Vattavada Explained

Vattavada
Settlement Type:Village
Pushpin Map:India Kerala
Pushpin Label Position:left
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Kerala, India
Coordinates:10.1833°N 77.2567°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: India
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Kerala
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Idukki
Parts Type:Taluk
Parts:Devikulam
Unit Pref:Metric
Area Total Km2:31.78
Elevation M:1659
Population Total:3,292
Population As Of:2001
Population Density Km2:auto
Demographics Type1:Languages
Demographics1 Title1:Official
Demographics1 Info1:Malayalam, English[1]
Demographics1 Title2:Regional
Demographics1 Info2:Tamil,[2] Malayalam
Timezone1:IST
Utc Offset1:+5:30
Postal Code Type:PIN
Postal Code:685615
Area Code Type:Telephone code
Area Code:04865
Registration Plate:KL-68
Blank1 Name Sec1:Sex ratio
Blank1 Info Sec1:955:1000 /
Blank2 Name Sec1:Literacy
Blank2 Info Sec1:78%
Blank1 Name Sec2:Climate
Blank1 Info Sec2:heavy 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 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 1450m (4,760feet) to 2695m (8,842feet) above mean sea level. Vattavada enjoys a salubrious climate. The temperature ranges between 5°C and 20°C in winter and 12°C and 18°C in summer. Temperatures as low as -4°C 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.

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]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Kerala Official Language (Legislation) Act, 1969 .
  2. Web site: Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Kerala . www.censusindia.gov.in . Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
  3. Web site: Census of India: Villages with population 5000 & above . Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India . 2008-12-10 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081208044522/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Village_Directory/Population_data/Population_5000_and_Above.aspx . 2008-12-08 .
  4. Web site: Why Vattavada is hailed as agricultural haven of Kerala . 2023-07-10 . OnManorama.
  5. Book: Kerala . Directorate of Census Operations . District Census Handbook, Idukki . Directorate of Census Operations, Kerala . Thiruvananthapuram . 52,53 . 14 July 2020.
  6. https://web.archive.org/web/20040313020140/http://www.hindu.com/2003/12/17/stories/2003121707061600.htm Frost hits plantations in Vattavada.
  7. Web site: 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. Web site: Abhimanyu murder accused surrenders. The New Indian Express. 2020-05-08.
  11. Web site: 20-year-old SFI activist stabbed to death inside a Kerala college hostel. www.thenewsminute.com. 2020-05-08. 2 July 2018.
  12. Web site: Abhimanyu murder case accused gets LLB admission, SFI stops him. OnManorama. en. 2020-05-08.