Chirayinkeezhu taluk
Encyclopedia
Chirayinkeezhu Taluk is a Taluk (tehsil) in Thiruvananthapuram district
in the Indian state of Kerala
. It is situated in the northern part of the Thiruvananthapuram district.
It comprises 29 villages and two municipalities. Chirayinkeezhu taluk is the birthplace of a host of illustrious personalities like Raja Ravi Varma
, the painter among princes and a prince among painters, the great poet and social reformer Kumaran Asan
, the practical saint and sanyasin Sree Narayana Guru, Prem Nazir
etc.
, Ayiroor
, Azhoor
, Chemmaruthy
, Cherunniyoor
, Chirayinkeezhu
, Edakkode
, Edava
, Kadakkavoor
, Karavaram
, Keezhattingal
, Kilimanoor
, Koonthalloor
, Koduvazhannoor
, Kudavoor
, Madavoor
, Manamboor
, Mudakkal
, Nagaroor
, Navaikulam
, Ottoor
, Pallickal
, Pazhayakunnummel
, Perunguzhi
, Pulimath
, Sarkara-Chirayinkeezhu
, Vakkom
, Vellalloor
, Vettoor
·
and Attingal
.
and canals, which is quite typical of Kerala
.Also there are many Temples and important tourist places.
Some of them are given below.
, a coastal town famous for the Papanasam beach, is around 50 km (31 mi) north of Thiruvananthapuram and 37 km (23 mi) south of Kollam. Once a quiet coastal hamlet, today it is a bustling tourist spot with many resorts. Places of interest include the Sivagiri Mutt established by Sree Narayana Guru and the ancient Janardhanaswamy temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
is a haven for sun-bathing and swimming. It is situated on Varkala
. The evening views of the sunset are worth lingering over. There are several small restaurants and snack shops near and around Papasnanam beach, which attracts visitors both for leisure as well as for religious reasons.
. Even decades after the Guru breathed his last here in 1928, his samadhi continues to be visited by throngs of devotees, dressed in yellow attire, during the Sivagiri Pilgrimage days, 30 December to 1 January.
The Sivagiri Mutt is also the headquarters of the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Sangham, a religious organization established by the Guru to propagate his concept of 'One Caste, One Religion, One God'. The Guru Deva Jayanti, the birthday of the Guru, and the Samadhi day, the day of his demise, are celebrated in August and September respectively every year. Colourful processions, debates and seminars, public meetings, cultural shows, community feasts, group weddings and rituals mark the celebrations.
temples in South India. Tradition accords a remote antiquity to this temple. Its main deity is Bhadrakali
. The temple assumed a significant status and rose to historical importance mainly with the introduction of the famous 'Kaliyoot' festival by Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the Travancore sovereign, in 1748. In those days, with the Chirayinkeezhu Taluk being directly under the immediate administration of the Attingal Swarupam, the Attingal Ranis where entrusted by the Travancore Raja with the conduct of the elaborate festival of Kaliyoot. The Attingal Rani being related to the Travancore
royal family through adoption from the Kolathunad royal family, had enjoyed independent rights in several respects over the neighbouring regions and temples and at times even over the entire Venad. Even when King Marthanda Varma annexed Attingal
to Travancore
soon after ascending the throne and decided to assume direct control over Attingal 'estate', the Ranis seem to have been allowed to continue in their independent status in many respects. Hence it was no wonder that when the former decided to introduce Kaliyoot festival in the Sarkaradevi Temple of Chirayinkeezhu Division, he entrusted the responsibility to the Attingal Ranis, even though the finances came directly from the Travancore
royal treasury.
The Attingal Ranis in turn bestowed the rights to the members of the martial family of Ponnara Panickers (When two princesses were adopted from Kolathunad, some senior members of the Ponnara Panicker family are said to have accompanied them as bodyguards to Attingal, where the former were settled by the Venad
kings. The descendants of the Panicker family still reside there, and have the right of supervising the grand festival.) It is perhaps the only temple in South Kerala where an elaborate Kaliyoot festival is conducted. Another festival which draws the crowds of devotees and tourists is the ten-day Meenabharani festival in March-April every year.
. There is a sivaparvathy Temple on this island.
Thiruvananthapuram district
Thiruvananthapuram District is the southernmost district of the Indian state of Kerala. It came into existence in the year 1957. The headquarters is the city of Thiruvananthapuram which is also the capital city of Kerala....
in the Indian state of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. It is situated in the northern part of the Thiruvananthapuram district.
