Reviving the Royal Way: Why Kerala’s Old Aluva–Munnar Rajapatha Demands Immediate Restoration
A 25-km shorter, river-level historic arterial corridor connecting Central Kerala to the High Ranges with zero elephant corridors and over 35 indigenous settlements awaiting basic road connectivity.
For decades, connectivity between the plains of central Kerala and the misty high ranges of Munnar has relied heavily on the winding, landslide-prone National Highway 85 (Kochi–Dhanushkodi Highway). Yet tucked along the valleys of the Periyar river basin lies an engineered route rich in heritage: the Old Aluva–Munnar Road, historically celebrated as the Rajapatha (Royal Way).
Originating as an ancient Chera-era trade path between the spice-rich high ranges and the ancient port of Muziris, and later fortified by the Maharaja of Travancore and British engineers in 1877 under the Poonjar Concession, the Rajapatha was once the economic artery of the region. Today, formal representations championed by tribal heads, people's representatives, and civil society committees demand the preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) to revive this vital route as an eco-friendly parallel alignment.
1. A 25-Kilometre Shortcut with Gentle Valley Engineering
The existing NH 85 route from Kothamangalam to Munnar covers approximately 85 km, passing through Neriamangalam and Adimali. It is characterized by steep ascents, narrow hairpins, sheer gorges, and recurring traffic snarls. Monsoon rains regularly trigger destructive landslips along this stretch, forcing the National Highway authorities to spend enormous sums annually on retaining walls.
In stark contrast, the historic Rajapatha spans only 60 km from Kothamangalam to Munnar—delivering an immediate 25 km reduction in travel distance. Engineered with an even contour gradient of roughly 1:10, the road runs parallel to the perennial tributaries of the Periyar, including the Idamayar, Pooyamkutty, and Karinthiri rivers. This eliminates abrupt altitude shifts, drastically cuts vehicular fuel consumption, and reduces wear and tear on emergency and transit vehicles.
2. A Social Lifeline for 35+ Indigenous Tribal Hamlets
The primary justification for restoring the Rajapatha rests on human dignity and equitable development. The road passes through five key local self-governments across Ernakulam and Idukki districts: Keerampara, Kuttampuzha, Mankulam, Adimali, and Munnar Grama Panchayats, directly linking to Edamalakudi—Kerala’s sole tribal panchayat.
These remote ranges are home to more than 35 tribal settlement colonies, predominantly of the Muthuvan and Mannan communities. Key settlements including Panthapra, Pinavoorkudi, Mamalakandam, Thalavechupara, Uriyampetti, Kurathikudi, and Aanakulam struggle daily with geographic isolation. For these communities, an all-weather road ensures:
Emergency Medical Lifeline: Direct, swift transit for pregnant mothers, elderly patients, and emergencies to taluk hospitals in Kothamangalam or Adimali.
Economic Independence: Fair access to agricultural and minor forest produce markets without exploitation by middlemen or crippling transport costs.
Access to Education: Safe, reliable transport for tribal children currently compelled to trek hazardous wilderness trails to attend schools.
3. Dispelling the Virgin Forest Myth: 40 km Already Operational
A frequent administrative hesitation surrounding the Rajapatha is the assumption that restoration involves tearing open dense, untouched reserve forests. Official survey reports and ground inspections demonstrate the opposite: out of the 60 km alignment, over 40 km is already fully cartable, and public stage carriage buses already ply regular routes on both sides.
The missing link is limited to a 26 km stretch between Pooyamkutty (Kuttampuzha) and Perumbankuthu (Mankulam). Within this segment:
Pooyamkutty to Peendimedu (12 km): Existing cartable track.
Perumbankuthu to Kurathikudi (8 km): Recently modernised under BM & BC standards for the Mankulam Hydro Electric Project.
Kurathikudi to Peendimedu: Cartable alignment requiring only intermediate surface strengthening and culvert maintenance to restore through-traffic.
4. Flawless Legal and Revenue Standing
The legal foundation of the Old Aluva–Munnar Road is thoroughly documented across government archives:
Statutory Survey & Mile Stones: Originally surveyed and pegged with royal milestone markers under the Travancore Kingdom, verified in records held by the Central Survey Office, Thiruvananthapuram.
Revenue Land Classification: Official reports from the Village Offices of Kuttampuzha and Mankulam confirm that in the Basic Tax Register (BTR), the road corridor (width: 20 to 40 metres) is demarcated as Revenue Road Land, not forest land.
PWD Asset Register: Under GO (MS) No. 52/2009/PWD, the Kerala Public Works Department formally gazetted sections of this route as Major District Roads (MDR).
Exemption from FCA Clearance & NPV: Because the road predates the Forest Conservation Act of 1980, Clarification No. 11.6 issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in 2019 explicitly allows maintenance of pre-existing roads without levying Net Present Value (NPV) or demanding Compensatory Afforestation (CA).
5. Constitutional Mandate: 'Access to Road is Access to Life'
The restoration of this corridor is underpinned by binding Supreme Court precedents:
State of H.P. v. Umed Ram Sharma (AIR 1986 SC 847): The Supreme Court ruled that for residents of hilly and isolated regions, access to a motorable road is an integral aspect of the Right to Life under Article 21.
In Re: Construction of Park at Noida (2010): The Apex Court ruled that where statutory revenue records record land outside notified forest status, arbitrary environmental hurdles cannot obstruct lawful public infrastructure.
Auroville Foundation v. Navroz Kersasp Mody (2025): Reaffirmed that sustainable development principles require maintaining a pragmatic balance between environmental protection and essential community mobility.
6. Wildlife Protection and Modern Eco-Passage
A crucial ecological fact documented by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII, 2023) is that no notified elephant corridor intersects the Old Aluva–Munnar alignment. The five identified corridors in Kerala—including Nilambur–Appankappu and Kottiyur–Periya—are situated entirely elsewhere in the Western Ghats.
Modern environmental engineering provides proven frameworks to ensure infrastructure and biodiversity thrive together. Modeled on successful eco-passages such as the NH 44 corridor through the Pench Tiger Reserve, the Rajapatha can easily integrate:
Dedicated animal underpasses and canopy bridges along known wildlife crossings.
Sound barriers and speed-calming chicanes to safeguard local fauna while maintaining smooth transit.
Regulated eco-transit protocols to foster low-impact responsible tourism connecting Thattekad, Pooyamkutty, and Mankulam.
The Path Forward: Time for an Actionable DPR
Restoring the historic Rajapatha is neither an environmental transgression nor an unwarranted expenditure. It is the lawful restoration of a pre-existing, revenue-notified lifeline that brings overdue justice to marginalized tribal citizens, enhances strategic high-range connectivity, and relieves pressure from the landslide-battered NH 85.
The preparation of an authoritative Detailed Project Report (DPR)—accompanied by comprehensive environmental safeguards—is the decisive step forward to re-establish the historic Royal Way as an exemplary green corridor for Kerala's future.
Document compiled based on representations and official records submitted on behalf of the local public and tribal settlements of Mankulam, Kuttampuzha, Edamalakudi, Munnar, and Adimali.