35-524: The Jenu Kuruba are a tribal group from the Nilgiris , numbering around 37000. They are concentrated in the districts bordering the states of Kerala and Karnataka . 'Jenu' means 'honey' in Kannada , referring to their traditional occupation as collectors of honey in the forest. In the early 20th century they lived in huts in the forests and cultivated. Starting from the 1970s and continuing today, many of
70-688: A Vaishnava Hindu by faith, the Chola governor may not have been treated well by King Kulothunga Chola I . But Sastri claims Vishnuvardhana overwhelmed Adigaiman before gaining his support. By c.1117, Vishnuvardhana defeated the other rulers of the Nilgiri region, such as the Chengalvas, the Kongalvas (resulting in his marriage to the Kongalva princess Chandaladevi, according to historian Derrett), and
105-638: A cloth around the waist and another to partially cover the upper body. The men of the community cut their hair short in the style of a typical cultivator, providing some protection from heat and sun. This article about an Indian ethnicity or social group is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Nilgiri Mountains The Nilgiri Mountains form a part of the Western Ghats in northwestern Tamil Nadu , southern Karnataka and eastern Kerala in South India . They are located at
140-553: A large number of artifacts unearthed by excavators. A particularly important collection from the region can be seen in the British Museum , including those assembled by colonial officers James Wilkinson Breeks , Major M. J. Walhouse and Sir Walter Elliot . The first recorded use of the word Nila applied to this region can be traced back to 1117 CE. In the report of a general of Vishnuvardhana , King of Hoysalas , who in reference to his enemies, claimed to have "frightened
175-525: A rural dialect of Kannada . The tribals have fought multiple times to live in the reserved forests, most recently in 2020, under the terms of the Forest Rights Act . and in 2021 protests have continued against "the forest department as an encroacher, promoting eco-tourism and safaris … [in a way which] … is illegal under Indian and international laws." Previously their women wore a sari in the style of typical Mysore rural women , and if poor, wore
210-637: A symbol of sovereignty, despite his nominal subordination to the Chalukyas. Historians are divided over the year when Vishnuvardhana died. Sastri, S.K. Aiyangar and Desai are of the opinion he died in c.1152. But Kamath claims there is evidence the Vishnuvardhana died a little earlier because the Yalladahalli record of c.1145 proclaims his son Narasimha I the Hoysala monarch. Vishnuvardhana
245-433: Is about 8 km southeast of Udhagamandalam. Vellangiri (Silvery Hill) (2,120 metres (6,955 ft)) is 16 km west-northwest of Udhagamandalam. The highest waterfall, Kullakamby Fall, north of Kolakambai hill, has an unbroken fall of 400 ft (120 m). Nearby is the 150 ft (46 m) Halashana falls. The second highest is Catherine Falls , near Kotagiri , with a 250 ft (76 m) fall, named after
280-737: Is in the south of Doddabetta range. Kulakombai (1,707 metres (5,600 ft)) is east of the Devashola. The Bhavani Valley and the Lambton's peak range of Coimbatore district stretch from here. Muttunadu Betta (height: 2,323 metres (7,621 ft)) 11°27′N 76°43′E / 11.450°N 76.717°E / 11.450; 76.717 ( Muttunadu Betta ) is about 5 km, north northwest of Udhagamandalam. Tamrabetta (Coppery Hill) (height: 2,120 metres (6,955 ft)) 11°22′N 76°48′E / 11.367°N 76.800°E / 11.367; 76.800 ( Tamrabetta )
315-519: Is interesting due to its association with the engineer Major G. C. Law who supervised building of the Coonoor Ghat road . Over 2,800 species of flowering plants, 160 species of fern and fern allies, countless types of flowerless plants, mosses, fungi, algae, and land lichens are found in the sholas of the Nilgiris. No other hill station has as many species. It is also home to mammals like
350-478: Is the northern extent of the range. Club Hill (2,448 metres (8,031 ft)) and Elk Hill (2,466 metres (8,091 ft)) 11°23′55″N 76°42′39″E / 11.39861°N 76.71083°E / 11.39861; 76.71083 ( Elk Hill ) are significant elevations in this range. Snowdon, Club Hill and Elk Hill with Doddabetta, form the impressive Udhagamandalam Valley. Devashola (height: 2,261 metres (7,418 ft)), notable for its blue gum trees,
385-709: Is the only place in South India to have the white tiger . The dominant type of habitat is tropical rainforest . Montane forests and tropical moist forests are also found here. Much of the forest habitats have been much disturbed or destroyed by extensive tea plantations, easy motor-vehicle access, extensive commercial planting and harvesting of non-native eucalyptus and wattle ( Acacia dealbata , Acacia mearnsii ) plantations, and cattle grazing. The area also features one large and several smaller hydro-electric impoundments. Scotch broom has become an ecologically damaging invasive species . Threatened plants of
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#1732790955901420-570: Is thought that the bluish flowers of kurinji shrubs gave rise to the name. The Nilgiri Hills are separated from the Karnataka Plateau to the north by the Moyar River . Three national parks border portions of the Nilgiri mountains. Mudumalai National Park lies in the northern part of the range where Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu meet, covering an area of 321 km (124 sq mi). Mukurthi National Park lies in
