House for Sale near Rangammal Hospital

Information below about a modest one-bedroom house located off NH-66 and adjacent to Rangammal Hospital. The house has just been completed and is up for sale. 

Information about the house is as follows: 

15’ x 12’ Hall 180 sq.ft 

9.5’ x 13’ Bedroom 123.5 sq.ft 

7’ x 6’ Kitchen 42 sq.ft 

7’ x 7’ Verandah 49 sq.ft 

4.5’ x 13’ Bathroom 58.5 sq.ft 

Plot Size 1200 Sq. Ft. 60’ x 20’ 

The house has excellent darshan of Arunachala and is equipped with a very good water filtration system and bathroom with BATHTUB. For information about pricing and to be connected with the person dealing with this property, please send me a message via the Contact Form on the left side of this Blog. 

 

1 Bedroom House for Sale

Excellent Water Filtration System

House owner showing House, work just completed

Metal Staircase to Roof

Inside the House

Looking through house from Bedroom

Kitchen with quality Water System

Bathroom with Sink

Bathtub

Roof. Large Overhead Water Storage Tank

Arunachala Darshan from House Roof

Map of Arunachala. The 'X' marks area of House Location

Samudram Eri -- Sand Quarrying Devastation

The Samudram Eri is approximately 700 acres of poramboke land located south of Arunachala. It is indispensable to Tiruvanamalai in its function as a massive water catchment area during the monsoon season. From the Eri, a pumping system sends its water to other catchment areas such as Thamari Nagar Tank, which are essential parts of the Tiruvannamalai's water supply. 

The Samudram Eri has been a valued part of the ecological system of Tiruvannamalai for hundreds of years but sadly we are not treating it with the respect it deserves. Already Tamil Nadu has a severe water shortage, and it is truly madness to destroy the existing system we currently have in order to provide lucrative gains for the very few. 

About 10 years ago industrial level sand quarrying started in the Tiruvannamalai area. Previously the Eri was undisturbed except approximately every 15 years encroaching thorny bush cover was felled. This occurred again about 3 years ago, which unfortunately gave even greater unfettered access to heavy sand quarrying machinery on the Samudram Eri. 

About a month ago sand quarrying on the Eri was halted, as to whether or not it starts again, only time will tell. But for the well being and future of our children and grandchildren, it is hoped that we begin to treat our ever diminishing resources with greater respect. 

Just a small part of the Samudram Eri devastation

Sand quarrying has created massive holes throughout the Eri

Numerous quarries throughout are now interferring with the water table

Some of these unnatural lakes are 20-30 feet deep and many acres in size

Deforestated Eri will be turned into massive quarries if work recommences

View of private farms and forestated land at the edges of the Samudram Eri

View of trees on top of the Samudram Eri bund

Magnificent Banyan Tree on Bund -- wonder how long it will be standing?

Part of the Samudram Eri trying to recover from the massive deforestation which occured several years ago

The Wonderful Palmyra and Nungu Fruit

Borassus Flabellifer also known as the Asian Palmyra Palm, Toddy Palm, or Sugar Palm, is native to India and the official tree of Tamil Nadu. It is also known as the “Karpaha Veruksham” (Celestial Tree) because all its parts have a use. 

At Samudram Eri bund. Cluster of Palmyra Trees back right

Borassus Flabellifer is a robust tree which reaches to a height of up to 100 feet and lives more than 100 years. In the initial stage, the young Palmyra grows slowly, but grows faster with age. It has fan shaped leaves. Ringed with leaf scars, the large trunk of the tree bears a resemblance to that of the coconut tree. The fruit of the tree, in Tamil “Nungu” is also commonly known by the name “Ice Apple” which was originally coined by the British in India. The tender fruit resembles ice. Scoop out the contents and drop it in a glass of tender coconut water. Keep it in the refrigerator for 15 to 20 minutes and have a delicious drink. 

