| Kasaragod കാസര്ഗോഡ് ജില്ല |
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| Coordinates | |
| Country | India |
| State | Kerala |
| District(s) | Kasaragod |
| Headquarters | Kasaragod |
| Collector | K.N. Satheesh |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) |
| Website | kasargod.nic.in |
Kasaragod District (Malayalam: കാസര്ഗോഡ് ജില്ല)is one of the districts of the Indian state of Kerala. Kasaragod District was organised as a separate district on 24 May 1984.[1] It is the northernmost district of Kerala and is named after Kasaragod Town which is the administrative headquarters of the district.
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To its south lies Kannur District and to the north the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka state. All along its east it is walled by the Western Ghats while along the west the Arabian Sea borders it. The district, covering an area of around 1992 km², has a population (2001 census) of 1,203,342 and has two taluks, namely, Kasaragod and Hosdurg both being municipalities as well; seventy-five villages; thirty-nine [Grama]panchayats. The district is further sub-divided into six administrative segments called development blocks, namely, Manjeshwar, Kasaragod, Kanhangad, and Nileshwar, Parappa, Karadukka. Like other districts of Kerala, Kasaragod district too has a high literacy rate, around 85.17%. Kasaragod district has Arabian sea to the west and Western ghats to the east.
In recorded history's ancient period, Kasaragod was known to the Arabs by the name Harkwillia.[2] Many Arab travelers who visited Kerala between the 9th and the 14th centuries visited Kasaragod, which was an important trade centre then. Duarte Borbosa, the Portuguese traveler who visited Kumbla, near Kasaragod in 1514, recorded rice being exported for coir to Maldives.[2] Dr. Francis Buccanan, who was the family doctor of Arthur Wellesley, visited Kasaragod in 1800.[2] In his travelogue, he recorded information on places like Athiraparambu, Kavvai, Nileshwaram, Bekal, Chandragiri and Manjeshwaram.[2]
The Northernmost parts of Kasaragod District were once within the territory of the Tuluva kingdom, while the Central and Southern parts were ruled by the Mushika/Kolathiri/Chirakkal Royal Family of North Kerala. Then, according to local legends, there were 32 Malayalam and 32 Tulu villages in this region.[2] When the Vijayanagara empire attacked Kasaragod, it was still under the Kolathiri Raja who had Nileshwaram as one of his capitals. During the decline of the Vijayanagara empire, the administration of this area was vested with Ikkery Naiks.[2] At the onset of collapse of the Vijayanagara empire, Venkappa Naik declared independence to Ikkery. Kumbla, Chandragiri and Bekal are considered to be the chain of forts constructed or renovated by Shivappa Naik.[2] In 1763, Hyder Ali conquered Bedanoor (Bidnur), the capital of the Ikkery Naiks. His son Tippu Sultan conquered much of Malabar. As per the Sreerangapattanam Treaty of 1792, Tippu surrendered Malabar, except Tulunadu (Canara) to the British. The British got Tulunadu only after the death of Tippu Sultan.[2]
The district is the northernmost district of the State of Kerala. Kasaragod is located at .[3] It has an average elevation of 19 metres (62 feet).
The landscape is dominated by the characteristic coconut palms accompanying rolling hills and streams flowing into the sea. The landscape is dotted with tiled-roof buildings, topped with the famous Kasaragod tiles made with the local hard red clay and typically walled with laterite blocks. Older houses are commonly found with elaborate woodwork. Kasaragod district consists of two taluks - Kasaragod and Hosdurg (Kanhangad).
