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Agumbe

Coordinates: 13°30′31″N 75°05′45″E / 13.5087°N 75.0959°E / 13.5087; 75.0959
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Agumbe
village
Clouds at Sunset point, Agumbe
Clouds at Sunset point, Agumbe
Nicknames: 
Cherrapunji of South India, Cherrapunji of Karnataka, Rain City
Agumbe is located in Karnataka
Agumbe
Agumbe
Location of Agumbe
Coordinates: 13°30′31″N 75°05′45″E / 13.5087°N 75.0959°E / 13.5087; 75.0959
Country India
StateKarnataka
DistrictShimoga district
RegionMalenadu
Area
 • Total
3 km2 (1 sq mi)
Elevation
[1]
660 m (2,170 ft)
Population
[2]
 • Total
600
 • Density200/km2 (520/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialKannada
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
577411
Telephone code08181
Vehicle registrationKA-14

Agumbe is a village situated in the Thirthahalli taluka of Shivamogga district, Karnataka, India.[3] It is nestled in the thickly forested Malenadu region of the Western Ghats mountain range.[1] Owing to its high rainfall, it has received the epithet of "The Cherrapunji of South India", after Cherrapunji, one of the rainiest places in India.[4]

Agumbe is associated with rainforest conservation efforts, documentation of medicinal plants, tourism (trekking and photography), and the promotion of cottage industry.[5][2] The Agumbe Rainforest Research Station was established as a sanctuary for the King Cobra, Agumbe's flagship species.[6][7]

Location

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Agumbe in Shivamogga district lies on the south-western coast of India, approximately 98 km (61 mi) north-east of Mangaluru and 357 km (222 mi) north-west of Bengaluru, the state capital of Karnataka in Southern India. It is approximately 24 km (15 mi) from Shringeri and 55 km (34 mi) from the Arabian Sea. The coastal town of Udupi hosts the nearest major railway station approximately 50 km (31 mi). The nearest airport is at Bajpe near Mangaluru which lies at a distance of approximately 94 km (58 mi).[8] The elevation of Agumbe is 660 m (2,165 ft) above mean sea level.[1] As part of the Western Ghats mountain range, Agumbe lies in a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[9] Agumbe is near the Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary and the Kudremukh National Park.

Size

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Agumbe is a small hill village with very limited visitor accommodation. The population is approximately 500 people. The village covers an area of 3 square kilometres (1.2 sq mi).[10]

Economy

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The villagers of Agumbe are subsistence farmers. Rice and areca are grown. The Raksha Kavacha Weavers' Cooperative Society represents the beginnings of cottage industry in the village.[11]

Tourism

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Places in the vicinity of Agumbe that tourists visit include the Kundadri and Kodachadri Hills, Udupi, Malpe, Mangalore (for the airport and seaport), Karkala, Kolluru, Sringeri, Chickmagaluru, Shivamogga, Bhadravathi, N.R. Pura, Sagar, Hosanagar, Koppa and Thirthahalli. In the summer, a truck can be used to reach Narasimha parvata

Sunset Point

Sunset View Point rests on one of the highest peaks of the Western Ghats on the Udupi-Agumbe Road. It is ten minutes walk from Agumbe.[12] On a fine evening, the sunset can be seen over the Arabian Sea.[13]

Geography

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Agumbe lies in a hilly, wet region of the Western Ghat mountains. This geography contributes to its scenery, and suitability for trekking. In addition, there are a number of waterfalls in the locality.

Hairpin turn (Bend) 7/14- Agumbe Ghat

Waterfalls near Agumbe

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Barkana Falls

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Barkana Falls (Latitude 13.449315, Longitude 75.136015), Northeast of Agumbe, is 850 ft (259 m) in height.[14] It is the tenth highest falls in India.[15]

Onake Abbi Falls

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Onake Abbi Falls (latitude 13°30'44"N, longitude 75°4'25"E) at 400 feet, is smaller than Barkana Falls.[16] In the Kannada language, "onake" means 'pounding stick', an instrument used by villagers to pound grains to flour. Trekking for 5 km through rainforest is needed in order to reach a view of the falls.[citation needed]

Jogigundi Falls

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Jogigundi is a small water fall near Agumbe. This is about 800m deep. It is usually filled with water.

Koodlu Threetha Falls

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Koodlu Theerthra waterfall is located 25 km from Agumbe.

Sirimane Falls

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Srimane falls is located at about 40 km from Agumbe.

