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PER Sulaiman al - Tajir, PER V. Nagam Aiya, LOC Travancore, LOC Desinganadu, LOC Quilon, PER Mar Proth, PER St Thomas, LOC Kore - ke -, PER Mar Sabor, LOC Cochin, LOC China, LOC Tangasseri, PER Malik Deenar, LOC Ashtamudi Lake, PER Ibn Battuta, LOC Canton, LOC Kollam, LOC Malabar Coast, LOC Kallada, LOC Laccadive Sea, LOC Kerala, PER ni Kollam, LOC Arabian Sea, LOC Malabar, PER Marco Polo, LOC India, LOC Kollam Port, LOC Backare, LOC Backwaters of Kerala, PER Kublai Khan, LOC Thiruvananthapuram | Kollam (Malayalam: [kolːɐm] (listen)), also known by its former name Quilon pronunciation , is an ancient seaport and city on the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea, which is a part of the Arabian Sea. It is 71 km (44 mi) north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. The city is on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake and the Kallada river.
It is the headquarters of the Kollam district. Kollam is the fourth largest city in Kerala and is known for cashew processing and coir manufacturing. It is the southern gateway to the Backwaters of Kerala and is a prominent tourist destination.
Kollam has a strong commercial reputation since ancient times. The Arabs, Phoenicians, Chinese, Ethiopians, Syrians, Jews, Chaldeans and Romans have all engaged in trade at the port of Kollam for millennia. As a result of Chinese trade, Kollam was mentioned by Ibn Battuta in the 14th century as one of the five Indian ports he had seen during the course of his twenty-four-year travels. Desinganadu's rajas exchanged embassies with Chinese rulers while there was a flourishing Chinese settlement at Kollam. In the ninth century, on his way to Canton, China, Persian merchant Sulaiman al-Tajir found Kollam to be the only port in India visited by huge Chinese junks. Marco Polo, the Venetian traveller, who was in Chinese service under Kublai Khan in 1275, visited Kollam and other towns on the west coast, in his capacity as a Chinese mandarin. Kollam is also home to one of the seven churches that were established by St Thomas as well as one of the 10 oldest mosques believed to be found by Malik Deenar in Kerala.
V. Nagam Aiya in his Travancore State Manual records that in 822 AD two East Syriac bishops Mar Sabor and Mar Proth, settled in Quilon with their followers. Two years later the Malabar Era began (824 AD) and Quilon became the premier city of the Malabar region ahead of Travancore and Cochin. Kollam Port was founded by Mar Sabor at Tangasseri in 825 as an alternative to reopening the inland seaport of Kore-ke-ni Kollam near Backare (Thevalakara), which was also known as Nelcynda and Tyndis to the Romans and Greeks and as Thondi to the Tamils.Kollam city corporation received ISO 9001:2015 certification for municipal administration and services. As per the survey conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) based on urban area growth during January 2020, Kollam became the tenth fastest growing city in the world with a 31.1% urban growth between 2015 and 2020. It is a coastal city and on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake. The city hosts the administrative offices of Kollam district and is a prominent trading city for the state. The proportion of females to males in Kollam city is second highest among the 500 most populous cities in India. Kollam is one of the least polluted cities in India.During the later stages of the rule of the Chera monarchy in Kerala, Kollam emerged as the focal point of trade and politics. Kollam continues to be a major business and commercial centre in Kerala. Four major trading centres around Kollam are Kottarakara, Punalur, Paravur, and Karunagapally. Kollam appeared as Palombe in Mandeville's Travels, where he claimed it contained a Fountain of Youth. | Kollam Introduction |
LOC Coulão, LOC Kollam, LOC Koolam, LOC Desinganadu | In 825 CE, the Malayalam calendar, or Kollavarsham, was created in Kollam at meetings held in the city. The present Malayalam calendar is said to have begun with the re-founding of the town, which was rebuilt after its destruction by fire.
The city was known as Koolam in Arabic, Coulão in Portuguese, and Desinganadu in ancient Tamil literature. | Kollam Etymology |
LOC Kollam, LOC Cairo, LOC Venad, LOC China, LOC Alexandria, LOC Quanzhou, LOC Quilon, LOC Malacca, LOC Kingdom of Quilon, LOC Egypt, LOC Yuan | As the ancient city of Quilon, Kollam was a flourishing port during the Pandya dynasty (c. 3rd century BC–12th century), and later became the capital of the independent Venad or the Kingdom of Quilon on its foundation in c. 825. Kollam was considered one of the four early entrepots in global sea trade during the 13th century, along with Alexandria and Cairo in Egypt, the Chinese city of Quanzhou, and Malacca in the Malaysian archipelago. It seems that trade at Kollam seems to have flourished right into the Medieval period as in 1280, there is instance of envoys of Yuan China coming to Kollam for establishing relations between the local ruler and China | Kollam History |
LOC Tabropane, LOC Ceylon, PER Kollam, PER Ay, LOC Alappuzha, LOC Palakkad Gap, LOC Male, LOC Quilon, LOC Pandyas, PER Cosmas Indicopleustes, LOC Madurai, LOC Tyndis, LOC Rome, LOC Kalliankal, LOC Persia, PER Pliny the Elder, LOC Chera Kingdom, LOC Muziris, LOC Kolli Hills, LOC Kollam, LOC Nelcynda, LOC Nillackal, LOC Malabar Coast, LOC Cheras, LOC Pandyan Kingdom, PER Simon, PER Kulasekharapatnam, LOC Kerala, LOC Tamil Nadu, LOC Coimbatore, PER Chera, LOC Salem, LOC India, PER Jesujabus, LOC Kalliana, ORG Pandya, LOC Kasaragod, LOC Egypt, LOC Western Ghats, LOC Thiruvananthapuram | The ancient political and cultural history of Kollam was almost entirely independent from that of the rest of Kerala. The Chera dynasty governed the area of Malabar Coast between Alappuzha in the south to Kasaragod in the north. This included Palakkad Gap, Coimbatore, Salem, and Kolli Hills. The region around Coimbatore was ruled by the Cheras during Sangam period between c. first and the fourth centuries CE and it served as the eastern entrance to the Palakkad Gap, the principal trade route between the Malabar Coast and Tamil Nadu. However the southern region of present-day Kerala state (The coastal belt between Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha) was under Ay dynasty, who was more related to the Pandya dynasty of Madurai than Cheras.Along with (Muziris and Tyndis), Quilon was an ancient seaport on the Malabar Coast of India from the early centuries before the Christian era. Kollam served as a major port city for Pandya dynasty on the western coast while Kulasekharapatnam served Pandyas on the eastern coast. The city had a high commercial reputation from the days of the Phoenicians and Ancient Romans. Pliny the Elder (23–79 AD) mentions Greek ships anchored at Muziris and Nelcynda. There was also a land route over the Western Ghats. Spices, pearls, diamonds, and silk were exported to Egypt and Rome from these ports. Pearls and diamonds came to the Chera Kingdom from Ceylon and the southeastern coast of India, then known as the Pandyan Kingdom.
Cosmas Indicopleustes, a Greek Nestorian sailor, in his book the Christian Topography who visited the Malabar Coast in 550, mentions an enclave of Christian believers in Male (Malabar Coast). He writes, "In the island of Tabropane (Ceylon), there is a church of Christians, and clerics and faithful. Likewise at Male, where the pepper grows, and in the farming community of Kalliana (Kalliankal at Nillackal) there is also a bishop consecrated in Persia in accordance with the Nicea Sunnahadose of 325 AD." The Nestorian Patriarch Jesujabus, who died in 660 AD, mentions Kollam in his letter to Simon, Metropolitan of Persia.
Kollam is also home to one of the oldest mosques in Indian subcontinent. According to the Legend of Cheraman Perumals, the first Indian mosque was built in 624 AD at Kodungallur with the mandate of the last the ruler (the Cheraman Perumal) of Chera dynasty, who left from Dharmadom to Mecca and converted to Islam during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad (c. 570–632). According to Qissat Shakarwati Farmad, the Masjids at Kodungallur, Kollam, Madayi, Barkur, Mangalore, Kasaragod, Kannur, Dharmadam, Panthalayini, and Chaliyam, were built during the era of Malik Dinar, and they are among the oldest Masjids in Indian subcontinent. It is believed that Malik Dinar died at Thalangara in Kasaragod town. | Kollam Pandya rule |
ORG Ayyanadikal, PER Thiruvadikal, ORG Ayyanadikal Thiruvadikal, LOC Chera, LOC State, LOC Quilon, ORG Nelcynda, PER Mar Proth, ORG Nampoothiri, PER Mar Sabor, LOC Thevalakara, LOC China, LOC Kolla, PER Soleyman of Siraf, LOC Kollam, LOC Venad, ORG Tyndis, PER Adi Shankara, PER Mar Sapor Iso, ORG Desinganadu, ORG St. Thomas, LOC Persian Gulf, LOC Malabar, LOC India, ORG Nair, LOC Backare, PER Maruvan Sapor Iso | The port at Kollam, then known as Quilon, was founded in 825 by the Nestorian Christians Mar Sabor and Mar Proth with sanction from Ayyanadikal Thiruvadikal, the king of the independent Venad or the State of Quilon, a feudatory under the Chera kingdom.It is believed that Mar Sapor Iso also proposed that the Chera king create a new seaport near Kollam in lieu of his request that he rebuild the almost vanished inland seaport at Kollam (kore-ke-ni) near Backare (Thevalakara), also known as Nelcynda and Tyndis to the Romans and Greeks and as Thondi to the Tamils, which had been without trade for several centuries because the Cheras were overrun by the Pallavas in the sixth century, ending the spice trade from the Malabar coast. This allowed the Nestorians to stay in the Chera kingdom for several decades and introduce the Christian faith among the Nampoothiri Vaishnavites and Nair sub-castes in the St. Thomas tradition, with the Syrian liturgy as a basis for the Doctrine of the Trinity, without replacing the Sanskrit and Vedic prayers. The Tharisapalli plates presented to Maruvan Sapor Iso by Ayyanadikal Thiruvadikal granted the Christians the privilege of overseeing foreign trade in the city as well as control over its weights and measures in a move designed to increase Quilon's trade and wealth. The two Christians were also instrumental in founding Christian churches with Syrian liturgy along the Malabar coast, distinct from the ancient Vedic Advaitam propounded by Adi Shankara in the early ninth century among the Nampoothiri Vaishnavites and Nair Sub Castes, as Malayalam was not accepted as a liturgical language until the early 18th century.
Thus began the Malayalam Era, known as Kolla Varsham after the city, indicating the importance of Kollam in the ninth century. The Persian merchant Soleyman of Siraf visited Malabar in the ninth century and found Quilon to be the only port in India used by the huge Chinese ships as their transshipment hub for goods on their way from China to the Persian Gulf. The rulers of Kollam (formerly called 'Desinganadu') had trade relations with China and exchanged embassies. According to the records of the Tang dynasty (618–913), Quilon was their chief port of call before the seventh century. The Chinese trade decreased about 600 and was again revived in the 13th century. Mirabilia Descripta by Bishop Catalani gives a description of life in Kollam, which he saw as the Catholic bishop-designate to Kollam, the oldest Catholic diocese in India. He also gives true and imaginary descriptions of life in 'India the Major' in the period before Marco Polo visited the city. Sulaiman al-Tajir, a Persian merchant who visited Kerala during the reign of Sthanu Ravi Varma (9th century CE), records that there was extensive trade between Kerala and China at that time, based at the port of Kollam. | Kollam Capital of Venad (9th to 12th centuries) |
PER Christopher Columbus, PER Saint Thomas, PER Colobo, LOC Colobo, LOC Columbo, LOC Columbum, PER Lord King Colobo, LOC Kollam, PER Mousso, LOC Columbus, LOC Venad, LOC Colõbo, PER Jordan of, LOC Catalonia, LOC Colombo, LOC Pruvíncia de Columbo, LOC Europe, PER Maruvān Sapir Iso, PER Pope John XXII, LOC Genoa, PER Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan I, LOC Province of Columbo, PER Ilarius Augustus | In 13th century CE, Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan I, a Pandya ruler fought a war in Venad and captured the city of Kollam. The city appears on the Catalan Atlas of 1375 CE as Columbo and Colobo. The map marks this city as a Christian city, ruled by a Christian ruler.The text above the picture of the king says:
Açí seny[o]reja lo rey Colobo, christià. Pruvíncia de Columbo(Here reigns the Lord King Colobo, Christian, Province of Columbo).
The city was much frequented by the Genoese merchants during the 13th-14th centuries CE, followed by the Dominican and Franciscan friars from Europe. The Genoese merchants called the city Colõbo/Colombo.
The city was founded in 825 by Maruvān Sapir Iso, a Persian East Syriac Christian merchant, and was also christianized early by the Saint Thomas Christians. In 1329 CE Pope John XXII established Kollam / Columbo as the first and only Roman Catholic bishopric on the Indian subcontinent, and appointed Jordan of Catalonia, a Dominican friar, as the diocese's first bishop of the Latin sect. The Pope's Latin scribes assigned the name "Columbum" to Columbo.
