Millet cultivation in Tiruvannamalai District

 

Paddy farmers are being encouraged to increase the area of millet cultivation by switching to growing millet throughout the District. As well as being more sustainable in this hot climate (millet cultivation requires one third of the water used for paddy), it is also becoming an increasingly sought after cereal in a growing health conscious market. There are many different kinds of millet, which all have similar health benefits.

In particular farmers have been asked to cultivate:—

• Finger Millet (Ragi or Kezhvaragu)
• Little Millet (Saamai)
• Kodo Millet (Varagu)
• Foxtail Millet (Thinai)
• Barnyard Millet (Kudhiraivaali)
• Proso Millet (Pani Varagu)

Millet is an easier crop to cultivate with a narrow chance of pest attacks and plant disease. The Pest Management Centre advises farmers to restrict the use of pesticides when growing millet. In Tiruvannamalai, "little Millet," (Saamai) is currently the most favoured Millet to be under cultivation.

Millet

Millet is gaining popularity worldwide because of how easy it is to grow and how adaptable it is as a food. It has been under cultivation across Asia and Africa for thousands of years; used to make bread and cereal and is widely used as an alternative to wheat or other grains.

 

Health Benefits

The vitamins, minerals, and fibre found in millet can provide important health benefits. Potassium found in millet helps kidneys and heart functions and helps the nerves transmit signals, which allows the brain and muscles to work together smoothly. Millet is also a great source of B vitamins which plays a role in brain function and healthy cell division and the reduction of tiredness.

 

In addition, millet is connected to a lower risk of heart disease as its dietary fibre helps to control cholesterol. It also has a low glycemic index which means it has lower levels of simple sugars and higher levels of complex carbohydrates, which take a longer time to digest. As a result, eating millet—instead of high glycemic index foods like white wheat flour—can help people living with diabetes manage blood sugar levels. 

 

The fibre in millet also helps support digestive health as insoluble dietary fibre is “prebiotic,” meaning it helps support the good bacteria in the gut. Eating enough fibre has also been linked to a decreased risk of colon cancer.

To learn more about Millet in India go to this link here.

 

Fears over Chennai-Salem highway project

Below I have posted an abridged narrative recently appearing in The Hindu newspaper at this link here about the contentious proposed Chennai-Salem highway project. 

"The project to develop a six/eight-lane greenfield highway connecting Chennai and Salem has drawn flak from farmers and environment activists in Tiruvannamalai. They say a major portion of the corridor that runs through the district will end up destroying both agricultural land and forest areas. 

As per a pre-feasibility report, the proposed alignment for the access-controlled Chennai-Salem greenfield highway will start near the Chennai Outer Ring Road junction and pass through Kancheepuram, Tiruvannamalai, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri and Salem districts. This was part of the Central government’s scheme to develop economic corridors, inter corridors, feeder corridors and national corridors to improve the efficiency of freight movements in India under ‘Bharatmala Pariyojana’. 

The highway is for a total distance of 277.3 km. It runs through Tiruvannamalai for an approximate length of 123.90 km, starting from Cheyyar to Neepathurai. 

Federation formed 

This project to be carried out by National Highways Authority of India is facing stiff opposition from farmers and environment activists in Tiruvannamalai district. Nearly 13 organisations, including farmers associations, a few political parties, advocates and environment-based NGOs, have joined hands to form a federation against the project. They have started reaching out to villagers and farmers who will be affected. 

“Nearly 92 villages will be affected if this highway project is implemented. Several thousand acres of agricultural lands and hundreds of farm wells will be affected. A major portion of this highway that is coming up at an estimated of Rs.11,000 crore will run through reserve forest areas,” said a representative of the Communist Party of India, Tiruvannamalai. 

