|
|
|
|
The Palani Hills Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park is a proposed Protected area in Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu State South India. The Park will be an upgrade and expansion of the 736.87 km² (PRO) Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary being established in 2008.[1] The park includes about 36% of the 2,068 km² in the Palani Hills.[2][3] The park is located between Latitude 10°7' - 10°28' N and Longitude 77°16' - 77°46' E. Central location is .7 km west of the Aeon centre of Cosmology[4] and 7.4 km N X NE of Kodaikanal.
StatusIn the early 1990s, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department submitted a proposal to the State government to protect much of the Palani Hills by declaring the area a wildlife sanctuary or a national park.[5] The Sanctuary has been under consideration of the Government of India in consultation with the Government of Tamilnadu since 1999.[6] The actual park boundaries have not been finalized. 
The increasingly important economic role of Eco-tourism, including: trekking, hiking, camping, mountaineering, rock climbing and bird watching may help local vested interests to welcome this new Protected area. It remains to be seen whether the Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park will stimulate or stifle commercial development and tourism. The decision to finally establish the Park must balance short term financial benefits of the status quo versus long term stability of the natural and human community. Geography
The western extremity of the Park is contiguous with Manjampatti Valley in the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park and with The Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala. The Kurinjimala Sanctuary in Kerala borders the southwestern corner of the Park.[7] These Wildlife Sanctuaries are adjacent to the recently established Eravikulam National Park. The Park area includes only reserve forest land, including Palni Hills Northern Slope East, Kallar, Palni Hills Southern Slope East, Upper Palni Shola, Allinagaram, and Palni Hills Northern Slope West Reserve Forests in the Dindigul[8] and Kodaikanal Forest Divisions.[9] These forests are already among the protected areas of Tamil Nadu. Their upgrade to Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park will increase their IUCN status from level VI to II and improve habitat and wildlife conservation. Geology
The Palani Hills are formed of pre-Cambrian gneisses, charnockites and schists; they are among the oldest mountain ranges in India.[10] The Park is an eastward extension of the Western Ghats hills formed by separation of the India-Madagascar-Seychelles blocks of East Gondwana in the Early Cretaceous period about 120 million years ago. It is surrounded to the north, east and south by the Deccan Plateau formed later in the massive Deccan Traps eruption 65 million years ago.[11] The Palani hills are most accentuated towards the west, ranging from 1,800 m to 2,553 m (5,906 ft - 8,376 ft). Prominent peaks are: Vandaravu 2,553 m (8,376 ft), Vembadi Shola 2,505 m (8,219 ft), Gundar 2,461 m (8,219 ft), Karunmakadu 2,451 m (8,041 ft), Sandana Parai 2,404 m (7,887 ft) Venkombu 2,327 m (7,635 ft), Tina Vardi 2,270 m (7,448 ft), Perumalai 2,236 m (7,336 ft) and Velori Malai 2,229 m (7,313 ft), The hill station of Kodaikanal stands in a 2,195 m (7,202 ft) high basin at the southern edge of the central part. The eastern end of the park is made of hills 1000-1500 m (3,281 ft - 4,921 ft) high.[12] The Tamil Nadu Department of Geology and Mining has completed detailed Geo-Technical Studies of the Palni Hills determining moderate to high landslide danger in much of the area.[13] There are many waterfalls throughout the Park which are popular tourist attractions. Some of the prominent falls associated with the park are: Anju Veedu [Five House] (27 km from Kodaikanal), Bamen, Bear Shola (2 km from Kodaikanal), Fairy (5 km from Kodaikanal), Glen, Neptune rapids, Pambar (also called Vatakanal)(4 km from Kodaikanal), Silver Cascade (55 m (180 ft) high, 8 km from Kodaikanal), Skamba (8 km from Kodaikanal), Snake and Thalaiyar Falls. WeatherTemperature varies from moderate to quite cool - during March to May) the temperature range is between 11°C - 20°C. The temperature can rise to a high of 35°C. During Dec-Feb it is between 8.3°C - 17.3°C. In January, night temperatures sometimes drop to freezing, and thin ice is seen on the lake edges. The average annual rainfall is 1,650 mm, mostly during the north-east monsoon from June to September.[14] [15] Tribes
