Ajay Kumar at 22:38, 29 August 2023

2023-08-29T22:38:27Z

New page

{{Short description|Mountain range in Kerala, India}}
{{Distinguish|Cardamom Mountains}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Cardamom Hills
| photo = Munnar Top station.jpg
| photo_caption = [[Tea]] plantation on Cardamom Hills
| map = India Kerala
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| location = [[Kerala]], [[India]]
| map_relief =
| label = Cardamom Hills
| label_position = right
| elevation_m = 2695
| elevation_ref =
| prominence_m =
| prominence_ref =
| listing =
| range = [[Western Ghats]]
| coordinates = {{coord|9|52|0|N|77|09|0|E|type:mountain_region:IN_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| topo =
| coordinates_ref =
| type = [[Fault (geology)|Fault]] (Archaean continental collision)<ref>{{citation|doi=10.1016/j.gr.2005.11.013|title=Nature of the crust along Kuppam–Palani geotransect (South India) from Gravity studies: Implications for Precambrian continental collision and delamination|journal=Gondwana Research|volume=10|issue=1–2|pages=41–47|year=2006|last1=Singh|first1=A.P.|last2=Kumar|first2=Niraj|last3=Singh|first3=B.|bibcode=2006GondR..10...41S}}</ref>
| age = [[Cenozoic]], 100 to 80 [[mya (unit)|mya]]
| first_ascent =
| easiest_route = '''SH 19''', '''SH 33''' [http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=9.70060,77.17106&z=12&t=H&marker0=9.86667%2C77.15000%2CCardamom_Hills (Satellite view)]
| map_size =
| native_name_lang = ml
| range_coordinates =
}}
[[File:Cardamom Hills.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Cardamom Hills near Thekkady in Kerala]]

The '''Cardamom Hills''' or '''Yela Mala''' are mountain range of southern India and part of the southern [[Western Ghats]] located in [[Idukki district]], [[Kerala]], [[India]]. Their name comes from the [[cardamom]] spice grown in much of the hills' cool elevation, which also supports [[black pepper|pepper]] and [[coffee]]. The Western Ghats and Periyar Sub-Cluster including the Cardamom Hills are [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Sites]].<ref name="UNESCO">UNESCO, [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/]. Retrieved 20 April 2007.</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Periyar National Park 02.jpg|left|thumbnail|[[Periyar National Park]]]]
The Cardamom Hills central point is about {{coord|9|52|N|77|09|E|type:mountain}}. They cover about 2,800 km2 of mountainous terrain with deep valleys, and includes the drainages of the west flowing [[Periyar River|Periyar]], [[Mullayar River|Mullayar]] and [[Pamba River|Pamba]] rivers. It includes [[Idukki Dam]] and [[Mullaperiyar Dam]]. They conjoin the [[Anaimalai Hills]] to the northwest, the [[Palani Hills]] to the northeast and the [[Pothigai]] to the south as far as the [[Aryankavu]] pass (at c. 9° N). The crest of the hills form the boundary between Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Anamudi ({{convert|8,842|ft|m|abbr=on}}) in [[Eravikulam National Park]], is the highest peak in Western Ghats and also the highest point in India south of the [[Himalayas]].<ref>Frommers Travel Guide (2007) [http://www.frommers.com/destinations/cardamomhills/3485010001.html ''Introduction to Cardamom Hills''], Wiley Publishing, Inc. retrieved 9 April 2007 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729222028/http://www.frommers.com/destinations/cardamomhills/3485010001.html |date=2017-07-29 }}</ref>

==Peaks in Cardamom Hills (Elephant Hills)==

Elevation ranges between {{convert|300|-|2700|m|ft}} and {{convert|2695|m|ft}} above [[Mean Sea Level|MSL]] 
There are several named peaks over {{convert|2000|m|ft}} in the mountain range including:
{|class="sortable wikitable"

