Karavaloor

Karavaloor Kerala Karavalur
village
Karavaloor Location in Kerala, India
Coordinates: 8°59′0″N 76°55′30″E
Founded by	Chera dynasty
Named for	Chera dynasty
Government
• Type	Panchayat
• Body	Gram panchayat
Population  (2001)
• Total	23,709
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	691333
Telephone code	0475
Vehicle registration	KL-25
Nearest city	Punalur
Lok Sabha constituency	Kollam
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Punalur

Karavaloor is a village situated in Kollam district in the Indian state of Kerala.

Geography

It sits approximately 65 km from the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram and approximately 5 km from Punalur on the Punalur-Thiruvananthapuram road.

Nearby villages include Poikayil, Ayanikode, Neelammal, Venchempu, and Mathra, where the Panchayath administrative office is located.

Native plants include natural rubber, banana, jackfruit, black pepper, guava, and Syzygium samarangense, with an abundance of Paddy fields and natural streams.

History

Karavaloor can also be written as Karavalur. The name is derived from the legend of Shri Peedika Bhagavathy, the Goddess of Karavaloor, who appeared to the village with a Karaval ( കരവാള്‍, Sword in Dravidian Etymology) after she was called for their protection. The suffix Uru is Proto-Dravidian for "village".

It was once part of the Chera Empire. It developed trade links with Kollam Port and traded in spices and herbs as was common in the period.

Demographics

Proto-Australoid tribes like the Kuravar, Pulayar and Paraiyar make up the native ancestral population. Minority groups include the Nair, the Ezhava, Saint Thomas Christians, and the Mappila.

The 2008 census recorded a population of 23,709 with 11,334 male and 12,376 female.

Religion

Native Animism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam and Tribal Religions are practiced.

Karavaloor features the Karavaloor Peedika Bhagavathy Goddess Temple, where Bhadrakali is the presiding deity. The annual festival of this temple is known for its processions.

Active temples include Padinjattinkara Shiva Temple, Paanayam Shiva Temple, Mathra Shiva Temple, and Murikolilkavu Parvathy Temple. They are worship sites, along with almost a dozen sacred groves that denote nature.

Churches are present, such as Karavaloor Bethel Marthoma Church (attracting more than 500 families), Kereeth Marthoma Church, St. Benedict Malankara Syrian Catholic Church, St. George Orthodox Church and Nithya Sahaya Matha Church.

Pentecostal churches include Assemblies of God churches, Church of God and many Independent Pentecostal churches.

Economy

Key aspects of the local economy are rubber harvesting, banking, and remittances from migrant workers.

Education

The village has two secondary schools, Karavaloor (AMMHS, established under the patronage of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church), and Venchempu higher secondary school (NGPMHS). Neelammal is a government-run school for lower primary students. Private schools include the Oxford Central school and Carmel Central School.

Politics

Karavaloor is part of the Punalur constituency and is home to many state ministers and leaders.

P.C Baby was the first Panchayath president. The village is governed by an LDF majority committee. Sri V Rajan(CPI) is the Panchayath President.

Transport

• Punalur KSRTC Bus Station (5 km)
• Kollam KSRTC Bus Station(Quilon) (40 km)
• Punalur Railway Station (6 km)
• Kollam Railway Station (38 km)
• Trivandrum International Airport (75 km)