Palani Hills Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park
Encyclopedia
The Palani Hills Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park is a proposed Protected area in Dindigul District
, Tamil Nadu
State South India
. The Park will be an upgrade and expansion of the 736.87 km² (PRO) Palani (Kodaikanal) Wildlife Sanctuary which was to be established in 2008. The park includes about 36% of the 2068 square kilometres (798.5 sq mi) in the Palani Hills
. The park is located between Latitude 10°7' - 10°28' N and Longitude 77°16' - 77°46' E. Central location 10°14′43"N 77°31′26"E is 1.5 kilometre (0.93205910497471 mi) east northeast of Silver Cascade Waterfall and 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) E X NE of Kodaikanal Lake
.
(பழனி in Tamil
) located at the northern base of the hills.
In 1906, the great undulating plateau on top of the Palanis comprising four Forest ranges were consolidated under the Indian Forest Act of 1878
and designated by the British Government as a single Reserve Forest, from Kodaikanal town to the Kerala state border in the west and the Bodinayakkanur
town limits to the south, and given the name of the Ampthill Downs. It was over 53 square miles (137.3 km²) in extent and about one quarter of it then consisted of sholas and three quarters was open, rolling, grassy downs.
The Ampthill Downs area is now named Upper Palani Shola Reserved Forest and totals 145.7 square kilometres (56.3 sq mi) (36,000 acres) of forest land. It is the largest reserve forest division in the Palani Hills. The core of the proposed Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary awaiting government notification is located in this division.
In 1988, the new 50 square kilometres (19.3 sq mi) Kodaikanal-Berijam Wildlife Sanctuary was included in the protected area proposals considered to be of national priority status by the Wildlife Institute of India
.
In the early 1990s, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department
submitted a proposal to the State government to protect much of the Palani Hills by declaring the area a wildlife sanctuary or a national park.
The proposed park area includes only reserve forest
land. These forests are already among the protected areas of Tamil Nadu. Their upgrade to Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park will increase their IUCN status from level VI - Protected Area with Sustainable Use of Natural Resources to IV - Habitat/Species Management Area or II - National Park
and improve the habitat
and wildlife
conservation
of the area.
The Sanctuary has been under consideration of the Government of India in consultation with the Government of Tamil Nadu since 1999. The actual park boundaries have not been finalized. In 2007, proposals for declaration of Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary were under consideration of the Government.
The increasingly important economic role of Eco-tourism, including: trekking, hiking
, camping
, mountaineering
, rock climbing
and bird watching may help local vested interest
s to welcome this new Protected area. It remains to be seen whether the Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park will stimulate or stifle commercial development and tourism. The decision to finally establish the Park must balance short term financial
benefits of the status quo
versus long term stability
of the natural and human community.
The Palni Hills are an eastward spur of the Western Ghats with a maximum east-west length of 65 kilometres (40.4 mi), and a north-south width of 40 kilometres (24.9 mi). Area is 2064 square kilometres (796.9 sq mi). These hills rise in steep escarpment
s to a high undulating plateau
ranging from 1600 metres (5,249.3 ft) to over 2000 metres (6,561.7 ft) elevation.
The western extremity of the Park is contiguous with the Manjampatti Valley
core area of the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park
and with The Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
in Kerala
. The Kurinjimala Sanctuary in Kerala borders the southwestern corner of the Park. These Wildlife Sanctuaries are adjacent to the recently established Eravikulam National Park
.
The Park area includes only reserve forest land, including Palni Hills Northern Slope East, Kallar, Palni Hills Southern Slope East, Upper Palni Shola, Allinagaram, and Palni Hills Northern Slope West Reserve Forests in the Dindigul
and Kodaikanal Forest Divisions.
s and schist
s; they are among the oldest mountain ranges in India. The Park is an eastward extension of the Western Ghats
hills formed by separation of the India-Madagascar-Seychelles blocks of East Gondwana in the Early Cretaceous
period about 120 million years ago.
It is surrounded to the north, east and south by the Deccan Plateau
formed later in the massive Deccan Traps
eruption 65 million years ago as India drifted over the Reunion Hotspot
.
The hill station
of Kodaikanal stands in a 2,195 m (7,202 ft) high basin at the southern edge of the central part. The eastern end of the park is made of hills 1000–1500 m (3,281 ft - 4,921 ft) high.
The Tamil Nadu Department of Geology and Mining has completed detailed Geo-Technical Studies of the Palni Hills determining moderate to high landslide danger in much of the area.
Tropical monsoon climate
which varies from west to east. Generally, as one proceeds from the Kerala border in the west to the foothills in the east, average rainfall decreases and temperature increases. Compared to the Deccan plateau
and the southwestern coastal plains, temperatures vary from moderate to quite cool. In the central Palani Hills at Kodaikanal, during March to May, the temperature range is between 10.1 to 20.9 °C (50.2 to 69.6 F). The temperature can rise to a high of 35 °C (95 °F). During Dec-Feb it is between 8.1 to 18.6 °C (46.6 to 65.5 F). In January, night temperatures sometimes drop below freezing, and thin ice is seen on lake edges in the early morning.
The average annual rainfall is 1617 millimetres (63.7 in), mostly during the north-east monsoon from June to November.
Nomadic Paliyan
tribes people have been seen living in some of the several caves in Manjampatti Valley
. Paliyan people can be seen near Kukal Cave. The Tamil speaking Pulayan are referred to as the MalaPulayans, a group categorized as scheduled caste by State government of Tamil Nadu. Their traditional livelihood is foraging yam
s and small gaming in the nearby forest areas combined with cultivation of several species of minor millet
s in small plots located near their hamlets to meet their subsistence requirements.
They live in small hamlets in huts and government constructed colonies. The sedentary life started with the construction of group houses by the government in the early sixties. The community is vertically divided into two sub divisions called Koora and Kanni, further subdivided into 47 sub sects. Each sub sect is called Kootams, which regulates certain social events. Each kootam has it own deity, which is common to the entire group and once yearly the members of the same kootam assemble to worship the deity.
Many native tribals in the Palani Hills have partially assimilated modern culture but are marginalized on the fringes of society. Their social, economic and physical survival has become a difficult challenge for them and several public and private agencies. Their ancient culture in this area is well documented,.
Relics and artifacts of the Paliyan tribes people can be seen in the Shenbaganur Museum.
The Palni hills are the easternmost part of the Western Ghats
of India, which is one of the 25 biodiversity hotspot
s of the world. Some of the very rare and endangered plants and animals of India are found here. including intact relics of primary indigenous
vegetation and a large number of non-native plants.
The hills may be divided into four distinct vertical zones comprising distinct Ecoregions with a wide diversity of Endemic species.
Mammals: Wild Boars
are common in areas away from human habitation and cultivation.
Threatened species
in the park area include: Indian Elephant
, Gaur
(Wild Ox), Nilgiri Tahr
and Grizzled Giant Squirrel
.
Endangered Bengal Tiger
populations in the adjacent Project Tiger
reserves of Anamalai Tiger Reserve
and the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
in the Agasthyamalai hills could expand back into this area when it is better protected. In February 2010, Tigers were sighted in Kodaikanal forests during a six-day carnivore
signs survey. A tigress and her cub were spotted playing in the wild. Forest Department officials are studying survey data to estimate the local tiger population based on indirect evidence like pug marks, scats and scratches.