According to a book authored by Ilarius Augustus, published April, 2021 ('Christopher Columbus: Buried deep in Latin the Indian origin of the great explorer from Genoa'), the words Columbum, Columbus and Columbo appear for the very first time in a notarial deed (lease contract) of a certain Mousso in Genoa in 1329 CE. These words appear in the form of a toponym. The author then shows, through the Latin text of several other notarial deeds and the documents on church history, how Christopher Columbus - also carrying the same toponym.- was part of Mousso's family, and hence of the Indian lineage (although born in Genoa). | Kollam Kollam as "Colombo" in the Catalan Atlas (1375) |
LOC Kozhikode, LOC Kollam, LOC Kochi, LOC Kerala, LOC Kannur | The port at Kozhikode held superior economic and political position in medieval Kerala coast, while Kannur, Kollam, and Kochi, were commercially important secondary ports, where the traders from various parts of the world would gather. | Kollam Kozhikode Influences |
LOC Kollam, LOC St. Thomas Fort, LOC St Thomas Tradition, LOC India, LOC Thangasseri, LOC Kappad Kozhikode, LOC Thevalakara, LOC Infant Jesus Church, ORG Dutch East India Company, LOC Travancore, LOC Tangasseri, LOC Europe | The Portuguese arrived at Kappad Kozhikode in 1498 during the Age of Discovery, thus opening a direct sea route from Europe to India. They were the first Europeans to establish a trading center in Tangasseri, Kollam in 1502, which became the centre of their trade in pepper. In the wars with the Moors/Arabs that followed, the ancient church (temple) of St Thomas Tradition at Thevalakara was destroyed. In 1517, the Portuguese built the St. Thomas Fort in Thangasseri, which was destroyed in the subsequent wars with the Dutch. In 1661, the Dutch East India Company took possession of the city. The remnants of the old Portuguese Fort, later renovated by the Dutch, can be found at Thangasseri. In the 18th century, Travancore conquered Kollam, followed by the British in 1795. Thangasseri remains today as an Anglo-Indian settlement, though few Anglo-Indians remain. The Infant Jesus Church in Thangasseri, an old Portuguese-built church, remains as a memento of the Portuguese rule of the area. | Kollam Portuguese, Dutch and British Trade and Influences (16th to 18th centuries) |
LOC Cantonment Maidan, PER Velu Thampi Dalawa, PER Chalmers, LOC Travancore, LOC Quilon, ORG East India Company, PER Dalawa, ORG British East India Company | The Battle of Quilon was fought in 1809 between a troop of the Indian kingdom of Travancore led by the then Dalawa (prime minister) of Travancore, Velu Thampi Dalawa and the British East India Company led by Colonel Chalmers at Cantonment Maidan in Quilon. The battle lasted for only six hours and was the result of the East India Company's invasion of Quilon and their garrison situated near the Cantonment Maidan. The company forces won the battle while all the insurrectionist who participated in the war were court-martialed and subsequently hanged at the maidan. | Kollam Battle of Quilon |
LOC Kozhikode, LOC Kollam, PER Swathi Thirunal, LOC Kingdom of Travancore, LOC Purakkad, ORG Government Secretariat, LOC Malappuram, LOC Kerala, LOC Travancore, LOC Venad Kingdom, LOC Travancore Kingdom, PER Zamorin, LOC Kannur, PER Parappanad, PER Kolathunadu, PER Marthanda Varma, LOC Thiruvananthapuram | In the early 18th century CE, the Travancore royal family adopted some members from the royal family of Kolathunadu based at Kannur, and Parappanad based in present-day Malappuram district. Later, Venad Kingdom was completely merged with the Kingdom of Travancore during the rein of Marthanda Varma and Kollam remained as the capital of Travancore Kingdom. Later on, the capital of Travancore was relocated to Thiruvananthapuram.
Travancore became the most dominant state in Kerala by defeating the powerful Zamorin of Kozhikode in the battle of Purakkad in 1755. The Government Secretariat was also situated in Kollam till the 1830s. It was moved to Thiruvananthapuram during the reign of Swathi Thirunal. | Kollam Travancore Rule |
LOC Kollam, LOC India, LOC Kollam Port, ORG KCHR, LOC China, ORG Museum, ORG Kerala Council for Historical Research, LOC Palace | Excavations are going on at Kollam Port premises since February 2014 as the team has uncovered arrays of antique artifacts, including Chinese porcelain and coins. A Chinese team with the Palace Museum, a team from India with Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR) discovered Chinese coins and artifacts that show trade links between Kollam and ancient China. | Kollam Excavation at Kollam Port seabed |
LOC Ithikkara, LOC Thrikkaruva, LOC Kottamkara, LOC Mayyanad, ORG IndiaTimes, LOC Kozhikode, LOC Lake Ashtamudi, LOC Cochin, LOC National Waterway 3, PER Solomon, LOC Red Sea, LOC Paravur Kayal, LOC Ashtamudi Lake, LOC Kollam Canal, LOC Vattakkayal, LOC Kollam, LOC Paravur Lake, ORG Booking. com, LOC Kallada, LOC Laccadive Sea, LOC Kerala, LOC Kattakayal, LOC Tamil Nadu, LOC Thrikkovilvattom, LOC Schenkottah Gap, LOC Aryankavu Pass, LOC Kochi, LOC India, LOC Allepey, LOC Neendakara, LOC Arabian Sea, LOC Thiruvananthapuram | Kollam city is bordered by the panchayats of Neendakara and Thrikkaruva to the north, Mayyanad to the south, and Thrikkovilvattom and Kottamkara to the east, and by the Laccadive Sea to the west. Ashtamudi Lake is in the heart of the city. The city is about 71 km (44 mi) away from Thiruvananthapuram, 140 km (87 mi) away from Kochi and 350 km (220 mi) away from Kozhikode. The National Waterway 3 and Ithikkara river are two important waterways passing through the city. The 7.7 km (4.8 mi) long Kollam Canal is connecting Paravur Lake ans Ashtamudi Lake. The Kallada river, another river that flows through the suburbs of the city, empties into Ashtamudi Lake, while the Ithikkara river runs to Paravur Kayal. Kattakayal, a freshwater lake in the city, connects another water-body named Vattakkayal with Lake Ashtamudi. In March 2016, IndiaTimes selected Kollam as one of the nine least polluted cities on earth to which anybody can relocate. Kollam is one among the top 10 most welcoming places in India for the year 2020, according to Booking.com's traveller review awards.Kollam is an ancient trading town – trading with Romans, Chinese, Arabs, and other Orientals – mentioned in historical citations dating back to Biblical times and the reign of Solomon, connecting with Red Sea ports of the Arabian Sea (supported by a find of ancient Roman coins). There was also internal trade through the Aryankavu Pass in Schenkottah Gap connecting the ancient town to Tamil Nadu. The overland trade in pepper by bullock cart and the trade over the waterways connecting Allepey and Cochin established trade linkages that enabled it to grow into one of the earliest Indian industrial townships. The rail links later established to Tamil Nadu supported still stronger trade links. The factories processing marine exports and the processing and packaging of cashewnuts extended its trade across the globe. It is known for cashew processing and coir manufacturing. Ashtamudi Lake is considered the southern gateway to the backwaters of Kerala and is a prominent tourist destination at Kollam. The Kollam urban area includes suburban towns such as Paravur in the south, Kundara in the east and Karunagapally in the north of the city. Other important towns in the city suburbs are Eravipuram, Kottiyam, Kannanallur, and Chavara. | Kollam Geography |
LOC Kollam | Kollam experiences a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen Am) with little seasonal variation in temperatures. December to March is the dry season with less than 60 millimetres or 2.4 inches of rain in each of those months. April to November is the wet season, with considerably more rain than during December to March, especially in June and July at the height of the Southwest Monsoon. | Kollam Climate |
LOC Kilikollur Zone, LOC Kollam, ORG Government of Kerala, LOC Thrikkadavoor, ORG Cantonment, LOC Sakthikulangara Zone, LOC Thrikkadavoor Zone, PER Prasanna Earnest, ORG Kollam Municipal Corporation, LOC Vadakkevila Zone, LOC Eravipuram Zone, ORG City Corporation of Kollam, ORG Kollam Municipal, LOC Central Zone, LOC Trivandrum, ORG Rotary Club, LOC South India | As of the 2011 India census, Kollam city had a population of 349,033 with a density of 5,400 persons per square kilometre. The sex ratio (the number of females per 1,000 males) was 1,112, the highest in the state. The district of Kollam ranked seventh in population in the state while the city of Kollam ranked fourth. As of 2010 Kollam had an average literacy rate of 93.77%, higher than the national average of 74.04%. Male literacy stood at 95.83%, and female at 91.95%. In Kollam, 11% of the population was under six years of age. In May 2015, Government of Kerala have decided to expand City Corporation of Kollam by merging Thrikkadavoor panchayath. So the area will become 73.03 km2 (28.20 sq mi) with a total city population of 384,892.Malayalam is the most widely spoken language and official language of the city, while Tamil is understood by some sections in the city. There are also small communities of Anglo-Indians, Konkani Brahmins, Telugu Chetty and Bengali migrant labourers settled in the city. For ease of administration, Kollam Municipal Corporation is divided into six zones with local zonal offices for each one.
Central Zone (headquartered at Cantonment), Kollam Municipal Corporation
Sakthikulangara Zone, Kollam Municipal Corporation
Vadakkevila Zone, Kollam Municipal Corporation
Kilikollur Zone, Kollam Municipal Corporation
Eravipuram Zone, Kollam Municipal Corporation
Thrikkadavoor Zone, Kollam Municipal CorporationIn 2014, former Kollam Mayor Mrs. Prasanna Earnest was selected as the Best Lady Mayor of South India by the Rotary Club of Trivandrum Royal | Kollam Population |
LOC Kollam, LOC Karbala Maidan, ORG Juma -, LOC India, LOC Thangassery, ORG Ath Palli, ORG CSI Kollam - Kottarakara Diocese, LOC Kerala, LOC Karuva, ORG Church of South India, ORG Roman Catholic Diocese of Quilon, ORG The Pentecostal Mission for Kottarakkara, PER Syed Abdur Rahman Jifri, PER Pope John XXII, LOC Infant Jesus Cathedral, LOC Makani | The city of Kollam is a microcosm of Kerala state with its residents belonging to varied religious, ethnic and linguistic groups. There are so many ancient temples, centuries-old churches and mosques in the city and its suburbs. Kollam is a Hindu majority city in Kerala. 56.35% of Kollam's total population belongs to Hindu community. Moreover, the Kollam Era (also known as Malayalam Era or Kollavarsham or Malayalam Calendar or Malabar Era), solar and sidereal Hindu calendar used in Kerala, has been originated on 825 CE (Pothu Varsham) at (Kollam) city.Muslims account for 22.05% of Kollam's total population. As per the Census 2011 data, 80,935 is the total Muslim population in Kollam. The Karbala Maidan and the adjacent Makani mosque serves as the Eid gah for the city. The 300-year-old Juma-'Ath Palli at Karuva houses the mortal remains of a Sufi saint, Syed Abdur Rahman Jifri.Christians account for 21.17% of the total population of Kollam city. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Quilon (Kollam) is the first Catholic diocese in India. The diocese was first erected by Pope John XXII on 9 August 1329. It was re-erected on 1 September 1886. The diocese covers an area of 1,950 km2 (750 sq mi) and contains a population of 4,879,553, Catholics numbering 235,922 (4.8%). The famous Infant Jesus Cathedral, 400 years old, located in Thangassery, is the co-cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Quilon. CSI Kollam-Kottarakara Diocese is one of the twenty-four dioceses of the Church of South India. The Headquarters of the Kerala region of The Pentecostal Mission for Kottarakkara, is in Kollam. | Kollam Religion |
ORG M, ORG IGP, ORG Government of Kerala, ORG CPI, ORG Kollam City Police Commissionerate, ORG IPS, ORG Indian Police Service, LOC Kollam, ORG Police, LOC Karunagappally, LOC Thiruvananthapuram Range, ORG State Home Department, PER V. Rajendrababu, ORG Kollam Corporation, LOC Kollam City, LOC Chathannoor, PER General of, ORG Inspector | Kollam City is a Municipal Corporation with elected Councillors from its 55 divisions. The Mayor, elected from among the councillors, generally represents the political party holding a majority. The Corporation Secretary heads the office of the corporation. The present Mayor of Kollam Corporation is Adv.V. Rajendrababu of CPI(M).The police administration of the city falls under the Kollam City Police Commissionerate which is headed by an IPS (Indian Police Service) cadre officer and he reports to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Thiruvananthapuram Range. The police administration comes under the State Home Department of the Government of Kerala. Kollam City is divided into three subdivisions, Karunagappally, Kollam and Chathannoor, each under an Assistant Commissioner of Police. | Kollam Civic administration |
LOC Thazhuthala, LOC Thodiyoor, LOC Chavara, LOC Maruthadi, LOC Poothakkulam, LOC Karunagappally, LOC Thrikkaruva, LOC Kottamkara, LOC Mayyanad, LOC Kallelibhagom, LOC Thrikkadavoor, LOC Nedumpana, LOC Kulasekharapuram, LOC Panmana, LOC Kollam, LOC Oachira, LOC Perinad, LOC Elampalloor, LOC Vadakkumthala, LOC Meenad, LOC Kerala, LOC City of Kollam, LOC Panayam, LOC Uliyakovil, LOC Thrikkovilvattom, LOC Adinad, LOC Paravur, LOC India, LOC Eravipuram, LOC Adichanalloor, LOC Neendakara, LOC Ayanivelikulangara | With a total urban population of 1,187,158 and 349,033 as city corporation's population, Kollam is the fourth most populous city in the state and 49th on the list of the most populous urban agglomerations in India. As of 2011 the city's urban growth rate of 154.59% was the second highest in the state. The Metropolitan area of Kollam includes Uliyakovil, Adichanalloor, Adinad, Ayanivelikulangara, Chavara, Elampalloor, Eravipuram (Part), Kallelibhagom, Karunagappally, Kollam, Kottamkara, Kulasekharapuram, Mayyanad, Meenad, Nedumpana, Neendakara, Oachira, Panayam, Panmana, Paravur, Perinad, Poothakkulam, Thazhuthala, Thodiyoor, Thrikkadavoor, Thrikkaruva, Thrikkovilvattom, and Vadakkumthala.The Kerala Government has decided to develop the City of Kollam as a "Port City of Kerala". Regeneration of the Maruthadi-Eravipuram area including construction of facilities for fishing, tourism and entertainment projects will be implemented as part of the project | Kollam Urban structure |
ORG VFFDA, LOC Chavara, LOC Thangasseri, LOC Kureepuzha, LOC Ayiramthengu, ORG United Electrical Industries, LOC Kozhikode, ORG Kerala Ceramics Ltd., ORG Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited, ORG Indian Rare Earths, ORG Kerala Premo Pipe, ORG Central Government, ORG FFDA, LOC Kollam, LOC Kundara, LOC Cheriazheekkal, LOC Kerala, ORG Parvathi Mills Ltd., LOC Sakthikulangara, LOC Paravur, LOC Kochi, LOC India, LOC Eravipuram, LOC Neendakara, ORG Kerala Electrical and Allied Engineering Company, LOC Alappad, LOC Pandarathuruthu, LOC Puthenthura | The city life of Kollam has changed in the last decade. In terms of economic performance and per capita income, Kollam city is in fifth position from India and third in Kerala. Kollam is famous as a city with excellent export background. 5 star, 4 star and 3 star hotels, multi-storied shopping malls, branded jewellery, textile showrooms and car showrooms have started operations in the city and suburbs. Kollam was the third city in Kerala (after Kozhikode and Kochi) to adopt the shopping mall culture. Kollam district ranks first in livestock wealth in the state. Downtown Kollam is the main CBD of Kollam city.
