Kizhakkekallada

Kizhakkekallada
village
Coordinates: 9.0174100°N 76.650880°E / 9.0174100; 76.650880
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Kollam
Area
• Total	13.2 km2 (5.1 sq mi)
Population  (2001)
• Total	22,046
• Density	1,700/km2 (4,300/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	691502
Telephone code	91474-258XXXX
Vehicle registration	KL-2?? XXXX
Nearest city	Kollam
Sex ratio	1078 ♂/♀
Lok Sabha constituency	Mavelikkara
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Kunnathur

Sree Durgadevi Temple

Chittumala Ultsavam(In Malayalam)--A Religious Festival .

Kizhakkekallada is a village in Kollam district in the state of Kerala, India. East Kallada, more commonly known as Kizhakkekallada, is a village located about 20 km northeast of Kollam.

Location

East Kallada is bounded by the Kallada River in the west and north, and the Ashtamudi backwater in the south.

History

It is believed that the old port 'Nelkynda' mentioned by Periplus of the Erythraean Sea is Kallada or its nearby place. Periplus describes:

... Nelcynda is distant from Muziris by river and sea about five hundred stadia, and is of another Kingdom, the Pandian. This place also is situated on a river, about one hundred and twenty stadia from the sea..

Travancore Kingdom

East Kallada is also part of Travancore history. In 1730 Unni Keralavarma of Desinganadu invaded East Kallada, which was part of Venad at that time. Marthanda Varma immediately attacked Desinganad and added East Kallada to Venad. Thus, he started the expansion of Travancore and later invaded many small countries from the north.

Buddhist Culture

It is believed that centuries ago, this village was a flourishing center of Buddhist culture. The customs and architecture of old temples in this area support the fact that they could have been Buddhist vihars in their initial days. Eduppukuthira itself has strong associations with Buddhist customs and practices. The strong presence of a Ezhava community in this area is strong evidence supporting the existence of Buddhism. A 3 ft long Buddha statue made of marble was excavated, more by accident, in 1978 from near the Siva temple Sinkarapalli. Later, in 1984, the same statue was placed at Siva temple, Koduvila. But unfortunately, it was stolen.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Kizhakkekallada had a population of 22,046 with 10,607 males and 11,439 females. The density of the population was 1,670 persons per square kilometre. The sex ratio (the number of females per 1000 males) was 1,078. Males constituted 48% of the population and females 52%.

Places of Worship

Chittumala Sree Durga Devi temple is the most important place of worship in this area among Hindus. The temple is situated at Chittumala hilltop and is devoted to Sree Durga Devi. Chittumala Ultsavam (in Malayalam), a festival associated with this temple, is known for its huge chariots, which are carried by devotees up to the temple at the hilltop.

Other temples are Sree Mahadevar Temple Koduvila, Sree Krishna Temple Marthandapuram, Sree Mahavishnu Temple Marthandapuram and Sree Mahavishnu Temple Veranoor. The incomplete inscription in the Veranoor Temple in Tamil and Vatteluttu is identified and mentioned by the Archaeological Survey of India.

The local Christian church is St. Francis Xavier Church (Roman Catholic-Latin rite), Koduvila, which is one of the ancient Latin Catholic churches in Kollam And St. Antony's Church, Thekkemury, which is blessed with the holy relic of St. Antony and other most important churches are St. Alphonsa Chappel, Sinkarappally, St. Elijah Orthodox church, Koduvila, St. Mary's Orthodox church (pilgrim centre) West Kallada (Kallada Valiya pally), St. George Orthodox church East Kallada and St. Marys Orthodox Church Chittumala.

Education

The schools in the area include:

• C.V.K.M Higher Secondary School, Chittumala (Govt. Aided)
• KPSPM Vocational Higher Secondary School, Nilamel (Govt. Aided)
• MM Higher Secondary School, Uppodu (Govt. Aided)
• MCEM Higher Secondary School, Mathilakom
• ST.Joseph International School, Chittumala (CBSE).
• PMNM Upper Primary School, Nilamel (Govt. Aided)
• Govt. Lower Primary School, Market Jn.
• Govt. Lower Primary School(Rural), Koduvila
• Bishop Jerome Memorial English Medium School, Near St. Antonys Church, Thekke Muri
• St. Francis Upper Primary School,Koduvila, which was established in 1870.
• N.C.M.L.P.S,Muttom (Govt.aided)

Hospitals

• Primary Health Centre, Chothiram, Chittumala
• Govt. Ayurvedic Dispensary, Parayil Mukku, Chittumala East
• Aykara Ayurvedic Hospital and Pharmaceuticals, Nilamel
• Govt Veterinary Hospital, Market Jn.
• Upahara Matha Hospital,Koduvila

Prominent People

• Olympian Suresh Babu(1953–2011)
• D Vinayachandran (Poet)
• Kallada Sasi (Poet)

See also

• Kallada