Kayamkulam Onattukara, Odanadu, Onad, Kallikoilon and Chirava Svaroopam | |
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 Azheekal Bridge  Krishnapuram Palace | |
  Kayamkulam Location in Kerala, India Show map of Kerala Kayamkulam Kayamkulam (India) Show map of India | |
| Coordinates:9°10′19″N76°30′04″E / 9.172°N 76.501°E /9.172; 76.501 | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Kerala |
| District | Alappuzha |
| Government | |
| • Body | Kayamkulam Municipality |
| • MLA | U Prathiba |
| Area | |
• Total | 21.79 km2 (8.41 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 11th (Kerala Most Populous Urban agglomerations) |
| Population (2011)[2] | |
• Total | 68,634 |
| • Rank | 23rd (Most populous cities in kerala) |
| • Density | 3,150/km2 (8,158/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Malayalam, English |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 690502 |
| Telephone code | +91-479 |
| Vehicle registration | KL-29 |
| Nearest city | Kollam (38 km),Alappuzha (46 km),Pathanamthitta (41 km) |
| Sex ratio | 0.944♂/♀ |
| Literacy | 81.76% |
Kayamkulam (IPA:[kaːjɐmkuɭam,kaːjɐŋɡuɭam]) is amunicipality[3] in theAlappuzha district ofKerala,India. It is located 46 km (28.6 mi) south of the district headquarters inAlappuzha and about 110 km (68.4 mi) north of the state capitalThiruvananthapuram. As per the2011 Indian census, Kayamkulam has a population of 68,634 people, and a population density of 3,149/km2 (8,160/sq mi).
Kayamkulam was the erstwhile capital of the Kingdom of Onattukara, and today continues to be the largest town in theOnattukara region.
Kayamkulam was a medieval feudal kingdom known asOdanad(also calledOnattukara) ruled by the Kayamkulamrajas. Maha RajaMarthanda Varma (1706–58) conquered Kayamkulam and annexed its territories toTravancore.
TheKrishnapuram Palace, built in the 18th century, now functions as a museum. Constructed in typical Keralan-style architecture, it has the largest mural painting in Kerala.[4] The palace museum houses the Kayamkulam double-edged sword.[5]
The Shankar Memorial National Cartoon Museum & Art Gallery is an art museum located at Krishnapuram in Kayamkulam.[6] Established in 2014 by the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi, the institution serves as a tribute to the legendary Indian cartoonist, Kesava Shankar Pillai (Shankar), who is widely regarded as thefather of political cartooning in India and was born in the area.[7] The museum is the first of its kind in Kerala and occupies a 15,000 square feet area, housing an extensive collection of Shankar's original works, including approximately 120 cartoons featuring prominent Indian political figures, along with his personal artifacts like his pen, brush, and easel.[6][7] It also displays works by other notable cartoonists and hosts exhibitions and sculptures.[6]
The Kayamkulam Boat Race[8] is held on the fourth Saturday of August every year.[9] Chinese fishing nets can be found on the banks of the lagoon.
NH 66 passes through Kayamkulam, connecting it to the major citiesAlappuzha,Kochi,Thiruvananthapuram,Thrissur,Kollam,Palakkad andNagercoil. The Kayamkulam–Punalur road is a major road connecting it to major city's in eastsengotai,Tenkasi,Thirunelveli viaPettah parts of theTamil Nadu state. The KSRTC bus station is located near the national highway.
Kayamkulam Junction railway station is a major railway junction located 1.5 km (0.93 mi) from the town on the Kayamkulam–Punalur road.
According to the2001 Census of India,[10] Kayamkulam had a population of 65,299. Males constituted 49% of the population and females 51%. Kayamkulam had an average literacy rate of 82%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. Male literacy was 84%, and female literacy is 79%. In Kayamkulam, 11% of the population was under six years of age.
| Year | Male | Female | Total Population | Change | Religion (%) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hindu | Muslim | Christian | Sikhs | Buddhist | Jain | Other religions and persuasions | Religion not stated | |||||
| 2001[11] | 31,997 | 33,302 | 65,299 | - | 55.78 | 36.26 | 7.92 | 0 | 0 | 0.01 | 0 | 0.03 |
| 2011[12] | 32,784 | 35,850 | 68,634 | +5.1% | 53.30 | 39.07 | 7.32 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0 | 0.01 | 0.28 |
Kayamkulam Assembly Constituency is part ofAlappuzha.[13]
The Central Coconut Research Station (CCRS) was established in 1948 as a field station of the Agricultural Research Laboratory. Presently, it is a regional station of the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI).[14]
Onattukara Regional Agricultural Research Station, Kayamkulam is located in the Kayamkulam Municipality of Alappuzha District, one kilometer east of Kayamkulam town, on the northern side of Kayamkulam - Punalur road. The station was established in the year 1937 under the erstwhile University of Travancore. It was subsequently transferred to the Department of Agriculture in 1958 and continued to function under it till it became a part of the KAU on 07.02.72. I n April, 2000, this Station was upgraded to the status of RARS (Onattukara Region).
Kerala People's Arts Club (KPAC) is a theatrical movement in Kayamkulam, Kerala. It was formed in the 1950s by a group of individuals that had close ties with theleftist parties of Kerala.
In 1951 KPAC staged its first drama,Ente Makananu Sari (transl. "My Son is Right"), whose songs were written byPunaloor Balan. Its second dramaNingalenne Communistakki (transl. "You Made Me a Communist") was first performed in 1952. The success of Ningalenne Communistakki brought KPAC to the forefront of a powerful people's theatre movement in Kerala.[15]
KPAC played a significant role in popularising theCommunist Party in Kerala through its dramas, road shows andkathaprasangams (story telling).[16]
The Rajiv Gandhi Combined Cycle Power Plant is acombined cycle power plant located in Cheppad, Haripad, Alappuzha district, Kerala.
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