Palmyra Trees back left of Horse

The fruit of this tree is borne in clusters and is about 4 to 7 inches in diameter with a black shell. Inside the black shell are three sweet jelly seed sockets covered by a thin, yellowish-brown skin. The fleshy white body contains watery fluid; however the fibrous and ripened outer layer of the palm can also be eaten raw, boiled or roasted. 

Cluster of older, taller Palmyra Trees

The Nungu fruit is valued for its nutritional benefits. It is known to; prevent chicken pox, improve digestion, cool the body, good for acidity, acts as an anti-inflamatory, helps eliminate body toxins, useful as an expectorant and laxative, good for ulcers, liver and spleen disorders and prevents constipation in pregnant women. However when using palm fruit its important to use tender fruit, as over ripe fruits will be hard to digest and may cause stomach problems. 

Large number of unripe fruit in Female Tree

Once the Nungu fruit has been opened it does not last well, so should be used immediately. The fruit’s rapid fermentation over the course of a mere three hours is the main reason why villagers use Nungu as a fast, inexpensive and easy source of alcohol. The sap of the tree involves tapping the top shoots and collecting the dripping juice in hanging earthen pots. The freshly collected juice is very refreshing and not intoxicating but will quickly ferment into an alcoholic drink i.e. “toddy”. 

Male Palmyra Tree

The leaves of the Borassus Flabellifer are used for thatching, mats, baskets, umbrellas and writing material. Literature in ancient Tamil Nad was written in preserved Palm leaves known as Olai Chuvadi. The writing utensil was in the form of a sharpened iron piece called an Eluthani. 

The stem of the leaves of this Tree has thorny edges which can be used to construct fences by nailing the thorny edge leaves together. The skin of the stem can be peeled off and used as rope. All parts of the tree and fruit are utilised. 

Fully ripened Nungus

The Nungu season generally runs from May through August. Nungus turn a brilliant shade of deep, blackish purple when fully ripened. Full-sized fruits share the same size and shape of large eggplant, although their tough texture resembles a coconut. 

Cluster of ripe Nungus

If not intended for immediate consumption, choose to scoop out each section intact, with the tan, fibrous skin still encasing the pod. This preserves the life of Nungu (placed in a fridge) by a day or so. 

Each section has been scooped out intact. Water sac surrounded by fibrous covering

Video showing Opening Nungu Fruit

Compound at Vediappanur

The below photographs are of land available at peaceful and exclusive Vediappanur Road, near Adiannamalai Village, Tiruvannamalai. Size of the compound is 21800 Sq.Feet about 50 cents (half acre). Offers are invited for minimum purchase of 10900 sq.ft. or more. Plot is suitable for private residence or Trust. 

Compound at Vediappanur

House and Trees in Compound

The compound which has trees and a garden is located about 400 metres from the Girivalam roadway near Varunalingam. For information regarding price, please get in touch at the email address located left side of this page.

Jackfruit Tree

The Jackfruit (Palapazham in Tamil) is a species of tree of the genus of the Mulberry family. It is believed to have originated in the Indian southwestern rain forests. Archeological findings have revealed that the Jackfruit Tree was cultivated in India 3000 to 6000 years. Although the Jackfruit Tree is well suited to tropical lands, with careful tending it can also grow in Tiruvannamalai District. I first learnt of this surprising fact some years ago visiting a friend’s house and noticing a very handsome, fruit laden tree in their small compound situated near Thiruvoodal Street, near the busy part of town. 

The Jackfruit is a huge tree that grows to as high as 30 meters, higher than the mango tree. During the season, each tree may bear as many as 250 large fruits making them the largest tree-borne fruits in the world. The fruit varies widely in size and weighs from 3 to 30 kg, and has an oblong or round shape measuring 10 cm to 60 cm in length and 25 cm to 75 cm in diameter.

Jackfruit Tree

In South India two varieties of Jackfruit predominate: varikka and koozha. Varikka has a slightly hard inner flesh when ripe, while the inner flesh of the ripe koozha fruit is very soft and almost dissolving. 

