District Handbooks of Kerala

KASARAGOD

District Handbooksof Kerala

KASARAGOD

Department of Information & Public RelationsGovernment of Kerala

District Handbooksof Kerala

KASARAGOD

DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONSGOVERNMENT OF KERALA

Pub l i shed by the D i r ec to r , Depa r tmen t o f In fo rma t ion and Pub l i c Re la t i ons , Gove rnmen t o f Ke ra l a .

Printed at : KSAVRC Press, ThiruvananthapuramCopies : 15,000Price : Rs.10

Every care has been taken to ensure the authenticity of the facts given in thishand book. However, the Information and Public Relations Department,Government of Kerala should not be held responsible for error, if any.

District Handbooks of KeralaKASARAGOD

Department of Information and Public RelationsMarch 2003

Editor - in - ChiefG.Rajasekharan . I A S.Director & Secretary

Compiled byM. Gangadharan District Information Officer, KasaragodEditorK. Santhosh Kumar(Information Officer)

AssistantsN. Radhakrishna PillaiAjitha Das(Translators)

Type setting and layoutKarma

Contents

1. Introduction ............................................................................5

2. History ....................................................................................5

3. Topography ............................................................................7

4. Climate .....................................................................................8

5. Forest .......................................................................................9

6. Administration ......................................................................11

7. Local self government ........................................................13

8. Agriculture ............................................................................14

9. Literacy .................................................................................19

10. Electricity ................................................................................20

11. Fisheries .................................................................................21

12. Health .....................................................................................21

13. Industries ...............................................................................22

14. Men of letters ........................................................................24

15. Places of worship ...................................................................26

16. Places of tourist interest........................................................32

17.Barefacts ..................................................................................42

FOREWORD

Reference books have always been in great demand in Keralaand the educated public approach the Information and Public RelationsDepartment, Government of Kerala, for authentic information on our Stateand districts. It is in this context that District Handbooks used to be pub-lished. To be abreast of times, the Department has launched a website,www.prd.kerala.gov.in and maintains the State Government web portalwww.kerala.gov.in. It has been our sincere endeavour to update theseon a day-to-day basis and popularise the use of computers through outthe State to enable information and services to reach the needy. How-ever the Department feels that the time is not ripe for a complete switchover from the print media and hence a new series of District Handbooksis now published.

I hope that this book would cater to the requirements of the tour-ists as well as the general public who seek a handy booklet containingrelevant information about the district. Suggestions for improvement ofthe publication/the contents of the website/portals are welcome.

G.Rajasekharan, I.A.S.Director & Secretary

Information & Public RelationsThiruvananthapuram,18th March 2003.

INTRODUCTIONhe name, Kasaragod, is said to be derived from the wordKusirakood meaning Nuxvomica forests (Kanjirakuttom). It is

with the intention of bestowing maximum attention on the development ofbackward areas that Kasaragod district was formed on 24th May 1984.

HISTORY

Lying on the north western coast of the State, Kasaragod wasfamous from time immemorial. Many Arab travellers, who came to Keralabetween ninth and 14th centuries AD, visited Kasaragod as it was thenan important trade centre. They called this area Harkwillia. Barbose,the Portuguese traveller, who visited Kumbla near Kasaragod in 1514,had recorded that rice was exported to Male Island whence coir wasimported. Dr. Francis Buccanan, who was the family doctor of LordWellesly, visited Kasaragod in 1800. In his travelogue, he has includedinformation on the political and communal set-up in places like Athipramba,Kavvai, Nileswaram, Bekal, Chandragiri and Manjeshwaram.

Kasaragod was part of the Kumbala Kingdom in which there were64 Tulu and Malayalam villages. When Vijayanagar empire attacked

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Kasaragod, it was ruled by the Kolathiri King who had Nileshwaram ashis headquarters. It is said that the characters appearing in Theyyam, theritualistic folkdance of northern Kerala, represent those who had helpedKing Kolathiri in the fight against the attack of the Vijayanagar empire.During the decline of that empire in the 14th century, the administration ofthis area was vested with the Ikkery Naikans. They continued to be therulers till the fall of the Vijayanagar empire in 16th century. Then VengappaNaik declared independence to Ikkery. In 1645 Sivappa Naik took thereigns and transferred the capital to Bednoor. Thus they came to beknown as Bednoor Naik. Chandragiri and Bekal forts are considered tobe parts of a chain of Forts constructed by Sivappa Naik.

In 1763 Hyder Ali of Mysore conquered Bednoor. His intentionwas to capture entire Kerala. But when his attempt to conquer Thalasseryfort was foiled , Hyder Ali returned to Mysore and died there in 1782.Hisson, Tippu Sulthan, continued the attack and conquered Malabar. As perthe Sreerangapattanam Treaty of 1792, Tippu surrendered Malabarexcept Thulunadu (Canara) to the British. The British got it, only afterthe death of Tippu Sulthan in 1799.

Kasaragod was part of Bekal taluk in the south Canara district ofBombay presidency. Kasaragod taluk came into being when Bekal talukwas included in the Madras presidency on 16th April 1882. ThoughVengayil Kunhiraman Nayanar moved a resolution in 1913 on the floor ofMadras Governor's Council demanding the merger of Kasaragod talukwith the Malabar district, it had to be withdrawn because of the stiffopposition of the members from Karnataka. In1927, a political conventionheld at Kozhikode, passed a resolution stressing the above demand. In thesame year, an organisation titled Malayalee Seva Sanghom wasconstituted. Thanks to the efforts made by many eminent persons likeK.P.Kesava Menon, Kasaragod became part of Kerala following thereorganisation of states and formation of Kerala on the first November1956.

National Movement

Kasaragod played a prominent role in the National Movement forthe freedom of the country. Mohammed Sherul Sahib and Kandige KrishnaBhat were the frontline leaders of the independence movement. UmeshRao, K.M. Krishnan Nambiar, Shreesankarji, Naranthatta Raman Nair,A.C. Kannan Nair, T.Gopalan Nair and Meloth Narayanan Nambiar wereprominent freedom fighters.

The agrarian struggle to end the exploitation and oppression bylandlords and chieftains were part of the National Movement. TheKadakom Sathyagraha was started following the arrest of Gandhiji in1932. The Palayi Harvest Agitation (1941), Cheemeni Estate Struggle(1942), Kayyur Agrarian Riot (1944), Eleri Estate Agitation (1946),Karinthalam Paddy Seizure Revolt (1948) and many other struggles wagedby the peasant organisations accelerated the tempo of the freedom move-ment. Besides the agitation of the peasants, the various struggles unleashedfor the uplift of the scheduled castes and tribes also supported and enliv-ened the National Movement.