Dairy farming is fairly well developed. Also there is a chilling plant in the city. Kollam is an important maritime and port city. Fishing has a place in the economy of the district. Neendakara and Sakthikulangara villages in the suburbs of the city have fisheries. An estimated 134,973 persons are engaged in fishing and allied activities. Cheriazheekkal, Alappad, Pandarathuruthu, Puthenthura, Neendakara, Thangasseri, Eravipuram and Paravur are eight of the 26 important fishing villages. There are 24 inland fishing villages. The Government has initiated steps for establishing a fishing harbour at Neendakara. Average fish landing is estimated at 85,275 tonnes per year. One-third of the state's fish catch is from Kollam. Nearly 3000 mechanised boats are operating from the fishing harbour. FFDA and VFFDA promote fresh water fish culture and prawn farming respectively. A fishing village with 100 houses is being built at Eravipuram. A prawn farm is being built at Ayiramthengu, and several new hatcheries are planned to cater to the needs of the aquaculturists. Kerala's only turkey farm and a regional poultry farm are at Kureepuzha.There are two Central Government industrial operations in the city, the Indian Rare Earths, Chavara and Parvathi Mills Ltd., Kollam. Kerala Ceramics Ltd. in Kundara, Kerala Electrical and Allied Engineering Company in Kundara, Kerala Premo Pipe factory in Chavara, Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited in Chavara and United Electrical Industries in Kollam are Kerala Government-owned companies. Other major industries in the private/cooperative sector are Aluminium Industries Ltd. in Kundara, Thomas Stephen & Co. in Kollam, Floorco in Paravur and Cooperative Spinning Mill in Chathannoor. The beach sands of the district have concentrations of such heavy minerals as Ilmenite, Rutile, Monosite and Zircon, which offer scope for exploitation for industrial purposes.
Besides large deposits of China clay in Kundara, Mulavana and Chathannoor, there are also lime-shell deposits in Ashtamudi Lake and Bauxite deposits in Adichanallur.Known as the "Cashew Capital of the World", Kollam is noted for its traditional cashew business and is home to more than 600 cashew-processing units. Every year, about 800,000 tonnes of raw cashews are imported into the city for processing and an average of 130,000 tonnes of processed cashews are exported to various countries worldwide. The Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPCI) expects a rise in exports to 275,000 tonnes by 2020, an increase of 120 per cent over the current figure. The Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation Limited (KSCDC) is situated at Mundakkal in Kollam city. The company owns 30 cashew factories all across Kerala. Of these, 24 are located in Kollam district.Kollam is one of many seafood export hubs in India with numerous companies involved in the sector. Most of these are based in the Maruthadi, Sakthikulangara, Kavanad, Neendakara, Asramam, Kilikollur, Thirumullavaram and Uliyakovil areas of the city. Capithans, Kings Marine Exporters, India Food Exports and Oceanic Fisheries are examples of seafood exporters.
Kollam's Ashtamudi Lake clam fishery was the first Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified fishery in India. The clam fishery supports around 3,000 people involved in the collection, cleaning, processing and trading of clams. Around 90 species of fish and ten species of clams are found in the lake. | Kollam Economy |
LOC Ashtamudi Lake, LOC Kollam, PER Prathibha Patil, LOC Ashramam Maidan | Kollam Fest is Kollam's own annual festival, attracting mostly Keralites but also hundreds of domestic and foreign tourists to Kollam. The main venue of Kollam Fest is the historic and gigantic Ashramam Maidan. Kollam Fest is the signature event of Kollam. Kollam Fest seeks to showcase Kollam's rich culture and heritage, tourism potential and investments in new ventures.Kollam Pooram, part of the Asramam Sree Krishna Swamy Temple Festival, is usually held on 15 April, but occasionally on 16 April. The pooram is held at the Ashramam maidan.
The President's Trophy Boat Race (PTBR) is an annual regatta held in Ashtamudi Lake in Kollam. The event was inaugurated by President Prathibha Patil in September 2011. The event has been rescheduled from 2012. | Kollam Culture |
LOC Kollam, LOC Trivandrum International Airport, LOC NH66, LOC India | The city corporation of Kollam is served by the Trivandrum International Airport, which is about 56 kilometers from the city via NH66 . Trivandrum International Airport is the first international airport in a non-metro city in India. | Kollam Air |
LOC Kilikollur, LOC Alappuzha, LOC Kollam Junction, LOC Haripad, ORG MRVC, ORG Indian Railways, ORG Kollam MEMU, LOC Chengannur, LOC Ernakulam, LOC Adoor, LOC Trivandrum, LOC Perinad, LOC Kollam, LOC Kollam Town Railway, LOC Nagercoil, LOC Kottarakara, LOC Kerala, ORG MEMU, ORG Kerala Government, LOC Eravipuram, LOC Kanyakumari, LOC Shoranur Junction, ORG Mainline Electrical Multiple Unit, LOC Kottayam, LOC S. N College Railway Station, LOC Thiruvananthapuram | Kollam Junction is the second largest railway station in Kerala in area, after Shoranur Junction, with a total of 6 platforms. The station has 17 rail tracks. Kollam junction has world's third longest railway platform, measuring 1180.5 m(3873 ft).
Mainline Electrical Multiple Unit (MEMU) have a maintenance shed at Kollam Junction. The MEMU services started from Kollam to Ernakulam via Alappuzha and Kottayam in the second week of January 2012. By 1 December 2012, MEMU service between Kollam and Nagercoil became a reality and later extended up to Kanyakumari. Kollam MEMU Shed inaugurated on 1 December 2013 for the maintenance works of MEMU rakes. Kollam MEMU Shed is the largest MEMU Shed in Kerala, which is equipped with most modern facilities. There is a long-standing demand for the Kollam Town Railway Station in the Kollam-Perinad stretch and "S.N College Railway Station" in the Kollam-Eravipuram stretch. The railway stations in Kollam city are Kollam Junction railway station, Eravipuram railway station and Kilikollur railway station.
A new suburban rail system has been proposed by the Kerala Government and Indian Railways on the route Thiruvananthapuram - Kollam - Haripad/Chengannur for which MRVC is tasked to conduct a study and submit a report. Ten trains, each with seven coaches, will transport passengers back and forth along the Trivandrum-Kollam-Chengannur-Kottarakara-Adoor section. | Kollam Rail |
ORG KSRTC, LOC Kollam, LOC NH 183, LOC Kochi, LOC Ashtamudi Lake, LOC Palakkad, LOC Andamukkam, LOC Kottarakkara, LOC Kerala, LOC Alappuzha, LOC NH 744, LOC Kottayam, LOC Trivandrum, LOC Punalur, LOC NH 66, ORG Kerala State Road Transport Corporation | The city of Kollam is connected to almost all the cities and major towns in the state, including Trivandrum, Alappuzha, Kochi, Palakkad, Kottayam, Kottarakkara, and Punalur, and with other Indian cities through the NH 66, NH 183, NH 744 - and other state PWD Roads. Road transport is provided by state-owned Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and private transport bus operators. Kollam is one among the five KSRTC zones in Kerala. Road transport is also provided by private taxis and autorickshaws, also called autos. There is a city private bus stand at Andamukkam. There is a KSRTC bus station beside Ashtamudi Lake. Buses to various towns in Kerala and interstate services run from this station. | Kollam Road |
LOC Munroe Island, ORG Shreyas Shipping Company, LOC Asramam Link Road, LOC West Kallada, LOC Alappuzha, LOC Karunagappally, LOC Kollam KSWTD Ferry Terminal, LOC Guhanandapuram, LOC Kochi Port, ORG State Water Transport Department, LOC Hosdurg, LOC Ashtamudi Lake, LOC Kollam, LOC Dalavapuram, ORG Cochin Port Trust, LOC Kerala, LOC West coast, LOC Antigua, LOC Paravur, LOC Kollam Port, LOC Allepey, LOC Port, LOC Thiruvananthapuram | The State Water Transport Department operates boat services to West Kallada, Munroe Island, Guhanandapuram, Dalavapuram and Alappuzha from Kollam KSWTD Ferry Terminal situated on the banks of the Ashtamudi Lake. Asramam Link Road in the city passes adjacent to the ferry terminal.Double decker luxury boats run between Kollam and Allepey daily. Luxury boats, operated by the government and private owners, operate from the main boat jetty during the tourist season. The West coast canal system, which starts from Thiruvananthapuram in the south and ends at Hosdurg in the north, passes through Paravur, the city of Kollam and Karunagappally taluk.Kollam Port is the second largest port in Kerala, after Cochin Port Trust. It is one of two international ports in Kerala. Cargo handling facilities began operation in 2013. Foreign ships arrive in the port regularly with the MV Alina, a 145-metre (476 ft) vessel registered in Antigua anchored at the port on 4 April 2014. Once the Port starts functioning in full-fledged, it will make the transportation activities of Kollam-based cashew companies more easy. Shreyas Shipping Company is now running a regular container service between Kollam Port and Kochi Port. | Kollam Water |
LOC Kilikollur, ORG Government of Kerala, LOC Chavara, ORG Thangal Kunju Musaliar College of Engineering, ORG Bishop Jerome Institute, ORG Sree Narayana College, ORG Kollam, ORG Architecture, ORG St Aloysius H. S. S, ORG Travancore Business Academy, ORG Trinity Lyceum School, ORG The oxford, ORG Sri Sri Academy, ORG Institute of Management, ORG Sree Narayana Trust, ORG Kerala Maritime Institute, ORG Sree Narayana Guru College of Legal Studies, ORG National Institute of Fashion Technology, ORG Institute of Fashion Technology, ORG IMK, LOC Kollam, ORG Infant Jesus School, LOC Vellimon, ORG National Institute of Design, LOC Kerala, ORG KSID, ORG N S S Law College, ORG Ministry of Textiles, ORG IIIC, LOC India, ORG Kerala State Institute of Design, LOC Neendakara, ORG Indian Institute of Infrastructure and Construction, ORG Neendakara, ORG Fatima Mata National College, LOC Ahmedabad, ORG Boat Crew, ORG Department of labour and Skills, LOC Chandanathope, ORG N. S. S | There are many respected colleges, schools and learning centres in Kollam. The city and suburbs contribute greatly to education by providing the best and latest knowledge to the scholars. The Thangal Kunju Musaliar College of Engineering, the first private school of its kind in the state, is at Kilikollur, about 7 km (4.3 mi) east of Kollam city, and is a source of pride for all Kollamites. The Government of Kerala has granted academic autonomy to Fatima Mata National College, another prestigious institution in the city. Sree Narayana College, Bishop Jerome Institute (an integrated campus providing Architecture, Engineering and Management courses), and Travancore Business Academy are other important colleges in the city. There are two law colleges in the city, Sree Narayana Guru College of Legal Studies under the control of Sree Narayana Trust and N S S Law College managed by the N.S.S. There are also some best schools in Kollam including Trinity Lyceum School, Infant Jesus School, St Aloysius H.S.S, The oxford school, Sri Sri Academy etc.
