Kalrayan Hills

The Kalrayan Hills (Tamil : கல்வராயன் மலை) are a major range of hills situated in the Eastern Ghats of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.^[1] Along with the Pachaimalai, Javadi, and Shevaroy hills, they separate the Kaveri River basin to the south from the Palar River basin to the north.^[2] The hills range in height from 2000 feet to 3000 feet^[3] and extend over an area of 1095 square kilometres.^[1]

The hills straddle a number of Tamil Nadu districts, extending northeast from the Salem District.^[1] The range serves as a boundary between the Salem and Villupuram districts.^[3] The Kalrayans are divided into two sections — the northern section, referred to as the Chinna ("little") Kalrayans, and the southern section, called the Periya ("big") Kalrayans. The Chinna Kalrayans average 2700 feet in height, while the Periya Kalrayans average 4000 feet.^[3]

The range as a whole is fairly smooth, with soil well-suited for plant growth.^[3] Scrub jungles reach up to 400 metres in altitude, while deciduous forests can be found between above 800 metres. Sholas, a type of high-altitude stunted evergreen forest, can be found growing on isolated plateaus.^[1] Though the forest stand is growing, due to "habitat uniqueness, human impacts and cultural tradition," conservation efforts are needed.^[4]

History

Kalvarayan hill was being ruled by the following three jagirdhars (Poligars) - Sadaya Goundan, Kurumba Goundan and Arya Goundan. Till June 25, 1976 the area was "not part of India, as there was no presence of governance or any government till then". The three jagirdhars were mini-rulers of the locality and they were not willing to recognise the government of India and abide by its statutes by handing over 105 villages under them. As per 1901 census, Sadaya Goundan had 40 villages with a population of 10,009, Kurumba Goundar had 40 villages with a population of 7,490 and Arya Goundan had 11 villages with 2,318 people. The community had wedding tax, cultivation tax, registration of births and deaths, and everyone had to offer gifts to jagirdhar's families during Pongal celebrations. The hill was brought under the government control on June 25, 1976 by invoking slavery abolition legislation, 1963.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kalrayan Hills.

• Kalvarayanhills.com: Kalvarayan Hills and Falls Blog

Eastern Ghats
Rivers	Champavathi River Godavari Gosthani River Gundlakamma River Kaveri Krishna Kundu River Mahanadi Nagavali River Palar Penner River Ponnaiyar Rushikulya Sabari River Sarada River Sileru River Sweata Nadi Vasishta Nadi Vellar Vamsadhara River
Regions	Deccan Plateau Kolar Plateau
Hills	Bilgiri (Biligirirangan) Chitteri Erramala Kalrayan Karanthamalai Kolli Lankamalla Mahendragiri Mettur Nallamalla Pachaimalai Palamalai Palkonda Shevaroy Sirumalai Vada Chennimalai Velikonda
Waterfalls	Agaya Gangai Kiliyur Mayil Uthu Mangalam Periyar Pudur Megan Talakona Falls Ubbalamadugu Falls
States	Andhra Pradesh Karnataka Odisha Tamil Nadu Telangana West Bengal
Parks & Reserves	Badrama Wildlife Sanctuary Chilika Bird Sanctuary Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary Kanger Ghati National Park Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary Kolleru Lake Bird Sanctuary Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary Lakhari Valley Wildlife Sanctuary Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve Nalbana Bird Sanctuary Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary Papikonda Wildlife Sanctuary Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary Simlipal National Park Sri Venkateswara National Park Telineelapuram and Telukunchi Bird Sanctuaries Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary