Alathur

Alathur
ആലത്തൂ‌‌ർ
Town
Alathur

Location in Kerala, India

Coordinates: 10°38′53″N 76°32′18″E / 10.64806°N 76.53833°E / 10.64806; 76.53833Coordinates: 10°38′53″N 76°32′18″E / 10.64806°N 76.53833°E / 10.64806; 76.53833
Country  India
State Kerala
District Palakkad
Languages
 • Official Malayalam, English
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 678541
Telephone code 04922
Vehicle registration KL-49
Nearest city Palakkad
Lok Sabha constituency Alathur
Vidhan Sabha constituency Alathur

Alathur is a village and gram panchayat in the Palakkad District, state of Kerala, India.[1] It is the headquarters of the Alathur Taluk and is situated at the south west end of the district 24 km from the district headquarters at Palakkad. Alathur Taluk is predominantly rural and has an agricultural economy.It is located along the Coimbatore-Cochin national highway NH 47.

Economy

The main occupation in this area is agriculture. Rubber is grown on hilly land and rice paddies are located on the plains. Coconut, Ginger, banana, pumpkin, bitter gourd and eggplant are also grown.

There is very little industry in Alathur Taluk. Alathur town was once well known for its beedi cottage industry but production has declined due to anti-smoking efforts. Agarbatti is also produced by a cottage industry. Recently some industrial development such as steel smelting has arisen near Manjalur in Erimayur Panchayat. Historically there were a number of rice mills in the area but their numbers have declined.

Educational institutions

There are a number of schools up to the higher secondary level within Alathur Taluk. There are two colleges for arts and science, and one engineering college.

A S Muhammed Kutty Sahib Memorial High Secondary School (A S M M H S S) is a public institution which has been operating in the area for over a century. The school also houses a very old Gandhiji statue which has become a landmark. Former students of this school have developed an online community which helps to keep in touch with each other, named as AGATE COHORT. They have also created a website which helps students to find details about KEAM (Kerala Engineering Agriculture Medical entrance), named KEAMinfo

Actually the school was establied by the Nellikkalidam Family (Swaroopm), and the School used to be called N.E. High School (NEHS), until being bought by Mr. Muhammad Kutty; later since the land reforms act, the swaroopam suffered financially and the school was bought by Mr. Mohammad Kutty, who has since then been running a Beedi rolling business

BSS Gurukulam Higher Secondary School, is also located here.

Transportation

The National Highway No. 47 passes through the entire length of Alathur Taluk. Because of this the region is well connected by road to all parts of Kerala inclulding the state capital. A number of private and government buses ply on this road between Trissur and Palakkad.

Alathur does not have a railway connection due to the presence of the mountainous terrain at Kuthiran towards Trissur. A recent government decision to revive an old plan to construct the Kollengode-Trissur railway line may come as a blessing to Alathur.

Nearby places and events

The forest area near Choolanur called Mayiladumpara has a considerable population of peafowl and the Forest Department has declared the area a sanctuary.

There is an irrigation dam at the Mangalam Dam which is the main source of water for the crops in areas like Vandazhi, Kizhakkencheri, Mudappallur and Vadakkenchery.

Malamalmukku is 0.5 km from Alathur.

Kunissery is 7 km from Alathur. Kunissery's famous festival is Kummatti, which is celebrated on the birthday of Goddess Pookulathi on the Punartham Star of Meenam.

Mudappallur is 10 km from Alathur. Mudappallur's famous festival is Azhikulangara bhagavathy vela which is celebrated on May 21 or 22.

Padur is around 8 km from Alathur. The festival of Padur is Padur Vela.

Vanoor is another place in Alathur. There is a big hill called Veezhumala and the legend from the Ramayana is that when Hanuman went to take mrithasanjivani a small part from the hill he was carrying fell down which became the Veezhumalla (Fallen Mountain in Malayalam language). Paddy fields and rubber are the main agriculture in Vanoor.

Kavassery is a small village, 4 km from Alathur. Parakkattu Kavu is a small temple situated in this village with pooram the main festival which falls on Pooram star in the Malayalam month Meenam (March–April).

Athipotta, 8 km from Alathur is famous for its Mangottu Kavu Temple.

Arangattu Parambu is a small village on the way to Puthiyankam from Alathur. It is a part of the Pudiyankam Desam. There are some remnants of an old Shiva temple. A legend is that it was a very big temple demolished during Tippu Sultan's aggression. There is a small mount nearby called Pallikkunnu and a pond near to the remnants of the temple called Pallikkulam. The word "Palli" is always related to something royal or religious.

Kattussery village forms part of Alathur and lies between Vanoor and Puthiyankam villages. Because of the lack of any employment opportunities, the youth of the village have migrated to far-away cities in search of jobs. The village population is therefore predominantly of older people. Kattussery-Puthiyankam Vela is a famous festival which falls on the Atham Star in the Malayalam month of Meenam (March–April). Vettakoruman temple of pudiyankom is one of famous old age temples and trippalur shiva temple one of 101 shiva temples in India has its own old splendour. pudiyankom has one of old nair thara.

Thrippalur is a small village and is around 3 km from Alathur. Thrippalur Siva temple situates here which is one among the 108 siva temples consecrated by Lord Parasurama.

There is good view Mountain Vezhumala, this mountain has its own history, which is the part of Indian epics Ramayana

Panchayats in Alathur Taluk

Politics

The Alathur assembly constituency is part of the Alathur Loksabha constituency.[2]

Notable people

Alathur has been home to some famous personalities including:

References

  1. ↑ "Reports of National Panchayat Directory". Ministry of Panchayati Raj. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  2. ↑ "Assembly Constituencies – Corresponding Districts and Parliamentary Constituencies" (PDF). Kerala. Election Commission of India. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 October 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-19.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alathur.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Alathur.
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