Koottanad

Koottanad is a small town in Palakkad District, Kerala, in the south of India. It is located 40 miles from the city of Palakkad and 26 miles from Trichur, on the road between Guruvayoor and Palakkad. It is connected by rail to other parts of Kerala. The Nila River is 5 km away. The town is served by the Cochin International Airport. Koottanad is famous for its festivals, the Koottanad Nercha Pooram, which attracts large crowds, and the Amakkavu Bhagawathy Temple festival, held in March.

The main roads of Koottanad are Guruvayoor Road, Pattambi Road, Edappal Road, Peringodu Road and Thrithala Road. The Paakkanaar Memorial, a tribute to the Pariah saint, can be found along the Thrithala-Koottanad road. [ [http://www.keralatourism.org/index.php?source=desti&zone=1&destid=220 Thrithala] . Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala. Retrieved 1 November 2007.]

The Government High School Vattenad in Koottanad [Kerala Government. [http://www.kerala.gov.in/results/sslcsay/old/result20.htm Centre Code: 20002 Name: Govt. H S Vattenad Koottanad P O] . "Educational District: Ottappalam". Retrieved 1 November 2007.] was one of the schools participating in "Sastraposhini", a scheme by the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment to strengthen science education in the High Schools of the State by setting up model laboratories for conducting science experiments. [Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE). [http://www.kscste.kerala.gov.in/pgm_spos.htm Sastraposhini] . Retrieved 1 November 2007.] Koottanad High School has been mentioned in the news as the school from which Malayalam film director Major Ravi dropped out before embarking on his early career in the Indian army. [Surekha, K. [http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEX20071031171743&Title=Kochi&rLink=0 From Kirti to Kandajaar via Kargil] . The New Indian Express, 1 November 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2007.] Hospitals serving the town include Modern Hospital and Vaydyamadam Ayurvedic Hospital.

A. V. Kuttimalu Amma, a Congress Party leader of Kerala, belonged to the Anakkara House in Koottanad. She attained fame in the 1930s when she was arrested for leading a procession of women during the Civil Disobedience Movement and was put in prison for two years with her two month old baby. A year-long A.V. Kuttimalu Amma birth centenary observance was inaugurated in March 2007 in the area. [ [http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/19/stories/2007031904970500.htm Kuttimalu Amma's contributions hailed: Antony opens birth centenary valedictory] . The Hindu Times, online edition, 19 March 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2007.]

References

External links

* [http://www.kerala.gov.in Kerala Government] - official site
* [http://www.karmakerala.com/guide/Koottanad Koottanad] - Karma Kerala travel site
* [http://www.kundully.com/Koottanad.htm Koottanad] - Kundully