Biodiversity park in Ayyappancovil wins Vanamithra Award for conservation efforts

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Manoj Mathirappally at his biodiversity park in Idukki | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Manoj Mathirappally at his biodiversity park in Idukki | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRNAGEMENT

A two-acre biodiversity park close to the Idukki reservoir at Ayyappancovil, located along the Kattappana–Kuttikkanam State Highway, has emerged as a thriving hub for rare medicinal and exotic flora. Visitors can view a dense concentration of rare and sacred species, some of which are deeply rooted in ancient lore.

Among the highlights are the neelakoduveli (plumbago auriculata), a rare plant described in the Puranas, alongside mahavilvam (aegle marmelos), somalatha (sarcostemma acidum), the kamandalumaram or calabash tree (crescentia cujete), puthranjeeva (putranjiva roxburghii), and kayampoo (memecylon umbellatum). The park was envisioned and developed by local historian Manoj Mathirappally on his personal land.

“The kamandalu tree, whose hollowed-out gourds were historically used by sages to fetch water, is one of our key features,” said Mr. Mathirappally. “We have also cultivated red ginger, kayampoo, maramulla (murraya paniculata), kalyana saugandhikam (hedychium coronarium), churakkalli (jatropha multifida)—which serves as a natural bandage—and kalluvazha (ensete superbum), a wild banana variety whose fruits are packed with large seeds and rare red gel aloe vera,” he said.

He added, “We also feature madhuram kolli (gymnema sylvestre), a plant capable of temporarily neutralising the taste of sugar for up to an hour, and the puthranjeeva tree, which is famously referenced in the Puranas for aiding in the birth of a male child.”

Building the collection required immense dedication. “Various plants and trees were gathered from across the State and South India with great effort,” Mr. Mathirappally noted. “My goal is to transform this park into an educational resource hub for researchers and students, fostering awareness about biodiversity conservation. We are already seeing a steady stream of st