Meghamalai

For a long time, there has been a pending proposal with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department to establish the Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary on 600 km² of forest in the division. The suggested priority tasks in the sanctuary include: the control of poaching, the use of pesticides for the elimination of ganja (Cannabis sativa) and the cultivation as well as scientific management of watersheds. The Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary can be an excellent buffer to the Periyar Tiger Reserve and Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary which can immensely strengthen the conservation in the southern Western Ghats – the range of hills south of the Palakkad Gap.National Wildlife Data Center (2006) Wildlife Institute of India, retrieved 3/31/2007 [https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20080414041119/http://www.wii.gov.in/nwdc/list_proposedwls.pdf List of Proposed Wildlife Sanctuaries in India]

Wildlife found on the High Wavy Mountains include Oriental honey buzzard, great pied hornbill, Indian brown mongoose, Jerdon's palm civet, white-bellied short-wing, black-naped monarch, pied thrush, gaur, tiger, leopard, Asian elephant, mouse deer, Ghatixalus asterops, Raorchestes beddomii, Raorchestes ponmudi, Nyctibatrachus sp., Ramanella triangularis, Ramanella montana, Calotes grandisquamis, Hemidactylus anamallensis, Salea anamallayana, Kaestlea travancorica, Kaestlea laterimaculata, Uropeltis madurensis, Uropeltis liura, Calliophis nigrescens, large-scaled pit viper and the enigmatic Hutton's pit viper.

When the high wavys group of estates were managed by Hindustan Unilever, the company started a non-profit organization called the Megamalai Wildlife and Environment Association. It worked with the forest department to protect the endangered species and safeguard the forest and its creatures; it did so by putting up signs promoting the preservation of nature and animals along the Ghat road of Meghamalai. Unfortunately, most of these signs were destroyed in an expansion project that took place on the Ghat road. The forest department has put new signs to replace the damaged ones.{{Cite web|url=https://www.unilever.com/Images/es_2003_tea-a-popular-beverage_tcm244-409725_en.pdf.|title=Unilever Global: Making sustainable living commonplace}}

On 6 April 2021, the Government of India approved the creation of new Tiger Reserve in tamil nadu{{Cite news|last=Kumar|first=B. Aravind|date=2021-02-06|title=Srivilliputhur–Megamalai Tiger Reserve in TN approved|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/srivilliputhurmegamalai-tiger-reserve-in-tn-approved/article33766578.ece|access-date=2021-05-27|issn=0971-751X}} and on 11 April 2021, Meghamalai Tiger Reserve was created.{{Cite web|date=2021-02-08|title=Centre approves Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu|url=https://m.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/centre-approves-srivilliputhur-megamalai-tiger-reserve-in-tamil-nadu-1612769896-1|access-date=2021-05-27|website=Jagranjosh.com}} Meghamalai Tiger Reserve will now comprise both the Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary & Tirunelveli Wildlife Sanctuary. With its new status as a Tiger reserve, Meghamalai Tiger Reserve has become the 5th Tiger Reserve of Tamil Nadu{{Cite web|author=P. Oppili|date=Feb 9, 2021|title='Srivilliputhur-Megamalai as fifth tiger reserve will boost conservation efforts' {{!}} Chennai News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/srivilliputhur-megamalai-as-fifth-tiger-reserve-will-boost-conservation-efforts/articleshow/80760237.cms|access-date=2021-05-27|website=The Times of India|language=en}} and 51st Tiger Reserve in India.{{Cite web|last=Sreejith|first=T. J.|title=51st Tiger Reserve in India to come up in Meghamalai|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/51st-tiger-reserve-in-india-to-come-up-in-meghamalai-1.5427020|access-date=2021-05-27|website=Mathrubhumi|language=en}} It is to be noted that Meghamalai Tiger Reserve also acts as a contiguous patch of forest (earlier buffer zone) for the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, via the Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary. In addition, it is believed that Meghamalai Tiger Reserve will become the crucial corridor/contiguous forest stretch and aid in the movement of wildlife from Periyar Tiger Reserve, to Meghamalai Forests. Wildlife conservationists also hope that with the formation of the Meghamalai Tiger Reserve, greater protection will also be accorded the Vaigai river which originates in Meghamalai.{{Cite news|title=TN gets its fifth tiger reserve in Srivilliputhur - Megamalai|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tn-gets-its-fifth-tiger-reserve-in-srivilliputhur-megamalai/article33808281.ece|access-date=2021-05-27|issn=0971-751X}} The Tiger reserve will also be known as the Meghamalai-Srivilliputhur Tiger Reserve.