Plants:
Moist areas exist along the ravines and in the sheltered pockets of high elevation shola forests around 2000 metres (6,561.7 ft). These sholas are often hotspot
s of endemic plant life. Notable among these is Pambar Shola. The Pambar Shola, draining to the Pambar River, is now reduced to less than 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) in circumference. It contains several rare and endemic plant species including: Sonerila pulneyensis: a delicate Melastomataceae
succulent herb endemic to Pambar Shola, Hoya
wightii ssp. pulneyensis: a succulent vine with waxy flowers endemic to Pambar Shola', Plectranthus
bourneate: a succulent herb endemic to Pambar Shola, Trichoglottis
tenera: an epiphytic orchid. Pambar Shola is its major habitat, Phyllanthus
chandrabosei: a shrub endemic to Pambar Shola, Huperzia sp.: a fern ally endemic to Pambar Shola, Selaginella sp.: a delicate creeping fern endemic to Pambar Shola, Psydrax
ficiformis: a tree, until recently thought extinct, Utleria salicifolia: only one clump known on the Palni hills, Elaeocarpus blascoi
: a tree believed extinct until this year, Cyathea
crinita: tree fern, highly endangered (Botanical Survey of India), Aeschynanthus
perrottetii: known only from one other shola in the Palni hills, Eulophia
sp.: a new species for the Palni hills first collected in April 2000,Actinodapohne bourneae: Laurel tree believed extinct (Botanical Survey of India). Two trees found in Pambar Shola, Ceropegia
thwaitesii: vine, vulnerable, endemic to Pambar shola, Pimpinella
pulneyensis: scarce, Exacum
anamallayannum: gentian
, only one other known location in Palni hills.
The comprehensive source on Palani Hills flora is currently in print: "The Flora of the Palni Hills, South India" by K.M. Matthew (1999), Tiruchirapalli, 3 vols., xcvi, 1880 p., figs., maps, $193 (set). ISBN 81-900539-3-0. Contents:
Kurinji flowers
(Strobilanthes kunthiana) which blossom in spectacular fields of violet only once in 12 years are threatened..
, grasslands destruction, monoculture
tree plantations, and invasive
exotic plant species
in the Park.
There is sewage
pollution
, solid waste pollution, Mercury contamination
, sound pollution
, visual pollution
, uncontrolled tourism
, overdevelopment
and lake eutrophication
in and near Kodaikanal town. The Government of Tamil Nadu and several local NGO conservation
groups are actively working to reduce some of these threats:
A sum of Rs.1327.50 lakhs has been released for this purpose during 2006-2007.
, Kukkal
, Kavunji, Berijam
and Devadanapatty.
Contact: District Forest officer, Kodaikkanal Forest Division, Kodaikanal, Dindigal District, Tamil Nadu, India. (open 10 am to 6 pm) Phone : 91-4542-240287
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...
State 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 Park will be an upgrade and expansion of the 736.87 km² (PRO) Palani (Kodaikanal) Wildlife Sanctuary which was to be established in 2008. The park includes about 36% of the 2068 square kilometres (798.5 sq mi) in the Palani Hills
Palni Hills
The Palni Hills are a mountain range in Tamil Nadu state of South India. The Palni Hills are an eastward extension of the Western Ghats ranges, which run parallel to the west coast of India. The Palni Hills adjoin the high Anamalai range on the west, and extend east into the plains of Tamil Nadu,...
. The park is located between Latitude 10°7' - 10°28' N and Longitude 77°16' - 77°46' E. Central location 10°14′43"N 77°31′26"E is 1.5 kilometre (0.93205910497471 mi) east northeast of Silver Cascade Waterfall and 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) E X NE of Kodaikanal Lake
Kodaikanal Lake
Kodaikanal Lake, also known as Kodai Lake is a manmade lake located in the Kodaikanal city in Dindigul district in Tamil Nadu, India. Sir Vere Hentry Levinge, the then Collector of Madurai, was instrumental in creating the lake in 1863, amidst the Kodaikanal town which was developed by the British...
.
History
The Palani Hills derive their name from the ancient temple town of PalaniPalani
Palani is a city and a municipality in the Dindigul district of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located about 100 km South of Coimbatore City and 60 km west of Dindigul...
(பழனி in Tamil
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...
) located at the northern base of the hills.
In 1906, the great undulating plateau on top of the Palanis comprising four Forest ranges were consolidated under the Indian Forest Act of 1878
Indian Forest Act, 1927
The Indian Forest Act, 1927 was largely based on previous Indian Forest Acts implemented under the British. The first and most famous was the Indian Forest Act of 1878...
and designated by the British Government as a single Reserve Forest, from Kodaikanal town to the Kerala state border in the west and the Bodinayakkanur
Bodinayakkanur
Bodinayakanur is a city and a municipality in Theni district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India.-Demographics:...
town limits to the south, and given the name of the Ampthill Downs. It was over 53 square miles (137.3 km²) in extent and about one quarter of it then consisted of sholas and three quarters was open, rolling, grassy downs.
The Ampthill Downs area is now named Upper Palani Shola Reserved Forest and totals 145.7 square kilometres (56.3 sq mi) (36,000 acres) of forest land. It is the largest reserve forest division in the Palani Hills. The core of the proposed Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary awaiting government notification is located in this division.
In 1988, the new 50 square kilometres (19.3 sq mi) Kodaikanal-Berijam Wildlife Sanctuary was included in the protected area proposals considered to be of national priority status by the Wildlife Institute of India
Wildlife Institute of India
The Wildlife Institute of India is a autonomous institution under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.WII carries out wildlife research in areas of study like Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Wildlife Policy, Wildlife Management, Wildlife Forensics, Spatial Modeling,...
.
In the early 1990s, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department
Tamil Nadu Forest Department
The Tamil Nadu Forest Department was established as the Madras Forest Department in 1855 by Dr. Hugh Francis Cleghorn, "the father of scientific forestry in India". The department is responsible for managing all the protected areas and forests plus environmental and wildlife related issues of Tamil...
submitted a proposal to the State government to protect much of the Palani Hills by declaring the area a wildlife sanctuary or a national park.
The proposed park area includes only reserve forest
Reserve forest
You may be looking for forest reserve, a generic term associated with protected forest areas, which is also used as a specific term for protected forests in some countries...
land. These forests are already among the protected areas of Tamil Nadu. Their upgrade to Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park will increase their IUCN status from level VI - Protected Area with Sustainable Use of Natural Resources to IV - Habitat/Species Management Area or II - National Park
National park
A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently A national park is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or...
and improve the habitat
Habitat (ecology)
A habitat is an ecological or environmental area that is inhabited by a particular species of animal, plant or other type of organism...
and wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
conservation
Conservation biology
Conservation biology is the scientific study of the nature and status of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction...
of the area.
The Sanctuary has been under consideration of the Government of India in consultation with the Government of Tamil Nadu since 1999. The actual park boundaries have not been finalized. In 2007, proposals for declaration of Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary were under consideration of the Government.
