Famous small and big towns in Kerala

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Puthiyangadi

Puthiyangadi, a beautiful Village, located at the Madayi Panchayath, is a land of lush green coconut palms swaying in tune with the whistling breeze. On its western length, span beaches with smooth sands that look like gold dust.

These are interspersed with the breathtaking lagoons, creeks and myriad tiny inflows from the Arabian Sea. This is a land which thrives on fish, in food and trade. The men, women and children are involved in this trade. Traditionally, women wear wonderful sarees, draped in a style very typical only to them, and ornaments include gold necklaces, bangles and other normally worn jewellery.

Coconut forms another versatile means of food and occupation. Many delicious recipes are becoming popular. One interesting point to note that all cooking is done in coconut oil. This impart a very different and distinct flavor to cuisine from this region.

Though lovers of seafood, many interesting dishes which are vegetarian curry the typical malabarian flavor.

Puthiyangadi Village consists seven wards of Madayi Grama Panchayath. The total area is 9.24 square km., while the population is about 15,000. The main occupation of the people are fishing, agriculture.

The land is mainly undulated without any hills or mountains. All area is inter-connected with well-maintained motor-able roads. The bus stand is situated in the heart of the village. Puthiyangadi is well connected to major towns like Kannur, Payangadi and Payyannur.

The Ezhimala Naval Academy (Ezhimalai hills) is located towards the northern border of Puthiyangadi.

The village has a creditable record of educated population, mostly due to the presence of Madayi GMUP school and Puthiyangadi Jama-ath high school. There are around 12 Muslim religious teaching centers called ?Madrassas?.

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Pathanamthitta


Situated near the western ghats and bordered by the hills, Pathanamthitta district is a treat to eyes with its vast unending stretches of forests, rivers and rural landscapes. Blessed by nature, the district is famous for its scenic beauty, fairs and festivals.

Pathanamthiita is a true tropical diversity adorned with fertile agricultural land, plantations and forest, Paddy, tapioca, varieties of vegetables and spices like cardamom, pepper etc. are extensively cultivated. The district also abounds in extensive rubber plantations.

It is presumed that the regions presently under the district were formerly under the Pandalam reign which had connections with the Pandya kingdom. Pathanamthitta now includes portions of the erstwhile Kollam, Alappuzha and Idukki district.Pathanamthitta, Adoor, Ranny, Konni and Kozhencherry are some of the important are the major places taken from Alappuzha district.

Pathanamthitta is a combination of two words Pathanam and Thitta which mean an array of houses on the river side. This district was formed on 1st November 1982 in the interest of the hastening process of development. The total area of district is 2642 sq.kms., of this 1300.73 sq.kms come under forest.

The district consists of three natural divisions, viz., the lowland, the midland and the highland. The highland stretches through the western ghats and descends to the midland in the center, down to these lowland and coconut gardens on the western borders of Alappuzha district. The topography of the district is highly undulating., It starts from the tall hill slopes covered with thick forests on the East along the mountains down to the valleys and small hills to the flat land of coconut trees in the West.

The district has more or less the same climatic conditions as prevalent elsewhere in the state, Viz., dry seasons from December to February and hot seasons from March to May. The south west monsoon from June to September and the north west monsoon from October to November provide fairly good rain. The south west monsoon is usually very heavy and about 75% of the annual rain is received during this season. The climate is generally moderate, the temperature rising from 20'0 to 39'0c.

Forest covers an area of 1390.73 sq.kms. in the district. This is more than 50% of the total area of the district, while the optimum area fixed by experts is only 33% . The total cropped area in Pathanamthitta district is 1086.53 sq.kms. The forests in the district can broadly be classified as evergreen, semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forest.

Timber is the most important forest produce in the district. In fact, forest is the main source of raw materials for wood based industrial units. Teak, rosewood, Jack tree, Manjakadamu, Anjili, Pala etc. are some of the important for rayon, newsprint, plywood etc., these forests are source for a number of useful minor products like bamboo, reeds, honey, medicinal plants and herbs.

Three important rivers flow through this district. They are Pampa, Achankovil and Manimala rivers. The Pampa rivers is formed by the confluence of Pambayar, Arthayar, Kakkadayar, Kakkar and Kallar. It descends from Sabrimala, flows through various parts of Ranny taluk enters Alappuzha district itself into the Vembanad lake. The river Achankovil is formed by the confluence of several small steams originating from Rishimala, Pasukidamettu and Ramakkalteri and joins the Pamba at Veeyapuram in Alappuzha district.

One third of the electricity produced by the State comes from this district. Power is generated from the Sabarigiri Hydro-electric Project situated at the Pamba basin in the district.


The abundant water resource in the district is also utilized for irrigation purpose through the Kallada Irrigation Project and the Pampa Irrigation Project.


The district has the highest concentration of commercial banks in the State. For every 6000 people, there is a bank. There are 200 branches of commercial banks in the district with a deposits of Rs. 2000 crores. The per capita deposits is Rs.16700/- which is the highest in the State and the C.D. ratio of 14%, the lowest.

Major banks in the district are State Bank of Travancore (50 branches), Federal Bank(37 branches), Indian Overseas Bank (21 branches) and Catholic Syrian Bank (18 branches). The State Bank of India has 8 branches.

The Patthanamthitta District Co-operative Bank started functioning on 1st July 1985, taking over seas branches each of the Kollam and Alappuzha District Co-operative Banks. Now it has 31 branches.

