Kollam district

Kollam district (formerly Quilon) is one of 14 districts of the state of Kerala, India. The district has a cross-section of Kerala's natural attributes; it is endowed with a long coastline, a major Laccadive Sea seaport and an inland lake (Ashtamudi Lake). The district has many water bodies. Kallada River is one among them, and the east side land of river is East Kallada and the west side land is West Kallada.

This article is about the district in Kerala. For other uses, see Kollam (disambiguation).

Kollam District

Quilon District
District
From top: Paravur estuary, Light house and clock tower in Kollam city, 13 Ring bridge of Thenmala, Check dam across Kallada river
Nickname(s): 
Cashew capital of the world
Location in Kerala
Coordinates: 8.8°N 76.6°E / 8.8; 76.6
CountryIndia
StateKerala
HeadquartersKollam
Government
 • CollectorB. Abdul Nasar
 • City Police CommissionerMerin Joseph IPS
 • Rural Superintendent of PoliceHarisankar IPS
Area
 • Total2,491 km2 (962 sq mi)
Area rank6th
Population
 (2011)
 • Total2,635,375
 • Density1,100/km2 (2,700/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialMalayalam, English
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registration
  • KL-02 Kollam
  • KL-23 Karunagappally
  • KL-24 Kottarakkara
  • KL-25 Punalur
  • KL-61 Kunnathur
  • KL-80 Pathanapuram
  • KL-82 Chadayamangalam
Sex ratio1113 ♂/♀
Literacy93.77%[1]
Websitewww.kollam.gov.in, www.kollam.nic.in

Overview

Kallada Boat race is one among the famous festival events of district. Even though it is a competition between two land sides of the river, many boat clubs from various place,s even beyond the district participate in the event. Kollam is the capital of Kerala's cashew industry. Plains, mountains, lakes, lagoons and backwaters, forests, farmland and rivers make up the topography of the district. The area had trading relationships with Phoenicia and Ancient Rome.

Climate
Kollam
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
24
 
 
32
22
 
 
31
 
 
33
23
 
 
78
 
 
33
24
 
 
160
 
 
33
25
 
 
247
 
 
33
25
 
 
459
 
 
30
24
 
 
409
 
 
30
23
 
 
259
 
 
30
23
 
 
211
 
 
31
24
 
 
333
 
 
31
24
 
 
231
 
 
31
23
 
 
65
 
 
32
23
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: Govt. of Kerala

Kollam's temperature is almost steady throughout the year. The average temperature ranges from 25 to 32 degrees Celsius. Summer usually runs from March until May; the monsoon begins by June and ends by September. Kollam receives an annual average rainfall of around 2,700 millimetres (110 in).

It receives both southwest and northeast monsoons. Winter is from November to February; the temperature is moderately cool, ranging from 18 to 25 degrees Celsius.[2]

Climate data for Kollam (Quilon)[2]
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 32
(90)		 33
(91)		 33
(91)		 33
(91)		 33
(91)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 30
(86)		 31
(88)		 31
(88)		 31
(88)		 32
(90)		 33
(91)
Average low °C (°F) 22
(72)		 23
(73)		 24
(75)		 25
(77)		 25
(77)		 24
(75)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 23
(73)		 23
(73)		 22
(72)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 24.4
(0.96)		 30.9
(1.22)		 77.7
(3.06)		 159.5
(6.28)		 246.9
(9.72)		 458.8
(18.06)		 408.9
(16.10)		 258.9
(10.19)		 211.2
(8.31)		 332.5
(13.09)		 230.8
(9.09)		 65.4
(2.57)		 2,700
(106.30)
Source 1: [3]
Source 2: [4]

Demographics
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901406,013—    
1911465,684+1.38%
1921552,333+1.72%
1931698,041+2.37%
1941856,585+2.07%
19511,110,362+2.63%
19611,461,103+2.78%
19711,839,265+2.33%
19812,175,339+1.69%
19912,407,566+1.02%
20012,585,208+0.71%
20112,635,375+0.19%
source:[5]

According to the 2011 census Kollam district has a population of 2,635,375,[6] roughly equal to the nation of Kuwait[7] or the US state of Nevada.[8] This gives it a ranking of 155th in India (out of a total of 640 districts).[6] The district has a population density of 1,056 inhabitants per square kilometre (2,740/sq mi) .[6] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 1.72 percent.[6] Kollam has a sex ratio of 1113 females for every 1000 males.The total literacy rate of Kollam district was 94.09%.The male literacy rate was 96.09% and the female literacy rate was 92.31% in Kollam district.[6]