The increasingly important economic role of Eco-tourism, including: trekking, hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
, mountaineering
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
, rock climbing
Rock climbing
Rock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
and bird watching may help local vested interest
Vested interest
Vested interest is a communication theory that seeks to explain how influences impact behaviors. As defined by William Crano, vested interest refers to the amount that an attitude object is deemed hedonically relevant by the attitude holder...
s to welcome this new Protected area. It remains to be seen whether the Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park will stimulate or stifle commercial development and tourism. The decision to finally establish the Park must balance short term financial
FINANCIAL
FINANCIAL is the weekly English-language newspaper with offices in Tbilisi, Georgia and Kiev, Ukraine. Published by Intelligence Group LLC, FINANCIAL is focused on opinion leaders and top business decision-makers; It's about world’s largest companies, investing, careers, and small business. It is...
benefits of the status quo
Status quo
Statu quo, a commonly used form of the original Latin "statu quo" – literally "the state in which" – is a Latin term meaning the current or existing state of affairs. To maintain the status quo is to keep the things the way they presently are...
versus long term stability
Ecological stability
Ecological stability can refer to types of stability in a continuum ranging from resilience to constancy to persistence. The precise definition depends on the ecosystem in question, the variable or variables of interest, and the overall context...
of the natural and human community.
Geography
Escarpment
An escarpment is a steep slope or long cliff that occurs from erosion or faulting and separates two relatively level areas of differing elevations.-Description and variants:...
s to a high undulating plateau
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
ranging from 1600 metres (5,249.3 ft) to over 2000 metres (6,561.7 ft) elevation.
The western extremity of the Park is contiguous with the Manjampatti Valley
Manjampatti Valley
Manjampatti Valley is a protected area in the eastern end of Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park in Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu, South India. It is a pristine drainage basin of shola and montane rain Forest with high biodiversity recently threatened by illegal land clearing...
core area of the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park
Indira Gandhi National Park
Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park is a protected area named after Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who visited the park on October 7, 1961. It is often called "Topslip", a village in the northeast corner of the park which is the main visitor center. This name is derived from the local...
and with The Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, , is located 18 km north of Marayoor on SH 17 in the Marayoor and Kanthalloor Panchayats of Devikulam Taluk in the Idukki district of Kerala state in South India. It is one of twelve Wildlife Sanctuaries among the Protected areas of Kerala.It is under the...
in 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....
. The Kurinjimala Sanctuary in Kerala borders the southwestern corner of the Park. These Wildlife Sanctuaries are adjacent to the recently established Eravikulam National Park
Eravikulam National Park
Eravikulam National Park is a 97 km² national park located along the Western Ghats in the Idukki district of Kerala in India, between 10º05'N - 10º20'N latitude and 77º0'E - 77º10'E longitude...
.
The Park area includes only reserve forest land, including Palni Hills Northern Slope East, Kallar, Palni Hills Southern Slope East, Upper Palni Shola, Allinagaram, and Palni Hills Northern Slope West Reserve Forests in the Dindigul
and Kodaikanal Forest Divisions.
Geology
History
The Palani Hills are formed of pre-Cambrian gneisses, charnockiteCharnockite
Charnockite is applied to any orthopyroxene-bearing granite, composed mainly of quartz, perthite or antiperthite and orthopyroxene , as an end-member of the charnockite series.-Charnockite series:...
s and schist
Schist
The schists constitute a group of medium-grade metamorphic rocks, chiefly notable for the preponderance of lamellar minerals such as micas, chlorite, talc, hornblende, graphite, and others. Quartz often occurs in drawn-out grains to such an extent that a particular form called quartz schist is...
s; they are among the oldest mountain ranges in India. The Park is an eastward extension of the Western Ghats
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...
hills formed by separation of the India-Madagascar-Seychelles blocks of East Gondwana in the Early Cretaceous
Cretaceous
The Cretaceous , derived from the Latin "creta" , usually abbreviated K for its German translation Kreide , is a geologic period and system from circa to million years ago. In the geologic timescale, the Cretaceous follows the Jurassic period and is followed by the Paleogene period of the...
period about 120 million years ago.
It is surrounded to the north, east and south by the Deccan Plateau
Deccan Plateau
The Deccan Plateau is a large plateau in India, making up the majority of the southern part of the country. It rises a hundred meters high in the north, rising further to more than a kilometers high in the south, forming a raised triangle nested within the familiar downward-pointing triangle of...
formed later in the massive Deccan Traps
Deccan Traps
The Deccan Traps are a large igneous province located on the Deccan Plateau of west-central India and one of the largest volcanic features on Earth. They consist of multiple layers of solidified flood basalt that together are more than thick and cover an area of and a volume of...
eruption 65 million years ago as India drifted over the Reunion Hotspot
Réunion hotspot
The Réunion hotspot is a volcanic hotspot which currently lies under the Island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean. The Chagos-Laccadive Ridge and the southern part of the Mascarene Plateau are volcanic traces of the Réunion hotspot....
.
Mountains
The Palani hills are most prominent towards the west, ranging from 1800 metres (5,905.5 ft) to 2553 metres (8,376 ft) (5,906 ft - 8,376 ft). The ten most prominent peaks are:- Vandaravu 2553 metres (8,376 ft), 10°8′56"N 77°16′28"E
- Ibex Peak 2517 metres (8,257.9 ft) 10°8′21"N 77°18′50"E
- Vembadi Peak 2505 metres (8,218.5 ft), 10°12′19"N 77°24′16"E
- Gundar 2461 metres (8,074.1 ft),
- Karunmakadu 2451 metres (8,041.3 ft),
- Sandana Parai 2404 metres (7,887.1 ft)
- Venkombu 2327 metres (7,634.5 ft) 10°14′51"N 77°28′27"E
- Tina Vardi 2270 metres (7,447.5 ft),
- Perumal MalaiPerumal PeakPerumal Peak or Perumal Malai Peak is a high peak at Kodaikanal in the Perumalmalai hills, that are a part of the greater Western Ghat mountain range in Tamil Nadu, India, having an elevation of . It is a favourite spot for trekkers.-External links:*...
2236 metres (7,336 ft) 10°17′56"N 77°33′51"E, - Vellari Malai 2229 metres (7,313 ft) 10°15′46"N 77°20′56"E
The hill station
Hill station
A hill station is a town located at a higher elevation than the nearby plain or valley. The term was used mostly in colonial Asia , but also in Africa , for towns founded by European colonial rulers as refuges from the summer heat, up where temperatures are cooler...
of Kodaikanal stands in a 2,195 m (7,202 ft) high basin at the southern edge of the central part. The eastern end of the park is made of hills 1000–1500 m (3,281 ft - 4,921 ft) high.
The Tamil Nadu Department of Geology and Mining has completed detailed Geo-Technical Studies of the Palni Hills determining moderate to high landslide danger in much of the area.
