Peermade, also spelt Peerumedu is a village, Grama Panchayat and hill station in the state of Kerala, India. It lies 915 metres (3,002 ft) above sea level in the Western Ghats (Sahyadri) about 85 kilometres (53 mi) east of Kottayam on the way to Thekkady through the nearby city of Kanjirappally.
The Orali, Malapandaram and Malayarayan tribes live in the hills of Peermede. The main tribal settlement here is Plakkathadam which is also known for its trekking trails.
Peermade was once the summer retreat of the Maharajas of Travancore. During those periods these regions were quite inaccessible, covered by dense forests and was inhabited by certain tribes like ‘Malappandarams’ and ‘Malayarans’. The archaeological excavations points out that there was an ancient Neolithic culture flourished in the high-ranges which wasn’t written or recorded. But the findings of cultural remnants from the hill tracks near Kumily and Vandiperiyar provides some factual evidences of the existence of a rich culture.
Peermade was the highest elevation on the mountain route that once connected the Travancore with Madurai in ancient Tamilakam. The mountain barriers created by the ghats separated these two regions. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the largest wildlife
reserves in India, is 43 kilometres (27 mi) away. It has herds of elephants and other wildlife as well as lakes.
The area is extremely fertile and until recently featured lush plantations of coffee, tea, cardamon, and coconut. With a long history of spice growing, the focus is now on the production of organic black pepper, white pepper, ginger and turmeric.
At a 2006 show, spice growers from Peermade displayed samples of organically grown spices including cardamom, black pepper, white pepper, nutmeg, mace, cloves, turmeric, ginger, vanilla beans, vanilla powder and herbs such as oregano, sage, thyme and rosemary. Oils of thyme and rosemary were also displayed.