TOPOGRAPHY

Kasaragod district lies between 110 18' and 120 48' north latitudesand between 740 52' and 750 26' east longitudes. The district is markedoff from the adjoining areas outside the State by the Western Ghatswhich run parallel to the sea and constitute an almost continuousmountain wall on the eastern side. The Ghats dominate the topography.The cost line is fringed with low cliffs alternating with stretches of sand.A few miles to the interior, the scene changes and the sand level risestowards the barrier of the Ghats and transforms into low red laterite hillsinterspersed with paddy fields and coconut gardens.

The district is bounded in the east by the Western Ghats, in thewest by the Arabian sea, the north by the Canara district of Karnatakaand in the south by the Kannur District.

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FOREST

Kasaragod district has a forest area of 117.5412. sq. kms. fallingunder the Kannur Forest Division. Reserve forest stretches to 86.0221sq.kms. and vested forest, to 28.4971 sq.kms. It stretches in two ranges-Kasaragod and Kanhangad. The forest produces are shegaibark, sheakoy,cardamom, canes, fibres, etc. Sambar, the fastest deer, is seen in someareas. Wild boars are a nuisance to the cultivators of hilly areas.

RIVERS

There are 12 rivers in this district. The longest is Chandragiri (105kms.) originating from Pattimala in Coorg and embraces the sea atThalangara. The river assumes its name Chandragiri from the nameof the place of its source Chandragupta Vasti; where the great Mauryaemperor Chandragupta, is believed to have spent his last days as a sage.The second longest river is Kariankod (64 kms.), across which a damis being built at Kakkadavu. Shiriya (61 kms.), Uppala (50 kms.), Mogral(34 kms.), Chithari (25 kms.), Nileshwaram (47 kms.), Kavvayi (23 kms.),Manjeswaram (16 kms.), Kumbala (11 kms.), Bekal (11 kms.) and Kalanad(8 kms.) are the other rivers. These rivers provide ample irrigationfacilities.

THE PEOPLEThe people of this district have, as is the case in other parts of the

state, a distinctiveness in personal appearance, marked by fairness ofcomplexion, regularity of features, clean habits and a simple life.

The major religious groups are Hindus, Muslims and Christians.Brahmins, Nairs, Ambalavasis, Thiyyas and Kammalas are the majordivisions of the Hindu community. Thiyyas in the northern parts ofthe district are known as Belichappad. The sub-divisions of Naircommunity are Nambiar, Menon, Kurup etc. Kammalas are artisans like

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Based on physical features the district falls into three natural divi-sions-the low land bordering the sea, the mid land consisting of the undu-lating country and the forestclad highland on the extreme east.

CLIMATEThe diversity of the physical features results in a corresponding

diversity of climate. In the plains, the climate is generally hot. Though themean maximum temperature is only around 900 F, the heat is oppressivein the moisture laden atmosphere of the plains. Humidity is very high andrises to about 90 per cent during the south-west monsoon. The annualvariation of temperature is small; the diurnal range is only about 100 F.

AVERAGE RAINFALL

Month Rainfall (m.m.)

January 30.9February 0.0March 0.0April 38.1May 339.9June 1056.5July 675.4August 553.0September 74.2October 306.3November 28.1December 49.8

Annual 3152.2

The south-west monsoon starts towards the end of May or thebeginning of June, heralded by thunder-storms and holds till Septemberwhen the rain fades out. October brings in the north-east monsoon. Dryweather sets in by the end of December. January and February are thecoolest months of the year. March, April and May are generally very hot.

Thattan (Goldsmith), Perumkollan (Blacksmith) and Asaris (Carpenters).Brahmins consist of Bhat, Punichitaya, Kukkillaya, Kunikullaya, Ballullaya,Kadambulithaya, Kakunnaya etc.

Christians are settled mainly in the eastern hilly areas. They arethe early settlers from the southern parts of the State. The first group ofChristian settlers came to Rajapuram in 1943. The main Christian settle-ments are Thomapuram, Palavayal, Vellarikundu, Cherupuzha, Bandadka,Pulingom, Kozhichal, Karibedkom, Malom, Balal, Kanhiradkom, Kadumeni,Malakkallu, Panathady and Cheemeni. These hilly terrains are convertedinto rich plantations.

The Muslims are very pious and they follow rigid religious cus-toms. The purdha system is observed more strictly here by Muslim womenthan in any other parts of the State.

Cherumas, Mavilans, Parayas, etc. are the scheduled castes. Theyare mainly agricultural labourers. The scheduled tribes consist of Koragasof Kasaragod taluk, Marattis of Hosdurg and Kasaragod taluks and Adiyansof Eravas.

The cosmopolitan outlook and character of the people in the districtare because of the contact they had with the trade missions that used tovisit this place years back. The Hindus, the Muslims and the Christiansare, influencing and getting influenced by the culture of the other. Com-munal harmony and religious tolerance are the noteworthy characteristicsof the people. Though the people speak different languages, there is nobarrier on the cultural unity. Mosques, temples and churches stand sideby side as a symbol of communal harmony.

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POPULATION*

Person Male Female

Kerala T 31,838,619 15,468,664 16,369,955

R 23,571,484 11,450,785 12,120,699

U 8,267,135 4,017,879 4,249,256

Kasaragod District T 1,203,342 587,763 615,579

R 969,597 474,899 494,69

U 233,745 112,864 120,881

Kasaragod Taluk T 616,176 304,970 311,206

R 519,939 257,806 262,133

U 96,237 47,164 49,073

Hosdurg Taluk T 587,166 282,793 304,373

R 449,658 217,093 232,565

U 137,508 65,700 71,808

T-Total, R-Rural, U-Urban *Census 2001

ADMINISTRATION

For the purpose of revenue administration, the district is dividedinto two taluks and 75 villages.The Collectorate functions atthe Civil Station, at VidyaNagar, Chengala Panchayat,five kms.away from Kasaragodtown. Kasaragod is the onlyrevenue division in the districtand its Office is at Kanhangad. Civil Station, Kasaragod

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Villages1. Kasaragod Taluk 2. Hosdurg Taluk

1. Kasaragod2. Chengala3. Thekkil4. Kalanad5. Adhur6. Kudlu7. Adoor8. Paady9. Delampady10. Muliyar11. Munnad12. Koluthur13. Karivedakam14. Kuttikole15. Bediadka16. Thalangara17. Bandiadka18. Kunjathur19. Hosabettu20. Ichilango21. Uppala22. Kodlamogru23. Varkady24. Meenja25. Paivalike26. Kadambar27. Kayyar28. Bayar29. Madhur30. Nettanige31. Ednad32. Kumbdaje33. Bambrana34. Badre35. Koipady36. Badoor37. Neerchal38. Enmakaje39. Bela40. Maire

LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT

There are one DistrictPanchayat,four Block Panchayats and 39 Grama Panchayats in thedistrict.The Kasaragod DistrictPanchayat office functions at theCivil Station compound.

