Kanhangad

Kanhangad
—  municipality and town  —
Bekal Fort Beach
Kanhangad Location of Kanhangad in Kerala and India
Coordinates	12°18′0″N 75°5.4′0″E
Country	India
State	Kerala
District(s)	Kasaragod
Population	65,499 (2001)
Official languages	Malayalam
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Climate Temperature • Summer • Winter	Tropical monsoon (Köppen) •      35 °C (95 °F) •      20 °C (68 °F)
Codes • Vehicle • KL-14,KL 60

Kanhangad (Malayalam: കാഞ്ഞങ്ങാട്) is a town and a municipality in Kasaragod district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is 28 km from the district headquarters of Kasaragod. Bekal Fort is a 300-year old fort, one of the largest and best preserved forts in Kerala and lies 10 km north of Kanhangad. The fort is believed to have been built by Ikkeri Shivappa Nayaka. A Hanuman temple is located at the entrance of the fort. The construction resembles the Portuguese fort at Kannur St.Angelo's Fort.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Kanhangad had a population of 65,499. Males constitute 48% of the population and females 52%. Kanhangad has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 83%, and female literacy is 74%. In Kanhangad, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age. The most widely spoken language is Malayalam. Other prominent languages spoken by communities living here include Konkani, Tulu and Kannada. A large GSB Brahmin community (who speaks Konkani) lives here. The famous Gowda Saraswat Brahmin temple, Lakshmi Venkatesh temple (LV temple) is situated in kanhangad. There is also a small Palghat Iyer Brahmin community which speaks a mix of Malayalam and Tamil.

State Government Offices

• Hosdurg, Sub Registrar Office
• Court
• Taluk Office
• RTO

Famous personalities

• P. Kunhiraman Nair (1906–1972), famous poet of Kerala, hailed from Bellikoth near Kanhangad. Worked as Malayalam Teacher, wrote many poems. He was a poet of nature. Won Kendra Sahitya Academy Award for his work Thamarathoni.
• Kanayi Kunhiraman (Malayalam: കാനായി കുഞ്ഞിരാമന്‍ born 25 July 1937)[1] is a sculptor[2] from Kuttamath in Hosdurg Taluk in Kasaragod district of Kerala state, India. He is the Former Chairman of the Lalit Kala Academy.[1]
• Kanhangad Ramachandran is a Malayalee singer and musician from Kanhangad, Kerala. He is better known as one of the disciples of legendary singer Padmabhushan Dr. K. J. Yesudas.He is the first Indian in the mid 80s to hold the title for singing non-stop for 25 hours in the Guinness World Record. He has over 25,000 stage performances to his credit all over India and abroad. Ramchandran has performed at Thyagaraja festival at Kalpathy and at Kollur Mookambika Temple.[1]. He is now working as a music teacher at Durga High School, Kanhangad. [2]

Economy

Agriculture and fishing are the primary source of income for residents of the region. The soil and topography allow for a diverse selection of crops. Rubber, pepper, cashew and ginger are the important crops that are grown in the eastern part of the region, which comprises forests and hilly areas. In the coastal areas, coconut, paddy and tobacco are cultivated.

Since the oil boom of the 80’s, young people have migrated to the oil producing Gulf countries in pursuit of lucrative job opportunities. This has considerably changed the economic situation and life style of the residents. Many families depend on money sent by family members working in the Gulf and other regions.

Arts and culture

The Nityanandasramam, which is situated on the hillock about half a km. south of the Hosdurg taluk office, was founded by Swami Nityananda. The spot was at first part of a forest area. Here Swami Nityananda constructed 45 guhas (caves) in a mountain slope. There is a temple built in 1963, after the style and design of the famous Somanatha Temple in Gujarat. A full size statue of Swami Nityananda in sitting posture made of panchaloha is one of the attractions of the asramam. Our Lady of Sorrows Church - oldest in the district constructed in 1890 AD. 15 KM north of Kasargod. This Gothic style Roman Catholic church which is under the Manglore Diocese, has celebrated its centenary recently and also renovated. Another centre in Ajanoor village renowned as the birth place of Poet P.Kunhiraman Nair, veteran freedom fighter and playwright Vidwan P.Kelu Nair and Rasika siromani Kanan Nair. A cultural centre of the district. The famous Madiyan Kulom temple is situated in Ajanur village. It is about five kms. from Kanhangad, the headquarters of Hosdurg taluk. The main deity of the temple is Bhadrakali; but there are also other deities like Kshetrapalan, Bhagavathi and Bhairavan. A peculiarity of this temple is that a Brahmin priest performs pooja only in the noon, while the morning and evening poojas are performed by a sect called Maniyanis. The festivals in the temple fall during the months of Edavam (May, June) and Dhanu (December, January) and on these days all the poojas are performed in connection with this festival. Anandashramam, situated about five kms. east of the Kanhangad Railway Station, was founded in 1939 by Swami Ramadas, a great Vaishnava saint of modern times. The main asramam and other buildings have a beautiful setting in the midst of shady mango, coconut and other groves. There is a hill to the east of the asramam, to which the devotees retire for quiet meditation and from its west, the surrounding extensive landscape can be seen in its natural grandeur. The spot at the highest point of the hill is so fascinating that the devotees, who go up the hill and sit silently, are blessed with deep peace and tranquility.

Climate

The southwest monsoon starts towards the end of May or the beginning of June, heralded by thunderstorms and prevails until September when the rain fades out. October brings the northeast monsoon. Dry weather sets in by the end of December. January and February are the coolest months of the year. March, April and May are very hot.

Heritage

Anandashramam : The famous Hindu shrine is situated just 1 km. distance from Kanhangad bus stand and railway station. People reached there seeking peace even from abroad.

Madiyan Koolam : Near Kanhangad at Manikoth is dedicated to Bhadrakali. During the temple festival in May/June and December/January, the ceremonious theyyam is performed here.

Temples, Mosques and Churches

Temples

Sree Karppoorewara Temple, Kadinhathoor Sree Mahavishnu Temple, Athiyambur Sree Subrahmania Temple, Puthukkai Sree Muchilottu Bhagavathi Temple, Puthiyakotta Sree Mariyamman Kovil, Manniottu Devsthanam, Mathoth Sree Mahavishnu Temple, Sree Lakshmi Venkateswara Temple, Sree Bhagavathi Temple, Beach, Arayil Sree Bhagavathi Temple, Kaiclon Temple

Mosques

Arangadi Juma-at-Mosque, Padannakkad Mosque, Bavakkaran Mosque

Churches

CSI Church, Catholic Church