Anchal

Anchal
അഞ്ചൽ
City
Anchal

Location in Kerala, India

Coordinates: 08°55′45″N 76°55′05″E / 8.92917°N 76.91806°E / 8.92917; 76.91806Coordinates: 08°55′45″N 76°55′05″E / 8.92917°N 76.91806°E / 8.92917; 76.91806
Country  India
State Kerala
District Kollam
Government
 • Body Panchayat
Area
 • Total 24.45 km2 (9.44 sq mi)
Population (2001)
 • Total 28,612
 • Density 1,170/km2 (3,000/sq mi)
Languages
 • Official Malayalam, English,Hindi
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 691306
Telephone code 0475
Vehicle registration KL-02,KL-25
Nearest city Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram,Punalur.
Literacy 100%
Lok Sabha constituency (Kollam) Kollam
Civic agency Panchayat
Climate monsoon (Köppen)

Anchal is a city in the east central part of the Kollam district of Kerala, India.[1] It has the advantage of being located strategically between NH-208 and the MC road. It is one of the "Special Grade Panchayats" of Kollam district.[2] Historically, parts of what is today the Anchal Range Office Junction (R.O Junction), used to be a forest with unpaved roads that led to Trivandrum. College Junction, Mukkada Junction, and Market Junction are the other main junctions in Anchal. Ayoor, Kulathupuzha, Punalur, and Kottarakkara are the nearest towns. Panayamcherry situated to the north-west of Anchal used to be its cultural center in times past.[2] Yeroor is situated 4 kilometers east of Anchal. Kalari Devi temple is situated near the city.

History

There are different legends about how the name Anchal came into being. One legend speaks of how there used to be an "Anchalappis (അഞ്ചലാപ്പീസ്)" at the site of the present Range Office junction from which the name "Anchal" originates.[2] Another speaks of how five famous disputes evolved in the region, eventually giving it its name as the land of five disputes, proverbs or puzzles (അഞ്ചു തർക്കങ്ങളുടെ നാട് ):[3]

Whether Anchal Pond is really a bath or a pond?

Situated at Aeram, between the Anchal – Thadicadu road, the Anchal pond is constructed like a pool with a shape that loosely resembles a rectangle. However, it is connected to a water channel—more specifically, a natural stream. Its shape cannot be considered a perfect rectangle either with it having rounded edges at sides reminiscent of a bath. This has caused confusion in its definition, much like the famous heap paradox where the problem arises due to the inexactness of definitions involved in what a bandh is and what a pond is.

Whether the leaves of the strychnine tree at Vadamon taste bitter or sweet?

There is a strychnine tree located at Vadamon near Thole school. Some of its leaves taste sweet and the other leaves do not have any special taste, not even the usual bitter taste typical of the leaves of the strychnine tree. Since no one has ever seen this tree bloom or fruit, it is uncertain what taste the seeds will have.

Whether the "Field Temple" is in the Paddy fields or in solid land?

There is a temple at Aeram which appears to be situated in the paddy fields (wet unstable ground). However upon closer examination one can find that the altar is situated in solid ground, this causes a confusion as to whether the temple is in the field or in solid land.

Whether the sage of Agasthyacodu is male or female?

There is a local legend of a sage who once lived in the Agasthyacodu temple. However, because representations show the sage lying on their stomach, it is not possible to determine whether the sage was male or female. Curiously there is a representation which shows the bosom but the temple itself is dedicated to Shiva, so one cannot easily put a finger on the gender issue.

Whether the kurumakkattu people belong to the Illam or the Swaroopam castes?

There exists an old family known as the "kurumakkattukar" whose caste within the Nair caste cannot be determined due to the lack of sources and evidence

Another legend points to the presence of five banyan trees or Aal in the region which gave it the name Anchal, a portmanteau of Anch meaning five and Aal meaning Banyan tree.[3]

Religious centers

Kalary devi temple is an other important temple. It is dedicated to Lord Kaly devi.Kuthira eduppu is the main celebration. It is also an oldest temple in kerala. Many stories are behind in this temple.Kadakkal devi is the sister of Kalary devi. Every 12 years kadakkal devi is come in Anchal for see her sister kalary devi. It is one of the main celebration in kerala. Millions of people are come in Anchal for see this. Other major religious centers are

  • Agastyacode Sree Mahadevar Temple,
  • Alayamon Sree Alappandevar Temple,
  • Manakkadu Mahadevar Temple,
  • Anchal Muslim Juma Masjid,
  • St. George Orthodox Church.
  • Yeroor Sri Maha Ganapathi Temple
  • Alamcode Sreekrishna Swamy Temple
  • Edamulackal Sreenagaraja Temple
  • Panayamcherry Ayappa Temple
  • Agasthiyakodu Guruvayoorappan Temple
  • Maha Ganapathy Temple
  • Nettayam Gurudeva & Sree Subramanya swami Temple
  • Kalari Devi Temple
  • Aerom Sreekrishna Temple
  • Aerom Kolliyil Devi Temple
  • Thazhamel Sri Ayiravalli Temple (Situated in Santhi Nagar Residential Association)
  • Edamulackal Bhoothandha Temple
  • Vadamon Temple
  • Arrakkal Temple
  • Mavila Temple
  • St. Mary's Malankara Syrian Catholic Church
  • Mary Matha Syrian Catholic Church
  • St. George Malankara Syrian Catholic church
  • St. George Orthodox Church
  • St. Paul's Marthoma Church
  • Kapuchin Asram Church
  • Islamic Educational & Cultural Centre, Anchal (Only One Centre That Muslim Ladies can do Their Namaz in Anchal Town)
  • Anchal Muslim Juma Masjid
  • Mukkada Muslim Juma Masjid→PUTHAYAM MUSLIM JUMA MASJID
  • Karukone Juma Masjid (Facility for Ladies)
  • Yeroor Muslim Juma Masjid
  • Sreemurukan Kovil, mayiladumkunnu, yeroor
  • Sreenarasimha Temple, Thrikkoyikkal, yeroor
  • Nediyara Sreemahavishnu Temple
  • RadhaMadhava Temple, Alenchery
  • Sree Guruvayoorapan Temple, Agasthyacode
  • Kottukal cave temple, Kottukal
  • Mulakkal Mahavishnu Temple Archal
  • Sree Alappan (Mahavishnu) temple Alayamon
  • Alanchery Mahadevar Temple
  • Agasthyacode Chavarkavu Temple
  • Islamic Centre, Kannankode

Educational institutions

Anchal has many governments, both aided and un-aided institutions.

Schools

Colleges

Others

Notable people

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Anchal.
  1. ↑ Panchayat List. Kollam.nic.in. Retrieved on 2014-07-11.
  2. 1 2 3 അഞ്ചല്‍ ഗ്രാമപഞ്ചായത്ത് (Anchal Grama Panchayat) » അഞ്ചല്‍. Lsgkerala.in. Retrieved on 2014-07-11.
  3. 1 2 അഞ്ചല്‍ ഗ്രാമപഞ്ചായത്ത് (Anchal Grama Panchayat) » ചരിത്രം. Lsgkerala.in
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