No use for farmers 

Several lands in Cheyyar and Vandavasi will bear the maximum damage. “We have visited and surveyed 129 villages and have found that at least 600 to 750 agricultural wells that are being used now will be affected. We depend more on water in agricultural wells for irrigation here. Some farmers will lose at least eight to 10 acres of land each. This highway is going to be of no use for farmers or residents. It is to only facilitate mining and transportation of iron ore from Kavuthi and Vediyappan Hills in Tiruvannamalai and Kanjamalai in Salem.” A spokesman said. 

The project has revived the opposition that was registered against iron ore mining in Kavuthi and Vediyappan Hills during 2003, 2009 and 2014. “We do not want a road that will destroy forests, hills and agricultural lands. This project does not have many link roads for the benefit of public,” said an advocate and chief co-ordinator of the federation. 

The federation has approached villagers and have asked them to pass resolutions opposing the project during the ‘grama sabha’ and special ‘grama sabha’ meetings. According to a pre-feasibility report, part of the project stretch passes through five Reserve Forests in Tiruvannamalai. It has noted that the exact length of affected forest area will be calculated after a joint inspection with the Forest department. In fact, an official source said that one of the Reserve Forests—Ravandavadi Reserve Forest in Chengam Forest Range; has thick forest area. 

Clearance needed 

An official of the Forest Department said the proposed highway that passes through the five Reserrve Forests should get clearance under the Forest Conservation Act. 

“The project implementing agency should upload the details on the forest clearance website. Following this, the District Forest Officer will conduct an inspection and give remarks. It will go through several committees,” the official said. 

The largest stretch of the proposed highway is in Tiruvannamalai District.A special unit for land acquisition will be set up following which there will be public hearings where people can air their views."

New Express Highway puts Local Forests in Danger

As recently reported in State Newspapers at the end of March, 2018, the development of a proposed new Express Highway will put local forests in Danger.

About 100 hectares of reserve forest land in Tiruvannamalai, Dharmapuri and Salem districts will be destroyed to make way for the proposed Rs 10,000-crore Chennai-Salem Green Corridor Express Highway project. The sprawling 100 hectares of forest land identified for the project include thick forest cover in 16 reserve forest areas along Arani, Polur, Chengam, Sathanur, Tiruvannamalai, Therthamalai, Harur and North Shevaroy ranges in northern district of Tamil Nadu.

The reserve forest areas are Siruvanjur in Chengalpattu forest range, A Pinjur in Sathanur, Sorakolathur in Tiruvannamalai, Nambedu in Arani, Alialamangalam in Polur, and Munnarmangalam, Anandavadi and Ravandavadi in Chengam range, Puvampatti and Puvampatti Extension in Theerthamalai forest range, Nonanganur and Pallipatti Extension in Harur ranges in Dhamapuri district; Manjavadi Ghat and Jarugumalai in Shervaroy North range in Salem district.

The National Highways Authority of India assessed that about 100 hectares of forest land in reserve forest area would have to be destroyed for the green corridor express project. “In addition to this, out of 274.3 km road, a total of 23 km road has to be laid in reserve forest land that pass through 16 forest villages,” said the communication.

The National Highways Authority of India also urged the State government to identify alternative land for the forest department in the neighbhouring vicinity and also sought the government to accord early clearance from the forest department.

The reserve forest area is home to hundreds of animals and several bird species, besides functioning as lungs for villages in Northern Tamil Nadu. Environmentalists in Tiruvannamalai district had already opposed the move and sought details on the number of trees to be destroyed and other possible environmental damage the project could cause.

• About 100 hectares of reserve forest land in Tiruvannamalai, Dharmapuri and Salem districts to make way for the highway project

• To reduce 57 km travel distance between Chennai and Salem, MORTH proposed Rs 10k crore project

• Total of 2343 hectares of land to be acquired

To read the full narrative of this article please go to this link here.

To read a fuller narrative go to this link here.

Real Estate Market

The below is an extract of an article which recently appeared in an Indian National newspaper and could be of interest to those building and renting in the Tiruvannamalai area. In previous years many investors have built homes in this place, with the idea of renting to either middle class Indian earners or visitors from overseas. However with recession prevalent in many Western countries and a resulting decline in the number of visitors to this country, it is perhaps important for the Tiruvannamalai property investor to remember that prices should reflect the purchasing/rental power of the buyer/renter. 