According to the 2011 census Kasaragod district has a population of 1,302,600,[4] roughly equal to the nation of Mauritius[5] or the US state of New Hampshire.[6] This gives it a ranking of 375th in India (out of a total of 640).[4] The district has a population density of 654 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,690 /sq mi) .[4] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 8.18 %.[4] Kasaragod has a sex ratio of 1079 females for every 1000 males,[4] and a literacy rate of 89.85 %.[4]
Kasargod district is one of the rare districts in India which houses as many as 7 different languages (excluding dialects and tribal languages), with each spoken by a substantial number of people.[7]
The administrative language is Malayalam. Tulu, Beary bashe, Kannada, Hindi, Marathi and Konkani are also spoken.[7] The Malayalam spoken here has influences from Beary bashe and also from the languages of Tulu, Kannada, Konkani, Tamil and Urdu.
| Institution | Government | Aided | Unaided | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Primary School | 141 | 115 | 7 | 263 |
| Upper Primary School | 73 | 72 | 4 | 149 |
| High School | 43 | 19 | 8 | 70 |
| Higher Secondary School | 31 | 14 | 0 | 45 |
| Arts & Science College | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Engineering College | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Agriculture College | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Pharmacy College | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Teacher Training School | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Special Schools for the blind/deaf | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Industrial Training Institute | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Industrial Training Centres | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Polytechnic | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Kendriya Vidyalaya | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Navodaya Vidyalaya | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| B.Ed Centre | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Kasaragod is one of the most beautiful districts in Kerala state endowed with 11 rivers (out of a total of the 44 rivers that flow in Kerala), hills, beaches, backwaters, as well as temples, churches, mosques and forts.
Other tourist attractions are Chandragiri Fort, Anandashramam, Nithyanandashramam, and Kareem forest park - the only man made forest in the Kerala. The forest park is located in Parappa near Nileshwar. The Kerala State Government is planning to set up an IT park in Kasaragod. It will be constructed in 100 acres (0.40 km2) of revenue land in Cheemeni which is estimated to generate around 50,000 IT jobs.
Kasaragod district surrounded by three forest districts - in the north by Dakshina Kannada (one NP and 2 wildlife sanctuaries), in the east by Kodagu (one NP and two wildlife sancturaies), and in the south by Kannur (one wildlife sanctuary and one elephant corridor). Even then, the forest officials of this district have not sent any proposal to the state forest department or the Central Government for setting up a sanctuary here, although shola, evergreen and mangrove forests exist in abundance.
Kasaragod district is very rich in vegetation. Natural vegetation, except in some coastal regions, consists of different types of forests. But in spite of generally favourable climatic conditions, vegetation is not uniform. In restricted regions, with their own micro climate or special edaphic features, plant formations assume different characters. Thus, plant communities, ranging from psammophytes and mangroves to evergreen forests are seen here.
Ranipuram Wildlife sanctaury (50 km2, proposed)
In Panathady RF, the proposed Ranipuram Wildlife sanctuary / National park of Kanhangad forest range consists of various flora and fauna which are endemic to the Western Ghats and a yet to studied biodiversity hotspot. It merges with the Talacauvery wildlife sanctuary. Ranipuram hill station which falls in Panathady reserve forest is an ideal area to notify as a wild life sanctuary/National park. Shola forest seen only here in this district. Elephants, leopards, deer, wild dogs, wild boars, macaques, jungle cats, Leopard cats slender loris, porcupines, malabar giant squirrels, malabar civet cat, many species of birds, rare butterflies and medicinal plants are found in these forest.
Most of these highly endangered animals are killed by people due to lack of conversational awareness or to protect their crops. Ranipuram wild life sanctuary will be in contiguous to Talacauvery wildlife sanctuary in Karnataka. If it is declared as a wild life sanctuary, it will enhance the tourism industry of this district along with Ranipuram hill station/Biodiversity park. Declaring it as a wildlife sanctuary is the only way to protect this Westernghat biodiversity hotspot and permanent solution for Encroachment, Poaching, hunting in night, mining, Illegal tree felling which are main threats for this park.
The proposed Munnamkadavu Dam may very useful to create a fresh water and wetland ecosystem and sanctuary for wild crocodile, otter, endangered fish and water birds. Afforestation around the catchment area of dam reservoir will help to create another new wildlife sanctuary here in future and recreate lost wild elephant corridor.
