Mathikettan Solai: The Forbidden Forest of Tamil Nadu

The name Mathikettan Solai is translated from Tamil as "shola where one loses oneself," and it is rumored that the forest has the ability to destroy a person's memory, leading them to become lost and eventually die. This belief is thought to be related to the concentration of powerful medicinal plants, as well as the presence of ancient medicine men known as Sithars, who lived in the caves within the forest. Despite these legends, there is no scientific explanation for this phenomenon, and the forest remains a mystery to this day.

Why Mathikettan Solai is Famous?

What sets Mathikettan Solai apart is the richness of its Shola forest. Shola forests are unique to the Western Ghats region and are known for their high levels of endemism and biodiversity. The dense, mist-covered forests of Mathikettan Solai are particularly significant as they are among the largest contiguous Shola forests in the upper Palani’s. A Muthavan tribal colony at Aduvilanthankudy is located near the northeastern borders of the forest.

Hundreds of families from Pooppara, Shanthanpara, Pethotti and Thondimala areas depend on the water sources in Mathikettan Chola for drinking water. Wild animals like elephant, bison, sambar deer, Indian muntjac and tiger could be spotted in Mathikettan Shola where you could find lush meadows which are rarely seen in forests. The forest department organizes trekking trips for visitors up to 9 kilometres into the dense forest.

• One-kilometre area surrounding the Mathikettan Shola National Park was declared as ESZ.
• The notification was issued by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change under the Environment Protection Act 1986.
• Mathikettan Shola National Park is situated in the high ranges of southern Western Ghats in Kerala.
• It is the last remnant of the original forests of the Cardamom Hill Reserve.
• It shares an inter-state boundary with Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• The area earmarked for the construction of the Neutrino Observatory is in Theni.
• Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ) or Ecologically Fragile Areas are areas within 10 kms around Protected Areas, National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.
• The purpose of declaring ESZs is to create some kind of "shock absorbers" to the protected areas by regulating and managing the activities around such areas.

• They also act as a transition zone from areas of high protection to areas involving lesser protection.

Mystery in the Mathikettan Solai Forest

The name Mathikettan Solai roughly translates from Tamil to mean "shola where one loses oneself." And there are many legends surrounding this forbidden forest. People who have entered the forest to explore have never returned, and it is believed that the place has the power to destroy a person's knowledge, leaving them disorientated and unable to find their way back. This has led to a warning sign being put up by the Tamil Nadu government, with a death toll of 12 people.

Local beliefs attribute this phenomenon to the presence of a flower in the forest whose scent can drive people mad, or to a plant called Thigai poondu, which is said to destroy knowledge if it comes into contact with the body. Some believe that the ancient medicine men known as Sithars lived, researched, and meditated in the caves within the sacred groves of the forest, and that entering certain areas of the dense forest can lead to a loss of memory.

Possible Explanation

The exact reason for the strange occurrences in Mathikettan Solai remains a mystery. Some speculate that it could be due to the concentration of highly potent medicinal plants in the area, but this has yet to be scientifically proven. Whether it is the legends surrounding the ancient medicine men or the unique biodiversity of the forest, one thing is for sure: Mathikettan Solai continues to captivate the imagination and inspire a sense of wonder and mystery.