Asramam Maidan
Asramam Maidan | |
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- 1.6 km |
The Asramam Maidanam or Ashramam Maithanam is an urban park, or maidhanam, in the city of Kollam, in Kerala, India. At 72 acres (29 ha), it is the largest open space within Kerala Municipal Corporation limits.[1] The maidan is considered one of the green lungs of the city and regularly hosts the city's main cultural and sports events.[2] It holds an adventure park[3] children's park,[4] picnic village,[5] British Residency[6] and mangrove forests[7] making it an important tourism spot in the city.
The Asramam maidan is the major training hub of all the driving school operators in Kollam city.[8]
History
Asramam Maidan was used as an
Because of the loose soil in the Asramam area, the landing and take-off areas were prepared by bringing huge quantities of red laterite soil from the hilly areas. The aerodrome had strong barbed wire fencing round it, with two entry points, one at the south and the other at the north. There were no buildings in the aerodrome, not even a shed, although there was a concreted area in the shape of a ring where the planes stopped after landing. It was here that the passengers alighted and boarded the plane. Planes used to land sometimes once in two months.[9] The airport then came under the control of Kerala Public Works Department (PWD). Residents of Asramam knew in advance about the arrival of planes, because the PWD authorities, on getting information about a coming arrival, hoisted a windsock on a tall wooden mast.[9]
After the commissioning of
Walkway
A walkway of about 2.3 km is constructed around the ground, facilitating jogging and exercises.
Events
Asramam Maidan is the regular venue for many events including recruitment rallies for the
- Kollam Fest
Kollam Fest is an international event with focus on art, culture, trade, and tourism. The event, organised by the Kollam City Corporation, was aimed at presenting the history and culture of Kollam to the world.[14]
- Kollam Pooram
- Cricket matches
Asramam Maidan is a regular ground for the Kerala Cricket Association's matches, which are held almost all year round.[16]
Future development proposals
- Following a preliminary inspection by a team of experts, in 2009 plans were drawn up for the construction of an airstrip and an aviation school at Asramam Maidan. Supporters of the project said that the school would increase the importance of the city.[9] However, after an inspection, the team reported that the maidan was not suitable for the project because of the presence of several high-rise structures in the vicinity and local protests against the project.[17][18]
- The government of Kerala has decided to preserve the Asramam Maidan and the adjacent guest house complex in Kollam city as a heritage complex.[15]
- The Corporation of Kollam has been sanctioned Rs. 52 lakhs in the 2017-18 financial year's budget for constructing cycle track around the Asramam maidan.[19]
Ashtashilpas
Kerala Lalitha Kala Akademi Kollam in association with DTPC conducted 'Ashtashilpa' ten day sculpture camp organized at Kollam Ashram grounds as part of 'Walkway'. Sculptures in concrete medium were made in the camp.[20] It was decided to make eight sculptures based on the eight directions of Ashtamudi lake. As it is a part of the heritage road project which is a reenactment of the history and tradition of Kollam. The sculptors are prominent from different parts of Kerala.
Sculptures and sculptors
- Kuravanum Kurathiyum - Guruprasad Ayyappan (Kollam)
- Mother and Child - KV Jyothilal (Kollam)
- Winter Morning- V. Satheesan (Thiruvananthapuram)
- Two Horses - KRT Tinu (Kannur)
- One of Us - Pramod Gopalakrishnan (Thrissur)
- Peache Ki Or - Sanu Ramakrishnan (Vaikkam)
- Imagining Human - Giri Vasudevan (Idukki)
- From The Margin - Schenley (Collam)
-
Winter Morning
-
Nature of my Mother
-
Kuravanum Kurathiyum
Local public and private institutions
- ESIC Model & Super Speciality Hospital[21]
- Traffic control room, Kerala Police
- International Astro Turf Hockey Stadium[22]
- Dr. Nair's Hospital
- KTDC Tamarind Hotel
- Kerala Cricket Association, Kollam branch[23]
- Kadappakada Sports Club
- Office of the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Kollam
See also
- Kollam Airport
- Kadappakada
- Chinnakada
- List of cricket grounds in India
References
- ^ 2,000 saplings for Asramam Maidan
- ^ a b Thousands witness Kollam Pooram
- ^ Sculptors' touch gives a new look to adventure park
- ^ Nod for work on park
- ^ Picnic Village in Kollam
- ^ A historical building floored
- ^ Biodiversity heritage tag for Asramam mangroves soon
- ^ "Curbs on using Asramam maidan - The Hindu". The Hindu. 25 August 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f Aviation school proposal evokes mixed response
- ^ Army Recruitment Rally Begins in Kollam
- ^ Matches played on Asramam Maidan
- ^ Massive wedding program at Asramam Maidan
- ^ Sonia to address INTUC rally
- ^ History, culture of Kollam to the fore
- ^ a b Asramam Maidan to be made heritage complex
- ^ Matches Played on Asramam Maidan, Kollam
- ^ Asramam Maidan not suitable for airport
- ^ Airstrip: team inspects Asramam
- ^ "Focus on water supply system - The Hindu". The Hindu. 28 March 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
- ^ "അഷ്ട ശില്പ; ദശദിന ശില്പകലാ ക്യാമ്പ് ആരംഭിച്ചു. I&PRD : Official Website of Information Public Relations Department of Kerala".
- ^ ESIC Model & Super Speciality Hospital, Kollam Archived 14 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ KCA, Kollam
- ^ Astro turf stadium for Kollam