Malom Wildlife Sanctuary (5 km2)
Malom reserve forest of Kanhangad range consists of Tropical rainforest and many wild animals like as rhesus monkey, wild pig, flying squirrels, slender loris, porcupine, and birds like peacock, Malabar hornbill and grey horn bill are seen. Snakes like cobras, python and king cobras reported. It is 28 km away east of Kanhangad in Balal-Kallar panchayath.
Adoor wildlife sanctuary (2 km2)
A Fragmented, Adoor reserve forest which spreads about 2 km2 in Kasaragod district is the home for endangered animals like jungle cat, slender loris, wild pig, porcupine, turtles, peacock, Malabar horn bill, butterflies, medicinal plants and wet evergreen forest. Illicit tree felling, hunting, encroachment are main threats for this sanctuary. It is about 35 km east of Kasaragod town in Adoor-Kuttikol panchayath.
Parappa wildlife sanctuary (2 km2)
A fragmented RF, Parappa reserve forest of Kanhangad range are home for jungle cats, slender loris, wild pig, porcupine, turtles, peacock, Malabar horn bill, butterflies, medicinal plants and wet evergreen forest. Illicit tree felling, hunting, encroachment are main threats for this sanctuary. It is about 22 km East of Chervathur town
Kammadam sacred grove wildlife sanctuary (50 acres)
Kammadam kavu, related with Bhagavathi temple, is the biggest sacred grove of Kerala and rich in wildlife, evergreen forest, orchids, medicinal plants and shrubs. Wild animals like Jungle cat, monitor lizard, civets, fox, bats, snakes, various species of birds and butterflies seen. It is 25 km east of Kanhangad town.
Kareem's Forest park (32 acres)
India's first private sanctuary which spreads across 32 acres (130,000 m2) and rich in diverse species of trees, medicinal plants, birds, insets, reptiles, amphibians, small wild animals, microorganisms and so on. People from different walks of life environmentalists, scientists, University and Ayurveda students, and laymen, all over the country visit his forest park for practical experience and study purpose. He is also multiplying and distributing the seeds and saplings of forest trees and medicinal plants and help our mother earth and help the nation to convert waste lands in to thick forests by replicating his efforts without involving additional coasts.
The park is situated at Puliyamkulam, near Parappa. It is 23 km away east of kanhangad town. Frequent bus service available.
Thalangara Children's Park
Located 4 km from Kasargod Town, Thalangara West, is located right next to the Fishing Harbour. Many water birds, spotted snakes, foxes also reported.
...BANGOD bay park located 5 km away from kasaragod town,a beautiful park near to a mosque and madeena manzil, it is the best place for children's to enjoy and have fun in watergames etc.. this has a very wondurful garden with lovely flowers and many more funs...
Kasaragod played a prominent role in the National Movement for the freedom of the country. Mohammed Sherul Sahib and Kandige Krishna Bhat were the frontline leaders of the independence movement. Umesh Rao, K. M. Krishnan Nambiar, Shreesankarji, Naranthatta Raman Nair, A. C. Kannan Nair, T. Gopalan Nair and Meloth Narayanan Nambiar were prominent freedom fighters.
The agrarian struggle to end the exploitation and oppression by landlords and chieftains were part of the National Movement. The Kadakom Sathyagraha was started following the arrest of Gandhiji in 1932. The Palayi Harvest Agitation (1941), Cheemeni Estate Struggle (1942), Kayyur Agrarian Riot (1944), Eleri Estate Agitation (1946), Karinthalam Paddy Seizure Revolt (1948) and many other struggles waged by the peasant organisations accelerated the tempo of the freedom movement. Besides the agitation of the peasants, the various struggles unleashed for the uplift of the scheduled castes and tribes also supported and enlivened the National Movement.
| Dakshina Kannada district, Karnataka | ||||
| Lakshadweep Sea | ||||
| Kasaragod district | ||||
| Kannur district |