Virajpet Virarajendra Pete | |
|---|---|
Township | |
  Virajpet Location in Karnataka, India Show map of Karnataka Virajpet Virajpet (India) Show map of India | |
| Coordinates:12°12′N75°48′E / 12.2°N 75.8°E /12.2; 75.8 | |
| Country |  India |
| State |  Karnataka |
| District | Kodagu |
| Veera Rajendra Pete | 1792 |
| Founded by | Dodda Vira Rajendra |
| Government | |
| • Body | Town Municipal Council |
| • Administrator | Yathish UllalK.A.S |
| • Chief Officer | Chandrakumara A. |
| • MLA | A S Ponnanna |
| Area | |
• Township | 9.02 km2 (3.48 sq mi) |
| • Rural | 1,643.61 km2 (634.60 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 909 m (2,982 ft) |
| Population (2022)[2] | |
• Township | 21,058 |
| • Density | 2,330/km2 (6,050/sq mi) |
| • Rural | 184,185 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Kannada[3] |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 571 218 |
| Telephone code | 08274 |
| ISO 3166 code | IN-KA |
| Vehicle registration | KA-12 |
| Website | www |
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Virajpet, also spelledVirajapete (Kodava:[ʋiraːdʒɐpeːʈe]) is a township of the district ofKodagu, in India's southernState ofKarnataka. It is the main town of theVirajpettaluka, south of the district, and bordersKerala State. The name of the town is derived from its founder,Dodda Vira Rajendra.
The name Virajpet is a shorter version of its previous name Virarajendrapet, named after theHaleri KingDodda Vira Rajendra, who founded the town in 1792.[4] He founded the town to commemorate his meeting withGeneralRobert Abercromby, his ally againstTipu Sultan, the ruler of theKingdom of Mysore, in 1791. Virajpet was the headquarters of Yedenalknadtaluk.[5] The first population comprised people who Vira Rajendra had in his predatory excursions swept away from Mysore. But, the people that fled to Virajpet were principally the inhabitants ofPeriyapatna, who were looking for protection when their town was destroyed byTipu Sultan, to prevent its falling into the hands of the British.[6]
Lieutenant Connor in his 1870 memoir titledMemoir of the Codugu Survey noted that Virajpet was "a large straggling town containing about 500 houses... and although the whole permanent trade of the country is centered here, there are but few symptoms of either affluence, or growing prosperity; having no manufactures, its chief support must be in traffic, for this, its situation is particularly advantageous, fitting it in a great measure for being a staple betweenMysore and the Western coast". He noted thatfair takes place every Friday and was "the largest of the periodical markets held in the country". He added, "... all the produce of the southern parts is brought here for sale, also that of the districts in its vicinity, it being the: principal place from which they are exported, the neighbouring inhabitants of Mysore resort here in great number.Rice is the chief article which they take away with them."[6]
During theindependence movement,Mahatma Gandhi visited the town in 1934 and addressed a public gathering.[7]
Virajpet has a hot and wet type of climate. The town receives moderately high rainfall. Summer in April and May are hot, with daily maximum temperature reaching over 34 °C. Temperature reduces with the onset of monsoon in the month of June. Winters are cold with daily minimum temperature hovering around 10 °C to 15 °C. In 2022, Virajpet hobli received annual rainfall of 2,587 millimetres (101.9 in).[8] It falls under thedrainage basin of west flowing rivers as its terrain is inclined towards the west and contribute less toKaveri river basin.
Virajpet has a population of 17,246 as per the2011 Census of India. The number of males was 8,724 and females 8,522, thus a gender ration of 977 females to 1,000 males.[9] Virajpet'sliteracy rate is 93.12 per cent,[9] significantly higher than the national average of 74.04 per cent. The rate among males was 92.75 per cent and 95.46 per cent in females. 1,641 in number, 9.52 per cent of the population fall in the under-six age group.[9]
According to the 2011 Census, 63.43 per cent of the town's population identified themselves asHindus, 28.80 per cent asMuslims and 7.23 per cent asChristians. Buddhists, formed a small percentage of the population, while 0.14 per cent claimedno religious affiliation.
The native language of the region isKodava Takk, a South Dravidian language spoken by the indigenous Kodava people, who have inhabited Kodagu for centuries.[10] Kannada, the official language of Karnataka, is also widely spoken and understood.Muslims language in Virajpet Dakhini Urdu And Beary.
A significant number of Malayalam speakers in Virajpet are descendants of migrants from Kerala. Many Malayalis moved to Kodagu during the British colonial period, particularly to work in coffee plantations.[11] While Malayalam remains spoken among these communities, it is not indigenous to Kodagu and reflects migration patterns rather than native linguistic identity.
Recent cultural reports and linguistic studies emphasize the importance of preserving Kodava Takk, which is facing challenges due to limited intergenerational transmission.[12][circular reference]
| Virajpet Town officials[13][14] | |
|---|---|
| President | T. R. Sushmitha |
| Vice-president | Vinank Kuttappa |
TheVirajpet Nagar Panchayat is themunicipality in charge of the civic and infrastructural assets of the town. Virajpet has a town area of 8.26 km2 (3.19 sq mi).[15] Themunicipal council consists of 18 elected representatives, calledcouncillors, one from each of the 18 wards (localities) of the town.[16] A councillor from the majority party is selected as a president. The council initially met at the Town Hall, which was built in 1932, before it was expanded in 1956. However, the council then met in another building constructed for the purpose, which also housed the administrative staff associated with the municipality.[17]
For elections to theLok Sabha, Virajpet falls under theMysore constituency. Prior to revision of the constituencies by theDelimitation commission in 2008, the town came underMangalore constituency.[18] For elections to theState Legislative Assembly, the town falls under theconstituency that, apart from the town, includes the surrounding villages, and sends one member to the assembly.
BothKarnataka andKerala operate government-run buses to Virajpet towardsKannur,Bangalore,Ernakulam,Hassan andMadikeri. Intra-district connectivity is maintained by private -run buses. Virajpet does not have railway connectivity. The nearest railway stations areThalassery andKannur inKerala, at a distance of 80 kilometres (50 mi) each.Mysore is the nearest major railway station in Karnataka at 105 kilometres (65 mi).
The nearest airports areKannur International Airport in Kerala andMangalore International Airport at 59 kilometres (37 mi) and 172 kilometres (107 mi) respectively. Also, theKozhikode International Airport and theBangalore Kempegowda International Airport are at a distance of 167 kilometres (104 mi) and 282 kilometres (175 mi) respectively from the town.
Nonational highways pass through the town of Virajpet. It can be reached by state highways,SH-90,SH-27 andSH-91.
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