The fruits’ outer surface is covered with blunt thorns like projections, which become soft as the fruit ripe. Its interior consists of orange-yellow coloured edible bulbs. Each bulb consists of sweet-flavored sheaths that enclose a smooth, oval, light-brown colour seed. 

The spiny outside reveals the fruit bulbs inside

The fruit is cut in a similar fashion as larger fruits like watermelon. White, gummy latex oozes from the cut ends even in ripe fruit but to a lesser extent than in the unripe ones. The latex problem can be overcome by applying coconut oil on the hands or by rubbing the cut sections with fresh cut lemon. The thick rind that runs through the middle of the fruit is then removed, and the whole section is twisted few turns in order to loosen individual bulbs. 

The seeds from ripe fruits are edible and said to have a milky, sweet taste. They may be boiled, baked or roasted. When roasted the flavor of the seeds is comparable to chestnuts 

Succulent Fruit

The wood of the Jackfruit Tree is used for the production of musical instruments, furniture, doors, windows and in roof construction. 

Seeds of Jackfruit with protective skins

This species can expand naturally because its fruit, once it falls to the ground and opens; is eagerly eaten by small mammals. The seeds are then dispersed by these animals, which allows the Jackfruit to compete for space with other tree species. 

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Jackfruit in Mythology 

Lord Shiva while on a hunt happened to hear a sweet voice in the jungle. He was surprised to find that it belonged to a tribal girl, "Koolivaka", a girl of immense beauty. The solitude of the forest area and beauty of the girl, made the Lord lustful. He informed Koolivaka of his wish and told her to wait for him until he returned from his hunt. 

Koolivaka, who was a devotee of Parvathi prayed to the Goddess to save her from the predicament of displeasing her by having a relationship with Lord Shiva. The Goddess revealed to Koolivaka that in a previous birth she was Mansawini, a servant in the retinue of the Goddess. One day the serving girl happened to breast-feed baby Lord Vinayaka. Parvati angry that a servant should feed her baby, cursed her to be born in a outcaste family. But to lessen the curse, Parvati set out that her servant while being fated to be born a chandala would get the opportunity to breast-feed the son of Shiva. 

Devi told the girl that she herself would take on the form of Koolivaka and deceive Lord Shiva. She also informed Koolivaka that the son born from the deceitful union would grow up to be the killer of Jalandhara, a powerful Asura. 

Thus the Goddess in the form of Koolivaka started swinging on a creeper attached to a Jackfruit Tree and waited for the arrival of Lord Shiva. A child with divine power was born through this holy union. Lord Shiva arranged a buffalo for the protection of the child. This divine child who came to be known as "Chathan" was given to Koolivaka to raise. Vishnu Maya or Chathan is a concept in Hinduism that refers to the power to create illusions. Koolivaka thus became the mother of Chathan, son of Lord Shiva fulfilling the boon of Parvathi. 

After spending years with Koolivaka, Chathan riding on a buffalo started on a journey to Kailas. When he was about to reach Kailas he realised that Nandikeshwara would not allow him to enter Kailas in his present form. So he took the form of Lord Vishnu. On seeing their son, Shiva and Parvathi were very happy and hugged him. Lord Shiva blessed him saying, "You invoked the form of Vishnu by Maya. So you will be known as Vishnu Maya." Fulfilling his destiny, Chanthan challenged the Asura Jalandhara to battle, and defeated him. After his victory, Chathan returned to his native place to live among the poor to who he offered his protection. 

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The Jackfruit is one of the three auspicious fruits of Tamil Nadu, along with mango and banana, known as the mukkani. These are referred to as ma-pala-vaazhai (mango-jack-banana). The three fruits (mukkani) are also related to the three arts of Tamil (mu-Tamizh). 

Silk Cotton Tree

Bombax Malabarica or Silk Cotton Tree (Ilavam, Pulai) is a genus of tropical trees of the Mallow family. It is a reddish, silky tree which belongs to the family of Malvaceae. The genus is best known for the species B. Ceiba which is widely cultivated throughout South Asia. As the tree does not fare well in arid climates, to grow in this area it needs careful attention. It can be seen at several areas at Tiruvannamalai. 

