| Vatakara വടകര |
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| Coordinates | |
| Country | India |
| State | Kerala |
| District(s) | Kozhikode |
| Nearest city | Kozhikode |
| Parliamentary constituency | Vatakara |
| Population | 75,740 (2001[update]) |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) |
Vatakara (Malayalam: വടകര) is a coastal Municipality in Kozhikode district of Kerala, a South Indian state, spread over an area of 21.32 km2. It is the headquarters of Vatakara taluk. This place is erstwhile Kadathanadu and was part of North Malabar province of Malabar District in Madras State during British Raj.
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Vatakara is located at .[1] It has an average elevation of 15 m (49 ft). Geographically, Vatakara is situated about 48 km to the north of Kozhikode City, approximately 44 km to the south of Kannur City and it is proximate to Mahe (Mahe district). This is the third largest town of North Malabar. The town lies by the side of a river known by different names as Moorad river, Kuttiadi river or Kotakkal river. Originally known as Vadakkekara (north shore) due to its position with respect to the Kottakkal puzha, the place came to be called as Vatakara by popular usage later. This city is also known as Badagara.
Vatakara is the capital of old Kurumbranadu, which was inhabited by a tribal folk known as Kurumbrar. The name Kurumbranadu has its origin in the name of this tribe. A Nambiar Lord known as "Vadakara Vazhunnore" was the former ruler of this area.
Vadakara is known as the birth place of Thacholi Othenan, the legendary hero of the Vadakkanpattu (ballads of North Malabar). These ballads of oral tradition are considered to be of great literary and aesthetic value. Thacholi Tharavadu (the original Thacholi family home) is still preserved and the birth anniversary of Thacholi Othenan is celebrated. Lokanarkavu is one of the famous temples in this area. Also the temple for the memory of legend Thacholi Othenan is located at Vadakara. This temple is named as Thacholi Manikkothu Kavu temple.
The martial art form Kalarippayattu has the largest number of exponents in Vatakara.
In 1934 Mahatma Gandhi visited Vatakara as part of a fund raising trip to North Malabar.
As of 2001[update] India census,[2] Vadakara had a population of 75,740. Males constitute 48% of the population and females 52%. Vadakara has an average literacy rate of 83%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 85%, and female literacy is 80%. In Vadakara, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Since Vadakara is a coastal town, fishing is one of the main commercial activities. The Moorad River flows into the Arabian Sea at a point close to the town. Sand Banks, a sunset spot and a place of tourist interest, are located at the river mouth.
Vadakara mainly consists of 2 commercial hubs. The first hub is; centering the old bus stand with commercial establishments as old as hundred years. Recently the trend has shifted to the new bus stand area and the road towards Kannur. Many new establishments, including hospitals and flats are on the rise along the Nut street to PT Road highway junction, are planned over the coming years which will be the next commercial hub .
Nut Street is the largest market for coconut, areca nut etc. Produce flow to the collection outlets which are dried packed and transported to other states.
Hospitals include CO-OP Hospital, Asha Hospital, Janatha Hospital, Ceeyam Hospital and a new specialty hospital at the PT road junction.
Most of the people are labourers and farmers. Some are government employees. A large number of people work in the middle eastern countries, and their remittances have a strong influence on the local economy.Some people work in the nearby states like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Vatakara assembly constituency is part of Vadakara (Lok Sabha constituency).[3] Former Minister C.K.Nanu represents Vatakara assembly constituency and Mullappally Ramachandran, Union Minister of Internal affairs represents Vatakara in the Loksabha.
The Marakkars were admirals of the Zamorins, who valiantly resisted the Portuguese on the high seas. Kunhali Marakkar built a fort on the southern bank of the Moorad river.This fort was completely destroyed by the Portuguese at a later time. The place where the fort stood is known today as Kottakkal, 46 km south of Kozhikode. A small hut that belonged to Kunhali Marakkar with collections of ancient swords, cannonballs and knives can be seen here. Marakkar Bhavanam can be seen in the Photo Gallery.
The Lokanarkavu situated at Memunda, 5 km from Vatakara, is a popular temple of North Malabar. This temple is associated with the heroes and heroines of Vadakkanpattu. In the vicinity of the temple there are three rock-cut caves. There are candid murals and carvings adorning the caves. The main deity is Goddess Durga. The festival, locally called Pooram, is celebrated during March/April. The temple is 1500 years old. There are two temples adjacent to the Lokanarkavu with Vishnu and Shiva as deities. Lokanarkavu goddess is named as Lokanarkavilamma which was the dearest god of Thacholi Othenan, a celebrated hero of Kadathanadu.
A small peninsula with the Moorad river on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west is located approximately 3 Kms towards the south of the town. This area is known as the Sandbanks. The Peninsula has a building called the Sandbanks Bungalow, which was built by Mr Wilfred Vincent Reilly in the year 1946. This bungalow and the land it stands on was sold on 04 Feb 1966 to Grasim Industries Ltd a company of the Aditya Birla Management Corporation Ltd,and is owned by the company till date. Adjacent to the bungalow is an open area which was previously under lease with Grasim Industries Ltd but was returned to the Government of Kerala in 2002. This area is now developed by the Harbour Dept of Government of Kerala and has been handed over to Vatakara Municipality for maintanence. Many tourists visit this place for a view of the sunset .
This is an island like beach close to Sand banks ,in fact just opposite to it. Still, reaching there takes another 7 km journey.
Lord Muthappan temple situated in Memunda at scenic hill top which have been now taken care by Tourism department of Kerala Government. Temple opens only at evening. Lots of people come here to watch the sunset.
Considered as one of oldest temples in Kerala, and also one of the very few temples which has Dhwaja Prathishta.
Kozhukkannur Neyyamruth Madom is located at Purameri, is said to have a history of more than 100 years. The madom relates to the Kotiyoor festival, and is a centre from where the Neyamruthu [Ghee] offerings are taken to the Kotiyoor temple by walk.
Vatakara has many schools and colleges. A list can be found at Educational institutions in vatakara
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