Kavunji (Mannavanur Panchayat) is a Panchayat village of terrace farmers at the far western end of the Western Ghats in Kodaikanal block of Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu state, South India, Pincode 624103. It is 35 kilometres (22 mi) from Kodaikanal at: 10°12′26″N 77°20′25″E / 10.20722°N 77.34028°E / 10.20722; 77.34028. Elevation is 1,920 metres (6,300 ft). Kavunji is notable as a vegetable farming area.[1]

Upper Palani Reserve Forest showing Kavunji

History edit

There is a Tamil language inscription on a stone in the street believed to be dated in S.S. 1013 (CE 1091).[2] The people of Kavunji believe that the inscription relates details and results of a controversy. The inscription measures 4 by 3 feet (1.22 by 0.91 m).[3]


Agriculture edit

Kavunji will soon become a corporate village, due to introduction of a mega cluster project bringing 1,197 acres (4.84 km2) of irrigated, rain fed and wasteland under cultivation at an estimated cost of Rs.77.7 million. 1,497 farmers will benefit.

This cluster will produce potato, carrot, peas and beans in large scale adopting the latest techniques such as special precision farming, uniform cropping pattern and drip fertigation system.

The Department of Horticulture will do field preparation, install drip fertigation system, develop community nursery and supply inputs for cultivation of vegetables. The Agro Engineering Department will create water structures, including 19 ground-level reservoirs to store water drawn from pipes from the Konalaru river and provide pumping facility to irrigate the entire project area.[1]

BalaCares Foundation Donated Drinking Water facilities to this village on 1999 with individual pipe connection for each and every street in kavunji village.

Health edit

The Sri Bala Medical Centre is a non-profit private hospital in Kavunji that concentrates on preventive medicine, maternal and child healthcare of the upper and lower hills villages poor people. It is supported by the Bala Care Foundation started in December 1998.[4]

Education edit

There is a Primary School, Panchayat Union Middle School and Government High School in Kavunji. Now kavunji also having higher secondary.

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b Raju, K. (13 December 2008). "Kavunji to adopt cluster farming". The Hindu. pp. front page. Archived from the original on 13 December 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
  2. ^ Sewell, Robert (1882). "Palni Taluk and the Palni Hills". Lists of the Antiquarian Remains in the Presidency of Madras. New imperial series. Vol. VII. (Reports. ed.). Archaeological survey of India. pp. 72 'Ettur'.
  3. ^ Indian antiquary. Vol. Item notes: v. 38. Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland. 1909. p. 54. ISBN 0-89581-957-0.
  4. ^ Murali, D.; R.S. Murali (22 March 2008). "From Tennessee to Kavunji, on a rural healthcare mission". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 November 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2009.

External links edit

This is not an original Kavunji photo.