Chavakkad

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Chavakkad, formerly Chowghat, is a Municipality in Thrissur district of the Indian state of Kerala. Chavakkad is noted for its beach and fishing.^[2] It lies on National Highway 66 is located about 83 km (52 mi) north of the city of Kochi, 26 km (16 mi) northwest of Thrissur, and 24 km (15 mi) south of Ponnani.

Chavakkad (Koottungal) is famous for its communal harmony and diversity among people. The famous Manathala Juma Masjid situated in Chavakked. St. Thomas Church which is founded by St. Thomas the Apostle in 52 AD is situated at Palayoor, Chavakkad is believed to be the first church in South Asia. Manathala Vishwanatha temple is another landmark in Chavakkad. Koottungalangadi is famous for trade in the earlier era. The town's anglicized name was Chowghat. It was renamed Chavakkad in the early 1970s, much earlier than other towns and cities in Kerala were renamed.

As of 2001^[update] India census,^[3] Chavakkad had a population of 38,138. Males constitute 46% of the population and females 54%. Chavakkad has an average literacy rate of 81%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 83% and female literacy of 79%. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

The Chavakkad Panchayath was established in 1918. Later on 1 October 1978, the Panchayat was upgraded to the status of a Municipality with an area of 12.41 km² and is divided into 27 electoral wards. In 2010, the electoral wards were increased to 29.^[4] The municipality has a total population of 37,789 and a density of 3,045 per km². Chavakkad is a Grade-III Municipality and the headquarters of the Chavakkad Taluk.^[5] Chavakkad houses the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court and Munsif Courts.^[6] It also has a Sub Jail.^[7]

Chavakkad educational district has 93 high schools, three special schools, one Kalamandalam arts school, two schools for the deaf, and a fisheries’ school. Kadappuram Government Higher Secondary School, M.R.R.M.H.S, St Joseph's School, I.D.C IEHS, St Francis ICSE School, Amrita Vidyalayam, Rajah School, MIC English School, National Huda School, Focus IEHS School, Sree Narayana Vidyaniketan Central School, and V.R. Appu Master Memorial Higher Secondary School are some of the prominent schools in and near Chavakkad.

National Highway 66, commonly referred to as NH 66, passes through the Chavakkad town. This busy National Highway runs roughly north–south along the western coast of India, parallel to

• Chavakkad Beach: Located on the coast of Arabian Sea in West Coast, Chavakkad Beach is counted amongst Kerala's most popular beaches. It is two kilo metres from the Chavakkad town. Chavakkad Beach is famous for the spectacle called 'Azhimokam' in Malayalam which means a place where a river confluences with the sea.^[11]

• Jesus Christ.^[12] Palayoor Syro-Malabar church is the oldest Christian Church in India and is called an Apostolic Church credited to the Apostolate of St. Thomas who preached and also started conversion of people to Christianity here. The main feast is observed in the month of July. The 3rd of July is the day of "Dukhrana" which is observed as a remembrance day of St Thomas the apostle. And the Sunday which comes after the tenth of the month is observed as the day of "Tharpana" to remember the first christening ceremony done by St Thomas the apostle at the Thaliyakulam near to the church.^[13][14]
• Namboothiri Brahmins from Sukapuram & Peruvanam villages in ancient Kerala. The temple is well known for the number of elephants and cows. There are more than 60 elephants and 500 cows in the temple. The elephants are accommodated at Punnathoor Kotta, 3 km north of the temple, and cows are accommodated at Vengad in Malappuram district, almost 60 km north-east of Guruvayoor. The temple is managed by Guruvayoor Devaswom
  , an autonomous temple body under the Government of Kerala, with 12 small temples under its control.
• Manathala Mosque & Nercha : Manathala Mosque is a famous and old mosque in Chavakkad.This mosque is a very sacred place for the people following Islamic faith. It has a dome and four minarets, and the building is whitewashed and the edges are lined with green borders. The interior of the mosque is the same as other mosques. Manathala Mosque is flamboyantly decorated during the annual festival called nercha, which happens during the month of January–February. Throngs of people from different religions visit the mosque and the festival goes on for 4 days. This Nercha is conducting in remembrance of a martyr called "Hydrous Kutty Moopar" general of Hyder Ali buried in the courtyard of the mosque. Hydrous Kutty Moopar fought for justice and truth and was a trusted lieutenant of Hyder Ali.

See also

• Kadalaayimana
• Ponnani

External links

• Chavakkad Municipality Official Page

References

1. ^ "Kerala (India): Districts, Cities and Towns - Population Statistics, Charts and Map".
2. ^ "Chavakkad Beach". 30 August 2009. Archived from the original on 30 August 2009. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
3. ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
4. ^ "LDF trying to regain control of Chavakkad". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 17 September 2005. Archived from the original on 8 November 2006. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
5. ^ "Profile". Janasevana Kendram. Archived from the original on 24 March 2011. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
6. ^ "Video Conferencing between Courts and Jails launched". Kerala State IT Mission. Archived from the original on 22 January 2011. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
7. ^ "Murder undertrial hangs himself in Chavakkad jail". Times of India. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
8. ^ "Kerala PWD — State Highways". Kerala State Public Works Department. Archived from the original on 1 December 2010. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
9. ^ "Indian auto mart: A saga of shattered dreams". Times of India. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
10. ^ "Cargo vehicles from Rajah Motors". The Business Line. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
11. ^ "Chavakkad Beach". Thrissur District. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
12. ^ Menon, A. Sreedhara (1962). Kerala District Gazetteers: Trichur, Kerala, Volume 7. Superintendent of Govt. Presses. pp. 72, 100, 611.
13. ^ "The Syro-Malabar Church". Archived from the original on 12 May 2008. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
14. ^ "The Syro-Malabar Church". Syro Malabar website. Retrieved 23 October 2013.

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