Nomadic Paliyan tribes people have been seen living in some of the several caves in Manjampatti Valley. Paliyan people can be seen near Kukal Cave. The Tamil speaking Pulayan are referred as the MalaPulayans, a group categorized as scheduled caste by State government of Tamil Nadu. Their traditional livelihood is foraging yams and small gaming in the nearby forest areas combined with cultivation of several species of minor millets in small plots located near their hamlets to meet their subsistence requirements. They live in small hamlets in huts and government constructed colonies. The sedentary life started with the construction of group houses by the government in the early sixties. The community is vertically divided into two sub divisions called Koora and Kanni, further subdivided into 47 sub sects. Each sub sect is called Kootams, which regulates certain social events. Each kootam has it own deity, which is common to the entire group and once yearly the members of the same kootam assemble to worship the deity. [16] Many native tribals in the Palani Hills have partially assimilated modern culture but are marginalized on the fringes of society. Their social, economic and physical survival has become a difficult challenge for them and several public and private agencies. Their ancient culture in this area is well documented [17], [18]. Relics and artifacts of the Paliyan tribes people can be seen in the Shenbaganur Museum.[19] Ecoregions
There is a wide diversity of Endemic species in the Park's diverse Ecoregions. The lower elevations, 250 m - 1000 m, are part of the South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests ecoregion. Above 1000 m, the forests transition to evergreen South Western Ghats montane rain forests. In the highest portions of the park, above 2,000 m, the forests give way to shola - grassland mosaic, made of frost-tolerant montane grasslands interspersed with pockets of stunted shola forests in the valleys. The Palni hills are the easternmost part of the Western Ghats of India, which is one of the 25 biodiversity hotspots of the world. Some of the very rare and endangered plants and animals of India are found here. including intact relics of primary indigenous vegetation and a large number of non-native plants.[21] Flora and Fauna
Mammals: Wild Boars are common in areas away from human habitation and cultivation. Bengal Tiger populations in the adjacent Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and the Project Tiger Kalakad - Mundanthurai Reserve[22] in the Agasthyamalai hills could expand back into this area when it is better protected. Plants: The comprehensive source on this subject is currently in print: "The Flora of the Palni Hills, South India" , Tiruchirapalli, , 3 vols., xcvi, 1880 p., figs., maps, $193 (set). ISBN 81-900539-3-0. Contents:[23] Volume I ISBN 8190053949: Polypetalae: Dedication. Preface. Novelties in this Flora. Precursory or related publications. References. Introduction. I. The Palni hills: 1. Location and physical features. 2. Kodaikanal: taluk and town. 3. Rivers. 4. Roads. 5. Table 2: Gazetteer of localities. 6. Climatic conditions at Kodaikanal. 7. Geology and soils. 8. History. 9. The vegetation: A. Native; B. Alien. 10. References. II. Plant explorations on the Palnis: 1. Past explorations: 1. The Bournes. 2. The Fysons. 3. The Shembaganur team. 4. Natural History Centre at Shembaganur (SHC). 5. Recent explorations. 6. References. 2. Present exploration: 1. Background and scope. 2. Field trip report. 3. Phytogeographical findings. 4. Ethnobotany. 5. Nature conservation. 3. The present Flora: Format and conventions. Acknowledgments. Family sequence. Key to families. Dicotyledones: I. Polypetalae: 1. Ranunculaceae. 2. Alangiaceae. Volume II ISBN 8190053957: Gamopetalae: 1. Caprifoliaceae. 2. Labiatae. III. Monochlamvdeae: 1. Plantaginaceae. 2. Salicaceae. Volume III ISBN 8190053965: Monocotyledones: 1. Orchidaceae. 2. Gramineae. II. Gymnospermae: 1. Gnetaceae. 2. Cycadaceae. Kurinji flowers (Strobilanthes kunthiana) which blossom in spectacular fields of violet only once in 12 years are threatened. [24]. Threat aversionThere is decreasing biodiversity, deforestation, grasslands destruction, monoculture tree plantations, and invasive exotic plant species in the Park. There is sewage pollution, solid waste pollution, Mercury contamination[25], sound pollution, visual pollution, uncontrolled tourism, overdevelopment and lake eutrophication in and near Kodaikanal town. The Government of Tamil Nadu and several local NGO conservation groups are actively working to reduce some of these threats:
A sum of Rs.1327.50 lakhs has been released for this purpose during 2006-2007.[28]
Visitor informationPermission from the Forest Department is necessary to visit areas deep inside the forests and for trekking in forests. Forest Rest Houses are located at Kodaikkanal, Poombarai, Kookal, Kavunji, Berijam and Devadanapatty. Contact: District Forest officer, Kodaikkanal Forest Division, Kodaikanal, Dindigal District, Tamil Nadu, India. Phone : 91-4542-240287[37] See alsoNotes
CommentsNo comments have been added. |
Switch Language
Popular PagesEmail this PageSyndicate
| |||||||||||||