455-709: The Bengal tiger , Indian elephant , Indian leopard , chital deer , gaur , sambar deer , dhole , golden jackal , Indian boar , Nilgiri tahr , Indian spotted chevrotain , black buck , Asian palm civet , sloth bear , four-horned antelope , Nilgiri marten , Indian crested porcupine , Malabar giant squirrel , honey badger , Indian grey mongoose , Indian pangolin , Indian fox , smooth coated otter , and painted bat . The Indian python , king cobra , common krait , Indian cobra , Malabar pit viper , Nilgiri keelback , Oriental garden lizard , Eryx whitakeri and mugger crocodile are reptiles found here. Primates include
490-585: The Great Trigonometrical Survey , a sub-assistant named Keys and an apprentice named McMahon ascended the hills by the Danaynkeucottah (Dannayakana Kote) Pass, penetrated into the remotest parts, made plans, and sent in reports of their discoveries. As a result of these accounts, Messrs. Whish and Kindersley, two young Madras civilians, ventured up in pursuit of some criminals taking refuge in the mountains, and proceeded to observe
525-461: The Kannada language began to proliferate under the patronage of Vishnuvardhana. The mathematician Rajaditya wrote Vyavaharaganita and Lilavati on mathematics. According to the historian E.P. Rice, the epic poet Nagachandra was under Vishnuvardhana's patronage when he wrote the earliest extant Ramayana (a Jain version) in the Kannada language called Ramachandra charita purana , and an epic on
560-787: The Thodas , driven the Kongas underground, slaughtered the Poluvas, put to death the Maleyalas, terrified Chieftain Kala Nirpala and then proceeded to offer the peak of Nila Mountain.(presumably Doddabetta or Rangaswami peak of Peranganad in East Nilgiris) to Lakshmi , Goddess of Wealth. Neelagiri was ruled by Baduga King Kala Raja before 1117 CE." A hero stone ( Veeragallu ) with a Kannada inscription at Vazhaithottam (Bale thota) in
595-500: The lion tailed macaque , Nilgiri langur , gray langur and bonnet macaque . The birds found here are Indian peacock , Nilgiri laughing thrush , Nilgiri flycatcher , grey junglefowl , Malabar pied hornbill , Malabar parakeet , great hornbill , Nilgiri wood pigeon , Indian vulture , black-hooded oriole , grey-headed bulbul and Malabar grey hornbill . Amphibians on the list are the purple frog , Silent valley brush frog , Malabar gliding frog , Beddomixalus and many more. It
630-575: The Chalukya throne. But he was not to be subdued for long. After the death of Vikarmaditya VI, the Hoysala monarch re-captured Hanagal, Uchchangi and Bankapura by c.1140 and marched north of the Tungabhadra river up to Lakkundi . The historian Majumdar claims Vishnuvardhana controlled areas in the Krishna river region even around c.1131 and performed the prestigious Tulapurusha ceremony,
665-537: The Chalukyan armies at Kannegala (c.1118), occupied a strategic fort at Hanagal , defeated the Chalukyan commander Boppanna at Hallur (c.1120) and spread his control over the Banavasi and Humacha regions. By c.1122, he had reached the Krishna river. Here he was defeated by the powerful Sinda chief Achugi, a commander loyal to the Chalukya emperor. Vishnuvardhana thus had to accept, for the time being, subordination to
700-465: The Chola empire. With these victories, Vishnuvardhana assumed the titles Talakadugonda ("Lord of Talakad ") and Nolambavadi gonda ("Lord of the Nolambas"). After his successes in the south, Vishnuvardhana swiftly turned north with the intention of breaking free from his overlord, the great Western Chalukya King Vikramaditya VI . Between c.1117 and c.1120, Vishnuvardhana successfully dealt with
735-697: The Jenu Kurubas have been evicted from their homes due to conservation measures in the various tiger reserves of the Nilgiris, like Nagarhole and Bandipur . Those who have been relocated outside the forest are daily wagers and agricultural labourers, who live in extreme poverty. Many work as labourers on coffee estates in Kodagu or for the Forest Department. They speak the Jenu Kurumba language , either classified as being related to Kodava or
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#1732790955901770-701: The Nidugal Chola ruler Irukkavela. According to Kamath, Vishnuvardhana's forces marched as far as Kanchi . The Nolambas of Nolambavadi, Kadambas of Banavasi and Goa (ruled by Jayakesi II), the Pandyas of Uchchangi (a small dynasty of rulers near the Tungabhadra), the Alupas of Tulunadu, and the Santaras of Hosagunda had to pay tribute and accept Vishnuvardhana as their overlord. Hoysala inscriptions of
805-619: The Nilgiri District, dated to 10th century CE, has been discovered. A Kannada inscription of Hoysala king Ballala III (or his subordinate Madhava Dannayaka's son) from the 14th century CE has been discovered at the Siva (or Vishnu) temple at Nilagiri Sadarana Kote (present-day Dannayakana Kote), near the junction of Moyar and Bhavani rivers, but the temple has since been submerged by the Bhavani Sagar dam . In 1814, as part of