Urban structure

The Kollam Urban Agglomeration (UA) is the 6th most populous UA in the state. Kollam is placed 49th in the list of most populous urban agglomerations in India. The total urban population of the entire district is 1,187,158.[1] The metropolitan area of Kollam includes Adichanalloor, Adinad, Ayanivelikulangara, Chavara, Elampalloor, Eravipuram (part), Karunagappally, Kollam, Kundara, Kulasekharapuram, Mayyanad, Meenad, Nedumpana, Neendakara, Oachira, Panayam, Panmana, Paravur, Perinad, Poothakkulam, Thazhuthala, Thodiyoor, Thrikkadavoor, Thrikkaruva, Thrikkovilvattom, and Vadakkumthala.[9]

Religion
Religions in Kollam District
Religion Percent
Hindus
 
 64.42%
Muslims
 
 19.3%
Christians
 
 16.0%
Others
 
 0.29%
Distribution of religions
Source: 2011 Census.
Anandavalleeshwaram Sri Mahadevar Temple in Kollam

Hinduism(64.42%) is practised by majority of the people in Kollam district.Islam(19.3%) is the second largest religion.Kollam has a significant Christian(16%) population.

Major cities & towns

*In 2015, the area of Kollam City Corporation increased by merging Thrikkadavoor panchayath.

Administration
Lighthouse, Thangasseri, Kollam

The history of the district's administration can be traced back to 1835, when the Travancore state consisted of two revenue divisions with headquarters at Kollam and Kottayam. When Travancore and Cochin were combined into Travancore-Cochin, Kollam was one of the three revenue divisions. When the state of Kerala was formed in 1957, half portion of Chenkotta taluk was merged with the state of Madras. Later in 1957, the Cherthala, Ambalapuzha, Mavelikara, Karthikapalli, Chengannur and Thiruvalla taluks (formerly in Kollam district) were united to form the new district of Alappuzha. In 1983, Pathanamthitta taluk and Adoor taluk and seven villages of Kunnathur taluk were removed from Kollam district to form the new Pathanamthitta district.[11]

Assembly representatives
No. Constituency
(Kollam city area)		 Elected
Representative		 Political
Party		 Political
Front
1 Kollam Mukesh CPI(M) LDF
2 Chavara N. Vijayan Pillai CMP(A) LDF
3 Eravipuram M. Noushad CPI(M) LDF
No. Constituency Elected
Representative		 Political
Party		 Political
Front
4 Karunagappally R. Ramachandran CPI(M) LDF
5 Kunnathur Kovoor Kunjumon RSP(L) LDF
6 Kottarakkara P. Aisha Potty CPI(M) LDF
7 Pathanapuram K. B. Ganesh Kumar KC(B) LDF
8 Punalur K. Raju CPI LDF
9 Chadayamangalam Mullakara Ratnakaran CPI LDF
10 Kundara J. Mercykutty Amma CPI(M) LDF
11 Chathannoor G. S. Jayalal CPI LDF
Source: Elections.in[12]

Police administration

Police administration in Kollam is divided into two districts: urban and rural. The City Police is headed by a City Police Commissioner, an IPS (Indian Police Service) officer with the rank of SP; its headquarters is at Kollam. The rural police is headed by the Rural Superintendent of Police (SP), with its headquarters at Kottarakkara. Both heads report to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Thiruvananthapuram Range (Kerala).

The Kollam City Police is divided into three subdivisions, each under an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP): Karunagappally, Kollam and Chathannoor. Each subdivision is divided into circles, headed by the Circle Inspector of Police. Each circle is divided into a number of police stations, headed by a Sub-Inspector of Police. The Kollam Rural Police District is divided into two subdivisions, each under an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP)/ Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP): Kottarakkara and Punalur. There are a total of 29 police stations, in 13 circles. Kollam city traffic is controlled by the City Traffic Police, with a Traffic Police Station located near the Asramam Ground. Kerala's first coastal police station was established in Neendakara, Kollam.[13]

The first police museum in India-The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Police Museum has a large collection of police artefacts and rare photographs. The museum has a room dedicated to officers killed in the line of duty.[13] The forensic section has a large collection of photographs. The museum is located at the Kollam East Police Station.

