Peermade
Hill station
View from Parunthumpara in Peerumedu
View from Parunthumpara in Peerumedu
Peermade is located in Kerala
Peermade
Peermade
Location in Kerala, India
Peermade is located in India
Peermade
Peermade
Peermade (India)
Coordinates: 9°33′02″N 77°01′49″E / 9.5505100°N 77.0302580°E / 9.5505100; 77.0302580
Country India
StateKerala
DistrictIdukki
Government
 • TypePanchayati raj (India)
 • BodyPeermade Grama Panchayat
Area
 • Total52.34 km2 (20.21 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total22,213
 • Density420/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialMalayalam, English[1]
 • RegionalMalayalam,Tamil[2]
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
685531
Area code04869
Vehicle registrationKL-37
Website

Peermade, also spelt Peerumedu is a village, Grama Panchayat and hill station in the state of Kerala, in southwestern India.[3] 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.

Demographics

As of 2011 Census, Peerumade had a population of 22,213 with 11,049 males and 11,164 females. Peerumade village has an area of 52.34 km2 (20.21 sq mi) with 5,617 families residing in it. The average sex ratio was 1010 lower than the state average of 1084. In Peerumade, 8.8% of the population was under 6 years of age. Peerumade had an average literacy of 89.1% lower than the state average of 94%; male literacy was 93.9% and female literacy was 84.5%.[4]

Geography

The landscape of Peermade includes spectacular waterfalls, open grass lands and pine forests.[5] 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.[6]

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.[6]: 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).[7] The name Peerumedu is derived from the fact that Pirmuhammed Waliullah, a prominent Siddha and Sufi monk of Tamil Nadu, chose the mountain for meditation for a long time. Siddhan, spiritual guru and famous Sufi poet of Tamil known as Rumi of South India Peeru Muhammad Sahib is resting at Takkala in Kanyakumari district. Takkala and Peerumed are pilgrimage centers.

There is also a local saying that the name "Peerumedu" has come from the large number of "Pera trees" ie. Guava trees that existed way back, Which inturn came to be called as "Peramedu" and now famously known as Peerumedu.

Spices

The area is extremely fertile and until recently featured lush plantations of coffee, tea, cardamon, and coconut.[8] With a long history of spice growing, the focus is now on the production of organic black pepper, white pepper, ginger and turmeric.[9]

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.[10]

Education

Marian College[11] and Mar Baselios Christian College of Engineering and Technology[12] are located at Kuttikanam in Peermade.

Politics

Peermade assembly constituency is part of Idukki (Lok Sabha constituency).[13] Vazhoor Soman is the current MLA of peermade.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "The Kerala Official Language (Legislation) Act, 1969" (PDF).
  2. ↑ "Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Kerala". www.censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  3. ↑ "Census of India: Villages with population 5000 & above". Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Archived from the original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved 10 December 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. ↑ Kerala, Directorate of Census Operations. District Census Handbook, Idukki (PDF). Thiruvananthapuram: Directorateof Census Operations,Kerala. p. 70,71. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  5. ↑ http://old.kerala.gov.in/kercaljan06/p38-41.pdf A Heaven away from Heaven / George Thengummoottil / PRD, Government of Kerala
  6. 1 2 George, Thengummootil (10 January 2014). Peermade. Kerala: George Thengummoottil.
  7. ↑ http://www.theindia.info/peermade/ Archived 30 December 2019 at the Wayback Machine Story of Tea Plantation in Kerala / George Thengummoottil
  8. ↑ "A bitter brew in the high ranges". Archived from the original on 8 December 2003. Retrieved 20 September 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. ↑ "Mapping India's spice route from past to present". Retrieved 20 September 2006.
  10. ↑ "Organic Show - Peermede Development Board's stand". Archived from the original on 15 October 2006. Retrieved 20 September 2006.
  11. ↑ http://www.mariancollege.org Marian College Kuttikanam Autonomous
  12. ↑ http://www.mbcpeermade.com Mar Baselios Christian College of Engineering and Technology website
  13. ↑ "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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