Karanthamalai Hills, Natham, Dindigul
Karanthamalai is a picturesque village in the Perumalai
hill ranges of Dindigul District, Tamilnadu. Perumalai hills are part of the
Sirumalai range of Eastern Ghats, and the natural vegetation comprises dry
forests.
The villagers of Karanthamalai are cut off from the
world and lead life at their own quaint pace. Apart from treks to various
viewpoints, streams and reserve forests, we can get a taste of the rustic life.
Good possibility of seeing bison, variety of birds and small animals.
This location will be ideal for the Kids to learn about
the rural life of Tamilnadu. Beautiful view points with absolutely amazing view
of south side of Kodai. It’s a sort of photographer’s paradise. Karanthamalai Hills are located in the
reserved forest area. Numerous wild streams, waterfalls, picturesque landscapes
and viewpoints, dense forests dot this place. It is one the best place to spend
time from city life.
Ayyanar Temple
There is an Aiyanar Temple of this region worshipped by
the 12 villages and other nearby villages. 'Puravi Eduppu' is the festival that
will be conducted once in every 3 years for this temple.
Manthaiya Ayya Temple
Another temple located in front of a Village courtyard
is 'Manthaiya Ayya'. The people entering into the village will worship this
deity first.
Puravi Eduppu Festival
'Puravi Eduppu' is a festival beseeching the rain gods
for their mercy. This is the festival taken for the deity Karanthamalai Aiyanar
who protects the rural villages and their families. The festival of Aiyanar is
decided upon by the entire village. After the decision has been taken, the god
sometimes is consulted as well; he will answer e.g., through the "message
of salvation". Once the decision made for conducting the festival, with a
symbolic handful of earth from the temple the priest requests the potter
(Velar) to make the necessary statues.
The temple administration or the village pays for the
statues of the deities and some of the horses; the devotee commissions his/her
own votive offerings and pays for them. The potters also fashion the statues of
the deities and of other items, be they animals or parts of the human body
(legs, arms, eyes etc. offered in return for the healing of an illness). The
statues are whitewashed and then painted with colors. Large old clay (terracotta)
horses reaching a height of two meters and more are wonderfully molded and with
intricate decorations with Vestis, Flower garlands. Devotees decorate their
votive offerings themselves with flowers, pieces of cloths, balloons,
pin-wheels, mirrors, etc.
Over a padding of straw tied to the sides of the larger
statues, two wooden poles are fastened with which the statues can be carried.
The smaller statues are carried on the head or shoulder of a person. The horses
that are given to the god denotes status, strength, power and royal qualities. Once
the priest completes performing Puja for all the terracotta's, the clay statues
are then carried at a fast pace to the temple, where their eyes are opened and
where they receive a place in front of the old statues. This terracotta horses
seen inside the compound are given to the god in order to walk around his
territory on night time to assert and record its boundaries.
Connectivity
Karanthamalai Hills are located very near to Natham
Town. Natham has a bus stand, which is used by RMTC and private operators.
Natham city is well connected by Government & Private busses.
Chennai, Madurai, Melur, Trichy, Sivaganga, Mana Madurai,
Dindigul, Karaikudi, Kodaikanal, Theni, Kumuli (Kerala), Coimbatore, Tirupur,
Karur, Erode, Pudukottai, Pattukkottai, Aranthangi, Devakottai, Ponnamaravathi,
Ramanathapuram, Rameswaram, Virudhunagar, Nagoor, Velankanni, Thiruchendur and
all the neighboring districts are well connected to Natham.
Trichy Railway Station is located at a distance of 90 kms
from Natham, Madurai Railway Station is located at a distance of 40 kms
from Natham and Dindigul Railway Station is the nearest railway station located
at a distance of 33 km from the Natham city.
Madurai Airport is the nearest airport for Natham and it
is located at a distance of 45 kms. Trichy International airport is
located at a distance of 90 kms from Natham city.
