Short History of Kannan Devan’s
The Western Ghats stretch from Bombay to Gape Comorin. That part representing Travancore and Cochin's hinterland forms the natural Eastern boundary, South of the latitude 16°, with Madras. These highlands comprise many rocky peaks and grassland plateau, which stretch for miles in an easterly direction. The Range descends, step by step as it were, from the mountains to the coast, and the rocks of the series bear distinct marks of having once been confined to a considerable depth. That part of the mountain range known as the Kanan Devan or the High Range contains many spectacular peaks, including the highest mountain south of the Himalayas.
The most famous of these peaks are:
The Range takes its name from one Kanan Thevar, a Land lord in the Anginaad Valley on the Eastern side. This man must have been well known to pilgrims. Others visit the holy places in the hills or journeying by the shortcuts to Bodinaykanoor or the Cumbum Valley. Anginaad means "five villages", which were situated there at one time. Poor soil or the incidence of malaria may have been of the disappearance of much of the habitation from this part of the world. However, there was 0bviosly a large community in the area from the signs that still exist. Kannan Tevar held his lands on lease from the Ponniyattu -on vassal to Travancore and probably cultivated the rice field we see today in the vicinity of the sole remaining village Marayoor, about one-third of the way to Munnar from the frontier post at Chinnar.
The Range takes its name from one Kanan Thevar, a Land lord in the Anginaad Valley on the Eastern side. This man must have been well known to pilgrims. Others visit the holy places in the hills or journeying by the shortcuts to Bodinaykanoor or the Cumbum Valley. Anginaad means "five villages", which were situated there at one time. Poor soil or the incidence of malaria may have been of the disappearance of much of the habitation from this part of the world. However, there was 0bviosly a large community in the area from the signs that still exist. Kannan Tevar held his lands on lease from the Ponniyattu -on vassal to Travancore and probably cultivated the rice field we see today in the vicinity of the sole remaining village Marayoor, about one-third of the way to Munnar from the frontier post at Chinnar.
From Marayoor, there is an ancient track that leads to Tertian's Plateau or Tertiamallay as the hill should be rightly called, for it takes its name from "Theertharn", meaning Holy Water. There is a small waterfall on the Northern slopes of the hill where people worship on Sivarathri or Siva's Day, which is on the day before the full moon in February. It is possible visiting this place of worship became accustomed to referring to the hills generally as "Kanan Tevan's Hills
" Surpassingly grand and incomparably beautiful; undulating grassy hills, wooded valleys, rocky crags, overhanging precipices and the green fields of the valley of Unjanad." General Douglas Hamilton, Journal Entry 1862
The early estates established by the pioneers.
Timeline -
The Historical Transformation of the Kannan Devan Hills
1877: John Daniel Munro, a coffee planter Independent Kingdom of Travancore and Superintendent of the Cardamom Hills, makes an application to the Poonjar Chief for the grant of the property called Kanan Tevan Anchanatu Mala on payment and obtains from the Raja the first Pooniat Concession Deed.
1878: An Intensive exploration of Munro's land takes place under the guidance of H. Gribble Turner of the Madras Civil Service and his half-brother A. W. Turner. Properties are offered for cultivation. A nucleus labor force is harnessed from Tamil Nadu's plains to start a cinchona plantation under the Devimallay in Devikulam Estate.
1879: Munro obtains the second Pooniat Concession. The North Travancore Land Planting and Agricultural Society is founded to which the Concessions are conveyed. Soon… tracts are opened in the Hills in Cinchona and Sisal.
1883: The first tea is planted in Parvathi Estate (a part of today's Sevenmallay Estate) by A. H. Sharp.
1885; The 100-acre tea field is expanded at Parvathi Division of Sevenmallay estate. The tea planted here was a creeper China variety.
1886: An expedition in 1886 to the foothills by a new and precipitous route - from Top Station in Chittavurrai to Korangani - is made searching for food supply. A business connection is forged with the famous Suppan Chetty to send up the rice in exchange for cinchona bark headloads. Thus, a new chapter in trade opens. This route later serves as the path for a ropeway. Soon… bridle paths spread in various directions are made. Ponies, donkeys and bullocks carrying up rice and taking the hill produce down to become the way of life in the Hills.
1888: The Kannan Devan Planters Association is formed.
1890: The first apothecary is appointed.
1892: The first Post Office is opened on Devikulam Estate. The pioneer planters send many postcards to their friends in the High Range itself "to get a sufficient amount of stamping registration in the post office so that the authorities would keep it open"!
