Kankanhalli. The town with that alliterative name is none other than Kanakapura

The chronicle of a high profile 'halli'
The neighbouring Kanakapura town is familiar to all Bangaloreans. But few know of its original name, Kankanhalli, or its past. Read on to take a peek at the interesting history of this place.

 National Highway 209
EVEN THE brightest participant in a quiz competition, held in Bangalore, with questions on the City and the towns and villages around it might be spread-eagled by the question "Where is Kankanhalli or what is it called today." The boys or girls might be aware of the old dance form with the same rhyme, cancan. The question might throw up the aspect of ignorance inherent in every know-all.
Of the many names that have gone out of currency in Bangalore and the Old Mysore region of Karnataka is that of Kankanhalli. The town with that alliterative name is none other than Kanakapura, a name repeated ad nauseam in newspapers published from the City or on the television till recent days. The parliamentary by-election held from there has already come to be ranked with the November 1978 Chikmagalur Lok Sabha byelection because of its political significance. Call it the election celebre.

  No doubt, a well-meaning former IAS officer, N.P. Singh, who was the Urban Development Secretary, had once suggested that instead of spending hundreds of crores of rupees on bringing more of Cauvery waters to Bangalore, it was better to develop a satellite town close to Torakadanahalli (near Kanakapura) from where the Cauvery is tapped. Is it not often said that besides Indore, the erstwhile capital of the Holkars (whose name is evocative for lovers of cricket) in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh, Bangalore is the other city without a source of water close to it? Unlike Bangalore, Kanakapura is a riverine town standing on the right bank of the Arkavathi.
Kanakapura is now of course forgotten after the end of the noise and chaos called election.
Of the many roads that led out of Bangalore, Kankanhalli Road was among the famous — the roads to Mysore, Tumkur, and the two links with Madras. It might be because of the eminent Bangaloreans who had built palatial homes along with it in Visvesvarapura and Basavangudi — Ramachandra Rao Scindia, S.V. Srinivasa Setty, Dr. S. Subba Rao, Kota Kamakshayya, Sir M.N. Krishna Rao, Bombay Ramaswamy, K. Matthan or Dr. T. Seshachalam. There was, of course, that "road to eternity", the Subedhar Chatram Road running through the heart of Bangalore, Kempegowda Circle, Seshadripuram, and Malleswaram. Hardly anyone knew where the choultry built by the Subedhars existed. Some say it was near Hessarghatta or beyond Jalahalli. There still exists a Subedharpalya near Mathikere.
Kankanhalli Road started from Sajjan Rao or Visvesvarapura Circle. Today, a stretch of the road is renamed Vasavi Temple Road.
Hardly known today is the fact that though called Kankanhalli Road, it did not take one to Kankanhalli (Kanakapura) proper. It was the road to Arkavathi. Till about 1954, the river had not been bridged. Motor vehicles started or stopped at the river and people had to wade through the waters. There were also bullock cart services to ferry people across the river. Those avoiding the Kankanhalli Road had to reach the town through Closepet (later renamed Ramanagara) which is 27 km. away from it. Travelling to and from Kanakapura was a travail as the road was only a "cutcha" one. Buses, driven by petrol or even coal in the Second World War years, we're taking three hours to cover the 56 km. distance because of the dirt track. It is thus that the memories of old Bangaloreans about Kankanhalli Road are those of the days of the bullock carts. The high pitch songs of the cart drivers and the tintinnabulation of the bells tied to the bullocks had disturbed the stillness of the night for the residents of old Basavangudi for decades. There was romance in the songs and thrill in the bullock cart drive through the shrub forests which abounded on both sides of the road in Horohalli, Kaggalipura, Thataguni, Thalagattipura, Konankunte or Banashankari temple. Yediyur was the border post of Bangalore those days. There was, no doubt, meaning in it being called Yediyur Terminus. It is because of the existence (or survival) of the Yediyur tank that there is today no alignment between the Basavangudi stretch of the Kanakapura Road and that running beyond South End Road (Nittoor Srinivasa Rau Road).
Probably, once the Arkavathi bridge near Kankanhalli came to be built, the town was robbed of its historical name and got a new one. The renaming of Kankanhalli was part of the renaming spree undertaken by the Hanumanthaiya regime. The official bungalow, Kumarapark in Highgrounds (built by Dewan Sir K. Seshadri Iyer) Kengal had occupied as Chief Minister, got the name Kumarakrupa.
Kankanhalli had its heroes and the famous. "Sardar" K.A. Venkataramaiya, the Gandhian was one of them. He and his wife, Gowramma, who is happily with us today, led the no-tax campaign in distant Sirsi and Siddapura in Uttara Kannada District (then part of Bombay Presidency). It had an equally famous Gandhian in Kankanhalli Kariappa, who founded the Rural College in the town and served in the Legislative Assembly. Another of those to carry the original name was Kankanhalli Gopi, the noted filmbuff.

