Karunagappalli

Karunagappally കരുനാഗപ്പള്ളി Karunagappally
Municipal Town
A view of Karunagappally Bus Stand
Karunagappally Location in Kerala, India
Coordinates: 9°3′16″N 76°32′7″E / 9.05444°N 76.53528°ECoordinates: 9°3′16″N 76°32′7″E / 9.05444°N 76.53528°E
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Kollam
Government
• Body	Karunagappally Municipality
• Chairman	H Salim
• Vice Chairman	Sakeena Salam
Area
• Total	66.34 km^2 (25.61 sq mi)
Elevation	14 m (46 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	25,336[1]
• Density	856/km^2 (2,220/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	690518
Telephone code	+91 (0)4762
Vehicle registration	KL-23
Nearest city	Kollam (27 km)
Sex ratio	999 ♂/♀
Literacy	94.26%
Civic agency	Karunagappally Municipality
Climate	Am/Aw (Köppen)
Avg. annual temperature	27.2 °C (81.0 °F)
Avg. summer temperature	35 °C (95 °F)
Avg. winter temperature	24.4 °C (75.9 °F)

Karunagappalli, also written as Karunagappally (Malayalam: കരുനാഗപ്പള്ളി), is a municipality in Kollam district of Kerala, India. Karunagappalli is situated 27 km north of Kollam and 60 km south of Alappuzha. Karunagappalli taluk consist of Alappad, Ochira, Adinad, Karunagappally, Thazhava, Pavumba, Thodiyoor, Kallalibhagom, Thevalakkara, Chavara, Neendakara, Clappana, Kulasekharapuram, Thekkumbhagam, Ayanivelikulangara, Panmana and Vadakumthala.^[2] The Municipality is bound on the north by Kayamkulam, east by Kunnathur taluk, south by Kollam and on the west by the Arabian Sea.It is the major town other than kollam and most developing place in the district

Tourist attractions

The main tourist attraction is the House boat facility in Alumkadavu which is close to Karunagappally town.^[3] Sree Narayana Trophy boat race, an annual boat race is organised in the Kannety (Pallickal) River, Karunagappally, during the season of Onam Festival. The famous Chinese fishing nets can be found on the banks of the lagoon. The Amritapuri ashram is also situated in vallikavu.

Recently, Azheekal Beach is gaining popularity as a local tourist attraction.

Azheekal beach  Azheekal Pozhi

Legend

There is a claim that 'Palli' is a term with Buddhist roots and that Karungappalli was a Buddhist settlement in early times and that the name has its origin in a famous Buddhist education centre in the area. It is also argued that nearby Karthikappally and Mynagappally too were Buddhist centres of learning. Remnants suggesting a Buddhist past of the place have been found in many locations here including Pallikkal Puthran, an idol of Buddha, now preserved in the Krishnapuram Palace.^[4]

Demographics

The 2011 India census puts the population of Karunagappalli Municipality is 25,336.^[5] As with the rest of the state the population of the municipality is a heterogeneous mix of Hindu, Muslim and Christian community. The high literacy of Kerala is reflected in Karunagappalli as well with 94.23% of the population classified as literate as against the national average of 74.04%.^[6]

Economy

Karungappalli used to be an agrarian economy until the late 19th century with coconut, banana, tapioca and paddy as the main crops grown. With rapid urbanization and the consequent pressure on land the reliance on agriculture has dwindled. Several cottage and small industries have now come up in the area in brick making, engineering and electronics. Proximity to Kollam (27 km) and the excellent road and rail infrastructure have helped in this transition.

The area also receives substantial foreign remittances from the large number of people from here working in the Gulf countries. Fishing forms the major source of livelihood for the coast dwellers.

Environment

Karunagappalli is known for high background radiation from thorium-containing monazite sand. In some coastal panchayats, median outdoor radiation levels are more than 4 mGy/yr and, in certain locations on the coast, it is as high as 70 mGy/yr.^[7]

Transport

Main transport is provided by State owned Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and private transport bus operators. Karunagappally Bus Station is on National Highway 47. Buses ply from Karunagappally to Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Thrissur, Kottayam, Kottarakkara, Kollam, Chavara, Kodungallur and Guruvayur. Local services are also available to various places in the district. The station operates super fast, fast passenger and ordinary buses. KSRTC Bus stand is situated in the heart of the town. Road transport is also supported by private taxis and autorickshaws also called autos.

Karunagappalli railway station, situated in Edakkulangara falls on the Thiruvananthapuram-Ernakulam railway line and only 1.5 Km from the KSRTC bus station . Mumbai(Lokamanyathilak)-Thiruvananthapuram-Netravati Express, Kanyakumari-Bangalore Island Express, Sabari Express, Jayanthi-janatha express, Ernad Express, Maveli Express, Vanchinad Express, Parasuram Express, Venad Express, Malabar Express, Amritha Express and Thiruvananthapuram-Guruvayoor Intercity Express, Kollam - Visakhapatnam Express,Trivandrum-Mangalapuram-Trivandrum Express are the main train connections. Station Code: KPY.

Trivandrum International Airport is the nearest airport.

Politics

Karunagapalli assembly constituency is part of Alappuzha Lok Sabha constituency.^[8]

Industries

The major employers in the public sector are Indian Rare Earths Limited (IRE) & Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited (KMML) in Shankaramangalam, KERAFED in Puthiyakavu, House Boat Manufacturing in Alumkadavu, the state owned Kerala Feeds Ltd in Kallelibhagom are also major industries.The KMML is the first of its kind.

Cashew nut industry plays a vital role. Western India cashews in Puthiyakavu and Latha cashews in Charamurimuk are the major cashew processing units in town limits. Coconut, Paddy, Tapioca, Banana etc. are the other main agricultural crops. Prominent small scale and cottage industries are based on bricks, well rings making, engineering and electronics items handicrafts etc.

References

1. "Karunagappalli Population - Census 2011". census2011.co.in. Census India. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
2. Taluks & Villages - Kollam District
3. Karunagappally Tourism at a glance.
4. "Karunagappally Constituency".
5. "Karunagappalli Population - Census 2011". census2011.co.in. Census India. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
6. "Census 2011" (PDF).
7. Nair RR, Rajan B, Akiba S, Jayalekshmi P, Nair MK, Gangadharan P, Koga T, Morishima H, Nakamura S, Sugahara T. (January 2009). "Background radiation and cancer incidence in Kerala, India-Karanagappally cohort study.". Health Physics.
8. "Assembly Constituencies - Corresponding Districts and Parliamentary Constituencies" (PDF). Kerala. Election Commission of India. Retrieved 2008-10-20.

External links

• Karunagappally Taluk