Chavakkad

Chavakkad
—  town  —
Chavakkad Location of Chavakkad in Kerala and India
Coordinates	10°32′N 76°03′E / 10.53°N 76.05°E / 10.53; 76.05Coordinates: 10°32′N 76°03′E / 10.53°N 76.05°E / 10.53; 76.05
Country	India
State	Kerala
District(s)	Thrissur
Population	38,138 (2001[update])
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area • Elevation	• 14 metres (46 ft)
Codes • Pincode • 680506 • Telephone • ++91487

Chavakkad is a municipality in Thrissur District of Kerala state in India. Chavakkad is noted for its beach and fishing.^[1] It lies on National Highway 17 is located about 75 km (47 mi) north of the city of Kochi, the commercial capital of Kerala and 25 km (16 mi) west of Thrissur, the cultural capital of Kerala.

History

The Roman Syrian Christian Church situated at Palayar is believed to be one of the seven churches founded by St. Thomas on the West Coast.^[2][3]

Demographics

Catching fish

As of 2001^[update] India census,^[4] Chavakkad had a population of 38,138. Males constitute 46% of the population and females 54%. Chavakkad has an average literacy rate of 81%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 83% and female literacy of 79%. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Government

The Chavakkad Panchayath was established in 1918. Later on October 1, 1978, the Panchayat was upgraded to the status of a Municipality with an area of 12.41 km² and is divided into 27 electoral wards. In 2010, the electoral wards were increased to 29. ^[5] The municipality has a total population of 37,789 and has a density of 3,045 per km². Chavakkad is a Grade-III Municipality and the headquarters of the Chavakkad Taluk.^[6] Chavakkad houses the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court and Munsif Courts. ^[7] It also has a Sub Jail.^[8]

Education

Chavakkad educational district has 93 high schools, three special schools, one Kalamandalam arts school, two schools for the deaf, and a fisheries’ school. Kadappuram Government Higher Secondary School, Amrita Vidyalayam, Rajah School, Focus IEHS School, Sree Narayana Vidyaniketan Central School etc. are some of the prominent schools in Chavakkad.

Transport

Road

Boats lined up along Chavakkad Beach

National Highway 17, commonly referred to as NH 17, passes through the Chavakkad town. This busy National Highway runs roughly North-South along the Western Coast of India, parallel to Western Ghats. It connects Mumbai to Cochin, passing through the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, and Kerala. Another road is State Highway 50 that starts in Chavakkad and ends in Wadakkancherry. The highway is 31.515 km long.^[9] Chavakkad has a Municipal bus stand with frequent buses to and from the district headquarter Thrissur, Guruvayur, Kodungallur, Ernakulam and to other nearby towns. All private and KSRTC buses that ply southward from Guruvayur and other northern towns stop at Chavakkad.

Railway

The nearest railway station to Chavakkad is Guruvayur Railway Station about four kilometers away. Guruvayur Railway Station lies in the Thrissur-Guruvayur Section. Thrissur Railway Station is the major rail head near to Chavakkad from where you can get all South Indian and North Indian trains.

Airport

The nearest airport is the Cochin International Airport at Nedumbassery which is about 80 KM away. All international, domestic and chartered flights are available here. Calicut International Airport at Karipur is about 104 KM away.

Business

Chavakkad is an important trading center for copra, coir and fish. The major source of revenue in Chavakkad is repatriated income mainly from the Non-Resident Indians working in the Middle East. The place is called as Mini Gulf. The Rajah Group, owners of famous Kajah Beedi, Rajah Tiles, Rajah Motors has its headquarters in Chavakkad. The Kaja Beedi Company was started in the year 1948 by Hajee Abdul Kareem. Rajah Motors, which produced the first multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) in India, known by the name ‘Tiger’ and ‘Kangaroo’, has its factory and offices in Chavakkad. ^[10][11][12]

Tourism

Sunset at Chavakkad Beach

• Chavakkad Beach: Located on the coast of Arabian Sea in West Coast, Chavakkad Beach is counted amongst Kerala's most popular beaches. It is two kilo metres from the Chavakkad town. Chavakkad Beach is famous for the spectacle called 'Azhimokam' in Malayalam which means a place where a river confluences with the sea.^[13]

• St. Thomas Church (Palayur): Located at Palayur, the church was established in 52 AD by St Thomas, one of the twelve close disciples of Jesus Christ.^[14] Palayoor church is the oldest (Romo-Syrian) Church in India and is called an Apostolic Church credited to the Apostolate of St. Thomas who preached and also started conversion of people to Christianity here.^[14][15][16]

References

1. ^ http://www.guruvayuronline.com/index.php/guruvayurtempletourism/chavakkad-beach
2. ^ "General Information". DEO Chavakkad. http://www.deochavakkad.org/. Retrieved 2010-12-08. 
3. ^ "History". chavakkad Online. http://www.chavakkadonline.com/html/information.html. Retrieved 2010-12-08. 
4. ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. Retrieved 2008-11-01. 
5. ^ "LDF trying to regain control of Chavakkad". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 2005-09-17. http://www.hindu.com/2005/09/17/stories/2005091708150300.htm. Retrieved 2010-12-08. 
6. ^ "Profile". Janasevana Kendram. http://www.janasevanakendram.org/Content/M080200.htm. Retrieved 2010-12-08. 
7. ^ "Video Conferencing between Courts and Jails launched". Kerala State IT Mission. http://www.itmission.kerala.gov.in/events/465-video-conferencing-between-courts-and-jails-launched.html. Retrieved 2010-12-11. 
8. ^ "Murder undertrial hangs himself in Chavakkad jail". Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/news/Murder-undertrial-hangs-himself-in-Chavakkad-jail/videoshow/5397745.cms. Retrieved 2010-12-11. 
9. ^ "Kerala PWD - State Highways". Kerala State Public Works Department. http://www.keralapwd.gov.in/getPage.php?page=maps&pageId=248. Retrieved 26 February 2010. 
10. ^ "Indian auto mart: A saga of shattered dreams". Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Indian-auto-mart-A-saga-of-shattered-dreams/articleshow/2494355.cms. Retrieved 2010-12-10. 
11. ^ "Cargo vehicles from Rajah Motors". The Business Line. http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2003/02/17/stories/2003021701471300.htm. Retrieved 2010-12-10. 
12. ^ "http://www.expressindia.com/fe/daily/19980718/19955084p.html". The Indian Express. http://www.expressindia.com/fe/daily/19980718/19955084p.html. Retrieved 2010-12-10. 
13. ^ "Chavakkad Beach". Thrissur District. http://thrissur.nic.in/chavakkd.asp. Retrieved 2010-12-08. 
14. ^ ^{a b} Gazetter 1986, pp. 38, 623
15. ^ "About Syro-Malabar Church". http://www.smcim.org/about.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-29. ^{[dead link]}
16. ^ "The Syro-Malabar Church". Syro Malabar website. http://www.smcim.org/. Retrieved 2009-09-29. 

External links

• Chavakkad