Kil Kundha
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'Kil-Kundah', is one of the big 'hatties'['Villages'] in the Kundai Seemai, The Nilgiri Hills. Kundai is generally referred to as forteen villages in and around. They inculde, Kil Kundah, Mel Kundah, Manjoor, Kinnakorai, Iriyaseegai, Kariamalai, Ketchigatti, Mattakadni, Thuneri, Edakkadu, Mukkimalai, Bakkorai, etc.
The popular 'Hetthai Gudi' (Temple of Deity -Holy Grand Mother) is situated at Kil Kundah is apparently the biggest temple of badagas. Kil Kundah has nearly 300 houses. Every year around July, the Hetthai festival is celebrated. Also dodda abba (grand festival) is celebrated.
The festival of the season in the recent past has gained popularity with a rough estmiation of Rs 25000/- being donated by willing individuals. As on date the function is fixed for next 15 years by people from all over 14 hatties.
Agriculture and cattle growing are predominantly the job of Badagas. This is well established in Kil Kundah also. Growing Vegetables for self consumption is predominant in Badaga Villages. On account of Sky rocketed tea prices people have abandoned their vegetable fields. However,Kil Kundah has several graduates in various fields of profession like Teaching, Engineering, Medicine, Law etc.
The nearest town is Manjoor, and Kundah district is created in the last couple of years separating it from Nilgiri District for adminsitration convenience. The other hatties [ villages ] that are near by are :
Mattakandy - About 1-1/2 KM Thunery - About 1-1/2 KM Manjoor - About 1-1/2 KM Kariamalai - About 2-1/2 KM Kandibikkai - About 2 KM Mullimalai - About 4 KM Ketchigatty - About 4-1/2 KM
Schools: Kil Kundah has one of the oldest Panchayat Union School that attracted students from near by hatties like mattakandy, Thuneri and Onikandy hamlet. This school building and Land was donated by philonthraphists of Kil Kundah. the school was prominent till late 80's, after which it has lost its charm owing to mushrooming of private schools. Now mainly the labourers only send their children to this once famous school.
Agriculture : The common public of Kilkundah have been involved in Agriculture and Cattle from time known to the Badagas inhabitany in and around kil Kundah. Of late the no of cattle growers and cattle have dwindled and Vegetable cultivation also took a nose dive on account of sky rocketed Green leaf [ Tea] privces. People have converted their vegetable fields into tea field. past 1998 when tea prices have nosedived that made life miserable in and around the Nilgiris, people started moving around nearby bigger towns in search of Jobs.
The latest development in Kil Kundah is the 'Village Welfare Body'- a group of people informally coming together to form a better society. The festivals that were celebrated between two parties of the village over couple of decades is being celebrated in unison these days. The 'Welfare body' announces the importatnt happenings in the form of notice board kept in the entrance of the community hall that was built in around 2003-04. Towards the end of 2006, the body has called for hygenic living by cleanness in the surroundings.
