Peermade

Peermade
പീരുമേട്
Hill station

View from Parunthumpara in Peerumedu
Peermade
Peermade

Location in Kerala, India

Coordinates: 9°33′02″N 77°01′49″E / 9.5505100°N 77.0302580°E / 9.5505100; 77.0302580Coordinates: 9°33′02″N 77°01′49″E / 9.5505100°N 77.0302580°E / 9.5505100; 77.0302580
Country  India
State Kerala
District Idukki
Government
 • Type Panchayath
 • Body Peerumedu panchayath
Area
 • Total 114.75 km2 (44.31 sq mi)
Population (2001)
 • Total 25,768
 • Density 220/km2 (580/sq mi)
Languages
 • Official Malayalam, EnglishTamil
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 685531
Area code(s) 04869
Vehicle registration KL-37
Website

Peermade, also spelt Peerumedu is a hill station in the state of Kerala, India. It lies 915 metres (3,002 ft) above sea level in the Western Ghats (Sahyadri) some 85 kilometres (53 mi) east of Kottayam on the way to Thekkady through the nearby city of Kanjirappally.

Geography

Monsoon stream flowing through a tea estate in Peermade

The landscape of Peermade includes spectacular waterfalls, open grass lands and pine forests.[1] Predominantly it is classified as Malanad with an elevation ranging from 3,000 ft (910 m) from the mean sea level.

History

1900 photograph of Peerumedu (British library)

Peermade was once the summer retreat of the Maharajas of Travancore. Once these regions were quite unaccessible which were covered by dense forests and was inhabited by certain tribes like 'Malappandarams' and 'Malayarans'. Tamil people make up the majority of Peermade's population. The archaeological excavations points out that there was an ancient Neolithic culture flourished in the high-ranges which wasn't written or recorded. But the findings of cultural remnants from the hill tracks near Kumily and Vandiperiyar provides some factual evidences of the existence of a rich culture.[2]

Peermade was the highest elevation on the mountain route that connected the Travancore with Madurai in ancient Tamilakam. The mountain barriers created by the ghats separated these two regions.[2]:2

Tehsil Office
Estate Bungalow
Peermade town

Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the largest wildlife reserves in India, is 43 kilometres (27 mi) away. It has herds of elephants and other wildlife as well as lakes.

Etymology

The name is sometimes related to the Sufi saint, 'Peer Mohammed', as "hill of the Peer" (പീരുമേട്).[3]

Spices

The area is extremely fertile and until recently featured lush plantations of coffee, tea, cardamon, and coconut.[4] With a long history of spice growing, the focus is now on the production of organic black pepper, white pepper, ginger and turmeric.[5]

At a 2006 show, spice growers from Peermade displayed samples of organically grown spices including cardamom, black pepper, white pepper, nutmeg, mace, cloves, turmeric, ginger, vanilla beans, vanilla powder and herbs such as oregano, sage, thyme and rosemary. Oils of thyme and rosemary were also displayed.[6]

Education

Mar Baselios Christian College of Engineering and Technology[7] and Marian College[8] are located at Kuttikanam in Peermade.

Politics

Peermade assembly constituency is part of Idukki (Lok Sabha constituency).[9] E S Bijimol is the current MLA of peermade.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ http://old.kerala.gov.in/kercaljan06/p38-41.pdf A Heaven away from Heaven / George Thengummoottil / PRD, Government of Kerala
  2. 1 2 George, Thengummootil (10 January 2014). Peermade. Kerala: George Thengummootil.
  3. ↑ http://www.theindia.info/peermade/ Story of Tea Plantation in Kerala / George Thengummoottil
  4. ↑ "A bitter brew in the high ranges". Retrieved 2006-09-20.
  5. ↑ "Mapping India's spice route from past to present". Retrieved 2006-09-20.
  6. ↑ "Organic Show - Peermede Development Board's stand". Archived from the original on 2006-10-15. Retrieved 2006-09-20.
  7. ↑ http://www.mbcpeermade.com Mar Baselios Christian College of Engineering and Technology website
  8. ↑ http://www.mariancollege.org Marian College Kuttikanam
  9. ↑ "Assembly Constituencies - Corresponding Districts and Parliamentary Constituencies" (PDF). Kerala. Election Commission of India. Retrieved 2008-10-20.

Books


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