Greatest Migration

As independence approached, the violence between Hindus and Muslims in the provinces of Punjab and Bengal continued unabated. With the British army unprepared for the potential for increased violence, the new viceroy, Louis Mountbatten, advanced the date for the transfer of power, allowing less than seven months for a mutually agreed plan for independence. In June 1947, the nationalist leaders, including Pandit Nehru, Abul Kalam Azad, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, B. R. Ambedkar and Master Tara Singh agreed to a partition of the country along religious lines. The predominantly Hindu and Sikh areas were assigned to the new India and predominantly Muslim areas to the new nation of Pakistan; the plan included a partition of the provinces of Punjab and Bengal.

Map of India in 1953Many millions of Muslim, Sikh, and Hindu refugees trekked across the newly drawn borders. In Punjab, where the new border lines divided the Sikh regions in half, massive bloodshed followed; in Bengal and Bihar, where Gandhi's presence assuaged communal tempers, the violence was more limited. In all, anywhere between 250,000 and 500,000 people on both sides of the new borders died in the violence. On 14 August 1947, the new Dominion of Pakistan came into being, with Muhammad Ali Jinnah sworn in as its first Governor General in Karachi. At the stroke of midnight, as India moved into August 15, 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru, read out the famous Tryst with destiny speech proclaiming India's independence. India, now a smaller Union of India, became an independent country with official ceremonies taking place in New Delhi, and with Jawaharlal Nehru assuming the office of the first prime minister, and the viceroy, Louis Mountbatten, staying on as its first Governor General. 

Partition of India

Old rare photos during migration

In 1946 Life sent Bourke-White to India to cover the emergence of that country's independence from Great Britain. Photographer Margaret Bourke-White Captures the endless sufferings of  a nation divided  and the subsequent mass migration in this famous photograph, first published 50 years ago this week, in LIFE Magazine. 

In a couple of months in the summer of 1947, a million people were slaughtered on both sides in the religious rioting.

For more India-Pakistan war pictures click here
For more old and rare picture gallery of  Bourke-White click here
Source:wiki & LIFE MAgazine

Mudumalai wild life Sanctuary

Mudumalai wild life Sanctuary is situated at an elevation of 1000 meters and extending over an area of 321 sq.kmts lies this sanctuary between Kerala and Karnataka states. This is one of India's best sanctuaries. The sanctuary is divided into 5 ranges - Masinagudi, Thepakadu, Mudumalai, Kargudi and Nellakota. A variety of habitats ranging from Tropical Evergreen forest, Moist mixed deciduous, Moist Teak forest, Dry teak forest, Secondary grass lands, Shrubs and Swamps exists here. The river Moyar that flows along the border or Tamil Nadu and Karnataka separates the two. The Mysore - Ooty highway runs through the park. Mudumalai forest attracts a large number of wildlife enthusiasts every year, coming from all over the planet.

The Western Ghats, Nilgiri Sub-Cluster (6,000 km² (2,300 sq mi)), including all of Mudumalai National Park, is under consideration by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for selection as a World Heritage Site.

The fauna include Elephants, Gaur, Banner, Macaque, Common Langur, Tigers, Leopards, Chital, Panther, Sloth Bear, Python, Barking Deer, Four Horned Antelope, Otter, Crocodiles (Mugger), Giant Flying Squirrel, Sambar, Hyena, Wild Dog, Wild Boar, Mouse Deer, Spotted Deer, Jackal, Hare, Porcupine and Mongoose.
 

Spotted Deer

Bison

Elephant

Grey Langur

Common Langur

Wild Boar

The birds listed in this sanctuary are Peacock-our National bird, Grey Jungle Fowl, Red Spur Fowl, Grey Partridge Quails, Goggle Eyed Plower, Malabar Whistling Thrush, Large Racket-Tailed Dronge, The Magpie-robin, Spotted Babbler, Small Green Barbet, Green Pigeons, Brown Dove, Malabar Grey Hornbill, Bulbuls, Mynahs, etc.

The extension of Mudumalai on the Karnataka side of the sanctuary is the Bandipur National Park .  

