Mannavanur (Mannavanor, Mannavannur), is a farming village of 1437 households in Mannavanor Panchayat,

Dindigul district Dindigul District is one of the 38 districts in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. Dindigul District is the largest district in Tamil Nadu by area. The district was carved out of Madurai District in 1985. It has an area of 6266.64 km2 and c ...

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is the southernmost States and union territories of India, state of India. The List of states and union territories of India by area, tenth largest Indian state by area and the List of states and union territories of Indi ...

, India, west from

Kodaikanal Kodaikanal () (English: ) is a municipality and hill station in Dindigul district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is situated at an altitude of in the Palani hills of the Western Ghats. Kodaikanal was established in 1845 to serve as a r ...

It is by road from Kumbur village and from

Kilanavayal Kilanavayal (Keelanavayal) is a small village of terrace farmers in Mannavanur panchayat at the far eastern end of the Manjampatti Valley drainage basin in the Palani Hills. There is a road between Mannavanur and Kilanavayal. There is a trekk ...

village. Altitude is .

Employment

There are 2,980 males and 2,947 females, most of whom are

terrace Terrace may refer to: Landforms and construction * Fluvial terrace, a natural, flat surface that borders and lies above the floodplain of a stream or river * Terrace, a street suffix * Terrace, the portion of a lot between the public sidewalk a ...

farmers and agricultural laborers growing potatoes, broccoli, French beans, butter beans, carrots, cauliflower, peas, cabbage and garlic. Out of 569 households reporting income, the means of livelihood are: casual labour 279, subsistence cultivation 21, artisan 265, salary 3, and others 1. The Central Sheep and Wool Research Institution Sheep Research Center employs four full-time scientists and three technical officers. There is a Branch of the

Punjab National Bank Punjab National Bank alias PNB is an Public sector banks in India, Indian government bank based in New Delhi. It was founded in May 1894 and is the List of banks in India, second-largest public sector bank in India in terms of its business volum ...

near the Research Center building. It caters to all the financial needs of the surrounding villages of Mannavanur, Kumbur, Keelanavyil, Kavunji, Poondi, Polur and Kilavarai (on the Kerala border).

Health

There is a medical clinic in Mannavanur. Drinking water for most households is supplied from a source within an elevation of less than 100 meters.

Education

Education has improved in the village all students are studying in Mannavanur and out of station also. There are 2 Panchayat Union Primary School and 2 Panchayat Union Middle Schools, (See photos of one teacher schools in Mannavanor Village. The venue is outdoors.)

Wildlife

Bison A bison (: bison) is a large bovine in the genus ''Bison'' (from Greek, meaning 'wild ox') within the tribe Bovini. Two extant taxon, extant and numerous extinction, extinct species are recognised. Of the two surviving species, the American ...

, sambar,

barking deer Muntjacs ( ), also known as the barking deer or rib-faced deer, (URL is Google Books) are small deer of the genus ''Muntiacus'' native to South Asia and Southeast Asia. Muntjacs are thought to have begun appearing 15–35 million years ago, ...

Nilgiri langur The Nilgiri langur (''Semnopithecus johnii'') is an Asian langur of the Old World monkey. It has glossy, black fur and an orangey-golden brown, hair-like mane on its head. Females have a white patch of fur on the inner thigh. It typically lives ...

Nilgiri tahr The Nilgiri tahr (''Nilgiritragus hylocrius'') is an ungulate that is endemic to the Nilgiri Hills and the southern portion of the Western and Eastern Ghats in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in southern India. It is the only species in th ...

and

jungle cat The jungle cat (''Felis chaus''), also called reed cat and swamp cat, is a medium-sized cat native from the Eastern Mediterranean region and the Caucasus to parts of Central, South and Southeast Asia. It inhabits foremost wetlands like swamps, ...

s are sighted here. The place is also known for its 165 species of butterflies, 15 types of dabchicks, wood pigeon and the

Nilgiri pipit The Nilgiri pipit (''Anthus nilghiriensis'') is a distinctive species of pipit that is endemic to the high altitude hills of southern India. Richer brown in colour than other pipits in the region, it is distinctive in having the streaking on th ...

Visitor information

Mannavanur is about an hour’s drive from Kodaikanal. Some popular

trekking Backpacking is the outdoor recreation of carrying gear on one's back while hiking for more than a day. It is often an extended journey and may involve camping outdoors. In North America, tenting is common, where simple shelters and mountain hu ...

routes pass through the Sheep Center. The route from Kavunji to Kuukkal is fairly difficult.

From Kavunji take a footpath leading to Mannavanur. From there an old footpath leads to the sheep farm. Cross it and reach the Kodaikkanal road. Follow the road to Kukkal. Enroute, the meadows of sheep farm is pleasant. Near Kukkal you see the caves where ancient men were living. Deer are common.

Tourists are required to get permission from the Forest Department to trek in the forest areas. Please contact : Government of Tamil Nadu, Tourist Office, Annasalai,Kodaikanal, PH; 04542- 241675. A trekking map is available from them. Nature's Trust has set up a base camp called Camper's Club on a plot. There are eight small cottages with basic facilities. It organises educational tours and treks (there are 21 routes). They offer a short course in ''eco-technology'' and training in clay modelling, homemade chocolates, dry flower arrangements and

natural dye Natural dyes are dyes or colorants derived from plants, invertebrates, or minerals. The majority of natural dyes are vegetable dyes from plant sources—roots, berry, berries, Bark (botany), bark, leaf, leaves, and wood—and other biological sourc ...

painting on T-shirts. The Camper's Club is the only accommodation available in Mannavannur. For prior booking, contact D1, Saibaba Colony, No.1 Kannagai Street, East Tambaram, Chennai. Ph.: 94444-77358. Visitors to the Sheep Research Center should first see the officer-in-charge at the main office building. Educational institutions can get permission from the officer-in-charge for small groups to camp overnight.Mannavanur Sheep Station
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References

{{reflist Villages in Dindigul district