Vattavada

Vattavada
Village
Farmlands at Vattavada village
Farmlands at Vattavada village
Vattavada is located in Kerala
Vattavada
Vattavada
Location in Kerala, India
Coordinates: 10°11′0″N 77°15′24″E / 10.18333°N 77.25667°E / 10.18333; 77.25667
Country India
StateKerala
DistrictIdukki
TalukDevikulam
Area
 • Total
31.78 km2 (12.27 sq mi)
Elevation
1,659 m (5,443 ft)
Population
 (2001)
 • Total
3,292
 • Density100/km2 (270/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialMalayalam, English[1]
 • RegionalTamil,[2]Malayalam
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
685615
Telephone code04865
Vehicle registrationKL-68
Sex ratio955:1000 ♂/♀
Literacy78%
Climateheavy cool (Köppen)

Vattavada is a village in Idukki district in the state of Kerala, bordering Tamil Nadu, India.[3] The village is located along Palani Hills in Western Ghats. It is an agricultural village known for growing a wide range of vegetables and fruits in the terrace farmlands.[4]

Demographics

As of 2011 Census, Vattavada had a population of 3,292 with 1,690 males and 1,602 females. Vattavada village has an area of 31.78 km2 (12.27 sq mi) with 901 families residing in it. In Vattavada, 12% of the population was under 6 years of age. Vattavada had an average literacy of 75.7% higher than the national average of 74% and lower than state average of 94%.[5]

Geography and climate

Vattavada is a virtually rain shadow village, lying in the eastern side of the Western Ghats near to Marayur and north side of Munnar. The region in and around Vattavada varies in height from 1,450 meters (4,760 ft) to 2,695 meters (8,842 ft) above mean sea level. Vattavada enjoys a salubrious climate. The temperature ranges between 5 °C (41 °F) and 20 °C (68 °F) in winter and 12 °C (54 °F) and 18 °C (64 °F) in summer. Temperatures as low as −4 °C (25 °F) have been recorded in the border region of Vattavada.[6] The mean maximum daily temperature is at its lowest during the monsoon months with the highest temperature being 19 °C (66 °F).

Crops

Vattavada is known as the market of Kerala, because they are in front of vegetable producing. Vattavada is famous for its wide variety of crops which is not seen on the other parts of Kerala, which includes varieties of apples, oranges, strawberries, guavas, pears, blackberries, plums, gooseberries, canistels, peaches and passion fruits, etc. Vattavada was also famous for cultivating wheat. But as the water content in the soil became less over the years due to large-scale cultivation of Eucalyptus, wheat cultivation has reduced significantly.[7]

Flora and fauna

Most of the native flora and fauna of Vattavada have disappeared due to severe habitat fragmentation resultant from the creation of the plantations. However, some species continue to survive and thrive in several protected areas nearby, including the new Kurinjimala Sanctuary to the east, the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Manjampatti Valley and the Amaravati reserve forest of Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary to the north east, the Eravikulam National Park and Anamudi Shola National Park to the north, the Pampadum Shola National Park to the south and the proposed Palani Hills National Park to the east. These protected areas are especially known for several threatened and endemic species including Nilgiri tahr, the grizzled giant squirrel, the Nilgiri wood-pigeon, elephant, the gaur, the Nilgiri langur, the sambar, and the neelakurinji (that blossoms only once in twelve years) and special thing is it center for Munnar, Kodaikanal and Marayur [8][9]

Major Social and Political Events

On July 2, 2018, Abhimanyu belonging to Vattavada who was pursuing graduation in Maharajas College, Ernakulam was murdered by Campus Front of India activists over political rivalry.[10][11][12]

  • View of the village
    View of the village
  • View of the mountains
    View of the mountains

References

  1. ^ "The Kerala Official Language (Legislation) Act, 1969" (PDF). Archived from the original on 11 September 2014.
  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. ^ "Why Vattavada is hailed as agricultural haven of Kerala". OnManorama. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  5. ^ Kerala, Directorate of Census Operations. District Census Handbook, Idukki (PDF). Thiruvananthapuram: Directorate of Census Operations, Kerala. p. 52,53. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  6. ^ Frost hits plantations in Vattavada.
  7. ^ "Why Vattavada is hailed as agricultural haven of Kerala".
  8. ^ Government of Kerala, Forest and Wildlife Department, Notification No. 36/2006 F&WLD (6 October 2006) retrieved 5/12/2007 Kerala Gazette
  9. ^ Mathew Roy (25 September 2006) "Proposal for Kurinjimala sanctuary awaits Cabinet nod" the Hindu, retrieved 5/12/2007 the Hindu
  10. ^ "Abhimanyu murder accused surrenders". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  11. ^ "20-year-old SFI activist stabbed to death inside a Kerala college hostel". www.thenewsminute.com. 2 July 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  12. ^ "Abhimanyu murder case accused gets LLB admission, SFI stops him". OnManorama. Retrieved 8 May 2020.