Climate

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Agumbe hosts India's first automatic weather station, founded by Romulus Whitaker b. 1943, New York, NY.[17] Agumbe lies in a rainforest region with a tropical climate, warm and humid. Under the Köppen system of climate classification Agumbe is an 'Am' climate, that is, a tropical monsoon climate.[18] A dense silvery fog forms over the Western Ghats at Agumbe.[19]

Rainfall

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The driest month in Agumbe is February with an average rainfall of 1 mm. The wettest month is July with an average rainfall of 2,647 mm. The mean annual rainfall is 7,620 millimetres (300 in).[20] The highest recorded rainfall in a single month was 4,508 millimetres (177.5 in) in August 1946.[21]

The table below is comparison of rainfalls for between Agumbe in Thirthahalli taluk in Shimoga district, Hulikal in Hosanagara taluk in Shimoga district, Amagaon in Khanapur Taluk in Belgaum district and Talacauvery in Madikeri taluk in Kodagu district, Kokalli of Sirsi Taluk, Nilkund of Siddapur Taluk, CastleRock of Supa (Joida) Taluk in Uttara Kannada District to show which one can be called the "Cherrapunji of South India".[22]

Year Hulikal Rainfall (mm) Agumbe Rainfall (mm) Amagaon Rainfall (mm) Talacauvery Rainfall (mm)[23] Kokalli(Sirsi) Rainfall (mm) Nilkund Rainfall (mm) Castle Rock Rainfall (mm)
2023 5208
2022 7733 ~7950 ~8700
2021 7937 7544 7879 6536
2020 8401 7306 7439 8856 7152
2019 8541 7293 9804 7266 8069
2018 7577 8422 6570 9098 3944 6204 6501
2017 5,700 6,311 4,733 5,859 3130 4981 5560
2016 5,721 6,449 4,705 5,430 2682 4655 4968
2015 6,035 5,518 4,013 5,319 2730 4367 3667
2014 7,907 7,917 5,580 7,844 8746 6710 5956
2013 9,383 8,770 8,440 8,628 4464 7082 6165
2012 8,409 6,933 5,987 5,722 5036 5398 4930
2011 8,523 7,921 9,368 6,855 4437 6593 7083
2010 7,717 6,929 10,068 6,794 4002 - 4079
2009 8,357 7,982 - - - - -
2008 7,115 7,199 - - - - -
2007 9,038 8,255 - - - - -
2006 8,656 8,457 - - -[24][25] - -
2005 7095
2004 7113
2003 6059
2002 6115
2001 7089
2000 7233

Temperature

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Maximum temperatures in Agumbe vary between 24.4 and 31.5 °C. Minimum temperatures vary between 16.2 °C and 21.4 °C. Average temperatures vary between 22.2 °C and 23.6 °C with an annual average temperature of 23.5 °C. April is the hottest month of the year and December the coolest. The average annual variation in temperature is 4.1 °C.[18] The lowest recorded temperature was 3.2 °C in 1975 and the highest, 37 °C in 2008–2009.[19]

Climate data for Agumbe (1981–2010, extremes 1951–2012)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 34.5
(94.1) 		36.5
(97.7) 		38.0
(100.4) 		36.5
(97.7) 		35.0
(95.0) 		33.0
(91.4) 		30.5
(86.9) 		31.2
(88.2) 		34.0
(93.2) 		32.0
(89.6) 		32.5
(90.5) 		33.0
(91.4) 		38.0
(100.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 29.4
(84.9) 		30.3
(86.5) 		31.3
(88.3) 		31.4
(88.5) 		30.0
(86.0) 		25.6
(78.1) 		23.7
(74.7) 		23.7
(74.7) 		25.5
(77.9) 		27.4
(81.3) 		28.5
(83.3) 		29.0
(84.2) 		28.0
(82.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 11.4
(52.5) 		12.3
(54.1) 		14.8
(58.6) 		17.6
(63.7) 		18.7
(65.7) 		18.0
(64.4) 		17.6
(63.7) 		17.7
(63.9) 		17.4
(63.3) 		17.1
(62.8) 		14.9
(58.8) 		12.1
(53.8) 		15.8
(60.4)
Record low °C (°F) 3.2
(37.8) 		4.0
(39.2) 		4.7
(40.5) 		8.2
(46.8) 		10.2
(50.4) 		10.7
(51.3) 		10.0
(50.0) 		10.0
(50.0) 		10.0
(50.0) 		8.7
(47.7) 		6.5
(43.7) 		3.7
(38.7) 		3.2
(37.8)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 3.8
(0.15) 		2.2
(0.09) 		10.6
(0.42) 		34.8
(1.37) 		181.0
(7.13) 		1,617.3
(63.67) 		2,432.2
(95.76) 		2,145.8
(84.48) 		672.0
(26.46) 		289.2
(11.39) 		78.5
(3.09) 		15.1
(0.59) 		7,482.3
(294.58)
Average rainy days 0.4 0.1 0.8 2.4 7.7 25.2 30.0 29.1 20.2 12.3 4.2 0.8 133.1
Average relative humidity (%) (at 17:30 IST) 67 68 74 78 81 92 95 95 92 88 79 70 82
Source: India Meteorological Department[26][27]