Waterfalls
There are many waterfalls throughout the Park which are popular tourist attractions. Some of the prominent falls associated with the park are: (Distances are referenced from km 0.0 at the bund (dam) on northeast end of Kodaikanal lake at 10°14′17"N 77°29′18"E.)- Alanthoni Falls at 10°17′40"N 77°16′2"E 20 metres (65.6 ft) high, elevation 590 metres (1,935.7 ft) in Manjampatti ValleyManjampatti ValleyManjampatti Valley is a protected area in the eastern end of Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park in Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu, South India. It is a pristine drainage basin of shola and montane rain Forest with high biodiversity recently threatened by illegal land clearing...
, core area of Indira Gandhi National ParkIndira Gandhi National ParkIndira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park is a protected area named after Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who visited the park on October 7, 1961. It is often called "Topslip", a village in the northeast corner of the park which is the main visitor center. This name is derived from the local...
, between Talinji and Manjampatti villages on the Ten Ar River, public access restricted. - Bamen Falls
- Bear Shola Falls at 10°14′23"N 77°28′37"E 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from Kodaikanal,
- Fairy Falls at 10°13′28"N 77°27′57"E 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from Kodaikanal),
- Glen Falls at 10°15′53"N 77°30′18"E VilpattiVilpattiVilpatti is a Panchayat in Kodaikanal Taluk of Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu state, South India. It is composed of the main village of Vilpatti and 11 hamlets....
on Palar (Kallar) River - Gundar Falls at 10°14′38"N 77°26′12"E A dangerous sheer cliff that drops over 100 metres (328.1 ft), to the first level, then drops off a couple more times to the plains.
- Neptune Falls and Pool at 10°12′51"N 77°25′15"E, 400 metres (1,312.3 ft) are down a pine needle path through large pines beginning on left of road 0.5 kilometre (0.310686368324903 mi) past Forest Dept. Nursery, 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) from Kodaikanal on Poombrai Road.
- Palar Upper Falls also called Anju Veedu Falls (Five House Falls) at 10°19′21"N 77°31′22"E, 85 metres (278.9 ft) photo, photo, on Palar stream 5.5 km southeast of Palar Reservoir and 1.7 km downstream north from Ganesha Puram village, per 1974 survey map. 27 kilometres (16.8 mi) from Kodaikanal), in the VilpattiVilpattiVilpatti is a Panchayat in Kodaikanal Taluk of Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu state, South India. It is composed of the main village of Vilpatti and 11 hamlets....
Range. Spectacular waterfalls with dangerous currents. This stream originates in the Kodaikanal lakeKodaikanal LakeKodaikanal Lake, also known as Kodai Lake is a manmade lake located in the Kodaikanal city in Dindigul district in Tamil Nadu, India. Sir Vere Hentry Levinge, the then Collector of Madurai, was instrumental in creating the lake in 1863, amidst the Kodaikanal town which was developed by the British...
. - Palar Lower falls 103 metres (337.9 ft) photo, photo, on Palar stream 5.5 km southeast of Palar Reservoir and 1.7 km downstream north from Ganesha Puram village, per 1974 survey map. 27 kilometres (16.8 mi) from Kodaikanal), in the VilpattiVilpattiVilpatti is a Panchayat in Kodaikanal Taluk of Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu state, South India. It is composed of the main village of Vilpatti and 11 hamlets....
Range. Spectacular waterfalls with dangerous currents. This stream originates in the Kodaikanal lakeKodaikanal LakeKodaikanal Lake, also known as Kodai Lake is a manmade lake located in the Kodaikanal city in Dindigul district in Tamil Nadu, India. Sir Vere Hentry Levinge, the then Collector of Madurai, was instrumental in creating the lake in 1863, amidst the Kodaikanal town which was developed by the British...
. - Poombarai Falls
- Pambar Falls (also called Liril or Vatakanal) at 10°13′20"N 77°28′59"E, elevation 2120 metres (6,955.4 ft), is 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) SE from Kodaikanal.
- Silver Cascade at 10°14′32"N 77°30′37"E 55 metres (180.4 ft) high, is 8 kilometres (5 mi) from Kodaikanal) on the Ghat Road.
- Skamba Falls at 10°17.5234′N 77°31.4093′E is 8 kilometres (5 mi) NE from Kodaikanal).
- Snake Falls 10°13′12"N 77°29′13"E Just below Pambar Falls where Levigne stream comes out of Pambar Shola. Is particularly visible from top end of Coolie Ghat just below Shenbuganour.
- Thalaiyar FallsThalaiyar FallsThalaiyar Falls, also known as Rat Tail Falls is located in the Palani Hills of Dindigul District,Tamil Nadu State, South India. It is tall and is the highest waterfall in Tamil Nadu, the third highest in India and the 267th highest in the world....
, (Rat Tail Falls) at 10°13′24"N 77°35′56"E, elevation 820 metres (2,690.3 ft), is 975 feet (297.2 m) (297 meters) high. It is the highest waterfall in Tamil NaduTamil NaduTamil 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...
and the third highest in India. - Gaur Vellaiyan Falls at 10°11′46"N 77°18′37"E, 52 feet (15.8 m) high, is along the Kilavarai trail between Kilavarai and intersection 11 with Kodaikanal–Munnar RoadKodaikanal–Munnar RoadThe Kodaikanal–Munnar Road was located in Dindigul District and Theni District of Tamil Nadu and Idukki district of Kerala in South India....
, 40 kilometres (24.9 mi) from Kodaikanal. - Kathirikkai Falls is at 10°9′6"N 77°19′15"E, elevation 2270 metres (7,447.5 ft). There is small pool above this 50 m (164 ft) waterfall just southwest of the Kodaikanal–Munnar Road crossing the Kathirikkai Odei (the Second Trout Stream) 2.2 kilometres (1.4 mi) west of the Forest Dept Hut.
- Unnamed Falls at 10°12′30"N 77°28′24"E is on Dolphins Nose Trail.
- Unnamed Falls 16m at 10°7′51"N 77°16′45"E, 16 metres (52.5 ft) high, is 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) southwest of Vandaravu Peak in remote southwest corner of Palani Hills.
- Kudiraiyar River Falls at Kookkal Kombai 10°18′50"N 77°20′59"E, 90 metres (295.3 ft) high, is 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) walk northwest of KukkalKukkalKukkal is a Panchayat village of terrace farmers at the far western end of the Palani Hills in Kodaikanal block of Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu state, South India. It is from Kodaikanal at: . Elevation is . Kookal is notable for the high biodiversity of the area.-Geography:Kukkal sits at the...
. - Kukkal Falls unnamed? at 10°17′4"N 77°22′3"E 0.6 kilometre (0.372823641989884 mi) southwest of Kukkal village center
- Polur Falls (போளூர் அருவி) at 10°12′20"N 77°18′55"E.