Oversupply affects real estate 

High price points and sticky borrowing costs have weakened buyer sentiment in the commercial and housing markets but realtors hope that since pent-up demand has increased over the three year slowdown in demand the first quarter of 2014 could see an upturn. 

However for now there are about 11.09 million homes lying vacant in 2012-13 according to the Ministry of Housing and urban poverty alleviation. In the commercial space vacant premises range between 12-22 per cent in different cities, according to property analysts. 

Specialists in real estate have noticed a decline during the third quarter in 2013, as corporations focused on consolidating and downsizing their real estate portfolios, and/or relocating to peripheral markets. 

While this has contributed to rental stability in most markets in recent months, subdued demand and high vacancy levels led to a steep decline in office space supply during the last quarter, weighing on future investment plans. 

Even investments in the real estate sector have slowed down across segments, resulting in stagnant construction activity. 

House Construction Costs

Many people interested in purchasing houses in the Tiruvannamalai area, are under the mistaken belief that house prices will reflect this rustic area. Nothing could be further from the truth. In Tiruvannamalai and what is regarded in State demographics as a "backward area," prices are in no way backward. Unfortunately even though building artisans and workers are now demanding salaries comparable to the metro areas of Chennai, their standard of work is no better than one would expect of a quiet village spot. Thus it is commonplace for people with the financial means to actually import craftsmen from Chennai, Pondicherry and Kerala for various projects including house building, bamboo work, and speciality crafts such as lime work and mud work. 

The photograph of the recently completed house shows a newly constructed home of 720 sq feet (compound size 900 sq ft) built from standard material that cost a staggering Rs.10 Lakhs (not including plot cost). A house of comparable size and material could have been built even three years ago at a cost of only Rs.6 Lakhs. The increase in material cost and wages has now made the price of house construction in this area start from a low of Rs.1,000 a square foot to up to Rs.2,000 a square foot for homes made from with more expensive materials. 

Act for Seed & Food Freedom

There is already a link on Arunachala Land for the website of Dr. Vandana Shiva. If you are interested in the agricultural independence of India, visit her website to find out more about the excellent work her organisation is engaged in regarding the protection of biological diversity. The organisation Navdanya is actively involved in the rejuvenation of indigenous knowledge and culture and in creating awareness of the hazards of genetic engineering. It is also in the forefront of defending people's knowledge from biopiracy and food rights in the face of globalisation and climate change. 

As well as the website there is also a Navdanya Blog with regular updates and information at this link here. 

Traditional farming in South India

Navdanya is a women centred movement for the protection of biological and cultural diversity. The organisation has recently been engaged in a civil movement (October 2nd to October 16th, 2013) known as the “Act for Seed and Food Freedom”.

For information on this, watch Dr. Vandana Shiva’s below Video.

Leaders of Big Agriculture are determined that world's populations remain ignorant about the serious health and environmental risks of genetically modified crops and industrial agriculture. Deep layers of deception and corruption underlie both the science favoring GMOs and the Corporations and Governments supporting them. 

Watch the below video, “Seeds of Death,” which exposes the truth about GMOs and pulls back the curtains to witness the planet's future if Big Agriculture's new green revolution becomes the dominant food supply. 

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). 

Tamarind Tree

The name Tamarind is derived from the Arabic word, Tamar-Hind meaning Indian Date. The Indian Tamarind Tree (Tamarindus Indica) known as “Puli” in Tamil is a member of the Leguminosae family. It grows throughout India and can live to be 200 years or even more. It can be seen in great numbers around Tiruvannamalai, lining the thoroughfares and roadways leading into the town. 

The Tamarind tolerates a great diversity of soil types, from deep alluvial soil to rocky land and porous, limestone. It also withstands salt spray and can be planted close to the seashore. This tree can be grown just about anywhere and also because of its deep root system, can withstand the hot summer days of South India very effectively. 

