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Nilgiri Mountains

Coordinates:11°22′30″N76°45′30″E/ 11.375°N 76.75833°E/11.375; 76.75833
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This article is about the mountain range in India. For other uses, seeNilgiri.

Nilgiri Mountains
View of Nilgiri Mountains and its forests
Highest point
PeakDoddabetta,Tamil Nadu
Elevation2,637 m (8,652 ft)
ListingUltra
List of Indian states and territories by highest point
Coordinates11°22′30″N76°45′30″E/ 11.375°N 76.75833°E/11.375; 76.75833
Naming
English translationBlue Mountains inTamil
Geography
LocationTamil Nadu,Kerala,Karnataka
Parent rangeWestern GhatsEastern Ghats
Geology
Age of rockArchean Eon,3000 to 500mya
Mountain typeFault[1]
Climbing
Easiest routeNH 67 orNilgiri Mountain Railway

TheNilgiri Mountainsform a part of theWestern Ghatsin northwesternTamil Nadu,southernKarnatakaand easternKeralainSouth India.They are located at the trijunction of the three states and connect the Western Ghats to theEastern Ghats.At least 24 of the Nilgiri Mountains' peaks are above 2,000 m (6,600 ft), with the highest peak beingDoddabettaat 2,637 m (8,652 ft).

Etymology[edit]

The word Nilgiri, comes from Tamil wordsneelam(blue) +giri(mountain), has been in use since at least 1117 CE. In Tamil literature it is mentioned asIraniyamuttam[2][3]It is thought that the bluish flowers ofkurinjishrubs gave rise to the name.[4]

Location[edit]

The Nilgiri Hills are separated from theKarnataka Plateauto the north by theMoyar River.[5]

Three national parks border portions of the Nilgiri mountains.Mudumalai National Parklies in the northern part of the range where Kerala, Karnataka, andTamil Nadumeet, covering an area of 321 km2(124 sq mi).Mukurthi National Parklies in the southwest part of the range, in Kerala, covering an area of 78.5 km2(30.3 sq mi), which includes intact shola-grassland mosaic, habitat for the Nilgiri tahr.Silent Valley National Parklies just to the south and contiguous with those two parks, covering an area of 89.52 km2(34.56 sq mi).[citation needed]

Conservation[edit]

The Nilgiri Hills are part of theNilgiri Biosphere Reserve(itself part of theUNESCOWorld Network of Biosphere Reserves.[6]), and form a part of the protected bio-reserves in India.

Map of Nilgiri's Biosphere Reserve
Gold jewelry andetched carnelian beads,Nilgiri Hills culture, 1st millennium CE. British Museum
Nilgiri Hills from Masinangudi

History[edit]

The high steppes of the Nilgiri Hills have been inhabited sinceprehistorictimes, demonstrated by a large number of artifacts unearthed by excavators. A particularly important collection from the region can be seen in theBritish Museum,including those assembled bycolonialofficersJames Wilkinson Breeks,Major M. J. Walhouse andSir Walter Elliot.[7]

The first recorded use of the wordNilaapplied to this region can be traced back to 1117 CE. In the report of a general ofVishnuvardhana,King ofHoysalas,who in reference to his enemies, claimed to have "frightened theThodas,driven the Kongas underground, slaughtered the Poluvas, put to death the Maleyalas, terrified Chieftain Kala Nirpala and then proceeded to offer the peak of Nila Mountain.(presumably Doddabetta or Rangaswami peak of Peranganad in East Nilgiris) toLakshmi,Goddess of Wealth. Neelagiri was ruled by Baduga King Kala Raja before 1117 CE. "[8]

Ahero stone (Veeragallu)with a Kannada inscription at Vazhaithottam (Bale thota) in the Nilgiri District, dated to 10th century CE, has been discovered.[9]A Kannada inscription of Hoysala kingBallala III(or his subordinate Madhava Dannayaka's son) from the 14th century CE has been discovered at the Siva (or Vishnu) temple at Nilagiri Sadarana Kote (present-day Dannayakana Kote), near the junction of Moyar and Bhavani rivers, but the temple has since been submerged by theBhavani Sagar dam.[9][10]

In 1814, as part of theGreat Trigonometrical Survey,a sub-assistant named Keys and an apprentice named McMahon ascended the hills by the Danaynkeucottah (Dannayakana Kote) Pass, penetrated into the remotest parts, made plans, and sent in reports of their discoveries. As a result of these accounts, Messrs. Whish and Kindersley, two young Madras civilians, ventured up in pursuit of some criminals taking refuge in the mountains, and proceeded to observe the interior. They soon saw and felt enough favorable climate and terrain to excite their own curiosity, and that of others.[11]

Front ofStonehouse,1905

After the early 1820s, the hills were developed rapidly under theBritish Raj,because most of the land was already privately owned by British citizens. It was a popular summer and weekend getaway for the British during the colonial days. In 1827,Ootybecame the officialsanatoriumand the summer capital of theMadras Presidency.Many winding hill roads were built. In 1899, theNilgiri Mountain Railwaywas completed by influential and enterprising British citizens, with venture capital from the Madras government.[12][13]