  The alliteration in the name Kankanhalli used to arouse curiosity as to its derivation. The 19th Century British publicist, Francis Buchanan, had written in his travelogue, "A Journey from Madras through the Countries of Mysore, Canara, and Malabar", that it was being called Kanikarnhalli and commonly Kankanhalli. "The name of this village is properly Kanya-Karna composed of two Sanskrit words, Kanya meaning virgin or the goddess Bhavani, and Karna meaning ear." He had also written that Kanikar in Tamil signified a proprietor of land and halli "in the language of Karnata, is a village." Another version about the old name of Kanakapura was that the fort in the town had been built by Jagadeva Raya, the chieftain of Channapatna, who had pulled down a smaller structure owned by one Kanakana and hence the name Kankanhalli. The fort has the ancient Ranganatha Temple. Kanakapura was one of the places through which the British Army under Lord Cornwallis, the Duke of Wellington, and others had invaded Srirangapatna in the 18th Century. Tipu Sultan, who was known for the practice of the scorched earth policy, had the town burnt down twice or laid waste to prevent its use by the British army.
A unit of the Maratha Army, which was inimical to Tipu Sultan, had settled down in Maralavadi village near Kanakapura, which even today has Marathi speaking residents. Lt. Col. Shama Rao Sindhia of this village, who died in recent years at the grand age of 100, was commandant of the erstwhile Mysore Infantry.
A. JAYARAM

 National Highway 209

National Highway 209  starts from Dewan Madhao Rao road in Bengaluru in Karnataka and ends at NH 7 at Vedasandur north of Dindigul District in Tamil Nadu. The road crosses Kaveri river between Malavalli and Sattegala and it crosses from Punujanooru in Karnataka into Hasanooru in Tamil Nadu. The road is called Sathyamangalam road between Coimbatore and Sathyamangalam ofErode District and Kanakapura road between Bangalore and Kanakapura of Ramanagara district. This is the most important road passing through the Coimbatore city and its suburbs. The length of the road is about 44 km within its city limits including suburbs. There is a proposal to convert the Dindigal - Annur(Coimbatore) as an expressway in this route due to the volume of vehicular and truck traffic. This route passing through ghat section from Sathyamangalam to Hasanooru in Tamil Nadu.
History

Tippu Sultan, the associated King of Mysore Kingdom used to travel along this route. When he had the plan to extend his kingdom to Coimbatore,he took Mysore-Nanjangud-Chamarajanagar-Sathy route to execute the plan. The mode of Transportation was with either Bull or Horse carts.He had placed many of his soldiers and Horseshoe fitters along the villages of this route.Even today, we can see a large number of Muslim settlements in Kavalande of Nanjanagud Taluk and in Chamarajanagar. So,in historical perspective,Chamarajanagar-Coimbatore section of NH -209 is important.
Road Widening

Four-lane road proposed from Dindigul to Coimbatore, considering the traffic and growth on the Dindigul-Coimbatore-Annur road. The road passes through the Coimbatore city and it is popularly known as Sathyamangalam road. Within the city stretch, the proposed flyover at Gandhipuram would traffic and ease congestion on Sathyamangalam Road. Due to the heavy volume of traffic between Saravanampatty and Annur the authorities proposed to have this stretch into a four-lane one. The other section covered 42 km from Annur to Sathyamangalam which will be converted into two-lane including the Dhimbam Ghat Section.
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Hogenakkal,Man and Machine trip- Part 9 (Mumptivayan's story)

Hogenakkal,Man and Machine trip- Part 9 (Mumptivayan's story)

My road trip cum travelogue cum walk back of KA stories continues and covered the place called Panapatti.
 After reaching the main road I looked back the pathway fro Panapati for a while. For me, it was another fantastic feeling related to those stories.  There was no more curves and steep climbs on the road to Hogenakkal which is now within a few kilometres reach. I remembered the ghat like sections of the same road where Sathyanarayan kidnapped the village girl Mardee. While doing this act a villager with his buffalo cart pulled down by his car, in a traffic-less day. Today also the traffic wasn't much in that silky smooth road as the season in Hogenakkal still not in peak. In a reaction, my Unicorn roared in that jungle road in the first time since today morning.  He was so bored till now because his paths were filled with boulders and rocks in those dusty tracks
I reached Hogenakkal after negotiating a bridge on Chinnar River.  The forest rest house where KA spent some nights is situated within 200 meters away from the main road.  A small road leading to the rest house starting at the left side just before the Chinnar Bridge.



