Kasaragod district
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Kasaragod (Malayalam:കാസര്ഗോഡ് ജില്ല) is one of the districts of the Indian state of Kerala. Kasaragod district was organised as a separate district on 24 May 1985. It is the northernmost district of Kerala.
Overview
To its south lies Kannur District and to the north the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka state. All along its west it is walled by the Western Ghats while along the east the Arabian Sea borders it. The district, covering an area of around 1992 km², has a population (2001 census) of 1,203,342 and has two taluks, namely, Kasaragod and Hosdurg both being municipalities as well; seventy-five villages; thirty-nine panchayats. The district is further sub-divided into four administrative segments called development blocks, namely, Manjeshwar, Kasaragod, Kanhangad, and Nileshwar. Like other districts of Kerala, Kasaragod district too has a high literacy rate, around 85.17%. The Malayalam spoken here has influences from Tulu, Kannada, Urdu and Konkani. People from southern Kerala generally find it difficult to understand the Malayalam spoken here. Kasaragod district has Arabian sea to the west and Western ghats to the east.
In ancient times, Kasaragod was known by Arabs by the name Harkwillia.[1]Many Arab travellers who visited Kerala between 9th and 14th century visited Kasaragod , which was an important trade centre then.Duarte Borbosa, the Portuguese traveler who visited Kumbla, near Kasaragod in 1514, recorded rice being exported for coir to Maldives.[2]Dr.Francis Buccanan, who was the family doctor of Arthur Wellesley, visited Kasaragod in 1800.[3]In his travelogue, he recorded information on places like Athiraparambu, Kavvai, Nileshwaram, Bekal, Chandragiri and Manjeshwaram.[4]
History
Kasaragod was once a part of the Tuluva kingdom.Then, there were 64 Malayalam and 64 Tulu villages in this part.[5]When the Vijayanagara empire attacked Kasaragod, it was ruled by the Kolathiri Raja who had Nileshwaram as his capital. During the decline of the Vijayanagara empire, the administration of this area vested with Ikkery Naiks.[6]At the onset of collapse of the Vijayanagara empire, Vengappa Naik declared indepenance to Ikkery. Kumbla, Chandragiri and Bekal are considered to be the chain of forts constructed by Shivappa Naik.[7]In 1763, Hyder Ali conquered Bedanoor (Bidnur), the capital of the Ikkery Naiks. His son Tippu Sultan conquered the whole of Malabar. As per the Sreerangapattanam Treaty of 1792, Tippu surrendered Malabar, except Tulunadu (Canara) to the British. The British got Tulunadu only after the death of Tippu Sultan.[8]
Geography
Kasaragod was organised as a separate district, on [9] district is the northern most district of state of kerala
Kasaragod is located at 12°30′N 75°00′E / 12.5°N 75.0°E.[10] It has an average elevation of 19 metres (62 feet).
The landscape is dominated by the characteristic coconut palms accompanying rolling hills and streams flowing into the sea. The landscape is dotted with tiled-roof buildings, topped with the famous kasaragod tiles made with the local hard red clay and typically walled with laterite blocks. Older houses are commonly found with elaborate wood-work.
Kasaragod district consists of two taluks viz, [Kasaragod] and Hosdurg (Kanhangad).
Demographics
As of 2001 India census,[11] Kasaragod had a population of 12,03342. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Kasaragod has an average literacy rate of 79%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 82%, and female literacy is 76%. In Kasaragod, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age. The main languages are Malayalam, Tulu, and Kannada. Besides these languages, Konkani and Marathi, Hindi, Urdu are also spoken here. The Malayalam spoken here has influences from Tulu, Kannada, and Konkani; and Tulu spoken here is influenced by Malayalam.
Tourist attractions
Kasaragod is the one of the most beautiful districts in Kerela state with 11 rivers (out of a total of 44 rivers in Kerala), forts, beaches, hills and backwaters. Bekal Fort is the biggest fort in Kerala which is 14 km from Kanhangad and 11 km from Kasaragod town. The nearest railway station is Pallikere railway station, now Bekal Fort railway station and the nearest airport is Mangalore airport. Ranipuram - A number of grassy hills near by the Panathady town and linked to Kanhangad by Kanhangad-Panathur state highway. Kottencheri hills - They are near Talakaveri, the starting point of the Kaveri river. It is 35 km from Kanhangad town. Other tourist attractions are the Chandragiri Fort, Anandashramam, Malik Deenar Masjid, Valiyaparamba backwater and Kareem forest park - the only man made forest in the Kerala. The forest park is located at Parappa near Nileshwar.Kerala government has planned to set up a IT park in Kasaragod.Park will be constructed in 100acres revenue land in Cheemeni which is estimated to bring 50,000 IT jobs. Chedekal
Flora and Fauna
Kasaragod district is very rich in vegetation. Natural vegetation, except in some coastal regions, consists of different types of forests. But, in spite of generally favorable climatic conditions, vegetation is not uniform. In restricted regions, with their own micro climate or special edaphic features, plant formations assume different characters. Thus, plant communities, ranging from psammophytes and mangroves to evergreen forests are seen in this district.
