Kollam district

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  ?Kollam district
Kerala • India
Coordinates: 8°48′N 76°36′E / 8.8, 76.6
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Headquarters Kollam
Population
Density
2,585,208
• 1,038 /km² (2,688 /sq mi)
ISO abbreviation IN-KL-2 XXXX

Coordinates: 8°48′N 76°36′E / 8.8, 76.6

For the town with the same name, see Kollam.

Kollam district, earlier known as Quilon district, is one among 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 percent[dubious ] 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

Mermaid statue, Kollam beach
Mermaid statue, Kollam beach

Kollam district has five administrative sub-divisions (taluks), 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 the government, having large powers and responsibilities. He has a dual role to play, as the agent of the government and as the chief administrator of the District. He will be reporting to the state government,democratically elected by the people. He is responsible for the maintenance of the law and order.

The District Collector is the head of the Land Revenue Department of 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 taluks in the district. The tahsildar is the main revenue official in charge of each taluk

  • Kollam Taluk (Taluk headquarters: Kollam)

Adichanallore, Cheerakkara, Eravipuram, Kalluvathukkal, Kilikolloor, Kizhakkke Kallada (East Kallada), Kollam East, Kollam West, Kottamkara, Kottappuram, Mangad, Munroethuruth, Mayyanad, Meenadu, Mulavana, Mundakkal, Nedumpana, Pallimon, Panayam, Parippally, Perinadu, Poothakulam, Paravur, Sakthikulangara, Thazhuthala, Thrikkadavoor, Thrikkaruva, Thrikovilvattom, Kundara, 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.

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.

Adhinadu, Alappad, Ayanivelikulangara, Chavara, Clappana, Kallebhagam, Karunagappally, Kulasckharapuram, Neendakara, Ochira, Paavumba, Pammana, Thazhava, Thekkumbhagam, Thevalakkara, Thodiyoor and Vadakkumthala.

  • Kunnathur Taluk (Taluk Headquarter: Sasthamcotta)

Kunnathur, Mynagappally, Padinjara(West)Kallada, Poruvazhi, Sasthamcotta, Sooranad North,Sooranad 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 the Oachira Temple are situated very closely and is a proud symbol of communal harmony.

The Anchal Agasthyakode Mahadevar Temple is another major and famous Mahadevar temple in Kollam district.It is situated in Anchal panchayath and every year during the Sivarathri period people from every caste, despite of their religion norms, come here and get involved in various religious festies.jikku krishnalayam

The Thrikkadavoor Mahadevar Temple is the most famous Siva Temple in Kollam District.It is situated in the Thrikkadavoor Panchayath and on the banks of the Ashtamudi lake.The annual arattu festival attracts thousands of people including foreigners.The festival falls in the month of Kumbham(February).The eight aritficial horses, which represent eight areas [karas] around the temple--especially the one that belongs to Thevally [which arrives to the temple through the Astamudy lake]--is a special attraction for tourists.

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.

Gateway to a temple at Kollam
Gateway to a temple at Kollam

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, Peroor Karunalloor Bhagavathy 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), The first community tourism programme in the State will start functioning from the Munroethuruth islands in Kollam district. 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.

Suspension bridge(hanging bridge) at Thenmala
Suspension bridge(hanging bridge) at Thenmala

The famous Varkala Beach, also known as Papanasham, is 26km south of Kollam. The famous duriyodana temple is in kunnathur taluf.that is poruvazhy peruviruthi malanada

[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 pursue general or professional degree courses. Among the professional colleges of the district T K M College of Engineering, Karikode and T K M Institute of Technology, Karuvelil ,Amritha Institute of Technology,Travancore Engineering College,Oyoor hold eminent position and Arafa Medical Mission Hospital & School Of Nursing-Kadakkal contributes prominently into the field of Nursing Education.

[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[2], 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

Kollam is also connected by Inland water ways from Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha districts. These waterways are main attractive and scenic tourist destination. Kerala State Water Transport Department(KSWTD)had operating centre near to KSRTC bus stand. But now KSWTD is not operating boat service from Kollam to Alappuzha. Tourists will get private motorised large country boats with all amenities(KETTUVALLAM in Malayalam).

[edit] External links