It comprises 29 villages and two municipalities. Chirayinkeezhu taluk is the birthplace of a host of illustrious personalities like Raja Ravi Varma
Raja Ravi Varma
Raja Ravi Varma was an Indian painter from the princely state of Travancore who achieved recognition for his depiction of scenes from the epics of the Mahabharata and Ramayana...
, the painter among princes and a prince among painters, the great poet and social reformer Kumaran Asan
Kumaran Asan
N. Kumaran Asan , also known as Mahakavi Kumaran Asan , was one of the triumvirate poets of Kerala, South India...
, the practical saint and sanyasin Sree Narayana Guru, Prem Nazir
Prem Nazir
Abdul Khader , better known by his stage name Prem Nazir , was an Indian film actor. He is considered one of the all time super stars in Malayalam cinema...
etc.
Villages
AlamcodeAlamcode, Thiruvananthapuram
Alamcode is a village in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Alamcode had a population of 12954 with 6231 males and 6723 females....
, Ayiroor
Ayiroor
Ayiroor is a village in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India.."Ayroor" is the most commonly used spelling.This village is famous for its temples. There are three famous temples in this village: Anjumurthy temple, Thrimpallur temple and Kochu Thampratti temple...
, Azhoor
Azhoor
Azhoor is a village in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Azhoor had a population of 28831 with 13176 males and 15655 females....
, Chemmaruthy
Chemmaruthy
Chemmaruthy is a village in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Chemmaruthy had a population of 30918 with 14468 males and 16450 females....
, Cherunniyoor
Cherunniyoor
Cherunniyoor is a village in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Cherunniyoor had a population of 37219 with 17184 males and 20035 females....
, Chirayinkeezhu
Chirayinkeezhu
Chirayinkeezhu is a village in Thiruvananthapuram district situated in the Indian state of Kerala.This is the birth place of the Malayalam actors Shri. Prem Nazir and Bharath Gopi.-Places:The Sarkara Devi Temple is situated at Chirayinkeezhu...
, Edakkode
Edakkode
Edakkode is a village in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Edakkode had a population of 11308 with 5378 males and 5930 females....
, Edava
Edava
Edava is a coastal village in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India. Edava is located near the tourist spot Varkala.- History :Edava was the frontier of the erstwhile Province of Travancore: Venad...
, Kadakkavoor
Kadakkavoor
Kadakkavoor is a village in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Kadakkavoor had a population of 25362 with 12199 males and 13163 females....
, Karavaram
Karavaram
Karavaram is a village in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Karavaram had a population of 16774 with 7948 males and 8826 females....
, Keezhattingal
Keezhattingal (Village)
Keezhattingal is a village in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Keezhattingal had a population of 14129 with 6484 males and 7645 females....
, Kilimanoor
Kilimanoor
Kilimanoor is a census town in the state of Kerala, India. It is located on MC/SH 1 Road, 36 km from the city of Thiruvananthapuram .The town area is administered by 2 grama panchayats, pazhayakunnummel and kilimanoor grama panchayat....
, Koonthalloor
Koonthalloor
Kizhuvalam-Koonthalloor is a village in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Kizhuvalam-Koonthalloor had a population of 32728 with 15230 males and 17498 females....
, Koduvazhannoor
Koduvazhannoor
Koduvazhannoor is a village in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Koduvazhannoor had a population of 8411 with 3969 males and 4442 females....
, Kudavoor
Kudavoor
Kudavoor is a village in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Kudavoor had a population of 10511 with 4890 males and 5621 females.The famous Kudavoor Mahadevar temple and Idayavanam Temple are situated here in the heart of the village....
, Madavoor
Madavoor-Pallickal
Madavoor is a village in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Madavoor had a population of 20855 with 9932 males and 10923 females.Its located in the road connecting Kilimanoor & Parippalli....
, Manamboor
Manamboor
Manamboor is a village in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Manamboor had a population of 22558 with 10460 males and 12098 females....
, Mudakkal
Mudakkal
Elamba-Mudakkal is a village in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Elamba-Mudakkal had a population of 20862 with 9735 males and 11127 females....
, Nagaroor
Nagaroor
Nagaroor is a village in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Nagaroor had a population of 14854 with 6942 males and 7912 females....