Block / Grama PanchayatsBlock Telephone Grama TelephonePanchayat number Panchayat number

1. Manjeshwaram 872673 1. Bellur 4600732. Kumbdaje 8602373. Mangalpady 8402214. Vorkady 8022595. Puthige 8550436. Meenja 8502627. Manjeshwaram 872238 8. Kumbla 8130339. Paivalige 80502810. Enmakaje 89503111. Badiadka 884026

2. Kasaragod (04994) 430230 12. Karadka 46004913. Kuttikole 49500314. Muliyar 45022615. Delampady 47003416. Chengala 49022417. Chemmanad 43727618. Bediadka 41023519. Madhur 43042720. Mogral Puthur 422891

41. Badiadka42. Udma43. Pallikkera44. Panaya45. Periya46. Pullur47. Ajanur48. Chittari49. Hosdurg50. Madikai51. Kanhangad52. Ambalathara53. Belur54. Thayannur55. Kallar56. Panathady57. Balal58. Maloth59. Nileswaram60. Perole61. Kinanoor62. Karindalam63. Parappa64. Beemanady65. West Eleri66. Chittarikkal67. Palaavayal68. Kayyur69. Cheemeni70. Kodakkad71. Pillicode72. Cheruvathur73. Padanna74. N. Trikaripur75. S. Trikaripur

District Panchayat Building

3. Kanhangad (04997) 704048 21. Udma 73624222. Ajanur 76638623. Balal 74223524. Kallar 72510025. Kodom-Belur 74635026. Madikkai 74068027. Pallikkara 77202628. Panathady 72730029. Pullur-Periya 794030

4. Nileswaram 780328 30. Cheruvathur 76022131. Kayyur-Cheemeni 75032232. Nileswaram 78036033. East Eleri 72103534. Pilicode 71150435. West Eleri 74133636. Thrikkaripur 71023637. Kinanur-Karinthalam 79535038. Padanna 77625939. Valiyaparamba 758276

ASSEMBLY, PARLIAMENTARY

CONSTITUENCIES

There are five Assembly and one Parliamentary constituencies inthe district. Manjeshwaram, Kasaragod, Udma, Hosdurg (reserved forSC) and Thrikkaripur are the Assembly constituencies. Kasaragod is theParliamentary constituency.

AGRICULTURE

Agriculture forms the mainstay of the population of the district.The soil in the three natural divisions generally fall under three types.

In the highland region it is laterite.In the midland, the soil is a red fer-ruginous loam of lateritic originwith an admixture of clay and sand.The coastal strip is sandy. Diver-sity of crops and heterogeneity incultivation are the key notes ofagriculture here.

The eastern tract comprises of forests and hilly areas. The forestscomprise of a variety of timber with teak and other plantations. The hillyareas are mostly cleared and put to private cultivation; the important cropsbeing rubber, cashew and ginger. In the skeletal plateau areas, cashewtrees are cultivated, while in some patches, arecanut, pepper and cocoaare grown. In the coastal tract, paddy, coconut, arecanut, cashew,tobacco, vegetable and tapioca are cultivated.

Crops CultivationCrops Area Ha.

Paddy 1. Virippu 4,7492. Mundakan 3,4203. Puncha 217

Coconut 56.183Arecanut 12,738Pepper 7,051Cashew 19,962Tapioca 1,280Tobacco 44Rubber 22,248Sweet Potato 78Vegetables 3,126Pulses 389Banana 792Ginger 129Oil Seeds 54

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Ox race

Land use patternAs per survey reports, Kasaragod district covers a geographical

area of 1,96,130 hectares. The composition of the geographical featuresare as detailed below:

Particulars Area in HectaresForest Area 5,625Land put to non-agricultural use 19,758Barren & uncultivable 8,562Permanent pastures and grazing land --Land under miscellaneous tree crops 4,568Cultivable waste 13,308Fallow other than current fallow 1,319Current fallow 3,228Net sown area 1,39,765Area sown more than once 8,770

Total cropped area (gross) 1,48,535

CPCRIThe Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) is an

establishment having national importance. It was established in 1970 bythe Indian Council of Agricultural Research. Research is carried out onvarious branches of Agricultural Sciences such as gardening, soil chemis-try, plant production, microbiology, plant diseases, cattle rearing, pisci cul-ture, etc.With headquarters at Kudlu, five kms. north of Kasaragod, theCPCRI has regional stations at Kayamkulam, Vittal and Kozhikode. Itsresearch centres are at Peechi, Palode, Hirehally, Appangala, Mohithnagarand Kehikuchi. There are seed farms at Kidu and Sathigode, one fieldstation at Thrissur and a World Coconut Germplasm Centre at Sipighat.The objectives of the CPCRI are to serve as national forum for improvinggenetic potential of plantation crops, to conduct basic and applied researchon various aspects of these crops, to co-ordinate research works beingdone by other institutions and agencies in the country, to serve as an infor-

mation centre on all matters pertaining to these crops, to produce geneti-cally superior planting materials and to carry out all India co-ordinatedcropping improvement project on coconut, arecanut, spices and cashewnut.

T x D, Mangala arecanut, new species of cardamom, turmericand cashew, mixed crop and multi-crop system, etc. are some of the con-tributions of the CPCRI for the development of agriculture. The mostremarkable venture is tissue culture in co-conut. Research on various diseases of co-conut, arecanut, cashew, pepper and fieldcrops has given better yields.

CPCRI is one of the ICAR instituteimplementing the NATP project on "Tech-nology Assessment and RefinementThrough Institution Village Linkage" whichis having emphasis on ensuring farmer's par-ticipation in agro-eco system analysis, iden-tification and prioritization of problems anddeciding appropriate technological interven-tions. Under the project different interven-tions have been implemented in farmers indifferent micro farming situations.

Agricultural Technology InformationCentre (ATIC) is established at CPCRI,Kasaragod to provide the required technology information, diagnostic andadvisory services and supply of quality planting material to farmers througha single window delivery system.

The Krishi Vigyan Kendras functioning under CPCRI at Kasaragodand Kayamkulam cater to the training needs of farmers of Kasaragodand Alappuzha Districts respectively. Farmers are immensely benefitedthrough the vocational training programmes, front line demonstrations andon farm testing in the farmers' fields and other technology transfer activi-ties organised by the Kendras.

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Irrigated area*Crops Area in

Hects.

Paddy 3302Tubers 21Vegetables 315Coconut 25670Arecanut 12996Cloves andNutmeg 39Other spices 123Banana 647Betal leaves 22Sugarcane 2Others 1500

* 2000-2001

Quality planting materials of coconut, arecanut and cocoa are pro-duced and distributed to farmers from the various centres of CPCRI.Farmers can write to CPCRI in advance for seedlings and can procurethe same in person on intimation.

