Kanhangad

Kanhangad
കാഞ്ഞങ്ങാട്
Kottachery/Hosdurg
City

A view of Kanhangad Town
Kanhangad

Location in Kerala, India

Coordinates: 12°18′0″N 75°5.4′0″E / 12.30000°N 75.09000°ECoordinates: 12°18′0″N 75°5.4′0″E / 12.30000°N 75.09000°E
Country  India
State Kerala
District Kasaragod
Government
 • Body Kanhangad Municipality
Area
 • City 39.54 km2 (15.27 sq mi)
 • Metro 139.8 km2 (54.0 sq mi)
Population (2011)
 • City 73,342
 • Density 1,900/km2 (4,800/sq mi)
 • Metro 229,706
Languages
 • Official Malayalam, Tulu, Kannada
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 671315
Telephone code 467
Vehicle registration KL 60, KL 14
Nearest Town Kasaragod
Lok Sabha constituency Kasaragod
Civic agency Kanhangad Municipality
Climate Tropical Monsoon (Köppen)
Avg. summer temperature 35 °C (95 °F)
Avg. winter temperature 20 °C (68 °F)

Kanhangad is a big town and a municipality in the Kasaragod District, Kerala, India.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,[1] Kanhangad had a population of 65,499. Males constitute 48% of the population and females 52%. Kanhangad has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 83%, and female literacy is 74%. In Kanhangad, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age. The most widely spoken language is Malayalam. Other prominent languages spoken by communities living here include Konkani, Tulu and Kannada. A large GSB Brahmin community (who speaks Konkani) lives here. The famous Gowda Saraswat Brahmin temple, Lakshmi Venkatesh temple (LV temple) is also situated in Kanhangad. There is also a small Palghat Iyer Brahmin community which speaks a mix of Malayalam and Tamil.

State Government Offices

Famous personalities

Vidwan P Kelu Nair

He was a famous freedom fighter, poet, musician and an actor . He was the founder teacher of the Then Vijnanadayani Sanskrita Padhashala the only one of its kind in the entire north Kerala, now it is kept as a memorial inside the campus of Mahakavi P Smaraka Govt Voccational Higher Secondary school, Bellikoth.

Mahakavi P Kunhiraman Nair (1906–1972)

He was one of the greatest poets of Kerala. He was known as the 'Soundarya Kavi'. He was from Bellikoth in Kanhangad. He also worked as Malayalam Teacher. He was a great traveller and wrote poems describing the scenic beauty of nature. He won the Kendra Sahitya Academy Award for his work Thamarathoni.

Economy

Agriculture and fishing are the primary source of income for residents of the region. The soil and topography allow for a diverse selection of crops: Rubber, pepper, cashew and ginger are the important crops that are grown in the eastern part of the region, which comprises forests and hilly areas. In the coastal areas are grown: coconut, rice and tobacco.

Since the oil boom of the 80’s, young people have migrated to the oil producing Gulf countries in pursuit of lucrative job opportunities. This has considerably changed the economic situation and life style of the residents. Many families depend on money sent home by family members working in the Gulf and other regions.

Arts and culture

The Nityanandasramam, which is situated on the hillock about half a km south of the Hosdurg taluk office, was founded by Swami Nityananda. The spot was at first part of a forest area. Here Swami Nityananda constructed 45 guhas (caves) in a mountain slope. There is a temple built in 1963, after the style and design of the famous Somanatha Temple in Gujarat. A full size statue of Swami Nityananda in sitting posture made of panchaloha is one of the attractions of the asramam. Our Lady of Sorrows Church - oldest in the district constructed in 1890 AD. 15 km north of Kasargod. This Gothic style Roman Catholic church which is under the Manglore Diocese, has celebrated its centenary recently and also renovated. Another centre in Ajanoor village renowned as the birthplace of Poet P.Kunhiraman Nair, veteran freedom fighter and playwright Vidwan P.Kelu Nair and Rasika siromani Kanan Nair. A cultural centre of the district. The famous Madiyan Kulom temple is situated in Ajanur panchayat. It is about five km from Kanhangad, the headquarters of Hosdurg taluk. The main deity of the temple is Bhadrakali; but there are also other deities like Kshetrapalan, Bhagavathi and Bhairavan. A peculiarity of this temple is that a Brahmin priest performs pooja only in the noon, while the morning and evening poojas are performed by a sect called Maniyanis. The festivals in the temple fall during the months of Edavam (May, June) and Dhanu (December, January) and on these days all the poojas are performed in connection with this festival. Anandashramam, situated about five km east of the Kanhangad Railway Station, was founded in 1939 by Swami Ramadas, a great Vaishnava saint of modern times. The main asramam and other buildings have a beautiful setting in the midst of shady mango, coconut and other groves. There is a hill to the east of the asramam, to which the devotees retire for quiet meditation and from its west, the surrounding extensive landscape can be seen in its natural grandeur. The spot at the highest point of the hill is so fascinating that the devotees, who go up the hill and sit silently, are blessed with deep peace and tranquillity.

Climate

The southwest monsoon starts towards the end of May or the beginning of June, heralded by thunderstorms and prevails until September when the rain fades out. October brings the northeast monsoon. Dry weather sets in by the end of December. January and February are the coolest months of the year. March, April and May are very hot.

Heritage

Anandashramam : The famous Hindu shrine is situated just 1 km. distance from Kanhangad bus stand and railway station. People reached there seeking peace even from abroad.

Madiyan Koolam : Near Kanhangad at Manikoth is dedicated to Bhadrakali. During the temple festival in May/June and December/January, the ceremonious theyyam is performed here.

Temples, Mosques, Churches and Cinemas

Temples

Sri Subrahmanya Swami Kshetram, Vazhakkode-Kottappara

Sri Mahavishnu Temple, Vishnumangalam,Mavungal

Ajanoor Sree Kurumba Bhagavathi Temple, Beach

Sree Mariyamma Devi Temple, Nittadakam,Near DHSS

Sree Karppoorewara Temple

Kadinhathoor Sree Mahavishnu Temple

Athiyambur Sree Subrahmania Temple

Puthiyakotta Sree Mariyamman Kovil

Manniottu Devsthanam

Kalyal Sree Muchilottu Bhagavathi Temple

Sri Kuthirakaali Amma Devasthanam,Mavungal

Pullikaringali Amma Devasthanam Kizhakkumkara

Muthappan Madappura Kizhakkumkara

Muthappan Madapura Cherichal

Mathoth Sree Mahavishnu Temple

Sree Lakshmi Venkateswara Temple

Sree Vishnu Dhomavathi Temple

Arayil Sree Bhagavathi Temple

Kaiclon Temple

Sree ram temple, Mavungal

Vallur yogi madam, Mavungal

Karatubail Shree Venkataramana Temple

Mosques

Arangadi Juma-at-Mosque

Athinhal Juma Masjid

Manikoth Juma Masjid

Padannakkad Mosque

Muhiyaddien Juma masjid Kothikkal

Bavakkaran Mosque

Abu backer siddique mosque kushal nagar

Churches

CSI Church

Catholic Church

Infant Jesus Church

St Mary,s church

Movie Theater

Vinayaka Theatre Complex ( Vinayaka, New Vinayaka, Sri Vinayaka and Vinayaka Paradise )

Kailas Theatre

Deepthi Theatre

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kanhangad.
  1. ↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01.