, Navaikulam
Navaikulam
Navaikulam is a village in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India.The term “navaya” means “the place where Vedic scriptures are taught”. Therefore, it is believed that Navaikulam was an ancient center of excellence and wisdom...
, Ottoor
Ottoor
Ottoor is a village in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Ottoor had a population of 15359 with 7037 males and 8322 females....
, Pallickal
Pallickal, Thiruvananthapuram
Pallickal is a village in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics:At the 2001 India census, Pallickal had a population of 16470 with 7815 males and 8655 females....
, Pazhayakunnummel
Pazhayakunnummel
Pazhayakunnummel is a village in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Pazhayakunnummel had a population of 25007 with 11735 males and 13272 females....
, Perunguzhi
Perunguzhi
Perunguzhi is a village in Chirayinkeezh Taluk, Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala. It is under the jurisdiction of Azhoor Panchayat.It lies on the Thiruvananthapuram - Kollam railway route; only passenger trains halt here....
, Pulimath
Pulimath
Pulimath is a village in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Pulimath had a population of 22808 with 10677 males and 12131 females....
, Sarkara-Chirayinkeezhu
Sarkara-Chirayinkeezhu
Sarkara-Chirayinkeezhu is a village in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Sarkara-Chirayinkeezhu had a population of 30502 with 14135 males and 16367 females....
, Vakkom
Vakkom
Vakkom, വക്കം , is a village in the Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India. It is located 35 kilometers north of Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital. Vakkom panchayat is surrounded by back waters . Neighbouring Panchayats are Anjengo, Kadakkavoor, Vettoor, Cherunniyoor and...
, Vellalloor
Vellalloor
Vellalloor is a village in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Vellalloor had a population of 11842 with 5588 males and 6254 females. VELLALLOOR...
, Vettoor
Vettoor
Vettoor is a village in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Vettoor had a population of 37219 with 17184 males and 20035 females....
·
Municipalities
There are two municipalities: VarkalaVarkala
Varkala is a coastal town and municipality in Thiruvananthapuram district situated in the Indian state of Kerala. It is located 50 kilometres north-west of Thiruvananthapuram and 37 km south-west of Kollam city.Varkala is the only place in southern Kerala where cliffs are found adjacent to...
and Attingal
Attingal
Attingal is a town and a municipality in the Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala state, India, bounded by the Mamom and Vamanapuram rivers. It is situated 30 km to the north of state capital of Thiruvananthapuram.-Demographics:...
.
Places of tourist interest
Chirayinkeezh is blessed with a network of backwatersKerala Backwaters
The Kerala backwaters are a chain of brackish lagoons and lakes lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast of Kerala state in southern India. The network includes five large lakes linked by canals, both manmade and natural, fed by 38 rivers, and extending virtually half the length of Kerala state...
and canals, which is quite typical of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
.Also there are many Temples and important tourist places.
Some of them are given below.
Varkala
VarkalaVarkala
Varkala is a coastal town and municipality in Thiruvananthapuram district situated in the Indian state of Kerala. It is located 50 kilometres north-west of Thiruvananthapuram and 37 km south-west of Kollam city.Varkala is the only place in southern Kerala where cliffs are found adjacent to...
, a coastal town famous for the Papanasam beach, is around 50 km (31 mi) north of Thiruvananthapuram and 37 km (23 mi) south of Kollam. Once a quiet coastal hamlet, today it is a bustling tourist spot with many resorts. Places of interest include the Sivagiri Mutt established by Sree Narayana Guru and the ancient Janardhanaswamy temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
Varkala Papanasam beach
Varkala BeachVarkala Beach
Varkala Beach, also known as Papanasam beach is a beach in Varkala, Kerala, India, along the Arabian Sea, part of the Indian Ocean. The word Papanasam means wash away sins. It is believed that a dip in the waters of Papanasam Beach washes away all the sins in ones life.-Sights:Varkala beach is the...
is a haven for sun-bathing and swimming. It is situated on Varkala
Varkala
Varkala is a coastal town and municipality in Thiruvananthapuram district situated in the Indian state of Kerala. It is located 50 kilometres north-west of Thiruvananthapuram and 37 km south-west of Kollam city.Varkala is the only place in southern Kerala where cliffs are found adjacent to...
. The evening views of the sunset are worth lingering over. There are several small restaurants and snack shops near and around Papasnanam beach, which attracts visitors both for leisure as well as for religious reasons.