Forest bungalow at Hogenakkal. The photo was taken by Kenneth Anderson in 1942  (courtesy Mr. Joshua Mathew and FB  group of Kenneth Anderson).

Modern Image of the same place.
View of Hogenakkal Hill from the water fall
My first choice is to procure a hotel room for today's rest and proceed for sightseeing in the waterfall plus visit some places nearby. I have read Tamil Nadu guest house was the best in the town for that. But for mu unluck, the authorities told that a single bachelor cannot book a room even if you are correct in all the ways. This is a new and compulsory rule from the government as there is an increased number of suicides and alleged accidents and/or killings. So I drove back to the private hotels. Much bargain took place over there because they want some extra money to accommodate a single person which is against the rule. After getting entry and a freshen up, I decided to have a lunch from a good restaurant searching in the town. I couldn't find a nice one except for the Tamil Nadu hotel. But there, the time of lunch service is closed. 


Walking the route to the falls. Hogenkkal hill on background


Food Outlets

There is no lacking food outlets, but most of them are temporary sheds, set up along roadsides. Fresh fish caught in the river will be available fried in the presence of the customer using the forest firewood. Dosai is made in a large sheet of unclean iron. The hygiene of the food available is highly questionable.
A roadside "Hottle" , besides the way to falls
  Parking my bike in front of the main route to waterfalls I saw ways side hoteliers canvassing tourists offering local meals with fish.  I have a clear clue about the fish is not from Kavery but from other markets. It's already late and I was really hungry after a long trip without food under the open sun.
Marinated fish displayed before cooking. As nobody cared about hygiene, I too disregarded,
The site and smell of frying the fish in the pan in front of my eyes really made salivation. I accepted the offer from a lady who runs a hotel under a big tree's shadow and ordered the meals and fish fry. We have to wait for the cooking time for the fish. The temptation and my hungry stomach made my plate empty within a short time. Then only I noticed the quality. It was ok, but when the lady gave me a glass of water to drink with her index finger still inside the filled glass, I began to worry about relative hygiene of the surroundings.   She gave me water from a big old canister which stores water for all-purpose in the hotel including washing hands. I ordered a big bottle of mineral water and drank from it. And I courteously told the shopkeeper that some people like me are over concerned about cleanliness. For such people, a finger in drinks is not tolerable and don't repeat. You may think it's outraging, but it's essential for me to act like that as a responsible tourist. It will reflect in service to the next visitor. Now I have a big bottle of 5 liter mineral water which is heavy and doesn't want to take to the river and waterfalls. I kept it there in an arrangement that I will collect it on my return.
A late food always is very tasty especially a non-vegetarian dish. 
I understood, later as a well-known tourist corporation, TTDC is lacking in its duty and mints money from others and places their lives at risk. There are so many well-known facts about this dangerous place. The local people who live there say that drowning death is very common in Hogenakkal and every ten or fifteen days someone is killed there. Both the TTDC and the Government authorities are well aware of this fact but conveniently keep quiet about it. 
Hogenakkal Falls   is sometimes referred to as the "Niagara of India"
With its fame for medicinal baths and hide boat rides, it is a major site of tourist attraction. Carbonate rocks in this site are considered to be the oldest of its kind in South Asia and one of the oldest in the world. I have read recently that South Africa, Madagascar, Sreelanka and India especially Kerala was once bonded together in Gondwana. It was an ancient supercontinent that broke up about 180 million years ago. The continent eventually split into landmasses we recognize today: Africa, South America, Australia, Antarctica, the Indian subcontinent and the Arabian Peninsula. Even before that before About 300 million years ago, Earth didn't have seven continents, but instead one massive supercontinent called Pangaea. So I want to check the rocks in the exposed part of the waterfall are looking visually similar to that of Madagascar's razor-sharp ridges.         
One of the oldest form of rocks which has a long history. I imagined when they were lying closely with African continent billions of years ago at Pangaea age. Is there is any Kavery at that point? Nope, foolish.
The word Hogenakkal is formed of two Kannada words hoge and kal. When the waterfalls on the rocks it appears as if hoge (smoke) is emanating from the top of the kal (rock) because of the force of the water, hence Hogenakkal (smoking rocks). It is also called as Marikottayam or marukottai by the people of Tamil Nadu.
I could not see any smoking rock under the blazing sun but saw this burning rocks.
If you coming from Karnataka side you won't have many facilities. Without boating, you   can't reach to the waterfalls from marukottai (Karnataka). But for boating, we have to pay 1500 RS for two hours (Maximum 5 members per boat). At the same time from the Tamilnadu side, you can cross the lake by 500-600 rupees per boat (5 members).   TamilNadu side is well equipped.   Walking in the shades of the river with pools of water everywhere made all my temperature down. But it was busy touristic spot well-maintained infrastructures but numerous small vendors of different kinds of sellers all around.  Crowded with street vendors, plastic, food items and pretty much all that destroys the beauty of this great place. The narrow lane that leads to the falls gives you the feel of the dirtiest market you have ever been to with eateries serving fish fry and vendors trying to sell cheap kinds of stuff.
Frying fish in River basin


