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Kerala Hotels :
Kerala Topography
Kerala Topography
a) Mountains and Hill Stations :-
Kerala Hill Stations are the highland area in the east of Kerala. Kerala hill stations include high mountains, valleys and abyss. The land is home for wildlife as the dense forests are present in the wildest part of this land. Other regions include tea and coffee plantation.
The mountains of Kerala, with their height and varied configuration are fascinating. The Western Ghats represent the chief mountain ranges of Kerala. They have always protected Kerala from external aggressions. The highest peak in the Ghat system is the Anamudi in the Idukki district, with an altitude of 2817.06 metres. This has also the distinction of being the highest peak in India outside the Himalayan system. There are several other hills of varying altitude near the Anamudi peak, which with their deep valleys add to the general magnifi-cance of the mountain system.
What is of particular significance to the Ghat system is the presence of the Wynad plateau encompassing the Cannanore and Kozhihode districts of Kerala. This is only a continuation of the Mysore plateau and is perched on the crest of the Western Ghats. The Nilgiri-Kundah range is on the eastern side of the plain. The average height of the plateau measures 909.09 metres, though such peaks as Brah-magiri (1598.79 metres) and Banasura (2037.58 metres) dominate the sector.
Apart from the peaks and hills of the Ghats, there are several other scattered hills over the plains also. Some of them are important from the political and cultural points of view. Ezhimala or Mount Eli on the Can-nanore coast in North Kerala was the cradle of a flourishing kingdom in the early centuries of the Christian era. Strategically, it was a good landmark for mariners from very early times. Likewise, the Puralimala in Tellich-erry was associated with the Pazhassi revolt. A few of such hills or their valleys have been pilgrim centres. The most celebrated Sasta Temple on the top of Sabarimala in the Peermade Taluk, the Tirunelli Temple in the valley of the Brahmagiri peak and the St.Thomas Catholic Church on the top of the Malayattur hill in Alwaye are a few examples. The mountains and hills of Kerala, not only defended the freedom and integrity of the land but also helped to foster the religious and cultural advancement of Kerala.
b) Passes
One singular feautre of the mountain system of Kerala is
the existence of passes. These served as channels of communication and
contact. The Palaghat gap is 32 km. wide. This is the corridor through
which goods and services were exchanged between the regions on either
side. This wide opening made possible heavy showers of rain from
south-west monsoon, in the plains of Coimbatore and northeast monsoon in
Central Kerala. This accounts for the agricultural prosperity of
Palaghat. This gap also was a silent witness to the Chola expansion into
Kerala and Chera in roads into the Kongu country. The 18th century
Mysorean invasion of Kerala was facilitated by this gap. For the influx
of non-Kerala social groups into Kerala and the resulting cultural
fusion of the state may be pointed to the existence of this pass.
There are other passes too, which have a large say in the political and
cultural history of Kerala. The Per-ambadi Ghat is the corridor to Coorg.
The Periya and the Tamarasseri Ghats are windows from Wynad to Mysore.
Cut across the mountain that connects Idukki district with Tamil Nadu
are Bodinayakannur, the Thevaram and the Kambam passes. Thodupuzha,
Peermade and other parts of High Ranges are connected to several sectors
of Tamil Nadu. Likewise, the Ary-anakavu pass bridges Tinneveli and
Pathanapuram. Aramboli pass was the channel through which Tamil powers
invaded South Kerala several times. Thus passes also played a vital role
in moulding the history of Kerala.
c) The Sea
The Arabian sea has ever served the state as the spring
board of contact with the countries of Europe and Asia. As such it
played a decisive role in moulding the history of the state. While the
flourishing ports of ancient Kerala were Muziris, Tyndis, Barace and
Nelcynda, those of later times were Quilon, Cochin and Calicut.
Flourishing trade was carried on between Kerala and foreign countries
with the help of these ports. Again these ports offered ample
opportunities to foreign powers like the Portuguese, the Dutch, the
French and the English for their imperialistic enterprises. Foreign
religions like Christianity, Judaism and Islam came to the shores of
Kerala through these ports.
Kerala's maritime tradition springs from her extensive coastline.
Ancient Sangam works testify to this. Pliny makes mention of Indian
sailors. During the medieval times Kerala had fleets at Calicut and
Purakkad. In the Cochin Port of Kerala is symbolised the maritime
traditions which have been continued even today.
Two significant phenomena are comprehened about the Kerala Coast.
Constant sea erosion is the former. This has been a threat from times of
yore and the most affected areas are Purakkad, Trikunnapuzha and
Chel-lanam. By constructing sea walls, with the help of large blocks of
stone, the Government has been taking effective steps to minimise the
effects of such encroachments.
The presence of mud banks is the latter phenomenon. This is seen at
Alleppey and Njarakkal in the Vaipin island. This mud bank appears when
June comes to a close and the onset of the monsoon begins. This mud bank
is famous for prawn fishing. The most significant aspect of the mud bank
is that sea in this region will be calm as compared to the rough ocean
at other places.
d) The Rivers
The rivers of Kerala though rain-fed have played a vital
role in the life of the state as they provide abundant water resources.
