Welcome to the
Mackimalai Tea Estates Private Limited
- Project Developers and
Investors in Tourism
The booming Tourism industry in Wayanad,
acclaimed as the new bustling upcoming Tourism destination, clamoured to be the
best of Malabar in Kerala has been attracting multitude of nature lovers,
travelers of varied interests because of its pristine nature abundant in flora
and fauna!
Once the Kannur & Mysore airports are opened
as promised by this year end the commercial value of these plots of land are
going to be spiraled up manyfold!
Investors are already vying each other to grab
land of high future commercial value to be there at first and Makkimala of
Fringe Ford is one of its kind of vast arable land with vantage points of high
altitude and wet in-land valleys.
The Sprawling 300 acres, previously part of
Fringe Ford Tea estates started by Britisher Fringe Ford in 1912 have the
following advantages for easy development as commercial plots:
- Nearly 150 acres of
plateau land which is the only one of its kind in Wayanad terrain of ups
and downs-hillocks & valleys
- 12 blocks with
natural boundary of rivulets and roads - good for township development,
hospitals, public schools, Golf course, Golf club, water theme park,
second home
- Rivulets of
perennial water source through streams that can be utilized for
cultivation-gardens of varied types-spices, coffee, orchard – water sports
like kayaking, rafting , sorbing of any other innovative sports of modern
world of amusement to enhance tourism
- The land
borders nearly 30000 acres of pristine rainforest in Kerala and
nearly 90000 acres on Bandipur Wild Life Sanctuary in Karnataka and
Nilgiris biosphere where quite often wildlife –elephants, bison, deer,
etc- are spotted at arm’s length which if innovatively managed
can attract tourists of selective nature lovers of flora and fauna of
myriad colours and varieties!
- The land is now
equipped with 3 phase electrical connection including transformer and has
the potential to generate electricity from its own water sources and wind.
- The contour level
line road developed by the British provides eagles eye in each and every
corner of the estate.
History:
It all started a few millennia ago, when the
forces of Nature scrunched together and the land mass that became India, threw
the Western Ghats into a turmoil of highs and lows like a piece of crumpled
silk and later, these hills covered themselves with satiny grass and towering
trees, hiding in their folds some of the most beautiful hideaways known (or
unknown). Fringe Ford lies hidden in one of these valleys.
A British settler discovered the beauty of the
country in 1912, and its huge potential as cultivable land, and acquired the
property which he turned into estate, cultivating the local pepper, cardamom
and coffee on its slopes. He built the house that still stands there. He named
it Fringe Ford. The name stuck, but nothing else. Now, Fringe Ford stretches
out over a 1000 acres on all sides, some of it still chalked out for
cultivation but a large portion of it turned over to the elephants, the
leopards, the squirrels and the other species that call it home. The forest has
long grown over the cultivated slopes, and unique species of plants, ferns and
massive, rain-giving trees now thicken the hills.
Fringe Ford has come full circle, and today, is
one of the few pieces of Malabar rain forest that the world has to show.
Fringe Ford later divided into Makimala Tea
Estates Private Limited and Saroja Estate.
The Mackimalai Tea Estates Private Limited owns
563.17 acres of land in Fringe Ford. Out of this legally cleared land is about
298.57 acres.
Cherrakarra P.O., Talapoya Post,
Mananthavadi, Wayanad Dist.
Kerala
Geography:
The property lies between North latitude 11* 27’
and 15* 58’ and East longitude 75* 47’ and 0* 21' at an Elevation of
700 – 2100 metres. The temperature shows a minimum of 17 oC to
Maximum 29 o C, with rainfall of 5000 to 7000 mm. It has a
round-the-year water source, with 1 waterfall, 7 perennial streams and 19
seasonal streams, assuring a continuous sound of running water through your
stay.
Flora
Plantation crops
Fauna
Indian Wild Dog (Dhole), Elephants, Gaur,
Sambar, Barking Deer (Muntjac), Wild Boar, Giant Malabar squirrel, Nilgiri
Langoor, Lion Tail Macaque, Cobras, Pythons, Malabar hornbill, Malabar grey
hornbill, Imperial pigeon, Sun birds, Parakeets, Lorikeets, Drongos, Wood
peckers, Thrushes, Jungle fowl, Tree pies and Bats.
ABOUT THE WAYANAD STRETCH
The Wyanad range undulates at 700 to 2100 metres
above sea level, and sports a lavish collection of trees, so that your view is
of a palette of olive and teal, emerald and sapphire, with a sudden brilliant
crimson tree thrown in for effect, or a startling ochre cutting across a slope
of grass. Clamber into the forest, on one of its many trails, and you’re
walking into the looking glass. This is a world of vines dropping from above,
thick stalks and leafy branches, trees that have outlived your
great-grandmother, twisting roots rising up from the ground, and dark nooks
through which two eyes follow you. Or is that your imagination? But suddenly, a
shaft of sunlight cuts through the foliage, touching the green with gold, and
you sigh at the unbelievable beauty of the place.