The Institute offers project consultancies to individuals on nominalcharges on the establishment and maintenance of gardens of coconut,arecanut and cocoa, farming systems, pests and disease managementand post harvest technology.

CPCRI library has a collection of 50,000 documents pertaining topalms and cocoa and subscribes to 225 journals. All documents of thelibrary are classified, catalogued and indexed and the process of comput-erization using library software is in progress. Library at the headquar-ters and at regional stations provide documentation services to scientists,researchers, students, farmers and personnel from plantation cropsindustry.

LIVE STOCK POPULATION*

Cattle 1,92,866Buffaloes 9,397Sheep 88Pigs 4,734Goats 55,602Fowls 8,80,187Ducks 2,306Donkeys 5Horses & Ponies 113Dogs 71,075Mules 15Rabbits 1,968Other Poultry 1,277

*as per 1996 Census.

LITERACY

The Saksharatha Programme of the Government was well receivedand due to the zealous campaign conducted by the Government as wellas voluntary organisations, the level of literacy has a marked improve-ment. As per available statistics, the district has 896,367 literates, ofwhich the number of males is 464,844 and females 431,523.

Literates*

Person Male Female

Kerala T 25,625,698 12,817,963 12,807,735

R 18,747,212 9,400,183 9,347,029

U 6,878,486 3,417,780 3,460,706

Kasaragod Dist. T 896,367 464,844 431,523R 713,595 371,861 341,734U 182,772 92,983 89,789

Kasaragod Taluk T 447,722 236,585 211,137

R 372,883 198,284 174,599

U 74,839 38,301 36,538

Hosdurg T 448,645 228,259 220,386

R 340,712 173,577 167,135

U 107,933 54,682 53,251

T - Total, R - Rural, U - Urban * Census 2001

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EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Institution Govt. Aided Unaided Total

Lower Primary Schools 141 115 7 263

Upper Primary Schools 73 72 4 149

High Schools 43 19 8 70

Higher Secondary Schools 31 14 - 45

Colleges 2 2 - 4

Engineering College 1 - - 1

Teacher Training Institutes 2 1 - 3

Special School for the blind 1 - - 1

Industrial Training Institutes 2 - - 2

Industrial Training Centres - - 7 7

Polytechnic 2 1 - 3Kendriya Vidyalaya 2 - - 2Navodaya Vidyalaya 1 - - 1

ELECTRICITYThe existing power voltage has been increased after the commis-

sioning of a 220 KV Sub Station at Mailatt. Besides there are five 110KV Sub Stations Manjeshwaram, Kubannur, Kasaragod, Mulleria andKanhangad. The 110 KV Sub Station at Cheruvathur is started function-ing. The work of eight 33 KV Sub Stations are in progress. The KPCLa private establishment at Mailatty is the only power generating unit in thedistrict.

EMPLOYMENT

There are two Employment Exchanges functioning in the district.One is at Kasaragod and the other is at Kanhangad.

The number of unemployed youths registered at Hosdurg TownEmployment Exchange as on 31st December 2001 was 77,960. Females39,884 of which graduates numbered 7,279 and technically qualified 1,747.The number of unemployed males is 38,076 and females 39,884. Thenumber of persons belonging to scheduled castes registered as unem-ployed is 4,648, scheduled tribes 877 and physically handicapped 813.

In Kasaragod Employment Exchange, the total number of unem-ployed youths registered as on 31st December, 2001 stood at 27,264 ofwhich 11,256 are males and 13,038 females. Out of this total, the numberof technically qualified persons are 522, graduates 1,587, scheduled castes3,230, scheduled tribes 2,066 and physically handicapped 440. A SelfEmployment Scheme KESRU (Kerala Self Employment Scheme for theRegistered Unemployed) is implemented through Employment Exchange.

FISHERIES

Kasaragod district has an 80 kms. long sea coast extending fromThrikaripur to Bengra-Manjeshwaram. There are many fish-landing cen-tres in this district and some of them have fish-landing, cleaning and trans-porting facilities. There is a light house at Kasaragod.

Bengra-Manjeshwaram, Shiriya, Koipady, Kavugoly, Kasaba, Kizhur,Kottikulam, Pallikkara, Ajanur, Hosdurg Kadappuram, Thakadappuram,Punjavi Kadappuram, Padanna Kadappuram, Kadankod, Valiyaparambaand Thrikaripur Kadappuram are the fishing villages in the district. Thereare many ice plants in the public and private sectors.

HEALTH

In the field of health and sanitation, the district lacks modern facili-ties. Patients requiring technologically advanced treatment are forced togo to Mangalapuram, Manipal or Kozhikode.

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HEALTH INSTITUTIONS

Systems Institutions/Particulars Number

Allopathy District Hospital 1Taluk Hospital 1Community Health Centres 5Primary Health Centres 45Family Welfare Centres 249T.B. Centre 1District Medical Stores 1L.C. Units 2Food Inspector Offices 3J.P.H.N. Training School 1N.F.C.P. Unit 1Government Blood Banks 2Doctors in Government Institution 107Beds in Government Institution 667Private Medical Institutions 64Private Blood Banks 2

Ayurveda Hospitals 5

Dispensaries 3

Homoeopathy Hospitals 3

Dispensaries 21

INDUSTRIES

Kasaragod has vast potentials for the establishment of large andmedium industries, but the district is at present industrially backward. Thereis no major industry. As per the latest data available, there are 5,759small-scale industrial units in the district.

Industrial ScenarioIndustry No.

Large Industry : NilMedium Industry : 1SSI Units : 5,759Industrial Co-operative Societies : 62Handloom Societies : 8Agro based : 665Rubber based : 129Plastic based : 68Forest based : 472Animal Husbandry : 43Textile based : 1200Chemical based : 176Engineering based : 665Electronics based : 254Minerals : 294Building materials : 111Others : 1682

Identified clustersFor clay based artware - BediadkaFor wood based Industry - KasaragodFor Handicrafts - Ananthapuram

RoadsCategory Length in kms.

National Highways 85.9State Highways 141.8Major district roads tarred 310.8Other district roads tarred 274.7Other district roads earthern 10.0

The length of rail line passing through this district is 116 kms.

