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ECOCLUBing in Tamil Nadu, India
Meenakshi
Temple, 16th century, in Madurai.
Dedicated to Meenakshi, wife of God Siva
In the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu,
Dravidian art & culture
have continued largely undisturbed for over two millennia, visible in
the huge, amazingly ornate
temples with gopurams - soaring towers - temples that apart
from splendid works of art are living institutions where traditions
have been preserved for millennia. Tamil Nature is equally unique and many
important protected areas can be visited.
Location
Tamil Nadu (Population: 55,638,318) is bounded on the north by Andhra
Pradesh and Karnataka, on the south by the Indian Ocean, on the east
by the Bay of Bengal, and by Kerala on the west. Point Calimere and
the Mudumulai Wildlife Sanctuary mark the eastern and western limits
of the state respectively. The northernmost limit is the Pulicat Lake
while the southernmost tip, defining the end of the Indian landmass,
is Cape Comorin or Kanyakumari.
Climate
The climate is tropical. April and May are the hottest
months with temperatures rising to as high as 40°C. During the day,
even the coastal regions are warm and humid during the summers;
nightfall, however, brings some respite in the form of the cool sea
breeze. During the winter season, extending from November to February,
the mercury hardly falls below 20°C, except in the hill stations. The
winter monsoons of Tamil Nadu occur in the months of October to
December. The most precipitation falls in the Nilgiris and other hill
areas.
Best Time To Visit
December To
February
History
2,500 years ago the entreprising Tamils were a naval power that
traded with Java, Malay peninsula, Egypt, Greece, Rome and later
Byzantium.
This trade-induced wealth led to the construction of magnificent
temples and exquisite bronzes, and progress in architecture, art,
philosophy and literature. From the 5th century BC until the third
century AD, Tamil Nadu was ruled by three major dynasties: the Cholas in the east,
the Pandyas in the central area and Cheras in the west. The Pallava
dynasty was influential particularly in the 7th and 8th centuries. In the 13th century, with threats of Muslim invasions from the north,
the southern Hindu dynasties combined and the empire of Vijaynagar, which covered all of South India, became
firmly established. However, by the 17th century, the Vijaynagar
Empire had disintegrated, various small rulers like the
Nayaks ruled southern India. By the middle of the 18th century, there were frequent conflicts
between the British, French, Danes, and Dutch for control of trade in these areas. The British were finally victorious, while small
pockets such as Pondicherry and Karaikal remained under French
control, and were bases for Indian independence fighters. Under the British rule, most of south India was integrated
into the region called the Madras Presidency. After independence,
Andhra Pradesh was separated from Madras and created and in 1969
Madras state changed its name to Tamil Nadu. The capital city of
Madras was renamed Chennai in 1996.
Language
& Religion
Tamil (Tamizh), is spoken by most people in Tamil Nadu and by 80
million around the world, and is one of the world's oldest living
languages, comparable to Greek in its antiquity, continuity and
textual traditions. Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, English, Hindi, Urdu
are also spoken.The main religions in the state are Hinduism,
Christianity, Islam, and Jainism. There is an established caste
system, and the traditional differentiations here are a lot more
pronounced than in many other parts of India. The Brahmin community
here is very pious and people normally have a white mark on the
forehead to signify caste.
Economy
Although Tamil Nadu is one of the most urbanised states of
India, it is still a rural land; agriculture is the mainstay of life
for about three-quarters of the rural population. Irrigation has been
practiced for over 1,000 years, with over 20,000 km of irrigation
channels. Tamil Nadu accounts for 10% of India's rice production, and
one fifth of India's sea food exports. The hills are famous for
cardamom, pepper, ginger and other spices and there are extensive tea
plantations. The principal food crops are rice, maize, Jowar, Bajra,
Ragi, and pulses. The cash crops include cotton, sugarcane, oilseeds,
coffee, tea rubber, and chillies. The major industries include cotton
textiles, chemicals, fertilizers, paper and paper products, printing
and allied industries, diesel engines, automobiles and parts, cement,
sugar, iron and steel, and railway wagon and coaches. The state is the
largest textiles producer in India and an important exporter of
leather and leather products, cotton piece goods, tea, coffee, spices,
tobacco, etc. Tamil Nadu is rich in handicrafts; notable among them
are hand loomed silk, metal icons, leather work, Kalamkari
(hand-painted fabric, using natural dyes), brass, bronze, and copper
wares, and carved wood, palm leaf, and cane articles. For the best
Chola bronzes and a glimpse of the magnificent paintings that
flourished under Maratha rajas in the 18th century, travellers should
head for Thanjavur.