Sivagiri Mutt
Sivagiri Mutt was established by Sree Narayana Guru (1856–1928), a spiritual leader, renowned philosopher and social reformer of Kerala. Presently, the Sivagiri Mutt is the 'samadhi' (memorial/ final resting place) of Sree Narayana Guru. The Sivagiri Mutt, built in 1904, is situated at the top of the Sivagiri hill at VarkalaVarkala
Varkala is a coastal town and municipality in Thiruvananthapuram district situated in the Indian state of Kerala. It is located 50 kilometres north-west of Thiruvananthapuram and 37 km south-west of Kollam city.Varkala is the only place in southern Kerala where cliffs are found adjacent to...
. Even decades after the Guru breathed his last here in 1928, his samadhi continues to be visited by throngs of devotees, dressed in yellow attire, during the Sivagiri Pilgrimage days, 30 December to 1 January.
The Sivagiri Mutt is also the headquarters of the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Sangham, a religious organization established by the Guru to propagate his concept of 'One Caste, One Religion, One God'. The Guru Deva Jayanti, the birthday of the Guru, and the Samadhi day, the day of his demise, are celebrated in August and September respectively every year. Colourful processions, debates and seminars, public meetings, cultural shows, community feasts, group weddings and rituals mark the celebrations.
Sarkaradevi Temple
Sarkaradevi Temple is an ancient and one of the most important DeviDevi
Devī is the Sanskrit word for Goddess, used mostly in Hinduism, its related masculine term is deva. Devi is synonymous with Shakti, the female aspect of the divine, as conceptualized by the Shakta tradition of Hinduism. She is the female counterpart without whom the male aspect, which represents...
temples in South India. Tradition accords a remote antiquity to this temple. Its main deity is Bhadrakali
Bhadrakali
Bhadrakāli , is one of the forms of the Great Goddess mentioned in the Devi Mahatmyam. In Sanskrit, the word Bhadra means "blessed", "auspicious", "fair", "beautiful", "good", "fortunate", "prosperous"....
. The temple assumed a significant status and rose to historical importance mainly with the introduction of the famous 'Kaliyoot' festival by Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, the Travancore sovereign, in 1748. In those days, with the Chirayinkeezhu Taluk being directly under the immediate administration of the Attingal Swarupam, the Attingal Ranis where entrusted by the Travancore Raja with the conduct of the elaborate festival of Kaliyoot. The Attingal Rani being related to the Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
royal family through adoption from the Kolathunad royal family, had enjoyed independent rights in several respects over the neighbouring regions and temples and at times even over the entire Venad. Even when King Marthanda Varma annexed Attingal
Attingal
Attingal is a town and a municipality in the Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala state, India, bounded by the Mamom and Vamanapuram rivers. It is situated 30 km to the north of state capital of Thiruvananthapuram.-Demographics:...
to Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
soon after ascending the throne and decided to assume direct control over Attingal 'estate', the Ranis seem to have been allowed to continue in their independent status in many respects. Hence it was no wonder that when the former decided to introduce Kaliyoot festival in the Sarkaradevi Temple of Chirayinkeezhu Division, he entrusted the responsibility to the Attingal Ranis, even though the finances came directly from the Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
royal treasury.
The Attingal Ranis in turn bestowed the rights to the members of the martial family of Ponnara Panickers (When two princesses were adopted from Kolathunad, some senior members of the Ponnara Panicker family are said to have accompanied them as bodyguards to Attingal, where the former were settled by the Venad
Venad
Venad Swarupam was one of the three prominent late medieval Hindu feudal kingdoms on Malabar Coast, south India, along with Kingdom of Calicut and Kingdom of Cannanore. In the early 14th century, Venad ruler Ravi Varma Kulasekhara had established a short-lived supremacy over southern India...
kings. The descendants of the Panicker family still reside there, and have the right of supervising the grand festival.) It is perhaps the only temple in South Kerala where an elaborate Kaliyoot festival is conducted. Another festival which draws the crowds of devotees and tourists is the ten-day Meenabharani festival in March-April every year.
Ponnumthurut Island
Ponnumthurut Island is a beautiful spot you can reach by cruise boat. It is situated near VarkalaVarkala
Varkala is a coastal town and municipality in Thiruvananthapuram district situated in the Indian state of Kerala. It is located 50 kilometres north-west of Thiruvananthapuram and 37 km south-west of Kollam city.Varkala is the only place in southern Kerala where cliffs are found adjacent to...
. There is a sivaparvathy Temple on this island.