|-----
|
| '''[[Anamudi|Anamala]]''' || {{convert|2695|m|ft}} || [[Eravikulam National Park]]
|-----
!
!'''Name''' !!'''Altitude'''!! ''' Location '''
|-----
|
|'''[[Meesapulimala]]''' || {{convert|2640|m|ft}} || [[Munnar]]
|-----
|
|'''[[Kattumala]]''' || {{convert|2552|m|ft}} || [[Idukki]]
|-----
|
|'''[[Devimala]]''' ||{{convert|2523|m|ft}} || [[Devikulam]]
|-----
|
|'''[[Kumarikkal Mala]]''' ||{{convert|2522|m|ft}} || [[Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary]]
|-----
|
|'''[[Eravimala]]''' ||{{convert|2400|m|ft}} || [[Munnar]]
|-----
|
|'''Nandala Mala''' ||{{convert|2372|m|ft}} || [[Marayur]]
|-----
|
|'''Kottakombu Mala''' ||{{convert|2144|m|ft}} || [[Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary]]
|-----
|
|'''[[Kottamala]]''' ||{{convert|2019|m|ft}} || [[Thekkady]]
|-----
|
|'''Karimkulam''' ||{{convert|2585|m|ft}} || [[Munnar]]
|-----
|
|'''Pambadum Chola''' ||{{convert|2438|m|ft}} || [[Vattavada]]
|-----
|
|'''Karimala''' ||{{convert|2100|m|ft}} || [[Idukki]]
|-----
|
|'''Devicolam''' ||{{convert|2130|m|ft}} || [[Devikulam]]
|-----
|
|'''Vagavara''' ||{{convert|2400|m|ft}} || [[Idukki]]
|-----
|
|'''Anchanad''' ||{{convert|2164|m|ft}} || [[Idukki]]
|-----
|
|'''Peradu Mala''' ||{{convert|2225|m|ft}} || [[Idukki]]
|-----
|
|'''Ghudoor''' ||{{convert|2408|m|ft}} || [[Idukki]]
|-----
|
|'''Kabula''' ||{{convert|2195|m|ft}} || [[Idukki]]
|-----
|
|'''Mukuthi Mala''' ||{{convert|2560|m|ft}} || [[Munnar]]
|-----
|}

==Climate==
The hills experience average daily [[temperatures]] of 15 °C in [[winter]] to 31 °C in summer (April–May). The annual rainfall of 2,000 mm to 3,000 mm in Periyar decreases to less than 1,500 mm in the east in Srivilliputtur Wildlife Sanctuary. On the western side, two-thirds of the precipitation is received during the southwest [[monsoon]] from June to September. The areas also receive rainfall from the northeast monsoon (October–December) and from pre-monsoon showers (April–May).

==Biome protection==
These hills are made up largely of several contiguous [[Protected areas of India|protected areas]] intended to restrict human access, protect specific [[endangered species]] and preserve some of the still undeveloped forest [[biome]]s. The central part of the hills comprise the [[Periyar National Park|Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary]] covering an area of 777 km2. The 350 km2 core zone of the sanctuary is the Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve. Periyar is a major [[ecotourism]] destination.

To the south of the Periyar Tiger Reserve are the [[reserve forest]]s of the [[Ranni, Kerala|Ranni]], Konni and Achankovil Forest Divisions. The [[Srivilliputhur#Shenbagathope Grizelled Squirrel Sanctuary|Srivilliputtur Wildlife Sanctuary]] and reserved forests of the [[Tirunelveli]] Forest Division are contiguous with Periyar on the eastern side of the hills in Tamil Nadu in the rain-shadow area with mostly drier forests. The [[Meghamalai|Meghamalai reserve forest]], also contiguous with Periyar, is proposed to be the 600 km2 [[Meghamalai#Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary|Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary]] to protect several [[threatened species]] including: [[Bengal tiger]], [[Indian elephant]], [[Nilgiri tahr]], [[lion-tailed macaque]], [[slender loris]], [[grizzled giant squirrel]], [[Salim Ali's fruit bat]], [[great Indian hornbill]], [[Hutton's pitviper]] and [[Arnetta vindhiana|Vindhyan bob butterfly]].

===Cardamom Hill Reserve===
The Cardamom Hill was an administrative area under two revenue officers (Tahasildar) created by the royal proclamation of Kingdom of [[Travancore]] in April 1822 to promote cardamom cultivation and to give facilities and protection to cardamom farmers. The Cardamom Hill Reserve (CHR) is within the Cardamom Hills [[Idukki District]]. It comprises about {{convert|15721|acre|km2}} as per 1897 royal proclamation of the Kingdom of Travancore. But the extent of land in accordance with the boundaries of the notification is about 334 Sq miles (2,13,720 acres). It is bordered by the Tamil Nadu border to the east, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary on the south, the [[Periyar River]] on the west, and [[Bodimettu]], [[Chokkanad]] and [[Muthirapuzha]] to the north. The rain forests of CHR are a natural [[wildlife corridor]] to Periyar National Park from the Anaimalai Hills and Palani hills of Tamil Nadu and is the catchment area of six major hydro-electric projects in Idukki District. Now it is situated in the Idukki District of Kerala.

