Kollam district

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name=Kollam district
type= district


hq=Kollam
latd = 8.80
longd=76.6
state_name=Kerala
abbreviation=IN-KL-2 XXXX
collector=K. Ajayakumar
area=2,491
area_magnitude=9
population_total = 2585208
population_year= 2001
population_density= 1038
footnotes= :"For the town with the same name, see Kollam."Kollam district, earlier known as Quilon district, is one among the 14 districts of Kerala state, India. The district is representative of all the natural attributes of Kerala, and is endowed with a long coastal region, a major sea port on the Arabian Sea, plains and the mountains, lakes, lagoons and Kerala Backwaters, forests and the farm land, and rivers and streams. The area had mercantile relationship with Phoenicians and the Romans.

About thirty percentDubious|date=March 2008 of this district is covered by the Ashtamudi Lake, thereby making it a gateway to the Kerala Backwaters. India’s most popular English magazine "India Today" has rated Kollam as the best district in the country in terms of law and order and social harmony. The district is 18.02% urbanised. [http://www.censusindiamaps.net/page/India_WhizMap/IndiaMap.htm]

Administration

Kollam district has five administrative sub-divisions (taluks): Karunagappally, Kunnathur, Pathanapuram, Kottarakara, and Kollam.

The district is divided geographically and The District Collector is a key functionary of the government, having large powers and responsibilities. He has a dual role to play, as the agent of the government and as the chief administrator of the District. He reports to the state government, democratically elected by the people. He is responsible for maintaining law and order.

The District Collector is the head of the Land Revenue Department of the district, with other Revenue officers, Additional District Magistrate, Sub Collectors, Tahsildars and Special Tahsildars for five Taluks, Special Tahsildar in special offices, Deputy Tahsildars, and village officers reporting to the collector.

The district has a single revenue division with its headquarters at Quilon.

Taluks

Pathanapuram, Kunnathur, Kottarakkara, Karunagappally and Kollam are the five taluks in the district. The tahsildar is the main revenue official in charge of each taluk.

*Kollam Taluk (Taluk headquarters: Kollam) Adichanallore, Cheerakkara, Eravipuram, Kalluvathukkal, Kilikolloor, Kizhakkke Kallada (East Kallada), Kollam East, Kollam West, Kottamkara, Kottappuram, Mangad, Munroethuruth, Mayyanad, Meenadu, Mulavana, Mundakkal, Nedumpana, Pallimon, Panayam, Parippally, Perinadu, Poothakulam, Paravur, Sakthikulangara, Thazhuthala, Thrikkadavoor, Thrikkaruva, Thrikovilvattom, Kundara, Vadekkevila.

*Pathanapuram Taluk (Taluk Headquarter: Punalur) Alayamon, Anchal, Arackal, Arayankavu, Ayranallore, Channapeetah, Edamon, Edamulakkal, Eroor, Karavaloor, Kulathupuzha, Maloor, Pathanapuram, Pattazhi, Pidavoor, Piravanthoor, Punalur, Punnala, Thalavoor, Thenmala, Thinkalkarikkom, Vadakode and Vilakkudi.

*Kottarakkara Taluk (Taluk Headquarter: Kottarakkara)

Chadayamangalam, Chakkuvarakkal, Chithara, Elamadu, Ezhukone, Ittiva, Kadakkal, Kalayapuram, Kareepra, Kottarakkara, Kottukkal, Kulakkada, Kummil, Mangodu, Melila, Mylam, Neduvathoor, Nilamel, Odanavattom, Pavithraswaram, Pooyapally, Puthoor, Ummannore, Valakom, Velinallore, Vettikavala, Veliam.

*Karunagappally Taluk (Taluk Headquarter:Karunagappally)

Adhinadu, Alappad, Ayanivelikulangara, Chavara, Clappana, Kallebhagam, Karunagappally, Kulasckharapuram, Neendakara, Ochira, Paavumba, Pammana, Thazhava, Thekkumbhagam, Thevalakkara, Thodiyoor and Vadakkumthala.

*Kunnathur Taluk (Taluk Headquarter: Sasthamcotta)

Kunnathur, Mynagappally, Padinjara(West), Kallada, Poruvazhi, Sasthamcotta, Sooranad North, Sooranad South.

Places of worship

Oachira, located in the north end of Kollam on National Highway 47, is famous for the Oachira Parabrahma Temple; Oachirakali is a special annual event at the padanilam (paddy fields) in the month of Vrichikam. Oachira Town Masjid (mosque) and the Oachira Temple are situated close to one another and are a proud symbol of communal harmony.