Kerala State Institute of Design (KSID), a design institute under Department of labour and Skills, Government of Kerala, is located at Chandanathope in Kollam. It was established in 2008 and was one of the first state-owned design institutes in India. KSID currently conducts Post Graduate Diploma Programs in Design developed in association with National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.Indian Institute of Infrastructure and Construction (IIIC-Kollam) is an institute of international standards situated at Chavara in Kollam city to support the skill development programmes for construction related occupations. The Institute of Fashion Technology, Kollam, Kerala is a fashion technology institute situated at Vellimon, established in technical collaboration with the National Institute of Fashion Technology and the Ministry of Textiles. In addition, there are two IMK (Institute of Management, Kerala) Extension Centres active in the city. Kerala Maritime Institute is situated at Neendakara in Kollam city to give maritime training for the students in Kerala. More than 5,000 students have been trained at Neendakara maritime institute under the Boat Crew training programme.Apart from colleges, there are a number of bank coaching centres in Kollam. Kollam is known as India's hub for bank test coaching centres with around 40 such institutes in the district. Students from various Indian states such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh also come here for coaching. | Kollam Education |
LOC Kollam, LOC Asramam Maidan, LOC Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium, ORG Postal Department, LOC International, LOC Peeranki Maidan, LOC Asramam | Cricket is the most popular sport, followed by hockey and football. Kollam is home to a number of local cricket, hockey and football teams participating in district, state-level and zone matches. An International Hockey Stadium with astro-turf facility is there at Asramam in the city, built at a cost of Rs. 13 crore. The land for the construction of the stadium was taken over from the Postal Department at Asramam, Kollam. The city has another stadium named the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium, Kollam. It is a multipurpose stadium and has repeatedly hosted such sports events as the Ranji Trophy, Santhosh Trophy and National Games. Two open grounds in the city, the Asramam Maidan and Peeranki Maidan, are also used for sports events, practice and warm-up matches. | Kollam Sports |
LOC Munroe Island, LOC Asramam Sree Krishna Swamy Temple, LOC Poruvazhy, PER Ammachi Veedu, LOC Kottarakkara, LOC Karunagappally, LOC Dutch Church, LOC Ponmana Padanayarkulangara mahadeva, LOC s Church, LOC Quilon, LOC Puttingal Devi Temple, LOC Anandavalleeshwaram Sri Mahadevar Temple, LOC Kattil Mekkathil Devi Temple, LOC Sasthamcotta Sree Dharma Sastha Temple, LOC Our Lady of Velankanni Shrine, LOC Thoppu, LOC Tangasseri, LOC Infant Jesus Cathedral, LOC Kollam, LOC Ashtamudi Sree Veerabhadra Swamy Temple, LOC Kottarakkara Sree Mahaganapathi Kshethram, LOC Sasthamkotta, LOC Saint Casimir Church, LOC St., LOC St. Stephen, LOC Kavanad, LOC Kerala, LOC Ammachiveedu Muhurthi temple, LOC Pazhayidam Sree Narasimha Swami Temple Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada Temple, LOC Kottankulangara Devi Temple, LOC St. Sebastian ' s Church, LOC Paravur, LOC Holy Family Church, LOC Cutchery, LOC India, LOC Neendakara, LOC Kadavoor, ORG ', ORG Diocese of, LOC Sakthikulangara Sree Dharma Sastha temple, LOC Thrikkadavoor Sree Mahadeva Temple | Hindus and temples
Anandavalleeshwaram Sri Mahadevar Temple is a 400 years old ancient Hindu temple in the city. The 400-year-old Sanctum sanctorum of this temple is finished in teak. Ammachiveedu Muhurthi temple is another major temple in the city that have been founded around 600 years ago by the Ammachi Veedu family, aristocrats from Kollam. The Kollam pooram, a major festival of Kollam, is the culmination of a ten-day festival, normally in mid April, of Asramam Sree Krishna Swamy Temple. Kottankulangara Devi Temple is one of the world-famous Hindu temples in Kerala were cross-dressing of men for Chamayavilakku ritual is a part of traditional festivities. The men also carry large lamps. The first of the two-day dressing event drew to a close early on Monday. Moreover, Kottarakkara Sree Mahaganapathi Kshethram in Kottarakkara, Puttingal Devi Temple in Paravur, sooranad north anayadi Pazhayidam Sree Narasimha Swami Temple Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada Temple in Poruvazhy, Sasthamcotta Sree Dharma Sastha Temple in Sasthamkotta, Sakthikulangara Sree Dharma Sastha temple, Thrikkadavoor Sree Mahadeva Temple in Kadavoor and Kattil Mekkathil Devi Temple in Ponmana Padanayarkulangara mahadeva temple Karunagappally, Ashtamudi Sree Veerabhadra Swamy Temple are the other famous Hindu worship centres in the Kollam Metropolitan Area.
Christianity and churches
The Infant Jesus Cathedral in Tangasseri is established by Portuguese during 1614. It is now the pro-cathedral of Roman Catholic Diocese of Quilon – the ancient and first Catholic diocese of India. The church remains as a memento of the Portuguese rule of old Quilon city. St. Sebastian's Church at Neendakara is another important church in the city. The Dutch Church in Munroe Island is built by the Dutch in 1878. Our Lady of Velankanni Shrine in Cutchery is another important Christian worship place in Kollam city. Saint Casimir Church in Kadavoor, Holy Family Church in Kavanad, St.Stephen's Church in Thoppu and St.Thomas Church in Kadappakada are some of the other major Christian churches in Kollam.
Muslims and mosques
Kottukadu Juma Masjid in Chavara, Elampalloor Juma-A-Masjid, Valiyapalli in Jonakappuram, Chinnakada Juma Masjid, Juma-'Ath Palli in Kollurvila, Juma-'Ath Palli in Thattamala and Koivila Juma Masjid in Chavara are the other major Mosques in Kollam. | Kollam Places of worship |
LOC Kollam | Notable individuals born in Kollam include: | Kollam Notable people |
PER Hok - lam, PER Narayan, ORG Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, PER Chitramezhuthu, ORG Keralathinde Eruladanja Edukal, ORG China Intercontinental Press, PER Pius Malekandathil, ORG KM Varghese, PER Zheng He, LOC Fujian Province, LOC United Kingdom, PER Marthoma, ORG Taylor & Francis, PER Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai, PER M. G. S, PER Pulikottil Mar Dionyius, PER Bernard Thoma Kathanar, PER Lin, PER Trudy, LOC Thulaserry Manapurathu, ORG Malankara, PER Chan, ORG Primus Books, ORG Travancore Archaeological, ORG T. A. S, PER L. K. Ananthakrishna Iyer, PER Ring, LOC Cambridge, ORG Madurai University, PER Mathai Kathanar, ORG Cambridge University Press, PER Narayan M. G. S, PER Z. M. Paret | Ring, Trudy (1994). International Dictionary of Historic Places: Asia and Oceania, Volume 5. United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-884964-05-3.
Chan, Hok-lam (1998). "The Chien-wen, Yung-lo, Hung-hsi, and Hsüan-te reigns, 1399–1435". The Cambridge History of China, Volume 7: The Ming Dynasty, 1368–1644, Part 1. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-24332-2.
Lin (2007). Zheng He's Voyages Down the Western Seas. Fujian Province: China Intercontinental Press. ISBN 978-7-5085-0707-1.
Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai, Keralathinde Eruladanja Edukal, p. 64,112,117
Travancore Archaeological Series (T.A.S.) Vol. 6 p. 15
Diaries and writings of Mathai Kathanar, the 24th generation priest of Thulaserry Manapurathu, based on the ancestral documents and Thaliyolagrandha handed down through generations
Z.M. Paret, Malankara Nazranikal, vol. 1
L. K. Ananthakrishna Iyer, State Manual, p50,52
Bernard Thoma Kathanar, Marthoma Christyanikal, lines 23,24
Pius Malekandathil (2010). Maritime India: Trade, Religion and Polity in the Indian Ocean. Primus Books. p. 43. ISBN 978-93-80607-01-6.
Narayan, M.G.S, Chera-Pandya conflict in the 8th–9th centuries which led to the birth of Venad: Pandyan History seminar, Madurai University, 1971
The Viswavijnanakosam (Malayalam) Vol. 3, p. 523,534
Narayan M.G.S., Cultural Symbiosis p33
The handwritten diaries of Pulikottil Mar Dionyius (former supreme head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and Chitramezhuthu KM Varghese) | Kollam Bibliography |
LOC Koraput, LOC Odisha | Koraput is a town and a Municipality in Koraput district in the Indian state of Odisha. Koraput town is the district headquarter of Koraput district. | Koraput Introduction |
PER Nandapur, LOC Similiguda, PER Veer Vikram Dev, LOC Umarkot, PER Karaka, PER Khora Naiko, PER Bell, LOC Kashmir, LOC Ranpur, ORG Militia, LOC Pushkari, PER Silavamsi, LOC Bondaguda, PER Suryavanshi, PER Nalas, LOC Kora - Putti, LOC Jeypore, LOC Khora Putu, PER R. C. S. Bell, LOC Nandapur, LOC Koraput | The district of Koraput derives its name from its headquarters the present town of Koraput. In ancient times when the Nalas were ruling over this tract, Pushkari near modern Umarkot was the capital city. In the medieval period Nandapur developed as a little kingdom under the Silavamsi kings that was later expanded by the Suryavanshi kings who arrived in the region in 13th century from Kashmir. Later, Maharajah Veer Vikram Dev of shifted his capital to Jeypore and about the middle of the 17th century this town prospered under the British Administration. Koraput was chosen by the British in 1870 for better health prospects. The origin of the name of Koraput is obscure. There are several theories, none of which are convincing.
According to Mr. R.C.S.Bell the name of the town is ‘Kora-Putti’ or "the hamlet of the nux-vomica" and it is derived presumably from a tree or trees that must at one time have been prominent near the site. But today not a single tree of nux-vomica is to be found near about the town of Koraput and so the assumption or Mr. Bell is open to question.
According to second theory, Koraput is corrupted form of ‘Karaka pentho’ Karaka literally mans ‘hail-stone’. It is also believed that one ‘Khora Naiko’ laid foundation of the village during the time of Nandapur kings. He hailed probably from Ranpur and served under the Nandapur kings in the Militia, and for his faithful and meritorious services he has permitted to establish this village which was named after him as Khora Putu, and later on the name has been abbreviated to ‘Koraput’.
Koraput is also a Tourism Place. The town is surrounded by mountains, thick forests and waterfalls. This town also has many old temples.
Marking a social success for others to emulate, the past two years, around 220 tribal villagers of the non-descript Bondaguda village under Similiguda block in the district has become totally free of open defecation with each of its 45 families constructing toilets in their homes. | Koraput History |
LOC Koraput, LOC Odisha | Koraput is a part of the tribal belt in southern Odisha. As the term 'tribal' often denotes a negative connotation, the indigenous people here prefer to be known as Adivasis, i.e. "original inhabitants". Many different Adivasi communities live in this district.
The traditional culture (including languages), knowledge and subsistence of the Adivasis are closely connected with local ecosystems.Most of the area was covered by thick forest until relatively recently. As a result of deforestation, industrialization and urbanization, many Adivasi communities have adopted new ways of life. However, many Adivasis maintain a tradition of selling produce (vegetables and fruit) in Sunday markets popularly known as Hat Poda (or haat).The Dongar Festival (or Parab) is held annually, ostensibly to showcase the way of life of Adivasis, in the first and second weeks of December, organised by the district administration. Many foreign tourists visit the festival. There has been criticism of the festival, with allegations that Adivasis are reluctant participants, who are paraded like "museum specimens" for the benefit of the tourism industry. | Koraput Adivasi communities |
LOC Koraput temple, LOC Sabara Srikhetra, ORG COATS, ORG Council of Analytical Tribal Studies, LOC Srikhetra, LOC Puri Jagannath, LOC Jagannath Temple, LOC Koraput | Koraput is mostly famous for its Jagannath Temple which is also known as Sabara Srikhetra. Srikhetra is normally referred to as Puri Jagannath, but the unique identity of the Koraput temple is because no section of society is barred entry.
Council of Analytical Tribal Studies (COATS), registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860, is university–like educational institute is a successful attempt to restore and educate tribal way of life, customs, tradition, medicine, language, social structure and history. COATS has been documenting the day-today situation of poor tribals and feeding this information to the local administration in an effort to make it more efficient. | Koraput Sabara Srikhetra (Jagannath Temple) |
LOC Khandahati, LOC Duduma, LOC Bagra, LOC Chandragiri, LOC Kolab, ORG Sunabeda MiG, LOC Machhakunda, LOC Jeypur, LOC Ankadeli, LOC Odisha, LOC Gupteswar, LOC Savra, LOC Deomali, LOC Nandapur, LOC Vamsadhara, LOC Neelabadi, LOC Sunabeda, LOC Koraput | Koraput is located at 18.82°N 82.72°E / 18.82; 82.72. It has an average elevation of 870 m (2,850 ft).
Some major rivers of Odisha pass through the district Koraput like Machhakunda, Vamsadhara and Kolab. This district is also bestowed with waterfalls like Duduma, Bagra and Khandahati. It also contains the largest mountain of Odisha, called Deomali along with Chandragiri mountain. Koraput district is famous for the important places like Jeypur, Duduma, Bagra, Sunabeda MiG factory. Koraput holds a total area of 8,807 km2. As of 2011 census, with a total population of 13,79,647, the district has a literacy rate of 36.20%. Koraput is dependent on agricultural activities. The district has total cultivable land of 301,000 hectares (740,000 acres). With a 157 km long national highway the district is well connected to all the other districts of Odisha. Gupteswar, Neelabadi, Nandapur, Sunabeda, Duduma water fall, (Savra shrikhetra), Ankadeli forms the major interests of Koraput. | Koraput Geography |
LOC Potangi, LOC Jalaput, LOC Chindri, LOC India, LOC Odisha, LOC Hatipathar, LOC Deomali, LOC Onukadelli, LOC Machkund | Being at the heart of tribal belt in South Odisha, it has also many hill stations though they are not that famous as other hill stations of India. Places like Machkund, Onukadelli, Jalaput, Chindri, Hatipathar,(Deomali) Potangi etc. are places to be visited for their scenic beauty . | Koraput Hill stations |
LOC Umerkote, LOC Biju Expressway, LOC Vijayanagaram, LOC Rourkela, LOC Jeypore, LOC Howrah, LOC Rayagada, LOC Raipur, LOC Berhampur, LOC Bhubaneswar, LOC Visakhapatnam, LOC Jagdalpur, LOC Koraput | Koraput has good linkage with other parts of the state as well as some major cities of neighboring states, by means of rail and road. National highway number 26(43) passes through the town which connects it with Raipur and Visakhapatnam. Buses are a plenty from Visakhapatnam and Vijayanagaram to Koraput. Buses to Jeypore, Jagdalpur, Umerkote, etc., also passes through Koraput.