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MEN OF LETTERS

The Kuttamath Kunniyur family in Cheruvathur had given birth tomany poets. The first of this galaxy of Kuttamath scholars was KunhunniKurup (1813-1885). He was talented Astrologer and Sanskrit scholar.His important works are Devi Mahatmyam, Kapotha Sandesham andVyasolpathi. Kuttamath Cheria Rama Kurup (1847-1906) was a drama-tist, poet, grammarian and Ayurvedic physician of considerable merit. Hehas composed several Sanskrit works such as Subhadrapaharanam,Rukmini Swayamvaram and Sita Swayamvaram. His Sarva GaralaPadmochanam is a comprehensive work on Visha Vaidyam (Toxicol-ogy). Among his Malayalam works may be mentioned Kesivadham,Kamsavadham, Sri Ramavatarams and three Thullal poems, viz.,Krishnavatharam, Poothanamoksham and Ahalyamoksham.

Kuttamath Kunhi Kelu Kurup (1863-1915) distinguished himselfas a composer of Thullal poems, the most important of which areKharavadham, Seemanthini Swayamvaram, Sita Swayamvaram,Kuchelagopalam, Sankaracharya Charitham and Radhamadhavam.He has also organised a Thullal Kaliyogam of his own to populariseOttnthullal.

Kuttamath Kunhambu Kurup (1855 1911) was a great sanskrit scholar and Ayurvedic physician. Among his works are a poem KirtibhooshanaCharitham and three dramas, viz., Vaidarbhi Vasudevam,Ushanirudham and Amsumatidharmaguptam.

The most distinguished of the Kuttamath scholars is Kunhi KrishnaKurup (1881-1944), who is also known as Mahakavi Kuttamath. He isthe author of several important works in Malayalam. The earliest ofhis literary composition is a poem called Kaliyamardanam. He hascomposed a few dramas such as Devayani Charitham, Balagopalam,Nachiketas, Dhruvamadhavam, Harischandra Charitham, etc.and several devotional works like Sri Ramakrishnan Gita and

MukambikapuranamKilippattu. He has alsocomposed an Attakadhain Malayala m ti t ledBalagopalam.

P. KunhiramanNair, another famouspoet of Kerala, hailedfrom Bellikoth nearKanhangad. T. Ubaid,the cultural leader ofKasaragod, was born at

Thalangara. Proficient in Malayalam and Kannada, T. Ubaid translatedmany Malayalam literary pieces into Kannada and vice-versa. He wasalso a researcher in Mopla songs.

Rashtrakavi, M. Govinda Pai of Manjeshwaram, is Kerala's contri-bution to Kannada language and literature. Poet, art critic and literatureresearcher, M. Govinda Pai (1883-1963) who has enriched Kannadaliterature and poetry by his famous works, was conferred the title of poetlaureate by the erstwhile Government of Madras, along with MahakaviVallathol. He excelled himself as a poet, nationalist, historian, dramatistand linguist. Gommata Jinastuti was the first published work of GovindaPai. Govinda Pai also introduced the sonnet form in Kannada.

His Gilivindu, which literally means "a bunch of parrots", containssome rare and beautiful gems of Kannada poetry. Govinda Pai also en-riched Kannada learning with his historical studies and research. He wasan authority on the chronology and history of Tulunad. Govinda Pai wasalso a prolific prose writer. His earliest composition in prose was SrikrishnaCharita (1909) which provides for remarkable reading. His best workswritten in blank verse, viz., Golgotha (the last days of Christ, published in1937), Vaisakhi (The last days of Buddha, published in 1946) and

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Yakshaganam

Hebberaqlu (The Thumb, thestory of Ekalavya retold, pub-lished in 1946) have won forGovinda Pai a lasting place in thegallery of the greatest poets ofKannada literature. Theseworks also testify to his univer-sal outlook as well as to his deepcompassion for the poor and thedowntrodden.

Sri Parthisuba, the greatexponent of Yakshagana, wasbelieved to have lived at Kumblanear Kasaragod. Sri. T.S.Thirumumbu, a revolutionarypoet, was also a leader of theagrarian movement.

The colourful and ritualistic folk arts like Theyyam and Thirayattomare performed here. Yakshagana, a colourful dance-drama, originally ofKarnataka is also popularly performed here, and that too, some times inMalayalam.

PLACES OF WORSHIP

Adoor templeForty five kms. east of Kasaragod town, Adoor is noted for its

ancient Siva Temple, believed to have been founded by Arjuna. The temple,which is known as Sri Mahalingeshwara temple, is situated in picturesquesurroundings on the southern bank of the river Payaswini.

The Makara Samkramam is a very important festival day in thetemple when a Sahasra Kumbha Abhishekam with feeding of a large

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number of people takes place. According to tradition, the day coincideswith the anniversary of the day on which a harijan spotted the Sivalingam.The annual Jatra or festival of the temple starts with Dhwaja Arohanam(hoisting of the temple flag) on the 27th of Kumbham (February, March)and concludes with the Avabhritha Snanam (holy dip) in the water of thePayaswini on the fourth of Meenam (April) every year.

Ajanur Madiyan Kulom templeIn Ajanur village is situated the famous Madiyan Kulom temple. It is

about five kms. from Kanhangad. The main deity of the temple isBhadrakali; but there are also other deities like Kshetrapalan, Bhagavathiand Bhairavan. A peculiarity of this temple is that a Brahmin priest per-forms pooja only in the noon, while the morning and evening poojas areperformed by a sect called Maniyanis.The festivals in the temple fall dur-ing the months of Edavam (May, June) and Dhanu (December, January).

AnanthapuramAt a distance of

about five kms. fromKumbla is the AnanthapuramTemple whichis saidto be the ‘Moolasthanam’of the AnanthapadmanabhaSwami (Sri PadmanabhaSwamiTemple) of Thiruvananthapuram. Localtradition has it thatAnanthapadmanabha of Thiruvananthapuram had settled down here origi-nally.

Anantheswara templeThe fame of Manjeshwaram lies in the famous Srimad

Anantheswara Temple owned by the Gowda Saraswath community. It

T h e y y a m

Ananthapuram Temple

attracts pilgrims from all over India, particularly from the region lyingbetween Kanyakumari and Goa. The annual car Festival of the temple ison the sixth Lunar Day of the bright half of the Margashira month, usu-ally between the third week of November and the third week of Decem-ber. It is also called the Shashti Festival as the final day celebrationtakes place on the Skanda Shashti day , a day sacred to Subrahmanya.In the outer round of the temple, there is a flower garden named AnanthaNandana Vana.

Bela churchAbout 11 kms. from Kumbla on the Kumbla-Badiadka road, is the

Mother Dolorus Church of Bela. This Gothic style Roman Catholic churchwhich is under the Mangalapuram Diocese, has celebrated its centenaryrecently.The Christian church at Kasaragod has also celebrated its cente-nary recently. The St. Thomas Church at Chittarikal is another famousone. The eastern parts of the district about in a number of small and bigchurches.

