The Malayali is a tribal group found in the Eastern Ghats of northern Tamil Nadu. The name derives from malai-alam meaning hill-place, denoting an inhabitant of the hills. They are the largest Scheduled Tribe in Tamil Nadu, with a population of around 358,000. They are divided in to three groups: the Periya Malayalis (big Malayalis) who live in the Shevaroys, the Nadu Malayalis (middle Malayalis) from the Pachaimalais, and the Chinna Malayalis (small Malayalis) from the Kollaimalais.