Chittur-Thathamangalam | |
|---|---|
 Anikode, Chittur | |
  Chittur-Thathamangalam Location in Kerala, India Show map of Kerala Chittur-Thathamangalam Chittur-Thathamangalam (India) Show map of India | |
| Coordinates:10°42′N76°45′E / 10.70°N 76.75°E /10.70; 76.75 | |
| Country | India |
| State | Kerala |
| District | Palakkad |
| Government | |
| • Body | Municipality |
| Area | |
• Total | 14.71 km2 (5.68 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 131 m (430 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 32,298 |
| • Density | 2,196/km2 (5,687/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Malayalam, English[2] |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 6781xx |
| Vehicle registration | KL-70 |
| Parliament constituency | Alathur |
| Assembly constituency | Chittur |
Chittur-Thathamangalam is a town and municipality in thePalakkad district ofKerala State, India. It is the headquarters ofChittur taluk, 13 km (8.1 mi) southeast ofPalakkad, on the banks of theKannadipuzha, a major headstream of theBharathapuzha, the second-longest river in Kerala. A mini civil station is also located here, which provides government-related services. It consists of two areas, Chittur and Thathamangalam, which together form the municipality.
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Chittur-Thathamangalam town consists of the famous Chittur Bhagavathi temple, which is under the Cochin Devaswom board. The other major temples are the Pazhayannur Bhagavathi temple, Durga temple, and Sivakshethram (in Lankeswaramagraharam).
Agriculture is the main occupation of the district's people. The town is home to some of the major Menontharavads of Kerala. There are also many agraharams (communities of Iyers) and Moothan communities.
The Sokanashini river flows through Chittur, and it is on the banks of this river that Thunjathu Ramanujan Ezuthachan, the father of theMalayalam language, spent his last days. His final resting place is famous for Vidyarambham celebrations, where young children are initiated into the world of words and knowledge.
Thathamangalam is sometimes mentioned in history books and maps asTattamungalum.[3]
Chittur, Thathamangalam and nearby towns are also mentioned in "Memoir of the Survey of Travancore and Cochin 1816-1820", and in this book the spelling used is "Tattamungalum".[4]
Music is a part of the lifestyle of the people here, with the Government College training students towards higher degrees in music. Kongan Pada is the main festival of Chittur, and it is celebrated in the month of March.Sooranporu, Niramala, and Ayyappan Vilakku are also celebrated here. Others includeOnam,Pongal,Vishu,Deepavali andNavarathri. At the time of Vishu, Vishu Vela a.k.a Karivela is also celebrated. There are music concerts in Chittur Kavu at the time ofNavarathri and Konganpada. Other than these, there is an important festival in Lankeswaram village, called Ardra Dharsanam (Thiruvathira Radholsavam), at the end of December or first of January month every year.
As of 2001[update] Indiacensus, Chittur-Thathamangalam had a population of 31,884. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%.[5]
Chittur-Thathamangalam has an average literacy rate of 79%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with male literacy of 84% and female literacy of 74%. 9% of the population is under 6 years of age. Chittur is sometimes called as Kerala's "nellara" along withAlappuzha, meaning the rice bowl.[6]
Chittur-Thathamangalam town connects to other parts of India throughPalakkad city.National Highway 544 connects toCoimbatore andBangalore. Other parts of Kerala are accessed throughNational Highway 66 going throughThrissur. The nearest major railway station isPalakkad. The nearest airport isCoimbatore.
The headquarters of Chittur Taluk, one of the six taluks ofPalakkad district, is here. Chittur's MLA isK. Krishnan Kutty of Janata Dal (Secular).
