Kalakkad
Encyclopedia
Kalakkad is a panchayat town in Tirunelveli district
in the India
n state
of Tamil Nadu
.
, Kalakkadu had a population of 27,025. Males constitute 48% of the population and females 52%. Kalakkadu has an average literacy rate of 77%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 82%, and female literacy is 73%. In Kalakkadu, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
In History of Travancore from the Earliest Times, P. A. Sankunny Menon mentions Kalacaud instead of Kalakkad. A few battles between the Travancore Kings and the British at this place are recorded. Joannes de Lannoy, the only son of Eustachius De Lannoy
, was killed in battle of Kalakkad on 14 September 1765 at the age of twenty.
Kalkkad was a scene of frequent struggles from in late 1750s during the Polygar revolt led by the Puli Thevar
and changed hands several times.
The village was the capital of Pandya kings briefly. A rest house constructed by the British is still there at Sengaltheri in the nearby mountains.
Even today people refer to Kottai, the equivalent of a fort, in this area, though no traces of it are found today.
There are several other temples for Mutharamman, Isakkiamman, Suadalaimadan and Ayyanar in the village. Pari Vettai and Kodai Vizha are annual festivals which are celebrated in these temples.
The forest areas have been declared as a protected tiger reserve - Kalakkad Mundanthurai Sanctuary.
). The other principal deity is Goddess Gomathi.
Dating back to the 13th Century AD or the late Pandya period, further additions were made till the 17th Century AD.
An anecdote from the Sthala Purana (history of the place) goes like this.
Goddess Sita
was kidnapped from the Kalakkad Forest
and hence the place is known as Chorakadavi. Lord Rama and Lakshmana prayed to Lord Siva
who was seated under a Punnai
tree here. He assured them that he will be with them when they proceed to rescue Sita.
After successfully rescuing Sita, they returned to thank Lord Siva. Before leaving they named the lord Sathyavageeswarar (Lord of Truth ). The theertham
(temple pond) is known as sathya theertham.
Tamil Saivite Saint Appar has recited songs in praise of the deity. In the stone inscriptions found around the temple, the lord is referred to as "புறமேரிச்சுவரமுடைவிய்ய நாயனார் - Puramerichchuvarudaiviyya nayanar". King Veeramarthanda Varma brought this temple to the present shape in the 12th century.
The Rajagopuram renovation and temple Kumbha Abhishekam (ritual consecration) was recently performed in 14th July 2011. "Bhakthar Peravai" took upon itself the responsibility up the renovation of the Gopuram, including mobilisation of funds. The main outer Praharam has been well cleaned with the assitance of HR & CE- TN, who also completed the minor repairs and repainting of all sanidhi gopurams, excluding the Rajagopuram.
, Thiruvilayadal Puranam, Siva's marriage to Parvathi, lives of saivaite saints and some local events. During the renovation, Bakthar peravi mobilised workforce that was knowledgeble in the use of LIME in renovation, without the use of CEMENT, as the entire original structure is made of lime and brick only. This gopuram is a rare one in that, it contains the maximum number of "sudhais" or human figures etc made of LIME found no where else now.
Ramanavami - Krishna Temple
An ambitious project to conserve these paintings has been undertaken by the REACH Foundation, an NGO.
Near city: Tirunelveli, Vallioor , Nagunari
Nearest famous temple: Vallioor subramaniya swamy temple, thirugunkudi Nambi temple
The biggest and most widely recognized church in Kalakad is St.Paul Lutheran Church of Luthern at Nagankulam.No doubt, it is remarkable that a sky scrapping tower infront of the church, perhaps, the highest tower in the State measuring about 85 feet hight has been constructed by the commitment and hard work of Mr. Anandaraj and family and other members of the congregation visitors of the church. The members of the Congregation are naturally in high spirit on the day of the dedication of the gigantic tower which shall be the lighthouse for Kalakad town and its surrounding villages.
http://kalakadchurch.com/about-us.htm
, Nanguneri
and Vallioor etc. by bus. The nearest railway station is Nanguneri
. Nearest airports are at Thiruvananthapuram
and Madurai
. Tuticorin also has an airstrip having one flight a day and is about 80 km away.
