Old Munnar’s first British tomb, now a major attraction, completes 130 years

The 130-years-old tomb at the cemetery of the C.S.I. Church in Old Munnar in Idukki.
| Photo Credit: JOMON PAMPAVALLEY

A British-era tomb perched atop a small hill near Old Munnar in Idukki has been an epitome of the story of love and affection of two people. The tomb, built by a Briton to fulfil his partner’s dying wish, has completed 130 years on Monday (December 23). The tomb predates the C.S.I. Church and the cemetery here, keeping the story of an immortal love story from England to Munnar alive.

When the early period of tea plantation industry in Munnar began, Henry Mansfield Knight reached Munnar as the general manager of the British Tea Planting Company, accompanied by his wife, Eleanor Isabel May. They had fallen in love in England, and their love grew further in the valleys and hills of Munnar. They got married in India in November 1894. They had a habit that every evening the couple walked through the valleys and hills of Munnar. One day when they hiked the Old Munnar Hills, Eleanor is said to have playfully told Henry to bury her body on the top of the hilltop after her death.

Unfortunate for the two, Eleanor fell ill soon after and died of cholera at the age of 24, on December 23, 1894. To fulfil her wish, Mansfield cremated her body on the hill. The church construction had began in 1910 and was completed in 1911. It was opened for service on April 16 the same year.

Many British men and women have been laid to rest at the cemetery of the C.S.I. Church, which is now under the Cochin diocese of Church of South India (C.S.I.). “Eleanor’s grave is separated from other graves. The name of the woman, date of death and details other engravings are clearly visible on the headstone,” said an official of the church.

The 113-year-old British church was constructed in Gothic style typical of Scottish architecture. The church was constructed using rough-hewn granite. Most of the materials for the church came from England. At first, the prayer service here was only in English and Tamil.

Munnar C.S.I. Church Malayalam section vicar Fr. Jose K. Mathew said that the church now follows Tamil and Malayalam for prayers. “A large number of tourists arrive in old Munnar to visit the church,” said the vicar.

G. Sojan, coordinator of My Munnar movement, explained that the Old Munnar C.S.I. Church has emerged as a major attraction in the hill station. “New generation of British tourists also arrive in Munnar to visit the church,” he said.

According to officials, the two British Raj-era churches in Idukki district – the Old Munnar church and the St. George’s C.S.I Church, Pallikunnu near Kuttikanam – are still beautifully preserved.