Mathikettan Solai, Kodaikanal
This forest patch near Berijam Lake is significant as
one of the largest contiguous sholas in the upper Palani’s. The name
itself is curious as it is roughly translated from Tamil as “shola where
one looses oneself.” Having had firsthand experience of being thoroughly lost
in Mathikettan on past occasions, the name is fitting.
There has been dramatic change in the Berijam Lake and
Mathikettan areas since the 1970s when the area’s montane grasslands were
extensively planted with exotic tree species. Walking along the escarpment to
the break off point of the old Berijam Ridge hike is enchanting.
The state of grasslands here is quite precarious with
wattle and eucalyptus spreading into areas that were never historically
planted. There has been significant change and a notable decrease in the
cliff-side grasslands.
There are important patches of grasses surviving amongst
the plantations and there is good scope for restoration work along the cliff
edge. Along the way there were also
numerous Rhododendron arboreum trees in bloom with their
unforgettable riot of red flowers. Mathikettan Shola itself is in fine shape
with no apparent disturbance. There was even a spray of Calanthe
triplicata ground orchids in flower - unusual for a flower that usually
blooms during the South West Monsoon.
There were also significant numbers
of shola pioneer species (Daphniphyllum neilgherrense etc.)
invading the wattle and eucalyptus forests. This seems to confirm an observed
trend of shola species recolonizing non-native plantations that have
taken over montane grasslands.