The Silk Cotton is a tall handsome tree which can grow up to a 100 feet in height. The tree forms a straight bole with horizontal or upward branches that grow in regular whorls, tier above tier, like a gigantic upside down candelabrum. The trunk and branches are usually covered with conical thorns especially when young. Thorns on older trees are often absent. 

The leaves of this tree fall off just before it flowers. The flowers are 6 to 7 inches long and are up to 7 inches wide. They are borne solitary or in clusters at or near the ends of the branches. The flower consist of five satiny, red, scarlet, or sometimes white petals. Intense blooming of this tree lasts around 29 days. The fruit contains small brown black seeds embedded in white cottonwool; when the trees’ pods burst open, the cotton is carried in the air and the seeds fall and propagate both by air layering and also by bird dispersal. 

This tree is immensely popular with many species of birds such as: Bulbuls, Mynahs, Sunbirds, Flower-peckers and Crows who are all attracted to the nectar of this trees’ flowers. 

Flowers in full bloom

The Red Silk Cotton has many valuable ethno medicinal and ayurvedic uses. 

Some of which include: 

Root: Diarrhoea, dysentery, diabetes, scorpion sting and snakebite, brain tonic 

Stem and Bark: Bacterial, viral, heart tonic, kidney stone, easy delivery 

Gum: Asthma, dental caries, scabies, dysentery 

Leaves: Glandular swellings, rheumatism Flower: Anemia, Colitis, internal bleeding 

Fruit: Anti-fertility agent Fruit and Heartwood: Anti-diabetic, snakebite Seed: Chicken pox and small pox Spines: Skin troubles, headaches 

This tree is also widely used commercially for timber, packing boxes, floating logs for fishermen and gum utilised in both the cosmetic and food industry. 

Photograph showing branch arrangement

There are many myths, legends and traditions associated with this large deciduous tree. In one such myth, the tree is said to be the tree of infernal region and the thorny appearance has led it to be called as Yamadruma, the tree of Yama (the Lord of Hell). Its cuplike flowers are considered sacred to Shiva. When the tree is in full bloom it is compared to Lakshmi, the goddess of good fortune, standing with her arms outstretched and a lit oil lamp on each palm. 

Red Vented Bulbul drinking Nectar

One myth of this tree can be found in the Mahabharata and goes like this: Tale of the Tree During their exile in the forest the Pandava brothers worked in the forest, hunting, clearing and gathering fuel. At night the wife of the Pandava brothers would massage one of her husbands after their heavy workday. One evening Bhima deciding to trick Draupadi, brought in a log of Semal (tree name in Hindi) wood to his room, put it in his bed and covered it. Bhima hid outside to watch the fun while someone called Draupadi to the room. 

Draupadi began massaging Bhima, remarking how tired he must be as his body and knotted muscles felt very hard. Continuing to massage her husband, Draupadi asked several times whether he was satisfied with her work. Receiving no answer and loosing patience, she finally snatched away the sheet off the form in the bed, and found that it had been covering not her husband Bhima, but a log of wood. She cursed the wood from that day onward that the wood would grow thorns always. 

After Draupadi left the room, her husband climbed back, picked up the log of wood and took it outside to open land and planted it. Whereupon it grew into a tall tree with thorns on its trunk. 

Hiking in Arunachala countryside

Even though the area close to the Hill is getting increasingly urbanised, there is still a plethora of unspoilt land in relative proximity to the Hill. The below photographs are of a day's hiking outing on land about eight kilometres southeast of Arunachala. From my house at the side of the Arunachala Samudra Eri, I can view hills in the distance and have always been eager to one day visit and investigate them. 

Goats are still very much part of the rural countryside

Farmer, with his bullock cart. Notice the electricity pylon in the background!

