Kasaragod
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| ?Kasaragod Kerala • India |
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| Coordinates: | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area • Elevation |
• 19 m (62 ft) |
| District(s) | Kasaragod |
| Population | 52,683 (2001) |
- For the district with the same name, see Kasaragod district.
Kasaragod is a city and a municipality in Kasaragod district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of Kasargod district. The city was formerly called as kanjirakuttom.Kasaragod is also the northernmost municipality of Kerala.
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[edit] Kasaragod Town
[edit] Tourism In and Around
Kasaragod has many tourist destinations.Few are given below:
Malik Deenar Mosque . The Mosque was founded by Malik Ibn Dinar and is situated in the part of city called Thalankara. It is distinguished for its unique architectural style, which strongly resembles a traditional Kerala kovilakam. An important local celebration takes place every year in commemoration of the arrival of Malik Ibn Dinar. The uroos attracts pilgrims from all around India and world. The proposed Ranipuram wild life sanctuary situated 45 km East of kanhangd. Ranipuram also famous for hill station.
Mallikkarjuna Temple dedicated to lord Siva and lord Ganapathi, is situated in the heart of Kasaragod city. During Ganesh Chathurthi and Shivaratri, there are special celebrations in temple premises.
Theruvatthu Mosque situated on M.G road Kasaragod, is an important pilgrimage center for Muslims. During Uroos, the Mosque draws people from all over India.
Madhur Temple, is 6.5 km from Kasaragod. On the banks of serene Madhuvahini river, stands the imposing structure of Madhur Ananteshwara Vinayaka Temple, with its turrets and gables and the copper plate roofing, standing tall in front of paddy fields and gardens. It is a Shiva temple with Srimad Anantheshwara as its presiding deity. The sivalingam of the temple is said to be founded by a harijan woman, Madharu. Main festival is Moodappaseva, which involves a huge figure of Ganapathy being covered with appam. It requires lakhs of rupees for its conduct thus making it a periodic festival.
Chandragiri Fort' was built in 17th century by Tippu Sultan, is just 3 km from the city.
Kanipura(Kumbala) temple is famous for its festival in the month of January. The fireworks(vedikketu/ Bedi) is famously followed for many years. This temple is one of the four main temples built by the then king of Maippady palace.
C.P.C.R.ICentral Plantation Crops Research Institute shortly termed as C.P.C.R.I, is an international research institute under I.C.A.R (Indian Council of Agricultural Research), which promotes research on plantation crops. It is just 4 km from city. The nearby beach called C.P.C.R.I beach is beautiful and is famous for its beautiful sunset. Also the fishing village nearby, situated on shore of a natural lake is an awesome sight.
Mogral is famous for its football shock."Brothers Mogral" is a sports club which plays with its famous players all around Kerala. Kuthiripp Muhammad is one who worked best for bringing the football up in Mogral.
Govt. College, kasaragod is situated in Vidyanagar, which about 6 kilometers from Kasaragod Railaway Station and Town. This college is well known by its Dept. of Geology and also other science, arts and commerce departments.
Mallam Durga Parameshwari Temple :The Mallam Durga Parameshwari Temple in Kerala is located in Muliyar Village in Kasaragod district, hardly 3 kilometers from Bovikanam. The presiding deity of this temple is Goddess Durga Parameshwari. The special feature of the Mallam Durga Parameshwari Temple is daily Annadanam which consists of distributing food among the devotees. During Tuesdays and Fridays the temple premises are crowded with devotees. They offer their prayers seeking a prosperous future and a happy living. At Mallam Durga Parameshwari Temple the Annual Festival lasts for 7 days and it is a time for joy and celebration. It is believed that the blessings of these poor men are indispensable for a blissful sustenance. It is next only to God's blessings. Moreover the temple of Goddess Durga Parameshwari is mostly visited by the women who offer their worship here. They keep "Vrath" in order to please the mother goddess who would bring peace and happiness to their lives. According to Kerala's popular legend, Goddess Durga killed the demon Daruka. Elsewhere in India it is Mahisasura whom she killed. Goddess Durga Parameshwari executed the two dangerous demons known as Chanda and Munda. She is the incarnation of Shakti on earth. It is the divine power that enables the sustenance on earth. She is therefore armed with Shiva's trident, Kumaara's spear, Indra's thunderbolt and Vishnu's discus and mace. Enamored by the striking beauty of the Goddess, Chanda and Munda wanted to marry her. Goddess was so angry that she mutilated them instantly much to the relief of mankind who was also disturbed by them.
[edit] Fairs and Festivals
Eid, Bakrid, Muharram are celebrated in accordance with time of Calicut and uduppi,these festials along with Shivaratri,Dasara and onam are celebrated with much rigor by the people over here. And so is diwali.There are local festivals like Kumbala veddikett. Another festival of importance is Moodappaseva, a local festival celebrated in the Madhur Temple periodically.
