| Agasthiyar malai | |
|---|---|
 Agasthiyar malai, the highest of 26 peaks in these hills over 1,600 metres (5,200 ft) | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,868 m (6,129 ft) |
| Prominence | 1,668 m (5,472 ft) |
| Coordinates | 8°39′N77°13′E / 8.650°N 77.217°E /8.650; 77.217 |
| Naming | |
| English translation | Mountains of the medicine maker |
| Language of name | Tamil |
| Geography | |
 | |
| Location | Tamil Nadu,India |
| Parent range | Western Ghats |
| Topo map |  Trivandrum Area Map |
| Geology | |
| Rock age(s) | Cenozoic, 100 to 80mya |
| Mountain type | FaultDescription |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | trekking viaPeppara Wildlife Sanctuary |
| Pothigai Malai | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,866 m (6,122 ft) |
| Coordinates | 8°37′00.09″N77°14′46.50″E / 8.6166917°N 77.2462500°E /8.6166917; 77.2462500 |
| Geography | |
 | |
| Location | Tenkasi district,Thiruvananthapuram district,Kanyakumari district,India |
| Parent range | Anaimalai Hills |
ThePothigai Hills, also known asAgasthiyar Mountain is a 1,866-metre (6,122 ft)-tall peak in the southern part of theWestern Ghats or Sahyadri ofSouth India. The peak lies inTenkasi District ofTamil Nadu near the border ofKerala.[1]
The area contains several important natural habitats forin-situ conservation ofbiological diversity, including forests containingthreatened species of significant value to science and conservation.[2]
The western slope is located in theThiruvananthapuram district ofKerala state, eastern slope of Pothigai hills is in theTirunelveli district, southern slope is located inKanyakumari district ofTamil Nadu. At 1,866 meters, it is the highest peak in the rugged Ashambu hills, which have one of the richest concentrations of biodiversity in the Western Ghats.[3] The area is known for its extensive views, forests, waterfalls, ancient temples, and the riverTamirabarani, the lifeline of the region.[citation needed]
Agastyamalai is home to theKanikkaran people, one of the oldest survivinghunter-gatherer tribes in the world.[4]
The Agasthiyar malai include theIndian Ecoregions ofSouth Western Ghats moist deciduous forests above 500 metres (1,600 ft),South Western Ghats montane rain forests above 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) andshola-grasslands complex on peaks above 1,600 metres (5,200 ft).[5]
These hills are noted as the habitat for at least 2,000 species ofmedicinal plants, of which at least 50 are rare andendangered species.[6][7] There are also wild relatives ofjackfruit,mango,cardamom,turmeric andbanana.[8]
Endangeredmammals here include theBengal tiger,Indian elephant,lion-tailed macaques,Nilgiri tahr and thevulnerablegaur,sloth bear,Malabar spiny dormouse andNilgiri marten. There are alsoJerdon's palm civet,gray slender loris,great pied hornbills andking cobras.[9]Ecotourism is popular in the area.[10]
The Pothigai hills are mentioned asPotiyil,Potiyal,Pothikai andPotalaka in historical sources largely in relation to the riverTamraparni and the ancient Sage Agastya (Akattiyan).[11]
The Egyptian Greek cartographerPtolemy names the mountain "Bettigo", from where three rivers rise, including Solen (Tamraparni River), meaning chank - the river was famous for its pearl fishing.[12][13]
At the mountains, Tamil was created by Agastya, according toKamban and Villiputturar, whileKancipuranam andTiruvilaiyatarpuranam assert LordShiva taught Agastya Tamil.[11] Tamil Hindu tradition holds that LordShiva and LordMurugan taught Agastya theTamil language, who then constructed a Tamilgrammar, at Pothigai mountains.[14][15][16] According to theTambraparni Mahatmyam, an ancient account of the river from its rise to its mouth, a string of red lotus flowers from sageAgastya atAgastya Malai, Pothigai hills, transformed itself into a damsel at the sight of LordSiva, forming the river at the source and giving it its divine name,Tamraparni.[17] The shrine to Agastiyar at the Pothigai hill source of the Tamraparni river is mentioned in bothIlango Adigal'sSilappatikaram andChithalai Chathanar'sManimekhalai epics, in relation to blessings sought bySugriva and his army from theRamayana.[18]
Peraciriyar states that Agastiyar taught this grammar to Tolkappiyar, one of his twelve disciples, at Pothigai hills, who then wroteTolkāppiyam, although mentions that some scholars believe Tolkappiyar based the Tamil grammar on other forms no longer extant; Agastiyar is not mentioned inTolkāppiyam.[11]Paripāṭal of theEṭṭuttokai anthology speaks of "vaynta Potiyin munivan", the famous sage of Poti".[11] InNaccinarkiniyar's commentaries, quoting lines ofNakkeerar, Agastiyar is associated with the Pothigai mountains and pure Tamil.[11] InSundarar'sTevaram, the Pothigai mountains are mentioned.[11]
Following the establishment of Siddhar Gnana Koodam, and traveling the world to spread his knowledge, Agastya returned toAgastya Mala, the point on the Pothigai hills where he merged into the cosmos. A temple dedicated to him is built here, close to the Papanasam Falls, on the banks of theThamirabarani River. Pilgrims believe Sage Agastya gives appearances to sincere aspirants and devotees.[citation needed]
