# Paravur, Kollam

Paravur (Malayalam pronunciation:) is a municipality in the Kollam district of Kerala, India. Paravur is located 11.6 km (7.2 mi) southeast of the Kollam city centre, and is a part of the Kollam metropolitan area. Paravur railway station is the last station in Kollam district which is on the route to Trivandrum while travelling towards South India.

## Governance and Wards

Paravur Municipality consists of Kottapuram, Koonayil, Thekkumbhagam, Chillakkal, Perumpuzha, Nedungolam, Pozhikara, Maniyamkulam, Kurumandal, Kottamoola, Attinpuram and Kochalummoodu. Paravur Municipality is a Grade-II Municipality of Kerala.

## Geography

Paravur is located at 8.78 N 76 E. It has an average elevation of 10 metres (32 feet). Paravur, 21 kilometers from the Kollam, is a narrow skirt of land stretching in between the backwaters and the sea. There is an elevation of 6 metres above sea level, extending to 16 metres on the inland. Ithikkara river is flowing through paravur. Nedungolam in paravur is now famous for mangrove forest.

## Demographics

As of 2011 India census, Paravur had a population of 37,245 where 16,874 are males and 20,371 are females thus the average sex ratio of Paravoor is 1,207. Paravur has an average literacy rate of 92.5%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 94.7%, and female literacy is 90.7%. In Paravur, 10% of the population are under 6 years of age. Total number of households are 9,074.

## History

The word Paravur is considered to be a derivative of the primitive Dravidian Etymology – ‘Paravii’ which means sea and ‘Oor’ which means place. It was originally named Paravayoor which was subsequently modified to Paravur. Pozhikara was the administrative headquarters of Paravur. Remnants of the old fort, Thaana (police station) and Anchalappees (post office) still remain. A mint of the erstwhile Travancore Kingdom for printing and punching their currencies was once situated at Paravur. Paravur was a part of 'Pennarasu nadu' which laid between Venadu and Desiganadu. It was then under the control of 'Attingal amma thampuran'. An important ancient document revealing paravur's yester importance is 'Pozhikkara sasanam' built in 12 th century at Pozhikkara sivakshetram (later it became a devikshetram). It was encrypted on a 'sila phalakam' in 'vattazhuthu'. Another mentioning of Paravur is in 'Unnineeli sandesam' which was written above more than 600 years. Some of the temples in Paravur are mentioned with importance in that script. Also, some manuscripts held on Sree Padmanabha Swami Kshethram has mensioning of some incidence held in Paravur-Thekkumbhagom. Paravur panchayat was formed in 1936 as one of the four panchayats sanctioned by Sir C.P.Ramaswamy Iyer (Diwan-Travancore). Sree Ramavarma koyi thampuram from Kilimanoor Palace was the first executive officer of the panchayat. The first election for Paravur panchayat was held at 1942 and Sri Achuthan Pillai became the first elected Panchayat president. Later Paravur became a Municipality on 1 May 1988. For the first 7 years it was ruled by special officers. In 1995 after the first Municipal election Smt. Bhanumati became the first Municipal Chairperson .First Industrial establishment for the coir industry was opened at Maniyamkulam. The first government school which started during 1889 and is still their in Kongal. In 19th century itself paravur were in the publication industry. Sarawathy vilasam Achadi sala is considered to be the first one in that type and Mangattu Parameswaran Pillai was its founder. Kerala Bhooshanam and Vidyavilasam Press were also started in 19th century. 'Sujanandini' was the first newspaper printed and published from Paravur(1891). Paravoor V. Kesavanasan was the managing director of it. The initial poems of Kuamaranasan were published in this paper for first time.

## Transport
### Road

There are so many important roads in Paravur, connecting Kollam city and neighbouring towns like Chathannoor, Parippally, Varkala, Poothakkulam etc. The 14.1 km long Paravur-Kollam Coastal Road is connecting Kollam city with Paravur, via Kollam Beach, Paapanasam Beach, Kakkathoppu, Mukkom, Thanni and Pozhikara.

### Rail

Paravur railway station, an "Adarsh station", is situated at a distance of half kilometer away from the heart of Paravur town. Paravur is connected to various cities in India through Indian Railways. The station code for Paravur railway station is 'PVU'.

## Industrial development

As part of the industry sector development plans of Kollam district, an IT Park would be setting up at Paravur Municipal area in an extent of 5 acres of land. The land can be acquired with the assistance of Land Use Board or Paravur Municipality. rail-Road linkages will be established. The Government also have plans to set up a Coir manufacturing unit and a Handloom unit at Paravur and considering the possibilities for setting up a food park also.

## Puttingal Devi temple

Puttingal Temple is a Hindu temple in the coastal town of Paravur, India. The temple was founded after the presence of the goddess was experienced on an ant hill with Puttu being the Malayalam word for ant Hill.
The main festival is celebrated on the day of Bharani star in Meenam. Fireworks and other events associated with the festival take place along with other cultural events with various poojas performed.
Paravur temple accident
On 10 April 2016, 114 people were killed due to a fireworks mishap at this temple, while over 350 other people were injured. A cracker fell on a shed where the fireworks were stored, setting off an explosion. Permission was not given to the temple by the authorities for the fireworks display and a case was registered.

## People from Paravur

* K. C. Kesava Pillai (1868-1914) poet
* Paravoor V. Kesavanasan(1859-1917) Social reformer, journalist
* G. Devarajan (1927-2006) music composer
* P. Ravindran (1922-1997) Politician Ex Minister
* C.V. Padmarajan Politician Ex Minister
* P. K. Gurudasan Politician Ex Minister

## Educational Institutions

* SNV Girls School Paravur
* Kottapuram High School (KHS)Paravur
* GLPS KottapuramParavur
* Government Higher Secondary School Thekkumbhagam Paravoor
* Govt Ups And Preprimary School Maniyamkulam Paravur
* Kaattukulam Government LP School
* koonayil Govt LPS School
* Govt. LP School, Kappil
* Government Girls LP School Kurumandal Paravur
* SIVARAJA PILLAI MEMORIAL ITC Paravur