According to the Chief Secretary of the [[Government of Kerala]], Cardamom Hill land is Government land under the control of the Revenue Department for more than a century. The total extent of the Cardamom Hill area was {{convert|1071.9746|km2|acre|abbr=on}} of which {{convert|568.6|km2|acre|abbr=on}} was assigned under various Land Assignment Rules. The balance of
{{convert|503.38|km2|acre|abbr=on}} is leased to farmers for cardamom cultivation The CHR accounts for about 70 percent of the cardamom production of India.<ref name=Shaji2007/> CHR contains the [[Cardamom Research Station]], situated in the Pampadumpara village of [[Udumbanchola]] taluk. It is located on the eastern side of Kumily-Munnar road.<ref>Kerala Agricultural University, [http://www.kau.edu/Research.htm Cardamom Research Station] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070908224042/http://www.kau.edu/Research.htm |date=8 September 2007 }}</ref> See:[https://web.archive.org/web/20150217044751/http://idukki.nic.in/map.htm map].

CHR is the centre of a controversy between the Forest Department and the Revenue Department over control of the cardamom plantations in the reserve. Non-cardamom cultivation, illegal land conversion and large scale destruction of trees in the CHR have been blamed for flash-floods and landslips in Idukki and siltation problems in the Idukki dam.<ref>Govind M. Harish, [https://web.archive.org/web/20060524133310/http://www.hindu.com/2005/12/18/stories/2005121805320500.htm "Row among departments highlights damage to Cardamom Hill Reserve"], ''The Hindu'', 18 December 2005. Retrieved 24 July 2007</ref>

According to the report dated 7 September 2005<ref>Central Empowered Committee, [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1q4j-nU7ayrz4XwMxa_8lgSWFnz0Z6gby1_Z529Rz0V4/edit?hl=en_US REPORT IN APPLICATION NO.305 FILED BEFORE THE CEC BY "ONE EARTH ONE LIFE" REGARDING THE ILLEGAL GRANT OF LEASES AND THE ENCROACHMENS IN THE CARDAMOM HILL RESERVGE, IDUKKI DISTRICT, KERALA]{{sic}}, 7 September 2005</ref> of the Central Empowered Committee, appointed by the Supreme Court of India, the status of the Cardamom Hill Reserve is forest, and the extent is about 334 sq miles. The CEC concludes that in the Cardamom Hill Reserve, which still holds dense forest, illegal assignment of lands or grant of patta, illegal sales of land, large scale encroachments, transfer and sale of land and consequent deforestation, by the rich, the powerful and the influential, continue unabated in gross violation of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and this Honourable Court’s order dated 12 December 1996. This is causing irretrievable and immense loss to the dense evergreen forest holding rich bio-diversity on steep slopes and destroying the watersheds, water catchments and streams and rivers which flow through these forests.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://docs.google.com/document/d/1q4j-nU7ayrz4XwMxa_8lgSWFnz0Z6gby1_Z529Rz0V4/edit?hl=en_US&usp=embed_facebook|title=1 Recommendation CEC Compact.doc|website=Google Docs|access-date=25 December 2016}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name=Shaji2007>
{{cite web | author = Shaji K A | url = http://www.tehelka.com/story_main28.asp?filename=Ne140407Kerala_red.asp
| title = KERALA RED GRABS KERALA GREEN] | publisher = Tehelka | date = 14 April 2007
| access-date = 13 August 2007 | url-status = dead
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927204714/http://www.tehelka.com/story_main28.asp?filename=Ne140407Kerala_red.asp
| archive-date= 27 September 2007}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Cardamom Hills}}
* [https://archive.today/20120911033733/http://www.tehelka.com/story_main28.asp?filename=Ne140407Kerala_red.asp "Kerala Red Grabs Kerala Green"], ''Tehelka'', 14 April 2007

{{Geography of India by state or territory}}
{{Geography of India}}
{{India topics}}

{{GeoSouthAsia}}
{{Geography of Asia}}
{{Asia topic|Climate of}}
{{Western Ghats}}

[[Category:Mountains of the Western Ghats]]
[[Category:Hills of Kerala]]
[[Category:Hills of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Geography of Idukki district]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Idukki district]]

Cardamom Hills - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 22:38, 29 August 2023