WALAYAR HILLS

THE ONLY GAP IN WESTERN GHATS POPULARLY KNOWN AS PALAKAAD PASS IN KERALA

Walayar is a small town in the border between Kerala and Tamilnadu on NH 47 where the sales tax check post is located. Due to the high traffic on this route (most of the goods import into Kerala happens through road and predominantly through this road), the place has also become notorious for the traffic jams. Walayar has become a famous little town due to the presence of the Sales Tax Check post (one of the 10 biggest check posts in India ) and Malabar Cements . The RTO Check post located in Walayar is the biggest one in Kerala. In terms of revenue (and Bribe ) to the state, also it stands in the first position.

The Walayar hills can be seen to the north Of this little town. They starts their base from the Palakkad Pass and is a part of the western Ghats. The next hill is Vellingiri , then the Attapady hills and then the Nilgiris (and Ooty)

Walayar River is one of the tributaries of the river Kalpathipuzha. Kalpathipuzha is one of the main tributaries of the Bharathapuzha River, the second-longest river in Kerala, south India. Walayar Dam is constructed across this river. It was completed and opened in 1964.It has got a beautiful garden also.But currently its conditions are bad.Previously Walayar Dam was as famous as Malampuzha Dam. It has got a beautiful valley too.

THE ONLY GAP IN WESTERN GHATS - PALAKKAD GAP

The western ghats stretches from Mumbai to Kanyakumari along the west of India. The only place where the 2000 meter long range has a gap is at Walayar.

Palakkad Gap is a 32-42 kilometer wide low mountain pass (It is a break to the chain of mountains than a Pass) in the Western Ghats, near Palakkad town and Coimbatore in the South Indian. Strictly speaking, it the road between Palakkad and Coimbatore runs along this Gap.

The gap is the lowest pass through the Western Ghats. It is also the only break in that stretch of the Ghats that otherwise runs along the entire western edge of South India isolating the Long Stretch from the dry decan plateau. From west to east the altitude increases from 90 M (At Palakkad) to 400 M (Coimbatore) in 20 Kilometers.

The Palakkad Gap acts as a corridor between the two States by linking Palakkad District of Kerala with Coimbatore District of Tamil Nadu and has served as the vital part of the important trade route between the east and west coasts of peninsular India since ancient times. Palakkad Fort, stands as a reminder of the strategic importance the gap once had as a gateway to Kerala for would be invaders from the other side of the Ghats. North side of the gap is hills with a height of 1100m called Walayar Hills (Mostly forested region behind the Malampuzha Dam Further north is the Survani dam, Vellingiri Hills , Attapady and Nilgiris ) and south side the same with 2000m height (The Valparai and Parambikulam is here).The Bharatha Puzha river originates in the Palakkad Gap from rivulets and tributaries feeding from steep escarpment slopes along the flanks of the Ghats.

The gap is important to the climate of southern India in that it allows the moisture-laden Southwest monsoon winds into the Coimbatore region, which moderates Coimbatore's summer temperatures and generates greater rainfall in the region relative to the rest of lowland Tamil Nadu. Also, in the summers, the district of Palakkad is warmer than the rest of the state because hot winds from Tamil Nadu blow in. In short this makes Coimbatore a good place to live in Tamilnadu ( Although Salem is said to be the safest city in India - 150Km from Coimbatore towards NE)

Historically, Palakkad gap has played a major role in enabling migrations into Kerala from other parts of India. Tamil Brahmins are a prominent group that migrated to Palakkad from Thanjavur, Tamilnadu (and areas around Thanjavur such as Kumbakonam) via the Palakkad gap from the 15th century to 18th century. Right from 300 B.C. to 13th century, it also helped the Cheras rule entire Kerala and the areas of Kongunadu (Coimbatore, erode, Karur) as one geographical unit, with the people movement through the gap. This gap has been the major land entry point to Kerala.

Both the NH 47 highway and the Chennai-Ernakulam rail link joining Kerala to Tamil Nadu pass through this gap. You can see the hills on both sides while moving along the route

VIEW OF THE WALAYAR HILLS

PHOTO : The Walayar hills Looking north while moving through the gap along the NH.

VIEW OF THE LANDSCAPE OF EITEHR SIDE OF WESTERN GHATS

WEST SIDE / KERALA SIDE : More Green and Moist

THE EAST SIDE / TAMILNADU : Arid / Requires Artificial Irrigation Even thought Altitude is 400 Meters above sea level.

THE MIGRATION FROM THE GREENERY TO THE DRY DECAN PLATEAU : A panorama photograph showing the biodiversity of the western ghats and the arid rainn shadow region of the decan plateau.

MAPS

MAP OF WESTERN GHATS AND WALAYAR HILLS