Further south, the ridge along the watershed line is heavily forested. Spices from Southern India was considered to have possessed world-class quality. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}10°10′36″N 76°09′46″E / 10.17667°N 76.16278°E / 10.17667; 76.16278, "Understanding the 42-year-old Idukki dam which is now saving Kerala", "Studies on the nature and chemistry of sediments and water of Periyar and Chalakudy Rivers, Kerala, India by Maya K.", "Growth response of phytoplankton exposed to industrial effluents in River Periyar", "Mullaperiyar: Kerala contests TN's rights over river", "Report of the Empowered Committee of the Supreme Court on Mullaperiyar Dam", "Mullaperiyar deal unsustainable: Kerala", "Mullaperiyar pact legally unsustainable, says Kerala; Justifies fixing water level at 136 ft", "Final legal arguments submitted by Kerala", "Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary/Periyar Tiger Reserve", "Periyar Tiger Reserve -> Values of P.T.R. [37], The main Periyar below the Idukki reservoir flows due north parallel to the western edge of the Idukki plateau and is joined by the Perinjakutty from the east and Muthirapuzha from the north. Cradled within the southern region of the Western Ghats, is the ever-green Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Spread over 777 sq.km of the Cardamom Hills of Western Ghats, the Periyar sanctuary is located 137 km from Madurai. [76] The Aluva Environmental Protection Forum[77] started by Sitaraman and others have played a pivotal role in the prevention of illegal sand mining and water pollution in the lower reaches of the river. The total protected area of this wildlife sanctuary covers an area of about 900 sq km. The park is situated in Thekkady, Central Kerala.The whole forest is hilly and is located in the space midst Cardamom hills. It lies between latitudes 9°15’30"N and 10°21’00"N and longitudes 76°08’38"E and 77°24’32"E. The river drains parts of Idukki, Ernakulam and Thrissur districts in Kerala and Coimbatore districtin Tamil Nadu. Periyar is a boast of a rich bird life, animal life and plant life. The lower reaches of the Periyar are heavily polluted. The high Rajamala-Anamudi-Umayamala part of the main Anamalai ridge forms its northern boundary. The Edayar branch of Periyar caters to the needs of these industries. The 925-square-kilometre (357 sq mi) Periyar Tiger Reserve is mostly within this southernmost part of the Cardamom Hills. Cardamom Hills and Periyar wildlife sanctuary, Kerala, India. This is the lowest part of the Cardamom Hills sloping towards the north in which the Idukki reservoir is located. The length-width ratio is 6:1. Its generators have a power output of 780 MW (6 × 130), and generate electricity through the underground facility at Moolamattam, built by an India-Canada joint venture. Very close to the park, you can find many resorts and lodges that provide boat safari or jeep safari from the hotel. The Idamala and Pooyamkutty rivers drain most of this section while its southern edge drains into the main Periyar. This section drains into the Periyar through the Perinjankutty Ar and the drainage channel is essentially from south-east to north-west. Dr. Salim Ali, India's greatest ornithologist, once described this tiny, 25-square-kilometre (10 sq mi) bird sanctuary, located about 60 kilometres (37 mi) north-east of Kochi, as "The richest bird habitat in peninsular India".[62]. The area covering 350 sq km right in the middle of serene Periyar Lake was declared as a National Park in the year 1982. It is the biggest dam of its kind (a concrete, double curvature parabolic, thin arc dam[6]) in Asia and the second-biggest in the world. The catchment of Kattappana Ar located beyond the southeastern corner of the Idukki reservoir also falls in this portion. The sanctuary which borders with Tamil Nadu is located in the Cardamom and Pandhalam hills in the Western Ghats. more, Browse our largest collection of experiences, No stress transit for your arrival and departure, Explore on your feet—and never miss anything. Another inter-basin transfer from the Periyar to the Muvattupuzha river due to the Idukki project has further adversely affected the downstream flow in the Periyar river. [6][7] Due to these reasons, the river has been named the "Lifeline of Kerala". Chalakudy river itself has a catchment area of 1,704 square kilometres (658 sq mi), with 1,404 square kilometres (542 sq mi) in Kerala and 300 square kilometres (116 sq mi) in Tamil Nadu. Apart from irrigation on left bank of Periyar, the project also enables a supply of minimum quantity of water through the river to check the intrusion of salinity at lower reaches of the river as well as to meet the requirements of many lift irrigation schemes of river Periyar. Periyar and Kumily are the most convenient points from which visitors can easily explore Kerala's beautiful Cardamom hills. Kerala states that the Periyar is an intrastate river since no part of it flows through Tamil Nadu. [22], To the west of the Lower Periyar Valleys are the midlands, which are characterized by undulating topography with small hills separated by valleys. It lies between latitudes 9°15’30"N and 10°21’00"N and longitudes 76°08’38"E and 77°24’32"E. The river drains parts of Idukki, Ernakulam and Thrissur districts in Kerala[43] and Coimbatore district in Tamil Nadu. The town of Kodungallur lying close to the Periyar river is famous for the Cheraman Juma Masjid. [46], The High Range Plateau is located around Munnar and Devikulam. Most of the streams flow in deep gorges with steep valleys along the highlands of the basin. It’s located in the Cardamom Hills section of the Western Ghats at an altitude of 900m-1800m. Visiting Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary proves to … The dam also permits storage of water for the dry summer period when many other reservoirs in the area are low. Early morning walks are recommended as the forest comes to life with