Thambithoppu, Singampathu, Chidhambarapuram, Moongiladi, Mavadi, Thoppur, Pallivasal, Manjuvilai, etc.,
Located between elevations ranging from 1000 to 1500 Metres, the Manjolai area is set deep within the the Western Ghats within the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in the Tirunelveli District. Located on top of the Manimuthar Dam & the Manimuthar Water Falls, the Manjolai area comprises of Tea Plantations, Small settlements around the tea plantations; Upper Kodaiyar Dam and a windy view point called Kuthiravetti
The Tea Plantations and the whole of Manjolai Estates are tea operated by The Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation Ltd on Forest Lands leased by the Government of Tamil Nadu. There are 3 Tea Estates within the Manjolai area - Manjolai Estate, Manimutharu Estate & Oothu Estate. The Estates are located on elevations ranging between 2300 Feet to 4200 Feet. The estates, road & the settlements in the Manjolai area are managed by The Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation Ltd. Images of Manjolai Hills can be viewed at http://www.flickr.com/photos/59865572@N00/sets/72157627351253129/
Log on to this page if you want to contribute something towards the growth of Kalakad village.
Some Information about Kalakad village and its surrounding hill place.
Tirunelveli District
Tirunelveli District is a district of Tamil Nadu state in southern India. The city of Tirunelveli is the district headquarters. A unique feature of this district is that it encompasses all five geographical traditions of Tamil Literature; kurinji , mullai , marudham , neithal and palai...
in the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
.
Demographics
India censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Kalakkadu had a population of 27,025. Males constitute 48% of the population and females 52%. Kalakkadu has an average literacy rate of 77%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 82%, and female literacy is 73%. In Kalakkadu, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
History
As per popular folklore, the name Kalakkad was due to one of the following:- The place was a forest full of 'kaLaa' (Tamil word) tree;
- It was a battlefield or 'kaLam' (Tamil word);
- It was the capital of 'kaLapirars' who ruled Tamil Nadu from this place.
In History of Travancore from the Earliest Times, P. A. Sankunny Menon mentions Kalacaud instead of Kalakkad. A few battles between the Travancore Kings and the British at this place are recorded. Joannes de Lannoy, the only son of Eustachius De Lannoy
Eustachius De Lannoy
Eustachius Benedictus de Lannoy was a Flemish naval commander of the Dutch East India Company, who was sent by the company to help establish a trading post at Colachel, Southern India, but was defeated at the Battle of Colachel by...
, was killed in battle of Kalakkad on 14 September 1765 at the age of twenty.
Kalkkad was a scene of frequent struggles from in late 1750s during the Polygar revolt led by the Puli Thevar
Puli Thevar
Puli Thevar was a poligar who ruled Nerkattumseval situated in the Sankarankoil taluk of Tamil Nadu. Puli Thevar who belongs to the warrior Maravar community was one of the earliest Indian Kings to have fought and defeated the British in India.-History:He is one of the earliest opponents of the...
and changed hands several times.
The village was the capital of Pandya kings briefly. A rest house constructed by the British is still there at Sengaltheri in the nearby mountains.
Even today people refer to Kottai, the equivalent of a fort, in this area, though no traces of it are found today.
Village
The village of Kalakkad has several streets, running around the Sathyavageeswarar temple. Generally the streets were inhabited by people of specific castes, though these days one can find a mixture of people in all the streets. The village is surrounded by lush green paddy fields, with the western ghats at the horizon. Many small and beautiful waterfalls can be seen in the distant mountains. The main falls called Maalai (Garland) aruvi near Chengaltheri can be seen from a distance almost 7 to 8 km.There are several other temples for Mutharamman, Isakkiamman, Suadalaimadan and Ayyanar in the village. Pari Vettai and Kodai Vizha are annual festivals which are celebrated in these temples.
The forest areas have been declared as a protected tiger reserve - Kalakkad Mundanthurai Sanctuary.
Sathyavageeswarar Temple
Kallakkad is home to an ancient temple dedicated to Sathyavageeswarar (Lord SivaShiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
). The other principal deity is Goddess Gomathi.