- Poondi Falls at 10°11′50"N 77°19′26"E estimated from Army Map and contours
- Kumbakarai Falls located in the lower Palni foothills, along the Kodai-Vellagavi-Periyakulam foot path at 10°11′0"N 77°31′43"E. These falls have two stages. At the first stage water collects in huge rock recesses which are each named after wild animals such as tiger, elephant and snake. The Pambar river then flows 0.5 kilometre (0.310686368324903 mi) to the second stage before falling as the main waterfall. Bathing is allowed. There is a bus from PeriyakulamPeriyakulamPeriyakulam is a town and a Municipality in Theni district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-Geography:Periyakulam is located at . It has an average elevation of 282 metres . It is located at the foothills of the Western Ghats bordering the neighbouring state of Kerala. It is one of...
with fare of Rs. 2. - Unnamed Falls 10m 10°8′37"N 77°17′58"E, in Allinagaram Reserved Forest, elevation 2220 metres (7,283.5 ft), location estimated from Map
- Unnamed Falls 15m 10°9′45"N 77°20′4"E height 15 metres (49.2 ft), elevation 2170 metres (7,119.4 ft), location estimated from Map
| Name | Height | Location | Manjampatti Valley Manjampatti Valley Manjampatti Valley is a protected area in the eastern end of Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park in Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu, South India. It is a pristine drainage basin of shola and montane rain Forest with high biodiversity recently threatened by illegal land clearing... , core area of Indira Gandhi National Park Indira Gandhi National Park Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park is a protected area named after Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who visited the park on October 7, 1961. It is often called "Topslip", a village in the northeast corner of the park which is the main visitor center. This name is derived from the local... , public access restricted.> |
|---|
Climate
The Palani Hills have a montaneMontane
In biogeography, montane is the highland area located below the subalpine zone. Montane regions generally have cooler temperatures and often have higher rainfall than the adjacent lowland regions, and are frequently home to distinct communities of plants and animals.The term "montane" means "of the...
Tropical monsoon climate
Tropical monsoon climate
Tropical monsoon climate, occasionally also known as a tropical wet climate or tropical monsoon and trade-wind littoral climate in climate classification, is a relatively rare type of climate that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification category "Am."Tropical monsoon climates have monthly...
which varies from west to east. Generally, as one proceeds from the Kerala border in the west to the foothills in the east, average rainfall decreases and temperature increases. Compared to the Deccan plateau
Deccan Plateau
The Deccan Plateau is a large plateau in India, making up the majority of the southern part of the country. It rises a hundred meters high in the north, rising further to more than a kilometers high in the south, forming a raised triangle nested within the familiar downward-pointing triangle of...
and the southwestern coastal plains, temperatures vary from moderate to quite cool. In the central Palani Hills at Kodaikanal, during March to May, the temperature range is between 10.1 to 20.9 °C (50.2 to 69.6 F). The temperature can rise to a high of 35 °C (95 °F). During Dec-Feb it is between 8.1 to 18.6 °C (46.6 to 65.5 F). In January, night temperatures sometimes drop below freezing, and thin ice is seen on lake edges in the early morning.
The average annual rainfall is 1617 millimetres (63.7 in), mostly during the north-east monsoon from June to November.
Tribes
Paliyan
The Paliyan, or Palaiyar or Pazhaiyarare are Adivasi Dravidian people living in the South Western Ghats montane rain forests in South India, especially in Tamilnadu and Kerala. They are traditional nomadic hunter-gatherers, honey hunters and foragers. Yams are their major food source...
tribes people have been seen living in some of the several caves in Manjampatti Valley
Manjampatti Valley
Manjampatti Valley is a protected area in the eastern end of Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park in Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu, South India. It is a pristine drainage basin of shola and montane rain Forest with high biodiversity recently threatened by illegal land clearing...
. Paliyan people can be seen near Kukal Cave. The Tamil speaking Pulayan are referred to as the MalaPulayans, a group categorized as scheduled caste by State government of Tamil Nadu. Their traditional livelihood is foraging yam
Yam (vegetable)
Yam is the common name for some species in the genus Dioscorea . These are perennial herbaceous vines cultivated for the consumption of their starchy tubers in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Oceania...
s and small gaming in the nearby forest areas combined with cultivation of several species of minor millet
Millet
The millets are a group of small-seeded species of cereal crops or grains, widely grown around the world for food and fodder. They do not form a taxonomic group, but rather a functional or agronomic one. Their essential similarities are that they are small-seeded grasses grown in difficult...
s in small plots located near their hamlets to meet their subsistence requirements.
They live in small hamlets in huts and government constructed colonies. The sedentary life started with the construction of group houses by the government in the early sixties. The community is vertically divided into two sub divisions called Koora and Kanni, further subdivided into 47 sub sects. Each sub sect is called Kootams, which regulates certain social events. Each kootam has it own deity, which is common to the entire group and once yearly the members of the same kootam assemble to worship the deity.
Many native tribals in the Palani Hills have partially assimilated modern culture but are marginalized on the fringes of society. Their social, economic and physical survival has become a difficult challenge for them and several public and private agencies. Their ancient culture in this area is well documented,.
Relics and artifacts of the Paliyan tribes people can be seen in the Shenbaganur Museum.
Ecoregions
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 India, which is one of the 25 biodiversity hotspot
Biodiversity hotspot
A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region with a significant reservoir of biodiversity that is under threat from humans.The concept of biodiversity hotspots was originated by Norman Myers in two articles in “The Environmentalist” , revised after thorough analysis by Myers and others in...
s of the world. Some of the very rare and endangered plants and animals of India are found here. including intact relics of primary indigenous
Indigenous (ecology)
In biogeography, a species is defined as native to a given region or ecosystem if its presence in that region is the result of only natural processes, with no human intervention. Every natural organism has its own natural range of distribution in which it is regarded as native...
vegetation and a large number of non-native plants.
The hills may be divided into four distinct vertical zones comprising distinct Ecoregions with a wide diversity of Endemic species.
- The foothills from 400 to 800 m (1,312.3 to 2,624.7 ft) consist mostly of Deccan thorn scrub forestsDeccan thorn scrub forestsThe Deccan thorn scrub forests is a xeric shrubland ecoregion of India and northernmost Sri Lanka, a large area that was once forest and home to large numbers of elephants and tigers.-Location and description:...
and South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forestsSouth Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forestsThe South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests is a dry broadleaf forest ecoregion of southern India. The ecoregion lies in the southern Deccan Plateau, within the Western Ghats' rain shadow. It receives of rain annually, much less than the North Western Ghats moist deciduous forests and South...
. There is also some evergreen forestSouth Western Ghats montane rain forestsThe South Western Ghats montane rain forests are an ecoregion of southern India, covering the southern portion of the Western Ghats range in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, at elevations over 1000 meters...
along streams and rivers at these altitudes. - Between 800 to 1600 m (2,624.7 to 5,249.3 ft) is dominated by South Western Ghats moist deciduous forestsSouth Western Ghats moist deciduous forestsThe South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests is a tropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion of southern India. It covers the southern portion of the Western Ghats range and the Nilgiri Hills between 250 and 1000 meters elevation in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu states.-Setting:The ecoregion...
accompanied by shrub savannah, although most has been converted to plantations. - From 1600 to 2000 m (5,249.3 to 6,561.7 ft) are upper montane slopes characterised by sholaSholaSholas are patches of stunted evergreen tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest found in valleys amid rolling grassland in the higher montane regions of South India. These patches of shola forest are found mainly in the valleys and are usually separated from one another by undulating...
-grasslandGrasslandGrasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
mosaic, composed of frost-tolerant montane grasslands on the hills interspersed with pockets of dense shola forests in the valleys. This is an undulating plateau interspersed with occasional peaks. - Peaks rising to over 2500 metres (8,202.1 ft) with total area of 385 square kilometres (148.6 sq mi) and average elevation of 2200 metres (7,217.8 ft) consist mostly of montane grasslands interspersed with sholas. The grassland component is now largely replaced by forest plantations of WattleWattleWattle may refer to:*Wattle , a fleshy growth hanging from the head or neck of certain animals.*Wattle is another term for Congenital cartilaginous rest of the neck...
, pinePinePines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
and some eucalyptusEucalyptusEucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia...
.
Flora and fauna
Wild Boars
The Kragujevac Wild Boars are an American football team from Kragujevac, Serbia.As a team, Wild Boars arose from friendly tossing on the field...
are common in areas away from human habitation and cultivation.
Threatened species
Threatened species
Threatened species are any speciesg animals, plants, fungi, etc.) which are vulnerable to endangerment in the near future.The World Conservation Union is the foremost authority on threatened species, and treats threatened species not as a single category, but as a group of three categories,...
in the park area include: Indian Elephant
Indian Elephant
The Indian Elephant is one of three recognized subspecies of the Asian elephant, and native to mainland Asia. Since 1986, Elephas maximus has been listed as endangered by IUCN as the population has declined by at least 50% over the last three generations, estimated to be 60–75 years...
, Gaur
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...
(Wild Ox), 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 Grizzled Giant Squirrel
Grizzled Giant Squirrel
The grizzled giant squirrel is a large tree squirrel in the genus Ratufa found in the highlands of the Central and Uva provinces of Sri Lanka, and in patches of riparian forest along the Kaveri River and in the hill forests in the Tamil Nadu and Kerala states of southern India...
.
Endangered Bengal Tiger
Bengal Tiger
The Bengal tiger is a tiger subspecies native to the Indian subcontinent that in 2010 has been classified as endangered by IUCN...
populations in the adjacent Project Tiger
Project Tiger
Project Tiger was launched in 1972 in India. The project aims at ensuring a viable population of tigers in their natural habitats and preserving areas of biological importance as a natural heritage for the people. The selection of areas for the reserves represented as close as possible the...
reserves of Anamalai Tiger Reserve
Indira Gandhi National Park
Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park is a protected area named after Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who visited the park on October 7, 1961. It is often called "Topslip", a village in the northeast corner of the park which is the main visitor center. This name is derived from the local...
and the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve , situated in the Southern Western Ghats in Tirunelveli district, in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is the second largest protected area in Tamil Nadu State.-History:...
in the Agasthyamalai hills could expand back into this area when it is better protected. In February 2010, Tigers were sighted in Kodaikanal forests during a six-day carnivore
Carnivore
A carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of animal tissue, whether through predation or scavenging...
signs survey. A tigress and her cub were spotted playing in the wild. Forest Department officials are studying survey data to estimate the local tiger population based on indirect evidence like pug marks, scats and scratches.
Plants:
Biodiversity hotspot
A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region with a significant reservoir of biodiversity that is under threat from humans.The concept of biodiversity hotspots was originated by Norman Myers in two articles in “The Environmentalist” , revised after thorough analysis by Myers and others in...
s of endemic plant life. Notable among these is Pambar Shola. The Pambar Shola, draining to the Pambar River, is now reduced to less than 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) in circumference. It contains several rare and endemic plant species including: Sonerila pulneyensis: a delicate Melastomataceae
Melastomataceae
right|thumb|200px|Characteristic venation of many melastomesThe family Melastomataceae is a taxon of dicotyledonous flowering plants found mostly in the tropics comprising some 200 genera and 4500 species...
succulent herb endemic to Pambar Shola, Hoya
Hoya
Hoya is a genus of 200-300 species of tropical plants in the family Apocynaceae , fomerly considered to be in the Asclepiadaceae...
wightii ssp. pulneyensis: a succulent vine with waxy flowers endemic to Pambar Shola', Plectranthus
Plectranthus
Plectranthus, with some 350 species, is a genus of warm-climate plants occurring largely in the southern hemisphere, in sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, India and the Indonesian archipelago down to Australia and some Pacific islands. It is closely related to Solenostemon, sometimes known as the...
bourneate: a succulent herb endemic to Pambar Shola, Trichoglottis
Trichoglottis
Trichoglottis, abbreviated Trgl in horticultural trade, is a genus of plant in family Orchidaceae. It contains about 60 species found in East Asia, Malaysia, Australia, the Philippines and Polynesia....
tenera: an epiphytic orchid. Pambar Shola is its major habitat, Phyllanthus
Phyllanthus
Phyllanthus is the largest genus in the flowering plant family Phyllanthaceae. Estimates of the number species in this genus vary widely, from 750 to 1200. Phyllanthus has a remarkable diversity of growth forms including annual and perennial herbs, shrubs, climbers, floating aquatics, and...
chandrabosei: a shrub endemic to Pambar Shola, Huperzia sp.: a fern ally endemic to Pambar Shola, Selaginella sp.: a delicate creeping fern endemic to Pambar Shola, Psydrax
Psydrax
Psydrax is a genus of flowering plants in the Rubiaceae family. It consists of trees, shrubs, and a few lianas of the paleotropics.-Taxonomy:...
ficiformis: a tree, until recently thought extinct, Utleria salicifolia: only one clump known on the Palni hills, Elaeocarpus blascoi
Elaeocarpus blascoi
Elaeocarpus blascoi is a species of flowering plant in the Elaeocarpaceae family.It is found only in India.It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. . Downloaded on 19 July 2007....
: a tree believed extinct until this year, Cyathea
Cyathea
Cyathea is a genus of tree ferns, the type genus of the fern order Cyatheales. They are mostly terrestrial ferns, usually with a single tall stem. Rarely, the trunk may be branched or creeping. Many species also develop a fibrous mass of roots at the base of the trunk. The genus has a pantropical...
crinita: tree fern, highly endangered (Botanical Survey of India), Aeschynanthus
Aeschynanthus
Aeschynanthus is a genus of ca. 185 species of tropical herbs. They are found in southern and southeastern Asia, the islands of Indonesia, New Guinea, and the Philippines. They are usually trailing epiphytes with brightly colored flowers that are pollinated by sunbirds. Among the better known...
perrottetii: known only from one other shola in the Palni hills, Eulophia
Eulophia
The genus Eulophia, which also constitutes the monogeneric alliance Eulophia, includes 210 species of orchids. It was first described by John Lindley in 1821. The name "Eulophia" was derived from the Greek words "eu" and "lophos" , referring to the crested ridges of the labellum in most species...
sp.: a new species for the Palni hills first collected in April 2000,Actinodapohne bourneae: Laurel tree believed extinct (Botanical Survey of India). Two trees found in Pambar Shola, Ceropegia
Ceropegia
Ceropegia is a genus of plants within the family Apocynaceae. It was named by Carl Linnaeus, who first described this genus in volume 1 of his Species plantarum, which appeared in 1753. Linnaeus thought that the flowers looked like a fountain of wax. From this the scientific name was derived:...
thwaitesii: vine, vulnerable, endemic to Pambar shola, Pimpinella
Pimpinella
Pimpinella is a plant genus in the family Apiaceae; it includes the aromatic herb Anise.-Species:*Pimpinella acuminata*Pimpinella affinis*Pimpinella anisetum*Pimpinella anthriscoides*Pimpinella aromatica*Pimpinella aurea...
pulneyensis: scarce, Exacum
Exacum
Exacum is a genus of plant in family Gentianaceae. It contains the following species :* Exacum affine, Balf.f. ex Regel* Exacum caeruleum, Balf.f.* Exacum socotranum, Balf.f.* Exacum tinervium,...
anamallayannum: gentian
Gentian
Gentiana is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the Gentian family , tribe Gentianeae and monophyletic subtribe Gentianinae. With about 400 species, it is considered a large genus.-Habitat:...
