Peermade

Peermade, also spelt Peerumedu (malayalam: പീരുമേട്)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) about 85 kilometres (53 mi) east of Kottayam on the way to Thekkady through the nearby city of Kanjirappally.

Peermade
Hill station
View from Parunthumpara in Peerumedu
Peermade
Location in Kerala, India
Peermade
Peermade (India)
Coordinates: 9.5505100°N 77.0302580°E / 9.5505100; 77.0302580
Country India
StateKerala
DistrictIdukki
Government
 • TypePanchayath
 • BodyPeerumedu panchayath
Area
 • Total114.75 km2 (44.31 sq mi)
Population
 (2001)
 • Total25,768
 • Density220/km2 (580/sq mi)
Languages
 • Officialmalyalam
 • OthersMalayalam,Tamil and English
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
685531
Area code(s)04869
Vehicle registrationKL-37
Website

Geography

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. During those periods these regions were quite inaccessible, covered by dense forests and was inhabited by certain tribes like 'Malappandarams' and 'Malayarans'. 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 once connected the Travancore with Madurai in ancient Tamilakam. The mountain barriers created by the ghats separated these two regions.[2]:2 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.

  • Tehsil Office
  • Estate Bungalow
  • Peermade town
  • Monsoon stream flowing through a tea estate in Peermade
gollark: But then hibernation probably won't work.
gollark: Or excessively often/on interactive enough processes/some other metric.
gollark: I want it to swap, but also to kill processes if it starts swapping excessive amounts.
gollark: Sometimes it fixes itself after a few minutes, which is very annoying still, but sometimes it doesn't, which is also very annoying.
gollark: It isn't. I consider this UTTER freezing.

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. George, Thengummootil (10 January 2014). Peermade. Kerala: George Thengummoottil.
  3. http://www.theindia.info/peermade/ Story of Tea Plantation in Kerala / George Thengummoottil
  4. "A bitter brew in the high ranges". Retrieved 20 September 2006.
  5. "Mapping India's spice route from past to present". Retrieved 20 September 2006.
  6. "Organic Show - Peermede Development Board's stand". Archived from the original on 15 October 2006. Retrieved 20 September 2006.
  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. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2009. Retrieved 20 October 2008.

Books


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