Kannan Devan Hills
When I look back to my childhood days, it is the place that always comes to mind. The place I was born and spent my early years- Munnar. At an altitude of 6500 ft., Munnar is part of the Western Ghats mountain range that lines the western coast of Kerala State, India. In recent years it became one of south India’s popular tourist spots. But in the late 1950s and early ’60s when I was growing up, there were hardly any tourists. My maternal grandfather was employed by Finlay Muir & Company’s Kannan Devan tea estates. We were living in a bungalow on the slopes of a hill among the lush green tea plantation of Parvathy Division in Seven Mallay estate. In 1880 a European planter, A.H. Sharp, planted tea in 50 acres of land in Parvathy. That was the beginning of tea cultivation in Munnar.
In the 1870s, during British rule, Travancore’s British resident John Daniel Munro visited Munnar and found the picturesque rolling hills, misty grasslands, and shola forests beautiful. These hills, known as the Kannan Devan hills, at that time, belonged to a local prince, Poonjattil Koickal Rohini Thirunal Kerala Varma Valiya Raja. In 1877 Kerala Varma Raja leased out about 1,36,600 acres of land to John Daniel Munro for an annual rent of Rs. 3,000 and a security deposit of Rs. 5,000. North Travancore Land Planting & Agricultural Society was formed by Munro and its members started cultivation of various crops, including coffee and cardamom, until tea was found to be the ideal crop for the region. The Finlay Muir & Company, a subsidiary of James Finlay & Co Ltd, entered the region, acquiring over 30 estates. The Managers and Assistant Managers of these tea estates were Europeans, mainly from Scottland. The Finlay Muir Company merged with the Tatas in 1964, as the Tata-Finlay Group. And in1983, Tata Tea was created. Presently there are over 50 tea estates in Munnar of which AVT Tea, Brooke Bond, and Harrison Malayalam owns about fifteen. Munnar means “Three Rivers” is located at the convergence of three rivers- Mudra puzha, Nallathanni, and Kundala. Once, the summer resort of the British government in South India, Munnar emerged as a major tourist spot and honeymoon destination. Mild temperature, beautiful scenery, affordable lodging, and many local food outlets make Munnar a major resort center. Visitors can enjoy exotic flora- including the Neelakurinji that blossoms once in twelve years, the striped deer- Nilgiri Tahr, many endangered species of butterflies, rare animals, and birds. The entire state of Kerala, located in the southernmost part of India, is a land of beauty. Beaches, Backwaters, Waterfalls, Hills, Palm trees, Arts, Culture, Heritage, etc. make this region a must-see place. And Munnar is the crown jewel of this God’s Own Country.
Comments are closed.