Horse Buried in a British Cemetery in Idukki: The Story of Downy at Pallikkunnu Church
The grave of Downy, a horse, at Pallikkunnu is one of the most unusual burial sites in India and possibly the only case where a horse is buried inside a church cemetery.
St. George CSI church at Pallikkunnu in the Idukki district is among the oldest churches established by the British in Kerala. Constructed in 1869 by Henry Baker Jr., who served as its first priest, the church occupies land measuring 15 acres and 62 cents, donated by Maharani Sethulakshmi Bhai of the Kingdom of Travancore.
Initially, only the British were permitted to worship there, with services conducted in English. Over time, the church opened its doors to others, offering rites in Malayalam and Tamil. Records in the church give a long list of Europeans who were baptized, married and buried there.
Adjacent to the church is a rare British cemetery, containing several tombs of East India Company officers and planters. The cemetery, spanning one acre, houses 36 European tombs and one belonging to an Indian priest, Rev. Nallathambi.
Among the 38 tombs in the ancient church's graveyard, one is particularly noteworthy: the tomb of a horse named Downy, owned by John Daniel Munro.
The high ranges of Kerala, particularly areas like Munnar and Peermade, were once the heart of the British plantation economy. Scottish and English planters arrived in the late 19th century to cultivate tea, coffee and cardamom. Among them was John Daniel Munro, a Scottish planter.
Munro played a crucial role in the development of tea plantations in Munnar and Peermade and became a tea planter at Ashley Estate near Peermade.
Among the British planters, white horses were particularly esteemed, regarded as symbols of royalty and good fortune. It was during a time when no motor vehicle or even a proper road was there in the high ranges of Kerala, that Munro moved on on his favourite white horse Downie. More than just a means of transportation, Downie was Munro's confidant during long, solitary rides and his steadfast companion through the relentless monsoon rains.
Downie faithfully served Munro for many years. Upon Munro's death in 1895, it was his wish that Downie be buried near his grave. Honoring this request, Downie's remains were interred at the cemetery, close to Munro's final resting place. The tomb of Downy stands out, potentially being the only one dedicated to a pet in a British burial ground.
"Downy a white horse - Mare owned by J.D. Munro"
St. George CSI church at Pallikkunnu in the Idukki district is among the oldest churches established by the British in Kerala. Constructed in 1869 by Henry Baker Jr., who served as its first priest, the church occupies land measuring 15 acres and 62 cents, donated by Maharani Sethulakshmi Bhai of the Kingdom of Travancore.
Initially, only the British were permitted to worship there, with services conducted in English. Over time, the church opened its doors to others, offering rites in Malayalam and Tamil. Records in the church give a long list of Europeans who were baptized, married and buried there.
Adjacent to the church is a rare British cemetery, containing several tombs of East India Company officers and planters. The cemetery, spanning one acre, houses 36 European tombs and one belonging to an Indian priest, Rev. Nallathambi.
Among the 38 tombs in the ancient church's graveyard, one is particularly noteworthy: the tomb of a horse named Downy, owned by John Daniel Munro.
The high ranges of Kerala, particularly areas like Munnar and Peermade, were once the heart of the British plantation economy. Scottish and English planters arrived in the late 19th century to cultivate tea, coffee and cardamom. Among them was John Daniel Munro, a Scottish planter.
Munro played a crucial role in the development of tea plantations in Munnar and Peermade and became a tea planter at Ashley Estate near Peermade.
Among the British planters, white horses were particularly esteemed, regarded as symbols of royalty and good fortune. It was during a time when no motor vehicle or even a proper road was there in the high ranges of Kerala, that Munro moved on on his favourite white horse Downie. More than just a means of transportation, Downie was Munro's confidant during long, solitary rides and his steadfast companion through the relentless monsoon rains.
Downie faithfully served Munro for many years. Upon Munro's death in 1895, it was his wish that Downie be buried near his grave. Honoring this request, Downie's remains were interred at the cemetery, close to Munro's final resting place. The tomb of Downy stands out, potentially being the only one dedicated to a pet in a British burial ground.
"Downy a white horse - Mare owned by J.D. Munro"
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