Burliar

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Burliar
village
NH-181 in Burliar
NH-181 in Burliar
Burliar is located in Tamil Nadu
Burliar
Burliar
Location in Tamil Nadu, India
Coordinates: 11°20′36″N 76°50′55″E / 11.34333°N 76.84861°E / 11.34333; 76.84861
Country India
StateTamil Nadu
DistrictNilgiris
Languages
 • OfficialTamil
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registrationTN 43
Nearest cityCoimbatore
ClimateVERY COOL (Köppen)

Burliar (also Burliyar and Varaliyaru) is a Panchayat village in Coonoor Taluk of The Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu, India.[1] Situated on the ghat road from Mettupalayam to Coonoor, Burliar is a popular rest stop with several small shops and restaurants. It has a government horticulture farm that was started in 1871.

History[edit]

A horticulture farm, Burliar Gardens, was started in 1871 by K.B. Thomas, the then Collector of Coimbatore and Nilgiris.[2] This was subsequently converted into today's State Horticulture Farm. Over 100 years ago, Burliar was the first place in Asia, besides the Malayan archipelago, where mangosteen and nutmeg were introduced and flourished. Durian was introduced in 1898.[3]

In 1876-77, two plants of Liberian coffee and some mahogany were planted in the Burliar Gardens. A total of 1,013 fruit plants were issued by the Gardens. During that year, the fruit trees were leased out to a contractor, thus keeping the expenditure low.[4]

Geography[edit]

Burliar is situated on National Highway NH 181 between Mettupalayam(Coimbatore) and Coonoor on the Coonoor Ghat Road at an altitude of 800 to 830 m (2,620 to 2,720 ft) above mean sea level.[2] It is located in a tropical to sub-tropical climatic zone.[3] It is near the border between The Nilgiris District and the Coimbatore District.[5]

Demographics[edit]

As per the Census of India 2011, Burliar with a total area of 1,674.7 ha (4,138 acres) had a population of 3,676 in 1,085 households.[6]: 100  Females constitute 51.1% of the population, and 10.04% of the people are in the age group 0-6 years. The literacy rate is 70.0%, with male literacy of 75.9% being higher than female literacy of 64.3%. Scheduled Castes comprise 38.1% of the population while Scheduled Tribes are 10.5%.[7]: 76, 77 

Amenities[edit]

Annai Velankanni Church

Traffic checkpost[edit]

Burliar has one of three checkposts setup by the Nilgiris District police for monitoring traffic into the Nilgiris District. During the peak tourist season, the inflow and outflow of traffic at these checkposts is used to predict congestion in Coonoor or Udhagamandalam, the major towns of the district.[8]

Annai Velankanni Church[edit]

Annai Velankanni Church is a Roman Catholic shrine located in Burliar. The shrine is administered by the parish priest of St. Sebastian`s Church, Coonnoor.[9]

Economy[edit]

Burliar is best known as a rest stop on this Ghat Road. Most people are employed in the running of small shops and restaurants that cater to the needs of travelers. When the road has been closed (for example due to landslides), many of the villagers have left to seek other employment elsewhere.[10]

Besides catering to travelers, Burliar is largely agrarian. About 33.5% of the total area of 1,674.7 ha (4,138 acres) is devoted to agriculture and horticulture, while 47.2% remains forested.[6]: 100, 108 

State Horticulture farm[edit]

This 150-year old horticulture farm has an area of about 6.25 ha (15.4 acres) divided into 68 terraces. Spices and fruits are grown. Spices grown include clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, pepper, and vanilla. Fruits grown include mangosteen, jackfruit, durian, litchi, longsal, carambola, grapefruit, rose apple and mango.[2]

References[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Burliar.
  1. ^ "The Nilgiris: Coonoor Block - Panchayat Villages". Tnmaps.tn.nic.in. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
  2. ^ a b c "Floriculture: State Horticulture Farm Burliar". District Administration, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
  3. ^ a b "HORTICULTURE ON THE NILGIRIS" (PDF). Journal of the Royal Society of Arts. 64 (3329): 729–730. 8 September 1916.
  4. ^ Report on the Administration of the Madras Presidency during the Year 1876-77. Government Press, Madras. 1877. pp. 58, 166.
  5. ^ "Relation: Nilgiris District (448985)". OpenStreetMap. 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  6. ^ a b Census of India 2011: District Census The Nilgiris Tamil Nadu Village and Town Directory. Part XII-A, Series 34. Directorate of Census Operations, Tamil Nadu. 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  7. ^ Census of India 2011: District Census Handbook The Nilgiris Tamil Nadu Village and Town Wise Primary Census Abstract (PCA). Part XII-B, Series 34. Directorate of Census Operations, Tamil Nadu. 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  8. ^ Premkumar, R. (30 May 2022). "Nilgiris district police monitor vehicle inflow during peak tourist season". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  9. ^ "Annai Velankanny church – Burliar". Online Roman Catholic Church Directory. 11 April 2009. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  10. ^ Radhakrishnan, D. (24 November 2009), "Landslips put traders of Burliar in a spot", The Hindu, India, archived from the original on 27 November 2009
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