Revenue Divisions{RDO}

Kollam District now divided into two Revenue Divisions.

1) Kollam
  • Kollam taluk
  • Karunagapally taluk
  • Kunnathur taluk

2) Punalur

  • Punalur taluk
  • Kottarakara taluk
  • Pathanapuram taluk

Taluks
Talukwise map of Kollam district

Kollam is administratively divided into 6 taluks. They are Kollam, Karunagappally, Kunnathur, Kottarakkara, Punalur and Pathanapuram, which are subdivided into 104 villages. The tahsildar is the revenue official in charge of each taluk.

Taluk Headquarters
Kollam Taluk Kollam
Karunagappally Taluk Karunagappally
Kunnathur Taluk Sasthamkotta
Kottarakkara Taluk Kottarakkara
Punalur Taluk Punalur
Pathanapuram Taluk Pathanapuram

Municipalities
Corporations & Municipalities in Kollam district

There are four municipalities in Kollam District. Punalur, Paravur, Karunagappally and Kottarakkara are the municipalities. There is a long-standing demand for upgrading Pathanapuram & Anchal panchayaths into municipal status.

Lok Sabha constituencies
Main article: Kollam (Lok Sabha constituency)

Kollam district has three Lok Sabha (lower house) constituencies. They include the Chavara, Kundara, Eravipuram, Kollam, Chathannoor, Chadayamangalam and Punalur assembly constituencies. While the Kunnathur, Kottarakkara and Pathanapuram constituencies are in the Mavelikkara Lok Sabha constituency, the Karunagapally assembly constituency is in the Alappuzha Lok Sabha constituency.

Transportation
View of Kollam KSRTC Bus Station from Ashtamudi Lake

Road

Kollam is connected by bus and train service.[14][15] It is also connected to neighbouring states by bus service operated by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and Indian Railways.[14][15] These are the KSRTC Depots & Sub Depots & Operating Centres (OC) in the district:

Kollam KSRTC Bus Station

The district is connected to other parts of Kerala and India through the National Highways – NH 66 (earlier NH 47), NH 183 (earlier NH 220), NH 744 (earlier NH 208). The state highway - Main Central Road (MC Road) and Punalur-Pathanamthitta-Muvattupuzha Main Eastern Highway — connects Kollam with other districts. Intrastate road transportation is served by the KSRTC, Tamil Nadu State Transport and Karnataka State Transport Companies. KSRTC Interstate bus service operates from the Kollam and Kottarakkara KSRTC bus stations. Kollam zone of KSRTC is now the second most revenue generating zone in Kerala.[16]

Rail
Entrance of Kollam Junction railway station
Paravur Railway Station

Kollam Junction railway station (QLN) is the one and only rail head in the district. A total of 128 short & long distant services (including weekly) and 10 services of MEMU are running through Kollam Junction railway station. A most modern MEMU maintenance shed is working in the railway station premises of Kollam city. In addition to that, there are some other major railway stations in the district namely Punalur (PUU), Karunagappally (KPY), Paravur (PVU), Sasthamkotta (STKT), Kottarakkara (KKZ) and Kundara (KUV). The district has a good railway network, with 25 stations and about 132 kilometres (82 mi) of track. Kollam district boasts the record of having most numbers of railway stations in the state.[17]

Railway stations in Kollam District
Ochira Karunagapally Sasthamkotta
Munrothuruthu Perinad Kollam Junction
Eravipuram Mayyanad Paravur
Kilikollur Chandanathoppe Kundara
Kundara East Ezhukone Kottarakkara
Kuri Auvaneeswaram Punalur
Edamon Ottakkal Thenmala
Kazhuthurutty Edappalayam Aryankavu[17][18][19]

Trains from here connect the city of Kollam to major cities of India, including New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Indore, Bhopal, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai, Madurai, Vizag, Jammu, Howrah, Guwahati, Madgaon, Itarsi, Hubli, Ahmedabad, Kanyakumari, Gwalior, Nagpur, Pune, Kota, Bhubaneshwar, Gorakhpur, Kochi, Kozhikode, Amritsar, Vijayawada, Coimbatore, Chandigarh and Mangalore. There are also passenger services running in Kollam-Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam-Ernakulam and Kollam-Punalur routes.[20]