Almost on cue, the tinkle of water starts, and
you turn a corner to see a fresh natural waterfall. 27 streams, some of them
perennial, criss-cross the property, and 2 waterfalls are just a walk away. The
Nilgiri range traps the generous doses of rainfall that it gets, and tunnels it
into perennial streams that run throughout the year. Kabini, the tributary of
the river Cauvery, begins its journey from Fringe Ford, as well.
Nestled into the blue mountains, the Nilgiris,
shoulder to shoulder with the great wildlife reserves of the South, a short
drive away from the getaways of Coorg, Ooty and Kerala’s coastline, this land
of the marshes (Wyanad takes its name from Wayals, or marshland), is the
easiest way to enter paradise without leaving this planet.
TREKS
Lagoon
Distance 1/2 km.
Time 10 mins.
Level: Easy
Gushing gurgling water slopping into clear as
crystal pools. Blue lagoon, step aside. Set out on a leisurely stroll through
the Pug Dandi to your right, walk through coffee and cardamom
plantations, cross a small brook and then enter the thick forest. Clamber down
to the gushing water below. Hurdle no. 1 : A muddy stretch of elephant
playground. Take a small detour and then walk upstream till you come across the
lagoon. Water falling into 2 jungle pools in a thicket of protective trees.
Worth every step.
Waterfall
Distance 3 kms.
Time 30 - 45 mins.
Level : Medium
More adventure, more streams, more wildlife
sightings expected but an awesome reward. Take the same Pug Dandi, cross the
stream and continue down the same path. Soon, you cross another stream and 1 km
down, you will come to a junction where another two streams meet.
Cross this wilderness junction and tiptoe up the road through the abandoned
cardamom plantation, because if you are quiet enough you can see more wildlife
than just birds and butterflies. Now, you come across a 'Y' . Take the path to
your right. Further down, wish the road and your security blanket goodbye, and
continue straight on the jungle path in front of you. Yet another wild stream.
As you plod on, with the rustling of leaves another sound becomes evident. The
gushing of water. You hurry on and then stop and gasp. At the sheer beauty of
this natural waterfall pouring 90 feet down the hillside. Walk into the curtain
of water, and drink up. It's recommended to be therapeutic.
On the way back, if you're feeling adventurous,
ace your steps to the road, and then take the left path back through thick
shola and rainforest. A shorter route to the bungalow, though often populated
by a family of elephants that does not welcome uninvited guests
Checkpost
Distance 3 km
Level : Hard
Not for the faint-hearted or the faint-legged.
But the view is worth dying for… (hopefully not literally). Cross the wooden
bridge near the bungalow, continue up the road through the cardamom plantations
till you reach a clearing. Take a left 'U' turn and climb through some thick
rainforest. You meet the friendly stream which will be your guide thereon.
Follow it till its source, and then take a sharp right. By now you
will be on all fours holding onto anything that can pull you up, including our
guide. It's even more disquieting when you come across other four-legged
denizens, who seem much more confident than you. After the forest boundary
line, it's another steep climb to the checkpost. Elephants use the
same route when they feel like a view. And the view is magnificent ! You can
see all of Wayanad from here, hill after rolling hill, and the comfortable
bungalow you've left behind is a dot of red in the palette of green. It's tough
to tear yourself away from such peace and such beauty . But survivors who still
wish to go home, may follow the boundary line to the gate of the estate and
follow the long road home. Praise yourself for having reached
heaven and come back.
GET THERE
The nearest cities to The Mackimalai Tea Estates
Private Limited are Thalassery (60km) and Canannore (75 km), Mananthavady (14
km), Kalpetta (45 km)
By Air
Presently the nearest airport is Calicut (135
km)- 3hrs drive through scenic beauty of coastal Calicut to wyanad high ranges
is an experience to be experienced. Calicut – Kalpetta – Mananthvadi
– Talapoya - Fringe Ford.
Once the Kannur & Mysore airports are opened
as promised by this year end the commercial value of these plots of land are
going to be spiraled up manyfold !
An airport is proposed at Panamaram in Wayanad
and acquisition proceedings are going on about 27 km away from the Makkimala
Tea Estate Private Limited.
By Rail
The nearest rail stop is Mysore (130 km) and
Kozhikode (117 km). The road connect Mysore , through Gundelpet – Sultan
Bathery – Meenangadi – Mananthvadi – Talapoya to Fringe Ford. Drive time is
around 3hrs. There is also a train stop at Calicut .
By Road
Route 1
Calicut - Kalpetta – Mananthvadi – Talapoya
–Makkimala(Fringe Ford) --3hrs drive only.
Route 2
Mysore -Gundaelpet – Sultan Bathery – Meenangadi
– Mananthvadi – Talapoya –Makkimala( Fringe Ford) - 3hrs drive.
Ooty : The road connect Ooty (150 km), through
Gundalpet – Sultan Bathery – Meenangadi – Mananthvadi – Talapoya to Fringe Ford.
Drive time is around 4 hrs.
Coimbatore : Travelling from Coimbatore (250 km)
involves hitting the Ooty road, and then making the usual route through
Gundalpet, Sultan Bathery, Meenangadi and Manantavadi. Drive time estimated at
7 hours.
