Adventure Hiking in Agastyamala

 
     
 

The Agastyamala recognized as a center of plant diversity and famous for plant richness [ WWF & IUCN 1995] .Agastyakoodam , a legendary herbal mountain in peppara wild life sanctuary 80 km east of Trivandrum is considered a treasure trove of medicinal herbs. It is here that Agastya, the great sage developed the sidha system of medicine. Eight percent of the plant species found here are native to the region. The healing system that has originated from this mystic mountain gave birth to a potent branch of Ayurveda in kerala.Agastyamala is one of the 25th biological hot spot of the world. This mountain and the surrounding western ghat is 1800 meter above sea level , constitute a hot bed of biodiversity.

 
     
     
 

FOREST TYPES

 
     
 
Moist deciduous forest
  
 
 
     
 
The moist deciduous consists of teak bearing forests, patches of evergreen forests extends into these moist deciduous forests.
  
     
 
Semi-Evergreen forest
  
 
 
     
 
West coast semi evergreen forests are generally considered as a traditional stage between evergreen and moist deciduous forests. The forest occur between 600 – 800 m and in some places it extends upto 900m
  
     
 
West coast tropical evergreen forest
  
 
 
     
 
These are dense evergreen forests with lofty trees of 45 m or more height. A large number of species occur and seen mixed together. This makes the canopy extremely dense , ferns, mosses and orchids are plenty. Below the canopy we can see cane , creeping bamboo and palms
  
     
 
Southern hilltop evergreen forest
  
 
 
     
 
These are usually seen on the slopes and tops of the hills. It is an inferior variety of the typical evergreen forest, reaching to a maximum height of 10 meter.
 
     
 
Wet montane evergreen forest
  
 
 
     
 
The montane evergreen forests are diverse , multistoried and rich in epiphytes with a canopy at 15 – 20 m .
  
     
 
Montane grass land
 
 
 
     
 
The montane shola grass land complexes occur above 1300 m.These consists of stunded montane forests surrounded by fire and frost resistant grasses. Montane grass and shrub land is a biome defined by the world wildlife fund.The characteristic plants of these habitats display adaptations such as rosette structure , waxy surface and hairy leaves
 
     
 
Southern wet temperate or shola forest
  
 
 
     
 
These occur at an altitude of about 1600 m above sea level or higher . Trees show stunted growth with spreading canopy , twiggy branchlets , and foliage of different colours . Several species of bees , wasps and ants are found in shola forests. The flora shows special characteristics as they have to adapt to extreme climate and winds. The branches of shola trees are colonized by a variety of species , many of them getting their water supply from the condensing mist . They will include mosses , ferns and other epiphytes besides woody climbers
  
     
 
MYSTERIES OF THE AGASTYAMALA
  
 
Agastyamala is also a home to the KANIS , one of the oldest surviving anicient tribes in the world. They belives that Pygmy elephants are present  in the rocky terrain of higher elevations. The Pygmy variety of these elephants are called Kallana or Thumbiana by the tribes.It is said that these elephants will grow only a maximum height of about 1.5 meters. Resembling the normal big elephants, these dwarf elephants can easily be distinguished from baby elephants of normal variety. Very lucky people will only see these pygmy elephants in the forest
  
     
 

Kerala forest department’s permission is required for hiking.Ladies are not permitted for the above trip .

 
   
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