Tamil Buddhist tradition developed inChola literature, such as in Buddamitra'sVirasoliyam, states Agastya learnt Tamil from the BodhisattvaAvalokitesvara; the earlier Chinese travelerXuanzang recorded the existence of a temple dedicated to Avalokitesvara in the South Indian hill Potala.[14][15] A Buddhist text,Tarasukkam, refers to Avalokitesvara as "Potalagirinivasini". The author of theSilappatikaram, utilizing the word "Potiyil" for the hills, hails the southern breeze that emanates from the hills that blows over the kingdom of the Pandyans of Madurai and Korkai that own it. Chithalai Chathanar'sManimekhalai describes a river flowing on the slope of Potiyil mountain where the Buddhist monks observed meditation. The author utilized the word "Potiyil" for Buddhistpallis.[19] In fellow Sangam workKuṟuntokai of theEṭṭuttokai anthology, a Buddhist vihara under a Banyan tree is described at the top of the mountain. A comment that God had disappeared from the mountain was found inAhananuru, from whose inaccessible top the stream of clear waters flows down with noise in torrents, and the fact that old men assembled and played dice in the dilapidated temple is described inPurananuru.[20]
The Japanese scholar Shu Hikosaka on the basis of his study of Buddhist scriptures, ancientTamil literature, as well as field survey, proposes the hypothesis that, the ancient mount Potalaka, the residence ofAvalokiteśvara described in theGaṇḍavyūha Sūtra andXuanzang’s Records, is the real mountain Pothigai (or Potiyil) situated atAmbasamudram inTirunelveli district,Tamil Nadu.[21] Shu also says that mount Potiyil/Potalaka has been a sacred place for the people of South India from time immemorial. With the spread of Buddhism in the region beginning at the time of the great kingAśoka in the third century B.C.E., it became a holy place also for Buddhists who gradually became dominant as a number of their hermits settled there. The local people, though, mainly remained followers of the Hindu religion. The mixed Hindu-Buddhist cult culminated in the formation of the figure of Avalokiteśvara.[22]
The southern side of the hills in Tamil Nadu includesKanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary a 402.4 square kilometres (155.4 sq mi) protected area inKanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu. The eastern side of the hills in Tamil Nadu includes theKalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR), a 895 square kilometres (346 sq mi)protected area. The Kerala side of the hills hosts the 128 square kilometres (49 sq mi)Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, the 53 square kilometres (20 sq mi)Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, the 171 square kilometres (66 sq mi)Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary and theKulathupuzha andPalodeReserve forests nearCourtallam. The Naraikadu forest or "grey jungle", surrounded by the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, is privately owned by the Dhonavur Fellowship. This community has restored and protected the area so well that it is one of the best preserved forest tracts in the whole Ashambu Hills.[23]
These protected areas in the Agasthyamala Hills comprise theAgasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve (ABR). This reserve includes 3,500.36 km2 (1,351.50 sq mi) out of which 1,828 square kilometres (706 sq mi) is in Kerala and 1,672.36 square kilometres (645.70 sq mi) is in Tamil Nadu.[24][25]
TheWestern Ghats, Agasthyamalai Sub-Cluster, including all of AgasthyamalaiBiosphere Reserve, included in Man and the Biosphere(MAB) programme by theUNESCO World Heritage Committee that concluded in Peru on 19 March 2016.[2]
There are several Hindu Temples and seasonal waterfalls which are tourist attractions in these hills. AtSuruli Falls there is a 2-stageCascading water fall The Suruli River supplying the falls originates from theMeghamalai Hills. The falls drop from a height of 150 feet (46 m) collect into a pool, flow for a short distance and again plummet an additional 40 feet (12 m). Near the falls are 18 caves some of which representIndian rock-cut architecture temples of the 18th Century. This tourist and pilgrimage destination is easily reached by road 56 km (35 mi) fromTheni and 10 km (6.2 mi) fromCumbum in theTheni District.[citation needed]
Many pilgrims climb Agasthyamalai in the core of the hills to perform apuja ceremony at theAgasthyaMurti on the top the Peak. Most pilgrims use the well-worn path through Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary on the Kerala side.The trekkers start from Bonaccord estate inThiruvananthapuram district with a guide from the Forest Department. The first night is spent at a camp facility set up by the department in the middle of the forests. Trekkers reach the peak the next day and return to the camp the same day. Only 100 pilgrims per day are allowed on this route during the January February season.[8][26]
Visitors must obtain an entry pass from the Trivandrum Forest Headquarters or throughOnline booking against payment of Rs 1000.[citation needed] The Chief Conservator is responsible for on-site management of the protected areas on the Kerala side of the Hills.[24]
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