Location

Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the northwestern corner of Tamil Nadu at a distance of around 80 km from Coimbatore and 64 km from Udhagamandalam (also Ooty). It is also a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere reserve along with Bandipur National Park in Karnataka and Wynad Sanctuary in Kerala. 

How to reach

BY AIR - Coimbatore (160 km) is the nearest airport connected to many places in India like Mumbai, Chennai, and Kozhikode.
BY RAIL - The nearest important railway station is Ooty (also Udhagamandalam) at a distance of 64 km. The sanctuary is well connected with other places in the region by good all-weather roads.

Places to visit 

1) Thepakadu Elephant camp

2) Jungle Safari

3) Mudumalai national Park

Best time to visit

June to December

Munnar
Its the gift of nature to the Western Ghats, the eastern border of Kerala and an adjoining parts of Tamilnadu. Munnar is a town located in the Idduki district of Kerala, situated in Western Ghats of India. The name 'Munnar' means three rivers and there are actually three of them, 5000ft above sea level, confluence the three mountain streams -


Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala

Munnar has the highest peak in South India, Anamudi, at 2695 m. It consists of vast sloping areas of tea, most of which mostly are owned by Tata Tea. The plantation was leased earlier to Tata Finlay Company by Poonjar Royal Family and now it is Kannan Devan Hill Producers Company. The present form of Munnar is really the work of Kannan Devan Company.
Most of the native flora and fauna of Munnar have disappeared due to severe habitat fragmentation resultant from the creation of the plantations. However, some species continue to survive and thrive in several protected areas nearby, including the new

1. Kurinjimala Sanctuary to the east,
2. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Manjampatti valley and the Amaravati reserve forest of Indra Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary to the north east,
3. Eravikulam National Park and Anamudi Shola National Park to the north,
4. Pampadum Shola National Park to the south and
5. proposed Palani Hills National Park to the east. These protected areas are especially known for several endemic species.

Altitude - 5000 - 8000 ft above sea level
Area - 26. 2 sq Kms.
Best time to visit - September - May
Languages spoken - Malayalam, Tamil, English, Hindi

Flora

The neelakurinji, a blue flower which blooms only every twelve years, is found in this region. It bloomed last in December 2006.

Fauna

1. Nigiri Thar,
2. Grizzled Giant Squirrel,
3. Nirgiri Wood-Pigeon,
4. Elephant,
5. Gaur and
6. Sambar

Attractions in and around
There are 4 different directions from Munnar where the places to see are located and the Kms from Munnar (I got this when I visited Munnar). I hope this will be helpful for people who go to Munnar.

Madupatty Direction
Place --------------------------------------- Kms
Flower Garden------------------------------ 2
Photo Point (Tea Garden)---------------- 4
Jungle Honey Bee Nest ------------------ 5
Madupatty Dam Boating ---------------- 12
Film Shooting Point --------------------- 13

Elephant Arrival Spot ------------------ 14

Echo-Point --------------------------------- 20
Kundaly Lake ----------------------------- 26
Top station View (End in that direction) - 36
Coimbatore Direction
Tata Tea Meusium ------------------------ 1
Nyamakad Water Falls ------------------ 8
Anaimudi View --------------------------- 12
Eravikulam National Park (Rajamalai) - 15
Greenvalley view -------------------------- 20
Luckom Water Falls --------------------- 26
Sandalwood & Bamboo forest ---------- 36
Muniyara (Padavas cave) ---------------- 47
Thoovanam Water Falls View ---------- 52
Wild Life Sanctuary, Chinnar --------- 63
Cochin Direction
Blossom Park ------------------------------ 2.5
Pothamedu view point (Sunset View) - 4
Cardamon, coffee & Pepper Plantations -- 6
Athukad Water Falls ------------------- 13
Thekkady Direction
Lockhart Gap & Rock Cave ------------ 14
Power House Water Falls --------------- 17
Resort Village View --------------------- 22
Anaiyirangal Dam View ----------------- 26
Spice Plantation Tour -------------------- 29

Getting to Munnar
Railway Station
Cochin - 135 Km
Kottayam - 147 Km
Madurai - 160 Km
Coimbatore - 160 Km
Airport
Cochin - 115 Km
Madurai - 180 Km
Coimbatore - 170 Km