Monday, June 30, 2008



Nilambur­-famous for its forestry and its landscape, a small town situated forty kilometer from Malappuram town, North Kerala. The teak plantation covers the major land area in nilambur. The nature enthusiasts, who are in much need of information on teak, can find the Connolly’s plot and teak museum as the perfect place.
Nilambur is renowned for the oldest teak plantation in the world, Connolly’s plot, just two kilometer from the town. The teak plantation is named after H.V Connolly, the Malabar District Collector. During his period, he took initiative in planting teak in the entire nilambur area. Chathu Menon, the forest officer under Connolly, organized the task of planting the saplings. He was laid to rest in the teak garden in Connolly’s plot.
The oldest teak tree, Kannimari is a rare attraction at the Connolly’s plot. The plot extends over 2.31 hectares beside the Chaliyar River at Arecode. This is one of the most famous forestry plots of the world, attracting foresters from all over the world, interested in studies and researches in teak trees. This experimental plot is preserved since 1844.
Four kilometer away from the town, on Nilambur-Gudalur, stands the world’s first teak museum, and its only kind in India. The museum is a sub centre of Kerala Forest Research Institute. Arranged in the two-storied building are exhibits, articles and details of historic, aesthetic and scientific value, which give information on all aspects of teak to visitors.
The fascinating abundance of information on this wonder tree attracts an entire horde of tourists to visit this museum through out the year. The extensive root system of a fifty five year old teak tree exhibited for welcoming the tourists is itself a metaphor of the past, present and future of the museum.
The ground floor exhibits a translite of Kannimari teak- the oldest naturally growing teak tree, the life size replica of the trunk of the largest known teak tree and added attractions are traditional granary and miniature model of sailing vessel called ‘Uru’, made of teak wood.
The depiction of foliage, flowers, fruits and barks of the tree gives us deeper insight into the characteristics of the teak. The large stump of a 480-year-old teak tree is also exhibited in the museum. The various methods of seed-grading, pre-sowing treatment, preparation of teak stems, and vegetative propagation of teak and different stages in the complete rotation cycle of teak from seed to mature tree are also on display. In addition, a collection of over 300 butterflies, moths and insects that are found in teak plantations are exhibited in the museum.
Another exclusive section deals with the various physical disorders of teak, disease causing insects and pests, plantation and other nursery diseases. Some of the special attractions of the museum are a series of interesting paintings portraying tree-felling operations, a collection of photographs on the phonological of the events of the teak at different seasons, exhibits on traditional harvesting tools and wood, samples of different ages from various parts of the world.
The 800-meter long bio-resources natural trail on the museum campus is indeed, an interesting one. This natural trail passes through a heavy growth of shrubs, trees and bamboos. One can also find different species of birds and reptiles here. There are 50 naturally grown tree species and 136 endangered and near-extinct tree species of the Western Ghats planted in this natural trail.
Thus, the Conolly plot and the teak museum offer a strong perspective of a glorious era spanning a period of 150 years. It reveals the magical bounty of the natural beauty.


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