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Gudalur in Tamil Nadu
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Gudaluris situated in a basin-like region (hence the name) of the famed Wynaad which extends as far as Kodagu in Karnataka and Upper Malabar in Kerala. The town lies on the Ooty-Mysore/Ooty-Calicut highway. It is 38 kms from Ooty; 100 kms from Mysore; 132 kms from Calicut via Meppadi and 116 kms from Nilambur. Headquarters of the taluk of the same name. Spread out on a splendid expanse of low plateau at an average elevation of a thousand metre, the physiography naturally differs root and branch and climate and contour from that of the uplands. The rich reserve of wildlife based in Masinagudi Mudumalai sector forms part of the Gudalur landscape.
An 8th century AD copper-plate Grant issued by the Ganga emperor Sripurusha mentions Gudalur and environs as containing lands fit for cultivation of rice and grains, garden lands and forest lands fit for the cultivation of drugs or pepper and as including fourteen villages. Whatever happened to this considerably important region is clearly not known; the Manthandan Chettis however have a vague recollection of an epidemic razing the habitatios to destruction. The present day town, begining from British times, and, more so, since Independence has evolved into what it is.
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How to reach
By Air - The nearby airport is Calicut Airport (79 kms) and Coimbatore (152 kms)
By Train - The nearest railway stations are Udhagamandalam (31 kms)
By Road - Gudalur is well connected by roads.
Bengaluru - Gudalur Road drive
Route - NH 948
Distance - 264 kms
Time - 5.5 hr
Places to See
Nambalakod
It is about 6 kms north of Gudalur town and here at an elevation 1070 m. lies the site of an old fort, known as Kottebettu or Numbalakottah. The place has a shrine of Beterayasamy ("Lord of the Hunts") and a sub-shrine built in Kerala style. The shrine-complex is under the tutelage of Nilambur 'janmi'(overlord) and probably is of considerable antiquity. The strategic importance of the site overlooking the whole of Wynaad must have had an interesting military history in the past.
Nelliyala
It is 20 kms away from Gudalur. The representatives of the Ummatur dynaty who ruled the uplands fled to this place in the 16th century. Badagas used to ritually acknowledge their presence even down to the last century. But this seat of authority was constantly under threat from various chieftains from the Malbar side. Ruins of the past in the vicinities have mostly disappeared now.
Nellakottai
It is 15 kms frm Gudalur commanding a prominent view immediately south of Benne forest tracks. A ruined and dilapilated fort site of yesteryears, a burried tank int the vicnity is legendarily associated with an extensive treasuretrove.
Pandalur
It is 24 kms from Gudalur. About a centtury ago the place boasted of a small race-course laid in the wake of unsucessful but hectic stirring up of activities in connection with the "golden boom" attempted mining gold in the vicinities. Earlier during pre-British times it used to be the seat of a local counters (Pandalur Rani). And much more earlier it was an important tribal sacred site.
Cherambadi/Cherankod
These are presently plantations centres respectively 35 km., 25 kms away from Gudalur. The names of the place indicate the historical association with the Chera Kingdom in the early ceturies of the present era and evidences for the same in ancient literary works are not altogether absent. The topography of the places also betray a buffer like setting of cultural and geographical delineation.
Tamil Nadu
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Capital city - Chennai
Ideal time to Visit - October to March.
A large part of the state being on the coastal edge of the country, the weather is tropical and sultry for most part of the year. The summer months of April, May, June are hottest where temperature ranges to 40 degrees.
December and January are the peak months for Chennai. The temp ranges from 20-22 degrees. To avoid peak rush October is better. The weather in these months is pleasant and easy to bear the humidity.
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