Koraput railway station connects Koraput with Rayagada, Visakhapatnam, Berhampur, Jagdalpur, Howrah, Bhubaneswar, Rourkela and Raipur.
Also new proposed Biju Expressway will connect this city with Rourkela. | Koraput Transport |
LOC Bariguma, LOC Narayanapatna, LOC Lamtaput, LOC Jeypore, LOC Laxmipur, LOC Bandugaon, LOC Boipariguda, LOC Semiliguda, LOC Nandapur, LOC Dasmanthpur, LOC Pottangi, LOC Kundura, LOC Koraput, LOC Kotpada | Koraput district is divided into 2 sub-divisions and 14 blocks. The 2 sub-divisions are Koraput and Jeypore
Blocks in Koraput sub-division
1. Koraput
2. Semiliguda
3. Nandapur
4. Pottangi
5. Dasmanthpur
6. Lamtaput
7. Laxmipur
8. Narayanapatna
9. Bandugaon
Blocks in Jeypore sub-division
1. Bariguma
2. Jeypore
3. Kotpada
4. Boipariguda
5. Kundura | Koraput Administration |
ORG Government, ORG Central University of Orissa, LOC India, ORG CUO, ORG SLN Medical College, ORG D. A. V. College, LOC Koraput District, LOC Odisha, ORG Berhampur University, ORG Central University of Odisha, LOC Oriya, PER Surabhi Banarjee, LOC Sunabeda Town, PER Saheed Laxman Nayak, ORG Woman ' s College, LOC Koraput | Educational facilities in Koraput include schools and SLN Medical College and Hospital.
Central University of Odisha (CUO), formerly Central University of Orissa, was established by parliament under the Central Universities Act, 2009 (No. 3C of 2009) by Government of India, situated at Sunabeda Town, Koraput District in the Indian state of Odisha. The territorial jurisdiction of the university is whole of the Odisha state.
As far as higher studies are concerned, Koraput has got one Woman's College and a D.A.V. College, both of which are affiliated to Berhampur University.
In 2009, a central university was set up in Koraput namely Central University of Orissa. This started functioning from August 2009 providing courses on English, Oriya, mass communication, journalism, anthropology and sociology. Prof Surabhi Banarjee was appointed as the first vice-chancellor of the university.On 4 September 2017, the new government medical college was established in Koraput and named after Saheed Laxman Nayak, a great freedom fighter of that region. Classes started in September 2017. | Koraput Education |
PER Saptagiri Ulaka, PER Raghu Ram Padal, LOC Koraput, LOC Koraput Assembly | Current MP Saptagiri Ulaka and MLA from Koraput Assembly Constituency is Raghu Ram Padal who won the seat in State elections in 2019.
Koraput is part of Koraput (Lok Sabha constituency). | Koraput Politics |
ORG District Council of Culture, LOC Koraput Parab, LOC Koraput | PARAB (ପରବ)
A festival of festivals PARAB – an annual tribal festival organized by the District Council of Culture, Koraput is a gala event of the state, organized in the month of November every year all over the district. The whole month of parab witnesses events on sports culture, seminar mountain trekking, boat race and artists camp. On a third day from all over the country are staged on one platform, with crafts mela and exhibitions in the Koraput Parab ground. | Koraput Festivals |
ORG Letters, LOC Vembanad Lake, ORG Malayala Manorama, LOC Meenachil River, ORG Deepika, LOC Kerala, LOC Kuttanad, LOC The City of, LOC Kottayam, ORG Mangalam, LOC Western Ghats, LOC Thiruvananthapuram | Kottayam (IPA: [koːʈːɐjɐm]) is a municipal town in the Indian state of Kerala. Flanked by the Western Ghats on the east and the Vembanad Lake and paddy fields of Kuttanad on the west. It is the district headquarters of Kottayam district, located in south-west Kerala. Kottayam is located in the basin of the Meenachil River at an average elevation of 3 metres (9.8 ft) above sea level, and has a moderate climate. It is located approximately 155 kilometres (96 mi) north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram.
Kottayam is also referred to as "The City of Letters" as many of the first Malayalam daily newspapers, like Deepika, Malayala Manorama, and Mangalam, were started and are headquartered in Kottayam, as are a number of publishing houses. | Kottayam Introduction |
LOC Thaliyilkotta, PER Thekkumkur, LOC Kottayam, LOC കോട്ടയ്ക്കകം, LOC Kottaykkakam | The royal palace of the Thekkumkur ruler was protected by a fort called Thaliyilkotta. It is believed that the name Kottayam is derived from a combination of the Malayalam words kotta which means fort (Thaliyilkotta) and akam which means inside. The combined form, Kottaykkakam (കോട്ടയ്ക്കകം), can be translated as "inside the fort". | Kottayam Etymology |
ORG CMS College, LOC Kingdom of Travancore, LOC Protectorate, LOC Vaikom, LOC State, PER Moolam Thirunal, LOC Britain, LOC Travancore, LOC Kerala, ORG Church Missionary Society, PER Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, LOC Siva Temple, LOC Kottayam, LOC Kottayam Public Library | By the early 19th century, Kottayam was ruled by the Kingdom of Travancore. Travancore became a Protectorate of Britain after a series of unfair treaties. In 1817, the Church Missionary Society established CMS College as the first Western-style college in Kerala. It was welcomed by the Travancore government to provide administrators for the public bureaucracy
Kottayam has played its role in all the political agitations of modern times. The ‘Malayali Memorial ‘ agitation may be said to have had its origin in Kottayam. The Malayali Memorial sought to secure better representation for educated Travancoreans in the Travancore civil service against persons from outside. The Memorial, which was presented to the Maharaja Sri Moolam Thirunal (1891) was drafted at a public meeting held in the Kottayam Public Library. The event marked the beginning of the modern political movement in the State.It was here that the famous Vaikom Satyagraha (1924–25), an epic struggle for eradication of untouchability, took place. Scheduled castes and other backward classes in Travancore were denied not only entry into temples, but also access to temple roads. Vaikom, the seat of a celebrated Siva Temple, was the venue of the symbolic satyagraha. Due to these protests, the Maharaja Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma issued the Temple Entry Proclamation in 1936. | Kottayam Travancore rule (1753–1949) |
ORG of, LOC Cochin, LOC State, ORG Diwan, LOC Travancore, LOC Devikulam, LOC Kottayam | Kottayam became a revenue division of Travancore. A fifth division, Devikulam, existed for a short period but was later added to Kottayam. At the time of the integration of the State of Travancore and Cochin in 1949, these revenue divisions were redesignated as districts and the Diwan Peshkars gave way to district collectors, with the Kottayam district established in July 1949. | Kottayam Indian Rule (1949–present) |
LOC Idukki district, LOC Kumarakom, LOC Meenachil, LOC Pathanamthitta district, LOC Meenachil River, LOC Vembanad, LOC Kerala, LOC Ernakulam district, LOC Alappuzha district, LOC Kottayam, LOC Western Ghats | Kottayam has an average elevation of 3 metres (9.8 ft) above sea level. It is situated in the basin of the Meenachil River and in the basin of the Vembanad backwaters, which are formed from several streams in the Western Ghats of the Idukki district. The city is situated near the inland estuary of Meenachil river where it empties into the Vembanad lake in Kumarakom. According to the division of places in Kerala based on altitudes, Kottayam is classified as a midland area. The general soil type is alluvial soil. The vegetation is mainly tropical evergreen and moist deciduous. Kottayam district is bordered by Pathanamthitta district on the south, Alappuzha district on the west, Ernakulam district on the north and Idukki district on the east. | Kottayam Geography |
LOC Kottayam | Under the Köppen climate classification, Kottayam has a Tropical monsoon climate (Am). The climate in this district is moderate and pleasant. Kottayam's proximity to the equator results in little seasonal temperature variation, with moderate to high levels of humidity. | Kottayam Climate |
LOC Kottayam Urban Agglomeration, LOC Kottayam District, LOC India, LOC Kerala State, LOC Kottayam district, LOC Kottayam | As of 2001 India census, Kottayam Urban Agglomeration had a population of 172,878, while Kottayam district had a population of 1,974,551. The population of Kottayam municipality was 136,812. Males constituted 62% of the population and females 38%. Population growth in the district had a diminishing trend with a decadal population growth rate of 6.5% compared to 9.35% across the decade 1991–2000. Population growth in the municipality is due to migration for employment. Kottayam District is ranked first in literacy, with 95.9% literacy compared to 90.92% for Kerala State and 65.38% for India (2001 census). | Kottayam Population |
LOC Kottayam | Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes constituted 6.73% and 0.31% of the total population in Kottayam respectively.
19,739 persons were engaged in work or business activity, including 14,282 males and 5,457 females. In the census survey, the worker is defined as a person who does business, job, service, cultivator or labour activity. Of total 19,739 working population, 90.17% were engaged in main work while 9.83% of total workers were engaged in marginal work. | Kottayam Caste and religion |
PER Unni R., ORG Jnananikshepam, LOC Aymanam, LOC India, LOC Kottayam Town, PER Pala Narayanan Nair, ORG CMS, LOC Kerala, ORG Old Seminary, PER Arundhati Roy, LOC Kottayam, ORG Kottayam Pushpanath, PER Muttathu Varkey, LOC South India | Jnananikshepam was the first newspaper published by the natives of Kerala, published at CMS press at Kottayam in 1848. Kottayam has produced many well-known writers, journalists and artists. Novelist Muttathu Varkey and poet Pala Narayanan Nair both have roots in Kottayam. Kottayam Pushpanath, a writer of crime thrillers lives in Kottayam. The Indian-English novelist Arundhati Roy is a native of Kottayam and her semi-autobiographical Booker Prize-winning novel, The God of Small Things, contains her childhood experiences in Aymanam, Kottayam. Unni R. a story writer and scriptwriter, is also from Kottayam. Kottayam Town is the first town in India to have achieved 100% literacy (a remarkable feat achieved as early as in 1989). English education in South India did actually start at the Old Seminary here at Kottayam in 1813. | Kottayam Literature |
ORG CMS College, LOC Pampady, ORG Government Medical College, LOC India, LOC Pala, LOC Kerala, ORG Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology, ORG Church Missionary Society of England, ORG Government Engineering College, LOC Kottayam, ORG Mahatma Gandhi University | In the 17th century, a Dutch school was started at Kottayam, which was short-lived. The first English school in Kerala, and the first college in India, was established in 1817 by the Church Missionary Society of England as CMS College. Kottayam became India's first town with 100% literacy in 1989.The Government Medical College, Kottayam, is one of the most prominent medical colleges in Kerala. Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, is based out of Kottayam. Kottayam boasts several other colleges and universities.
There are 14 engineering colleges. Government Engineering College, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology, Kottayam is located in Pampady, 14 km east of Kottayam. Indian institute of information technology, Kottayam is an institute of national importance is also located around 30 km (19 mi) from Kottayam, near to Pala town. | Kottayam Education |
ORG Mathrubhoomi, ORG Current Books, ORG D. C. Books, PER Benjamin Bailey, ORG Malayala Manorama, ORG Sahithya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangham, ORG Labour India Publications, ORG Deshabhimani, ORG Deepika, ORG Manorama Online, LOC Kerala, ORG Malayala Manorama Group, ORG Literary Workers ' Co - operative Society, LOC India, ORG Madhyamam, ORG Manorama News Channel, ORG The Week, ORG C. M. S. Press, LOC Kottayam | In 1821, Benjamin Bailey, a British missionary, established C.M.S. Press, the first printing press in Kerala, in Kottayam. The town has been at the forefront of newspaper and book publishing in the state ever since.
Newspaper Malayala Manorama, published from Kottayam, is one of the largest circulating dailies in India. The Malayala Manorama Group, based in Kottayam, also owns Manorama Online, Manorama News Channel, The Week magazine and other publications. Other major Malayalam newspapers—Mathrubhoomi, Deshabhimani, Deepika, Madhyamam, and around thirty periodicals are published from Kottayam. Kottayam is also home to several Malayalam book publishers such as D. C. Books, Labour India Publications and Current Books. Almost 70 percent of books published in Kerala are from Kottayam. In 1945, a group of writers set up Sahithya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangham (English: Literary Workers' Co-operative Society) in Malayalam. | Kottayam Media |
LOC Nagambadom, LOC Kottayam, LOC Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium, LOC Nehru Stadium | A number of annual basketball tournaments including the Marian Trophy, Girideepam Trophy, Lourdes Trophy and Virginia Memorial Tournament are conducted. The main sports stadiums in Kottayam are Nehru Stadium and Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium, both located in Nagambadom. | Kottayam Sports |
LOC Kottayam, LOC Kottayam Lok | Kottayam is one of the six municipalities in the district, formed after the implementation of the Kerala Municipalities Act in 1994. The members of the municipal council are elected from each of 52 wards every five years, held with the local government elections across the state. The chairperson is the executive authority of the municipality.
Kottayam town is the part of the Kottayam legislative assembly constituency and the Kottayam Lok Sabha constituency. The legislative assembly election is conducted every four years, last in May 2016. | Kottayam Legislature |
PER P. K. Jayasree IAS, LOC Kottayam, ORG District Court, LOC Kottayam District | The collectorate of the Kottayam District is located in Kottayam town. The present collector is Dr. P. K. Jayasree IAS. Many administrative and district offices of Kottayam including the District Court is situated within the collectorate premises. | Kottayam Executive |
ORG Principal District Court, PER Moolam Thirunal Maharaja, LOC India, LOC Tranvancore, LOC Vaikom, LOC Kottaya, ORG Chief Judicial Magistrate, LOC Kottayam, ORG District Headquarters, ORG Administrative Centre, PER John Munro | Five courts were established during the tenure of Colonel John Munro, as the Diwan of various states in India. One of these was established in Vaikom, in the northwest of Kottaya district.
