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The Valley of SilenceBy Ranjan S. Karippai
Silent Valley is known to shelter several endangered species of plants and animals such as orchids, lichens, mosses, ferns, flowering plants, mammals, birds, amphibians, fish and insects. It is a precious pristine piece of heritage to be passed on to posterity.
We can see and feel the glory of many rare, graceful herbs and flowers, wild orchids and endangered species around us in the valley. Malabar daffodil orchid Ipsea malabarica is highly endangered but most elegant, seen only here. Same is the case of Aerides crispa.
Out of the 315 species of animals recorded here by Zoological Survey of India, 28 species are new reports.
We can trek to the interior by walk, with prior permission, and enjoy the unique experience of being intimately with nature. Silent Valley whispers to us …lying with her long hair in the clouds, head up on the mountains, toes trailing to the Arabian sea through down far west coastal land… |
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TM
Silent Valley has never been silent. Its whispers echo
in my subconscious, kindling the urge to be there again and again, making me
feel the air with its fragrance and see the vivid colors of the greens and
flowers.
The lovely evergreen, humid tropical rain forest in
Kerala ( India ) is really a poem on earth for one who loves nature and
biodiversity. It is a piece of exceptional natural beauty of aesthetic
value, always in focus with its historical, ecological, economic and
emotional dimensions.
It made me realize that one can fall in love with a
forest…. a spontaneous and deep love with all tenderness, sentiments and
intellect involved, to carry the lingering images of ecstatic dance of
floral bunches, soft mist brushing the body and soul making moist and cool,
glare of the reflecting sun shine from the wet green leaves around, the
Great Hornbills flying fluttering their huge wings across the horizons
giving echoes in the valley….
Silent Valley is a piece of virgin forest in the core
area of Nilgiri Biosphere in Kundali hills of Western Ghats of south India.
Located between 11.00 and 11.15 N latitude and 76.15 and 76.35 E longitude,
it covers an area of 8952 hectares ( 90 Sq. Kms ). About 20 % is grass land
and the rest is dense rain forest with rare and diverse flora and fauna.
It is always cool and humid, the temperature goes up
to 20 degree Celsius in the hottest months of April- May.
Massive protests came out when there was an attempt to
construct a hydro-electric project in the river in Silent Valley three
decades ago. After a series of struggle by nature lovers, on 1984 November
15, the valley was declared as a totally protected National Park.
Locally known as Sairandhri Vanam, this land has
a connection with Hindu mythology of Mahabharatha. Sairandhri is another
name of Droupadi, the wife of five Pandava brothers. The forest is the place
where Pandavas lived for some time. The silvery stream of Kunthi river is
known after their mother Queen Kunthi.
Cicadas do not sing in this forest, as they are not
there. Hence this became Silent Valley, and a silently speaking inspiration
to all who love the mother nature.
Kunthi river originates in 2400 metres high at outer
rims of Nilgiris. It flows in glitters with tender waves and merging
tributaries, with all its serenity and virginity, untouched by man as any
river of the world could be.
It is calm and uniformly shallow, without any flood
plains or destructive water level fluctuations. 
Some of the major large mammals in the valet are Lion
Tailed Macaque( Macaca silenus), Nilgiri Langur( Presbytis johnii
), tiger, elephants. gaur, Nilgiri Tahr, sloth bear etc.
Local tribes around this area utilize many plants for
ethno medicines since time immemorial. Now, about 205 hectares of Silent
Valley are earmarked as Medicinal Plants Conservation Area.