Marayur
Marayoor is one of the famous tourist spots in Kerala, South India. It is the land where nature, history and culture merge harmoniously into tourism. 42 kilometers north of Munnar through the Udumalppetta route, Marayoor is the only place in Kerala that has natural sandal wood forests. Ancient dolmens and rock paintings in Marayoor tell the story of a muted history dating back to the Stone Age.
Name and Legend
The name Marayoor is said to be derived from two words “mara” and “oor”, in Tamil and Malayalam languages “mara” means hidden and “oor” means land. Legend has it the great Pandavas of Mahabharata epic, had stayed in the area during their exile and so the place was named as ‘Maranjirunna oor’or the land (they) hide. Later it became the land’s name “Marayoor.” Another argument is that the name Marayoor is derived from the words “mala” and “oor”, “mala” means mountain and “oor” means land, it was meant to be “the land of the mountains”, as the land is surrounded by mountains. Some scholars toyed with the idea that it can be both “mara” and “mala” as the name Marayoor could be meant as the land hidden by the mountains.
Topography
The terrain is highly undulating with altitudes ranging from 500m. at Chinnar to over 2300m.at Nandala malai, and the same varying topography of Marayoor can be observed in Marayoor with mountains, rainforests, deciduous forests, riparian forests, scrub forests, brooks, Paddy Fields, river, waterfalls, rocky hills, sholas and hamlets. Natural vegetation includes tropical evergreen forests and grasslands. Soil type is forest loam with high organic matter content.
Climate
The climate in Marayoor is characterized by mild wet winters and hot dry summers. Temperature in winter (November to January) may go down to 8 degrees Celsius and in summer it may go up to 36.2 degrees Celsius. Marayoor winter is not frigid cold as considerable sunshine is also characteristic to this region even during rainy winter. Summer is humid and hot with blazing sun. Generally Marayoor experience a moderate climate, temperatures varying 21degree C to 27degreeC with minimum seasonal variation except in winter. The plains are generally warm but the higher altitudes are cool.
Annual Rainfall
The annual rainfall in Idukki district varies from 250 to 425 cms. However, it is also recorded that the annual rainfall had gone up to 700 cms in certain years. The Eastern and North-Eastern regions of the district get very low rainfall in contrast to other areas. This may go up to 150 cms at Marayoor, Kanthalloor, Vattavada and Thalayar regions. Marayoor and Kanthalloor are virtually rain shadow areas, lying in the eastern side of the Western Ghats.
History
Marayoor claims to be a part of Stone Age Civilization that is as old as 10000 B.C. The land and its unique dolmens, caves, rock edicts and engravings declare its rich heritage. People migrated from Tamil Nadu to this area as Madurai king Thirumalainaicker was defeated by Tippu Sultan. Migrated people created five villages which are Kanthalloor, Keezhanthur, Karayur, Marayoor and Kottakudi. These villages were called as ‘Anju nadu, literally meaning “five lands”.
Megalithic Dolmens or Muniyaras
Muniyaras are dolmenoid cists belonging to the Megalithic age. These dolmenoids were burial chambers made of four stones placed on edges and covered by a fifth one called the cap stone. Some of these Dolmenoids contain several burial chambers, others have a quadrangle scooped out in laterite and lined on the sides with granite slabs. These are also covered with cap stones. Dozens of Dolmens around the area of old Siva temple at Kovilkadavu on the banks of the River Pambar, and rock paintings on the south-western slope of the plateau overlooking the river attracted the visitors.
Rock Paintings
Ancient rock paintings are part of Marayoor heritage at Attala, Ezhuthu Guha (literally means “cave of writing”), Kovilkadavu and Manala in Marayoor panchayat. Attala is situated in the west part of Marayoor Township and more than 90 painted motifs can be seen here. The rock paintings of Attala are situated in a colossal east facing rock shelter 1500 meters above bean sea level. Most of the paintings at Attala are abstract designs except for a few human and animal figures.
