Gudalur (Nilgiris district)

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This article is about a town in Nilgiris district. For other uses, see Gudalur.

?Gudalur Tamil Nadu • India
Gudalur
Coordinates: 9°41′N 77°16′E / 9.68, 77.27
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area • Elevation	• 1,071 m (3,514 ft)
District(s)	Nilgiris
Population • Density • Sex ratio	43,038 (2001) • 200 /km² (518 /sq mi) • 880/1000
Chairman	P C Baby
Codes • Pincode • Telephone • Vehicle	• 643212 • +04262 • TN 43 Z
Website: www.gudalur.in

Coordinates: 9°41′N 77°16′E / 9.68, 77.27 Gudalur is a panchayat town and taluk in Nilgiris district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

1 Overview
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 Tourist attractions
5 Trivia
6 Transportation Links
7 References
8 External links

[edit] Overview

It is a picturesque green valley on the way from Mysore to Ooty with a population of 32,605 (1991 census). It is a gateway to three states, Tamilnadu, Karnataka and Kerala, lying equidistant from both Kerala and Karnataka. It is said that Gudalur gets its name from Koodal - uru, meaning the "meeting place". Though the history of the name has been lost, it is the place where all the three states' boundaries meet. Tea plantations dot the whole region, and the regional economy is heavily dependent on the tea industry. This land was an offspring to the exploration done by the British during the pre-independence period to cultivate tea plantation. Being a satellite town between Ooty and Mysore, both tourist spots, Gudalur has the prospect of developing into another tourist destination. Gudalur is a place where one can see people from the three states of Tamilnadu, Kerala, and Karnataka live together cordially.

The name Gudalur also derived from "goodal" + "oor" which means a place which is not easy to find out. At some time it was a hiding place for the newly wedded couples who married without the consent of their parents and eloped from their home. Criminals also find this place as a place to hide themselves from the law of the land. but the history of gudalur says that it is a land of hard workers. people from different part of India migrated to gudalur and fought with the wild animals and with malaria and thereby reaped gold from the land. the present generation of gudalur is the sons and daughters of those saints of the land.

Gudalur is the only Taluk which is having an Act enacted by the Tamilnadu State Government and is placed in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution of India(entry 80)which is exclusively made for the Gudalur region. That Act is Gudalur Janmam Abolition Act, 1969 (Act 24/69).

Later Gudalur Taluk was divided into two talukas: Gudalur and Pandalur. Pandalur Taluka consists of the major portion of Nelliyalam Villages and Cherangode village. It was the seat of erstwhile Nelliyalam Ratti. Nelliyalam is a small village where you can find the remains of the fort of Nelliyalam Ratti.

Now Gudalur is a III grade selection municipality.

Gudalur lies in the buffer zone of reserve forest and often wild animals such as elephants, deer, etc stray into human habitat. It is a tri-junction of three states (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala).

[edit] Geography

Gudalur is located at Template:11° 30' 0" North, 76° 30' 0" East.^[1] It has an average elevation of 1200 metres (3937 feet).

[edit] Demographics

As of 2001 India census,^[2] Gudalur had a population of 43,038. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Gudalur has an average literacy rate of 73%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 78%, and female literacy is 68%. In Gudalur, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.