Capital
The capital is Chennai (former Madras) founded when the British East
India Company in 1653 bought land to construct a fortified warehouse,
Fort St. George on the Coromandel coast. The port was used as the
basis of British expansion thus resulting in a good road and rail
network. Nowadays Chennai is the largest city in South India and the
fourth largest city in the country. The city's British influence,
evident in the various cathedrals, buildings in Indo-Saracenic style
of architecture, wide tree lined avenues coexists with a traditional
Tamil Hindu culture. It is thus seen as the gateway to exploring South
India with a major international airport. Other airports in the state
include Madurai, Tiruchirapalli and Coimbatore.
Cities
to Visit
Mamallapuram:
fascinating coastal town with Unesco World Heritage listed shore
temples, outstanding examples of Dravidian Art. Annual Dance Festival
every January.
Thanjavur: The rice bowl of Tamil
Nadu but also the centre of Tamil learning and culture. The
Brahadeeshwarar Temple, built by the emperor Raja Raja Chola is a
Unesco World Heritage Site. The tower is a testimony to the
engineering skill of the Chola architects who planned its construction
in such a way that the shadow of its dome never falls on the ground !
Madurai:
Also called the Athens of the East, this is a vibrant city packed with
pilgrims - the famous Meenakshi
temple is here. The city is said to have
got its name from the drops of nectar (Mathuram) that fell from
Shiva's locks when he came to bless its people for constructing a
temple for him.
Pondicherry:
Area and port owned by the French for two centuries. Auroville is
located here. This "city of dawn" was designed by the French
architect Roger Arger and was started as an experimental commune where
people of all nationalities irrespective of caste, creed or religion
would live together in harmony. See ECOCLUB Issue 26
Coimbatore: Dubbed the Manchester of
the South, due to its textile industry with over 100 textile mills,
site to a famous Agricultural University.
Kancheepuram:
one of India's seven sacred cities, "city of one thousand temples",
with a thriving handloom industry renowned for the best silk sarees in
India.
Koddaikanal: 120 kms away from
Madurai, Kodaikkanal is a beautiful hill station and is at an altitude
of 2133m
Udhagamandalam (Ooty):
Another scenic hill station town on the
Nilgiri slopes blanketed with rainforest and tea plantations.
Festivities
The main festival of the state is Pongal, which is a harvest festival
celebrated in the month of January. Feasting, music and dance mark
this festival. "Karthigai Deepam" and "Varushapirapu"
(Tamil New Year's Day) are also celebrated on a grand scale. Several temple festivals are held throughout the
state such as the Mahamagam festival celebrated once in 12 years at
Kumbakonam, the
Meenakshi Kalyanam festival at Madurai and the Natyanjali Dance Festival at
Chidambaram.
Physical Features
The topography of Tamil Nadu is delightfully varied and diverse. Of
this 1,300,058 km2 land area, 17.6% is forested. The land can be divided into five major physical
divisions - the Kurinji (mountainous region), the Mullai (forest
region), the Palai or arid
region, the Marudham or the fertile plains and the Neidhal or coastal
region. The Eastern and Western Ghats meet in Tamil Nadu and run along
its eastern and western boundaries. The Cauvery River, originating in
the Coorg district of the neighbouring state of Karnataka, is the
lifeline of the state. The lush Coromandal plains are irrigated by the
Cauvery and its Thanjavur-Nagapattinam delta is called the granary of
Tamil Nadu. Palar, Pennar, Vaigai, and Tamiraparani are the other
rivers of the state. These spreads over the plain and on mountain
slopes. Dry lands are bestowed with dry-deciduous forests, thorn
forests, scrubs and mangroves. The Western Ghats and a few cooler
regions are endowed with moist decidious, wet evergreen forests,
sholas and grasslands.
Flora and Fauna
Tamil Nadu is rich in flora and fauna. The Western Ghats (ghat
literally means staircase) are ideal havens for elephants, tigers, bisons, monkeys and deer. Of
the 3,000 and more plant species found in Tamil Nadu the majority is
found in the mixed deciduous forests. One of the most
noteworthy flowers is the Kurinji of Kodaikanal, which blooms once in
12 years. Cinchona, from which the anti-malarial drug quinine is
extracted grows abundantly in the Nilgiri
hills. Forests of other medicinal herbs are found in Palani hills and
Courtallam. Palmyra trees grow profusely in Tirunelveli and its
products are used as raw materials for several cottage industries.
