An older world

In Munnar everything of historical value is traditionally preserved 8212; from antiquated arms to retired planters8217; hats, and a bewild...

In Munnar everything of historical value is traditionally preserved 8212; from antiquated arms to retired planters8217; hats, and a bewildering array of other odds and ends associated with the hill-station8217;s hoary past. Established in 1878 by the British, the town is redolent of the raj. In fact some of its customs are still observed here. And, not surprisingly, many relics of the raj find pride of place in the local clubs and business houses.

The High Range Club, for instance, is a storehouse of such memorabilia. It has an impressive collection of shikar trophies and retired planters8217; hats, not to mention old French duelling swords and headgear as well as the giant molar of a rogue elephant shot in the 1930s. These, together with yellowing photographs of yore and period furniture, give the club an old-world charm reminiscent of the British era.

At the picturesque Kundale Club there are two original posters, hand-painted in 1898 and 1904, announcing various social get-togethers and competitions. Also on display here is an antique musket which belonged to one of the pioneer planters. Further, a big-game rifle that had accounted for many a rogue elephant during the British era, has also been preserved. Occasionally, one even chances upon the odd piece of antique Victorian furniture in a planter8217;s bungalow.

Some of the earliest tea-making machinery used in the 1890s 8212; prototypes of the sophisticated equipment in use today 8212; can be viewed in Munnar. Also to be seen are the wheels of the railway engine that operated in the hill-station between 1908 and 1924 before floods washed away the tracks. And the old British-built ropeway station, a prominent landmark for decades, still draws tourists intrigued by its mystique.

Lodge Heather, a Masonic organisation founded by the British planters in 1902, celebrated its centenary last year. Interestingly, the original banner displayed at the inauguration in 1902 is still used by the local Freemasons! Likewise, the original birth and death registers have been meticulously maintained in the local Protestant Church, with entries going back to the 1890s. Nearby are the graves of the pioneer planters, the inscriptions still legible. And in the church, gleaming brass plaques commemorate these stalwarts 8212; a tribute to their yeoman services.

Steeped in history, Munnar has undoubtedly taken good care of the mementos of its past, preserving them for posterity. Looking to its future, one fervently hopes that something will be done 8212; before it is too late 8212; to preserve this charming hill-station from the ravages of tourism and over-exploitation.