Google map and Anderson's photo of Hogenakkal and Kavery basin
Boat Rides
Boats are another attraction for the tourists, though highly dangerous
The "boats" being used very thin sheets of bark originally, (but now using plastic sheets) tied together in the shape of a cooking pan with its bottom coated with tar to prevent water seeping through. It is so flimsy that a single person can lift it easily and carry it on his back for a long distance without any difficulty what so ever. The local people who are good swimmers use these boats for fishing - it is NOT meant at all for tourists nor is it any safe. These boats can hardly accommodate three average weight (50 kg) passengers including the boat owner who has to paddle the boat. The visitors ride in these unsafe boats without care. There are many rumours about these boatmen. I am not sure the authenticity but there are unbelievable stories such as some boatmen take the passengers to a remote place and capsize the boat to killing the passengers, for their valuables. After snatching the jewellery the boatman will swim to a safe place and pretend it happened naturally. In some cases, the boatmen blame the passengers for not sitting properly to keep the boat’s balance. Actually, there is another option of a very adventurous coracle ride, which I had experience later with a nominal fee. Young Turks can take a try if you are such a brave heart. I will tell about the ride in the coming posts.

Water is less now in the offseason. but the weather and beauty of the place are outstanding.
Hogenakkal is considered as one of the most beautiful places in the state of TamilNadu. The broad stream of the River Cauvery gets forked at this point, forming an island from where one stream continues on while the other plunges into a deep chasm to create one of the loveliest waterfalls gives these rocks the name "smoking rock.", since the waters of the Kavery flow through a forest of herbs on their journey to Hogenakkal, bathing in these falls is considered to be good for health.
Smoking rocks and roaring water. The sound of the Kavery River, roaring between rocky banks, is a constant presence in most places in Hogenakkal.
Hogenakkal Of coracles, masseurs and roaring waters.  So too, is slap-slap thump! Though the roar of the river drowns it is you are not too close to the source of the strange sound. It has a riverine spa where, according to its devotees, good health can be had for the asking… and for a small fee!
I felt older people may find a bit of challenge to walk from one point to other between the falls
People near to the Bathing falls. Separate falls for men and ladies are available. Ladies bathing area is actually a concrete building constructed over the slow running waterfalls.

Ladies bathing area at the left side as a building.


 Oil massaging 
Seeing and looking at a small waterfall which is used as a bathing spot, a man approached me and told he is a professional massager and offered his service of a full body massage for two hundred rupees. He convinced that if you have any back pain or neck pain it will disappear after a hot massage with oil following a bath in the waterfall. First I was reluctant to take the offer but then the low price and need for a bath urged me to accept it. Truly I had back pain because of prolonged riding for the last few days.   But I was not ready to experiment with my neck which has spondylitis for long years and told him to avoid harsh massage in the neck part.  He agreed for a mere hundred rupees and I would say it is one of the best massages I  had in my life. He took a tremendous amount of energy on me and I felt muscle became hot and relaxed. He got good experience and literally cracked my backbones and I could hear the sound like what we hear cracking our fingers.  It took over 15 minutes of massage in different positions but I was not wrong to have this decision.  The only problem was it's an open area and others will see the entire process. He spoke to me freely as we knew each other before. I used the chance to know about the situation about the fall and local life.  