Rubber is the main plantation crop in Kanyakumari and the endangered
Sandalwood grows
in the Javadhu hills of Vellore district.
Wildlife
Sanctuaries & National Parks
There are 5 National Parks and 17 Wildlife Sactuaries in Tamil Nadu.
Some of these are:
* Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National
Park:
Spread over 958 sq kms, this sanctuary can be reached though
Topslip in Anamalai Hills on the Western Ghats. An ecological
Paradise, this sanctuary encompasses a National Park with an area of
108 sq kms. About 800 species out of 2000 South Indian Flora are
distributed here. This sanctuary nurtures
arboreal animals like lion tailed macaque,
bonnet macaque, Common Langur, Nilgiris Langur, Malabar Giant Squirrel
and Grizzled Giant Squirrel. The ground animals listed are: Tiger,
Panther, Elephant, Gaur, Pangolin, Sambar, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer,
Mouse Deer, Wild boar, Dhole, Sloth Bear, Porcupine, Nilgiris Tahr,
Civet Cat and Taddy Cat. Avifauna includes Racket Tailed Drongo,
Black Headed Oriole, Paradise Fly-catcher, Whistling Thrush, Emerald
Dove, Green pigeon, Tickell's Flower Pecker, Rufus Wood Pecker, Rose
Ringed Parakeet, Black Eagle, Great Indian, Malabar pied HornBill,
Fiary Blue Bird and Green-billed Malkhoha.
* Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary:
Located in Nilgiri Hills, the offshoot of the Western Ghats meet
the Eastern Ghats. This 321 sq km wide sanctuary encompasses a
National Park measuring an area of 103 sq kms.
* Mukkurthi National Park:
Located on the high altitudes of the Nilgiris, 40 kms from
Udhagamandalam, it contains a viable population of Nigiri Tahr,
Sambar, Nilgiri Marten, Barking deer.
* Kalakkadu Wildlife Sanctuary:
Situated in an area of 223 sq kms in the Tirunelveli District.
Wildlife seen in the sanctuary includes Lion Tailed Macaque, Nilgiri
Langur, Bonnet Macaque and common Langur, Nilgiri Tahr. The flora ranges from forests of tropical wet
ever-green to Tropical dry decidious and thorn forest at down hills.Lion tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Langur, Bonnet Macaque and Common Langur,
Nilgiri Tahr, sambar, Sloth Bear, gaur, Elephant, Tiger, Flying
Squirrel, Panther, Wild Dog, Pangoline are some of the wild life seen
in the sanctuary. Besides, a wide range of birds and reptiles could be
seen.
* Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary:
Situated in an area of 567 sq kms in the Tirunelveli District.
Animal wealth includes Tiger, Bonnet Macaque, Langurs, Slender Loris.
There is nothing to differentiate this sanctuary from that of
Kalakkadu, except the absence of Elephant and the Gaur. Situated in
the Tirunelveli district, This 567 sq km sanctuary boasts of dry deciduous
to tropical wet evergreen forests patches of pure reeds. Animal wealth includes Tiger, Bonnet macaque, Langurs,
Slender
Loris, Sloth Bear, Sambhar, Chital and Wilddogs. Excellent for various
species of avifauna and varieties of reptiles and insects.
* Point Calimere Wild Life Sanctuary:
Sprawling on 17.26 sq km surrounded by sea and shore, comprising
forests of tidal swamps, this sanctuary is situated in Nagapattinam
district. It is bestowed with populations of varied wild life such as
Chittal, Wild Boar.
* Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel Wild Life Sanctuary:
Located in Virudhunagar District, 45 kms off Virudhanagar Town.
Interesting species are Flying Squirrel, Tree Shrew, Elephant ,
Lion-Tailed Macaque, many species of birds.
* Guindy National Park:
Situated in Chennai. Compositions of animals Black Buck, Chital,
Jackal, Pangolin and a variety of Avi fauna.