The Anchal Agasthyakode Mahadevar Temple is another major Mahadevar temple in the Kollam district. It is situated in Anchal Panchayath; every year during Sivarathri, people from every caste and religious background come for the religious festivities, such as Jikku Krishnalayam

The Thrikkadavoor Mahadevar Temple is the most famous Siva Temple in Kollam District. It is situated in the Thrikkadavoor Panchayath and on the banks of the Ashtamudi lake. The annual Srattu festival attracts thousands of people, including foreigners. The festival falls in the month of Kumbham (February). The eight artificial horses, which represent the eight areas [karas] around the temple is a special attraction for tourists.

The Veerabhadra Swamy Temple at Ashtamudi in Kollam is the only temple in the southern part of the country with Veerabhadra as the presiding deity. This belongs to Kuttiyazhikam Kottaram, Karuva, a thousand year old Ezhava Family.

The Mahaganapathi Temple at Kottarakara, famous for its Unniappom, is one of the most venerated Ganesh temples in Kerala.

Aryankavu in the Western Ghats is the easternmost point in the District on the National Highway. One of the five ancient Ayyappa temples is situated here; two others are at Achankovil and Kulathupuzha in the District.

Thalavoor Sri Durga Devi Temple, Peroor Karunalloor Bhagavathy Temple,Pattazhy Devi Temple, Kundara Elampalloor Devi Temple, and Paravur Puttingal Devi Temple are among the important Hindu temples in Kollam District.

Another important temple is the Kottamkulangara temple near Chavara where there is a tradition of males participating in 'Vilakkeduppu' wearing women's dresses.

Parayakadavu, a coastal village near Karunagapally, is the birthplace of Mata Amritanandamayi and is the headquarters of her Math.

Tourism

Palaruvi (waterfalls), Thenmala (forests and reservoir), the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve, Ashtamudi (backwaters), Kollam (beaches) are all beautiful spots in this area. The first community tourism programme in the State will begin on the Munroethuruth islands in Kollam district.Kollam was the seat of the Desinganad kings. Kottarakara is famous as the place where the classical dance form of Kathakali was conceived. It was also the capital of the Elayidath Swaroopam. Kundara is famous for the 1812 proclamation against the British, by Velu Thampi Dalawa.

Alappad village is located in the seashore of Kollam District, which was affected by the Tsunami in 2005.

The famous Varkala Beach, also known as Papanasham, is 26 km south of Kollam.The famous Duriyodana temple is in Kunnathur Taluf.

Educational institutions

Kollam has several privately owned and state owned educational institutions. Schools like Mount Carmel Convent Anglo-Indian Girls High School, Infant Jesus Anglo Indian School [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infant_Jesus_Anglo_Indian_High_School] and Trinity Lyceum School [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_Lyceum_School,_Kollam] are affiliated with the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE), the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE), or the Kerala State Education Board.

After students complete the 10+2 years of schooling, they can enroll in higher education institutions for professional degree/diploma courses. The professional colleges of the district include Fatima Mata National College(FMNC), SN College, SN Women's College, T K M College of Engineering (Karikode), T K M Institute of Technology (Karuvelil), Amritha Institute of Technology, Travancore Engineering College (Oyoor), and The "V" Institute of Wireless & Telegraphy. Arafa Medical Mission Hospital & School Of Nursing-Kadakkal contribute prominently into the field of Nursing Education.

Industries

Two Central Government undertakings, the Indian Rare Earths, Chavara and Parvathi Mills Ltd., are among the industries in Kollam. Kerala Ceramics Ltd [http://www.keralaceramics.com] , Kundara, Kerala Electrical and Allied Engineering Company, Kundara, Kerala Premo Pipe factory, Chavara, Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited, Chavara, United Electrical Industries-Kollam and the Kerala Agro-Fruit Products Punalur are state government owned companies. Other major industries in private/cooperative sector are Thomas Stephen & Co., Kollam, Floorco Paravur, Cooperative Spinning Mill, Chathannur and Punalur Paper Mills, Punalur. 1963 SSI units have been registered in the district.

The Travancore Plywood Industries at Punalur and Aluminium Industries Ltd. at Kundara have been notified as being sick units and consequently closed down.

Cashew processing, coir production, handloom industry, clay and wood based industries contribute to the industrial advancement of the region.

To reach Kollam

*To reach Kollam by air one has to depend Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. Its is around 71 km away from Kollam Town
*Kollam (Quilon) is connected by rail with several important cities.
*Kollam (Quilon) is connected by road with many tourist centers in India.

ee also

* KDTTAKollam is connected by inland water ways to Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha. These waterways are main attractions and scenic tourist destinations. Kerala State Water Transport Department (KSWTD) had an operating centre near the KSRTC bus stand. Now, KSWTD is not operating boat service from Kollam to Alappuzha. Tourists may hire private motorised large country boats with all amenities in Kettavulam in Malayalam.

External links

* [http://www.keraladays.com/Kollam.htm District information pages]
* [http://kdtta.we.bs Kollam District Table Tennis Association]

* [http://www.kollam.nic.in Official website]

*dmoz|Regional/Asia/India/Kerala/Districts/Kollam/