If you are a nature
enthusiast who is desperately pouring your head over volumes to get your
much-needed information on Teak, the wonder tree, then the world famous Teak
Museum
at Nilambur is just the perfect place for you to be in. Here, you
can satisfy yourself with loads of information on this magical bounty of
nature.
The well-known Teak Museum is located at Nilambur in the Malappuram district of Kerala. Regarded as the first of its kind in the world and the only one in India; it is a house to the treasures of historical, aesthetic and scientific aspects of Teak. The museum was established on the campus of the sub-centre of Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) in 1995. The museum was established here owing to the historical significance of the region. The world's first Teak (Tectona grandis) plantation was raised in Nilambur way back in the 1840s in order to ensure a steady supply of Teak timber to the British.
The
fascinating abundance of information on this wonder tree attracts an entire
horde of tourists to visit this museum throughout the year. The extensive
root system of a 55-year-old teak tree exhibited in the portico for
welcoming the tourists is itself metaphorical of the past, present and
future of the museum.
The ground floor of the double-storied
museum exhibits a translite of Kannimara
Teak, the oldest naturally
growing teak tree located at the Parambikulam wild-life sanctuary and the
life-size replica of the trunk of the largest known teak tree growing in the
Malayattoor forest division. Another translite of a giant tree present in
the oldest teak plantation in the
Conolly's Plot at Nilambur offers the
visitors a glimpse into the teak plantation activities undertaken 160 years
ago. Some of the other other attractions here are the traditional granary and a
miniature model of sailing vessel called Uru made of teak
wood.
Teak poles of varying sizes and qualities obtained
during the process of
'Thinning' of teak plantations are also displayed
along with the necessary details of standard classification of teak poles.
The depiction of foliage, flowers, fruits and bark of the tree gives us a
deeper insight in to the other characteristics of the teak. Here, one can
also find the large stump of a 480-year-old teak tree brought from
Nagarampara forest range in Kottayam division.
Detailed
description on the flower, fruit and natural regeneration of teak as well as
the prominent characteristics of these species of trees are exhibited in the
first floor of the museum. In addition to this, the various methods of
seed-grading, presowing treatment, preparation of teak stumps, vegetative
propagation of teak and the different stages in the complete rotation cycle
of teak from seed to mature tree are also on display.
Apart from teak, the mueusm also has a collection of over 300 butterflies,
moths and insects found in teak plantations. Another exclusive section in the museum deals
with the various physical disorders of teak, disease-causing insects and
pests, plantation and other nursery diseases.
Some of the special attractions of the Teak Museum at Nilambur are a series of interesting paintings portraying tree felling operations, a collection of photographs on the phonological events of teak at different seasons, exhibits on traditional harvesting tools and wood samples of different ages from various parts of the world.
The portraits of great figures who had carved out milestones in the successful establishment of teak plantations as well as of those who had laid the foundations to the plantation forestry in India like H.V.Conolly, Chathu Menon and T.F.Bourdillion offer a strong perspective of a glorious era spanning a period of 150 years. This museum also has a world-class library on teak and a mini auditorium for audio-visual presentations.
The 800-metre long bio-resources nature trail
on the museum campus is indeed, an interesting one. This nature trail
passes through a heavy growth of shrubs, trees and bamboos. One can also
find the different species of birds and reptiles here. There are 50
naturally grown tree species and 136 endangered and near-extinct tree
species of the Western Ghats planted in this nature trail. About 58 species
of birds, both resident and migratory, has been recorded in this area. A
medicinal plant garden consisting of 150 species is also another attraction
worth seeing.
Getting there:
Nearest railway
station: Nilambur, about 3 km from the Teak Museum.
Nearest
airport: Karipur International Airport, about 36 km from
Malappuram.
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