Peermade പീരുമേട് |
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Hill station | |
View from Parunthumpara in Peerumedu
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Location in Kerala, India | |
Coordinates: 9°33′02″N 77°01′49″E / 9.5505100°N 77.0302580°ECoordinates: 9°33′02″N 77°01′49″E / 9.5505100°N 77.0302580°E | |
Country | India |
State | Kerala |
District | Idukki |
Government | |
• Type | Panchayath |
• Body | Peerumedu panchayath |
Area | |
• Total | 114.75 km2 (44.31 sq mi) |
Population (2001) | |
• Total | 25,768 |
• Density | 220/km2 (580/sq mi) |
Languages | |
• Official | Malayalam, EnglishTamil |
Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
PIN | 685531 |
Area code(s) | 04869 |
Vehicle registration | KL-37 |
Website | [1] |
Peermade, also spelt Peerumedu is a hill station in the state of Kerala, India. It lies 915 metres (3,002 ft) above sea level in the Western Ghats (Sahyadri) some 85 kilometres (53 mi) east of Kottayam on the way to Thekkady through the nearby city of Kanjirappally.
The landscape of Peermade includes spectacular waterfalls, open grass lands and pine forests. Predominantly it is classified as Malanad with an elevation ranging from 3,000 ft (910 m) from the mean sea level.
Peermade was once the summer retreat of the Maharajas of Travancore. Once these regions were quite unaccessible which were covered by dense forests and was inhabited by certain tribes like 'Malappandarams' and 'Malayarans'. Tamil people make up the majority of Peermade's population. The archaeological excavations points out that there was an ancient Neolithic culture flourished in the high-ranges which wasn't written or recorded. But the findings of cultural remnants from the hill tracks near Kumily and Vandiperiyar provides some factual evidences of the existence of a rich culture.
Peermade was the highest elevation on the mountain route that connected the Travancore with Madurai in ancient Tamilakam. The mountain barriers created by the ghats separated these two regions.
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the largest wildlife reserves in India, is 43 kilometres (27 mi) away. It has herds of elephants and other wildlife as well as lakes.
The name is sometimes related to the Sufi saint, 'Peer Mohammed', as "hill of the Peer" (പീരുമേട്).