In the 19th century, when the BritishStraits Settlementshipped Chinese convicts to be jailed in India, the Chinese men settled in the Nilgiri mountains nearNaduvattamafter their release and marriedTamilParaiyanwomen, having mixed Chinese-Tamil children with them. They were documented byEdgar Thurston.[14]

Peaks in the Nilgiris[edit]

Topographic map of Nilgiri Hills showing some peaks
View of Nilgiri hills fromDoddabetta

The highest point in the Nilgiris and the southern extent of the range isDoddabettaPeak (2,637 metres (8,652 ft)),[15]4 km east southeast ofUdhagamandalam,11°24′10″N76°44′14″E/ 11.40278°N 76.73722°E/11.40278; 76.73722(Doddabetta Peak).

Closely linked peaks in the west of Doddabetta range and nearby Udhagamandalam include:[citation needed]

  • Kolaribetta:height: 2,630 metres (8,629 ft)
  • Makurni: 2,594 metres (8,510 ft)
  • Hecuba: 2,375 metres (7,792 ft)
  • Kattadadu: 2,418 metres (7,933 ft)
  • Kulkudi: 2,439 metres (8,002 ft)

Snowdon (height: (2,530 metres (8,301 ft))11°26′N76°46′E/ 11.433°N 76.767°E/11.433; 76.767(Snowdon)is the northern extent of the range. Club Hill (2,448 metres (8,031 ft)) and Elk Hill (2,466 metres (8,091 ft))11°23′55″N76°42′39″E/ 11.39861°N 76.71083°E/11.39861; 76.71083(Elk Hill)are significant elevations in this range. Snowdon, Club Hill and Elk Hill with Doddabetta, form the impressive Udhagamandalam Valley.

Devashola (height: 2,261 metres (7,418 ft)), notable for itsblue gumtrees, is in the south of Doddabetta range.

Kulakombai (1,707 metres (5,600 ft)) is east of the Devashola. The Bhavani Valley and the Lambton's peak range ofCoimbatore districtstretch from here.

Muttunadu Betta (height: 2,323 metres (7,621 ft))11°27′N76°43′E/ 11.450°N 76.717°E/11.450; 76.717(Muttunadu Betta)is about 5 km, north northwest of Udhagamandalam. Tamrabetta (Coppery Hill) (height: 2,120 metres (6,955 ft))11°22′N76°48′E/ 11.367°N 76.800°E/11.367; 76.800(Tamrabetta)is about 8 km southeast of Udhagamandalam. Vellangiri (Silvery Hill) (2,120 metres (6,955 ft)) is 16 km west-northwest of Udhagamandalam.[16]

Waterfalls[edit]

Catherine falls

The highest waterfall, Kullakamby Fall, north of Kolakambai hill, has an unbroken fall of 400 ft (120 m). Nearby is the 150 ft (46 m) Halashana falls. The second highest isCatherine Falls,nearKotagiri,with a 250 ft (76 m) fall, named after the wife ofM.D. Cockburn,believed to have introduced coffee plantations to the Nilgiri Hills. The Upper and LowerPykara fallshave falls of 180 ft (55 m), and 200 ft (61 m), respectively. The 170 ft (52 m)Kalhatti Fallsis off the Segur Peak. The Karteri Fall, nearAruvankaduhad the first power station which supplied the original Cordite Factory with electricity. Law's Fall, nearCoonoor,is interesting due to its association with the engineer Major G. C. Law who supervised building of theCoonoor Ghat road.[17]

Flora and fauna[edit]

Bengal tiger

Over 2,800 species of flowering plants, 160 species offernand fern allies, countless types of flowerless plants, mosses, fungi, algae, and land lichens are found in thesholasof the Nilgiris. No otherhill stationhas as many species.[18]It is also home to mammals like theBengal tiger,Indian elephant,Indian leopard,chital deer,gaur,sambar deer,dhole,golden jackal,Indian boar,Nilgiri tahr,Indian spotted chevrotain,black buck,Asian palm civet,sloth bear,four-horned antelope,Nilgiri marten,Indian crested porcupine,Malabar giant squirrel,honey badger,Indian grey mongoose,Indian pangolin,Indian fox,smooth coated otter,andpainted bat.TheIndian python,king cobra,common krait,Indian cobra,Malabar pit viper,Nilgiri keelback,Oriental garden lizard,Eryx whitakeriandmugger crocodileare reptiles found here. Primates include thelion tailed macaque,Nilgiri langur,gray langurandbonnet macaque.The birds found here areIndian peacock,Nilgiri laughing thrush,Nilgiri flycatcher,grey junglefowl,Malabar pied hornbill,Malabar parakeet,great hornbill,Nilgiri wood pigeon,Indian vulture,black-hooded oriole,grey-headed bulbulandMalabar grey hornbill.Amphibians on the list are thepurple frog,Silent valley brush frog,Malabar gliding frog,Beddomixalusand many more. It is the only place in South India to have thewhite tiger.

Forests in the Nilgiri hills are covered in dense fog during the winter and the monsoon

The dominant type of habitat istropical rainforest.Montane forestsandtropical moist forestsare also found here. Much of the forest habitats have been much disturbed or destroyed by extensive tea plantations, easy motor-vehicle access, extensive commercial planting and harvesting of non-nativeeucalyptusandwattle(Acacia dealbata,Acacia mearnsii) plantations, and cattle grazing.[19]The area also features one large and several smallerhydro-electricimpoundments.[20]Scotch broomhas become an ecologically damaginginvasive species.[21]

Threatened plants of the Nilgiris include:

References[edit]

  1. ^"Application of GPS and GIS for the detailed Development planning".Map India 2000. 10 April 2000. Archived fromthe originalon 3 June 2008.Retrieved5 June2011.
  2. ^The Missionary Herald of the Baptist Missionary Society.Baptist Mission House. 1886. p. 398.
  3. ^Lengerke, Hans J. von (1977).The Nilgiris: Weather and Climate of a Mountain Area in South India.Steiner. p. 5.ISBN9783515026406.
  4. ^"Decline of a Montane Ecosystem".Kartik Shanker Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science. February 1997.
  5. ^"Nilgiri Hills".Encyclopædia Britannica.Retrieved25 April2019.
  6. ^UNESCO, World Heritage sites, Tentative lists, Western Ghats (subcluster nomination), retrieved 4/20/2007World Heritage sites, Nilgiri Sub-Cluster
  7. ^"Collection search: You searched for Nilgiri".British Museum.Retrieved9 August2016.
  8. ^Pai, Mohan (15 January 2009)....and they created little England.the-western-ghats-by-mohan-pai-hill-stations, Egmore, Chennai. pp. Ootacamund.{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help)
  9. ^ab"Kannada script (10600)".Department of Archaeology - Tamil Nadu.Tamil Nadu Government. Archived fromthe originalon 1 March 2017.Retrieved25 April2016.
  10. ^Francis, Walter (1908).Madras District Gazetteers: The Nilgiris.Vol. 1. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services. pp. 90–94, 102–105.ISBN978-81-2060-546-6.
  11. ^Burton, Richard Francis (1851)."Nilgiri Hills (India), Description and travel; Nilgiri Hills (India), Social life and customs".Goa, and the Blue Mountains, or, Six months of sick leave.London: R. Bentley.
  12. ^"Ooty Queen of hill stations".www.ooty.com.Retrieved5 June2011.
  13. ^"Nilgiri Mountain Railway".railtourismindia.com.Retrieved8 March2013.
  14. ^Sarat Chandra Roy (Rai Bahadur), ed. (1959).Man in India, Volume 39.A. K. Bose. p. 309.Retrieved2 March2012.d: Tamil-Chinese Crosses in the Nilgiris, Madras. S. S. Sarkar* (Received on 21 September 1959) During May 1959, while working on the blood groups of the Kotas of the Nilgiri Hills in the village of Kokal in Gudalur, inquiries were made regarding the present position of the Tamil-Chinese cross described by Thurston (1909). It may be recalled here that Thurston reported the above cross resulting from the union of some Chinese convicts, deported from the Straits Settlement, and local Tamil Paraiyan
  15. ^Scheffel, Richard L.; Wernet, Susan J., eds. (1980).Natural Wonders of the World.United States of America: Reader's Digest Association, Inc. pp.271.ISBN0-89577-087-3.
  16. ^District Administration, Nilgiris (8/20/2007) National Informatics Centre, Nilgiris, retrieved 8/31/2007Hills and Peaks
  17. ^Eagan, J. S. C (1916).The Nilgiri Guide And Directory.Vepery: S.P.C.K. Press.
  18. ^The District Collector, Collector's Office, Udhagamandalam, The Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu,General Information,Rare Trees, Fruits, Flowers & Animalsretrieved 9/2/2007.
  19. ^Davidar, E. R. C. 1978.Distribution and status of the Nilgiri tahr (Hemitragus hylocrius) 1975-1978.Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society; 75: 815-844.
  20. ^Rice, C G Dr (1984) US Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, USA, "The behaviour and ecology of Nilgiri Tahr",Tahr Foundation, retrieved 4/17/2007.Archived28 September 2006 at theWayback Machine
  21. ^Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 103 (2-3), May-Dec 2006 356-365Habitat Modifications By Scotch Broom Cytisus scoparius Invasion of Grasslands of the Upper Nilgiris in India,Ashfaq Ahmed Zarr, Asad R. Rahmani, and Mark J. BehanArchived19 December 2008 at theWayback Machine
  22. ^ Nayar & Sastry (1987-88) Red Data Book, Plants of IndiaThreatened Plants of Tamil Nadu

External links[edit]

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