View from the top of the Bathing falls for gents.
A good canopy over the bathing falls make it cool and wonderful experience
There is a numerous number of small fish biting to our legs when bathing making tickling. I got a free fish massaging too. Wonder how they exist there at the top of a small pool.
My masseur had advised me, that I must be very careful about the purse and mobile phone as there pickpockets and thieves are abundant. I have a waist bag in which I kept all the valuables. Seeing this,  he told me don't keep it anywhere near the steps or on the rocks while going for bathing under the fall.  Boys will simply take it and run in front of us.  Even if you see the act, you cannot follow them and catch in the rocky terrain.   So I tied and locked the bag into the iron rods besides the bathing fall and kept a close eye always on my phone.  The waterfall is relaxing a bit the quality of water was not good. Which I came to know that very next day. My mother's ancestral home is near the bank of Kabani which is the main tributary of Kavery in Wayanad and I used to bath in the crystal clear water. The same river I expected after running those lots of kilometres to this point. Kavery added all of the wastewater with her from the Mysore terrain and I  could smelt something bad on her body. Then how could you think about the so-called medicinal values of the water?        


I felt sorry for the tourist's attitude of throwing garbage right into the riverbed. Lots of illegal sellers  of every kind including fried fish sellers  throw waste also added to the surroundings little messy.
I remembered about my family trip to Kuruwadweep in Wayanad just before my expedition.  There, plastic is totally banned and every empty bottle which taken into the forest must be returned to get the deposit money back.   Indeed it is a welcome step and so the area was so clean and undisturbed.   I wished such a system should impose here too.

Taken several clicks and while doing selfies a group of 4 young tourists from Bombay approached me and I helped their group photos. Some of the boatmen following them for long and were canvassing them for a coracle ride. The coracle which generally cost rest 180 for each person, a boat can contain 5 people. Obviously, the youths do not follow the local language and trying to bargain in English, which boatmen does not seem to pick any word. they are demanding as they are only four they will pay for numbers but the boatmen wanted a full amount. I heard this about 10 minutes and arguments going on about the prices. I intervened and translated what exactly they needed. Later I joined myself in a coracle ride with these youths including a lady.    
My friends of the day at the falls
The starting point of coracle rides.



The coracle ride was a new experience and I enjoyed too much. My company in the boat were so cheerful and I wonder how can interact with different peoples with different lifestyle within a single journey. Then only I noticed the girl was mingling freely to all three equally, and I did not ask nor I could sort out who are the husband/ boyfriend long the three.  
Shadows and breeze in a hot summer day make this place a heavenly atmosphere.
After departing the youths I returned to my own world of exploration. I stood a long time in front of the main fall and looked deep into the large pool just beneath the fall.  Anderson advised Mumptyvayan to throw his Gun and other ammunition to this 200 feet pool so that it won't be recovered.
The big Bannu
Fishermen were active in their work while some of them tired and having a midday nap.
Fishermen and their nets after a days catch.

 Ootamalai
Hogenakkal, so given much relax to my mind and body. After completing the walking through a small park for kids, I reached the parking place of my bike. visited the previous hotel to take my water bottle. I ride through the roads of the town once again before making next move to Ootaimalai. I wanted to visit the nearby places and comparing the situations as in the story.

There was a Crocodile hatchery also near the old forest Resthouse. The eggs were collected from the banks of Cauvery and the hatchlings were let into the river. It has now been shifted to Ootamalai. I was unlucky to see it because I found it closed...



I began to precede Ootamalai which is within two or three kilometres away from the falls and an important point where Anderson had a piece of land and a hut.  Ootamalai was an important hub of Anderson's activities.  Because from here he could travel all three different directions including crossing Kavery to reach his favourite places.   Reaching there I could not find or I was so careless to reread the details of Mumptyvayan story.  
In search of old dam site.


  There an incident of looting a fisheries inspector for 51 rupees. In a cold night.  There is another place of a proposed dame site between Ootamalai and Hogenakkal and that their place is connected with a pay roll clerk of a dam project and Mumptyvayan snatched some money indented for next week's pay for the workers Now i want to recollect the story of a forest dacoit described by KA. 


Mumptyvayan's  Story a walk back
Anderson describes the story of Mumtivayan in his book The Tiger Roars, which  is hailed as the best of all of Anderson’s works published in 1967.     The chapter called  "Queer side of things" there he told several stories in the jungle. I recommend reading the story before you read this walk back. 

Essence of the story

It is a story of dacoit, thief and murderer named Selvaraj. Anderson gives an account of the feud between his family and their neighbours. The feud caused mass murders and both sides had gone into hiding in the forest, afraid of the police and thirsting for each other’s blood. Selvaraj lived entirely in the jungle and his domain was from the bank of the Cauvery river up to the mountains of the Chinar river. Anderson describes activities of Selvaraj or ‘Mumptyvayan’ who became a dacoit, The large majority of people loved him and respected him because he robbed the rich to feed the poor.  Anderson narrates his thrilling meeting with him in the dense forest. The encounter with a dacoit shows many aspects of Anderson’s character and also of a dacoit. In the story, Mumptyvayan came to Bangalore, met KA, who asked him to shave off his moustache and hide in Andhra. Anderson’s story of ‘Mumptyvayan’ ends with his death.

