The only people who benefited were the ,вЂ™professional promoters, vendors of land, engineers and government of Madras and Mysore and their officersвЂ™. When the gold вЂboomвЂ™ burst without producing any gold several companies and banks collapsed in London and India. The shares of these companies commanded 50 to 100 percent premium even before any work was started merely on the basis of the cables sent by the вЂmining expertsвЂ™ one of whom turned out to be a retired circus clown.ДЇrom little more than clusters of native huts, вЂgold townsвЂ™ of Devala and Pandalur blossomed suddenly into busy mining centres substantial buildings, bungalows, hotels, a store for вЂvaluable quartz which was to be extractedвЂ™, a saloon and even race course laid out on paddy fields. When the gold rush peaked in 1879-81 as many as 41 companies were set up with a capital of over 5 million Pound Sterling in London, Bombay and Madras. The failure of Alpha only added to the speculation. The average cost of an ounce of gold produced was three times the market price.

As Shyam Rungta says in вЂThe Rise of Business Corporations in India 1851-1900вЂ™ the whole venture was, вЂfounded on incompetence and ended in misfortuneвЂ™. However the folly of the whole sordid episode was exposed soon after. вЂOotacamund, the delightful hitherto recherchГ© sanitarium on the Neilgherries is to be the new busy and bustling Ballarat (a gold mining town in Australia)вЂ™ concluded the report and predicted an exodus from вЂMelbourne to MadrasвЂ™. The East India Company also notified that, вЂshould any gold be found, a portion of it would be considered belonging to the governmentвЂ™. The only danger was the, вЂfearfully malarious nature of the climateвЂ™. It talked of famous geologists of the day Messer Foote and King having made the project study, the Governor of Madras Lord Hobart himself having inspected the area and вЂexperienced diggersвЂ™ involved in the project.ДЄs for the quantity of the gold it was said that the, вЂauriferous quartz veins are as rich as are any which have been discovered in CaliforniaвЂ™. The New Zealand Herald of 31 March 1875 was agog with excitement. 140 years ago the South India Alpha Gold Mining Company, вЂthe biggest venture to dateвЂ™ was set up for gold prospecting in Gudalur by two Australian coffee planters who had been gold miners earlier. Hindustan Photo Films was not the first industrial misadventure on the Nilgiri hills. Dogs must be kept on leads at all times.Dharmalingam Venugopal Well behaved dogs are welcome in all outdoor areas of the farm, in the conservatory areas of the restaurant and in the Allium Cafe. It is also a great spot for nature watching and it is not uncommon to see a family of red squirrels darting back and forth collecting nuts and of course the chickens, peacocks, doves, goats and Ruthie the dog usually likes to make an appearance too. The cattle can be seen enjoying the open pastures around the farm. Often we are proud to be able to serve our own Garlic Farm reared highland beef in the restaurant. Wherever possible ingredients are sourced locally.

Our team of exceptional chefs create gourmet dishes often but not always with a good hint of garlic. The natural wood and the log fire create a wonderfully cosy atmosphere whilst the open patio to the rear with views across the valley provide an idyllic dining experience during Summer months. The Garlic Farm restaurant was built in 2009 using Macro Carpa pine that was planted around the farm by Colin and his father twenty years ago. Selected Evening Openings & Special Events.

TEA, COFFEE, HOMEMADE CAKES & SCONES available all day. CLICK HERE TO BOOK A TABLE AND SEE OUR MENUS

Visit an badaga garlic farm