According to the experts the last extensive study of flora in the biodiversity-rich, Meghamalai have been conducted in the early 1980s. Since then, no comprehensive research has been done on the vegetation. Vegetation ranges from scrub forests at the foothills, ubiquitous expanses of tea and coffee estates, to spice (pepper, cardamom, cinnamon) plantations and finally to the dense evergreen forests at the top.{{Cite news|last=Vandhana|first=M.|date=2014-09-10|title=Lot to be explored of Meghamalai flora|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/lot-to-be-explored-of-meghamalai-flora/article6396625.ece|access-date=2020-06-03|issn=0971-751X}}

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Meghamalai forest area hosts a variety of birds, mammals, reptiles and butterflies. Resident and migratory elephants are also common. There are hundreds of identified species:

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• Spotted deer
• Spotted dove
• Barking deer
• Sambar deer
• Mouse deer
• Grizzled giant squirrel
• Indian flying fox
• Indian giant squirrel
• Indian giant flying squirrel
• Pied thrush
• Black bulbul
• Meghamalai rock gecko
• Black baza
• White-bellied woodpecker
• White-bellied drongo
• Drongo cuckoo
• Black-naped oriole
• Black-naped monarch
• Black-naped hare
• Bengal tiger
• Dhole
• Great pied hornbill
• Malabar pied hornbill
• Oriental honey-buzzard
• Dusky palm squirrel
• Gaur

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File:Magamalai panoramic view.jpg

The Highwavys provide a view of the entire mountain range of Varusanadu Hills. There are large private tea, spices, and coffee plantations all around, notably the Highwavys Group of Estates. Ananda Plantations, Ponsiva Plantations, and Fieldmede Estate, are also some of the other small plantations in Meghamalai. An artificial lake makes plenty of scope for leisurely walks. Kardana Coffee Estate is situated in the High Wavy Mountains at {{coord|9|42|N|77|24|E}}.{{cite journal|author=N. Singaravelan and G. Marimuthu|date=10 May 2003|title= Discovery of a cave as the day roost of a rarest fruit bat Latidens salimalii |journal=Current Science |volume=84|issue=9|url=http://www.ias.ac.in/currsci/may102003/1253.pdf}}

Six dams on the hill and originating place of Suruli Theertham (Suruli falls near Cumbum town) are popular attractions for tourists. From the Manalar dam, one can view the deep Cumbum Valley and the villages of Theni district. The Department of Tourism has planned to introduce a boat or ferry service to enable tourists to access the area.{{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20100405204539/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2007/05/24/stories/2007052412940300.htm Highwavys to become a major tourism spot]}}

The Vellimalai (Silver Mountain, 1,650 m) area is the heart of Meghamalai. Silver-lined clouds seem to rest gently on green hilltops; nestled in this region is the place where the river Vaigai originates. This place offers an opportunity to see wild animals aesthetically and scientifically managed tea gardens.

Meghamalai Falls (Suruli Falls) is on the Suruli River originating in the Meghamalai Hills. Water flows down 58 meters through the twin falls. There are frequent visits by elephants, spotted deer, gaur, and other wild animals at dawn and dusk. Forest Department officials have plans to assist tourists in viewing these wild animals.