Dating back to the 13th Century AD or the late Pandya period, further additions were made till the 17th Century AD.
An anecdote from the Sthala Purana (history of the place) goes like this.
Goddess Sita
SITA
SITA is a multinational information technology company specialising in providing IT and telecommunication services to the air transport industry...
was kidnapped from the Kalakkad Forest
Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve , situated in the Southern Western Ghats in Tirunelveli district, in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is the second largest protected area in Tamil Nadu State.-History:...
and hence the place is known as Chorakadavi. Lord Rama and Lakshmana prayed to Lord Siva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
who was seated under a Punnai
Calophyllum
Calophyllum is a flowering plant genus of around 180-200 species of tropical evergreen trees in the family Calophyllaceae. The generic name is derived from the Greek words καλος , meaning "beautiful", and φυλλον , meaning "leaf." Its members are native to Australasia, Madagascar, Eastern Africa,...
tree here. He assured them that he will be with them when they proceed to rescue Sita.
After successfully rescuing Sita, they returned to thank Lord Siva. Before leaving they named the lord Sathyavageeswarar (Lord of Truth ). The theertham
Theertham
Theertham is a 1987 Malayalam language film. It was directed by Mohan....
(temple pond) is known as sathya theertham.
Tamil Saivite Saint Appar has recited songs in praise of the deity. In the stone inscriptions found around the temple, the lord is referred to as "புறமேரிச்சுவரமுடைவிய்ய நாயனார் - Puramerichchuvarudaiviyya nayanar". King Veeramarthanda Varma brought this temple to the present shape in the 12th century.
The Rajagopuram renovation and temple Kumbha Abhishekam (ritual consecration) was recently performed in 14th July 2011. "Bhakthar Peravai" took upon itself the responsibility up the renovation of the Gopuram, including mobilisation of funds. The main outer Praharam has been well cleaned with the assitance of HR & CE- TN, who also completed the minor repairs and repainting of all sanidhi gopurams, excluding the Rajagopuram.
Gopuram
The mejastic Gopuram or the temple tower of Sathyavageeswarar Temple is 135 feet tall, having nine tiers. More than 200 ancient paintings adorn the inner walls of each of the nine tiers. They resemble the Vijayanagara and Nayaka schools of art of the 16th–17th Century AD. This gallery of art on each of these floors depicts scenes from the RamayanaRamayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
, Thiruvilayadal Puranam, Siva's marriage to Parvathi, lives of saivaite saints and some local events. During the renovation, Bakthar peravi mobilised workforce that was knowledgeble in the use of LIME in renovation, without the use of CEMENT, as the entire original structure is made of lime and brick only. This gopuram is a rare one in that, it contains the maximum number of "sudhais" or human figures etc made of LIME found no where else now.
Ramanavami - Krishna Temple
- Krishna Temple in Kalakkad is famous for the Ramanavami festival celebrated in April. This festival is ongoing for mote than 105 years. This starts before 10 days from Ramanavami and will get completed after Anjaneya Utsavam.
An ambitious project to conserve these paintings has been undertaken by the REACH Foundation, an NGO.