Ecology and biodiversity

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Someshwara (Udupi dist.) below Agumbe
Fog filled valley, Sunset point

Rainforest is a dense, wet, tropical evergreen ecosystem, high in its level of biodiversity. According to the 'Champion and Seth' classification, Agumbe is an area of "Southern tropical wet evergreen forests" (1A/C4). R.S. Troup, an eminent forester of his day, said,

"The tropical evergreen rain forests are characterised by the great luxuriance of their vegetation which consists of several tiers, the highest containing lofty trees...covered by numerous epiphytes"[28]

Agumbe rainforest research station

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The Agumbe Rainforest Research Station was founded in 2005 by Romulus Whitaker, a herpetologist. Whitaker had been familiar with Agumbe since the 1970s when he began studying the King Cobra.[29] Its purpose is to create a local biodiversity database, encourage individual scientific research, collaborate with India's Department of Forestry and conserve the rainforest of the Western Ghats as well as to educate the residents of the region in the importance of forestry conservation. The King Cobra, an endangered species is the station's "flagship species".[10] The station occupies an area of 8 acres (32,000 m2). Funding for the station came from Whitaker's mother, Doris Norden and from the Whitley Award received by Whitaker in 2005.

Medicinal plants conservation area

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The Agumbe Medicinal Plants Conservation Area was established in 1999 to protect the important medicinal plants of the region. The "Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions" recorded 371 plant species at Agumbe, of which 182 were medicinal.[28][30]

Flora

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Endangered plant species

Endangered plant species in the area include[31]

Plant species named for Agumbe
Other plant species discovered at Agumbe
orchids of attraction
A Panorama of Agumbe

Fauna

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Mammals

Agumbe provides an environment for large and small mammals such as the endangered lion-tailed macaque,[38][39] tiger,[40] leopard, sambar, giant squirrel, dhole, a wild dog of India, gaur, the Indian bison and barking deer.

Reptiles and amphibians

In creating funds for conservation of the Agumbe rainforest, the Ophiophagus hannah, king cobra is a 'flagship' species.[41] An Agumbe-based scientific project to radio-locate rescued king cobras aims to determine whether relocation is helpful to their survival.[42] other reptiles and amphibians of the area include the cane turtle and a flying lizard.

Birds

Agumbe is a popular destination for bird watchers and photographers. Among the endemic birds are the Malabar trogon, the yellow-browed bulbul and Sri Lankan frogmouths.[43]

Great Hornbill
Insects and marine species

Agumbe's many insect species include the Atlas moth, Cyclotoma alleni (a beetle discovered in Agumbe),[44] Selenops agumbensis, a spider and Drosophila agumbensis a small fly species. Cremnoconchus agumbensis is a local small fresh water snail.[45]

Temples

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The Agumbe Venugopalakrishna Hindu temple is an old structure known for beautiful architecture and peacefulness. The temple deity is Sri Venugopala Krishna. An annual fair is conducted each year in February during Ratha Saptami in honour of the deity.

Another local temple is the Sringeri Sharadamba temple.