Ezhuthu Guha rock paintings are sited in the Koodakavu Sandalwood Reserve Forest at Marayoor in the Marayoor Panchayat at an elevation of 1000 meters above mean sea level. More or less 90 painted motifs can be seen here. However, as the place is the most famous rock art site in Kerala, it attracts a large number of visitors and has been extensively vandalized since it was brought to wide public attention. Kovilkadavu is less than five kilometers from Marayoor town and the place is famous for Neolithic dolmens and rock paintings. Ten 10 painted motifs are located on the south-western slope of the plateau overlooking the Pambar river. Manala There is a rock painting at Manala in Chinnar wildlife sanctuary of Marayoor near the Alampetty tribal settlement. Here, a picture of a deer and man can be seen. In close proximity to this art site a new rock painting is newly discovered.
Sandalwood forests
Marayoor is famous for its natural sandalwood forests grown in natural abundance. Marayoor is the only place in Kerala where natural sandalwood forest is seen. There is a sandalwood depot near Marayoor town where sandalwood is being processed. Sandal wood or Santalum album is a parasitic tree of having fragrant and close-grained yellowish heartwood. Sandalwood oil, otherwise called the ‘liquid gold’ is extracted from the roots and wood of sandalwood. This oil is a costly item marketed at a few choosy outlets all over the state. Less rainfall is suitable for the growth of best sandalwood trees from which good quality oil can be extracted. The 93 square km Marayoor reserve forest is believed to have about sixty thousand naturally grown sandalwood tress, of which nearly 2,000 trees had been allegedly plundered in just one year since January 2004, when the last survey was conducted. The auction rate for first quality Marayoor sandal is quoted at Rs. 1100 per kg, according to forest department sources (2004)
Flora and Fauna
Marayoor has more than 1000 species of flowering plants and is a well known repository of medicinal plants. There are 114 endemics and Aibizia lathamii, a critically endangered tree has been recently reported from the dry frosts. Chinnar the wildlife sanctuary in Marayoor has recorded the largest number of reptilian fauna in Kerala including the mugger crocodile. With 225 recorded species of birds, it is one of the richest areas of south India in avian diversity.
The forests in Marayoor preserve the population of the endangered Grizzled Giant Squirrel. The rare white bison has been recently reported in Chinnar wildlife sanctuary. Other important mammals found are elephant, tiger, leopard, guar, sambar, spotted deer, Nilgiri tar, common langur, bonnet macaque etc. The phenomenon of butterfly migration occurs in between the monsoons.
Rajiv Gandhi Children’s Park
Rajiv Gandhi children’s park is located in the heart of Marayoor. The serene park spread across a hectare of land under the vast canopy of a single banyan tree attracts tourists and Marayoor population alike. From the park one can spot monkeys, deer and other animals in the adjoining reserve forest.
Thoovanam Waterfalls
Deep with in the Chinnar Wildlife sanctuary lies the spectacular Thoovanam water falls. The river Pambar flows eastwards through the sanctuary and forms the waterfalls. The enormous waterfall on the Chinnar River, with its breathtaking silvery cascade is a major tourist attraction. As a part of wildlife tourism, the Wildlife Department allows tourists to visit the falls. Guided trekking from Karimutti Forest Station can be arranged to Thoovanam waterfalls. Trekking through the pristine scrub forest offers advantage of watching wild animals and rare flora from the path when venture deep into the forest. Many endemic and rare species enrich this dry and deciduous forest.
River Pambar
Among the 44 rivers in Kerala, three rivers flow eastwards. They are Pambar, Kabani and Bhavani. River Pambar originate from the Anaimudi Hills and flows through the heart of kanthalloor and Marayoor and reaches the Amaravathi Dam in Tamil Nadu
Chinnar wildlife sanctuary
Chinnar wildlife sanctuary is located 18 kms north of Marayoor on Udumalpett road. It is one of the famous places for wildlife tourism in South India. Marayoor is the gateway to Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary and shares its western boundary with Eravikulam National Park and is contiguous with Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary in Coimbatore district to the East.
Chinnar Watchtower
In Chinnar, a watch tower is accessible to tourists for a minimal charge with the permission of the forest department. From this watch tower tourists can observe animals like deer, monkeys, langurs, elephants. The lofty watchtower provides a panoramic view of the entire park, stretching all the way to the jungles in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu and the majestic mountains far away.
Mannavanchola
The Evergreen Rain forest, Mannavan Shola is the largest shola forest patch in Kerala, is near Kanthalloor. This is a 14 sq km of unique ecosystem facing devastation. The vegetation, including many rare and endemic flora and species are part of Marayoor’s great natural wealth. This is one of our unique and delicate ecosystems forever. The biggest high altitude moist-rain forest in the peninsula, located at altitude of 2100 meters. This great shola region is the haven of many rare and common species of animals, birds and plants. Mannavan shola was notified as a reserved forest through an order of the Government of the erstwhile Travancore State on October 22, 1901.
