Kollam district

           Kollam district (formerly Quilon) is one of 14 districts of the state of Kerala, India. The district has a cross-section of Kerala's natural attributes; it is endowed with a long coastline, a major Arabian Sea seaport and an inland lake (Ashtamudi Lake).
The district has many source of waterbodies. Kallada river is one among it and the east side land of river is EastKallada and the west side land is WestKallada. Kallada Boat race is one among the famous festival events of district. Even though it is a competition between two land sides of river many boat clubs from various places even beyond the district use to participate in the event. Kollam is the capital of Kerala's cashew industry. Plains, mountains, lakes, lagoons and backwaters, forests, farmland and rivers make up the topography of the district. The area had trading relationships with Phoenicia and Ancient Rome.  

                                  Kollam district is located on the southwest coast of India, bordering Laccadive Sea in the west, the state of Tamil Nadu in the east, Kerala district of Alappuzha in the north, Pathanamthitta in the northeast and Thiruvananthapuram in the south. It covers 2,492 square kilometres (962 sq mi), is the seventh-largest district in Kerala and is densely populated. It has the shortest coastal line among districts in Kerala (37 Kilometers).

Five major urban centres are: Kollam, Paravur, Punalur, Karunagapally, and Kottarakara (കൊട്ടാരക്കര).

Sasthamkotta Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Kerala, is located in Kollam; this lake provides drinking water to the city of Kollam. Two major rivers (the Kallada and the Ithikkara) drain the district. Ashtamudi Lake and Paravur Lake are two important lakes in the district. Ashtamudi Lake covers 30 percent of total area of the district. Kollam is located on Ashtamudi Lake.Neendakara, a major fishing port in southern Kerala, is also located on this scenic lake. Edava and Nadayara Lakes are also partly located in Kollam district. The Kollam sea port was founded by Mar Abo with a sanction from Udayamarthandavarma the Tamil king from Venad, otherwise called Ay, Kingdom in AD 825 instead of re-opening the inland sea port (kore-ke-ni kollam) near Backare (Thevalakara), also known as Nelcynda and Tyndis to the Romans and The Greeks and Thondi to the Tamils, and was also the foundation of the new city. It is also believed that Mar Abo actually volunteered to the Chera king to create a new sea port town near Kollam instead of his request for renewing the almost vanishing Tyndis or Nelcynda inland sea port (kore-ke-ni) at Kollam, lying idle without trade for a few centuries because of the Cheras being overrun by

Pallavas in the 6th century AD ending the spice trade from Malabar coast. This allowed Mar Abo to stay for many decades in Chera kingdom and streamline Christian faith among the Nampoothiri Vaishnavites & Nair sub castes in the St. Thomas tradition with Syrian liturgy as reference for the doctrine of Trinity without replacing the Sanskrit and Vedic traditions.                                                                                                                         Kollam's temperature is almost steady throughout the year. The average temperature ranges from 25 to 32 degrees Celsius. Summer usually runs from March until May; the monsoon begins by June and ends by September. Kollam receives an annual average rainfall of around 2,700 millimetres (110 in). Kollam receives both southwest and northeast monsoons. Winter is from November to February; the temperature is moderately cool, ranging from 18 to 25 degrees Celsius.                                                                                    

  According to the 2011 census Kollam district has a population of 2,629,703,roughly equal to the nation of Kuwait or the US state of Nevada.This gives it a ranking of 155th in India (out of a total of 640 districts).The district has a population density of 1,056 inhabitants per square kilometre (2,740/sq mi) . Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 1.72 percent. Kollam has a sex ratio of 1113 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 93.77 percent.

In 2001 Indian Census Muslim population is 4,74,071(18.34%), Hindu 16,85,044(65.18%), Christian 4,23,745(16.39%).                           The Kollam Urban Agglomeration (UA) is the 6th most populous UA in the state. Kollam is placed 49th in the list of most populous urban agglomerations in India. The total urban population of the entire district is 1,187,158. The metropolitan area of Kollam includes Adichanalloor, Adinad, Ayanivelikulangara, Chavara, Elampalloor, Eravipuram (part),Chengamanadau, Karunagappally, Kollam, Kottamkara, Kulasekharapuram, Mayyanad, Meenad, Nedumpana, Neendakara, Oachira, Panayam, Panmana, Paravur, Perinad,Poothakkulam, Thazhuthala, Thodiyoor, Thrikkadavoor, Thrikkaruva, Thrikkovilvattom, and Vadakkumthala [Thevalakkara]                                                                                          

