Chimmini (Chimmony) Dam Reservoir

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It is in Trichur district, Varandarappilly Village, well known for good landscape. Its valley is full of rubber estates. This dam provides water supply to many parts of the district connected with Kurumali river. A very nice dam site. It is surrounded by Peechi Dam and Mangalam Dam. Route from Trichur Town is Amballur - Varandarappilly - Palappilly - Chimony dam

CHIMMONY WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

The flora and fauna preserved and developed around the reservoir is now adapted as one of the distinguished tropical rain forest wild life sanctuary.

Chimmony Wildlife Sanctuary, established in 1984, is situated at the Mukundapuram taluk of Thrissur district. The headquarters of this sanctuary is at Echippara which is 28 kms away from Amballoor village in the north direction. Amballoor is 12 kms away from Thrissur town in south direction. A dam was constructed across the Chimmini river at 75m, above the sea level. Due to this, a large section of forest was cleared during 1976-83 period. This sanctuary, consisting of the watershed areas of Kunumali and Mupliyam rivers, is encircled by hills.

This area was dense forest 200 years ago. Local chieftains who were having control and ownership over the forest and the timber merchants had been plundering this forest. Though scientific felling and implementation of forest laws had been introduced, depletion of forest resource could not be supplanted. However, present protective measures show the signs of improvement.

A part of the Chimmony wildlife sanctuary lies adjacent to the Peechi-Vazhani wildlife sanctuary and the other part to Parambikulam wildlife sanctuary. All kinds of flora found in rain forest are seen here. The altitude of Chimmony dam area varies from 40m to 1110m to the eastern direction. Punda peak which is situated at the eastern side of the sanctuary has an altitude of 1116m. Chimmony wildlife sanctuary lies between the longitude 10° 22' to 10° 26' and latitude 76° 31' - 76° 37' at the western valley of Nelliyampathi.

Climate

The climate here is very salubrious. Warm climate is felt from December to April and cold climate from May to November. Heat during March and April months goes up to 24° C to 30°C. Heavy rain is experienced during the month of June and July. The annual average rainfall is 2980mm. The temperature used to decrease to 15°C. Consequent on the construction of Chimmony Dam, an artificial lake has been formed here. This lake has an area of 10 sq.kms and a depth of 20m. This sanctuary consists of 10 sq.kms of evergreen forests, 15sq.kms of semi evergreen forests and 40 sq.kms of leaf shedding forests.

Evergreen Forests

Trees like pali, punna, vediplavu, anjili, whitepine, kampakom, white akil, pathiri and nedunar, are seen in the upper part and trees like vetti, thetti, kara, narakom, marotti, mullilam etc are seen in the lower parts.

Semi Evergreen

Trees like manja kadambu, ayani, elavu, pongu, white teak, manimaruthu, kanakkaitha, vakkaplavu are seen here.

Leaf Shedding Forest

Trees like thakara, pala, padachi, venga, puvam, vedam korana, karimarunna, pilla marunnu, thani, irul are seen here.

Fauna

Animals like leopard, tiger, elephant, bear, wild pigs, wild bison etc are seen here.

Tourism

Kochi and Coimbatore are the nearest airport. Thrissur is the nearest important railway station. However, tourists can easily reach the sanctuary since all the important trains stop at Chalakkudy. There is a length of 24 kms from Thrissur town to Echippara, the headquarters of the sanctuary. There are many paths in the sanctuary to climb the rocks and study the forests.

Accommodation

There is an inspection bunglow near the dam. There are private hotels also at Amballoor.

Contact Address

Divisional Forest Officer, Chalakkudy Division,
Chalakkudy. P.O., Thrissur District. Pin. 680 307
Phone 2340,2480.

Travelogue at sshinu.blogspot.com/2011/01/chimmony-tale.html