Malgudi Days

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Malgudi Days (1985) is a television serial directed by Shankar Nag. It was based on novels written by R. K. Narayan. Many episodes were filmed in Agumbe.[46] In 2004, a new set of episodes of Malgudi Days was filmed at Agumbe by Kavitha Lankesh (director).[46][47]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Agumbe topographic map". topographic-map.com. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b Nair, Roshni (22 May 2017). "I lived for two weeks in a rainforest in the Western Ghats. Here's what it was like". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  3. ^ "Plan a monsoon date with the rainforests at Agumbe". The Economic Times. 17 August 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  4. ^ Manvi, Dheeraja (17 March 2018). "Agumbe: The Cherrapunji of South India". Telangana Today. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  5. ^ Shenoy, Niharika (25 March 2017). "If you have a wild streak, go to Agumbe". The Hindu. Bengaluru (published 29 August 2016). Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  6. ^ Menon, Priya (15 July 2018). "On the royal snake trail". The Times of India. Chennai. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  7. ^ "In the king's own country". Frontline. 10 June 2016.
  8. ^ "Mangalore to Agumbe - Distance". Google Maps. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  9. ^ "Decisions adopted by the world heritage committee at its 35th session" (PDF) (in English and French). UNESCO. 7 July 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  10. ^ a b "Agumbe Rainforest Research Station". Archived from the original on 7 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013. Karnataka. Accessed 24 October 2013
  11. ^ Veerendra, PM (15 October 2012). "Spinning a wheel of change in naxal-hit villages". The Hindu. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  12. ^ "Sunset point, Agumbe". Holidayiq.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  13. ^ "Agumbe Sunset Point". Udupi Tourism. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  14. ^ "Barkana Falls". World Waterfall Database. 21 May 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  15. ^ "Barkana Falls". Tourist Link. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  16. ^ "Onake Abbi Falls". Thirthahalli Tourist Information. Archived from the original on 4 September 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  17. ^ Chandra, NS. "New weather station at Agumbe". Deccan Herald. Bangalore. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  18. ^ a b "Climate-Agumbe". Climatedata.org. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  19. ^ a b Sampalli, Jagadeesh (23 January 2012). "The changing face of Agumbe". IBNlive.In.com (CNN). Archived from the original on 5 December 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  20. ^ "Observations Recorded at 0830 Hrs IST" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. 18 August 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 August 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  21. ^ "Climate". Western Ghats Biodiversity Information System. Environment Information System (ENVIS). Bangalore: Centre for Ecological Sciences [CES] Indian Institute of Sciences [IISc]. Archived from the original on 2 July 2007. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  22. ^ "Hulikal in Shimoga district is wettest in State". TheHindu.com. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  23. ^ "Amagaon is now Cherrapunji of South". DeccanHerald.com. Retrieved 23 March 2013. Amagaon has got over 10,000 mm annual rainfall twice in the five years (2006-2010). The exact amount of rainfall is not available.
  24. ^ "Govt of Karnataka Rainfall Statistics (Kokalli)" (PDF). DES. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 March 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  25. ^ "Rainfall Statistics of Karnataka". DES Karanataka. Archived from the original on 26 November 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  26. ^ "Station: Agumbe Climatological Table 1981–2010" (PDF). Climatological Normals 1981–2010. India Meteorological Department. January 2015. pp. 11–12. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  27. ^ "Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)" (PDF). India Meteorological Department. December 2016. p. M87. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  28. ^ a b Prabhakaran V. "Agumbe Medicinal Plants Conservation Area – A tribute to Kuvempu" "Medplant Network News". Archived from the original on 14 April 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2013. Medplant Network News, Volume 3, September–October 2003. International Development Research Centre (pub), Canada. In English. Accessed 24 October 2013
  29. ^ Opili, P (28 April 2005). "Whitaker gets top U.K. conservation prize". The Hindu (Tamil Nadu News). Archived from the original on 13 March 2007. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  30. ^ Ved, DK; Goraya, GS (2008). Demand and supply of medicinal plants in India. Dehra Dun: Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh.
  31. ^ "10 per cent of native plant species in Western Ghats on endangered list". The Hindu. 11 November 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  32. ^ "Meliola agumbinensis". Fungal databases, nomenclature and species banks. International Mycology Association. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  33. ^ "Tarenna agumbensis". Mongabay.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  34. ^ "Hygroaster agumbinensis". Fungal databases, nomenclature and species banks. International Mycology Association. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  35. ^ "Dactylaria agumbinensis". Fungal databases, nomenclature and species banks. International Mycology Association. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  36. ^ Udar; et al. (1982). "A new Caudalejeunea from India". The Bryologist. 85 (3): 329–331. doi:10.2307/3243056. JSTOR 3243056.
  37. ^ Udar, Ram; Singh, Devendra Kumar (1979). "Notothylas dissecta, A Hornwort new to India". The Bryologist. 82 (4): 625–628. doi:10.2307/3242010. JSTOR 3242010.
  38. ^ "Lion-tailed macaque". Friends of the Smithsonian National Zoo. 2005. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  39. ^ Karanth, KU (1992). "Conservation prospects for lion-tailed macaques in Karnataka, India". Zoo Biology. 11. Wiley: 33–41. doi:10.1002/zoo.1430110105.
  40. ^ "India's work for tigers". WWF - India. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  41. ^ "King Cobra". Mohamed bin Zayed Species Project. 24 October 2009. number 0925556. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  42. ^ "King cobra radio telemetry project – six-month report" (PDF). ARRS. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  43. ^ "Rainforest Rendezvous – Photography Tour of Agumbe". Darter Photography Tours. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  44. ^ Tomaszewska, KW (2003). "Cyclotoma alleni, new species from India (Coleoptera: Endomychidae)". Annales Zoologici. 53: 203–204. ISSN 0003-4541.
  45. ^ Reid; et al. "A unique radiation of marine littorinid snails in the freshwater streams of the Western Ghats of India: the genus Cremnoconchus". WoRMS. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  46. ^ a b "The Malgudi that is Agumbe". The Hindu. 20 February 2011. Archived from the original on 23 February 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  47. ^ "Malgudi Days are back". Online Edition of The Deccan Herald, dated 11 April 2004. 2004, The Printers (Mysore) Private Ltd. Archived from the original on 26 September 2007. Retrieved 16 May 2007.
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