on the Prasthānatrayī - the Brahma Sutra Jagadguru (Sanskrit जगद्गुरु),...
Swami Sathyananda Saraswathi
Swami Sathyananda Saraswathi
Swami Sathyananda Saraswathi also known as Chenkottukonam Swamiji, was a Hindu spiritual teacher, orator, historian and religious scholar. He was the founder of Hindu Aikya Vedi, and remained its chairman until his death....
Thiruvadikal who entered the forests with Hindu Aikya Vedi
Hindu Aikya Vedi
The Hindu Aikya Vedi or Hindu Ikyavedi or Hindu United Front is a "platform to bring all Hindu organizations together", active in the state of Kerala in India. The group is dedicated to bringing in various sections in Kerala Hindu society such as the Nairs and the Ezhavas under a single umbrella...
activists and his followers especially from the Kani Tribe demolished the cross
Cross
A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two lines or bars perpendicular to each other, dividing one or two of the lines in half. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally; if they run obliquely, the design is technically termed a saltire, although the arms of a saltire need not meet...
erected by Christians. The Tamil language
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
is considered to be a boon from Agasthya. There is a full-sized statue of Agastya at the top of the peak and the devotees can offer pujas themselves.
Geography
Neyyar Dam
Neyyar dam is a gravity dam on the Neyyar River in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, South India, located on the foot of the Western Ghats about 30 km from Thiruvananthapuram. It was established in 1958 and is a popular picnic spot...
. The major city and airport nearest to Agastya Mala is Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
(Trivandrum) and its Trivandrum International Airport, around 61 km away. The nearest railway station is Ambasamudram
Ambasamudram
Ambasamudram is a taluk in Tirunelveli district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. The entire taluk had a population of 392,226 as of 2001, with 42.5% classified as rural. The taluk is named for the principal town with the same name...
, Tirunelveli District
Tirunelveli District
Tirunelveli District is a district of Tamil Nadu state in southern India. The city of Tirunelveli is the district headquarters. A unique feature of this district is that it encompasses all five geographical traditions of Tamil Literature; kurinji , mullai , marudham , neithal and palai...
, Tamil Nadu. There is a trekking path, nearly 32 km, from Bonacaud
Bonacaud
Bonacaud is the base station of the famous peak, Agasthyarkoodam in the Agasthya hills. The Agasthya hill range is famous for its abundance of rare herbs and medicinal plants.There is a tea estate in Bonacaud, established by Britishers...
Trekking Routes
Vegetation
Agastyarkoodam has the largest biodiveristy in Asia. The lower elevations of this peak are also known for their abundance of rare herbs and medicinal plants. Around 2,000 medicinal plants used in AyurvedicAyurveda
Ayurveda or ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to India and a form of alternative medicine. In Sanskrit, words , meaning "longevity", and , meaning "knowledge" or "science". The earliest literature on Indian medical practice appeared during the Vedic period in India,...
treatments are found here. Europeans, particularly those from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, were the first to establish tea gardens around the base stations of the mountain at Brimore
Brimore
Brimore is the base station of the famous peak, Agasthyarkoodam in the Agasthya hills. The Agasthya hill range is famous for its abundance of rare herbs and medicinal plants.There is a tea estate in Brimore, established by Britishers....
, Bonacaud
Bonacaud
Bonacaud is the base station of the famous peak, Agasthyarkoodam in the Agasthya hills. The Agasthya hill range is famous for its abundance of rare herbs and medicinal plants.There is a tea estate in Bonacaud, established by Britishers...
, and Ponmudi
Ponmudi
Ponmudi is a hillstation in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala in South India. Its located 61 km north-east of Trivandrum city at an altitude of 1100 m. It is a part of the Western Ghats mountain range that runs parallel to the Arabian Sea.-Tourism:Ponmudi is connected to...
.
The Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve
Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve
The Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve was Established in 2001 and includes out of which 1828 km² is in Kerala and 1672.36 km² is in Tamil Nadu....
harbours rare flora and fauna. Tourists are permitted to the area only with permission from the forest department of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. Annual trekking passes to the peak are issued from the forest department during January-February only.
Other major rivers which originate from the mountain are the Karamana River
Karamana River
Karamana river is a river flowing through the Thiruvananthapuram city , Kerala, India. The river starts from the southern tip of the Western Ghats at Agastyar Koodam. The river flows 68 km westward and merges into the Arabian Sea at Panathura area near Kovalam...
, which flows through the Thiruvananthapuram District
Thiruvananthapuram district
Thiruvananthapuram District is the southernmost district of the Indian state of Kerala. It came into existence in the year 1957. The headquarters is the city of Thiruvananthapuram which is also the capital city of Kerala....
and is the major source of drinking water to the city, and the Neyyar River
Neyyar River
The Neyyar River is a river of south-western India in the Western Ghats. It flows from the Agastya Mala hills in of Thiruvananthapuram District of Kerala state....
(also in the Thiruvananthapuram District).
See also
- Thamirabarani RiverThamirabarani RiverThe Thamirabarani River originates from the famous Agastyarkoodam peak in the hills of the Western Ghats above Papanasam in the Ambasamudram taluk and flows through Tirunelveli & Tuticorin districts of the Tamil Nadu state of southern India...
- TirunelveliTirunelveliTirunelveli , also known as Nellai , and historically as Tinnevelly, is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of the Tirunelveli District and the sixth biggest city in Tamil Nadu...
- PapanasamPapanasamPapanasam is a panchayat town in Thanjavur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. In otherwords it is a grown up village and Growing Town. This is the town 25 km from Tanjore and 15 km from Kumbakonam...
- AnamudiAnamudiAnamudi is located in the Indian state Kerala. It is the highest peak in the Western Ghats and South India, at an elevation of , and a topographic prominence of...
- Highest peak in Western GhatsWestern GhatsThe Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan... - Tourism in ThiruvananthapuramTourism in ThiruvananthapuramThiruvananthapuram district , holds a number of tourist spots. The entire tourism package of the state such as hill stations, back waters, beaches, lagoons, and wild life sanctuaries are present in Thiruvananthapuram district, reflects the beauty of the state Kerala...