Kuthuparamba
Kuthuparamba is a town and a municipality in the Kannur district, state of Kerala, India. It is about 24 km south east of Kannur and 14 km east of Thalassery. General background. Kuthuparamba is one of the main towns and a municipality in the Kannur district, state of Kerala. Kuthuparamba was established as municipality on 01.04.1990. Kuthuparamba is a main town, even though the village behaviour persists. Kuthuparamba is the place having a total area of 16.76sq.km. The density of population is 1767 persons/km. The population consists of Hindus, Muslims, and Christian communities and is characterized by distinct  socio-cultural customs and behaviour. The people have striven to preserve their distinct and unique identity and heritage since ancient times. Kuthuparamba is a region comprising hills, agricultural lands, valleys, plain lands, and small streams. Kuthuparamba has an average elevation of 76 m. The Kuthuparamba cantonment of the British Raj was located here. The Indian Army holds land here. The Kuthuparamba Municipal building is situated in the Thalassery Coorg road which connects to Karnataka. Kuthuparamba act as a hangout for those travelling to Mangalore, Mysore, Bangalore and Wayanad. The famous Valiyavelicham industrial sector is only 6 km away from Kuthuparamba  Municipality. The new Kannur international airport is only 15 km away from Kuthuparamba. Etymology. The name Kuthuparamba derives from "kuthu" (a folk dance) and "paramba" (ground); this is the place where performances took place in the time of the Pazhassi Raja. Currently, Kuthuparamba is a small piece of land behind Gokul Street owned by the Government, on which Government officers are located. This name was given to the complete area by the British Raj. At the end of the 18th century, Kingdom of Kottayam malabar gave the Kuthuparamba municipal ground and the nearby places to the British army. Geography. North  region of Kuthuparamba municipality includes Mangatidom, Chitariparamb and Pattyam Gramapanchayath. South region includes Pattyam Gramapanchayath, the west region includes Pattyam, Kottayam and Mangatidom Gramapanchayath. Kuthuparamba is a region comprising hills, agricultural lands, valleys, plain lands, and small streams. Most of the people in the region are farmers and also in trading business. Kuthuparamba is a hill town and it does not have any river which flows through the region. History. History of Kuthuparamba is closely related with Kottayam dynasty. Old Kolathunadu kingdom was an area lying spread between Korappuzha in the south and Kasargod in the north. Since the British  captured Kuthuparamba area, the area fell under British rule was formed as Kottayam taluk. This taluk was in existence unto 1956. Due to the geographical features, the British made Kuthuparamba a notable military camp. In order to ensure the availability of milk and clothes to the soldiers, they encouraged the herdsman and weavers to live around Kuthuparamba town. Gokul Street and Weavers street are the result of this attempt made by the British Military Force. Agriculture was the main occupation of the people, but now it has been reduced very drastically due to overall growth in the economic condition. Demographics . As of 2011 Census, Kuthuparamba Municipality with an area of had a population of 29,619. Kuthuparamba is the 3rd most densely populated municipal town in Kannur district. Males constitute 45.4% of the population and females 54.6%. Kuthuparamba had an average literacy rate of 96.76%, higher than the national urban average of 79% and state average of 94%: male literacy was 98.1%, and female literacy was 95.6%. In Kuthuparamba, 10.5% of the population was under 6 years of age. Religion. As of 2011 India census, Kuthuparamba Municipality had total population of 29,619 among which 68.98% are Hindus, 28.94% Muslims, 1.94% Christians  and 0.14% others. Administration. Kuthuparamba Municipality is a part of Kuthuparamba (State Assembly constituency) under Kannur (Lok Sabha constituency). Notable people. Political leader: K. K. Shailaja Filmmakers: Sreenivasan, Vineeth Sreenivasan Political violence. This area is an epicenter of political violence between Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have been fighting in this area for supremacy for the last 50 years. Clashes in 2008 left seven people killed and many have been injured. The High Court of Kerala called this manslaughter a "compelling sport" and suggested permanent deployment of Central forces in the affected areas . Transportation. Thalassery is the nearest railway station, 14 km away from the town. Kuthuparamba is a town en route Thalassery-Coorg (SH30) road (commonly known as TC Road). Nearest airport is The Kannur International Airport which is 15 km away. It has the road connectivity with major tourist attractions like Aralam, Mysore, Mangalore, Ooty, Bangalore etc. Linkage & connectivity. Kuthuparamba town is a major junction well connected by two state highways and a major district road to Wayanad. Thalassery is the nearest railway station, away from the town. Kannur international airport is located only away from the town. There are two  state highways passing through the town, namely SH-30 (Thalassery – Coorg inter-state highway) and SH-38 (Kannur – Kuttiyadi road). These two roads act as major corridors of the town and possess good connectivity. Considerable volume of traffic from Karnataka passes through the town. In addition to this, other district roads and municipal roads exist within the town. Kerala government has proposed to construct a ring road in Kuthuparamba to facilitate traffic congestion in the town. Industrial growth centre. Kannur Industrial Growth Centre is located in Valiyavelicham near Kuthuparamba. It is one of the three IGCs in the state under Kerala Industrial  Infrastructure Development Corporation (KSIDC). Kannur IGC have well developed infrastructure facilities, including power, water, and roads, facilitating setting up of solid waste/plastic recycling and processing units by interested entrepreneurs. A plastic recycling unit is operating in the Kannur IGC. Similarly, the KSIDC has allocated land for two recycling units and biomedical waste treatment unit, which are being set up. Also, Kerala Agro Machinery Corporation Ltd (KAMCO) is located at Valiyavelicham facilitates setting up of power tiller manufacturing units. The products being manufactured from the unit include new generation power tillers with self-starter, garden tiller and brush cutter with  diesel engine. Educational institutions. 1. Nirmalagiri College 2. Rani Jai Higher Secondary School 3. College of Applied Science (IHRD) Kuthuparamba 4. MG college Kuthuparamba 5. Brainstorm bank coaching centre in kuthuparamba 6. Kuthuparamba UP School 7. South Kuthuparamba U P School 8. AMRITA VIDYALAYAM Kuthuparamba 9. Government Higher Secondary School 10 Gramika Institute 11. MES College Naravoor 12. ATDC Valiyavelicham 13.Sree Narayana English Medium High school Places of worship. Temples. 1. Trikkaikunnu Mahadeva temple 2. Sree Vazhumcherry Kavu 3. Ramapuram Shiva-Vishnu Temple 4. Neelakkarikali Temple 5. Kaitheri Edam 6. Shree Maha Ganapathi Temple, Chandra Shekharan Theru, Pookode 7. Terur  Ganapathi temple 8. Thykandy Madapura (naravoor) 9. Chathady manakkal 10. Palayi Kavu 11. Makkutti kavu 12. Thrikannapuram Kurmba kavu. 13. Naravoor Vishnu Kshetram 14. Mankulath Bhagavathi Kavu 15. Koormba Bhagavathi Kavu 16. Sree Kanchi kamakshi Amman Temple. Churches. 17. Kristuraj Church At Kuthuparamba 18. St. Marys church, Nirmalagiri Mosques. 19. Pilakoottam Makham Masjid 20. Kuthuparamba muslim jama'ath 22. Shamasul Ulama Academy, Naravoor road 22. Mooriyad Juma Masjid 23. Pazhayanirath Juma Masjid. One Stop Centre. The One Stop Centre is a single point of contact for women who are victims of harassment & violence. Medical, legal, police & counselling support are all provided  at the centre. It also has a facility to accommodate women for 3-4 days. It is located at Kuthuparamba Taluk Hospital. References. http://www.koothuparambamunicipality.in/