1894: By now, there are 26 small registered holdings in the Hills. Sir John Muir of Finlay Muir & Company visits the Kanan Devan Hills to finalize the Concession area's purchase. Thus Finlay Muir & Company Limited's interests in tea extend to the High Ranges.
1896: The Kannan Devan Hills Produce Company is formed in the Kanan Devan Concession territory. Estates outside the Concession territory but within the High Range are owned by the Anglo-American Direct Tea Trading Company, a subsidiary Company of Finlay Muir & Co. Ltd.
Baron John Von Rosenberg and his son Baron Otto (who was by now married to Gribble Turners daughter Rachel Theodosia) , were the earliest supporters of the adventure In partnership with Gribble Turner and H.M.Knight, who had an estate on the southern boundary of the concession ,they began the Clandestine development of the property which ,in time were known as Lockhart and Manale These estates soon passed into the sole ownership of the Von Rosenberg’s later a part of the Family’s Lockhart Estate and it was developed by his son Baron Otto in the 1890.
Mr. Henry. Mansfield Knight started planning upon High ranges in 1881 H.M Knight acquires land in the centre of the district at Munnar and Chockanad and by 1881 was a senior planter successful pioneer upon Kannan Devan as in his capacity both as a proprietary and the first General Manager of the Kannan Devan Hill Produce Company of James Finlay.
Surianalle Estate is a 1600-acre Tea estate opened by legendry planter Henry Mansfield Knight of High Range and Central Travancore.
Surianalle is considered as one of the fine areas of high grown tea surrounded by some of the most beautiful mountains, Kollukumalai, Gundumalai and Silent Valley as the sentinels to this mesmerising land of Mountain mist.
The initial clearings were started by H.M. Knight in 1902 that continued till 1907.Knight established Travancore Tea estates in 1897 and was founding director and General Manager of T.T.E company which owned 9 estates in Peermade Hills and Periyar Valley.
It was in 1909 that Harrisons and Crossfields made their presence in South Indian plantation after Malaysian Investment led by the ever futuristic Arthur Lampard who led the investment in India, H.M Knight became a solid support to him as he worked between Lampard and many estate owners for their meteoric rise as the largest investors after James Finlay’s in Travancore.
It was of interest that why the estates on the southern boundary was not offered to the Finlay Muir & Company. Rosenberg family was not keen to part with their estates as it was well established by 1890s
“Six months after the death of Baron Von Rosenberg in 1904 his widow married H.M.Knight .This alliance consolidated the Von Rosenberg and Knight properties and following a row between H.M Knight and P.R Buchanan ,who had succeeded W.O Milne as General Manager of Kannan Devan’s in 1901 , seemingly over a game of cards in Munnar Club which led a serious estrangement between them thus Kannan Devan Hill Produce Co Ltd were effectively denied any opportunity of acquiring the four strategic block of tea estates ,Lochart,Manale ,Surianalle and Panniar , at the southern boundary” These estates were eventually sold to Malayalam Rubber and Produce Company Ltd in 1909, a subsidiary of Harrisons and Crossfield Ltd.
The Upper Surianalle Estate Panniar and Lockhart estates is presently owned by Harrison Malayalam Ltd, under the prestigious R P G enterprise of Calcutta.
The Eleanor’s story
The fading letters read, 'Eleanor Isabel May, dearly beloved wife of Henry Mansfield, Knight and Youngest daughter of Beaufort Brabazon MD, died this day 23 December 1894 aged 24 years. Lord all pitying Jesus, blest, grant her thine eternal rest.'
Eleanor contracted cholera during a night's stopover at the guesthouse in Bodi on the way up. Her husband's assistant, Mr Graham, accompanied her. Sir John Muir and the party were already in the district. On the eve of the new bride's arrival, the Baroness had visited the Knights' bungalow to ensure that 'the place was neat and clean,' so records Mrs Martin. The next evening Henry and his young bride went for a stroll as the sun was setting. The couple stood on a grassy knoll above their bungalow cocooned in nature's glory unfolding all around. The whole scene where heaven and earth lay bathed in the hues of a winter sunset must have seemed like the gateway to heaven to Eleanor. That is when she said to the husband the prophetic words, "If I die, I would like to be buried here." Eleanor passed away on 23 December 1894, shortly after midnight of cholera. When the girl took ill, the Baroness once again went to nurse her. Henry buried Eleanor at the exact spot she had chosen as her last resting place. James records that he took a photograph of Eleanor's grave as per the request of her husband.
This grave is still there, sans the elephant trench. The last Europeans to be laid to rest in the Christ Church Cemetery were two young assistants in 1959; they were drowned in the Munnar River when their car skidded off the main road and fell into the river outside the High Range Club.