֍ Population of Muthuvan tribe is limited to fragmented habitats in the Western Ghats especially in the border hill forests of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

֍ Muthuvan must have migrated from the plains most likely from Madurai. The root word Muthuku means the back of the body. It is said that when they migrated to the hills they carried their children and their belongings on the back. Even today, Muthuvan carry their children on their back.

֍ Traditionally, Muthuvans are nomadic agriculturists, hunters and trappers.

֍ They are known for their traditional knowledge and understanding of hills.

֍ They speak slightly two different dialects and call each other Malayalam Muthuvan and Pandi Muthuvan.

֍ Muthuvan are animists and spirit worshippers and also worship the forest gods. They believe that the spirits of their ancestors are to be the first migrants to the hill forests.

֍ The Muthuvan tribe has a unique system of governance called the ‘Kani System’.The Muthuvans live in hamlets called Kudi, whose headman is known as Kani or Moopan. ‘Kani’ is responsible for the administration of the village.

֍ The Muthuvans live in hamlets called Kudi, whose headman is known as Kani or Moopan. ‘Kani’ is responsible for the administration of the village.

֍ Muthuvans are experts in preparing Maravuri, a type of cloth from the bark tree Aranjali.

֍ They have expertise in traditional medicines which are very effective and these medicines and the medicine men are confidentially preserved and passed on to the generations.

֍ The Muthuvan eat a pudding prepared out of ragi, known as korangatti, which forms their staple food.

֍ The energy drink of the Muthuvans is Tea without sugar, known as Teyila.

֍ Occupation: Agriculture is the main occupation of these Muthuvan tribes, producing quite a number of products like ragi, cardamom and lemon grass. Their primary cultivations are coffee, ginger, sugarcane and paddy.

֍ Thai Pongal, celebrated for a week in the month of January-February (Thai), and Karthika, in the month of November, are the two major festivals celebrated by the Muthuvans.