        The history of the district's administration can be traced back to 1835, when the Travancore state consisted of two revenue divisions with headquarters at Kollam and Kottayam. When Travancore and Cochin were combined into Travancore-Cochin, Kollam was one of the three revenue divisions. When the state of Kerala was formed in 1957, Chenkotta taluk was merged with the state of Madras. Later in 1957, the Cherthala, Ambalapuzha, Mavelikara, Karthikapalli, Chengannur and Thiruvalla taluks (formerly in Kollam district) were united to form the new district of Alappuzha. In 1983, Pathanamthitta taluk and nine villages of Kunnathur taluk were removed from Kollam district to form the new Pathanamthitta district.                                           Kollam district has six administrative subdivisions (taluks): Pathanapuram (new taluk), Punalur,Kunnathur, Kottarakkara, Karunagappally and Kollam. The district collector, a key functionary of the government, heads the district administration. He or she plays a dual role: the agent of government and chief administrator of the district, reporting to the state government. Among other tasks, maintaining law and order is a priority for district collector. The district collector is also the head of the Land Revenue Department of the district. The district has one revenue division, with its headquarters at Quilon. For administrative purposes, Kollam district is divided into 5 taluks, 13 blocks, 69 Panchayats, 1 corporation, 3 municipalities and 104 villages. The Kollam Civil Station was built in 1956 to incorporate all government offices in one place.        

                                                      Police administration in Kollam is divided into two districts: urban and rural. The City Police is headed by a City Police Commissioner, an IPS (Indian Police Service) officer with the rank of SP; its headquarters is at Kollam. The rural police is headed by the Rural Superintendent of Police (SP), with its headquarters at Kottarakkara. Both heads report to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Thiruvananthapuram Range (Kerala).

The Kollam City Police is divided into three subdivisions, each under an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP): Karunagappally, Kollam and Chathannoor. Each subdivision is divided into circles, headed by the Circle Inspector of Police. Each circle is divided into a number of police stations, headed by a Sub-Inspector of Police. The Kollam Rural Police District is divided into two subdivisions, each under a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP): Kottarakkara and Punalur. There are a total of 29 police stations, in 13 circles. Kollam city traffic is controlled by the City Traffic Police, with a Traffic Police Station located near the Asramam Ground. Kerala's first coastal police station was established in Neendakara, Kollam.                                                                                                                                                The first police museum in India (the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Police Museum) has a large collection of police artefacts and rare photographs. The museum has a room dedicated to officers killed in the line of duty. The forensic section has a large collection of photographs. The museum is located at the Kollam East Police Station.                                                               There are 3 municipalities in Kollam District. Punalur, Paravur and Karunagappally are the municipalities. There is a long-standing demand for upgrading Kottarakkara,Pathanapuram & Anchal panchayaths into municipal status.                     Three Lok Sabha (lower house) constituencies constitute Kollam district. They include the Chavara, Kundara, Eravipuram, Kollam, Chathannoor, Chadayamangalam and Punalurassembly constituencies. While the Kunnathur, Kottarakkara and Pathanapuram constituencies are in the Mavelikkara Lok Sabha constituency, the Karunagapally assembly constituency is in the Alappuzha Lok Sabha constituency.                                                                                                                            Kollam district elects 11 representatives (MLAs) to the Kerala Legislative Assembly. The district has a rich political history; the party receiving the majority of votes in Kollam has always gone on to form the government in Kerala. Kollam district has two ministers in the Kerala government. Kollam is a traditional stronghold for CPI(M) led left democratic front. Currently LDF has 9 seats and UDF has 2 seats in the assembly from Kollam district. CPI(M) PB member MA Baby and central committee member P K Gurudasan are elected MLA from Kollam.