The district court at Kottayam was established in 1910 during the period of Sree Moolam Thirunal Maharaja of Tranvancore. The court celebrated its centenary in 2010.
The District Headquarters of the judiciary is set up at Kottayam town with the Principal District Court as it Administrative Centre. The justice delivery system consists of eight Munsiff Courts, ten Judicial 1st Class Magistrate Courts, three Sub Courts, one Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, and three Additional District Courts. In addition to these regular courts, two Motor Accidents Claims Tribunals, one special court for Vigilance cases and two Family Courts also function in this district. | Kottayam Judiciary |
PER Bincy Sebastian, ORG INC, ORG INTUC, ORG Kerala, PER Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, ORG Kerala Congress, ORG Indian National Congress, ORG CPI, ORG United Democratic Front, ORG BMS, LOC Kottayam, ORG Bharatiya Janata Party, LOC Kerala, ORG Indian Workers ' Union, ORG CITU, ORG UDF, ORG Communist Party of India, ORG BJP, ORG Centre of Indian Trade Unions, ORG Indian National Trade Union Congress, ORG Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh | The major political parties active in Kottayam are Indian National Congress (INC), Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI[M]), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Kerala Congress. Trade union movements are also popular in Kottayam as Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS, Indian Workers' Union), Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) and Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) affiliated workers engaged in the labor sector.
The current municipal chairperson is Bincy Sebastian. United Democratic Front (Kerala) (UDF[K]) is the ruling coalition of parties, holding a majority in the municipal council.
The current member of legislative assembly (MLA) from Kottayam is Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan. He has been of the member of legislative assembly of Kerala representing Kottayam town constituency since 2011. | Kottayam Politics |
PER Chemmalamattam, PER Erattupetta Kangazha Kanjirappally, PER Edayirikapuzha | Chemmalamattam
Edayirikapuzha
Erattupetta
Kangazha
Kanjirappally | Kottayam Villages |
LOC Kumarakom, LOC India, LOC Vembanad Lake, ORG New York Times, LOC Kerala, LOC Kottayam | Kumarakom is a popular tourism destination located near the city of Kottayam (10 kilometres (6 mi)), in Kerala, India, famous for its backwater tourism. It is set in the backdrop of the Vembanad Lake, the largest lake in the state of Kerala. In January 2023, when Kerala was chosen by the New York Times as one among the 52 must-see tourist destinations in the world, Kumarakom got a special mention for its backwater tourism. | Kumarakom Introduction |
PER Kumarakom, LOC Vembanad Lake, LOC Kottathodu, LOC Padakkalam, LOC Travancore, LOC Padanilam, LOC Kumarakom, LOC Thekkumkur, LOC Thekkumcore | Kumarakom was within the jurisdiction of the king of Thekkumkur while that kingdom existed, and it was usual to have fighting and competitions among local kings. Small boats called Chundan Vallam and Kettu Vallam were widely used among the local kings for their lightning attacks and fighting in central Travancore. During those days Vembanad Lake was a dangerous area; therefore the king of Thekkumcore kept soldiers in Kumarakom and constructed a fort at the entrance of Kottathodu in Kumarakom.Soldiers were kept in certain areas of Kumarakom for protection against enemy attacks; some of those places still have "pada" (meaning war) in their names, such as Padakkalam and Padanilam. The remains of the fort's wall, six feet broad, can still be seen near the village office of Kumarakom. | Kumarakom History |
LOC Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, LOC Vembanad Lake, LOC Poovalan, LOC Kerala, LOC Kumarakom | Kumarakom is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is a noted bird sanctuary where many species of migratory birds visit. The Vembanad Lake, the largest backwater in Kerala, is habitat for many marine and freshwater fish species and it teems with Karimeen (Pearl spot also known as Etroplus suratensis) shrimp (Metapenaeus dobsonii) common name Poovalan chemeen. The bird sanctuary extends over 14 acres (57,000 m2), and came into existence following preservation efforts from the government. It is a major tourist attraction. | Kumarakom Environment |
LOC Kumarakom | Kumarakom has a moderate climate throughout the year. It is a balanced tropical climate, which has two monsoons south west and north east. Some times heavy rain and some times summer | Kumarakom Climate |
LOC Meenachil, LOC Kumarakom, LOC Thanneermukkam, LOC Guava | Fishing, agriculture and tourism are the major economic activities. Kumarakom's perfectly balanced tropical climate is very conducive to cultivation. The place has expanses of mangrove forests, paddy fields and coconut groves. Fruits like Banana, Mango, Jackfruit, Ambazhanga, Puli (Tamarind), Chaambenga, Peraycka (Guava), Aathaycka and Pineapple grow here. Also, cocoa and coffee, chena(yam) and chembu (colocasia), grow well and were cultivated under the coconut trees. This rich agricultural environment is mainly irrigated using interspersed waterways and canals of the Meenachil river. The smaller canals are often lined by hibiscus plants which lean partly over the canals to form a green canopy, from which hang the lovely hibiscus flowers.
In the olden days, when the bund separating the backwaters from the sea was not yet built, the water in the canals moved in and out with the sea tide and it was salty.
After the Thanneermukkam bund was constructed, the connection to the open sea was not free anymore, and so the tidal movement of the water in the canals stopped.
It stagnated and then plenty of water hyacinths started growing densely in the canals, forming lovely green carpets with pale lilac flowers carpets. | Kumarakom Economy |
LOC Attamangalam St John the Baptist church, LOC Thazhathangady Juma Masjid, ORG SNDP, LOC Kumarakom, LOC Sree Kumaramangalam Temple | Main religions are Hinduism and Christianity, More than 70% of people belong to Ezhava caste under four SNDP of Sree Kumaramangalam Temple, and the rest of the people belong to Christian religion The famous church in Kumarakom is Attamangalam St John the Baptist church. The 1000-year-old Thazhathangady Juma Masjid, a mosque, is located nearby Kumarakom, almost 6 km (3.7 mi) away. The people of Kumarakom celebrate both the festivals of Temples and Churches equally without the discrimination of caste and religions. | Kumarakom Religion |
LOC Pearl | Fishing is mainly done using the small boats (vallams) and gill nets (gear). The main catches are black clam (Villorita cyprinoides), Karimeen (Pearl spot also known as Etroplus suratensis) and shrimp (Metapenaeus dobsonii). | Kumarakom Fishing |
LOC Kumarakom, LOC Vembanad | Kumarakom has a wide variety of houseboats and is well known throughout the world for houseboat experience. They are used only for tourists these days. A separate boat known as kettuvallam is used by the people to go fishing or to transport goods. Apart from these, there are elegant special boats like Kochu-odi Vallam, Odi-Vallam, Iruttukutthi Vallam, Churulan Vallam and Chundan Vallam, which take part in the boat races around Onam time, including the Nehru Trophy boat race Alappuzha. There is a private sailing club in Kumarakom, located on the shore of the Vembanad lake. | Kumarakom Boat race |
LOC Kumarakom, ORG Cheepunkal, LOC Cheepunkal, ORG Govt. of Kerala, ORG SWTD, LOC Muhamma, LOC Alappuzha, LOC Maniaparambu, LOC Cochin International Airport, LOC Kuttanad, LOC Kottayam, LOC Vempanad | One can access Kumarakom by many means:
By air: via Cochin International Airport approximately 80 kilometres (50 mi).
By rail: via Kottayam
By road:KSRTC(10 kilometres) Buses and taxis are easily available at all times of the day from Kottayam.
By boat: Public ferry by SWTD (Govt. of Kerala) to and from Muhamma (near Alappuzha) to Kumarakom Jetty. Public ferry is also available from Cheepunkal jetty located 5 km (3.1 mi) apart. Once can avail a public ferry and return to same spot in about 1.5 hours at cheap rate of Rs 20 on Kumarakom-Muhamma—Kumarakom route (across Vempanad lake). Also one can choose Cheepunkal-Maniaparambu-Cheepunkal to see Kuttanad like topography, agriculture, life along the river.Ferry Timings: | Kumarakom Modes of access |
LOC Bay Island Drift Museum, LOC India, LOC Vembanad Lake, ORG Aruvikkuzhi Waterfall, LOC Kumarakom, LOC Bird Sanctuary, ORG Kerala Tourism | Tourism in Kumarakom largely revolves -around the backwaters of the Vembanad Lake. Several luxury and budget resorts lined up on the shores of the lake provide tourists with facilities for boating, yachting and fishing, with panoramic views of the lake. The other major attraction is the Bird Sanctuary, which is open from 6 am to 6 pm and can be visited by canoes arranged by local fishermen at the entrance to the sanctuary. A two-hour rowing canoe trip is quite cheap, and is best undertaken in the evening or early morning to avoid the afternoon sun.
Furthermore, the Aruvikkuzhi Waterfall and its surrounding rubber plantation are a photographer's delight. There is also the Bay Island Drift Museum near the Kumarakom beach for history lovers, open from 10 am – 5 pm on Tuesdays – Saturdays and from 11.30 am – 5 pm on Sundays.
Kumarakom is the first destination in India to Implement Responsible Tourism practices. Kerala Tourism was awarded for its path-breaking 'Responsible Tourism' project in Kumarakom, which has successfully linked the local community with the hospitality industry and government departments, thereby creating a model for empowerment and development of the people in the area while sustaining eco-friendly tourism. | Kumarakom Tourism sightseeing |
PER Alfred George Baker, LOC Taj Garden Retreat, PER A G Baker, LOC Kumarakom, LOC Vivanta By Taj, PER Baker | Earlier Taj Garden Retreat, now Vivanta By Taj, the first modern tourist resort in Kumarakom was established in the Victorian two storeyed bungalow built by Alfred George Baker in the year 1881 on huge pieces of teak wood rafters packed in mud as a base. This house on the lake at Kumarakom was the house of four generations of the Baker family, for over a hundred years. The bird Sanctuary and the two storeyed bungalow built by Mr.A G Baker on the muddy land are places of interest for tourists from all over the world. The bungalow still remains grand but silent reminder of an age and people whose hard work cannot be erased by time. | Kumarakom Vivanta By Taj |
ORG St. Mary ' s, ORG Maria Bhavan School, ORG Govt, ORG Sacred Heart L. P School, ORG Government Higher Secondary School, ORG Sree Kumaramangalam Higher Secondary School, PER Kavanatinkara, LOC Kumarakom, ORG Kumarakom, PER Anie Baker, PER Pandan Bazar, ORG Sree Kumaramangalam Public School | Sree Kumaramangalam Public School, Kumarakom
Sree Kumaramangalam Higher Secondary School
Government Higher Secondary School
Govt U P School Pandan Bazar Kumarakom
St. Mary's LP school
Maria Bhavan School
Sacred Heart L.P School
SB LP School
Anie Baker memorial U P school Kavanatinkara | Kumarakom Schools nearby |
PER Alfred George Baker, LOC Taj Garden Retreat, LOC Meenachil, LOC Ayemenem, PER Kari Saipu, PER Baker Sahib, LOC Kottayam, LOC History House, ORG Baker Memorial School, PER Arundhati Roy, LOC Kumarakom, LOC Taj, LOC Aymanam, PER Baker | Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things is set in Ayemenem or Aymanam village, which adjoins Kumarakom. The explosive success of this novel has given some added tourism impetus to this area. The Taj Garden Retreat hotel complex is centered on a building that is called "History House" in the novel; it was built by British missionary Alfred George Baker, whom the locals called "Kari Saipu" (possibly an elided form of "Baker Sahib"), as in the novel. Four generations of Bakers lived in the house until 1962, speaking Malayalam, and even wearing the mundu. The Baker Memorial School, Kottayam, was started by a daughter of this family in 1925. The Baker family's house is in ruins in the novel, as it was in reality before was developed into a hotel and has been restored by the Taj group. The Ayemenem house, where Arundhati Roy spent part of her childhood (like the twins in the story), can also be visited in the village, which can be reached by boat along the Meenachil river that figures prominently in the story. | Kumarakom In popular culture |
LOC Kerala, LOC Kumarakom, ORG STZ | Kumarakom has been declared a special tourism zone by the Kerala state government, as legislated for by Kerala Tourism Act, 2005. Development in the area is therefore now controlled by the guidelines written by the STZ committee, and published at http://www.keralatourism.org/specialtourism.php | Kumarakom Special tourism zone |
It had won top honours including the UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Public Policy and Governance. The Kumarakom initiative had earlier won the National Award for Best Responsible Tourism Project and also the PATA Grand Award for Environment. | Kumarakom Awards and honours |
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ORG World Heritage Committee, LOC Phnom Penh, LOC India, LOC Kumbhal fort, LOC Rajasthan, LOC Cambodia, LOC Kumbhalgarh Fort, LOC Udaipur, LOC Kumbhalgarh, PER Rana Kumbha, LOC Aravalli Hills, LOC Great Wall of India, ORG Hill Forts, LOC Rajsamand, LOC Mewar, PER Mandan | Kumbhalgarh (literally "Kumbhal fort"), also known as the Great Wall of India, is a Mewar fortress on the westerly range of Aravalli Hills, just about 48 km from Rajsamand city in the Rajsamand district of the Rajasthan state in western India. It is located about 84 km from Udaipur. It is a World Heritage Site included in Hill Forts of Rajasthan. It was built during the 15th century by Rana Kumbha.In 2013, at the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Kumbhalgarh Fort, along with five other forts of Rajasthan, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the group Hill Forts of Rajasthan.
The chief architect who built this fort was Mandan, who documented his style of work in his text, Rajvallabh.