Kizhur Sasta templeThere is an ancient Sastha temple at Chandragiri which is known

as Kizhur Sastha Temple. This is the headquarters of the AnjooruNayanmar (five hundred Nairs). The festival which is peculiar to thistemple is Pattu Utsavam. Troups of professional singers sing jointly inpraise of the greatness of the deity. The dignitaries of all the Kazhakamsof Saliyas from Pattuvam to Panamboor (present new Mangalapuram)known as Pathinalu Nagaram assemble here annually on the secondSaturday of Vrischikam (November).

Kumbla Sri Gopala Krishna temple

Two of the four sacred temples of Kumbla Seema are located inKumbla and its suburbs. They are the Mujankavu Sri Parthasaradhi Templeand Kanipura (Kaniyara) Sri Gopalakrishna Temple. Kumbla is also calledKanipura (Kaniyara) after the latter temple.

The temple of Sri Parthasarathi of Mujankavu is situated in Ednadvillage, about four kms. east of Kumbla and about eight kms. north westof Madhur.

The Sri Gopalakrishna Temple, is situated in the heart of the townof Kumbla at the foot of an elevated hill which rises majestically in frontof it, with the Kumbla river flanking it on the left (north). The colourfulfestival at Kumbla temple which lasts for five days every year, com-mences with the Dhwajaarohanam on the Makara Sankramana day.People in thousands from all over the region attend these festivities.

Madhur temple

At Madhur, eight kms.north east of Kasaragod, isthe famous Madhur SrimadAnantheswara Vinayakatemple. The imposing struc-ture of the temple, with itsturrets and gables and thecopper plate roofing, risesmajestically against the beau-tiful landscape of hills, paddy fields and gardens with the river Madhuvahiniflowing leisurely in front of it.

The Madhur temple is a Siva temple with Srimad Anantheswara asits presiding deity. The Sivalingam of the temple is said to have been foundby a harijan woman, Madharu.

A special festival associated with the Madhur temple is theMoodappa seva.The large figure of Maha Ganapathi is covered withappam. It requires enormous quantities of rice and lakhs of rupees for itsconduct. The festival is conducted only periodically in view of the hugeexpenditure involved.It was celebrated in April 1962 after a lapse of about160 years, and very recently in April 1992.

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Madhur temple

The ceiling of the Namaskara Mantapam of the Madhur Templehas been decorated with beautiful figures of puranic heroes in woodcarving. A closer examination of the wood carvings would disclose thevarious episodes of the Ramayana, beginning with the Putrakame-shtiyagam and ending with Seetha Swayamvaram.

The Mantapam in the interior of the temple building as well as theoutside façade of the second and third storeys of the main building arealso profuse with attractive and exquisite wood carvings.

Malik Dinar mosqueKasaragod acquired over

the years, considerable impor-tance as a centre of Islam onthe west coast. It is the site ofone of the mosques believed tohave been founded by Malik IbnDinar. The mosque, JumaMasjid, which is one of the bestkept and most attractive in the district, is located at Thalangara.It containsthe grave of Malik Ibn Mohammed, one of the descendants of Malik IbnDinar and the place is sacred to Muslims. Another notable mosque, inKasaragod is the Theruvath Mosque which is in the centre of the town.An important local celebration takes place every year in commemorationof the arrival of Malik Ibn Dinar. The Uroos attract pilgrims from all overIndia.

Narampady churchThis is a Roman Catholic church on the Badiadka-Mulleria route,

about 10 kms. from Badiadka. This is known as St. John Britto Churchand this was established in 1939.

Nellikkunnu mosque Uroos, celebrated in Nellikkunnu mosque, attracts people in thou-

sands. The Nercha celebration, during the second half of November, lastsfor one week.

PerneOf the 18 temples of Muchilottu Bhagavathi, Perne is the northern

most and the only one north of Payaswini Seema. It is five kms. east ofKumbla and near Ananthapuram Lake Temple, on the Kumbla-Badiadkaroute . The mass marriage at the time of Pooram festival in the month ofMeenam, is a unique feature of this temple.

Temples of Kasaragod townKasaragod has a few important temples. Of these, the Mallikarjuna

temple, situated near the taluk office, is the most important. The annualfestival have falls in the month of March and it attracts huge crowds.

One of the most important temples of the Gowda Saraswathas inKerala is the Venkatramana temple.The Sri Arya Karthyayani templeand the Sri Panduranga temple are also famous temples of the place.

Just on the eastern side of Pulikunnu by the Payaswini river, thereis a temple belonging to the Thiyya community where thirty nine deitiesare worshipped. The main festival here, called Kaliyattam, falls in Feb-ruary/March. There is also the Palakunnu temple (near Malik Ibn Dinarmosque) akin to the Palakunnu Devasthanam of Udma. Bhagavathitemples, such as Theruvath Bhagawathi and Kadappuram Sri Kurumbatemples, are spread all over the municipal area, worshipped by particularcommunities.

Thrikkaripur Sri Chakrapani templeSri Chakrapani temple has a hoary past with a legend about its

origin in the ancient Brahmandapurana. The great sage Garga, ac-cording to the legend describer many a holy place in Bharath Varshaincluding Sri Chakrapani Temple to Yudhishtira, when the Pandava weredwelling in the Gandhamadana Sailya Forest during their twelve year ex-ile. Thrikkaripur where the temple is situated, is about 40 kms. north ofKannur town. The temple has been bestowing spiritual solace and pros-perity for generations.

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Malik Dinar mosque

assigned to him was the Vadakara fort. The third in succession was theVadakkelamkur in charge of Vekkolath fort. This V(B)ekkolath fort isidentified by some scholars as the present Bekal".

H.A. Stuart, in his Handbook of South Canara (1985), makes thisobservation: "….. Several forts were built by the Shivappa Nayaks ofBadnore between 1650 and 1670 A.D. The two forts of Bekal andChandragiri were originally under the Kolathiri or Chirakkal Rajas untilthe time of Shivappa Nayaka's invasion. Perhaps, the Bednore rulersmight have rebuilt and improved it".

The Bekal fort, which is of great historical and archaeological in-terest, is the largest and best preserved of its kind in the district and theland on which it is situated, runs into the sea with fine bay towards thesouth. According to the South Canara Mannual, Bekal fort fell into thehands of Haider Ali in 1763. It housed the Huzur of Canara during Tippu'stime and the remains of a gallow reminiscent of the days of Mysoreanoccupation were seen here till a few years back. After the overthrow ofTippu Sultan in 1799, Bekal was incorporated into the dominions of theEnglish East India Company. The erstwhile Kasaragod taluk of SouthCanara district was known as Bekal for more than half a century.

The Bekal fort is now under the Archeological Department of theGovernment of India.