Gathering Tamarind Fruit

It is a large, handsome, evergreen tree with symmetrically spreading branches. The trunk is thick and short and the bark rough, almost black, and covered with long cracks. The leaves are separated into green fringed stems and pale yellow three-petalled flowers cluster in small bunches around the leaves. Flowers appear in May and the seeds are encased in sweet-sour tasting pulp covered with a scaly rind. The fruit of the Tamarind which hang from the branches begin as a pale green and as the fruit matures turns into a dark, shiny brown. 

In South India, the tree is grown in the precincts of temples to the Mother Goddess who battles evil spirits at night. People avoid walking near Tamarind trees in the dark and locals believe that the neighbourhood in which the Tamarind tree grows becomes unwholesome, and that it is unsafe to sleep under it owing to the acid the tree emits during the moisture of the night. Another superstition about the Tamarind is that few plants will survive beneath it and that it is harmful to both people and animals to sleep under it, because of the belief of the corrosive effect that fallen leaves from the tree have in damp weather. 

Roadway entering Tiruvannamalai

Maybe because of the supposed health dangers attributed to the tree, there also exists the common village superstition that the Tamarind attracts ghosts. For this reason it is uncommon to see this tree planted on private land. It is more often seen on the sides of public roads, where it provides effective, cooling shade to travellers. In Hindu lore the tree symbolizes the wife of Brahma, the creator. One of the most famous Tamarind tree in India is in Gwalior, where it stands over the tomb of Emperor Akbar’s musician Tansen. The legend goes that all classical singers should eat some leaves of this tree to make their voices as sweet as his.

One popular legend connected to this Tree concerns Rama from the Ramayana epic and is believed to date from the 4th Century B.C., goes like this. While in exile Rama, Sita and Laxman were camping under the tree and Sita was cooking food. In those days the Tamarind tree had large leaves but still could not keep raindrops from disturbing Sita and putting out the fire. In anger Rama ordered Laxman to shoot an arrow of protest to Lord Indra, the rain god. The arrow pierced the leaves and they were divided into tiny parts that exist to this day.

There is another story as to why the leaves are divided. Orissa tribal legend states that Bhima had a plantain tree with large leaves and Rama planted a Tamarind tree also with large leaves. In a jealous fit of rage Bhima sent a parrot to break up the Tamarind leaves into tiny parts and so they are to this day. Yet another legend associates the Tamarind tree with Shiva, Parvati and Usha. Usha was so busy playing with Lord Ganesha that she ignored the presence of Lord Shiva who became enraged and cut of his son, Lord Ganesha’s head. The frightened Usha hid in a barrel of salt where she was discovered by Parvati and accused of neglecting Lord Shiva and was cursed to be born on Earth as the daughter of Banasura. Usha begged for forgiveness but the curse could not be revoked. Parvati granted a boon that in her honour, instead of taking salt during the month of Chaitra, people would drink the juice of the fruit of the Tamarind tree and so it came to be. 

Tamarind Tree, Arunachala background

In northern parts of India, the Tamarind tree is associated with Lord Krishna. ‘Imli-tala’ is a sacred Tamarind tree located in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh. It is believed to date back to Lord Krishna’s time. Legend has it that the tree was cursed by Radhrani. One day when she was walking to meet Krishna, she stepped on the thick bark of a ripe Tamarind fruit and it cut her foot. This made her late for her meeting with Lord Krishna. She therefore cursed the tree that its fruits would never ripen. Even today, the fruits of this tree fall down before getting fully ripened.

Village Tamarind Tree

The acidic pulp of the fruit of the Tamarind is used extensively in cooking and food preparation in South India. Leaves, flowers, wood, fruity pulp and seeds are all useful and the tree is utilised in myriad ways throughout India. Tamarind has been used in India from the most remote times against scurvy and is known for its effectiveness against mouth and throat infections. The seeds have industrial as well as medicinal uses. The leaves also yield a yellow dye to colour fabrics. The wood is strong and is used to make wheels for carts and for furniture. 