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Palakkad

Palakkad is the land of Palmyras and Paddy fields. It is the chief granary of Kerala, often called the Gateway of Kerala. Palakkad lies at the foot of the gigantic Western ghats on the border of Kerala. This district with mountains, forests and fertile valleys, rivers and mountains streams are rich in flora and fauna. Palakkad is known for its historical background and the remnants of Tippu Sulthan?s Fort are still maintained. The famous tourist spot of Malampuzha is situated just 8km away from Palakkad Town

Its a place of tourist importance. Some of the picnic spots are Tippu?s Fort , Malampuzha - Garden, Snake park, Aquarium, Rope way, Rock garden and Fantasy park , Loknayak J.P.Smrithi Vanam and Deer Park, Mayilladumpara - Cholanoor Pea*censored* Sanctury, Kanhirapuzha dam, Mangalam Dam, Pothundy Dam, Seetharkundu water falls near Nelliyampathy, Meenkara dam, Parambikulam wild life sanctuary and boating, Chulliar dam, Killikurrussi Mangalam, Meenvallam, Siruvani, Silent Valley National Park and Attappady ghats.

Tourist sports are
Malampuzha
Dhoni
Loknayak J.P. Smrithi vanam and Deer Park
Mayilladumpara-Cholanoor Pea*censored* Sanctuary Kanhirapuzha
Mangalam Dam
Pothundy Dam
Meenkara Dam
Parambikulam
Chulliar Dam
Attappady
Nelliyampathy
Palakkad Fort
Killikurrussi Mangalam
Kottayi
Jain Temple of Jainmedu
Thiruvalathoor
Chittur Gurumadam
Silent valley
Meenvallam
Siruvani

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Pala

Pala, the small, calm, prosperous town resting on the lap of the highranges (the Western Ghat) is the land of rubber and spices, letters, beautiful hillocks, daring and loving people, religious and cultural heritage, serene and vibrant streams and ever cherishing dreams.

History of Pala dates back to the Sanghaya period, when, it is believed, that a few Brahmin families settled in Pala.

The first settlements were known in connection with the cultivation of spices, especially tamarind. Even now the 'Pala tamarind' is world famous.
Pala had contacts with the outside world long ago. An Armenian had an important role to play in the establishment of the Lalam Church (New) in 1663 A.D. The contacts with the outside world were mainly for commerce. It is assumed that the jungle route to Gudalloor through Pala, Bharananganam or Aruvithura brought a lot of 'Vellala Chettiyar' people from Tamil Nadu, for trade.

There are many legends about how this region became known as ' Pala'. Pala is believed to be an old time holy place of Hindus. The very word Pala was derived from 'Palazhi' the mythological Ocean of Milk from which nectar was churned out.
It is also believed that the word comes from ?Palathu Chethyar' families the then prominent settlers of the region. Another school maintains that the first group of Christian settlers who came from 'paloor' was instrumental in christening the place 'Pala'. According to another school, the 'palayam' ( fort) of the Meenachil Karthas (the ruling family ) was situated in the region and so the name Pala got established. The first Kartha families were known as 'Njavakattu Karthas'.

Pala was the headquarters of the Meenachil region. 'Meenachil derives its name from the famous Meenachil river. It is believed that the famous Pala market was established in 1736. It is then Meenachil Karthas, who decided to allot a place to the Christians to form a market in and around the places where the present Government hospital is situated. It is believed that later a 'Meenakshi' temple was established somewhere on the shores and over centuries, the holy abode of Meenakshi became known as Meenachil.
? Pala Municipal Bus stand.


The Athirampuzha, Erattupetta Road was established in 1868. The Pala, Thodupuzha Road became operational in 1893.

Buses started plying the Pala-Kottayam route in 1920 . Pala became a municipality in 1949.

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Nilambur


Best of nature and wild life that Nilambur has in store for the tourist and manifested in a variety of ways in its extensive forests teeming with bamboos, teak, rosewood, venteak, choropin, mahagoni, etc.

This beautiful town on the bank of the Chaliyar River is at a distance of 70 km from Calicut , 100 km from Ooty (Uddagamandalam) and 40 km from Malappuram town. Located in the eastern side of Malappuram district, Kerala, this small sleepy town has a surprise in store for its visitors.

Renowned for the oldest teak plantation in the world -'The Conolly's Plot'- is just 2 km from Nilambur town. The place is noted for its tribal settlements, the world's first Teak Museum, vast rain forests, waterfalls and ancient residences of maharajas called as kovilakoms. It is an important halting place for tourist enroute to Ooty. Presently Nilambur taluk comprises 19 villages

The hill country has also contributed much to the cultural heritage of Kerala. Along with historic monuments and diverse natural attractions, a range of cultural and ritual art forms add to its value as a destination worth visiting.

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Kuttanad

Location: Spread over Kottayam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts.
Attractions: Kuttanad is an expanse of water-logged land lying below sea level. Often the level of water here is higher than that of the green paddy fields on either side.

Kuttanad bears strong resemblance to Holland in terms of geographical features. Three rivers - the Pamba, the Manimala and the Achankovil - crisscross this region, popularly called 'The Rice Bowl' of Kerala, before flowing into the Vembanad Lake. Until a few years ago, water was the main mode of transport. Today buses and trains ply the region. However, the landscape is so unique that a boat trip through Kuttanad is an unforgettable experience - bustling rural life on the banks of the rivers, green expanses of paddy fields and shady coconut groves.

Getting there: Alappuzha is the nerve centre of the backwaters of Kerala. There are frequent boat services in the Alappuzha - Edathua - Ambalappuzha route covering Kuttanad.

Nearest railway stations: Alappuzha and Changanacherry.
Nearest airports: Cochin International Airport, about 85 km to the north; Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 150 km to the sou