Kumily
Kumily | |
|---|---|
town | |
Tea plantations at Kumily | |
Kumily Location in Kerala, India Kumily Kumily (India) | |
| Coordinates: 9°37′0″N 77°9′0″E / 9.61667°N 77.15000°E | |
| Country | India |
| State | Kerala |
| District | Idukki |
| Taluk | Peerumedu |
| Named after | Thekkady tourist spot |
| Government | |
| • Type | Panchayati raj (India) |
| • Body | Kumily Grama Panchayat |
| Area | |
• Total | 816.73 km2 (315.34 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 880 m (2,890 ft) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
• Total | 35,915 |
| • Density | 43.974/km2 (113.89/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Malayalam, English[2] |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 685509 |
| Area code | 04869 |
| Nearest City | Kattappana, Nedumkandam, Kottayam |
| Assembly constituency | Peerumedu |
| Lok Sabha constituency | Idukki |
Kumily, also spelt as Kumaly (Malayalam: [kumɐɭi]) is a revenue village and Gram Panchayat in the Idukki district of the state of Kerala. It is a town in Cardamom Hills near Thekkady and Periyar Tiger Reserve and a well frequented tourist destination.[3] Kumily is a border town of Kerala adjacent to Tamil Nadu.[4]
Etymology
The name "Kumily" is derived from the Malayalam term kumizh (Malayalam: കുമിഴ്), meaning "bubble" or "spring," likely referring to natural water sources in the Cardamom Hills. The area was historically known as part of the Peerumade high ranges under Travancore administration.[5]
History
Kumily's modern development began in the early 20th century under the Travancore princely state, when high-range forests were cleared for plantation agriculture. Settlers from central Kerala and Tamil Nadu were resettled to cultivate cardamom, tea, and rubber, transforming the region into a major spice hub despite challenges from wildlife and malaria.[6]
The area saw significant migration in the 1940s–1950s during post-war agricultural expansion. After Indian independence in 1947, Kumily became part of Travancore-Cochin state in 1949. With the formation of Kerala state on 1 November 1956, it was included in the newly created Kottayam district before being transferred to Idukki district upon its formation on 26 January 1974.[7]
The establishment of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in 1950 (notified as a tiger reserve in 1978) brought conservation focus, restricting further forest clearance and shifting economic reliance toward eco-tourism.[8] By the 1980s, Kumily emerged as a gateway town for sanctuary visitors, with homestays and spice shops replacing some plantation labor.
The Grama Panchayat system formalized local governance; Kumily Grama Panchayat was constituted under the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, covering 816.73 km² including revenue villages like Kumily and Thekkady.[9] As of 2023, it remains a key border settlement facilitating trade and tourism between Kerala and Tamil Nadu.[10]
Demographics
As of 2011 Census, Kumily Grama Panchayat had a population of 35,915 with an area of 816.73 km2 (315.34 sq mi) and[11] Kumily revenue village had a population of 30,276 (15,162 male and 15,114 female) which spreads over an area of 203.31 km2 (78.50 sq mi) with 7,404 families residing in it. The average sex ratio was a bit lower than the state average (997 vs 1084). 10.3% of the population was under 6 years old. Kumily had an average literacy of 90.5%, which is lower than the state average of 94%; male literacy was 93.6% and female literacy was 87.4%.[12]
Transportation
Two national highways pass through Kumily town, National Highway 183 and National Highway 185[13][14] There are many different busses going to several towns in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.[15]
The nearest railway station is 60 km away at Theni. The nearest Airport is 120 km away at Madurai.
Gallery
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National Highway 183 runs through the downtown Kumily in 2006
See also
References
- ^ "ഇടുക്കി ജില്ലയുടെ അടിസ്ഥാന വിവരങ്ങള് | Deparyment of Panchayats".
- ^ "The Kerala Official Language (Legislation) Act, 1969" (PDF). Archived from the original on 11 September 2014.
- ^ "Name, ambience and other details".
- ^ "Kumily - the plantation town". Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ "Kumily Village Office". Revenue Department, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
- ^ "History". District Idukki, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
- ^ "History". District Idukki, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
- ^ "Economic Review 2023" (PDF). Kerala State Planning Board. 2023. p. 147. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
- ^ "Kumily Grama Panchayat". Local Self Government Department, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
- ^ "Kumily Village Office". Revenue Department, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
- ^ "ഇടുക്കി ജില്ലയിലെ ജനസംഖ്യ വിവരങ്ങള് | Deparyment of Panchayats". dop.lsgkerala.gov.in. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
- ^ Kerala, Directorate of Census Operations. District Census Handbook, Idukki (PDF). Thiruvananthapuram: Directorate of Census Operations, Kerala. p. 70,71. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
- ^ "New highways notification dated March, 2014" (PDF). The Gazette of India - Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
- ^ "National Highway work from next month". The Hindu. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- ^ "KSRTC-SWIFT | ENTE KSRTC Neo-oprs | KSRTC SWIFT Buses Online Reservation". onlineksrtcswift.com. Retrieved 26 November 2025.