Workmanship
The exquisite workmanship of those days is revealed in the stone sculptures around the temple. There are several musical pillars in the mandapams of the temple, which resonate with sapthaswaras when tapped gently by hand.Near city: Tirunelveli, Vallioor , Nagunari
Nearest famous temple: Vallioor subramaniya swamy temple, thirugunkudi Nambi temple
Western ghats
Kalakad is almost a dead end as far as its connectivity is concerned, as it is surrounded on three sides by the western ghats. The forest area is a protected one as KMTR (Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve), as it is home to many endangered animals such as lion tailed monkeys etc. It is a tiger sanctuary also, though differing counts are put forward by the government about the correct number of tigers. The village is blessed with greeneries all around, and probably it is one of the most fertile locations in Tirunelveli district. In fact this was one reason why it changed many hands from Cheras to Pandyas to Nawab to the English. Recently (about 30 years back) a small dam, known as Pachayar dam has come up. Even when there is no water in, say Courtralam, it is said that water is available here always for tourists to visit and enjoy. To enter into the sanctuary areas you need to get special permission from forest department. However the dam is approachable without such a permit.Schools
Kalakkad has got Three Higher Secondary Schools, One is Government Higher Secondary School, another one is Girls higher Secondary school run by Kuntrakudi adheenam, another one is KAMP Meerania Higher Secondary School run by a minority community trust (All are state board schools) and two private Matriculation Schools in addition to many primary schools. Generally the People living here are well educated. People from this village are living all over the world. Earlier, they were mainly going only to Ceylon (SriLanka) and Malaya (Malaysia and Singapore).Church
Kalakkad has lot of churches affiliated to Lutheran Church and Tirunelveli Diocese Church of South India (CSI).The biggest and most widely recognized church in Kalakad is St.Paul Lutheran Church of Luthern at Nagankulam.No doubt, it is remarkable that a sky scrapping tower infront of the church, perhaps, the highest tower in the State measuring about 85 feet hight has been constructed by the commitment and hard work of Mr. Anandaraj and family and other members of the congregation visitors of the church. The members of the Congregation are naturally in high spirit on the day of the dedication of the gigantic tower which shall be the lighthouse for Kalakad town and its surrounding villages.
- REDIRECT www.kalakadchurch.com
http://kalakadchurch.com/about-us.htm
Transportation
Kalakad can be reached from TirunelveliTirunelveli
Tirunelveli , also known as Nellai , and historically as Tinnevelly, is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of the Tirunelveli District and the sixth biggest city in Tamil Nadu...
, Nanguneri
Nanguneri
Nanguneri is a panchayat town in Tirunelveli district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.Nanguneri is a Taluk Headquarters in the District of Tirunelveli situate at a distance of from the headquarters of the...
and Vallioor etc. by bus. The nearest railway station is Nanguneri
Nanguneri
Nanguneri is a panchayat town in Tirunelveli district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.Nanguneri is a Taluk Headquarters in the District of Tirunelveli situate at a distance of from the headquarters of the...
. Nearest airports are at Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
and Madurai
Madurai
Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...
. Tuticorin also has an airstrip having one flight a day and is about 80 km away.
Nearest Villages
The nearest villages around Kalakad are Nagankulam, ThambithoppuThambithoppu
Thambithoppu is a small village located in the town of Kalakkad, Tamil Nadu, India.-Name:The name of the village, "Thambithoppu", is known to be derived from the fact that the people of the village are very close to each other so that they call each other by the name of brother or Thambi, even...
Thambithoppu, Singampathu, Chidhambarapuram, Moongiladi, Mavadi, Thoppur, Pallivasal, Manjuvilai, etc.,
External links
Manjolai HillsLocated between elevations ranging from 1000 to 1500 Metres, the Manjolai area is set deep within the the Western Ghats within the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in the Tirunelveli District. Located on top of the Manimuthar Dam & the Manimuthar Water Falls, the Manjolai area comprises of Tea Plantations, Small settlements around the tea plantations; Upper Kodaiyar Dam and a windy view point called Kuthiravetti
The Tea Plantations and the whole of Manjolai Estates are tea operated by The Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation Ltd on Forest Lands leased by the Government of Tamil Nadu. There are 3 Tea Estates within the Manjolai area - Manjolai Estate, Manimutharu Estate & Oothu Estate. The Estates are located on elevations ranging between 2300 Feet to 4200 Feet. The estates, road & the settlements in the Manjolai area are managed by The Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation Ltd. Images of Manjolai Hills can be viewed at http://www.flickr.com/photos/59865572@N00/sets/72157627351253129/
- Kalakad Churchwww.kalakadchurch.com
- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kalakad/
Log on to this page if you want to contribute something towards the growth of Kalakad village.
- http://www.kalakad.org/ A site exclusively on Kalakad: First job taken on hand is the Kumbhabishekam of the main temple.
- http://www.iisc.ernet.in/~currsci/feb102001/400.pdf Response of wet forest butterflies to selective logging in Kalakad–Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve: Implications for conservation
- Kalakad - Tiger reserve project
Some Information about Kalakad village and its surrounding hill place.
- http://www.kalakad.info/