Kottur-Malayandipattinam

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Kottur-Malayandipattinam | type = Major Panchayat Town | latd = 10.5344 | longd = 76.9774
locator_position = right | state_name = Tamil Nadu
district = Coimbatore
leader_title =
leader_name =
altitude =
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 25,261| population_density =
area_magnitude= 43.086 sq. km
area_total =
area_telephone = 04259 is the telephone code
postal_code = 642114
vehicle_code_range = TN 41
sex_ratio =
unlocode =
website =
footnotes =

Kottur-Malayandipattinam is the biggest panchayat town in Pollachi Taluka of Coimbatore District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Its short name is KM Pattinam.

Geography

Kottur-Malayandipattinam is located 15 km west of Pollachi in coimbatore district. Its lattitude is 10.5344 and Longitude is 76.9774. The Anaimalai and Valaparai Hills of Western Ghats are just 5 km away. The River Aliyar runs near Malayandipattinam.

Etymology

Kottur-Malayandipattinam is an urban name of two villages, namely Kottur and Malayandipattinam, which have grown together during the British Colonial Period to form the biggest Town Panchayat of Pollachi Taluka of Coimbatore District. The word Kottur means in Tamil "a village at the end" and the word Malayandipattinam means "a town near the mountains". The Navamalai, Valparai and Anaimalai Hills are just 5 km from the borders of Kottur-Malayandipattinam.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census [GR|India] , Kottur had a population of 25,261. Males constitute about 50% of the population (12,616) and females a little above 50% (12,645). For every 1000 men, there are 1002 women. Kottur has an average literacy rate of 63%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 71%, and female literacy is 56%. In Kottur, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Transport

Kottur-Malayandipattinam is linked by road with all the cities via Pollachi, Valaparai, Palakkad and Palani. All the villages and small towns near Kottur-Malayandipattinam are well connected by proper roads and bus services run by the Coimbatore branch of State Transport Corporation of Tamil Nadu.

Population

In Malayandipattinam, mainly hindus live. Kottur, however, has a big colony of Muslims at its northern part. The majority of the muslims live in their Ghetto. A few of the muslim families live in other parts. After 9/11 and Babri Majid demolition the women wear black clothes and men their lungis and white caps displaying their identity in public. Kottur-Malayandipattinam is peaceful and different communities live harmoniously. A few christians also live in Kottur-Malayandipattinam. The dominant castes are Gounders, Nadars, Chetiars and Boyars. Gounders and Nadars speak Tamil, Boyars speak Kannada, Chettiars speak Telugu, Muslims speak Hindustani (Urdu mixed Hindi) and Tamil. Many Tribals speak their dialects which are closely connected with the main south indian languages. Recently a few malayalis have come to settle down here. A group of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees also live in the southern part of Malayandipatinam.

Infrastructure

After Pollachi Town, Kottur-Malayandipattinam is an important commercial centre for many of the neighbouring villages and Hill people. It is also well cultivated agriculturally, thanks to the Aliyar-Paramikulam multiproject scheme done by the Congress Government under the rule of Mr. K. Kamaraj Nadar in the sixties. It has 3 secondary schools, one for boys, one for girls and the other co-educational. There are many primary and middle schools. There is also one Madrasa for muslims in Kottur area. A christian school run by TELC is located in the busy market street of Malayandipattinam.There is one big Government Hospital and there are many private clinics for primary health care.There is however only one hospital with a bit of modern health care.One has to go to Coimbatore for multi specialty hospital which is 65 km away.The Police station of Kottur-Malayandipattinam has jurisdiction over many neighbouring villages covering almost 13 km in north, south and east.There is only one nationalized bank in Kottur-Malayandipattinam, namely the Indian Overseas Bank (IOB). There are branches of small cooperative banks which cater to very few. Private Money lenders operate successfully exploiting the rural and poor people. There are many shops give loan against gold and jeweleries.Kottur-Malayandipattinam has no proper bus-stand or bus-stops. The buses stop at different points. The local buses are old, very crowded and noisy. There is no bus time regulators. Public likes loud music and masala movies in the buses.There are many taxis near the stand near the Police station. They charge arbitrary fees and charges. There is no meter. There are no auto-rikshaws.There are so many small restaurants which give only south indian meals. There is not a single hotel or restaurant worth the name.There is a weekly market for vegetables and grains, on wednesdays. There are many shops on the main road connecting Kottur and Malayandipattinam which stock things needed for the population. There is no supermarket or malls.Liquor shops offer Indian made foreign liquors (IMFL) like beer, whisky. The traditional palm-wine and local arrack are available illegally. They are forbidden in Tamil Nadu.

Temples

KM Pattinam has many temples, one church and one mosque. The famous temples are Mahaliamman Temple, Kamakshiamman Temple, Murugan Temple and Black Mariamman Temple. There are two Mahaliamman temples, one in Kottur and the other is in Malayandipattinam run by the Gounders or Vellala Community. Other castes do visit the temples, as tax is collected from everyone for the temples once or twice in a year. The Kamakshiamman Temple is run and managed by Chettiars (Telugu speaking). The black Mariamman Temple, which the Sri Lankan Tamils made popular, is taken care of them. The Murugan Temple was also built by Gounders. There are other small temples catering to different communities. All temples in KM Pattinam are managed by the communities. They are not taken over by the Government.A big mosque is there in Kottur for the muslims who live around the area.Christians have built a small church at the outskirts of Kottur recently.

Tourist spots

The famous tourist spots near Kottur-Malayandipattinam are Aliyar Dam (5km), Monkey Falls (7 km), Navamalai (13 km) and Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary (6 km). The famous temples are Mahaliamman Temple, Adhaliamman Temple near Monkey Falls on the Navamalai Road, Karupparayan and Kannimar Temples in Navamalai at the river bank of Aliyar in the forests. Aliyar-Parambikulam contour canal running through the mountains is worth to watch for the engineering skills. There are beautiful spots all along the canal. Those who are interested in trekking can find more interesting places. Valaparai Hills (40 km) are now developed as tourist centres on the pattern of Ootty and Kodaikanal Hills. However the tea estate owners, it is told, were resisting the development.

Filmy connection

The surroundings of KM Pattinam are very beautiful. Paddy fields and coconut grooves cover vast stretches of land. The scenenaries form the backdrop of many south indian and bollywood films.

Culture

KM Pattinam has nothing special to offer culturally. The different communities celebrate their festivals in a sober way. Festivals means for many new clothes, sightseeing tours and new films. The traditional Harvest festival Pongal has also become more like a family festival like Diwali.Temples celebrate their yearly festivals. In Mahaliamman temples, people offer fire-walks. Filmy music and filmstyle dances dominate the events. The temples have stages for staging plays and dances, but the theatre died due to films. There are no promotors for theatre and traditional dances. Film Music and dance have influenced the traditional music and dance.Folk songs were once popular in the region, but today it is also extinct.There are a few movie halls, but due to cable TV, the movie halls are not very often visited by people. The buildings are worning out. Two or three halls were already closed.

port

KM Pattinam is famous for Volleyball. There is a volleyball team. Some players play for the district and state level teams.

References