[edit] Folk Dances and Traditions
The region is rich in traditional folk art forms. . Muslims have their own common folk and celebration art forms such as Oppana, Kolkalli, Dauf muttal etc. Oppana is a celebration dance held on the eve of Muslim marriage,where the women to be married is decorated, with whom her friends and relatives do this ritual dance. Theyyam is the dominant folk art form.Yakshagana is also common, but only on sidelines Kolkali, poorakkali, mangalam kali, maruthkali, etc are folk arts performrd in connection with the temple festivals.highly performance period time. Mogral is famous for its cultural programmes which has been run by many of cultural associations. There people are so fond of Mappilappattu.It had most famous poets like "mogral kavi".
[edit] Myths and Tharavads
Kasargod presents lot of myths relating to the origin of tharavads. Famous among them are related to Kinavoor Edathil Azhikode Nayar,Thulurvanam Kizhake Kovilakath katoor Nayar ,Meloth Nambiar,Karicherry, Kodoth, Koroth, Achikkanam, Cherippadi, Edayillam, Eruvat, etc.
[edit] Muthappan Madappura temple
There is also a story regarding the establishment of Sree Muthappan Madappura temple, near Market Junction. An elder member of the koroth family regularly visited the place now known as the Muthappan temple and drink madhu[ a type of intoxicating drink] Before drinking madhu he pour some drop of madhu in the nearby jackfruit tree and saying it is for the god muthappan. The practice was repeated regulraly. Years after the natives found some problems and they examined it with the assistance of an astrolloger. The astrolleger reveals the wonder that as a result of the tregular practice of giving some drops of madhu to God Muthappan, the God started to reside there. Then there erected a temple. Now large number of devotees from different parts of India visited the temple and got the blessings of Lord Muthappan and remembering the noble path of the Karanavar of Koroth Nair Tharavad. Now a days the Koroth family got the right of Koymma in the temple.
[edit] Educational role
The tharavad in the 18th and 19th century became the centre of learning. There lived several teachers popularly called as Ezhutthachans. They taught the people in the field of philosophy, traditional literature etc and the art of kalaripayattu. Students from different parts of India came to here and the ezhuthachans imparted knoeledge to them
[edit] Nechitholedutho Nayan mare
There is an interesting story in connection with the invasion of Tipu Sultan. One after another Tipu conquered regions of Malabar. After conquering Kanhangad and occupying the Hosdurg Fort he reached on the banks of the river Nileshwaram. Hearing the news about the coming of Tipu Sultan the frightened natives take asylum in Tali Temple. They prayed to the God Shiva. Then their blow the words of Taliyilappan as Asareeri: Nechitholedutho Nayanmmare.The God told to the Nair soldiers of the Nileshwar Raja. Realising the strength of Neelakandeswara the nayars took nechithol [ a kind of leaf]in their hands and marched to the banks of the Nileshwar river.When Tipu approached to the north side of the river he saw the movement of mountain to the banks of the river. The smell of nechithol [ same as gunpowder] confused Tipu and he expecting a fierce battle. He did not like to waste time with engaging in battles and all the regions he captured up to the bank of nileshwar river are with out opposition. So he returned back to Mysore.Here the troops of the raja was led by the nairs of the Koroth tharavad. This is a myth and further study is needed to grasp the essence of this story.
[edit] Developments
Recent developments include the construction of a "Children's park". Also the railway station of Kasaragod has risen to the status of "Model Railway station". The Railway station at Kasaragod is one of the oldest in India, constructed at the time of British rule in India. In Kerala Budget 2007, Government proposed to set up a Tulu academy at Kasaragod (Manjeshwar).
[edit] Transport
Kasaragod city lies on the path of N.H-17. It is well connected by road to Cannanore (Kannur), Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Calicut etc. Kasaragod is well connected by rail to parts of India such as Trivandrum, Kochi, Calicut, Cannanore, Mangalore, Goa, Surat, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Jammu Tawi, Kanyakumari etc. Nearest Airport is at Mangaluru(49km).
[edit] Economy
Kasaragod economy is mainly agrarian. However Beedi work is a thriving industry. Cash crops such as Coconut, Rubber are grown and commercially exploited. Other industries include Tile manufacture, Timber industry etc. Foreign investment or N.R.I Income is high in this part of the state.
Also interesting is that Kasaragod Cap, worn by Arabs is an old cottage industry, which is on the verge of extinction. The caps are hand stitched by artisans and exported to South East Asia and West Asia.
[edit] See also
- Nileshwar Muthappan Temple
