Kollam District
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| Kollam district | |
  Kollam district
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| State | Kerala |
| Headquarters | Kollam |
| Coordinates | |
| Area | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Population - Density |
2,585,208 - 1,038/km² |
| Abbreviation (ISO) | IN-KL-2 XXXX |
- For the town with the same name, see Kollam.
Kollam district, earlier called Quilon district, is one of the 14 districts of Kerala state, India. The district is representative of all the natural attributes of Kerala, and is endowed with a long coastal region, a major sea port on the Arabian Sea, plains and the mountains, lakes, lagoons and Kerala Backwaters, forests and the farm land, and rivers and streams. The area had mercantile relationship with Phoenicians and the Romans.
About thirty (? - need correct info) per cent of this district is covered by the Ashtamudi Lake, thereby making it a gateway to the Kerala Backwaters. India’s most popular English magazine India Today has rated Kollam as the best district in the country in terms of law and order and social harmony. The district is 18.02% urbanised. [1]
Contents |
[edit] Administration
Kollam district has five administrative sub-divisions (talukas), namely, Karunagappally, Kunnathur, Pathanapuram, Kottarakara, and Kollam.
The district is divided on geographical and functional basis for purposes of general administration. Geographically the district is divided into Revenue Divisions, five Taluks and 104 Villages. District administration is carried out through the various Departments of the State Government each of which has an office of its own the district level.
The District Collector is a key functionary of government having large powers and responsibilities. He has a duel role to play both as the agent of the government and also as the representative of the people in the District. He is responsible for the maintenance of the law and order.
The District Collector is the head of the Land Revenue Department in the District, with other Revenue officers, Additional District Magistrate, Sub Collectors, Tahsildars and Special Tahsildars for five Taluks, Special Tahsildar in special offices, Deputy Tahsildars, and village officers reporting to the collector.
The district has a single revenue division with its headquarters at Kollam.
[edit] Taluks
Pathanapuram, Kunnathur, Kottarakkara, Karunagappally and Kollam are the five talukas in the district. The tahsildar is the main revenue official in charge of each taluka
- Kollam Taluk (Taluk headquarters: Kollam)
Adiichanellore, Cheerakkara, Eravipuram, Kalluvathukkal, Kilikolloor, Kizhakkke Kallada (East Kallada), Kollam East, Kollam West, Kottamkara, Kottappuram, Mangad, Manrothuruth, Mayyanad, Meenadu, Mulavana, Mundakkal, Nedumpana, Pallimon, Panayam, Parippally, Perinadu, Poothakulam, Paravur, Sakthikulangara, Thazhuthala, Thrikkadavoor, Thrikkaruva, Thrikovilvattom, Vadekkevila.
- Pathanapuram Taluk (Taluk Headquarter: Punalur)
Alayamon, Anchal, Arackal, Arayankavu, Ayranallore, Channapeetah, Edamon, Edamulakkal, Eroor, Karavaloor, Kulathupuzha, Maloor, Pathanapuram, Pattazhi, Pidavoor, Piravanthoor, Punalur, Punnala, Thalavoor, Thenmala, Thinkalkarikkom, Vadakode and Vilakkudi.
- Kottarakkara Taluk (Taluk Headquarter: Kottarakkara)
Chadayamangalam, Chakkuvarakkal, Chithara, Elamadu, Ezhukone, Ittiva, Kadakkal, Kalayapuram, Kareepra, Kottarakkara, Kottukkal, Kulakkada, Kummil, Mangodu, Melila, Mylam, Neduvathoor, Nilamel, Odanavattom, Pavithraswaram, Pooyapally, Puthoor, Ummannore, Valakom, Velinallore, Vettikavala, Veliam.
- Karunagappally Taluk (Taluk Headquarter:Karunagappally)
Adhinadu, Alappad, Ayanivelikulangara, Chavara, Clappana, Kallebhagam, Karunagappally, Kulasckharapuram, Needakara, Ochira, Paavumba, Pammana, Thazhava, Thekkumbhagam, Thevalakkara, Thodiyoor and Vadakkumthala.
- Kunnathur Taluk (Taluk Headquarter: Kunnathur)
Kunnathur, Mynagappally, Padinjara Kallada, Poruvazhi, Sasthamcotta, Shuranadu north, Shuranadu south.