, only one other known location in Palni hills.
The comprehensive source on Palani Hills flora is currently in print: "The Flora of the Palni Hills, South India" by K.M. Matthew (1999), Tiruchirapalli, 3 vols., xcvi, 1880 p., figs., maps, $193 (set). ISBN 81-900539-3-0. Contents:
- Volume I ISBN 81-900539-4-9: Polypetalae: Dedication. Preface. Novelties in this Flora. Precursory or related publications. References. Introduction. I. The Palni hills: 1. Location and physical features. 2. Kodaikanal: taluk and town. 3. Rivers. 4. Roads. 5. Table 2: Gazetteer of localities. 6. Climatic conditions at Kodaikanal. 7. Geology and soils. 8. History. 9. The vegetation: A. Native; B. Alien. 10. References. II. Plant explorations on the Palnis: 1. Past explorations: 1. The Bournes. 2. The Fysons. 3. The Shembaganur team. 4. Natural History Centre at Shembaganur (SHC). 5. Recent explorations. 6. References. 2. Present exploration: 1. Background and scope. 2. Field trip report. 3. Phytogeographical findings. 4. Ethnobotany. 5. Nature conservation. 3. The present Flora: Format and conventions. Acknowledgments. Family sequence. Key to families. Dicotyledones: I. Polypetalae: 1. RanunculaceaeRanunculaceaeRanunculaceae are a family of about 1700 species of flowering plants in about 60 genera, distributed worldwide....
. 2. AlangiaceaeAlangiaceaeAlangiaceae is a small family of small dicotyledon trees, shrubs or lianas, closely related to the Cornaceae .There is only one genus, Alangium, with seventeen species....
. - Volume II ISBN 81-900539-5-7: Gamopetalae: 1. CaprifoliaceaeCaprifoliaceaeThe Caprifoliaceae or honeysuckle family is a clade consisting of about 800 dicotyledonous flowering plants, with a nearly cosmopolitan distribution; centres of diversity are found in eastern North America and eastern Asia, while they are absent in tropical and southern Africa.They are mostly...
. 2. Labiatae. III. Monochlamvdeae: 1. PlantaginaceaePlantaginaceaePlantaginaceae Juss. or plantain family, are a family of flowering plants in the order Lamiales. The type genus is Plantago L..In older classifications it used to be the only family of the order Plantaginales, but numerous phylogenetic studies, summarized by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group, have...
. 2. SalicaceaeSalicaceaeSalicaceae are a family of flowering plants. Recent genetic studies summarized by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group has greatly expanded the circumscription of the family to contain 55 genera....
. - Volume III ISBN 81-900539-6-5: Monocotyledones: 1. OrchidaceaeOrchidaceaeThe Orchidaceae, commonly referred to as the orchid family, is a morphologically diverse and widespread family of monocots in the order Asparagales. Along with the Asteraceae, it is one of the two largest families of flowering plants, with between 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species,...
. 2. Gramineae. II. Gymnospermae: 1. Gnetaceae. 2. Cycadaceae.
Kurinji flowers
Strobilanthes kunthiana
Neelakurinji , is a shrub that used to grow abundantly in the shola grasslands of the Western Ghats in South India above 1800 metres...
(Strobilanthes kunthiana) which blossom in spectacular fields of violet only once in 12 years are threatened..
Threat aversion
There is decreasing biodiversity, deforestationDeforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
, grasslands destruction, monoculture
Monoculture
Monoculture is the agricultural practice of producing or growing one single crop over a wide area. It is also known as a way of farming practice of growing large stands of a single species. It is widely used in modern industrial agriculture and its implementation has allowed for large harvests from...
tree plantations, and invasive
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
exotic plant species
Introduced species
An introduced species — or neozoon, alien, exotic, non-indigenous, or non-native species, or simply an introduction, is a species living outside its indigenous or native distributional range, and has arrived in an ecosystem or plant community by human activity, either deliberate or accidental...
in the Park.
There is sewage
Sewage
Sewage is water-carried waste, in solution or suspension, that is intended to be removed from a community. Also known as wastewater, it is more than 99% water and is characterized by volume or rate of flow, physical condition, chemical constituents and the bacteriological organisms that it contains...
pollution
Water pollution
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies . Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds....
, solid waste pollution, Mercury contamination
Soil contamination
Soil contamination or soil pollution is caused by the presence of xenobiotic chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment....
, sound pollution
Noise pollution
Noise pollution is excessive, displeasing human, animal or machine-created environmental noise that disrupts the activity or balance of human or animal life...
, visual pollution
Visual pollution
Visual pollution is the term given to unattractive and man-made visual elements of a vista, a landscape, or any other thing that a person does not feel comfortable to look at. Visual pollution is an aesthetic issue, referring to the impacts of pollution that impair one's ability to enjoy a vista or...
, uncontrolled tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
, overdevelopment
Overdevelopment
Overdevelopment refers to a way of seeing global inequality that focuses on the negative consequences of excessive consumption. It exists as the mutually constitutive counterpart to the more commonly known concept of 'underdevelopment'....
and lake eutrophication
Eutrophication
Eutrophication or more precisely hypertrophication, is the movement of a body of water′s trophic status in the direction of increasing plant biomass, by the addition of artificial or natural substances, such as nitrates and phosphates, through fertilizers or sewage, to an aquatic system...
in and near Kodaikanal town. The Government of Tamil Nadu and several local NGO conservation
Conservation movement
The conservation movement, also known as nature conservation, is a political, environmental and a social movement that seeks to protect natural resources including animal, fungus and plant species as well as their habitat for the future....
groups are actively working to reduce some of these threats:
- The Government of Tamil Nadu completed establishment of a litter free zone and awareness campaign in Kodaikanal in 2000 at a cost of Rs 1. lakh.
- The Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board, the Public Works Department and the local bodies are executing BioremediationBioremediationBioremediation is the use of microorganism metabolism to remove pollutants. Technologies can be generally classified as in situ or ex situ. In situ bioremediation involves treating the contaminated material at the site, while ex situ involves the removal of the contaminated material to be treated...
of Kodaikanal Lake under the National Lake Conservation Programme, with an expenditure of Rs.33.90 lakhs incurred till 2007. - The Tamil Nadu Forest Dept. is implementing forest maintenance and restoration works over a period of 5 years from 2006-2007. Government of Tamil Nadu has sanctioned a sum of Rs.30.00 crores for the following components:
- Conservation and eco-restoration of degraded forests in Nilgiris and Palani Hills. During 2007-2008, it is proposed to take up degraded sholas over an extent of 3 square kilometres and to carry out other maintenance and improvement works at a cost of Rs. 590.75 lakhs.