840-551: The Nilgiris and the southern extent of the range is Doddabetta Peak (2,637 metres (8,652 ft)), 4 km east southeast of Udhagamandalam , 11°24′10″N 76°44′14″E / 11.40278°N 76.73722°E / 11.40278; 76.73722 ( Doddabetta Peak ) . Closely linked peaks in the west of Doddabetta range and nearby Udhagamandalam include: Snowdon (height: (2,530 metres (8,301 ft)) 11°26′N 76°46′E / 11.433°N 76.767°E / 11.433; 76.767 ( Snowdon )
875-546: The Nilgiris include: Vishnuvardhana Vishnuvardhana (r. 1108–1152 CE) was a king of the Hoysala Empire in what is today the state of Karnataka , India. He ascended the Hoysala throne after the death of his elder brother Veera Ballala I in c.1108. Originally a follower of Jainism and known as Bitti Deva, he came under the influence of the Hindu philosopher Ramanuja , converted to Hindu Vaishnavism and took
910-514: The hegemony of the Cholas in the battle of Talakad, and parts of Nolambavdi . According to historian Coelho, the Hoysalas gained the dignity of a kingdom due to the efforts of Vishnuvardhana, whose rule was packed with "glorious" military campaigns. According to historians Sen, Chopra et al., and Sastri, Vishnuvardhana was a "great soldier" and an "ambitious monarch". Hoysala literature in
945-535: The interior. They soon saw and felt enough favorable climate and terrain to excite their own curiosity, and that of others. After the early 1820s, the hills were developed rapidly under the British Raj , because most of the land was already privately owned by British citizens. It was a popular summer and weekend getaway for the British during the colonial days. In 1827, Ooty became the official sanatorium and
980-592: The name "Vishnuvardhana". His queen Shanthala however remained a Jain. This was the transition period from Jainism to Hinduism . Vishnuvardhana took the first steps in creating an independent Hoysala Empire in South India through a series of battles against his overlord, the Western Chalukya King Vikramaditya VI , and the Chola Empire to the south. He recovered parts of Gangavadi province (modern southern Karnataka) from
1015-489: The nineteenth Jain Tirthankar titled Mallinathapurana . Vishnuvardhana was the governor over parts of Gangavadi during the rule of his elder brother Veera Ballala I . After ascending the Hoysala throne, his first major conquest was that of the occupied Chola territories of Gangavadi in . According to the historian Kamath, the disgruntled Chola governor Adigaiman may have helped Vishnuvardhana in his conquest. Being
1050-509: The period note Vishnuvardhana's conquest of the Nilgiris. The Chamarajanagara inscription gives details that his armies crossed the Nila mountains and proclaims him the "master of Kerala". According to the historians Chopra, Ravindran and Subhramanian, other records mention his temporary stay in Kanchi after his victories over the Cholas. Vishnuvardhana was responsible in part for the disruption to
1085-547: The southwest part of the range, in Kerala, covering an area of 78.5 km (30.3 sq mi), which includes intact shola-grassland mosaic, habitat for the Nilgiri tahr. Silent Valley National Park lies just to the south and contiguous with those two parks, covering an area of 89.52 km (34.56 sq mi). The high steppes of the Nilgiri Hills have been inhabited since prehistoric times, demonstrated by
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1120-967: The summer capital of the Madras Presidency . Many winding hill roads were built. In 1899, the Nilgiri Mountain Railway was completed by influential and enterprising British citizens, with venture capital from the Madras government. In the 19th century, when the British Straits Settlement shipped Chinese convicts to be jailed in India, the Chinese men settled in the Nilgiri mountains near Naduvattam after their release and married Tamil Paraiyan women, having mixed Chinese-Tamil children with them. They were documented by Edgar Thurston . The highest point in
1155-625: The trijunction of the three states and connect the Western Ghats to the Eastern Ghats . At least 24 of the Nilgiri Mountains' peaks are above 2,000 m (6,600 ft), with the highest peak being Doddabetta at 2,637 m (8,652 ft). The word Nilgiri, comes from Tamil words neelam (blue) + giri (mountain), has been in use since at least 1117 CE. In Tamil literature it is mentioned as Iraniyamuttam It
1190-495: The wife of M.D. Cockburn , believed to have introduced coffee plantations to the Nilgiri Hills. The Upper and Lower Pykara falls have falls of 180 ft (55 m), and 200 ft (61 m), respectively. The 170 ft (52 m) Kalhatti Falls is off the Segur Peak. The Karteri Fall, near Aruvankadu had the first power station which supplied the original Cordite Factory with electricity. Law's Fall, near Coonoor ,
1225-639: Was a great builder. To celebrate his success against the Cholas, he built the Keerthi Narayana temple at Talakad, and the spectacular Vijayanarayana temple at Belur (also called the Chennakesava Temple , dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu ). Around the same time, the Hoysaleswara Temple , more ornate than the one at Belur and dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva was consecrated. These two temples of Belur and Halebidu, and
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