Kanthalloor
Kanthalloor is part of Marayoor and known for its extensive winter vegetable and fruits cultivation. This is one unique place where there always season throughout the year for various types of fruits or vegetable.
Tribal community in Marayoor
The two major tribal groups in Marayoor are Muthuvans and Hill Pulayas. The tribal population in Marayoor still preserves their unique customs and traditions. Muthuvans and Hill Pulayans are the major tribal groups in Marayoor and Kanthalloor. Their reluctance and refusal to social development has been changed very little and they are being motivated continuously for a better life. The language that they speak had very little connection with Malayalam and was a derivation of Tamil having a peculiar accent. The tribal populations in Marayoor are not aborigines and they prefer a secluded life fostering their own traditions and customs. They tend to be highly superstitious, believing in animism and totem worship. They prefer their own medicinal system; the tribal medicines are mostly plants and herbs. Both tribes strictly practice endogamy.
Muthuvans
According to tribal legends Muthuvas were loyal subjects of the dynasty of Madurai. When the dynasty was deposed, the surviving royal members migrate to Travancore, central Kerala, and established the famed Poonjar dynasty. On their way to Kerala, the Muthuvas carried the idols of Madurai Meenakshi, the deity of the royal family, in their backs. The word Muthuvas seems to be stem out from the word "muthuku" which means back in Tamil and Malayalam languages. The tribe which carried the idols in their muthuku later settled in the forests near Tamil Nadu, and came to be known as Muthuvans. Muthuvans tribe is very independent and reluctant to contact with outside world. They do not trust the civilized world and hesitant to partake education. They are an exclusive tribe which refuses to connect with other tribes and outside world. Their women folk are strictly prohibited to have contact with outside clan or other people, especially other men. The Muthuvan women usually are secluded in the bamboo huts not allowing even to talk or see men outside their tribe. The major cultivations of Muthuva tribe are ragi, cardamom and lemon grass.
Hill Pulayas
Hill Pulayas are the most backward type of tribes among the tribal population staying in the Marayoor and Kanthalloor. They stay in small huts in the secluded forest areas. They do manual labor and collection of forest products is another part of their income. They speak Tamil and follow their own unique and hereditary customs and they have their own primitive arts.
Marayoor Sarkkara
Sarkkara is dark sugar balls made of condensed sugarcane juice; it can also be called jaggery. A Major cultivation in Marayoor and Kanthalloor is sugarcane. There is vast sugarcane farms can be seen in Marayoor. In these sugarcane farms small jaggery factories are made to boil and condense jaggery balls. The jaggary produced here is of the highest quality in India and much demanded items in cooking sweets in households.
Marayoor Fact File
- Alternative Spelling : Marayur
- Location : Idukki. District of Kerala, Near Kerala and Tamil Nadu border. 42 kms from Munnar
- Latitude : 10°15’North
- Longitude : 77°11’East
- Altitude : 4000 to 5500ft above sea level
- Boundaries : North & East : Tamil Nadu and South & West Munnar
- District : Idukki
- State : Kerala
- Climate : Summer Min. 20.5°c - Max. 36.2°c
- Winter Min 8 °c – Max 27°c
- Area: 224.99 Sq. Kms
- Population:20575 (As per 1991 Census)
- Clothing: Cotton and Warm clothes
- ISD and STD Code (Direct Dialing Code): ++ 91 – 4865
- Nearest railway station : Ernakulam about 130 km
- Nearest airport : Cochin International Airport about 110 km
- Languages spoken: Malayalam, Tamil & English
- Tourist Season : August to March
- Best time to visit: Almost throughout the year except September & October
- Crops: fresh fruits and vegetables and sugar cane
- Marayoor’s famous product: Sugarcane sarkkara (dark sugar balls used in cooking sweets)
- Marayoor is famous for: Wildlife tourism, trekking, Neolithic dolmens, and Sandalwood forests
- Main animal attractions: Elephants, Indian Bison
- Endangered species of Marayoor: Aibizia lathamii (tree), Grizzled Giant Squirrel, Star tortoise.