FRINGE FORD ESTATE – A FACT FILE 

Name of the estate    :                                   Fringe Ford Estate

Address                      :                                   Cherrakarra P.O., Talapoya Post,

                                                                        Mananthavadi, Wayanad Dist.

                                                                        Kerala.

Access Points             :                                   a) From Calicut – 122 Kms

Via Kelpatta, Manantavadi, Talapoya, makki mala, Fringe ford (Saroja)*

                                                                        b) From Mysore/Bangalore – 125/270

                                                                            Via Gundalpet, Sultan Battery,

    Meenangadi, Manantavadi, Talapoya,

    Fringe Ford or Via Hunsur, Nagarhole,

    Kutta, Manantavadi, Talapoya,

    Makki mala, Fringe ford (Saroja)*                                

c) From Ooty – 150 Kms

                                                                            Via Gundalpet, Sultan Battery,

    Meenangadi, Manantavadi, Talapoya,

                                                                            Makki mala, Fringe ford (Saroja)*

                                                                        d) From Coimbatore – 250 Kms

                                                                             Via Mettupalayam, Ooty, Gundalpet,

Sultan Battery, 

Meenangadi, Manantavadi, Talapoya,

                                                                             Makki mala, Fringe ford (Saroja)*  

General Topography:

Location                     :                                   lies between North latitude 11* 27’ &

                                                                        15* 58’ & East longitude 75* 47’ &

                                                                        70* 21' .                                                                     

Elevation                    :                                   700 – 2100 Metres

Temperature              :                                   Min  :  17 Deg Celsius

                                                                        Max : 29 Deg Celsius

Rainfall                       :                                   5000 – 7000 mm

Flora                           :                                   Rose wood, Anjali(artocarpus), erthrina,

                                                                        Caussia, Teak, Jack fruit, etc..

                                                                        Abundant variety of herbs and medicinal

                                                                        Plants.

                                                                        Wild orchids and ferns.                                                                        

Fauna                          :                                   Tiger, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Indian Wild

Dog (Dhole), Elephants, Gaur, Sambar, Barking Deer (Muntjac), Wild Boar, Giant Malabar squirrel, Nilgiri Langoor, Lion Tail Macaque, Cobras, Pythons………………..

                                                                        Malabar hornbill, Malabar grey hornbill,

                                                                        Imperial pigeon, sun birds, parakeets,

                                                                        Lorikeets, drongos, wood peckers,

                                                                        Thrushes, jungle fowl, tree pies etc….

                                                                        Abundant varieties of bats are also found

                                                                        in these parts.

Water sources          :                               1 waterfall, 7 perennial streams, 19 seasonal

                                                                   streams.  

Infrastructure                 :                         Jeepable roads, electricity, telephones,

                                                                    Manager’s bunglow, labour lines,

                                                                    Bridges, cardamom curing house.

Plantation crops              :                         cardamom, coffee, pepper, vanilla, lemon

                                                                    grass, cocoa, nutmeg, ginger, turmeric,

                                                                    areca nut,

                                                                    Huge potential for Herbal & Medicinal 

                                                                    plants. 

                                                                    Floriculture and Bee keeping.                                  

 Places of interest          :                              a) Thirunelly temple

                                                                      b) Mananthvadi river (tributary of Kabini)

                                                                      c) Jain temples at Pannamaram & Sultan battery

                                                                      d) Jain temples at Pathangadi

                                                                      e) Edakkal caves at Ambukkuthimala

                                                                      f) Meenmutti Waterfall

                                                                      g) Soochippara Waterfall

                                                                      h) Chembra Peak

                                                                      i) Pakshipathalam

                                                                      j) Pookok Lake

                                                                      k) kuruva Dweep

                                                                      l) Pazhassi Raja’s tomb

                                                                     m) Glass Temples of Koottamunda

 Neighboring wildlife sanctuaries:            Begur wildlife sanctuary, Wyanad wildlife 

                                                                     sanctuary, Nagarlole, Mathanga (these

                                                                     sanctuaries are all within a 30km radius)

                                                                     Mudumalai, Bandipur

 Potential                                       :             The present district of Wyanad was carved

                                                                     out, from the parts of kozikode and kannur

                                                                     districts. This backward district is perhaps

                                                                     one of the biggest foreign exchange earners

                                                                     of the state, thanks to its cash crops like

                                                                     coffee, pepper, cardamom, tea, spices,

                                                                     vanilla, etc……. apart from these

          &nb