TRIBAL SETTLEMENTS AND ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICES IN THE HILLS OF SOUTHERN TAMIL NADU

Abstract

The untouched architectural practices of the Kani, Paliyan, Malasar and Muthuvan tribes living in the Western Ghats and Agasthiyamalai ranges are studied in conjunction with their ecology and culture. The undisturbed tribal villages in the Southern hillocks of Tamil Nadu showcase an unparalleled craftsmanship of nature using resources such as bamboo, thatch, and mud, adeptly creating structures in perfect harmony with the environment. Ethno sociological elements such as sacred groves, ritual spaces, the socio religious identity of the community as well as their socio-religious practices mark their living identity and its remnants. Colonization and contemporary issues such as displacement, assimilation, and environmental degradation from modern housing additions also receive a glimpse in the study. This work emphasizes the tribal sustainable eco-practices as wisdom along with the need to preserve and safeguard indigenous architectural knowledge for future generations through its historical narratives, field descriptions and local earshot account.