[edit] Tourist attractions

Needle Rock View Point (Ooshi Malai/Soochi Malai): (Needle point rock view) It is 12 km. on the way to Udhagamandalam - Gudalur. From here one can see almost every part of Gudalur and Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary, Gudalur town, bandipur and parts of Mysore. On the other side you can see part of Kerala. You can also see a mountain popularly known as 'Sleeping Beauty'(also called Aanakkallu) which is exactly in the shape of a sleeping woman.
Frog Hill View: The hill is in the shape of a huge frog. Frog hill view point is 14 km. from Gudalur on the way to Udhagamandalam-/ Gudalur road. From here one can see gigantic Frog shape of a hill view.
Mudumalai Wild Life Sanctuary is in Gudalur.
Numbalakottai Vimalagiri : 4 km. from Gudalur. A shrine of Vettakarappan (Lord of the hunts) with sub-shrine built in Kerala style is here. Wynad scenes is visible from here.The temple was a property of Nilambur Kovilagam and festival is conducted once in the year by the kovilagam trust under the guidance of Kovilagam.The pujari of this ancient temple is Balan Namboodiri.The SPARK shg headed by Pramodh T S performs vivid actities in and around numbalakottai.They are always for the need of the people.
Manvayal: 8 km from gudalur lies the heaven in this world.The people here are mainly small tea growers and are mainly engaged in agricultural activities.There is an school St.Sebastians Matriculation School run by St.Sebastian Church.Cherupushpa Mission League a society run by the church is performing social activities under the strict guidance of Prince Mathew.There is a sivan temple.The electrical works here is carried by Rijesh K V.
Nambalakkotta (Numbalkottah): 8 km. from Gudalur. A shrine of Battarayaswamy (Lord of the hunts) with sub-shrine built in Kerala style is here. Wynad scenes is visible from here.
Nelliyalam: 20 km. from Gudalur. A few ruins of historical Ummatur dynasty can be seen here. There are ruins of a Fort which were the seat of the erstwhile Nelliyalam Rani.
Ponneni: There is a Vishnu Temple where 'Utsavam' were taking place once in 12 years. It was under the control of Nilambur kovilakam and it is not maintained properly after the 'Gudalur Janmam abolishment and Conversion Act, 1969' passed by the Tamilnadu State government.
Pandalur: Capital of Pandalur Taluka. There are many tea plantations.
Gudalur: Capital of Gudalur Taluka. There is one Government Arts College in Gudalur. Higher Educational facilities are very poor.
Vimalagiri:The capital of Mothavayal panchayat.Its a full literacy village.A small percent of people here belongs to late system headed by Abin Sebastian P K
Singara and Moyar: Power houses under the control of Tamilnadu State Electricity Board. Power house is under the ground. This is the specialty here. Water flows through tunnels.
Cherangode: There is a shrine dedicated to Velankanni Mata. This is a pilgrims' centre.
Cherambady 35 km. from Gudalur. It is extreme western corner which has plantations and mica mines. Sultan battery is very near.

Cherambady is a place of hardworking people, near Kerala-Tamilnadu border, majority of people residing here are Malayalees.

Kunnalady: Kunnalady is a centre of Malayalees as well as Tamils. It is a centre of Tea Leaves business. Bekky is near by. The people here are mainly tea planters and life depends on the rise and fall of tea leaf value. There is a church in Kunnalady and another in Bekky. Bekky Matha Church is ancient and very famous for its feast called'perunnal'.This is a pilgrim centre. There is a temple 'Anchmbalam' in kunnalady and its 'Utsavam' is very famous. People from various places visit here during that time. Ammankavu is near by. Amman kavu utsavam is a time for the tribals to meet in a year.
Nellakotta: It is 15 km from Gudalur. A dilapidated fort is there.
Hanging Bridges : Located on the way to Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary. It is 14 km from Gudalur.
Genepool Garden: It is located at 15 km from Gudalur in a place called Nadugani. It has a variety of species from all over the world.
Kariyasholai: A beautiful village encircled with forest where one half cultivated tea plantation, vanilla, coffee, cardamom etc,. The queen of hills has her daughter NEEDLE ROCK placed to the east top of the village which really makes the village a heavenly jorn. Chelakkunnu just one km away is a beautiful forest-cum-village of thodas, kurumaas, paniyaas etc. One can often see elephants wandering, deer rover, beautiful wild life on a stream walk at the location.
Devala: A small town on the way to Pandalur from Gudalur at 18th km has the second highest rainfall in India.

[edit] Trivia

Gudalur is blessed with biodiversity. Many species of medicinal plants are available in Gudalur, but because of the lack of proper awareness these medicinal plants are destroyed.
Kargudi is a small village 14 km away from Gudalur in the Ooty to Mysore road. It is a beautiful tourist place in Mudumalai Sanctuary.
in Uppatty there is a church namely ST.GEORGE MALANKARA CATHOLIC CHURCH which is under Bathery diocise.

cherumulli- kallingara - a small village were you can find farmers and cultivation-a very old siva temple a powerful temple is there only five km from gudalur. worshipping place to all no cast or creed.SIVARATRI MAHOLSAVAM is famous in this temple.

[edit] Transportation Links

Gudalur is linked by road to Ooty and this is one of the Nilgiri Ghat Roads. In the other direction, the same road continues on towards Gundlupet (and on to Mysore) in Karnataka State. Another road links it to Sultans Battery in Kerala State. Gudalur is therefore on the access route to other towns in the district for goods and passengers from the state of Karnataka and some from the state of Kerala.M K Travels run by Jemsheer M A provides tourist vehicle facilities for the needed