Palani Hills

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Palani Hills" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (July 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

Palani Hills Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park (proposed)
Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary
The Palani Hills
Location	Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu, India
Nearest city	Kodaikanal
Coordinates	10°14′43″N 77°31′26″E / 10.24528°N 77.52389°E / 10.24528; 77.52389
Area	736.87 square kilometres (284.51 sq mi)
Governing body	Tamil Nadu Forest Department

The Palani Hills are a mountain range in the southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The Palani Hills are an eastward extension of the Western Ghats ranges, which run parallel to the west coast of India. The Palani Hills adjoin with the high Anamalai range on the west and extend east into the plains of Tamil Nadu, covering an area of 2,068 square kilometres (798 sq mi). The highest part of the range is in the southwest, and reaches 1,800-2,500 metres (5,906-8,202 feet) elevation; the eastern extension of the range is made up of hills 1,000-1,500 m (3,281-4,921 ft) high.^[1]

It is also home to

Boundary of the Wildlife Sanctuary

The Palani Hills derive their name from the ancient temple town of Palani (பழநி 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 140 square kilometres (53 sq mi) in extent and about one quarter of it then consisted of sholas and three quarters was open, rolling, grassy downs.^[5]

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

The sanctuary has been under consideration of the Government of India in consultation with the Government of Tamil Nadu since 1999.[9] The actual park boundaries have not been finalized. In 2007, proposals for declaration of Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary were under consideration of the Government.^[10]

On 13 August 2012, in an apparent change away from plans for notification of parts of the Palani Hills as a separate wildlife sanctuary, the Tamil Nadu Gazette notification attached parts of Kodaikanal and Dindigul divisions of reserve forests to the buffer zone of

The Palni Hills are an eastward spur of the Western Ghats with a maximum east–west length of 65 kilometres (40 mi), and a north–south width of 40 kilometres (25 mi). Area is 2,064 square kilometres (797 sq mi). These hills rise in steep escarpments to a high undulating plateau ranging from 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) to over 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) elevation.^[13]

The western extremity of the park is contiguous with the

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[15] and Kodaikanal Forest Divisions.^[16]

Ecoregions

The lower elevations of the Palani Hills, between 250 and 1,000 m (820-3,281 ft), are part of the

The Palani Hills are currently subject to increasing development pressure as it is under developed for a long time. The Palani Hills Conservation Council, a non-governmental organization headquartered in Kodaikanal, was founded in 1985. In the early 1990s the Tamil Nadu Forest Department proposed to the Tamil Nadu state government that much of the range be granted protected status as a wildlife sanctuary or Palani Hills Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park.^[17]

Geology

History

The Palani Hills are formed of

1. Vandaravu 2,553 metres (8,376 ft),
2. Ibex Peak 2,517 metres (8,258 ft)
3. Vembadi Peak 2,505 metres (8,219 ft),
4. Gundar 2,461 metres (8,074 ft),
5. Karunmakadu 2,451 metres (8,041 ft),
6. Sandana Parai 2,404 metres (7,887 ft)
7. Venkombu 2,327 metres (7,635 ft)
8. Tina Vardi 2,270 metres (7,450 ft),
9. Perumal Malai 2,236 metres (7,336 ft),
10. Vellari Malai 2,229 metres (7,313 ft)

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.^[21]

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.^[22]

Waterfalls

There are many

1. Alanthoni Falls at 20 metres (66 ft) high, elevation 590 metres (1,940 ft) in
   Indira Gandhi National Park
   , between Talinji and Manjampatti villages on the Ten Ar River, public access restricted.
3. Bamen Falls
4. Bear Shola Falls at 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from Kodaikanal,
5. Fairy Falls at 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from Kodaikanal),
6. Glen Falls at Vilpatti on Palar (Kallar) River
7. Gundar Falls at A dangerous sheer cliff that drops over 100 metres (330 ft), to the first level, then drops off a couple more times to the plains.
8. Neptune Falls and Pool at, 400 metres (1,300 ft) are down a pine needle path through large pines beginning on left of road .5 kilometres (0.31 mi) past Forest Dept. Nursery, 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) from Kodaikanal on Poombrai Road.
9. Palar Upper Falls also called Anju Veedu Falls (Five House Falls), 85 metres (279 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 (17 mi) from Kodaikanal), in the
   Kodaikanal lake
   .
10. Palar Lower falls 103 metres (338 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 (17 mi) from Kodaikanal), in the
    Kodaikanal lake
    .
11. Poombarai Falls
12. Pambar Falls (also called Liril or Vatakanal) at, elevation 2,120 metres (6,960 ft), is 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) SE from Kodaikanal.
13. Silver Cascade at 55 metres (180 ft) high, is 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from Kodaikanal) on the Ghat Road.
14. Skamba Falls at is 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) NE from Kodaikanal).
15. Snake Falls Just below Pambar Falls where Levigne stream comes out of Pambar Shola. Is particularly visible from Priests Walk^[23] and from top end of Coolie Ghat just below Shenbuganour.
16. Thalaiyar Falls, (Rat Tail Falls) at, elevation 820 metres (2,690 ft), is 975 feet (297 m) (297 meters) high. It is the highest waterfall in Tamil Nadu and the third highest in India.
17. Gaur Vellaiyan Falls at, 52 feet (16 m) high, is along the Kilavarai trail between Kilavarai and intersection 11 with Kodaikanal–Munnar Road, 40 kilometres (25 mi) from Kodaikanal.
18. Kathirikkai Falls^{[permanent dead link]} is at, elevation 2,270 metres (7,450 ft). There is small pool above this 50 m (160 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.
19. Unnamed Falls at is on Dolphins Nose Trail.
20. Unnamed Falls 16m at, 16 metres (52 ft) high, is 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) southwest of Vandaravu Peak in remote southwest corner of Palani Hills.
21. Kudiraiyar River Falls at Kookkal Kombai, 90 metres (300 ft) high, is 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) walk northwest of Kukkal.^[24]
22. Kukkal Falls unnamed? at .6 kilometres (0.37 mi) southwest of Kukkal village center
23. Polur Falls (போளூர் அருவி) at .
24. Poondi Falls at estimated from Army Map and contours
25. Kumbakarai Falls located in the lower Palni foothills, along the Kodai-Vellagavi-Periyakulam footpath. 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 .5 kilometres (0.31 mi) to the second stage before falling as the main waterfall.^[25] Bathing is allowed. There is a bus from Periyakulam
    with fare of Rs. 5(6.00,7.00 13.00,15.30,16.30 hrs).
26. Unnamed Falls 10m, in Allinagaram Reserved Forest, elevation 2,220 metres (7,280 ft), location estimated from Map
27. Unnamed Falls 15m height 15 metres (49 ft), elevation 2,170 metres (7,120 ft), location estimated from Map

