Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve - Equitable Tourism Options
Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve - Equitable Tourism Options
Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve - Equitable Tourism Options
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This is also known as 'Devarayapattinam', It was under the reign of<br />
Krishnadevaraya, the greatest Vijayanagar king, as found in an inscription of<br />
1527 AD. The Masanahalli village in the Devarayapuram of Waynad was<br />
given as gift to one of his local chieftains by name Krishna Raya Nayaka who<br />
was a close associate of Krishna Deveraya himself. The ruins of mud forts at<br />
Thottalingi, Arallathi and Sembanatham situated on the left bank of the Sigur<br />
river, and the hosts of cromlechs found with several parts of the village go to<br />
prove that the place was of far greater importance. Near the ruined fort at<br />
Sembanatham, is found a small shrine dedicated to Basaveswaraswamy.<br />
Masinagudi is claimed to have been one of the capitals of the whole of the<br />
Waynad and was an important centre of business and authority. The whole<br />
area is covered with thick jungle teeming with wild animals and elephants.<br />
The forest reserves have now been annexed to the Mudumalai Wildlife<br />
Sanctuary.<br />
The work on the Moyar hydro electricity scheme, which commenced in 1946,<br />
has provided for the employment of more than 15,000 persons, who were<br />
housed in the camps built at Masinagudi and Moyar. The forest ofthe area is<br />
rich sandalwood and other minor forest produces such as honey, wax,<br />
gallnuts, tamarind, soap·nut seed, pungam seeds, etc.<br />
The place is suited for mulberry cultivation and as such the Government of<br />
Ta mil Nadu maintains a silk farm here. There is a tourist bungalow<br />
maintained by the Highways Department. The Forest Department also has a<br />
rest house here. The village has a Police Station, post office and high school.<br />
It is the headquarters of the Forest Range Officer, Masinagudi. In 1950,the<br />
village was constituted as a Panchayat.<br />
Ecology of Masinagudi<br />
Masinagudi is strategically located in <strong>Nilgiris</strong> <strong>Biosphere</strong> <strong>Reserve</strong>, which is<br />
declared as a part of the International Network of <strong>Biosphere</strong> <strong>Reserve</strong>s by the<br />
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (U N ESCO)<br />
programme. The majority of Nilgris <strong>Biosphere</strong> <strong>Reserve</strong> (NBR) spreads over<br />
in Tamilnadu to the tune of 2237.6 sq kilometres. In Tamilnadu there are two<br />
National Park/Protected Areas. They are Mukurthi and Mudumalai.<br />
Masinagudi is 6 Km away from Mudumalai and this also gives tourist<br />
attraction and much value to Masinagudi.<br />
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