The 1200 AD-old Munnar Royal Road to Kochi, which was once an important trade and transport corridor, is again making headlines. The road, which was badly affected by the 1924 floods and subsequently closed by the Forest Department in 2010, is now being asked to be reopened by local residents with the support of the church. They say repairing the 120-km-long road would reduce travel time to Mankulam in Munnar by 20 km.
The History Of The Munnar-Kochi Royal Road
The history of this ancient route goes back to 300-250 BC when it was used as a trade route between Madurai and the ancient port city of Muziris (present-day Kodungallur). But the great flood of 1341 ruined Muziris, and consequently, this trade route declined.
As reported by Manorama, in 1891, the authorities decided to restore the route, broadening it to accommodate bullock carts. The road linked Aluva to Munnar through Kothamangalam, Thattekad, Pooyamkutty, and a few other places. It played a crucial role in trade between Munnar and Central Travancore, alongside the Periyar River, without any sharp gradients.
However, the ‘deluge of 99’ — that is the name given to the 1924 floods — caused tremendous landslips, which removed huge sections of the road. To this effect, Rani Sethu Lakshmi Bai sanctioned the construction of an alternative road through Neriamangalam in 1931.
With the construction of the new road and the Neriamangalam Bridge in 1936, the old Munnar Royal Road went out of use.
The Battle To Reopen The Road
Although in bad shape, the road was still used partially until the 1990s. People used it for carrying bamboo from the forests. But in 1990, the Forest Department closed it by putting a crossbar on Pooyamkutty’s cement bridge. In 2010, the road was completely closed and formally incorporated into forest land.
Those in favour of reopening the road say that it would increase tourism and commerce, along with providing a shorter link to Munnar. Conservationists, however, caution that human intervention may disrupt the sensitive ecosystem and raise human-wildlife conflicts.
The issue of reopening the Munnar Royal Road is ongoing. While Kerala’s Minister of Tourism, PA Muhammad Riyas, agreed that the road had the potential to enhance economic and tourist benefits in 2021, the Forest Department sticks to its stand. With increased public agitation and government hesitation, the destiny of this centuries-old trail is unsure.
Will history repeat itself, or will construction supersede conservation? The next few years will determine the fate of this fabled road.
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva (For Representation)
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