Chittar, Kerala
| Chittar | |
|---|---|
| town | |
  Chittar | |
| Coordinates: 9°19′58″N 76°55′58″E / 9.33278°N 76.93278°ECoordinates: 9°19′58″N 76°55′58″E / 9.33278°N 76.93278°E | |
| Country |
 India |
| State | Kerala |
| District | Pathanamthitta |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 33,977 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Malayalam, English |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| PIN | 689 663 |
| Telephone code | 04735 |
| Vehicle registration | KL-03,KL-62 |
| Coastline | 0 kilometres (0 mi) |
| Nearest city | Vadasserikkara |
| Climate | Tropical summer (Köppen) |
| Avg. summer temperature | 35 °C (95 °F) |
| Avg. winter temperature | 18 °C (64 °F) |
Chittar is a village in Pathanamthitta district, located in Kerala state, India.
Overview
Chittar is a geographically high-range area situated in the south eastern part of Kerala. It is a Panchayat and is situated in the Ranni taluk and in Konni constituency in Pathanamthitta District. It is located 29 km away from Pathanamthitta town at its east. Nearby Panchayats are Seethathodu, Perunad, Vadaserikkara and Thannithodu. Formerly Chittar was included in the Ranni legislative assembly constituent, but now in Konni assembly. Also previous parliament constituent was Idukki and currently it is Pathanamthitta.
Chittar is predominantly a plantation township. Earlier famed for tea/coffee plantations, nowadays swaying rubber trees have replaced them, fuelled by the fertile land and rich ecosystem. In addition to rubber cultivation, pineapple, tapioca, nuts, ginger, and pepper are cultivated
Chittar is located on Mannarakulanji-Seethathodu Road. Pilgrims to the famous Sabarimala temple return by road (as one way) through Chittar via Seethathodu. This road joins with the one way road to Sabarimala at Vadaserikara. There is a new road being constructed to link Chittar and Achenkovil via Konni and Thannithodu.
The important places in Chittar are as follows:
Padayanipara, Karikayam, Koothattukulam, Pampini, Panniyar Colony, Vazhathoppu Colony, Chathuppu, Depot, Thekkekkara, Kodumudi, Kattachira, Vallel, Ittychuvadu, Neeliplavu, Manpilavu, Manakayam, Bus Stand, Chittar Estate (Sitar Estate as called by the British).
Note - Not to be confused with another Chittar in Tamil Nadu. It is near Kesarimangalam (Pincode: 638302).
Transportation
Chittar can easily be reached by bus from Pathanamthitta and Ranny within an hour either via Vadaserikkara-Maniyar or Vadaserikkara-Perunad route. Both, the state run KSRTC as well as privately operated buses connect Chittar to Pathanamthitta, Ranni, Trivandrum, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Chengannur, Sabarimala, Vadasserikara, R-Perunad, Seethathod, Moozhiyar, Kakki, Gavi, Naranamoozhy etc. Most of the main cities in Kerala are connected with Pathanamthitta and Ranni by bus.
On the way to Chittar from Vadasserikara you have to pass through forest area on one side in Maniyar. It is a beautiful sight to enjoy. Again, in Maniyar on your way to Chittar you can see the beautiful Pampa Irrigation Project (PIP) dam and its reservoir. You can take beautiful photos of the reservoir by parking your vehicle on the road side with the background of rubber plantations on the other side of the reservoir.
There abound wild animals in the forests touching the three sides of Chittar. A.V. Thomas & Company has a large rubber plantations of about 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) in Chittar. On the north of Kakkatar which runs through the northern boundary of Chittar, the H & C plantations have a large rubber plantation. This link shows the actual location of Chittar in google map with important land markers. www.pathanamthittainfo.com
Education
Chittar has one Govt. High School and plus two (Higher Secondary) education facilities in addition to several middle schools and lower primary schools.There are some other scholls under good management. The first lower primary school in Chittar was begun by Orthodox Christian Denomination and was later handed over to the government. Late Mr. Varghese Chandy (Varghese Sir) and late Mr. V. N. Padmanabhan (Padmanabhan Sir) played a key role in developing the lower primary school under the Christian Management and subsequently handing over the same to the government.