The fort is among the largest fort complexes in the world. | Kumbalgarh Introduction |
PER Samprati, PER Akbar, PER Mahmud Khalji, LOC Kumbhalgarh, PER Rana, LOC Madhya Pradesh, PER Rana Kumbha, LOC Matsyaendra Durg, LOC Udaipur State, LOC Mewar, LOC Nadol, LOC Ranthambore, LOC Marwar, PER Banmata, PER James Tod, LOC Godwar, PER Chittor, PER Sisodia, PER Rana Lakha, PER Pratap, LOC Rajasthan, PER Maharana Kumbha, LOC Gujarat, PER Udai, LOC Maurya, PER Shahbaz Khan, PER Ahmed Shah I, LOC Gwalior, PER Mandan | The early history of the fort could not be ascertained on account of lack of evidence. Before Rana Kumbha built the new fort, there was a small fort, limited to small hilly area, believed to have been built by King Samprati of the Maurya and was known as Matsyaendra Durg. Rana Lakha won this entire area and plains of Godwar from Chauhan Rajputs of Nadol in late 14th century.Kumbhalgarh, as the fort we see it was built by Rana Kumbha who was the Rana of Mewar from the Sisodia rajput clan. Rana Kumbha took the aid of the famous architect of the era, "Mandan". Rana Kumbha's kingdom of Mewar stretched from Ranthambore to Gwalior and included large tracts of what is now Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Out of the 84 forts in his dominion, Rana Kumbha is said to have built 32 of them, of which Kumbhalgarh is the largest and most elaborate.Kumbhalgarh also separated Mewar and Marwar from each other and was used as a place of refuge for the rulers of Mewar at times of danger. A notable instance was in the case of Prince Udai, the infant king of Mewar who was smuggled here in 1535, when Chittor was under siege. Prince Udai later succeeded to the throne. The fort remained impregnable to direct assault.
Ahmed Shah I of Gujarat attacked the fort in 1457, but found the effort futile. There was a local belief then that the Banmata deity in the fort protected it and hence he destroyed the temple. There were further attempts in 1458–59 and 1467 by Mahmud Khalji, but it also proved futile. Akbar's general, Shahbaz Khan, attacked this fort in October 1577 and after the siege of 6 months, he was able to capture the fort in April 1577. But it was recaptured by Pratap in 1578. In 1818, an armed band of sanyasis formed a garrison to protect the fort, but was convinced by James Tod and the fort was taken over by the British and later returned to Udaipur State. There were additions made by Maharanas of Mewar, but the original structure built by Maharana Kumbha remains. The residential buildings and temples are well-preserved. The fort is also known to be the birthplace of Maharana Pratap. | Kumbalgarh History |
LOC Aravalli Range, LOC Kumbhalgarh, LOC Aravalli | Built on a hilltop 1,100 m (3,600 ft) above sea level on the Aravalli range, the fort of Kumbhalgarh has perimeter walls that extend 36 km (22 mi), making it among the longest walls in the world. The frontal walls are fifteen feet thick. Kumbhalgarh has seven fortified gateways. There are over 70 temples within the fort, both Jain and Hindu Temples. From the palace top, it is possible to see Kilometres into the Aravalli Range. | Kumbalgarh Architecture |
LOC Bhairon Pol, LOC Ganesha Temple, PER Akbar, LOC Mamadeo temple, LOC Charbhuja, LOC Neel Kanth Mahadeva temple, LOC Ram Pol, LOC Mataji temple, LOC Golera, LOC Jain, LOC Neela Kanth, LOC Badal Mahal, PER Hanuman, LOC Aaret Pol, LOC Nimboo Pol, PER Kunwar Prithviraj, PER Maharana Kumbha, PER Rana Sanga, LOC Kheda Devi, LOC Vijay Pol, LOC Badshahi Bavdi, PER Shiva, LOC Sun, LOC Surya Mandir, LOC Hanuman Pol, PER Shahbaz Khan, LOC Hindu TempleGanesha temple, LOC Palace, LOC Halla Pol, LOC Ganesh Pol, PER Ganesha, LOC Pagda Pol, LOC Chaugan Pol | Aaret Pol was the first entry gate of the fort. Halla Pol is on the downward slope from the entrance. Just after Halla Pol is Badshahi Bavdi, a stepped tank, built after the invasion of Shahbaz Khan in 1578, the general of Mughal emperor Akbar to provide water to the troops.Hanuman Pol, the next gate is half a KM away from Halla Pol. Hanuman Pol is a double-storeyed gate with octagonal bastions. The gate got its name from the stone image of Hanuman located in front of the gate, which was brought by Maharana Kumbha.Ram Pol is the main entrance of the fort, there is another entrance towards the east, called Vijay Pol.There are five more gates between Ram Pol to Badal Mahal, the Palace built on the highest point of the fort. Names of these gates are Bhairon Pol, Nimboo Pol, Chaugan Pol, Pagda Pol and Ganesh Pol.Most buildings are visible from the Ram Pol, which is considered an architectural specimen.
Hindu TempleGanesha temple - Situated on the left of the Ram Pol, this temple was built by Maharana Kumbha and the image of Ganesha is enshrined in the sanctum. Standing on a high platform entered through a flight of steps from the south. The sanctum has decorated curvilinear brick sikhar while mandapa and mukhamandapa have a domical ceiling. Charbhuja temple - Dedicated to the four-armed goddess, this temple is just on the hill slope on the right side of Ganesha Temple. It is raised over a high platform and enclosed by a wall with an entrance from the east.Neel Kanth Mahadeva temple is located on the eastern side of the fort built during 1458 CE. The central shrine of Shiva is approached through a rectangular enclosure and through a structure supported by 24 huge pillars. The idol of Shiva is made of black stone and is depicted with 12 hands. The inscriptions indicate that the temple was renovated by Rana Sanga.Mataji temple, also called Kheda Devi temple is located on the southern side of Neela Kanth temple.
There are 5 Hindu temples in Golera group of temples. Mamadeo temple. Cenotaph of Kunwar Prithviraj, elder brother of Rana Sanga is near to this temple.Surya Mandir (Sun temple)Jain TempleParsva Natha temple (built during 1513), Jain temple on the eastern side and Bawan (52) Jain temples.
There are 4 Jain Temples in the Golera group of temples.
2 Jain Temples near Vijay PolJuna Bhilwara Temple
Pital Shah Jain temple | Kumbalgarh Important structures in the fort |
ORG World Heritage Committee, PER William Westall, LOC Phnom Penh, PER Maharana Kumbha, LOC Rajasthan, LOC Chittor Fort, LOC Jaisalmer Fort, PER Fisher, LOC Fortress of Bowrie, LOC Gagron Fort, LOC Kumbhalgarh, LOC Ranthambore Fort, ORG Rajasthan Tourism Department, LOC Rajpootana, LOC Amber Fort | The Rajasthan Tourism Department organises a three-day annual festival in the fort in remembrance of the passion of Maharana Kumbha towards art and architecture. Sound and light shows are organised with the fort as the background. Various concerts and dance events are also organised to commemorate the function. The other events during the festival are Heritage Fort Walk, turban tying, tug-of war and mehendi mandana among others.Six forts of Rajasthan, namely, Amber Fort, Chittor Fort, Gagron Fort, Jaisalmer Fort, Kumbhalgarh and Ranthambore Fort were included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list during the 37th meeting of the World Heritage Committee in Phnom Penh during June 2013. They were recognized as a serial cultural property and examples of Rajput military hill architecture.This fort (Kumbhalgarh) is previously described as The Fortress of Bowrie, in Rajpootana., as painted by William Westall with an engraving in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book, 1836 | Kumbalgarh Culture |
LOC Haryana, LOC Dharmakshetra, LOC Kurukshetra, LOC Land | Kurukshetra (Hindi pronunciation: [kʊrʊkʃeːtɾə], pronunciation ) is a city and administrative headquarter of Kurukshetra district in the Indian state of Haryana. It is also known as Dharmakshetra ("Realm of duty ") and as the "Land of the Bhagavad Gita". | Kurukshetra Introduction |
LOC Sugh, PER Lord, LOC Punjab, LOC Kurukshetra, LOC Delhi, LOC Khandava, LOC Srughna, LOC Haryana, LOC Parin, PER Vishnu, LOC Drishadvati, LOC Maru, PER Pandavas, LOC Sarasvati, LOC Mewat, LOC Kuru, LOC Sarasvati River, LOC Turghna, LOC Sirhind, LOC Holy Land, PER Kauravas, LOC Thaneswar, PER Kuru | According to the Puranas, Kurukshetra is a region named after King Kuru, the ancestor of Kauravas and Pandavas in the Kuru kingdom, as depicted in epic Mahabharata. The Kurukshetra War of the Mahabharata is believed to have taken place here. Thaneswar whose urban area is merged with Kurukshetra is a pilgrimage site with many locations attributed to Mahabharata.In the Vedas Kurukshetra is described not as a city but as a region ("kshetra" means "region" in Sanskrit). The boundaries of Kurukshetra correspond roughly to the central and western parts of the state of Haryana and southern Punjab. According to the Taittiriya Aranyaka 5.1.1., the Kurukshetra region is south of Turghna (Srughna/Sugh in Sirhind, Punjab), north of Khandava (Delhi and Mewat region), east of Maru (desert), and west of Parin.According to the Vamana Purana, King Kuru chose land at the banks of the Sarasvati River for embedding spirituality with eight virtues: austerity (Tapas), truth (Satya), forgiveness (Kshama), kindness (Daya), purity (Shuddha), charity (Daana), devotion (Yajna), and conduct (Brahmacharya). Lord Vishnu was impressed with the acts of King Kuru and blessed him with two boons—first, that this land forever will be known as a Holy Land after his name as Kurukshetra (the land of Kuru); second that anyone dying on this land will go to heaven.
The land of Kurukshetra was situated between two rivers—the Sarasvati and the Drishadvati. | Kurukshetra Legends |
PER Janamejaya, LOC Bengal, ORG Kauravas, PER Tomara, LOC Kurukshetra, PER Mahmud of Gha, LOC Grey Ware, PER Puru, PER Xuanzang, PER Parikshit, LOC Kurus, LOC Kuru Kingdom, ORG Gupta, PER Pushyabhuti, ORG Kushan, LOC Thanesar, ORG Pushyabhuti, PER Harsha, ORG Pandavas, LOC Kuru kingdom | Kuru Kingdom, founded by King Puru - the ancestors of Kauravas and Pandavas Vedic Indo-Aryan tribal union in northern Iron Age (c. 1200 – c. 900 BCE), developed into the first recorded state-level society (janapada) in the Indian subcontinent. This kingdom documented their ritual hymns into collections called the Vedas, and developed new rituals which gained their position in Indian civilization as the Srauta rituals, which contributed to the "classical synthesis" or "Hindu synthesis" (roots of Hinduism). It was the dominant political and cultural center of the middle Vedic Period during the reigns of Parikshit and Janamejaya, but declined in importance during the late Vedic period (c. 900 – c. 500 BCE) and had become "something of a backwater" by the Mahajanapada period in the 5th century BCE. Traditions and legends about the Kurus continued into the post-Vedic period, providing the basis for the Mahabharata epic. The time-frame and geographical extent of the Kuru kingdom (as determined by philological study of the Vedic literature) corresponds with the archaeological Painted Grey Ware culture.Kurukshetra was conquered by the Mauryan empire in the late 4th century BCE and subsequently became a center of Buddhism and Hinduism. The history of Kurukshetra is little-known in between the collapse of the Mauryans and the rise of the Kushans who conquered the region. After the decline of Kushan power in the region, Kurukshetra became independent only to become conquered by the Gupta empire in the early 4th century CE. Under Gupta rule, Kurukshetra experienced a cultural and religious revival and became a center for Hinduism. After the fall of the Gupta, the Pushyabhuti dynasty ruled over Kurukshetra.Kurukshetra reached the zenith of its progress during the reign of King Harsha (c. 590–647 CE) during which Chinese scholar Xuanzang visited Thanesar. Civil war broke out when Harsha (of the Pushyabhuti dynasty) died without a successor in 647. A Kashmiri army briefly conquered Kurukshetra in 733 but were unable to establish dominion in the area. In 736, the Tomara dynasty was founded and they took over the region. Around the early 9th century, Kurukshetra lost its independence to Bengal. Mahmud of Ghazni sacked Kurukshetra in 1014 and Muslim raiders sacked it in 1034. Kurukshetra was incorporated into the Delhi Sultanate in 1206. Other than a short moment of independence from the result of a rebellion within the Sultanate in 1240, Kurukshetra was under the control of Delhi until 1388.Kurukshetra became independent once again after the steep decline of the Delhi Sultanate and the raids of Tamerlane near the region. The Sayyid dynasty incorporated Kurukshetra into their territory though the city likely enjoyed some autonomy. The area was much more firmly controlled under the subsequent Lodi dynasty. Some damages to Kurukshetra and its structures occurred during this period. Kurukshetra became part of the Mughal Empire after Babur quashed a local rebellion in 1526. Under Akbar, Kurukshetra once again became a spiritual center not only for Hindus but also for Sikhs and Muslims.Between the late 17th and early 18th centuries, Kurukshetra was controlled by the forces of the Maratha Empire until the British took over Delhi in 1803. In 1805, the British took Kurukshetra after defeating the Maratha forces in the Second Anglo-Maratha War, who were controlling the city. Since 1947, Kurukshetra has become a popular spiritual center and has seen much infrastructure, development, and restoration of old structures. | Kurukshetra History |
LOC Chandigarh, LOC Kurukshetra, LOC Meerut, LOC Yamuna Nagar, LOC Mansa, LOC Ladwa, LOC Roorkee, LOC Patiala, LOC Sonipat, LOC Hisar, LOC Ludhiana, LOC Jalandhar, LOC Karnal, LOC Muzaffarnagar, LOC Pehowa, LOC New Delhi, LOC Shimla, LOC Panipat, LOC Saharanpur, LOC Amritsar, LOC Cheeka, LOC Kaithal, LOC Jind, LOC Jagadhri, LOC Shamli, LOC Ambala, LOC Dehradun | Kurukshetra city is surrounded by Patiala, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar to the northwest, Ambala, Chandigarh, Shimla to the north, Yamuna Nagar, Jagadhri, Dehradun to the northeast, Pehowa, Cheeka, Mansa to the west, Ladwa, Saharanpur, Roorkee to the east, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar to the southwest, Karnal, Panipat, Sonipat, New Delhi to the south, and Shamli, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut to the southeast. | Kurukshetra Geography |
The climate of the district varies as the temperature in summer reaches as high as 47 °C, and as low 1 °C in winter, with rains in July and August. | Kurukshetra Climate |
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LOC Kurukshetra, ORG Municipal Corporation | In 2017, the government declared Kurukshetra a holy city and the sale, possession, and consumption of meat are banned within the limits of the Municipal Corporation due to its religious significance. | Kurukshetra Demography |
LOC Kurukshetra, LOC Thanesar, LOC Delhi – Kalka, LOC Kurukshetra Junction, LOC Kurukshetra – Jind, LOC Haryana | Kurukshetra Junction railway station is a junction station at the junction of Delhi–Kalka line and Kurukshetra–Jind branch line. It is located in the Indian state of Haryana. It serves Kurukshetra and Thanesar city. | Kurukshetra Transport |
ORG Gita, PER Arjuna, PER Krishna, LOC Kurukshetra, LOC Kururukshetra | Kurukshetra is an important Hindu pilgrimage destination, and there are several pilgrimage sites surrounding the city. The Hindi phrase 48 kos parikrama refers to a roughly 90-km traditional circle (Parikrama) around the holy city (1 kos equals about 3.00 km or 1.91 miles), and a complete parikrama refers to a pilgrimage to all these sites on foot. The International Gita Mahotsav, held every year in Kururukshetra on the Shukla Ekadashi - the 11th day of the waxing moon of the Margashirsha (Agrahayan) month of the Hindu calendar, celebrates the day Bhagavad Gita was revealed to Arjuna by Krishna in the battlefield of Kurukshetra. | Kurukshetra Tourism |
LOC Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple, PER Arjuna, LOC Sarovar, LOC Dharohar Museum, LOC Sannihit Sarovar, LOC Jyotisar, LOC Kurukshetra Panorama and Science Centre, ORG Kurukshetra University, PER Gita, LOC Haryana, PER Bhagavad Gita, LOC Brahma Sarovar, LOC Asia | Brahma Sarovar: Every year lakhs (hundreds of thousands) of people come to take a holy bath at Brahma Sarovar on the occasion of "Somavati Amavasya" (Sacred No-Moon Day that happens on a Monday) and on solar eclipses. They believe that a bath in the holy Sarovar frees all sins and cycle of birth-death. The Sarovar is one of Asia's largest man-made ponds. Hindu genealogy registers are kept here.
