Mannavanur is a farming village of 1437 households in Mannavanor Panchayat, Dindigul district

Dindigul District

Dindigul District is an administrative region in the south of Tamil Nadu, India. The district was carved out of Madurai District in the year 1985...

, 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...

, 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...

, 35 kilometres (21.7 mi) west from Kodaikanal

Kodaikanal

-Climate:Kodaikanal has a monsoon-influenced subtropical highland climate . The temperatures are cool throughout the year due to the high elevation of the city.-Economy:...

 
It is 7 kilometres (4 mi) by road from Kumbur

Kumbur

Kumbur , is a farming village of 202 houses in Mannavanur Panchayat, at the end of the road west from Kodaikanal in Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu, India. It is at the head of the Kumbur River in Manjampatti Valley drainage basin...

 village and 9 kilometres (6 mi) from Kilanavayal

Kilanavayal

Kilanavayal is a small village of terrace farmers in Mannavanur panchayat at the far eastern end of the Manjampatti Valley drainage basin in the Palani Hills. There is a road between Mannavanur and Kilanavayal. There is a trekking route fromMannavanur via Keelanavayal to ManjampattI and...

 village. Altitude is 1880 metres (6,168 ft). 10°12′45"N 77°20′38"E.

Employment

There are 2,980 males and 2,947 females, most of whom are terrace

Terrace (agriculture)

Terraces are used in farming to cultivate sloped land. Graduated terrace steps are commonly used to farm on hilly or mountainous terrain. Terraced fields decrease erosion and surface runoff, and are effective for growing crops requiring much water, such as rice...

 farmers and agricultural laborers growing potatoes, broccoli, French beans, butter beans, carrots, cauliflower, peas, cabbage and garlic. Out of 569 households reporting income, the means of livelihood are: casual labour 279, subsistence cultivation 21, artisan 265, salary 3, and others 1.

The Central Sheep and Wool Research Institution- Sheep Research Center

Sheep Research Center (Mannavanur)

Southern Regional Research Centre is a regional centre of Central Sheep & Wool Research Institute , a premier Institution of Indian Council of Agricultural Research , New Delhi, under Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. SRRC was started on 16.11.1965 and it has completed 45 years of its...

 employs four full-time scientists and three technical officers. There is a Branch of the Punjab National Bank

Punjab National Bank

Punjab National Bank , was founded in 1894 and is currently the second largest state-owned commercial bank in India ahead of Bank of Baroda with about 5000 branches across 764 cities. It serves over 37 million customers. The bank has been ranked 248th biggest bank in the world by the Bankers...

 near the Research Center building.It caters to all the financial needs of the surrounding villages of- Mannavanur,Kumbur,Keelanavyil,Kavunji,Poondi,Polur and Kilavarai (on the Kerala border).

Health

There is a medical clinic in Mannavanur. Drinking water for most households is supplied from a source within an elevation of less than 100 meters. There is a lack of sanitary latrine facilities. Out of a total of 569 homes: 298 use open defection, 4 use a group latrine with irregular water supply, 263 use a group latrine with regular water supply, none use a clean group latrine with regular water supply and a regular sweeper and only 4 use a private latrine.

Education

Out of 569 children 5–14 years old, 400 are working and not going to school, 113 are going to school and working and 56 are going to school and not working. There are 2 Panchayat Union Primary School and 2 Panchayat Union Middle Schools, (See photos of one teacher schools in Mannavanor Village. The venue is outdoors.)

Wildlife

Bison

Gaur

The gaur , also called Indian bison, is a large bovine native to South Asia and Southeast Asia. The species is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1986 as the population decline in parts of the species' range is likely to be well over 70% over the last three generations...

, sambar, barking deer, Nilgiri langur

Nilgiri Langur

The Nilgiri langur is a lutung found in the Nilgiri Hills of the Western Ghats in South India. Its range also includes Kodagu in Karnataka,Kodayar Hills in Tamil Nadu and many other hilly areas in Kerala and Tamil nadu. This primate has glossy black fur on its body and golden brown fur on its head...

, Nilgiri tahr

Nilgiri Tahr

The Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiritragus hylocrius, known locally as the Nilgiri Ibex or simply Ibex, is an ungulate that is endemic to the Nilgiri Hills and the southern portion of the Western Ghats in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in southern India. It is the state animal of Tamil Nadu...

 and jungle cat

Jungle Cat

The jungle cat is a medium-sized cat and considered the largest remaining species of the wild cat genus Felis. The species is also called the swamp lynx but is not closely related to the lynxes....

s are sighted here. The place is also known for its 165 species of butterflies, 15 types of dabchicks, wood pigeon

Wood Pigeon

The Wood Pigeon is a species of bird in the Columba genus in the Columbidae family. It is a member of the dove and pigeon family Columbidae.- Distribution :...

 and the Nilgiri Pipit

Nilgiri Pipit

The Nilgiri Pipit, Anthus nilghiriensis is a long near threatened bird species endemic to the Western Ghats in South India.It is closely associated with short montane grasslands interspersed with marshy grounds and small streams mostly in hill slopes above of Tamil Nadu and Kerala...

.

Visitor information

Mannavanur is about an hour’s drive from Kodaikanal. Some popular trekking

Backpacking (wilderness)

Backpacking combines the activities of hiking and camping for an overnight stay in backcountry wilderness...

 routes pass through the Sheep Center. The route from Kavunji to Kuukkal is fairly difficult.

From Kavunji take a footpath leading to Mannavanur. From there an old footpath leads to the sheep farm. Cross it and reach the Kodaikkanal road. Follow the road to Kukkal. Enroute, the meadows of sheep farm is pleasant. Near Kukkal you see the caves where ancient men were living. Deer are common.

Tourists are required to get permission from the Forest Department to trek in the forest areas. Please contact : Government of Tamil Nadu, Tourist Office, Annasalai,Kodaikanal, PH; 04542- 241675. A trekking map is available from them.

Nature's Trust has set up a base camp called Camper's Club on a 26 acres (10.5 ha) plot. There are eight small cottages with basic facilities. It organises educational tours and treks (there are 21 routes). They offer a short course in eco-technology and training in clay modelling, homemade chocolates, dry flower arrangements and natural dye

Natural dye

Natural dyes are dyes or colorants derived from plants, invertebrates, or minerals. The majority of natural dyes are vegetable dyes from plant sources – roots, berries, bark, leaves, and wood — and other organic sources such as fungi and lichens....

painting on T-shirts.

The Camper's Club is the only accommodation available in Mannavannur. For prior booking, contact D1, Saibaba Colony, No.1 Kannagai Street, East Tambaram, Chennai. Ph.: 94444-77358.

Visitors to the Sheep Research Center should first see the officer-in-charge at the main office building. Educational institutions can get permission from the officer-in-charge for small groups to camp overnight.