Little Angels English Medium School, Holy Family Public School, Important schools: Govt. H. S. S., Chittar, Govt. Model L. P. S., Chittar, V. K. N. M. V. H. S. S, Vayyattupuzha, Holy Family Public School, Chittar, Komala Vilasm School, Padayanippara, Little Angels English Medium School Chittar, Royal Parallel College, Chittar, Santhi Niketan Parallel College, Chittar, Ideal Parallel College, Chittar. Nearby Colleges: Caarmel Engineering College, R-Perunad, Musalliar Engineering College, Malayalappuzha, Mount Zion Engineering College, Kadammanitta, Pushpagiri Medical College, Tiruvalla, Muthoot Nursing College, Pathanamthitta. St. Thomas College, Ranni, Catholicate College, Pathanamthitta, Mar Ivanios ITC, Seethathodu. www.pathanamthittainfo.com
Important Places
Chittar Market (Town), Old Bus Stand, Padayanipara, Karikayam, Koothattukulam, Pampini, Panniyar Colony, Vazhathoppu Colony, Chathuppu, Deopot, Thekkekkara, Kodumudi, Kattachira, Vallel, Ittychuvadu, Neeliplavu, Manpilavu, Manakayam, Chittar Estate (Sitar Estate as called by the British),Kumaramkunnu, Chittar-86 Pallipadi.
Roads
Vadaserikara - Chittar - Seethathodu - Plappally Road, Chittar - Achankovil Sabarimala Highway via Konni.
Important Shops and Buildings
Krishna Balram Plaza, Panchayat Shopping Complex, Chundamannil Buildings, Gulf Towers, Vettumannil Textiles, Ambili Textiles, Abhilash Textiles, Suja Textiles, Idimannikkal Fashion Jewelry, Thekkupurath Jewelry, Arakkamannil Offset, Bhaskar Communications, AJ Electricals, Simons Electricals, Priyas Fancy Shop, Ambady Shopping Centre, Thekkupurath Big Bazar, Lavanya Bakery, City Bakery, Sharon Opticals, Govt. Foreign Beverages Shop, Kavyakala Studio, Chithranjali Studio, Neethi Store, Maveli Store, Consumer Fed, Supplyco Store, Valiplakkal Super Market, Mini Super Shoppie, Vijayan's Two Wheeler Workshop,Vellatharayil Hollowbricks,Vellatharayil Hardwares.Shiyas Stores Sulabha Super Market, LAN Mark, Vaidyaratnam P. S. Varier's Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala
People
Banks and Financial Enterprises
State Bank of Travancore, Federal bank, South Malabar Gramin Bank, Pathanamthitta District Co-operative Bank, Co-operative Society, Mini Muthoot, Mulamoottil Bankers, Kodooruzhathil Bankers.
Hospitals
Govt. PHC, Muthoot Hospital, Athira Hospital, Dr. Babu's Clinic, Kochupurackal Clinic,
Ayurvedic Hospitals
Govt. Ayurveda Dispensary, Vaidyaratnam P. S. Varier's Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala.
Medical Stores
Neethi Medicals, Revathy Medicals, Prasanth Drugs and Laboratories,Kurian's Medicals.
Fuel Pumps
1. Near Cross Junction,Chittar Market. 2. Vellatharayil Fuels,Near Old Bus Stand, Chittar
Population
The people of Chittar are mainly agriculturists and plantation workers. People began settling down in Chittar about 75 years ago. The people mainly belong to Hindu, Christian and Muslim religions. People live together in good harmony. There are several places of religious worship in Chittar. In many of the families based in Chittar, there are large numbers of people working outside Kerala as well as outside India. The new generation is highly educated and well placed in different parts of the world.