Relations of  Hogenakkal fall  and location of forest rest house in google earth
A corresponding 3D view of Kavery basin in relation to   1942 photo,  showing Hogenaikal falls, Ottaimalai , Municipal Bunglow(Tamil Nadu Hotel),forest Bunglow, Chinnar River
1942 photo of Kavery basin area above hogenakkal falls. (courtesy Mr. Josua Mathew and FB  group of Kenneth Anderson). The title reads "hogenaikal from the hill, showing Hogenaikal itself and ottaimalai village(cultivated area). The falls municipal Bunglow,forest Bunglow, Chinnar River and Lover's hook can be seen"  of this I could not sort the last one, Lovers' hook.
The photo was taken by Kennath Anderson in 1942 of Kavery River and  hogenakkal falls. (courtesy Mr. Josua Mathew and FB  group of Kenneth Anderson). The title reads "A view of Cauvery River taken from hogenaikkal hill with Coimbatore District in the left background. Crocodile farm can be seen in the centre of the River after the falls.  I could not sort the last one, Crocodile farm.
A relative   3D view of Kavery basin in relation to   1942 photo,  showing Hogenaikal falls, Kavery and Chinnar Rivers
A wide view of the same. I am sure in future a good photo from the top of the hill will be posted here, instead of google map.
Photo of Mumptiyan after he was shot dead on, 27-3-1964 by Karuppannan brother of Nallammal (concubine of Mumptiyan) at Chikalrampatti, Salem(courtesy: Gandhi Nargunam . The photo was in Black and white.The Daily Thanthi, a leading Tamil newspaper, published this coloured photo in it)  It seems the dead body has been displaying purposefully . Surely he is dead at the time of photography. It may due to an attempt to prove that the body was real Mumptyvayan, with his articles, arms and ammunition. Somebody holding behind him or some kind of support given as stick in the right armpit. Buttons of the shirt are not in the proper place and footwear is missing. The sword he was holding is not in normal position. Eyes are closed and a grin is readable. The belly cartridge belt and the gun by the side, in the photograph, are interesting.


Veerappan
Mumpivayans story is closely related to Veerappan, who needs no introduction. There is some connection between the two dacoits.
 Mammattiyan was killed in an inter-gang fight and Veerappan's first murder was of Mammattiyan's killer's brother

Wikipedia  info on Veerappan:

 Was born on January 18, 1952, in the Karnataka village of Gopinatham to a Tamil-speaking Vanniyar family of cattle-grazers. He was known as "Molakai" as a child, and suffered from asthma. Veerappan was inspired by Maleyur Mammattiyan, a notorious bandit from Mecheri, Salem district, who was active during the 1950s and 1960s. Mammattiyan was killed in an inter-gang fight and Veerappan's first murder was of Mammattiyan's killer's brother
According to A book based on Veerappan's life-Veerappan's father was the one responsible for having "Mumpty" killed. And there are rumours that Veerappan witnessed the killing of - Mumptyvayan - and swore to kill all policemen. He also grew his moustache like Mummtyvayan. And another story goes it was Veerappan's father Koose Muniswamy who was involved in the killing Mumptyvayan. I don't know how correct these stories.
Boundaries  of Mumty's area  is similar to Veerappan
Maleyur Mammattiyan: the film
There is a film based on Mumptyvayan.  Actually, there are two films.  A remake of the older version,  actor Prasant in a leading role when remaking of 1983 film Maleyur Mammattiyan starred by his father Thyagarajan. The story reportedly was of a real-life incident of community leader Mammattiyan– instead of making them happy the film has troubled them if paper reports are to be believed. There are reports that the son and sister of Mammattiyan had moved Court seeking stay on its release. It is stated that the clan of Mammattiyan now live in Mecheri in Salem. Her sister was reported as saying that incidents happened in the past – now they live in constant fear of their lives, fearing that there could reprisal from those killed by Mammattiyan decades ago. She feels that films and press reports would bring back reminiscences of the past and the victims would get enraged and might engage in retaliation – though Mammattiyan was a great hero – the moral is ‘life is not the same over the years’

The hero might good on the silver screen but in reality, things can be far different – and glorification of events might make the cine stars ‘rich and famous’ – but for the families of those involved – the woes would continue forever. In old "Malaiyur Mammattiyan’ starring Thiagarajan and Saritha. Being not a cinema buff, remember that the storyline revolved around Mammattiyan in a remote village opposing the powerful zamindar who kills the hero’s father. Against the oppressive landlord, Mammattiyan raises in revolt, kills in revenge – takes refuge in the forest where he is supported by some and together they become do-gooders. The hero is a fighter of social rights who would selflessly sacrifice himself for the good of the society, he is powerful and dreaded, feared by anti-socials and others – he does good for the society putting fear in the minds of bad… too good to read.. Can real life be similar?

