Shoranur

Shoranur
shoranur
Town
Shoranur
Coordinates: 10°46′N 76°17′E / 10.77°N 76.28°ECoordinates: 10°46′N 76°17′E / 10.77°N 76.28°E
Country India
State Kerala
District Palakkad
Government
 • chairman S. Krishnadas
Area
 • Total 32.28 km2 (12.46 sq mi)
Elevation 49 m (161 ft)
Population (2001)
 • Total 42,022
 • Density 1,302/km2 (3,370/sq mi)
Languages
 • Official Malayalam, English
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 679121
Telephone code 0466
Sex ratio 1000:1096 ♂/♀
Website www.shornurmunicipality.in

Shoranur (Malayalam: ഷൊര്‍ണൂര്‍) is a small town and a municipality in Palakkad district, in the Indian state of Kerala, located on the banks of the Bharathapuzha River. It covers 32.28 km2. It is a major transport hub, hosting the largest railway station in the state. Kerala Kalamandalam, the premier centre for classical arts such as Kathakali and Koodiyattam, is located at Cheruthuruthi, across the river.

Etymology

Shornur junction

'Shornur' is named in revenue records as ‘Chiramannur/ Cheramannur’ and in railway records ‘Cherumannur’. Chiramannur was transformed into Shoranur. This name Chiramannur might have derived from the relation of this place to Bharathapuzha.[1]

Geography

Shoranur is located at 10°46′N 76°17′E / 10.77°N 76.28°E.[2] It has an average elevation of 49 metres (160 feet).

Demographics

Shoranur city comes under ottapalam urban Agglomeration, which according to the 2011 was the 13th largest in the state .The Municipality is divided into 33 wards for which elections are held every 5 years.

As per Population Census 2011, Shoranur Municipality has population of 43,533 of which 20,757 are males while 22,776 are females as per report released by Census India 2011. Population of Children with age of 0-6 is 3928 which is 9.02 % of total population. Female Sex Ratio is of 1097 against state average of 1084, with constituting 52% of the population. Moreover Child Sex Ratio is around 985 compared to Kerala state average of 964. Literacy rate is 95.19 % higher than state average of 94.00 %. Male literacy is around 97.15 % while female literacy rate is 93.42 %.

Shoranur Municipality has total administration over 10,420 houses to which it supplies basic amenities like water and sewerage. It is also authorize to build roads within Municipality limits and impose taxes on properties coming under its jurisdiction.

Among the various religious groups Hindus predominate the population with sizable Muslim and Christian minorities. Schedule Caste (SC) constitutes 17.05 % while Schedule Tribe (ST) were 0.20 % of total population in Shoranur

Out of total population, 14,655 were engaged in work or business activity. Of this 10,901 were males while 3,754 were females. In census survey, worker is defined as person who does business, job, service, and cultivator and labour activity. Of total 14655 working population, 88.77 % were engaged in Main Work while 11.23 % of total workers were engaged in Marginal Work.

History

Shoranur was a part of Kavalappara Desam, a petty feudatory under the Raja of Valluvanad (Valluvakonathari), which extended from Bharatapuzha to Mundakkottukurussi. The ruler of the desam was given the title of Moopil Nair, who wielded powers on behalf of the raja. With the fall of Valluvanad the area first passed on to the hands of the Samoothiri of Kozhikode, and then in 1792 became a part of British India. The palace of Moopil Nair can be seen today on the Shoranur-Kavalappara road near the Eruppe Siva temple.

Under the British, Shoranur came into prominence, being at the border of the British empire and the erstwhile states of Kochi and Travancore. the advent of railways literally made it the gateway to British India. A mini industrial revolution was ushered in the early 1900s with the establishment of metal industries and the extension of railways south of the bharatapuzha. with the formation of the state of kerala, shornur became a panchayat in 1961 and a municipality in 1978.

the 1980s saw the construction of a link line 1 km from the shoranur junction railway station. With most of the long distance trains using the line to bye pass the station, the importance of shoranur junction started to fade. labour issues in the industrial sector resulted in closure of many of those units, sending the local economy into stagnation. By the 2000s shornur was eclipsed by the steady transformation of the nearby towns of ottapalam and pattambi and by 2011 census it became a part of ottapalam Urban Agglomeration.[3]

Industries

simco

Shornur forms a part of the Palakkad industrial belt . with agricultural tools being the major chunk of the produce.

C. K. Menon, who trained in metallurgy from Sheffield (U.K.) was the pioneer of the industrial revolution in the area. In 1929 he started Shornur's first industrial unit, producing agricultural tools for both domestic use and export. His success was followed by others setting up similar industries. The railway brought in cheaper raw materials and a wider market, turning shoranur into Sheffield of the region . the second world war caused diversification of the industries and the boom continued till the early 1980s. the labor issues and the Persian Gulf boom in the 80s created severe labor shortages sending these industries into severe losses and ultimately to closure.

The major industrial units at shornur today are:

Transport

Shornur Junction is the largest Railway Junction in Kerala with seven platforms and four railway lines branching off to Palakkad, Kozhikode, Thrissur and Nilambur . Most of the trains operating in and out of the state passes through this station with the station serving as a major transit point for the passengers from the Malabar region.

Triangular station

People of Shornur have been demanding for a triangular railway station as many of the long distance trains skip Shornur via the link route, 1 km from the station. When built it would be the second largest railway station in South India.

Shornur has two municipal bus stands - one at Shornur and other at Kulapully. There are regular private bus services from these bus stands to Thrissur, Palakkad, Ottapalam, Guruvayur, Pattambi, Cherpulachery and Chelakkara. Kulapully is the starting point of the Kulapully-Palakkad highway which was constructed under the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP).[4] Long distance bus transport is provided by KSRTC. Mayilvahanam group, which is the largest bus operator in Kerala is based here.

The nearest airport is at Calicut (73 km).

Politics

Shornur became a municipality in 1978 and is divided into 33 electoral wards. It is a part of Shornur Legislative Assembly Constituency and Palakkad Parliamentary Constituency.[5]

Other enterprises

mayilvahanam bus
  • Government press
  • Preesa Foods & Spices (i) Pvt Ltd
  • Mayilvahanam Group
  • Sankar foundries
  • Nila group
  • Kelco Group, Vallapuzha,
  • Lilacc'z Design India Pvt Ltd
  • Infinisgroup, Shoranur
  • Concepts Unlimited
  • Karippal Motors
  • RK Constructions
  • Saimitra Dress Creations
  • VISHNU TRAVALS.SHORANUR
  • softech info systems

Educational institutions

Other amenities

Tourist attractions

An ancient Temple of Lord SreeKrishna destroyed in 18th century was recreated in 2007 by devotees led by Shri.Erangodath Prasanna Kumar for the worship of devotees irrespective of caste,creed and religion.The Temple is an example for religious harmony and cultural integration.The old Temple is said to have been built in 13th century by Pandya King Maravarman Sundara Pandyan belongs to the same clan of Pandya Kings who built the Sabarimala temple.The main deity is Gadadhari Navaneetha Krishna which is unique in the world.Other Upadevathas [subordinate] deities are Dharma Sastha,Mookambika,Ganapathy,Hanuman,Nagas,Navagraha and Garuda.Five days long Prathishta dinam [Idol installation Anniversary]celebrations is the important festival of Kulapully.Kulapully Music Festival is also organised as part of the Prathishta dinam celebrations held during the month of April/May every year.Eminent classical musicians participate in the Kulapully Music Festival.


See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shoranur.