There is a Travellers' Bungalow, maintained by the Public WorksDepartment of the State Government within the Bekal fort. The naturalscenery at Bekal is alluring and makes a visit to the place an exhileratingexperience. There is a recently renovated temple dedicated to Hanuman,at the entrance to Bekal. An old mosque is also situated very near thefort and this is believed to have been founded by Tippu Sultan.

It was in the year 1992 the central government declared Bekal Fortas a special tourism area. It was with the intention of transforming Bekal

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TrikkannadThis is a Siva temple on the sea shore, within one km. of the Bekal

bridge. The place arround Pandyan Kallu, a rock rising above the seanear the temple, is an ideal spot for adventurous swimmers. Swimming inthe sea is a popular sport here.

Palakunnu Bhagavathi Kshetram is one km. north of Trikkannadon the Kasaragod-Kanhangad road. The annual Bharani festival attractsthousands.

PLACES OF TOURIST INTERESTBekal

Bekal, situated on the seashore of Pallikkara village, is an impor-tant place of tourist interest in the district. It lies 12 kms. south of Kasaragodtown. According toBekal Rama Nayak, alocal Kannada writer,the word, Bekal is de-rived from the wordBaliakulam, meaningBig Palace. Theplace is said to havebeen the seat of a bigpalace in the past. Theterm Baliakulam gotcorrupted as Bekulam and later as Bekal.

It was usual in older days for every royal palace to be protected bya fort. The Bekal fort might have, therefore, existed even from earlydays of the Chirakkal Rajas. While giving a description of the KolathiriKingdom in his Kerala History, K.P. Padmanabha Menon writes; "Theeldest of the male members reigned as soveriegn Kolathiri. The next insuccession, the heir apparent, was the Thekkelamkur. The residence

Bekal fort

Fort into international tourism centre that in the year 1995 the governmentformed Bekal Tourism Development Corporation.

It is in Chemmanad, Udma, Pallikkara and Ajanur Panchayats thatof the Bekal tourism project is implemented. At present the corporation isengaged in arranging basic facilities for the project. Corporation hasdecided to acquire 278 hectares of land for Bekal development.

Plans for bettering and increasing basic facilities will be implementedin the four panchayats where Bekal tourism project is implemented. Watersupply scheme for the entire people of Pallikkara, Udma, Ajanur andChemmanad will be implemented. In the first phase, programmes likewaste incineration, road construction and installation of street lights willalso be carried out.

B.R.D.C. has programme to develop other tourist centres of thedistrict as part of Bekal project. Two House boats have already startedfunctioning at Valiyaparambu this year itself. Boats clubs will be estab-lished at Bekal and Chandragiri soon. A Bekal facility centre was estab-lished in 1998 near Bekal Fort. In the facility centre there is an informa-tion centre.

Chandragiri

Chandragiri lies three kms. south of Kasaragod town. It has alarge square situated high above the Chandragiri river on its southernbank. The fort it said to have been built in the 17th century by SivappaNayak of Bednore, who established his authority over the area and built achain of forts. The Chandragiri river, on the bank of which it rises, markedthe traditional boundary between Kerala and the Tuluva Kingdom. Thereis a beautiful bridge over the Chandragiri river at Tekkil, five miles fromChandragiri. A mosque is situated nearby and the view of the bridgewith the mosque in the background is one of the most attractive sights ona drive along the NH 17 from Kannur to Kasaragod. A long railway

tunnel passes through Chandragiri. A boat club has been recently startedhere.

Cheruvathur

Cheruvathur is an important place on the NH 17. The formerMangalore-Cheruvathur coast road starts from Mangalapuram, the head-quarters of the South Canara district and runs through the coast line, till itreaches Cheruvathur.

The Kunniyur family in Kuttamath Amsom near Cheruvathur hasproduced a number of illustrious scholars who have contributed greatly toMalayalam literature.

Edneer mutt

Situated on the Kasaragod-Puthur road, about eight kms. north eastof Kasaragod town, this ancient mutt is a reputed seat of learning. Itattracts devotees from all over Kerala, Karnataka and other states.

This belongs to the Thotakacharya (one of the four disciples ofSankaracharya) tradition. Vadakke mutt in Trissur was established by adisciple of Thotakacharya. The Swamiji of this mutt was the founder ofPadinjare mutt in Trichambaram and Edneer mutt was established by theswamiji of Trichambaram. At present the mutt is renowned for the en-couragement it gives to art and culture.

Govinda Pai memorialManjeshwaram is renowned as the native place of M. Govinda Pai

(1883-1963), one of the greatest Kannada poets of modern times. He hasenriched Kannada literature and poetry. He was conferred the title of"poet laureate" by the erstwhile Government of Madras. He was also anationalist, historian, dramatist and linguistic.

His residence in Manjeshwaram is maintained as a memorial andthe Government of Kerala has established a first grade college dedicatedto his memory.

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Hosdurg fort

The Hosdurg fort with its round bastions, looks imposing from adistance. Several public offices are located within its premises. There isa famous temple attached to the fort which is known as Karpooreshwaratemple. The fort is a major attraction for tourists. In Kanhangad, thereare two churches; one Catholic and the other a Protestant. There arealso a number of mosques here.

Kammatamkavu

An evergreen forest of about 50-60 acres, with a perennial stream,is a centre of worship connected with the Kammatam Bhagavathi Temple.

Kanhangad

Kanhangad, the headquarters of the Hosdurg taluk, is 33 kms. southof Kasaragod. It has an area of 32 sq. kms. and a population of 23,621.Kanhangad has the reminents of a large fort built by Somasekhara Nayakof Ikkeri (1714-39). It is locally called Hosdurg (hosa, new and durg, fort)and it is after this fort that the Hosdurg taluk derives its name.

Kanwatirtha Beach resort

The clean and neat 3-4 kms. long beach and the swimming poollike lake, half a km. long and proportionately broad, formed by sea water,are gift of nature.

Kasaragod town

Kasaragod municipal town is situated on the banks of the Chandragiririver and is 31 m. above sea level. Kasaragod is an important businesscentre. Arecanuts and copra are the main trade.Pepper, copra and cashew-nuts are the important commodities transported from here. One of the

important local industries is cloth cap making, which is the main means oflivelihood of a large number of Muslim women. The caps manufacturedat Kasaragod are exported to Zanzibar and other African countries.

Kasaragod is one of the minor ports of the district. The port islocated on the eastern bank of the backwaters formed by the Chandragiririver, which is separated from the sea by a sand spit of about one kilome-ter length. Schooners do not call at this port but anchor outside the bar.Being the district headquarters, Kasaragod is a fairly developed urbancentre. There are a number of educational institutions in the town. TheGovernment College, Kasaragod, established in 1957, is the premier edu-cational institution of the place.