Water
Kollam-Dalavapuram boat service

The district is having a fairly good network of waterways. The State Water Transport Department operates boat services to West Kallada, Munroe Island and Alappuzha. Double decker luxury boats run between Kollam and Allepey daily. Luxury boats, operated by Government and private owners, operate from the main boat jetty during the tourist season. The west coast canal system, which starts from Thiruvananthapuram in the south and ends at Kanhangad in the north, passes through Paravur, the city of Kollam and Karunagappally taluk. The Thiruvananthapuram-Shornur canal, which forms a part of the Thiruvananthapuram-Hosdurg system, runs a distance of about 62 km. The other canal systems include the Paravur Kayal, Kollam Canal and Chavara canal.[21][22] The waterways are popular attractions and scenic tourist destinations in the area. The Kerala State Water Transport Department (KSWTD) has an operating centre near the KSRTC bus stand.[23][24] Tourists may hire motorised country boats and houseboats with amenities (Kettavulam in Malayalam) to cruise along the waterways.[25]

Cashew industry
See also: Cashew business in Kollam and List of cashew companies based in Kollam

The cashew industry is centralised in this district. Kollam is approved by the central government as a "centre of cashew industry". Most workers in this industry are women; among them, a majority comes from the poorer sections of the society. There are several cashew-processing units in the district. The Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation Ltd., a Government of Kerala undertaking, has its headquarters in Kollam and serves as a model agency for the cashew-processing industry. The corporation has 30 cashew factories and employs more than 20,000 workers. Another government organisation in this field is CAPEX, which is part of the cooperative sector and has 10 cashew factories.[26] Coir production, handloom industry, clay and wood-based industries contribute to the industrial health of the region.[27]

Forests and wildlife

According to Government of Kerala estimates 81,438 hectares (314.43 sq mi) of land are under forest cover, mainly in the eastern portion of the district (including the Thenmala, Punalur and a portion of the Achencoil forest divisions). The Thenmala Range, Aryankavu Range and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary comprise the Thenmala division and the Achencoil, Kallar and Kanayar Ranges make up the Achencoil division. The Pathanapuram and Anchal Ranges constitute the Punalur division.

The Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, 66 kilometres (41 mi) from Kollam, is situated on the southern part of the Western Ghats (8°50' and 8°55'N; 77°5'and 77°15'E) in the Pathanapuram taluk of the district.[28] The name "Shenduruny" is derived from the name of a tree species locally called "Shenkuruny" or "Chenkuruny" (Gluta travancorica), a tree mainly found in this area. An artificial lake of about 26 square kilometres (10 sq mi) has developed following construction of a dam across the Kallada River. Remnants of Stone Age culture from a large cave situated at the northwestern part of the Shenduruny River were excavated from this sanctuary.[28] These remains belong to the Mesolithic period.

This tropical rain forest has a wide variety of wildlife, and some endangered species are found here. Species found in the sanctuary include tiger, bonnet and lion-tailed macaques, Nilgiri langur, gaur (or Indian bison), sambar deer, muntjac (or barking deer), Indian spotted chevrotain (or mouse deer), wild boar, Indian elephant and different species of squirrels, such as the Indian giant and Indian palm squirrels.[28]

Fishing

The western portion of Kollam is bordered by the Laccadive Sea. Kollam's coastline is 37.3 kilometres (23.2 mi), 6.3 percent of Kerala's total coastline. Neendakara and Sakthikulangara are important fishing villages. There are an estimated 26 villages whose livelihood depends entirely on fishing. Cheriazheekkal, Alappad, Pandarathuruthu, Puthenthura, Neendakara, Thangasseri, Eravipuram and Paravoor are among the prominent fishing villages.[29] One-third of Kerala's fish production (including 60 percent of its prawn catch) is contributed by Kollam, whose average fish production is estimated at 5,275 tonnes. Nearly 3,000 mechanised boats operate out of its fishing harbour.[29]

Tourism
Tourism in Munroe Island
Thirteen-ring bridge, Punalur
Thenmala Dam
Thekkumbhagam bridge, Paravur

Palaruvi Falls, Thenmala (forests and reservoir), the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve, Ashtamudi (backwater) and beaches at Kollam, Thirumullavaram and Thangassery are scenic areas.