- Improvement of roads in the forest areas of Tamil Nadu.
- Bio-diversity conservation.
- Maintenance and special repairs to Forest Department buildings.
- Raising shola seedlings for afforestation.
A sum of Rs.1327.50 lakhs has been released for this purpose during 2006-2007.
- The Palani Hills Conservation Council (PHCC) was formed by concerned residents in 1985 One of its first goals was to support and push for the creation of a national park or a wildlife sanctuary in the Palni Hills. Zafar Futehally and M.S. Viraraghavan were its leaders. The PHCC made a clear connection between natural forests and water security and coined the phrase: "The health of the hills is the wealth of the plains." The PHCC generated a National Park proposal used by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department. One of the council's major contributions has been the creation of nurseries for indigenous trees. Today, thanks to its efforts, young shola trees thrive at Kodai institutions and in private gardens. The organisation sought to restrict unsustainable building development in the 1990s. The PHCC has been active in the case against mercury contamination of the once beautiful Pambar Shola.,
- The Vattakanal Conservation Trust promotes the conservation of Palni Hills' native plants and habitats by raising plant nurseries, establishing conservation gardens, working with the Forest Department to restore habitats and acquiring properties to ensure survival of specific species and ecosystems
- Kodaikanal International SchoolKodaikanal International SchoolKodaikanal International School is a co-educational independent residential school offering education for grades P-12. It is located on in Kodaikanal, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, South India. Kodaikanal is a hill station at in the Palani Hills, north-west of Madurai.Early alumni of KIS include US...
supports and leads environmental initiatives in the surrounding area. It offers an International Baccalaureate Program course on Environmental Systems.. - The Save Kurinji Campaign Council organises campaigns and programmes for conservation of the Kurinji plant and its habit..
- The Tamil Nadu Green Movement works on Nature Education, Conservation awareness, Judicial intervention, media awareness and works with other NGOs in the Western Ghats..
- Elephant Valley at VilpattiVilpattiVilpatti is a Panchayat in Kodaikanal Taluk of Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu state, South India. It is composed of the main village of Vilpatti and 11 hamlets....
, 8 km NW of Kodaikanal, is a 100 acre (0.404686 km²) private nature reserveNature reserveA nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
and organic farm welcoming eco-tourists. They promote the conservationConservation ethicConservation is an ethic of resource use, allocation, and protection. Its primary focus is upon maintaining the health of the natural world: its, fisheries, habitats, and biological diversity. Secondary focus is on materials conservation and energy conservation, which are seen as important to...
of traditional varieties of fruits, vegetables and cereals, including vegetables of all colours, shapes and sizes and orchards of limeLime (fruit)Lime is a term referring to a number of different citrus fruits, both species and hybrids, which are typically round, green to yellow in color, 3–6 cm in diameter, and containing sour and acidic pulp. Limes are a good source of vitamin C. Limes are often used to accent the flavors of foods and...
, orangeOrange (fruit)An orange—specifically, the sweet orange—is the citrus Citrus × sinensis and its fruit. It is the most commonly grown tree fruit in the world....
, avocadoAvocadoThe avocado is a tree native to Central Mexico, classified in the flowering plant family Lauraceae along with cinnamon, camphor and bay laurel...
s, guavaGuavaGuavas are plants in the myrtle family genus Psidium , which contains about 100 species of tropical shrubs and small trees. They are native to Mexico, Central America, and northern South America...
s and amlaAmlaAmla may refer to:* Indian gooseberry, called amla in Hindi. Amla is the size of a lemon, spherical, bitter and yellow-green.* Hashim Amla, a South African cricketer of Indian descent* Ahmed Amla, a South African cricketer and brother of Hashim...
intercropped with coffeeCoffeeCoffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
, pepperBlack pepperBlack pepper is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. The fruit, known as a peppercorn when dried, is approximately in diameter, dark red when fully mature, and, like all drupes, contains a single seed...
, vanillaVanillaVanilla is a flavoring derived from orchids of the genus Vanilla, primarily from the Mexican species, Flat-leaved Vanilla . The word vanilla derives from the Spanish word "", little pod...
, cinnamonCinnamonCinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several trees from the genus Cinnamomum that is used in both sweet and savoury foods...
, nutmegNutmegThe nutmeg tree is any of several species of trees in genus Myristica. The most important commercial species is Myristica fragrans, an evergreen tree indigenous to the Banda Islands in the Moluccas of Indonesia...
, mangoMangoThe mango is a fleshy stone fruit belonging to the genus Mangifera, consisting of numerous tropical fruiting trees in the flowering plant family Anacardiaceae. The mango is native to India from where it spread all over the world. It is also the most cultivated fruit of the tropical world. While...
es, jack fruit, pomegranatePomegranateThe pomegranate , Punica granatum, is a fruit-bearing deciduous shrub or small tree growing between five and eight meters tall.Native to the area of modern day Iran, the pomegranate has been cultivated in the Caucasus since ancient times. From there it spread to Asian areas such as the Caucasus as...
, guavaGuavaGuavas are plants in the myrtle family genus Psidium , which contains about 100 species of tropical shrubs and small trees. They are native to Mexico, Central America, and northern South America...
s and bananaBananaBanana is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa and for the fruit they produce. Bananas come in a variety of sizes and colors when ripe, including yellow, purple, and red....
s.
Visitor information
The Kodaikanal Division Forest Office offers a book called "Kodaikanal Beauty in Wilderness" (Rs 20), which has a list and map of local treks in the Kodaikanal area. Several trekking destinations are accessible from the Kodaikanal - Munnar Road. Permission from the Forest Department is necessary to visit areas deep inside the forests and for trekking in forests. Forest Rest Houses are available with advance reservation at Kodaikkanal, PoombaraiPoombarai
Poombarai is a village located in the heart of the Palani hills, from Kodaikanal at: . Altitude is .It is coming under ANJUR Poombarai is a village located in the heart of the Palani hills, from Kodaikanal at: . Altitude is .It is coming under ANJUR Poombarai is a village located in the heart...
, Kukkal
Kukkal
Kukkal is a Panchayat village of terrace farmers at the far western end of the Palani Hills in Kodaikanal block of Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu state, South India. It is from Kodaikanal at: . Elevation is . Kookal is notable for the high biodiversity of the area.-Geography:Kukkal sits at the...
, Kavunji, Berijam
Berijam Lake
Berijam Lake is a reservoir near Kodaikanal town in Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu, South India. It is at the old site of "Fort Hamilton", in the upper Palani hills....
and Devadanapatty.
Contact: District Forest officer, Kodaikkanal Forest Division, Kodaikanal, Dindigal District, Tamil Nadu, India. (open 10 am to 6 pm) Phone : 91-4542-240287