Climate

The Palani Hills have a

• the dry season, usually between January and March, during which rain is scarce and limited to around 10 rainy days, the air is crisp, dry and cold, and when ground frost occurs;
• The warm season of April and May when most tourists arrive for their holiday in the hills and when summer showers and rain may fall on 18 to 20 days;
• The Southwest monsoon season extends between June and September, with around 45 days of rainfall spread over the four months;
• The Northeast monsoon season from October through early December, when rain is abundant and occurs over 30 or more days. Depending on the timing of the northeast monsoon, the latter half of December may experience a few days of heavy rain or remain completely dry.[27]

The average annual rainfall is 1,617 millimetres (63.7 in), mostly during the north-east monsoon.^[28][29]

Tribes

Nomadic

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 its own deity, which is common to the entire group and once yearly the members of the same kootam assemble to worship the deity.[30]

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,.^[31][32]

Relics and artifacts of the Paliyan tribes people can be seen in the Shenbaganur Museum.^[33]

Ecoregions

The Palani hills are the easternmost part of the

1. The foothills from 400 to 800 metres (1,300 to 2,600 ft) consist mostly of Deccan thorn scrub forests and South Deccan Plateau dry deciduous forests. There is also some evergreen forest along streams and rivers at these altitudes.
2. Between 800 and 1,600 metres (2,600 and 5,200 ft) is dominated by South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests accompanied by shrub savannah, although most has been converted to plantations.
3. From 1,600 to 2,000 metres (5,200 to 6,600 ft) are upper montane slopes characterised by
   montane grasslands
   on the hills interspersed with pockets of dense shola forests in the valleys. This is an undulating plateau interspersed with occasional peaks.
4. Peaks rising to over 2,500 metres (8,200 ft) with total area of 385 square kilometres (149 sq mi) and average elevation of 2,200 metres (7,200 ft) consist mostly of montane grasslands interspersed with sholas. The grassland component is now largely replaced by forest plantations of wattle, pine and some eucalyptus .^[36]

Flora and fauna

Mammals: Wild are common in areas away from human habitation and cultivation.

Threatened species in the park area include: Bengal tiger, Indian elephant, Indian leopard, gaur (wild ox), Nilgiri tahr and grizzled giant squirrel.

Plants:

Moist areas exist along the ravines and in the sheltered pockets of high elevation shola forests around 2,000 metres (6,600 ft). These sholas are often

• Volume I
  Dicotyledones: I. Polypetalae: 1. Ranunculaceae. 2. Alangiaceae
  .
• Volume II
  Labiatae. III. Monochlamvdeae: 1. Plantaginaceae. 2. Salicaceae
  .
• Volume III
  Cycadaceae
  .

Kurinji flowers (Strobilanthes kunthiana) which blossom in spectacular fields of violet only once in 12 years are threatened.^[41]

Threat aversion

There is decreasing

• 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.[43]
• The Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board, the Public Works Department and the local bodies are executing Bioremediation of Kodaikanal Lake under the National Lake Conservation Programme, with an expenditure of Rs.33.90 lakhs incurred till 2007.^[44]
• The Tamil Nadu Forest Dept. is implementing forest maintenance and restoration works over a period of 5 years from 2006 to 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.^[45]

• 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.,^[46][47]
• 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^[48]
• International Baccalaureate Program course on Environmental Systems.^[49]
• The Save Kurinji Campaign Council organises campaigns and programmes for conservation of the
  Kurinji plant and its habit.^[50]
• The Tamil Nadu Green Movement works on Nature Education, Conservation awareness, Judicial intervention, media awareness and works with other NGOs in the Western Ghats.[51]^[52]
• Elephant Valley at
  jack fruit, pomegranate, guavas and bananas.^[53]

The Kodaikanal Division Forest Office offers a book called Kodaikanal Beauty in Wilderness, 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, Poombarai, 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^[54]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Palani Hills.

• Palni Hills Conservation Council
• 20 years on, Kodaikanal wildlife sanctuary yet to take shape, The Hindu, 1 September 2012, P. OPPILI and B. ARAVIND KUMAR