Nilgiris district
The district Nilgiris (Tamil: நீலகிரி மாவட்டம் ) is a district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. He occupies the largest part of the eponymous Nilgiri Mountains. Administrative center of the district is the city Udagamandalam.
Geography
The district Nilgiris is located in the west of Tamil Nadu on the border with the states of Kerala and Karnataka. Neighboring districts are Erode in the East, Coimbatore in the south (both to Tamil Nadu ), Palakkad in the south, in the southwest of Malappuram, Wayanad in North West ( all Kerala ) and Chamarajanagar ( Karnataka ) in the north. The area of the Nilgiris district is 2,552 square kilometers.
The district includes most of the Nilgiris mountain range of the same name. The district area is located at an altitude of about 900-2600 meters. A large part of the district area occupies a 2,000 -meter high plateau. Here is also the highest elevation of the Nilgiri Hills, the 2,637 meter high Doddabetta. The northwest part of Gudalur is lower and is more likely attributable to the scenic Wayanad region. Largest city and administrative center of the district is Udagamandalam (Anglicized Ootacamund, Ooty short ).
The district Nilgiris is divided into six taluks Panthalur, Gudalur, Ootacamund, Kotagiri, Coonoor and Kundah.
History
The Nilgiri Hills came in 1799 after the defeat of Tipu Sultan in the Fourth Mysore War under British rule. The area was incorporated as part of the district of Coimbatore in the province of Madras. 1868 Nilgiris district was formed by cleavage from Coimbatore district. After Indian independence, the district Nilgiris came in the wake of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 to the newly formed State of Madras, which now included the Tamil-speaking areas and was renamed Tamil Nadu in 1969.
Population
Because of its location in the mountains of the Nilgiris district is inhabited relatively thin. According to the Indian census of 2011, the district has 735 071 inhabitants. In terms of the population of the Nilgiris district is the second smallest district of Tamil Nadu. The population density is the lowest of the state at 288 inhabitants per square kilometers and is well below the average of Tamil Nadu ( 555 inhabitants per square kilometer). The degree of urbanization, however, is above average, in the district of Nilgiris 59.3 percent of the population live in cities, while it is 48.5 percent on average Tamil Nadu. As one of the few regions of India, the district Nilgiris recorded a negative population trend: Between 2001 and 2011, the population shrank by 3.6 percent. The literacy rate is 85.6 percent higher than the average of Tamil Nadu ( 80.3 per cent) and India overall ( 70.4 percent).
Originally, the Nilgiri Hills of the tribal peoples ( cf. Adivasi ) of Toda, Kota, Kurumba, Irula and Paniya were inhabited. Due to the immigration of Tamils from the plains, the indigenous population has been almost completely replaced. To classify the 2001 census, only 3.7 percent of the population of the district Nilgiris as members of the tribal population ( scheduled tribes ). However, the population of the Adivasis is still the highest among the districts of Tamil Nadu. Under the non-indigenous population particularly many Dalits ( untouchables ). The proportion of the members of the lowest castes ( scheduled castes ) is above average with 31.2 per cent ( 2001 census).
The population of the district of Nilgiris make Hindus according to the 2001 census, 78.6 percent majority. In addition, there are larger minorities of Christians ( 11.5 percent ) and Muslims (9.5 per cent).
Economy and infrastructure
Major economic factor in the Nilgiris district is tourism. The Nilgiris draw for its natural beauty and by the altitude pleasantly cool climate, especially in the summer months, many travelers, mainly domestic tourists. In particular, Udagamandalam enjoys great popularity and is the most popular mountain resort of Tamil Nadu. In addition, tea is grown in the district of Nilgiris on a large scale.
The district is connected by the Nilgiris Mountain Railway Nilgiri Mountain Railway to the railway network. The steam-powered trains overcome this on the 46- kilometer stretch of Mettupalayam by Udagamandalam a difference in altitude of around 2,000 meters.