Total area of land » 115 Acres

Location » Shenbagathoppu, (Near to Western Ghats hills), Virudunagar district, TamilNadu

Nearest railway station: Srivilliputtur (TamilNadu) from this land 5 KM

Bus Route: Madurai to Tenkasi Courtallam NH 208 Near 5KM from this land (TamilNadu)

The nearest airport is at Madurai, 70 km from Srivilliputtur. Srivilliputtur Railway Station is the nearest railway station. Buses are available from Madurai, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, Virudhunagar through Madurai - Tenkasi State Highway.

Type of land: Patta land

Type of soil: Red soil

Land description:
The location of land in habited in natural vegetation of Western Ghats. The entire land planted by different plantations. The following plantations are maintaining for past several years.

• Citrus(Lemon) tree – 4,164 numbers
• Mango trees – 1328 numbers
• Guava – 297 numbers
• Coconut tree – 326 numbers
• Sapota tree – 102 nubers
• Cashew trees – 96 numbers
• Goose berry (Nelli) Amla tree – 99 numbers
• Orange trees – 80 numbers
• Sour lime (Northangai) – 414 numbers
• Jumbulian (Novel) tree – 2 numbers
• Tamarind tree – 20 numbers

Cultivable: It may be utilized for different type of plantations such as Bamboos, Cactus members such as Aloe, all medicinal plants.

Climate: Good climate through out the year bound with Western Ghats

Infrastructure:

 »RCC room – 500 square feet – 2 numbers
»GI sheet room – 500 square feet – 1 number
»GI Sheet room – 200 square feet – 1 number
» GI Sheet room – 100 square feet – 1 number
»Number of wells – 6, three phase current supply (Free Current) with high speed motor.

  ABOUT SHENBAGATHOPU

Physical Features

Virudhunagar District is bound on the north by Madurai, on the north-east by Sivaganga, on the east by Ramanathapuram and on the south by Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts. The eastern slopes of the Western Ghats are in Srivilliputtur and Rajapalayam taluks. The average height of the hills of the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats is 1500m, though a few peaks rise to 1700m. The highest peaks are Peyimalai Mottai and Kottamalai. The foothills have rich loamy soil with good vegetation cover. The plains with black cotton soil (locally known as karisal) have underlying cal carious formations.
Hundreds of years ago, the area from Srivilliputtur to the Western Ghats was covered by denseforest and there was a forest of Shenbaga trees here. A Rakshasa 'Shenbagasura.'performed severe penance for many years and got many boons. Since his penance was one here, this place is called 'Shenbagavanam' even today.

Climate

The climate of the region is semi-arid tropical monsoon type. The temperatures range from 20° C to 37° C. April, May and June are the hottest months of the year. The South West monsoon which sets in June and lasts till August brings scanty rain. The bulk of the rainfall is received during the North East monsoon in the months of October, November and December. The forests are found on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats. Only 6.3% of the total geographical area is under forests. The type range from west coast tropical evergreen forests, west coast semi evergreen forests, dry teak forests, southern mixed deciduous forests and dry grasslands.


Forest

Many rare and endemic varieties of flora and fauna are found along the mountain slopes. A wildlife sanctuary spread over 480 sq. kms. was established in 1989 at Shenbagathopu in Srivilliputur taluk.. This sanctuary is contiguous with the Periyar tiger reserve on the south-western side and the Megamalai reserve forest on the north-western side. The altitude varies from 100m to 2010 m above sea level. The sanctuary is home to the endangered, arboreal grizzled giant squirrel Ratufa macrora. This grayish brown squirrel weighs 1 to 1.8 kg. and is the size of a small cat. The sanctuary also hosts a variety of birds, mammals, reptiles and butterflies.


Cultivated Crops

The area under cultivation accounts for 37% of the total geographic area. Agriculture provides sustenance to 52% of the working population. Productivity of agriculture is influenced by numerous factors such as soil, climate, irrigation, marketing and credit facilities and agricultural practices and techniques. The soils of the District are of poor productivity and are mainly black loamy soil (locally known as (Karisal). Cotton, pulses, oilseeds and millets, which do not require much irrigation, are the main crops grown. Paddy and sugarcane are grown where tank or well irrigation is available. The crops cultivated are Black gram, Green gram, Cowpea, Lablab, Cholam, Cumbu, Ragi, Small Millets, Maize, Sunflower, Groundnut, Gingelly, Cotton, Chilli, Paddy and Sugarcane.

Medicinal plants

The forests of Alagarkoil valley in Srivilliputur taluk and Saduragiri are known for rare medicinal plants. The medicinal value of 275 plants has been recorded and reported. The forests host a rich variety of orchids and ferns.

Cultivable Medicinal Plants

1) Nerium inidicum –Arali
2) Cassia auriculata – Avarai
3) Cassia fistula – Sarakonnai
4) Cassia siamia – Nila Avarai
5) Gloriosa superba – Kalapai kilang,(Senghanthal malar)
6) Andrographis paniculata – (Periyanangai)
7) Albizia lebbeck – Vagai
8) Clitoria ternatea – Kakanam
9) Pandanus odoratus – Thalai
10) Ceiba pentandra – Ilavu
11) Adhatoda vasica
12) Zingiber officinale (zinger)
13) Santalum album (Sandal)
14) Catharanthus roseus –(Vinca rosea)
15) Ocimum sanctum – Thulsi
16) Coleus aromaticus – Oomavalli
17) Phyllanthus emblica –Nelli