Facts about Nilgiris

Dear Viewers, Greetings from planb4teach blog.

Yesterday's incident is today's news, Today's news is tomorrow's history. If we turn back those history records, it will give us lot of surprises.

We would like to bring such interesting events happened in our History to our viewers.

This article will explain the history of Queen of Hills - "The Nilgiris".

Nilgiris district is part of Indian Western Ghats and is one of the 38 districts in the southern Indian state of Tamilnadu

Full of green tea gardens, tall mountains, passing clouds - Nilgiris is gift of mother nature. 

Nilgiris is bounded by Coimbatore and Erode districts in one side, and Karnataka and Kerala states in other side.

The Nilgiris (Blue Mountains) were likely named for the widespread blue Kurinji flower in olden days.

Nilgiris district comprises of six taluks, Ooty, Coonoor, Kotagiri and Gudalur are the major towns.

This area was long occupied by the indigenous tribal people of the Toda,  Badagas, Kota, Kurumba, Irula and Paniyar. 

Every native tribes was living with their group separately without any local king in olden days.

As per history records, this place was under Mauryan Dynasty from BCE 320 to CE 185.

After the downfall of Mauryan dynasty in CE 185, Nilgiris was under various dynasties like

Ganga dynasty >> Kadamba Dynasty >> Native King named Kaaliraja >> Hoysala Kings >> Vijayanagara Kingdom

After the downfall of Vijayanagara Kingdom in the 17th century, Nilgiris came under the control of Wodeyar Kings.

In 1761, Hyder Ali (a Commander in Wodeyar's military) became the ruler of Mysore, so Nilgiris also came under Hyder Ali. After Hyder Ali died in the year 1782, Tippu Sultan became the new ruler of Mysore (also Nilgiris).

Series of Anglo-Mysore wars happened between Tippu Sultan and British that time.

In 1892, British forces defeated Tippu Sultan army in Third Anglo - Mysore war.

So according to Treaty of Srirangapatna : 1892, Nilgiris came under British control.

But the British government has not shown any interest in Nilgiris till 1800.

In 1800, Dr.Francis had been deputed by British authorities to do survey and verify the territories.

Dr.Francis had travelled to Nilgiris from Dannayakankottai to Nilgiris hills through the tough Ghats way.

Dr.Francis returned on the same day, but didn't made any clear report to his superiors.

After 12 years, In the year of 1812, British authorities sent William Keys  and his assistant to survey Nilgiris.

They started from Dannayakkankottai and reached Kalhatti via  Arakode and Denad.

They travelled in the lower levels of the mountain, so they were not able to see the actual beauty of Nilgiris.

Thick backwoods, very cold and unhealthful, consistent covering of fogs and mists. Not appropriate to live" - William Keys answered to his bosses so further steps on exploring Nilgiris have been stopped.

In 1818, J.C.Whish and N.W.Kindersly (Assistants to Coimbatore collector John Sullivan) travelled to Nilgiris via Dannayakkankottia, Denad) to catch tobacco smugglers.

They were unable to catch smugglers , they have returned to Comibatore with help of local people through Manjakombai).

They explained the beauty of Nilgiris to collector John Sullivan and he got impressed & wanted to visit.

In Janurary 1819, John Sullivan travelled from Dannayakkankottai then Denad and reached Dimhatti where they pitched their tents, visited nearby places & returned to Coimbatore.

In the same year, John Sullivan went up to the hills for twenty days along with other authorities and inspected many areas near Kotagiri.

In 1821, Ooty and near by areas were discovered. With approval from Madaras goverment, John Sullivan started to build road from Sirumugai - Kotagri - up to Dimhatti.

This path was opened in 1823 and this remained the best route from Coimbatore side till the Coonoor ghat road was made in 1832.

In the meantime, John Sullivan built a Bungalow " Stonehouse" for him which is the first building built by British in Nilgiris.

Ooty - Gudalur - Wayanad Ghats road was built in 1822-25.

Sir Thomas Munro ( then Governor of Madras) visited Nilgiris in 1826 and given approval for various developmental activities.

Firstly Sanatorium for Injured soldiers has been built, and few British families moved to Nilgiris.

In the 1830s, most of the parts of Nilgiris was transferred to the Malabar district to control tobacco smuggling between Malabar to Coimbatore.

Later those parts were merged with Coimbatore, but in 1868, Nilgiris was separated from Coimbatore and Mr.Breeks has been  appointed as Nilgiris Collector.

Further developments like Military Cantonment, Travelers Bungalow have been established. And Nilgiris became the summer capital of the Madras government from 1870.

Long waited Mettupalayam - Coonoor train was opened in 1899 and later it was extended up to Ooty in 1908.

Enormous developments happened in the tourism sector in the post-independence and Nilgiris is an unavoidable place for tourism and tea now.

We hope this video is useful to you, please drop your feedback in the comments section. 

Soon to meet you with another interesting article shortly. Thank  you for reading.