the calls of birds and monkeys while a boat trip on the lake is a great way to spot elephants, gaur and deer. Periyar (meaning: big river) is the longest river and the river with the largest discharge potential in the Indian state of Kerala. -> Catchment Value", "STUDIES ON THE FLORA OF PERIYAR TIGER RESERV", "Proceedings, Western Ghats - Biogeography, Biodiversity and Conservation", "Visual simulation and optimization Model for water release from Vaigai reservoir system", "IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION ORIGINAL SUIT NO. This valley of Periyar at its source and the valley of Kunthi River in the Silent Valley are the only two forested higher valleys in the Western Ghats left intact even now. This ridge separates the High Ranges from the Lower Periyar Valleys further to the west. The Periyar National Park in Thekkady, Kerala, is one of the most bio-diverse regions in the world and the best-protected reserve area that one can lay eyes on in India. The location itself is quite remarkable which makes its beauty one of a kind. [74] In the Periyar river basin, land sand mining is widespread in the plateau region in the highlands. This topographically complex segment of the Western Ghats extends from near Neriamangalam in the southwest to Panamkutty in the southeast along the Periyar River and continues north up to the watershed divide between the Periyar and the Chalakudy Basins. [41], At Aluva, the river bifurcates into the Marthandavarma and the Mangalapuzha branches. Each year, around half a million travelers make their way up into the Cardamom Hills, where the crisp, cool air is redolent with the scents of spices, and soaring mountains give way to tea plantations and dense jungle. Originally the hunting grounds of the Maharajah of Travancore, Periyar Tiger Reserve was declared a wildlife reserve (previously called the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary) in 1933. The lowlands occur as a narrow belt almost parallel to the present shoreline. Walking. If you are planning a trip to the South, then visiting this national park is a must. The river originates in Kerala, flows entirely through Kerala and joins the Arabian Sea in the Kerala. Greenpeace India describes the lower Periyar as "a cesspool of toxins, which have alarming levels of deadly poisons like DDT, endosulfan, hexa and trivalent chromium, lead, cyanide, BHC". A thrilling tiger reserve, it encompasses almost 800 sq. The architecture and landscaping of the entire Resort has been thoughtfully created in deference to the ethereal beauty of its natural surroundings. [22] The Idamala gorge separates the Sholayar forests in the Nelliyampathies towards the north from the southern Anamudi Reserved Forest and High Range Plateau. The state of Kerala has asserted during the hearings on the Mullaperiyar issue in the Supreme Court of India that the Periyar originates in Kerala, flows entirely through Kerala and joins the sea in the Kerala. [61], Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, one of the important bird sanctuaries of India, is an evergreen low-land forest located between the branches of Periyar River. [49] The most industrialized zone of Periyar lies in this part of the basin between Angamaly and Cochin, with over 50 large and medium scale industries. This ridge is a spur hill extending from near Valaparai in Tamil Nadu, projecting far west into Kerala. [64] The temple festival is conducted every year on Sivarathri day of the Kumbham month of Malayalam calendar. Our mountain biking tour, also known as The Cardamom Hills Cycling Trail, will take you through mountain roads with spectacularly beautiful cardamom forests and tea gardens. We liked that the staff was very strict and ensured that everyone wore the Life-jackets and nobody was allowed to move around. A vast variety of plants and animals can be found in the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. No tigers of course, we were on a walking tour and they are notoriously hard to find, even much, Hotels near Green Park Ayurvedic & Spices Plantation, Hotels near Deepa World Spice and Ayurvedic Garden, Hotels near Periyar Spice & Ayurvedic Garden, Kadathanadan Kalari & Navarasa Kathakali, Zipline & Aerial Adventure Parks in Thekkady, Points of Interest & Landmarks in Thekkady, Green Park Ayurvedic & Spices Plantation: Tickets & Tours‎, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary: Tickets & Tours‎, Deepa World Spice and Ayurvedic Garden: Tickets & Tours‎, Angadipetty -Kerala Ayurveda Museum: Tickets & Tours‎, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary Tours and Tickets, From snorkel to surfing—no expertise necessary, All ashore for easy trips straight from port, Flexible itineraries and personal experiences. [43] Coming out of the hills, the Periyar flows west and its basin occupies the northern part of Ernakulam district, covering the region from Neriamangalam through Aluva[39] to Varapuzha and Munambam. There are cardamom hills, there is cardamom hill reserve, there is the Western Ghats. Pepper is known as the King and cardamom is known as the queen of spices, and the best of … This is a protected area placed in the Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts of Kerala. In its early course, the river flows in a narrow north sloping valley starting from the Chokkampatti hills and extending north about 25 kilometres (16 mi), with a number of sharp lateral ridges running down to it from east and west. The control and safety of the Mullaperiyar dam on the river and the validity and fairness of the corresponding lease agreement have been points of dispute between Kerala and Tamil Nadu states. Thekkady straddles both Tamil Nadu & Kerala. Pepper is known as the King and cardamom is known as the queen of spices, and the best of … [11][12] It is variously claimed to be located in Kerala and in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. 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