Sannihit Sarovar: The pond is believed to be the meeting point of seven sacred Saraswatis. The Sarovar, according to popular belief, contains sacred water. Bathing in the waters of the tank on the day of Amavasya (night of complete darkness) or on the day of an eclipse bestows blessings equivalent to performing the Ashvamedh Yajna.
Jyotisar: The famous site where Bhagavad Gita was delivered to Arjuna under the tree. The tree of that time is witness to Gita.
Kurukshetra Panorama and Science Centre: A mural depiction of the Mahabharata war.
Dharohar Museum: A museum about the tradition and cultural depiction of Haryana located in Kurukshetra University.
Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple | Kurukshetra Hindu religious sites |
PER Hazrat Sheikh Mian Mir Sahib, PER Aabd - ul - Razak, LOC Nabha House, LOC Nabha, PER Shaikh Chehli, LOC Chaheli, PER Dara Shikoh, ORG Archaeological Survey of India, PER Chehli, PER Chilli, PER Abdu ' r - Rahim, LOC Tomb, LOC Pathar Masjid, LOC Lahore | Sheikh Chilli's Tomb: This monument is maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India. It was built during the Mughal era in remembrance of Sufi Saint Sheikh Chehli, believed to be the spiritual teacher of Mughal Prince Dara Shikoh. The Prince's main 'Murshid' or 'Sheikh' (Spiritual Guide), however, is historically known to have been Hazrat Sheikh Mian Mir Sahib, of Lahore, although Sheikh Chehli might have been an additional teacher. Another theory is that the site of the so-called maqbara or tomb. Sheikh Chaheli’s Tomb and the madarasa are associated with the Sufi saint Abdu'r-Rahim alias Aabd-ul-Razak, popularly known as Shaikh Chehli (also pronounced Chilli).
The Pathar Masjid is built of red sandstone and is known for its fluted minaret.
Nabha House, a palatial building was constructed by the royal family of Nabha principality. | Kurukshetra Historical sites |
LOC Kurukshetra Chhilchhila Wildlife Sanctuary Saraswati Wildlife Sanctuary | Crocodile Breeding Centre, Kurukshetra
Chhilchhila Wildlife Sanctuary
Saraswati Wildlife Sanctuary | Kurukshetra Wildlife |
ORG Kurukshetra University National Institute of Design, LOC Palwal, LOC Kurukshetra, ORG University Institute of Engineering and Technology, ORG National Institute of Technology, ORG Kurukshetra University, ORG District Institute of Education & Training, ORG Shri Krishna AYUSH University | District Institute of Education & Training, Palwal, Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra University
National Institute of Design
National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra
Shri Krishna AYUSH University
University Institute of Engineering and Technology, Kurukshetra University | Kurukshetra Educational institutes |
ORG 16th Lok Sabha, PER Nayab Singh Saini, LOC Kurukshetra, ORG 17th Lok Sabha, PER Raj Kumar Saini | Nayab Singh Saini is the current Member of Parliament of 17th Lok Sabha for Kurukshetra. Before him Raj Kumar Saini was the Member of Parliament of 16th Lok Sabha. | Kurukshetra Politics |
ORG General Administration, ORG Haryana Civil Service, LOC Haryana, LOC Ladwa, ORG Indian Administrative Service, LOC Ismailabad, ORG Haryana Forest Service, ORG Indian Police Service, ORG Animal Husbandry, LOC Pehowa, ORG Health, LOC Shahbad, ORG Education, ORG Agriculture, ORG Statistics, ORG Haryana Police Service, ORG Indian Forest Service, LOC Jhansa, LOC Babain, ORG PWD, ORG Haryana Police, LOC Haryana Forest, PER Conservator of | The Deputy Commissioner, an officer belonging to the Indian Administrative Service, is in charge of the General Administration in the district. He is assisted by a number of officers belonging to Haryana Civil Service and other Haryana state services.
The Superintendent of Police, an officer belonging to the Indian Police Service, is responsible for maintaining Law & Order and related issues in the district. He is assisted by the officers of the Haryana Police Service and other Haryana Police officials.
The Deputy Conservator of Forests, an officer belonging to the Indian Forest Service, is responsible for the management of the Forests, Environment, and Wildlife in the district. He is assisted by the officers of the Haryana Forest Service and other Haryana Forest officials and Haryana Wildlife officials.
Sectoral development is looked after by the district head/officer of each development department such as PWD, Health, Education, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Statistics, etc. These officers are from various Haryana state services.
Shahbad, Ladwa, Pehowa, Babain, Ismailabad, and Jhansa are other towns in the district with significant populations. | Kurukshetra District administration |
PER Ramdhari Singh, PER Dinkar, PER Santi Parva | Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar' wrote an epic poem titled Kurukshetra, a narrative poem based on the Santi Parva of the Mahabharata. He wrote the poem when memories of the Second World War were fresh in his mind. | Kurukshetra In popular art |
ORG 16th Lok Sabha, PER Sanjay Chaudhary, PER Kailasho Devi Saini, PER Nayab Singh Saini, ORG Ladwa, PER Surinder Kaur, LOC Kurukshetra, PER Sandeep Singh Saini, PER Rohit Sardana, ORG HUM Foundation, LOC Pehowa, LOC Haryana, PER Raj Kumar Saini, PER Pawan Saini | Nayab Singh Saini, Member of Parliament of Kurukshetra
Dr. Pawan Saini, doctor, academician, social activist and former MLA of Ladwa
Raj Kumar Saini, former Member of Parliament from Kurukshetra of 16th Lok Sabha
Sandeep Singh Saini, former captain of Indian Hockey team, current MLA from Pehowa and Sports Minister of Haryana
Kailasho Devi Saini, politician and former Member of Parliament
Surinder Kaur, Hockey player and member of the national field hockey team
Rohit Sardana, journalist, anchor and media personality
Sanjay Chaudhary, HUM Foundation, Social Activist | Kurukshetra Notable people |
LOC Lachung Monastery, LOC Lachen Valley, PER Joseph Dalton Hooker, LOC India, LOC Lachung Rivers, LOC Phuni, LOC River Teesta, LOC Gangtok, LOC Sikkim, LOC Yumthang Valley, LOC Tibet, LOC North Sikkim, ORG Indian Army, ORG Valley, LOC Lachung, LOC Bhutia, ORG The Himalayan Journal, LOC Lachen | Lachung is a town and hill station in northeast Sikkim, India. It is located in the North Sikkim district near the border with Tibet. Lachung is at an elevation of about 9,600 feet (2,900 m) and at the confluence of the Lachen and Lachung Rivers, both tributaries of the River Teesta. The word Lachung means "small pass". The town is approximately 125 kilometres (78 mi) from the capital Gangtok.
The Indian Army has a forward base in the town. Before the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1950, Lachung was a trading post between Sikkim and Tibet, after which it was closed down. The town's economy has been boosted by tourism in recent years as the region has been opened up by the Indian government. Tourists come from all over the world to visit the town between October and May, mostly on their way to the Yumthang Valley and the Lachung Monastery. Most of Lachung's inhabitants are of Lepcha and Tibetan descent. Languages spoken here are Nepali, Lepcha and Bhutia. During winter the town is usually covered in snow. Lachung is also the base camp for Rhododendron Valley Trek which starts from Yumthang Valley and ends at Lachen Valley.
Lachung has been described as the "most picturesque village of Sikkim" by British explorer Joseph Dalton Hooker in his definitive, The Himalayan Journal (1855). Skiing is conducted in Phuni near this town. | Lachung Introduction |
ORG State Bank of India, LOC Lachung, ORG State Bank Of India | State Bank of India is operating a branch in Lachung.
State Bank Of India, Lachung
== References == | Lachung Banking Facilities in Lachung |
LOC Lansdown, LOC Lansdowne | Lansdowne or Lansdown may refer to: | Lansdowne Introduction |
PER Zachary Lansdowne, PER William Petty, PER Earl, PER Fenwick Lansdowne, PER Lansdowne, PER George Granville, LOC Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, ORG Great Britain, PER Marquess, LOC India, PER Lansdown Guilding, PER Henry Petty - Fitzmaurice, PER Shelburne, LOC Canada, PER Marquess of Lansdowne | Lansdown Guilding (1797–1831), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines naturalist and engraver
Fenwick Lansdowne (1937–2008), Canadian wildlife artist
George Granville, 1st Baron Lansdowne (1666–1735)
Marquess of Lansdowne, title in the Peerage of Great Britain
William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne, William Petty, 1st Marquess of Lansdowne, (1737–1805), prime minister 1782–83
Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne (1845–1927), Governor General of Canada, Viceroy of India, Secretary of State for War, and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
Zachary Lansdowne (1888–1925), American naval officer and aviator | Lansdowne People |
LOC Sydney Lansdowne, LOC Lansdowne, LOC Western Australia, ORG Mid - Coast Council, LOC Queensland, LOC New South Wales, LOC Blackall - Tambo Region Lansdowne County, LOC Northern Territory Lansdowne | Lansdowne, New South Wales, Sydney
Lansdowne, New South Wales (Mid-Coast Council)
Lansdowne, Northern Territory
Lansdowne, Queensland, locality in the Blackall-Tambo Region
Lansdowne County, Western Australia | Lansdowne Australia |
LOC Nova Scotia Lansdowne, LOC Edmonton, LOC Lansdowne, LOC Toronto, LOC Ontario Lansdowne Centre, LOC British Columbia Lansdowne, LOC Ontario Lansdowne, LOC Ontario Lansdowne Park, LOC Richmond, LOC Manitoba Lansdowne Avenue, LOC Yukon, LOC Alberta Lansdowne, LOC Ottawa | Lansdowne, Edmonton, Alberta
Lansdowne, Nova Scotia
Lansdowne, Ontario
Lansdowne (electoral district), Manitoba
Lansdowne Avenue, Toronto, Ontario
Lansdowne Park, Ottawa, Ontario
Lansdowne Centre, Richmond, British Columbia
Lansdowne, Yukon | Lansdowne Canada |
LOC Lansdowne Road, LOC India, LOC Uttarakhand Lansdowne, LOC Lansdowne, LOC Uttarakhand, LOC Kolkata, LOC Sarat Bose Road | Lansdowne, India, cantonment town in Uttarakhand
Lansdowne (Uttarakhand Assembly constituency)
Lansdowne Road, Kolkata, now known as Sarat Bose Road | Lansdowne India |
LOC Dublin, LOC Aviva Stadium, LOC Lansdowne Road | Lansdowne Road, a former sports stadium in Dublin whose site is occupied by the current Aviva Stadium | Lansdowne Ireland |