Kumily | |
|---|---|
town | |
 Tea plantations at Kumily | |
  Kumily Location in Kerala, India Show map of Kerala Kumily Kumily (India) Show map of India | |
| Coordinates:9°37′0″N77°9′0″E / 9.61667°N 77.15000°E /9.61667; 77.15000 | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Kerala |
| District | Idukki |
| Taluk | Peerumedu |
| Named after | Thekkady tourist spot |
| Government | |
| • Type | Panchayati raj (India) |
| • Body | Kumily Grama Panchayat |
| Area | |
• Total | 816.73 km2 (315.34 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 880 m (2,890 ft) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
• Total | 35,915 |
| • Density | 43.974/km2 (113.89/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Malayalam, English[2] |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 685509 |
| Area code | 04869 |
| Nearest City | Kattappana,Nedumkandam,Kottayam |
| Assembly constituency | Peerumedu |
| Lok Sabha constituency | Idukki |
Kumily, also spelt asKumaly (Malayalam:[kumɐɭi]) is arevenue village andGram Panchayat in theIdukki district of the state of Kerala. It is a town inCardamom Hills nearThekkady andPeriyar Tiger Reserve and a well frequented tourist destination.[3] Kumily is aborder town ofKerala adjacent toTamil Nadu.[4]
The name "Kumily" is derived from the Malayalam termkumizh (Malayalam: കുമിഴ്), meaning "bubble" or "spring," likely referring to natural water sources in the Cardamom Hills. The area was historically known as part of the Peerumade high ranges underTravancore administration.[5]
Kumily's modern development began in the early 20th century under the Travancore princely state, when high-range forests were cleared for plantation agriculture. Settlers from central Kerala and Tamil Nadu were resettled to cultivate cardamom, tea, and rubber, transforming the region into a major spice hub despite challenges from wildlife andmalaria.[6]
The area saw significant migration in the 1940s–1950s during post-war agricultural expansion. After Indian independence in 1947, Kumily became part ofTravancore-Cochin state in 1949. With the formation of Kerala state on 1 November 1956, it was included in the newly createdKottayam district before being transferred to Idukki district upon its formation on 26 January 1974.[7]
The establishment of thePeriyar Wildlife Sanctuary in 1950 (notified as a tiger reserve in 1978) brought conservation focus, restricting further forest clearance and shifting economic reliance towardeco-tourism.[8] By the 1980s, Kumily emerged as a gateway town for sanctuary visitors, with homestays and spice shops replacing some plantation labor.
The Grama Panchayat system formalized local governance; Kumily Grama Panchayat was constituted under the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, covering 816.73 km² including revenue villages like Kumily and Thekkady.[9] As of 2023, it remains a key border settlement facilitating trade and tourism between Kerala and Tamil Nadu.[10]
As of2011 Census, KumilyGrama Panchayat had a population of 35,915 with an area of 816.73 km2 (315.34 sq mi) and[11] Kumily revenue village had a population of 30,276 (15,162 male and 15,114 female) which spreads over an area of 203.31 km2 (78.50 sq mi) with 7,404 families residing in it. The averagesex ratio was a bit lower than the state average (997 vs 1084). 10.3% of the population was under 6 years old. Kumily had an average literacy of 90.5%, which is lower than the state average of 94%; male literacy was 93.6% and female literacy was 87.4%.[12]
Two national highways pass through Kumily town,National Highway 183 andNational Highway 185[13][14] There are many different busses going to several towns inKerala andTamil Nadu.[15]
The nearest railway station is 60 km away atTheni.The nearest Airport is 120 km away atMadurai.