Ashramam Tourist Village is a well-known tourist destination in Kollam city; the tourist village is located on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake. Ashramam is a hub of tourism activities in Kollam, and the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) office is located within the village.

The Asramam Maidan (Ashramam ground), adjacent to the tourist village, is the largest open space within a Kerala municipal corporation. It is used for events, sports, as a helipad, for Kollam Pooram and by driving schools. It covers over 60 acres (24 ha) in an oval.

Kottarakkara Palace
Suspension bridge at Thenmala

The first community tourism program in the state is being established on the Munroethuruth islands. Backwater tourism is an activity enjoyed in Kollam; Ashtamudi Lake, Paravur, Munroe Island, and Alumkadavu are the main backwater destinations. Accommodation is in resorts and on houseboats.

Thenmala, located 66 kilometres (41 mi) east of Kollam, is the first ecotourism project in India and run by the Thenmala Ecotourism Promotion Society.[30][31][32]

Kollam was the seat of the Desinganad kings. Kottarakara is well known as the place where a new version of the classical dance form of Kathakali was conceived. It was also the capital of the Elayidath Swaroopam. Kundara is known for the 1812 proclamation against the British by Velu Thampi Dalawa.[27]

Alappad village, located on the seashore, was impacted by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. Varkala Beach (also known as Papanasham) is 26 kilometres (16 mi) south of Kollam. The Duriyodana Temple is in Kunnathur Taluk. The Sakthikulangara Dharma Sastha Temple-Sree Ayyappa Swamy Temple is known for its Utsavam in the month of Makaram (between mid-January and mid-February).

Polachira, in Chirakkara Gramapanchayat, is a sightseeing destination. The Anathavalam is near here where one can see domestic elephants, touch and ride them. Mannathippara is at Polachira, 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south of Chathannoor. Sasthamcotta Lake, about 19 kilometres (12 mi) from Kollam, is the largest freshwater lake in Kerala and a domestic tourist destination.[33] Jetayu Para, a large boulder, is located in Chadayamangalam; it is named for a mythical character in the Ramayana. It is believed that Jatayu fell here, after his failed attempt to stop Ravana.[33][34]

gollark: Or tablet.
gollark: I would probably do something incredibly janky like use a spare phone for that.
gollark: Interesting.
gollark: Do those exist?
gollark: I used to use those status things, but then I realised that I never looked at my desktop without a window occluding it anyway.

See also

References
  1. "Kollam District Level Statistics 2011" (PDF). ecostat.kerala.gov.in. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  2. Covt of kerala website, kollam page Archived 26 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "Official Web Portal of Government of Kerala". Archived from the original on 18 January 2006. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  4. "MSN Weather". Archived from the original on 9 October 2009. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  5. Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901
  6. "District Census 2011". Census2011.co.in. 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  7. US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Retrieved 1 October 2011. Kuwait 2,595,62
  8. "2010 Resident Population Data". U. S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2011. Nevada 2,700,551
  9. "Kollam city population Census". census2011.co.in. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  10. "DISTRICT CENSUS HANDBOOK, KOLLAM" (PDF). Census India. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  11. Administration page of quilon.com
  12. "Kerala Assembly Election - 2016". Elections.in. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  13. "kollam police official website". Archived from the original on 11 January 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  14. Southern Railway Archived 14 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  15. KSRTC official website
  16. Kollam KSRTC Zone
  17. Kollam railway information
  18. "56331/ Punalur-Kollam Passenger". India Rail Info. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  19. "66309/ Ernakulam-Kollam MEMU". India Rail Info. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  20. "Kollam Junction railway station". India Rail Info. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  21. "In true Travancore tradition". Express TravelWorld. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  22. "Kollam Canal". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  23. "Transport - Kollam Corporation". Kollam Municipal Corporation. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  24. "Important places enroute - KSWTD". KSWTD. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  25. "Jhankar Service Opened - The New Indian Express". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
  26. http://www.cashewcorporation.com
  27. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2020.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  28. "kera prd site". Archived from the original on 26 June 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
  29. Kerala matsyafed Archived 26 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  30. Thenmala Ecotourism website
  31. Thenmala Ecotourism news Hindu Daily
  32. "Thenmala Ecotourism news Hindu Daily". Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  33. tourism page of Kollam official website Archived 5 May 2017 at the Wayback Machine.
  34. Jatayu para article from Hindu Daily t.
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