* Vallanadu Black Buck Sanctuary:
A scrub forest area spread over to 16.41 sq km this sanctuary is
situated in Thuthukudi (Tuticorn) District. Blackbuck, Spotted Deer,
Macaques, Jungle cat, Mangoose and hares are plenty. This sanctuary
can be visited through out the year.
* Vedanthangal And Karikili Bird Sanctuaries:
Situated in the Kanchipuram district. In all 115 species of birds
have been recorded in this sanctuary.
* Arignar Ann Zoological Park - Chennai:
Situated in the outkirts of Chennai. More than 170 species of
Mammals, Aviaries & reptiles are exhibited.
* The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust:
Situated 14 kms from Mamallapuram, this trust now houses more than 6
species of crocodiles.
* Gulf Of Mannar Marine National Park:
A marine Biosphere, running along with coasts of
Ramanathapuram and Tuthukudi (Tuticorin) Districts. This National Park
is full of coral reefs, Dolphins, Turtles.
Endangered
The lion-tailed Macaque:
weighs 7 - 15 kg (15 - 33 lb). It is found
in tropical evergreen forest, where it is omnivorous and diurnal and
primarily arboreal Groups of lion-tailed macaques range from 4 - 34
individuals. They usually contain about 10 - 20 individuals, including
1 - 3 adult males. By 1971 it was known to
occur only in the southern third of India, generally in the Western
Ghats. In 1984 it was thought to occur in scattered locations in
Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.  The major reason for its decline
appears to have been habitat loss due to the spread of agriculture and
teak, coffee, tea and other plantations. Formerly it was extensively
captured for the pet trade, zoos and research, as well as for use in
Oriental medicine. Less than 2500 mature individuals remain today
according to IUCN. The lion-tailed macaque is highly endangered and
probably the most endangered macaque and as such listed in CITES 1. In
addition to their low numbers, they are separated in small forest
fragments mostly less than 20 sq km. This results in in-breeding which
further weakens the population. They are especially vulnerable because
they rely on primary rainforest with big fruiting trees. The major
threat is habitat loss to hydroelectric power, timber and tea
plantations, and harvesting of firewood and other forest products for
human use. Only 1% of their original habitat now remains. They are
also hunted by natives in the Nilgiri hills for their skin and meat,
and often mistaken for the Nilgiri langur whose meat is highly prized
for its presumed medicinal power.
Sandalwood:
is on its way to becoming an
endangered species thanks to rampant smuggling. With it a
long-standing tradition could die, to be replaced by ersatz perfume. Sandalwood has been used by tens of millions across South Asia for
centuries. From Myanmar to Maharashtra, its oil and wood have been
used in incense, medicinal paste for the skin, ornaments, and as a
base for a traditional perfume called attar which is hugely popular in
the Middle East.  India
has a virtual monopoly over production and more then 90 per cent of
India's sandalwood is grown in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Generations ago, sandalwood was declared royal property, and it
remained state property after independence in 1947. Even trees on
private land are legally state property and need the state's
permission to be felled. The produce is bought by the state at an assessed rate which is
usually about 75 per cent of the value of the tree. Retailers need a
special licence to stock sandalwood products. But while Karnataka and Tamil Nadu protect sandalwood and it is
illegal to be in possession of more than 20 kg, neighbouring Kerala
does not. Sandalwood production has fallen from 4,000 tonnes per annum in the
1960s to less than 1,000 tonnes in the 1990s. Sandalwood oil has
virtually disappeared from the international market, and has been
replaced by synthetics.
Recent
News
Fishworker groups of Tamil Nadu want the
Ministry of Environment and Forests to revoke
the ban on the fishing of shark and some other species found in the
State's coastal waters.
Sri Lanka wishes to hurry up the
process of building a bridge connecting Tamil Nadu's Rameswaram town
with Mannar, a coastal township on the island's western coast to boost
trade and tourism. NASA satellite photographs have revealed evidence
of the existence of an ancient man-made bridge. The bridge was
mentioned in the epic "Ramayana" and was used by Sri Lankan
king Gajaba to reach south India.
The Indian Railways would take up a
project to link all the pilgrim centres in the South through a network
of new rail routes, the Union Minister of State for Railways Bandaru
Dattatreya announced.
The tourism industry in Tamil Nadu
& Kerala, hit by the September 11 attack on the United States, may
get a major boost with chartered flights from Europe. The first
chartered flight of the tourist season from the United Kingdom landed
in Thiruvanathapuram in early November with with 300-odd tourists.
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