Peermade

Peermade, also spelt Peerumedu is a village, Grama Panchayat and hill station in the state of Kerala, in southwestern India. It lies 915 m above sea level in the Western Ghats (Sahyadri) about 85 km east of Kottayam on the way to Thekkady through the nearby city of Kanjirappally.

Etymology
The name is sometimes related to the Sufi saint, 'Peer Mohammed', as "hill of the Peer" (പീരുമേട്). The name Peerumedu is derived from the fact that Pirmuhammed Waliullah, a prominent Siddha and Sufi monk of Tamil Nadu, chose the mountain for meditation for a long time. Siddhan, spiritual guru and famous Sufi poet of Tamil known as Rumi of South India Peeru Muhammad Sahib is resting at Takkala in Kanyakumari district. Takkala and Peerumed are pilgrimage centers.

There is also a local saying that the name "Peerumedu" has come from the large number of "Pera trees" ie. Guava trees that existed way back, Which inturn came to be called as "Peramedu" and now famously known as Peerumedu.

Demographics
As of 2011 Census, Peerumade had a population of 22,213 with 11,049 males and 11,164 females. Peerumade village has an area of 52.34 km2 with 5,617 families residing in it. The average sex ratio was 1010 lower than the state average of 1084. In Peerumade, 8.8% of the population was under 6 years of age. Peerumade had an average literacy of 89.1% lower than the state average of 94%; male literacy was 93.9% and female literacy was 84.5%.

Geography
The landscape of Peermade includes spectacular waterfalls, open grass lands and pine forests. Predominantly it is classified as Malanad with an elevation ranging from 3000 ft from the mean sea level.

History
Peermade was once the summer retreat of the Maharajas of Travancore. During those periods these regions were quite inaccessible, covered by dense forests and was inhabited by certain tribes like 'Malappandarams' and 'Malayarans'. The archaeological excavations points out that there was an ancient Neolithic culture flourished in the high-ranges which wasn't written or recorded. But the findings of cultural remnants from the hill tracks near Kumily and Vandiperiyar provides some factual evidences of the existence of a rich culture.

Peermade was the highest elevation on the mountain route that once connected the Travancore with Madurai in ancient Tamilakam. The mountain barriers created by the ghats separated these two regions. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the largest wildlife reserves in India, is 43 km away. It has herds of elephants and other wildlife as well as lakes.

Spices
The area is extremely fertile and until recently featured lush plantations of coffee, tea, cardamon, and coconut. With a long history of spice growing, the focus is now on the production of organic black pepper, white pepper, ginger and turmeric.

At a 2006 show, spice growers from Peermade displayed samples of organically grown spices including cardamom, black pepper, white pepper, nutmeg, mace, cloves, turmeric, ginger, vanilla beans, vanilla powder and herbs such as oregano, sage, thyme and rosemary. Oils of thyme and rosemary were also displayed.

Education
Marian College and Mar Baselios Christian College of Engineering and Technology are located at Kuttikanam in Peermade.

Politics
Peermade assembly constituency is part of Idukki (Lok Sabha constituency). Vazhoor Soman is the current MLA of peermade.

Books

 * The Story of Peermade by George Thengummoottil (ISBN 9788192888606) http://theindia.info/theIndiainfo/downloads/The%20Story%20of%20Peermade.pdf