Passes/Gaps in kerala(Churam)

As you know, the mountains provide a number of passes/gaps to facilitate contacts.There are a number of mountain passes in Kerala which influence ourHistory.The Palakkad Gap is perhaps the major one with its enormous width of36KMs. Through it, the South West winds bring pleasant moist air and grateful showers tothe thirsty plains of Coimbatore.Through it, many a stream from the higher mountains find their way to the Arabian Sea.

The gap is of great economic value to Kerala and TamilNadu.The Tamarasseri and Perambadi gaps promote contacts between Kerala and Karnataka.They have also served as routes of invasion.The Perambadi gives access to Coorg while Tamarasseri provide access from Wayanad to Mysore.The Bodinay kannurpass in the Travancore area (Central Kerala) connects Madurai with the HighRanges.Through the Kamban pass was transacted most of the trade from central Kerala(Todupuzha).The Aryankavu pass gives easy access to Tirunelveli.The Tamils used thisroute for most of their raids and trade to South Kerala.The Arambadi pass (Aruvamozhi),though presently situated outside Kerala is crucial.Early man with his microliths entered Kerala through this gap; This route had been the highway of traffic between Kerala and its eastern neighbours. Many raids and invasions, the last being that of Chanda Saheb in 1740had taken place through the Arambadi.Numberless battles had been fought in thisregion.The Arambadi – Kottar region is rightly called the cockpit of Kerala.