There are 44 river systems in Kerala of which 41 are flowing westward
and 3 eastward. There are only four rivers that go beyond 160 km. in
length. Several of these rivers are streams that flow along the coast,
with limited catchment area. Twenty rivers flow through Cannan-ore
district, of which, the important are the Chandragiri, the Karingote,
the Valappattanam and the Anjarakandi. The Kallai river in Kozhikode
though small, has great economic potential as it provides transportation
facility to the flourishing timber trade at Kallai situated on the banks
of this river. Among the larger rivers may be included the Kadalundi,
the Chalakudi, the Karuvannur, the Muvattupuzha, the Achenkoil, the
Manimala, the Meenachil, the Kallada, the Neyyar and the Karamana.
The largest rivers of Kerala are the Bharatapuzha (97.5 km.), the
Periyar (88.8 km.), the Pamba (68.8 km.), and the Beypore (65.63 km.).
These rivers have played a significant role in the social and cultural
history of Kerala. Some of the most famous religious and cultural
centres are located on the banks of these rivers such as Tiruna-vai on
the Bharatapuzha, Kaladi and Alwaye on the Periyar and Maramon on the
Pamba. Tirunavai has become immortal through Mamankam,the pan-Kerala
assembly held under the leadership of the Zamorin of Calicut. Kaladi,
the birth place of Sankara-charya, the renowned Advaita philosopher
stands out as popular cultural centre of distinction. The famous Si~
varatri festival is held at Alwaye every year during February-March.
Maramon has the distinction of being the biggest centre of religious
convention of the Christians, in Asia. The spectacular boat races of
Kerala are held on the waters of the Pamba and the Meenachil rivers.
Occasionally these rivers have contributed immensely to the political
and military history of Kerala. The awful floods in the Periyar river in
1341, which wrought much havoc in its train "chocked the mouth of the
Crangan-ore harbour and rendered it useless for purposes of trade."
Simultaneously, Cochin came into limelight as a rival at first but
gradually as a busy port. Tipu's penetration into Travancore from Alwaye
was thwarted in 1789 by the floods of the same river.
In modern times, these rivers have been "harnessed in the service of
man." Such irrigation projects as those at Malampuzha, Peechi, and
Periyar valley and Hydro-electric schemes as those at Pallivasal,
Sengulum, Sabarigiri and Poringalkuttu have been nurtured by these
rivers. The pace of industrialisation in the state has been accelerated
by these projects. Many industries have sprung up on these rivers at
Punalur, Elur, Baliapatam and Kallai. Thus no insignificant role was
played by the rivers of Kerala in its political, cultural and economic
history.
e) The backwaters and Lakes
Kerala, has a long chain of backwaters and lakes along
the coastal belt. The largest backwater is the Vemba-nad lake
connecting Alleppey to Cochin, a distance of 32.5 km. It is as wide
as 5.63 km. It keeps engulfed an area of 202.25 sq.km. The
Muvat-tupuzha, the Meenachil, the Manimala, the Pamba and the
Achenkoil rivers get discharged into this lake. The water is saline.
This lake assists in inland navigation and fishing. The banks of the
lake are very fertile, eminently suited for coconut cultivation.
Vaikkom, the great pilgrim centre is on its eastern bank. Boat races
of tourist-potential at the Punnamada Kayal (Alleppey) and Kumarakam
(Kot-tayam) are held in the waters of this lake.
Besides, smaller lakes are available in all parts of the state.
Important lakes in south Kerala are the Kayamkulam and Ashtamudi
lakes. In north Kerala lakes such as Kumbla, Kalnad, Bekal and
Chittari and Kavvai are the most prominent. The major fresh water
lake in Kerala is the Sasthamcottah lake in the Quilon district.
Other fresh water lakes include the Vellayani (Trivandrum) and those
in the Trichurs district. The Periyar lake, which is part of the
wild life sanctuary at Thekkadi, was been a centre of attraction for
tourists.
f) The Islands
There are a few islands too for Kerala. Perhaps the
most significant is Vaipin in the Ernakulam district between the
backwaters and the Arabian Sea. At present it is joined to the
mainland by the Cherai bridge put up in 1960. Lying scattered in
Cochin and Kanayannur are the Wellingdon Island, Raman Thuruthu,
Bolghatti, Vallarpadam, Kumbalam, Panangad, Cheppanam, Nettur etc."
In the Vembanad lake is the beautiful island of Patiramanal. It is
full of coconut plantations.
g) The Waterfalls and the Springs
Waterfalls in Kerala are few and far between. Near
Aryankavu is the Palaruvi, which falls from an altitude of 90-91
metres. In Thodupuzha ta-luka of Idukki district is a waterfall of
lesser height. There is another beautiful waterfall at
Perumthenaruvi in Peermade. Besides, there are a number of waterways
flowing over the surface of steep rocks. These waterfalls provide an
enchanting spectacle.
In the high ranges there are several springs. They also contribute
to the water resources of Kerala. Kerala is also rich in underground
water resources which supply water throughout the year in tanks and
wells.
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