   

Leaders like T.M. Varghese, C. Kesavan and Kumbalathu Sanku Pillai were the architects of freedom movement in Kollam. R. Shanker, who played a prominent role as an educationalist and social reformist, hails from Kolam. The district gave birth to well known freedom fighters like Chandiran Kali ambi (Kadakkal Manthri) and Franco Raghavan Pillai.                                   Kollam, the capital of the erstwhile Venad, was a great centre of learning and culture. It attracted distinguished scholars from all parts of south India. Leelethilakam and Unnuneeli Sandesam, two outstanding literacy works of historical importance, are contributions of 14th century Kollam. The dance form of Kathakali in its new version of Ramanattam was the creation of Kottarakkara Thampuran, who also improved Krishnanattam by substituting Malayalam for Sanskrit.                                                                                                       Mahakavi K.C.Kesava Pillai, born in Paravur, a gifted poet, prose writer, dramatist and scholar, originated the musical play in Malayalam through his work Sadarama. His Kesaveeyam, a Mahakavyam, is of outstanding literary importance. In the history of Malayalam music, he has a prominent place as a gifted composer of songs. Paravoor Kesavan Asan, the founder editor of Sujananandini, another prominent literacy figure, was a journalist and a prose writer of eloquence. His Saratchadrika is a contribution to the study of Ayurvedic system of medicine. E. V. Krishna Pillai, another literacy celebrity has etched his name in the field of humour and satire. C. V. Kunjuraman, editor of Kerala Kaumudi and Malayalarajayam was a poet, literary critic, prose writer and journalist of outstanding distinction.

Coming to modern times, Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai and Sooranadu Kunjan Pillai are noted literary luminaries hailing from this district. Oyoor Kochu Govinda Pillai, and Chavara Parukkutty the Katha Kali artists and Paris Viswanathan and Jayapala Panicker the renowned artists also belong to this district. Famous poets O. N. V. Kurup, Thirunalloor Karunakaran, Punaloor Balan, novelists K. Surendran and A. P. Kalakkad,                               journalist K. Balakrishnan, actors Jayan, Kottarakkara Sreedharan Nair and O. Madhavan, and Kadhaprasangam artist V. Sambasivan are from Kollam.                                                               Oachira, located in the north of the district on National Highway 47, is known for its Oachira Parabrahma Temple.Oachirakali is an annual event at the padanilam (paddy fields) in the month of Vrichikam. The Oachira Town Masjid (mosque) and the Oachira Temple are situated close to one another, a symbol of communal harmony. This temple is also a Sabarimala edathavalam.                                                                                                   

 The Mahaganapathi (Ganesha) Temple at Kottarakara, famous for its Unniappom, is one of the most venerated Ganesha temples in Kerala. The major vazhipadu (offerings) of the Kottarakkara temple are the Udayasthamaya pooja. The main deity of this temple is Shiva, but it is now a Ganesha temple. Edakkidom Thettikkunil Sree Maha Devi Temple, The major "vazhipadu" of the Edakkidom temple are the Adamoodal, Kadumpayasam.

Anandavalleswaram is another major temple in Kollam near the District jail. Here both Mahadeva (facing west) and Devi (facing east) are worshipped. In addition to them, Ganesh, Ayyappa, SreeKrishna and also Muruga are worshipped. We could find Hanuman Swamy also being worshipped there.                       

Aryankavu, in the Western Ghats, is the easternmost point in the district on the National Highway. One of five ancient Ayyappa temples is situated here; two others are at Achankovil and Kulathupuzha in the district.                                                                                   The guru Mata Amritanandamayi has her spiritual abode on the shores of the Laccadive Sea at Amritapuri, in the Karunagappalli taluk of Kollam district. Parayakadavu, a coastal village near Karunagapally, is the birthplace of Mata Amritanandamayi and her headquarters. The Thirumullavarom Temple is another well-known temple in Kollam, situated near the Laccadive Sea where thousands came annually for the Vavu Bali.                      The Roman Catholic Diocese of Quilon or Kollam is the first Catholic diocese in India in the state of Kerala. First erected on 9 August 1329 and re-erected on 1 September 1886, the vibrant Catholic community of Quilon (Kollam) cherishes its unique history of being founded by St. Thomas the Apostle of Jesus, nurtured by the great apostles St. Bartolommeo and St. Francis Xavier and fostered by the saintly martyrs like Archbishop Jordanus Catalani de Severac and Giovanni Marignoli. According to tradition, St. Thomas the Apostle established seven churches along the southern part of west coast of India, and Quilon (pronounced Koy-lon) is the second in the list of the above seven churches.                               Sheikh-masjid-karunagapally' ochira-juma-ath-masjid' kottukadu-juma-masjid-chavara' Valiyapalli, Janakappuram, Juma-Masjid Kolloorvila, Jumma-Ath-Masjid, Thattamala, N-Muslim Jumma-Ath-Palli, Kalamala Palli (Karuva), Muthirapparambu Palli (Kalamala), Muthirapparambu and Siyavathummodu Palli (Kilikolloor) are the best-known mosques.