Kottancheri hills

This rain forest near Panathur, is a beautiful picnic centre which isalso ideal for trekking. 'Talakkaveri', in the Brahmagiri mountains of Coorg,is quite near Kottancheri Hills.

Kottappuram

The place derived its name from the mud fort built by the NileswarRajas and later annexed by the Bednore Nayakas in the 18th century. AJuma Masjid and a Hindu shrine stand close by.

Kudlu

It was at Kudlu in the suburbs of Kasaragod, where the famouseight day discourse between Madhavacharya, the great Dwaita philoso-pher and Trivikrama Pandit, the famous Adwaita scholar, took place. Thediscourse held in the presence of king Jayasimba of Kumbla, ended in thevictory of Madhavacharya and the acceptance of the Dwaita philosophyby Trivikrama Pandit.

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Kumbla

Kumbla, which is situated 13 kms. north of Kasaragod town, wasthe seat of the Rajas of Kumbla who once held sway over the southernpart of the Tuluva country which included the present Kasaragod taluk.The town stands on a bold peninsula in a lagoon seperated from the seaby a sand spit and connected to it by a narrow channel. In 1514, DuarteBorbosa, the Portuguese traveller, visited Kumbla and he had recordedthat he had found the people exporting a very bad quality brown rice toMaldives in exchange for coir, from the small port here. Early in the 16thcentury, the port paid a tribute of 800 loads of rice to the Portuguese.

When Tippu captured Mangalapuram, the Kumbla Raja fled toThalassery; but he returned in 1799 and after an unsuccessful bid forindependence, submitted to the English and accepted a small pension ofRs. 11,788 per annum in 1804.

It was in Kumbla that Parthishubha was born in the 18th centuryand composed all his Yakshagana Prasangas which earned for him thetitle, 'Father of Yakshagana'.

Maipady palace

Once, the present Maipady was the seat of the Kumbla Rajas.The palace is about eight kms. from Kasaragod on the Kasaragod-Perlaroad and within three kms. from Madhur.

Manjeshwaram

Manjeshwaram lies in the northern most extremity of Kerala and isa place of historical and religious importance. According to ManjulaKshetra Mahatmya, a legend which deals with the history of the placeand describes the pilgrimage undertaken by Virupaksha, a GowdaSaraswatha Brahmin saint, this village was known as Manjula Khetra,

Manjukhetra or Manjarisha. The southern portion of the town stands ona plain and the northern portion, on a steep bank which overhangs theriver. These two portions were held by the Jain Bangara Raja and theVittal Raja respectively, until Tippu Sultan hanged the former and forcedthe latter to take refuge with the English at Thalassery. Manjeshwaramhas been for long, the seat of a flourishing community of a GowdaSaraswatha or Konkini Brahmins. There are two old Jaina Bastis atBangra Manjeshwaram on the southern bank of the Manjeshwaram river.

Nileswaram

Nileswaram, which is the abbreviated form of Nilakanta Iswar,was formerly the seat of the Nileswaram Rajas who belonged to thefamily of Kolathiris. It was annexed by Somasekhara Nayaka of Bednorein 1737 after a struggle of twelve years in which the French and theEnglish took part. When the Bednore Nayaka invaded the territory, theNileswar Raja obtained the aid of the English who had their factory atThalassery. In 1737, a treaty was signed by which the Bednorians agreednot to advance south of the Valapattanam river and the English obtainedcommercial concessions including the monopoly of pepper and carda-mom in those portions of the Kolathiri dominion, which were occupied bythe Bednore people.

The fort at Nileswaram, however, remained in the hands of theRaja and he allied himself with the French who held the fort on his behalftill 1761. In the meantime, Bednore was captured by Haider Ali and theRaja remained in power at Nileswaram till the territory was annexed bythe English in 1799 and the Raja was forced to submit and accept a pen-sion. Among the temples of the place, mention may be made of theSri Kottappuram Vettakorumakan temple, Mannampurathu kavu, PallikkaraBhagavathi temple and the Thaliyil Neelakanta temple.

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Nityananda Asramam

There are two notable ashramams in Kanhangad,viz.,theNityanandasramam and the Anandasramam. The former, which is situ-ated on the hillock about half a km. south of the Hosdurg taluk office, wasfounded by Swami Nityananda.The spot was at first part of a forest area.Here Swami Nityananda constructed 45 guhas (caves) in a mountainslope. There is a temple built in 1963, after the style and design of thefamous Somanatha temple in Gujarat. A full size statue of SwamiNityananda in sitting posture made of panchaloha is one of the attractionsof the ashramam.

Anandashramam, situated about five kms. east of the KanhangadRailway Station, was founded in 1939 by Swami Ramadas, a greatVaishnava saint of modern times. The main ashramam and other build-ings have a beautiful setting in the midst of shady mango, coconut andother groves. There is a hill to the east of the ashramam, to which thedevotees retire for quiet meditation and from its west, the surroundingextensive landscape can be seen in its natural grandeur. The spot at thehighest point of the hill is so fascinating that the devotees, who go up thehill and sit silently, are blessed with deep peace and tranquility.

Povval fort

This is an old fashioned fort on the Kasaragod-Mulleria route, about10 kms. from Kasaragod.

Posadigumpe

Posadigumpe is an ideal picnic centre, located on a hillock, 487.68metres above sea level in Dharmathadka, about 18 kms. east of Mangalpady.On top of it, one can see the Arabian sea and the vast arecanut gardensof Kasaragod, extending up to Mangalapuram city and to Kudremukh.

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Ranipuram

The formerMadathumala hastaken this new namerecently. Lying 780metres above sealevel, it is only 9kms.from Panathur,which is 48 kms. eastof Kanhangad .Theextensive forest ofMadathumala merges with the forests of Karnataka.The natural beautyis comparable only to Ooty. This place is quite ideal for trekking.

Tulur vanam

Also known as Kekulom (the eastern place), Tulur vanam is fourkms. east of Panathur. The temple here is consecrated to Kshetrapalanand Bhagavathi. The eight day annual festival commencing from Sivarathri,attracts large crowds from all over the district, as well as from Coorg.

Valiyaparamba

Separated from the mainland by backwaters, this fishing village isan island with the Arabian sea as one of the borders and is an ideal picniccentre.

Veeramala hills

This hill top with ruins of a Dutch fort, built in the 18th century, is apicnic spot from where the natural beauty of Kariangot river and sur-roundings can be enjoyed. The Cheruvathur-Kariangot portion of NH 17runs paralleled to the hill near Mayica, Cheruvathur.

Retreat hall, Ranipuram

BARE FACTS

Area (sq.kms.) : 1992 Sq.kms.

Population (in 000's) : 1203342

Male (in 000's) : 587763

Female (in 000's) : 615579

Sex ratio: females/1000 males : 1042

Density of population : 604

*****

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