The rest house in the story and the photo

 Just before the Bridge, which entering Hogenakkal and before crossing the Chinnar River you can find the bungalow on to your left at a distance of about, 200 meters. This is one of the earliest built rest house which was Built British.  Till recently nobody was allowed to stay and even the forest officers used it only in day time especially During the Veerappan times. Incidentally the bungalow figures in two stories. It was near here that KA was chased by the rogue of Panapatti, while going after a peacock. The second Incident that happened in the bungalow was Anderson's superior officer who shot a crocodile but could not recover it. 
  The forest rest house situated within 200 meters away from the main road.  A small road leading to the rest house starting at the left side just before the Chinnar Bridge.
3D aerial view of hogenakkal hill and relative position of the rest house.
Photo was taken by Kenneth Anderson in 1942 of the forest Bungalow with ho (courtesy Mr. Joshua Mathew and FB  group of Kenneth Anderson). 

The photo was taken by Kennath Anderson in 1942 of  hogenakkal falls. (courtesy Mr. Joshua Mathew and FB  group of Kenneth Anderson). 
A coracle ride in Hogenakkal

Film shooting areas
I heard lots of films shot in this area. It is a favourite location for lots of Indian films. Among this Ravan and Roja  I like most in Roja the song continues into Hogenakkal Falls. A small light at the bottom of a round boat sailing quietly in the mighty waters in the dark is a scene that is etched in everyone's memory. These large and big Muthee trees stood here for centuries.


Mumtivayan's appearance matches with Andersen's  descriptions
Descriptions in KA story of Selvaraj's operating area.
But Veerappan had a wider area with a big group. A 3D view of the area
Mecheri and Metur Dam  Verappans area too
Panapatti and probable location of meeting with Jailer.
Lone path to Panapatti and Pennagram Hogenakkal road. If a Police van is approaching , it should be somewhere near to the only main road
Bathing falls can be seen on the right side of the image. Photo was taken from the Hanging Bridge
Hogenakkal Bathing falls and a probable location to park the jeep within 100 yards.
From this point, you have to walk to reach the Bathing falls. Probable position of Jeep
Relative positions of Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri with Pennagaram
Proposed dam site. Hogenakal hill can be seen
A bigger view of Hogenakkal, in a reverse 3D aerial view.
Proposed dam site across Kavery. Assumed Location between Hogenakkal (1mile ) and Otaimalai.The small road to Kavery may be made for that purpose. Somewhere there, the camp shed located
The en-catchment area of water in the proposed dam across Kavery.
Anderson's Properties
My efforts for locating any traces of the little hut which Anderson possessed 20 years as he described in  Mumptyvayan story is failed. I knew it will be a big process and my 10 minute time is nothing on this regard and I put this effort to the next explorers. But I got a clue from Joshua Mathew and he confirmed that Anderson had land in Utamalai with a small shack built on it. With the passage of time, it became impossible for him to monitor this with a lot of his other properties and eventually lost it to Qasim, the very person he had entrusted to look after it.

There was a 12-acre land also was there along Chinnar river bank which was cultivated by Ranga, are impossible forms to locate as there is no description to reach there. It will be in thick forest. But Anderson not given any clue of the location. It is in Woodapetti or pennagram range?. I believed more chance is in Pennagram side of the river as the caretaker was Ranga because he can reach there more easily. On the other, sidewise geography is a too steep and denser jungle. And probably caretaker would be Byra as his connection s of Chinnar River.  Looking through the Google map I found a piece of agricultural land at the bank of Pennagram side of Chinnar. As I told earlier,  that Anderson may be interchanged the miles and kilometres and I have to scan the place with both options.  Maybe this is the most accurate place. I wanted to know what happened to the 12 acres of land once owned by Anderson.  I searched for information on FB groups and got some clues that Anderson's last year's he was engaged with the court and to regain the land maybe we will get more clues on this issue in future. 
Most probable location of KA"s 12-acre plot. The distance measured by Google through Chinnar river

