Munnar(HistoryMunnar(History))

www.brammahotels.comwww.brammahotels.com

HISTORYHISTORY

The Reconstruction of the road The Reconstruction of the road was started in 1891s and was was started in 1891s and was completed in the following completed in the following decade. In fact the road has a decade. In fact the road has a much older tale to tell. much older tale to tell.

The road that the local people The road that the local people showed the British was the showed the British was the remnants of a glorious past, Bits remnants of a glorious past, Bits and pieces of an ancient Royal and pieces of an ancient Royal Path that connected the historic Path that connected the historic port city of Musiris (Now port city of Musiris (Now Kodungallur) with the city of old Kodungallur) with the city of old Madurai. Madurai.

The road covered the Western Ghat-–The road covered the Western Ghat-–home to invaluable natural resources. home to invaluable natural resources. The history of trade through this The history of trade through this route traces back to the times before route traces back to the times before the Old Testament. There is enough the Old Testament. There is enough evidence suggesting the importance evidence suggesting the importance of the road and the city of Musiris in of the road and the city of Musiris in the history of ancient globalisation. the history of ancient globalisation.

The presence megaliths and so The presence megaliths and so many other historical monuments many other historical monuments point towards a civilisation over point towards a civilisation over 3000 years old. 3000 years old.

The ancient Pathway(road) was The ancient Pathway(road) was constructed in the Chera Era (300 BCE to constructed in the Chera Era (300 BCE to 250 CE). The road, which transported 250 CE). The road, which transported valuables including sandalwood and valuables including sandalwood and spices from the misty heights to Musiris, spices from the misty heights to Musiris, was once the backbone of an economy. was once the backbone of an economy. As trade in these items increased, As trade in these items increased, Feneshiya/Arab/Roman/Chinese traders Feneshiya/Arab/Roman/Chinese traders were attracted to India, and more were attracted to India, and more specifically Kerala. specifically Kerala.

The history of this trade route has The history of this trade route has been traced back to times before The been traced back to times before The Old Testament.Old Testament.

The road is a rather unique one. First, The road is a rather unique one. First, it runs almost parallel to the rivers it runs almost parallel to the rivers Periyar and Pooyamkutty. Second, it Periyar and Pooyamkutty. Second, it goes through an interesting ecological goes through an interesting ecological zone, one of the ecological hotspots of zone, one of the ecological hotspots of the world.the world.

Third, nobody has as yet traced the Third, nobody has as yet traced the ancient road in entirety. The reason ancient road in entirety. The reason being, the topography of the land being, the topography of the land has changed drastically over has changed drastically over centuries. The Great Flood in 1534 centuries. The Great Flood in 1534 almost wiped out the city of Musiris, almost wiped out the city of Musiris, destroyed the port and, as if in a destroyed the port and, as if in a quid pro quo, formed the natural quid pro quo, formed the natural contours enabling Cochin Harbour. contours enabling Cochin Harbour.

The course of the rivers was also The course of the rivers was also changed considerably, making it changed considerably, making it difficult to apprehend how the difficult to apprehend how the road, described as following the road, described as following the ancient river course, actually ancient river course, actually wound. wound.

However there is enough However there is enough evidence to show that the road evidence to show that the road existed and a civilisation existed and a civilisation prospered by the side of it. The prospered by the side of it. The remnants of old Forts, remnants of old Forts, Nannangadis, and Muniyaras Nannangadis, and Muniyaras (dolmens) around the region show (dolmens) around the region show the same. the same.

Please check : Please check :

http://http://www.brammahotels.comwww.brammahotels.com//