Pretty view from the Hills I was hiking

Land is Government Reserved Land

Rock formation on hills I can see from my own house

Inviting roadway taking me into Reserve Land

Spectacular Darshan of distant Arunachala

Acacia Arabica (Nilotica)

A tree which I commonly call ‘thorny bush,’ is very prevalent all around Arunachala. The indigenous variety of Acacia in these parts is, ‘Acacia Arabica—Karuvelamaram’ which is another name for the ‘Acacia Nilotica’. 

This tree which is popularly known as ‘Babool’ or ‘Babul’ in other parts of the country, is a small to medium tree, 7 to 13 metres tall, with a stem diameter of 20 to 30 centimetres. Its crown is low and spreads almost symmetrically. The bark is very dark brown to black with deep regular vertical grooves in older specimens. The thorns are almost straight, paired at the nodes of the stem and usually pointing slightly backwards. 

‘Acacia Nilotica’ is a slow-growing species but is moderately long-lived. The species will tolerate only light frost, but is extremely resistant to drought and heat. It is also tolerant of saline soil. Its particularly noted for its vigorous growth in seasonally flooded environments. This species can withstand extremely dry environments and can also endure floods. It thrives under irrigation however it is susceptible to a wide range of pests and diseases in native ranges.

‘Acacia Nilotica’ is multipurpose: it provides timber, fuel, shade, food, fodder, honey, dye, gum, fences as well as various environmental services including soil reclamation for degraded and eroded areas and barrier to desertification, soil fertilization, protection against fire and wind and a haven for biodiversity and ornament. It is widely used in ethno medicine. However it is considered a weed in some countries. This tree makes a good protective hedge because of its thorns. The tree's wood is "very durable if water-seasoned" and is used in the manufacture of tools and boats. Holosericea’ (see below) is here in India. 

‘Acacia Nilotica’ has a wealth of medicinal uses. It is used for stomach upset and pain, the bark is chewed to protect against scurvy, an infusion is taken for dysentery and diarrhoea. It has also been used to eliminate stomach worms, as an antiseptic for open wounds and as an expectorant for treating coughs. 

'Acacia Nilotica’ propagates by seeds carried in animal droppings or by direct seeding and is protected from severe grazing by the presence of long thorns. The pods are desirable as fodder for cattle, and the leaves, young shoots and young pods are thought to aid milk production. The leaves and fruits can be poisonous if eaten in large quantities. 

A serious limitation of this tree is that it is extremely invasive in exotic habitats. Ironically the ‘Acacia Nilotica’ which is regarded as a weed in Australia is as invasive and as damaging in that country, as their own import the ‘Acacia Holosericea’ (see below) is here in India.

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Below is an extract of a report which recently appeared in local newspapers about the dangers of the invasive import, the ‘Acacia Holosericea.’ 

Normally, environmentalists would give their voice for planting trees and not for cutting them. But an invasive tree species, Acacia holosericea, planted in Tiruvannamalai hill several years ago attract their ire. 

Colonies of these trees stand out among thick vegetation found in the southern slope of the hill as they have silvery phyllodes (flattened leaf stalk that looks like and acts as leaf). Real leaves of these trees are less in numbers and are short lived. Environmental activists, feel that the spread of this tree is detrimental to eco system and indigenous flora. Its is believed that Acacia Holosericea may be good in its native land, Australia, however, it becomes invasive in exotic conditions, like in India. 

It causes several problems. First, it spreads fast and dominate indigenous flora. Given a chance, it would eat into bio resources of the hill to a great extent. Second, phyllode litters strewn on the earth will not decompose easily, would not allow other plants to germinate from underneath and may contribute to easy forest fire. Hence these trees should be removed from forest, before its domination becomes irreversible as in Kerala and some other places. Previously it was grown in large numbers in Auroville but after it proved itself to be an invasive species people started destroying it. 

During seasons, parrots come in large numbers to feed on its seeds which exacerbate the vigorous spread of this tree. The popular opinion of NGOs and Forest officials is that the species of Acacia Holosericea is indeed problematic and can be removed.