Uttaimaliai  with a swollen Kaveri in the rainy season
Rechecked with kilometres distance The blue rounded area is 12 km distance. It's a dense Forest area, and not matched.  The place in red is a match.
Chinnar river in the dry season in suspected 12-year plot 

Name of the villages. Dhasmpatti and Vattuvanahalli. Not sure where is the exact place.
His erected tent was at a quarter mile away from Chinnar.
Hogenakkal and Periya Bannu, where Anderson told to Mumty to throw his arms and ammunition.
The Big bannu  with 200 m depth as KA described
1942 photo and writing by KA.   Read the title. "Periya Binar" must  be" Big Bannu"
I was unlucky in simmer season to see the main falls
Escape route fro Hogenakkal.. Points like Biliguntala (red), Secret river (blue) KA-TN border (pink) and Tagathi forest (Green) can be seen.  Kankanhalli is an alternative name of  Kanakapura.
The advised route to escape One of the many names that have gone out of currency Karnataka is that of Kankanhalli. The town with that alliterative name is none other than Kanakapura, 
Mumpty may used the same route.. who knows?

Kenneth Anderson's House in Bangalore
Queens Road, Kasturba Road, Mahatma Gandhi  circle, in relation to Cubbon's park where the statue of" "great white queen" Queen Victoria  is located 
Andersons advise to Mumty to find his home in Bangalore. Present Karnataka Government museum is the Tamasha Bangla in Kasturba road near to MG circle. Still the statue of queen victoria situates in Cubbon's park. This is the only time in his stories he described where he lives.
Searching this FB group I came to see Mr Sethu Madhavan has given such a beautiful comment in a post. I am copying it

KA gives a description to Mamptiyan how to reach his house in Bangalore and asks him to come there if he wanted to be redeemed from his brigand's life. In mid 1970s during one of my trips to Bangalore, I followed these instructions of KA to trace his residence and also with the vague possibility of meeting someone from his family. At that time other than reading his books,I had no other biographical knowledge about KA. Following these instructions, I reached upto a red colonial style old bungalow which was behind the Cubbon Park police station, in a fairly secluded area. Could see some labour houses too around it, and a couple of labour women around who spoke only the local language which I have no idea. The bungalow looked uninhabited to me and in a poorly maintained condition. There were plenty of our local dogs lounging around and they showed real aggressive intentions towards me, so I beat a hasty retreat with a brave heart. Thus ended my one and only adventure to trace KA's residence.

The spot of old KA home. It is on Kasturba Road near Jewel's de Paragon...Its somewhere between the Cubbon Park entrance from MG Road (opposite Chinnaswamy Stadium) and the Visweswaraya Technological Museum 

Now a new commercial skyscraper has been erected at the same spot by Prestige Oblisk group.
Old photo of Kenneth Anderson's  bungalow and compound

Got on my net  while  searching 
I got the following info from a press cutting:


The authorities then had reverentially protected the boundaries of the Cubbon Park towards Kasturba Road and the Nrupathunga Road (Cenotaph Road). However in the Forties and Fifties, permission was granted for the construction of bungalows on Kasturba Road opposite the Museum (MacIver Town). But recent years have witnessed the pulling down of all of them to make way for commercial buildings. The Visvesvaraya Technological Museum, the nondescript Visvesvaraya Trade Centre and the aquarium are the three buildings allowed to be built alongside the Government Museum after Independence.


Kenneth Anderson, renowned hunter and naturalist who have owned the bungalow which had stood at the spot where the commercial building is built, was being called the "Jim Corbett of Bangalore". His articles in an English daily on his encounters with wildlife were read with eagerness. The Anderson bungalow which existed till recent years had been painted in sienna red, the colour of almost all the public buildings built in the City during the years of the British Commissionerate or direct British rule of Mysore (1831-1881) Attara Katcheri, Central College, Government Museum, and others. No doubt the "imperialist" burnt sienna even today reddens the Anglophobes.

A Nearby structure, Cubbon park police staton.The Cubbon Park Police Station is perhaps the only one of few extant heritage buildings among police stations. The others are the Basavangudi, Bharathinagar (Cleveland Town), and Ulsoorgate Police Station buildings. The tile-roofed Highgrounds Police Station was demolished a few decades ago to make way for the present structure.

I just concluding this long post, because Mumptyvayan is such figure by virtue that even Ranga was a close friend of him. Moreover Anderson given such a detailed description about him. As a declaimer I repeat, my observations in this post may be wrong by 100%. Readers discrepancy is expected. Please send any relevant photos to me if you feel appropriate.
Links to other blogposts related to Kennath Anderson stories:

The Man-eater-of-crescent-mountains
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