[edit] Places of worship
Oachira located in the north end of Kollam on National Highway 47 is famous for the Oachira Parabrahma Temple; Oachirakali is a special event at the padanilam (paddy fields) here in the month of Vrichikam every year. Oachira Town Masjid(mosque) and Temple are situated very closely and is a proud image of communal harmony.
The Veerabhadra Swamy Temple at Ashtamudi in Kollam is the only temple in the southern part of the country with Veerabhadra as the presiding deity. This belongs to Kuttiyazhikam Kottaram, Karuva a thousand year old Ezhava Family.
The Mahaganapathi Temple at Kottarakara, famous for its Unniappom, is one of the most venered Ganesh temples in Kerala.
Aryankavu in the Western Ghats is the easternmost point in the District on the National Highway. One of the five ancient Ayyappa temples is situated here; two others are at Achankovil and Kulathupuzha in the District.
Thalavoor Sri Durga Devi Temple, Pattazhy Devi Temple,Kundara Elampalloor Devi Temple, and Paravur Puttingal Devi Temple are among the important hindu temples in Kollam District.
Another important temple is the Kottamkulangara temple near Chavara where there is a tradition of Males participating in the custom of 'Vilakkeduppu' wearing women's dresses.
Parayakadavu, a coastal village near Karunagapally, is the birthplace of Mata Amritanandamayi and is the headquarters of her Math.
[edit] Tourism
Palaruvi (waterfalls), Thenmala (forests and reservoir), a part of Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve, Ashtamudi (backwaters), Kollam (beaches), Chadayamangalam (rock), are some of the tourist spots. Kollam was the seat of the Desinganad kings. Kottarakara is famous as the place where the classical dance form of Kathakali was conceived. It was also the capital of the Elayidath Swaroopam. Kundara is famous for the 1812 proclamation against the British, by Velu Thampi Dalawa.
Alappad village is located in the seashore of Kollam District, which was affected by the Tsunami in 2005.
The famous Varkala Beach, also known as Papanasham, is 26kms south of Kollam.
[edit] Educational institutions
Kollam has its fair share of privately owned and state owned educational institutions. Most schools are affliated to Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE), the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE), or the Kerala State Education Board. After the going through the 10+2 years of schooling the student can enroll in higher education institutions like colleges to pusue general or professional degree courses.
[edit] Industries
Two Central Government undertakings i.e., the Indian Rare Earths, Chavara and Parvathi Mills Ltd., are among the industries in Kollam Kerala Ceramics Ltd., Kundara, Kerala Electrical and Allied Engineering Company, Kundara, Kerala Premo Pipe factory Chavara, Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited, Chavara, United Electrical Industries Kollam and the Kerala Agro-Fruit Products, Punalur are state government owned companies. Other major industries in private/cooperative sector are , Thomas Stephen & Co., Kollam, Floorco Paravur, Cooperative Spinning Mill, Chathannur and Punalur Paper Mills, Punalur. About 1963 SSI units have been registered in the district.
The Travancore Plywood Industries at Punalur and Aluminium Industries Ltd. at Kundara have been notified as being sick units and consequently closed down.
Cashew processing and coir production are also major industrial vocations of the district. Handloom industry, clay and wood based industries also contribute to the industrial advancement of the region. Cashew processing is a major industrial activity in the district.
[edit] To reach Kollam
- To reach Kollam by air one has to depend Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. Its is around 71 km away from Kollam Town
- Kollam (Quilon) is connected by rail with several important cities.
- Kollam (Quilon) is connected by road with many tourist centers in India.
[edit] See also
[edit] External Links
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State of Kerala Kerala Topics | History | Economy | Geography | Flora and Fauna | Culture | Arts | Tourism |
|---|---|
| Capital | Thiruvananthapuram |
| Districts | Alappuzha • Ernakulam • Idukki • Kannur • Kasaragod • Kollam • Kottayam • Kozhikode • Malappuram • Palakkad • Pathanamthitta • Thiruvananthapuram • Thrissur • Wayanad |
| Major cities | Kochi • Kollam • Kozhikode • Thiruvananthapuram • Thrissur |