Massive encroachments in the reserved forests of almost all divisions in the district have been posing a threat to the eco-system of the Megamalai hills. Of the total 806.86 km², about 400.77 km² were degraded forest area. A total of 292.81 km² falls under dense forest areas, of which only 22.43 km² was tree bearing. About 220 out of 430 km² of the Gandamanur forest range under the Madurai Forest Division had encroached in the past four decades. Large areas of Ulloothu Kavu, Anjaraipuli, Elamalaipoodu, Arasaradi, Bommarasapuram, and neighboring villages were also encroached. With an increase in population and their demands, vast stretches of land were either degraded or converted into uni-crop areas, causing damage to the environment. The people settled in the hill tracts were solely dependent on the forests for livelihood. Conservation of natural forest in any form will help preserve biodiversity.{{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20030322190113/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/12/16/stories/2002121604430500.htm Encroachments a threat to Megamalai hills sanctuary plan]}}

The Meghamalai mountain range can be approached two ways—from Theni via Chinnamanur, or Andipatti via Kandamanayakkanur. Both can be accessed by road from Madurai and Dindigul. Theni is 76 km from Madurai. The road from the turnoff near Chinnamanur before Iravangalar was under the responsibility of the Woodbriar group; due to lack of maintenance, the government has started to maintain it. Only forest lodges and panchayath rest houses are available at the hilltop. Day-trippers may stay in hotels in Theni, Chinnamanur and Andipatti. The distance from Madurai is 130 km.

The website for Mehamalai has a warning against travelling there in June and July.[http://www.megamalai.com June July Safety Warning!], megamalai.com, retrieved 21 January 2015

{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/over-100-trees-felled-to-widen-road-in-meghamalai/article8362906.ece |title=Over 100 trees felled to widen road in Meghamalai |date=March 17, 2016 |newspaper=The Hindu | author1=B. Aravind Kumar | author2=K. Raju |accessdate=29 December 2021}}{{cite web |url=http://environmentclearance.nic.in/writereaddata/FormB/TOR/Brief_Summary/18_Jul_2016_121332030AUF9CFS8TotalDetails.pdf. |title=Letter to State Level Environmental Assessment Authority |website=environmentclearance.nic.in |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411093124/http://environmentclearance.nic.in/writereaddata/FormB/TOR/Brief_Summary/18_Jul_2016_121332030AUF9CFS8TotalDetails.pdf |archive-date=11 April 2020}}

File:Meghamalai Mountains.jpg|Meghamalai Mountains

File:Meghamalai.jpg|Meghamalai

File:Cloudy Mountain near Kadayanallur.jpg|Cloudy Mountain

File:Manalaru Dam, Meghamalai.jpg|Manalaru Dam

File:Cumbam Valley.jpg|View of Cumbam Valley

File:Elephants Coming Out of Forest.jpg|Wildlife

File:Elephants at river.jpg|Asian elephant in megamalai tea estate|alt=

File:Bison at Meghamalai.jpg|Bisons at Meghamalai

File:Meghamalai Forest.jpg|Forest

File:Clouds Near Meghamalai.jpg|Meghamalai

File:Meghamalai Temple.jpg|Murugan Temple on the foot hill

File:Upper Manalar Estate, Meghamalai.jpg|Upper Manalar Estate

File:High Wavy Mountains.jpg|The Highwavys of Theni district

File:High Wavys Dam.jpg|High Wavys Dam

File:Meghamalai Coffee Plant.jpg|Meghamalai Coffee Plant

{{commons category}}

• [http://www.falconsmania.blogspot.in/2014/01/megamalai-virgin-forest.html Megamalai Tamil Nadu, Meghamalai tourist places]
• [http://nomad-mytravel.blogspot.com/2011/11/magical-megamalai.html The Magical Megamalai]
• [http://in.lifestyle.yahoo.com/blogs/traveler/meghamalai-walk-clouds-051527541.html Meghamalai - A Walk in the Clouds]
• [http://tehelka.com/holiday-at-the-high-wavys/ Holiday at the High Wavys]
• [http://meghamalaitrip.blogspot.com The Hidden Paradise]
• [http://megamalai.in Magamalai Tourism]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070706102314/http://dabble.com/node/6376868 Wild Elephants Video]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070706102038/http://dabble.com/node/6062762 Wild Elephants Video-2]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nmzsxfh5_g Wild Elephants Video-3]
• [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3421978744900270384 Meghamalai Video]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbHAKibEfZ0 Meghamalai water falls Video]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVKmMxBcfXU Malabar Giant Squirrel Video]

{{Theni district}}

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Category:Tourist attractions in Tamil Nadu

Category:Mountains of Tamil Nadu

Category:Theni district

Category:South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests

Category:South Western Ghats montane rain forests

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