As of 2001 India census, Chittar had a population of 33977 with 16498 males and 17479 females.[1]
Personalities
- Late Mr. Varghese Chandy (Varghese Sir, GHSS, Chittar)
- Mr. Thomas Abraham(Raju)
- Mr. A Basheer (Panchayat Member)
- Martyr Comrade M. S. Prasad
- Mr. M. S. Rajendran (Block Panchayat Member, Area Secretary of CPI(M) Ranny Area Committee and President, Co-operative Society)
- Mr. Hassan Bava (Block Panchayat Member)
- Mrs. Omana Sreedharan (Panchayat Member)
- Mrs. Santhama Chellama (Ex. Dist Panchayat Member)
- Mr. K. G. Muralidharan (Ex.Panchayat President)
- Mr. P. N. Sadanandan MA B Ed.(Local committee Secretary, CPI(M), Chittar LC, Rtd. Principal, VKNM VHSS, Vayyattupuzha and one of the first elected Panchayat Members of Chittar Grama Panchayat during 1979 - 84)
- Mr. P. R. Thankappan (Ex. Panchayat President)
- Mr. Chandran (Ex. Panchayat President)
- Mr. Uthaman (Rtd. Principal, GHSS, Chittar)
- Mr. Haneefa (Ex. Panchayat Vice President, Chittar)
- Late Mr. Chittar Rajan
- Mr. Lal Varghese (Attorney at Law, Dallas, Texas, U. S. A.,www.indiaimmigrationusa.com)
- Mr. Mathew Samuel ( Advocate, Pathanamthitta)
- Mr. M. R. Bhargavan (Advocate, Patthanamthitta)
- Mr. R. Radhakrishnan (Advocate, Pathanamthitta)
- Mr. A.Meerasahib Vellatharayil(President congress chittar Mandalam committee)
- Mr. S.Shajahan, Journalist Thejas Daily, Ernakulam.
- Mrs. Rahiyanath Beevi (Member of Block Panchayat Ranni)
- Late Dr. Thomas Varghese (Kunjomachen, Kochupurackal Clinic)
- Mr.Thomas Philip (Managing Director,Delta Group of Companies)
- Mr.Salih Sammany (General manager Delta Aggregates & Sand Pvt.Ltd)
- Mr.Mathew.C.Samuel (Sales Manager Delta Aggregates & Sand Pvt.ltd.)
- Mr.Manu Varghese (Pravasi congress- Executive member UAE,Ex- Mangalm Daily reporter)
- Mr. Sam Alexander (C.E.O DAILYTK )
- Mr. Ani Konnackal.(a2 creation)
- Mr. Anoop Parangamvilayil.(a2 creation)
- Mr. Abhilash Kuttiyil (UAE)
Facilities
To know more details about chittar visit the website (http://www.chittaronline.com) Federal bank(http://www.federalbank.co.in), a scheduled bank with its head office at Aluva, has a branch at Chittar(Kerala). Another important facility providing centre in chittar is Bhasker Services which have been working for the prosperity of chittar natives for the last 14 years.
Religion:
The majority of the population are Hindus. Both Muslims and Christians are living harmoniously in this place. The Christians have several worship places located in an around Chittar. The St. Paul's Mar Thoma Church, located in Chathuppu (old name for Chittar Town) on the side of Chittar-Achankovil road about 1/2 kilometer from the center of the town is one of the oldest Christian worshiping place in Chittar. There is another Mar Thoma Church in Karikayam, which is believed to be the first Mar Thoma parish in Chittar. The High School is located at a place known as 'Koothattukulam' and the school was also known as Koothattukulam High School'.Later the name of the school was changed to Chittar Government High School since there is another place with the same name 'Koothattukulam' in Kottayam District. CMS Anglican Church,Benjaminpara,Chittar is an ancient church in chittar. There are temples located in an around Chittar. The famous Muslim mosque is also located on the side of the Chittar-Seethathode road about 2 kilometer from the center of the town.
Tourist attractions
In Chittar, one can see a vast areas of rubber plantations and pineapple plantations. There is a famous rock known as the Chathurakkalli Para, which is a nice place. It has an underground cave also. Evenings are so beautiful in Chathurakkalli.
There is another beautiful place called Manpilavu which is a hilly area. There is old, ruined temple at Manpilavu, which is about 5 or 6 km from Chittar.
There is another beautiful place called KANNUNARUVI(WATERFALLS),it is about 7 or 8 km from chittar town.It is a spectacular view of the water bubbling over the rocks.Let the soothing sounds take you closer to nature and its pristine beauty.
See also
References
- ↑ "Census of India : Villages with population 5000 & above". Retrieved 2008-12-10.
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