The coastal region is a comparatively narrow zone, characterized by secondary soil which is rather lose and sandy. The sterile sandy tract supports only a poor vegetation of the psammophyte type. Plants are few and mostly prostrate. Erect species are small and short. Owing to very poor water holding capacity of the soil, these plants are provided with special xerophytic adaptations. Another conspicuous feature of this area is the mangrove vegetation, found at the estuaries of rivers and backwaters, and often extending to the interior along their banks. Human interference has much changed the vegetation of the coastal region.
A major part of the district comes under midland region with numerous hills and dales and it presents an undulating surface gradually ascending and merging into the slopes of Western Ghats. Soil is secondary and lateritic with underlying rock of laterite or disintegrated gneiss. Typical flora of this area is deciduous forest consisting of a mixture of evergreen and deciduous trees. Undergrowth consists of a variety of annuals and perennials.
The mountains are a continuation of the midland region, gradually ascending to the main ridge of the Western Ghats. Soil in the western slopes is a ferruginous red, sandy loam. Vegetation over the whole area is of the forest type. Irregular distribution of teak, localized areas of bamboo dominance, change of good quality forest into open grass lands, etc are characteristic.
National parks and wildlife sanctuaries
Ranipuram shola NP/ wildlife sanctuary(50 sq.km, proposed)
Although local people of this area reported presence of wild elephants and shola forests, concerened forest officials of this disrtict never tried for setting up of a NP or wildlife sanctuary. The proposed Ranipuram Wildlife sanctuary / National park of Kanhangad forest range consists of various flora and fauna which are endemic to the Western Ghats and a yet to studied biodiversity hotspot. It merges with the Talacauvery wildlife sanctuary. Ranipuram hill station which falls in Panathady reserve forest is an ideal area to notify as a wild life sanctuary/National park. shola forest seen only here in this district. Elephants, leopards, deer, wild dogs, wild boars, macaques, jungle cats, Leopard cats slender loris, porcupines, malabar giant squirrels, malabar civet cat, many species of birds, rare butterflies and medicinal plants are found in these forest.
Most of these highly endangered animals are killed by people due to lack of conversational awareness or to protect their crops. Ranipuram wild life sanctuary will be in contiguous to Talacauvery wildlife sanctuary in Karnataka. If it is declared as a wild life sanctuary, it will enhance the tourism industry of this district along with Ranipuram hill station/Biodiversity park. Declaring it as a wildlife sanctuary is the only way to protect this Westernghat biodiversity hotspot and permanent solution for Encroachment, Poaching, hunting in night, mining, Illegal tree felling which are main threats for this park.
The proposed Munnamkadavu Dam and Irrigation project may very useful to create fresh water ecosystem and later a wetland ecosystem to home for wild crocodile, otter, endangered fish and other water birds. Afforestation around the catchment area of dam reservoir will help to create another new wildlife sanctuary here in future and recreate lost wild elephant corridor.It is also an integral part of Brahmagiri biosphere..
Re-introduction project of Nilgiri Tahr in Ranipuram Shola Forest
Another dream Project for district is the Reintroduction of endangered Nilgir Tahr here in Ranipuram biodiversity park. Nilgiri Tahr was once found all over the western Ghat of kasaragod now locally extinct. Population of this wild goat increased in southern part of the state, especially Eravikulam National park. so Relocation of some of the Nilgiri Tahrs in Ranipuram can be done with help of Kerala Forest Department, District Tourism Promotion council, and Wildlife Institute of India. This may lead to a Tremendous progress in Tourism in the district and also enhance the biodiversity of Ranipuram. Grassy hill slopes with vegetation, shola forests, cool climate are Ideal for relocation of Nilgiri tahr here in Ranipuram.
Malom wildlife sanctaury (5 sq.km)
Malom reserve forest of kanhangad range consists of Tropical rainforest and many wild animals like as rhesus monkey, wild pig, flying squirrels, slender loris, porcupine, and birds like peacock, malabar hornbill and grey horn bill are seen. snakes like cobras, python and king cobras reported. It is 28 km away east of kanhangad in Balal- Kallar panchayath.
adoor wildlife sanctuary (2 sq.km)
Adoor reserve forest which spreads about 2 sq.km in kasaragod district is the home for endangere animals like jungle cat, slenedr loris, wild pig, porcupine, turtles, peacock, malabar horn bill, butterflies, medicinal plants and wet evergreen forest. illicit tree felling, hunting, encroachment are main threats for this sanctaury. It is about 35 km east of kasaragod town in adoor- kuttikol panchayath.
National Movement
Kasaragod played a prominent role in the National Movement for the freedom of the country. Mohammed Sherul Sahib and Kandige Krishna Bhat were the frontline leaders of the independence movement. Umesh Rao, K.M. Krishnan Nambiar, Shreesankarji, Naranthatta Raman Nair, A.C. Kannan Nair, T.Gopalan Nair and Meloth Narayanan Nambiar were prominent freedom fighters.
The agrarian struggle to end the exploitation and oppression by landlords and chieftains were part of the National Movement. The Kadakom Sathyagraha was started following the arrest of Gandhiji in 1932. The Palayi Harvest Agitation (1941), Cheemeni Estate Struggle (1942), Kayyur Agrarian Riot (1944), Eleri Estate Agitation (1946), Karinthalam Paddy Seizure Revolt (1948) and many other struggles waged by the peasant organisations accelerated the tempo of the freedom movement. Besides the agitation of the peasants, the various struggles unleashed for the uplift of the scheduled castes and tribes also supported and enlivened the National Movement.