Tamarind Pods on Tree

Valued as an antidote to heat stroke, tamarind pods are often preserved in salt and sold by weight. The whole plant has medicinal virtues. Its leaves are cooling while bark and seeds are astringent, a tonic and reduces fever. Poultice made from the bark heals open sores. Paste of powdered seeds is applied on boils and in chronic diarrhea and dysentery. Decoction of the leaf is useful in jaundice. Leaf paste helps reduce swelling and pain on inflamed joints. The fruit pulp is digestive, cooling and laxative. In modern, mainstream medicine it is used in the manufacture of a variety of drugs with uses ranging from treating intestinal worms to antiseptics, antiviral and antibacterial agents. 

Various parts of the Tamarind

To learn more about this remarkable tree go to this post here:

Frangipani

The Pagoda Tree, known as ‘Ezha Chempakam’ (genus Plumeria), is found throughout Tiruvannamalai District. This plant more often known by its more common name of Champa or Frangipani, can grow to a height of five to six metres and has low, narrowing straight branches with broad lance-shaped leaves. The plant is sometime leafless but is rarely out of bloom. Profuse flowering, which form in clusters at the tip of branches, take place throughout the year. It is a quick-growing, medium-sized, deciduous tree. 

The name, Frangipani, comes from the Italian nobleman, Marquis Frangipani, who created a perfume used to scent gloves in the 16th century. When the Frangipani flower was discovered its natural perfume reminded people of the scented gloves, and so the flower was called Frangipani. Another version has it that the name, Frangipani, is from the French Frangipanier which is a type of coagulated milk that the Plumeria milk resembles. The name, Plumeria, is attributed to Charles Plumier, a 17th Century French botanist and traveller throughout the world 

Less Common hereabouts, the Rubra Frangipani

Plumeria flowers are most fragrant at night in order to lure moths to pollinate them. The flowers have no nectar, however, and simply dupe their pollinators. The moths inadvertently pollinate them by transferring pollen from flower to flower in their fruitless search for nectar. In India the Frangipani is a symbol of immortality because of its ability to produce leaves and flowers even after it has been lifted out of the soil and for this reason is often planted near temples and graveyards. Frangipani won't burn except in extreme temperatures (over 500 degrees). 

Alba variety most common at Arunachala

Hindus consider it one of the holiest trees and plant it near temples with the flowers being offered to the deity. The tree is considered sacred to Kamadeva, the God of Love, and it is inauspicious to cut it. In Hindu culture this flower represents loyalty and is often used in wedding rituals. It is also believed to have a calming influence on the mind, and is utilised in various Ayurvedic concoctions. 

Pure White Frangipani

Many stories are associated with this beautiful plant. In “1001 Arabian Nights” there is a story of this plant which involves the tale of two sisters jealous of their younger sibling, check this link for the story. 

Another story related to this beautiful plant appears in the Vishnu Purana; it is entitled “The Seven Princes,” and the story goes thus: 

There once lived a King with two wives. The older, senior wife was cruel and greedy, the junior wife who was mute, was tender and gracious. The first wife was struck with extreme jealously when she learnt that the younger wife was pregnant and made a plan to kill the child to protect her position of authority. In the King’s absence from his capital, the older Queen stole the son born in his absence and then killed and buried it. In place of the newborn child she substituted a monkey in the baby crib. 

The King was shocked to learn on his return that his young Queen had given birth to a monkey, but because of his love for her, he did not banish her, and the junior consort, continued to live at the palace. 

In the following years, the younger Queen gave birth to seven sons and a daughter. Each time, the older Queen found a pretext to send the King away and each time she substituted a monkey for the baby. The eight children were killed and buried outside the palace wall. Even his great love for the junior Queen couldn’t prevent the King’s horror and unhappiness and swayed by the continual poisonous words of the older Queen, the King finally banished the innocent young girl to a hut outside the palace wall. 

