Idukki district

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
type = district
native_name = Idukki
hq = Painavu
area_total = 5105.22
area_magnitude = 9
area_total_cite =
latd = 9.85
longd = 76.94
locator_position = left
state_name = Kerala
altitude = 1200
abbreviation = IN-KL-IDU
collector = Raju Narayana Swami
population_total = 11,29,221
population_as_of = 2001
population_density = 259
website = www.idukki.nic.in/
footnotes =

Idukki district ( _ml. ഇടുക്കി) is one among the 14 districts of Kerala state, India. The district headquarters is located at [http://www.idukki.nic.in/ Kuyilimala] in Painavu).

Geography

Idukki has an area of km2 to mi2|5105.22|abbr=yes and is the second largest District of Kerala. Rugged mountains and forests cover about 97 percent of the total area of the District. The district borders the Kerala districts of Pathanamthitta to the south, Kottayam to the southwest, Ernakulam to the northwest and Thrissur to the north and Coimbature, Dindigul and Theni Districts in Tamilnadu to the east. See: [http://idukki.nic.in/map.htm map] .

Anamudi, the highest peak in India south of Himalayas, is in the Kuttampuzha Panchayat of Adimali Block, in the K.D.H Village of Devikulam taluk. 13 other peaks in the district exceed a height of m to ft|2000|abbr=yes. The Periyar, Thodupuzhayar and Thalayar are the important rivers of the district.

Idukki Reservoir and Dam

History

The High Range of Idukki attracted Scottish planters in the 19th century and they left behind some bungalows in an around [Munnar] , which are quite notable for their architectural beauty. Perhaps the most visible one to the tourists is Ladbroke House,which is named after the Ladbroke Square in London. The Trout, coniferous trees and dark green planter's cap are all contributions of those planters. Quite interestingly, [Munnar] [http://www.theidukki.co.cc Munnar photos] had railway lines almost a century back! This started from the KDHP office at Munnar and extended up to Top Station near the Tamil Nadu border. The torrential rain and storm of 1924 destroyed the major part of the rail system and the Mattupetty dam still has the remains of the rail lines. Quite few of the rails are used as electric posts in Munnar. KDHP's tea factory has one of the wheels of the locomotives being kept there.

Idukki has the largest arch dam in India, the Idukki Dam, constructed for the Idukki Hydro Electric Power Project in 1969 with the cooperation of the Canadian Government. This single project powers almost half of the entire state and some parts of neighboring states. Mattupetty Dam is also here.

Population

Idukki had a population of 1,129,221 as of 2001. Censusinfo [ [http://www.censusindiamaps.net/page/India_WhizMap/IndiaMap.htm Census GIS India ] ] Eminent persons from Idukki district include K.M. Beenamol (Sports), K.M. Biju,(Sports), Shiny Wilson (Sports), P.J. Joseph (Politics). 11516 Scheduled tribal families are living in the district, including: Malayarayan, Mannan, Muthuvan, Oorali, Paliyan, Hilpulayan, Malapandaram, Ulladan and Malayandn.

Protected areas

This district has several protected areas including: Periyar Tiger Reserve in the south, Kurinjimala Sanctuary to the east, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary to the north east, Eravikulam National Park and Anamudi Shola National Park to the north, Pampadum Shola National Park to the south and Thattekad Bird Sanctuary in the west. These protected areas are especially known for several threatened and endemic species including Tiger, Nilgiri Thar, Grizzled Giant Squirrel, Nilgiri Wood-pigeon, Elephant, Gaur, Sambar Deer, and Neelakurinji. [Government of Kerala, Forest and Wildlife Department, Notification No. 36/2006 F&WLD (6 October, 2006) retrieved 5/12/2007 [http://kurinji.in/sro.html Kerala Gazette] ] , [Mathew Roy (Sep 25, 2006) "Proposal for Kurinjimala sanctuary awaits Cabinet nod" the Hindu, retrieved 5/12/2007 [http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/25/stories/2006092510910400.htm the Hindu] ]

Idukki is known for the splendid green mountains, streams and spices. It is one of the a main tourist destinations in Kerala with its hill stations, Devikulam and Munnar, surrounded by lush hills, tea plantations and valleys. Mattupetty, is the headquarters of the Indo-Swiss Cattle Project, about 11 km away from Munnar.

First Attempt in India

Human Development Index (HDI) and Gender Development Index (GDI) have been prepared for the district at the gram panchayat level. It is an initiative of the Idukki District Panchayat with the professional support of Centre for rural management(CRM), Kottayam.

Places in Idukki District

Kattappana, Kulamavu, Kumili, Moolamattom, Munnar, Murickassery, Nedumkandam, Painavu, Parathode, Thekkady, Thodupuzha

References

External links

*dmoz|Regional/Asia/India/Kerala/Districts/Idukki/
* [http://www.theidukki.co.cc Idukki photos and tourist information]
* [http://www.keraladays.com/Idukki.htm Idukki District Information Portal]
* [http://www.downtokerala.in/Idukki.htm Idukki at a Glance]
* [http://www.indiatraveldestinations.info/category/idukki-travel-guide/ Idukki Travel Guide and Videos] Idukki Travel Guide And Videos
* [http://www.idukki.nic.in/ Idukki District website] Official site of Idukki District
* Human Development Index (HDI) and Gender Development Index (GDI) [http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1813/18130780.htm]