Over the years outside the hut appeared seven beautiful trees with fragrant flowers and a smaller more delicate tree. The large trees were named Champa and the little one Parul. The trees with fragrant flowers became famous throughout the Kingdom. However the only person able to pick flowers from the trees was the young Queen. The King on hearing of the wondrous flowers of fragrant scent commanded his gardener to pick blooms for the palace, but when the gardener approached the trees, the smaller one (Parul) called out that the King himself should come to pick the flowers from any of the eight trees. 

The King with his senior wife went to the garden to learn the truth of the gardener’s story. As soon as the trees saw the senior Queen, they called out, “Murderer!”, and shouted out that their mother was the young, junior Queen. In the face of such allegations, the older Queen confessed her dire sins and was immediately banished from the Kingdom. 

Thereupon the King brought his younger Queen back to the palace. The Champa and Parul trees were brought into the Queen’s garden and both the King and Queen treated them like their children for the rest of their lives. 

Erythrina Indica – Coral Tree

The Erythrina Indica tree outside my house is currently in bloom and looks glorious. Erythrina Indica (Indian Coral Tree; Tamil = Kalyana Murungai) is a species of the genus Erythrina which contains approximately a hundred trees and shrubs. Erythrina is from the Greek word erythros, meaning red in allusion to the colour of the bloom and Indica to its country of origin. This tree which is commonly found throughout Tiruvannamalai District, is cultivated as a support for various climbing plants (particularly the betel leaf). As it is also an excellent nitrogen fixer, the Erythrina Indica is often planted in fields to improve yield.

Most resplendently adorned tree

The leaves of this tree fall once a year and is followed by the blooming of beautiful scarlet blossoms. This tree will now attract a multitude of bird visitors to its wonderful coloured leaves. Salim Ali in his, “the Book of Indian Birds,” positively identifies the Erythrina Indica as a tree with its seeds and brightly coloured leaves, that is strongly favoured by birds. When in bloom, the tree's scarlet red flowers attracts; crows, mynas, babblers, starlings and green parrots to feed upon the nectar inside the flower and thereby pollinate the tree. To view Salim Ali’s list of Indian trees favoured by birds, go to this link here. 

Wonderfully vivid scarlet flowers

This highly valued ornamental tree has been described as one of the gems of the floral world. It grows along the coastal and inland districts in deciduous forests. The Indian Coral Tree can reach sixty feet height and spread twenty feet. It has stout branches armed with black tiger's claw spine and curved prickles on its long leaf stalks. Though the timber of the tree is light and soft, it is durable when heavy woods are deemed unsuitable. 

Asian Pied Starling feeding on the flower

Tree Species for Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu Forest Department has listed the below trees species as highly suitable for cultivation in Tiruvannamalai District. To find out more about tree research in the forests of Tamil Nadu, go to this link here.

Right click on photographs to view enlargement. Under each photograph right click on tree name to be guided to relevant link with additional information on that particular tree.

Anthocephalus Cadamba

Khaya Senegalensis

Ailanthus Excelsa, Tree of Heaven

Melia Dubia, Golden Neem

Casuarina Junghuniana

Melocanna Baccifera

Alstronia Scholaris, Devil Tree

Albizia Richardiana

Acrocarpus Fraxinifolius, Pink Cedar

5 acres near Perubakam

This land is located about 2 kms from the rustic area of Perubakkam.

The 5 acre patta agricultural land is located from Arunachala by road about 7-8 kms and as the bird flies, about 5-6 kms from the Hill.There is a good direct access road to the land.

The land in this posting is 5 acres and adjacent to a small Temple Shrine dedicated to the Goddess. Also adjacent to the land is the start of a large tract of protected reserve forest.

Edge of well viewing boundary with
Temple and priest cottage

The land is owned by a lady who has not cultivated due to personal circumstances. The land has a well and plentiful sweet water.

For information as to pricing, please get in touch at the ‘contact me’ facility on this blog.