More Villages in Kollam
Punnala: This village was inhabited by civilized people long back. At a point of time all structures were demolished, may be by some invading attackers, forcing the inhabitants to flee. It took several years since to normal inhabitation in the village. The nerve center of Punnala is Kumaramkudy which is now under the State Farming Corporation.
Puthoor :Puthoor is a developed village. It boasts of having two temples – Chirayil Devi temple and Kaniapoika temple – and two churches – one at proper Puthoor and another at Karikkal. Both the churches are St George Orthodox. Besides, there are four schools – Little Flower School, Divine Public School, Kaniyapoika Govt High School, Vendar Higher Secondary School – and a hospital known as Bethany Hospital.
Chachipunna A tributary of Kallada River flows through this small village. North and south are hills. The detection of the ruins of houses and temples suggests civilized inhabitation was there, may be 500 to 1000 years ago. The folk stories reveal the erstwhile inhabitants were either killed or fled away following invasion by neighboring Tamil Nadu’s outlaws. Detection of swords from burial grounds in 1970s and urns in 1980s is proof of existence of civilization in earlier period.
The present inhabitants, mostly of Christians, are migrated from neighbouring districts some 50 to 70 years back.
Chachipunna is now by all means an affluent village. The main vocation is agriculture. Produces are rubber, coconut, pepper and paddy. A good percentage of educated hands engaged in employment in Middle East and other States in India. Their remittance to homes hikes the prosperity of the village as a whole.
The village has a primary school, a bank, a library, four churches, a temple and a mosque.
Oyoor :Oyoor village is located on the banks of Ithikkara River. It is a developed village having a market, a bus station, a primary health center, a lower primary school, an upper primary school, a post office, a bank, a cinema theatre, a temple, a mosque and a church.
Ithikkara River has two contrast natures near Oyoor. At one point it flows in between two rocks where the width of the river narrows to less than 2 feet. After passing this less width area the river widens to a width of 2 furlongs. In summer the water recedes to one side of the river and as a result the water starved bed of the river exposes fine sand in a large area. This sand bed turns as a market once a year where many household items brought from far away places sold easily.
Thalavoor : 25 km east of Kollam town, this village was a part of Elayadath Swarupam, a principality of the branch of Travancore Royal Family. Kottarakkara was the capital of Elayadath Swarupam.
Thalavoor village consists of six zones known in different names. Pandithitta in northwest, Manjakkala in northeast, Nadutheni in central, Njarakkadu in southeast, Kura in southwest and Vadakodu in south south-west are the zones.
Population mostly is of Hindus and Christians. The village is wealthier by 11 shrines – six temples for Hindus and 5 churches for Christians. Sri Durga Devi temple at Trikkonnamarcodu, Sree Krishna temple at Nadutheni, Sri Gurisimankavu Dharmasastha temple at Pandithitta, Sree Krishna Swami temple at Kura, Sri Mahadeva temple at Chunakkara and Sri Mahadeva temple at Saptarshimangalm are the Hindu shrines. Marthoma church at Nadutheni, CSI church and Orthodox church at Randalummoodu, St Stephen’s Orthodox church at Pandithitta and St George Orthodox church at Mylom Kulamudi are the Chrisitian shrines.
There are six educational institutions, namely, Govt Lower Primary School at Njarakkadu, Govt Lower Primary School at Kura, Govt Upper Primary School at Nadutheni, Devi Vilasam Vocational Higher Secondary School at Thalavoor, Indira Gandhi Memorial Vocational Higher Secondary School at Manjakkala and Nalanda Study Centre at Millimukku.
The village has two health outlets – Govt Ayurveda Hospital at Nadutheni and Primary Health Centre at proper Thalavoor.
Chavara: Chavara, located 14 km north of Kollam town, forms an industrial belt in coastal area.
The shores of Chavara have wealthy reserve of mineral sand, especially titanium which is being exported to different spots in the world.
Kovilthottam port sandwiched between T S Canal and Arabian Sea where St Andrews church is rooted is a tourist spot-cum-pilgrim centre.
Chavara hosts a number of industrial units, mostly state owned.
The village accommodates Hindus, Christians and Muslims. Hindus outnumber Christians, while Muslims are third in volume.
Ample facilities for education and health care exist.
Paravur: The coastal Paravur has soared in to a town with beautiful look. Its location is 13 km south of Kollam town. Placed between lake and sea, Paravur offers magnificent heritage and a beautiful beach. It owns South Asia’s largest natural backwater lake known as Paravur Kaayal where facilities for boating, swimming and surfing exist. Fishing is allowed but on permission.
The revenue of the village is from coir, cashew and bricks industry as well as from fishing.
Population consists of Hindus, Christians and Muslims with Hindus on higher side followed by Christians.
Excellent infrastructure for education and healthcare lures people from neighbourhood.
Paripally: Paripally is located on the southern tip of the district as on NH 47. Four major roads leading to Madathara, Kollam, Paravur and Thiruvananthapuram cross through Paripally. Varkala pilgrim center is only 10 km from here.
Hindu population is more followed by Christians. Muslim population is right behind Christians.
The village has own arrangements for education up to higher secondary. It is better positioned in healthcare sphere.
Parapally has a temple culture as there are more temples.
Pathanapuram: Pathanapuram, wearing the cap of a town, is situated in high ranges, 43 km from Kollam town.
Once a forest-rich village, it has lost its claim for forest richness as major portion of it gave way for rubber plantations. Still the village has significant area with dense tropical rain forest.
Wide variety of spices is also grown in addition to rubber.
Population is the mix of Hindu, Christian and Muslim communities. Numberwise Hindus are more followed by Christians.
Class one facilities for education and healthcare exist.
Mancode: The village bordering Tamil Nadu is 8 km distanced from Pathanapuram.
The agri-based village gives more thrust on rubber and paddy.
Population is a mix of Hindu, Christian and Muslim. Hindus quantified more while Christians claim second largest position.
A Hindu shrine known as Sri Dharma Sastha Kshetram is a famed institution here. There is an easy access forest route from here to Achankovil Temple.
For education and healthcare the village mainly depends on Pathanapuram.
Punalur: Doning the cap of a town, Punalur is located 45 km north-east of Kollam town.
The agrarian Punalaur churns out rubber, pepper, pineapple and other hill produces.
Thenmala holding Ecotourism Package is located 21 km away and Palaruvi Waterfalls 15 km away.
Population comprises of three communities – Hindu, Christian and Muslim. On head-count Hindus are more with Christians next to it.
Punalur is a resting and refreshing station for pilgrims going to Sabarimala from Tmil Nadu.
Punalur has South India’s only Suspension Bridge which is over Kallada River. Suspended by three spans, the bridge was built by a British national Albert Henry in 1877. The gigantic task consumed six years for completion. On completion of the work the people were hesitant to walk through the bridge as they were unconvinced of its hold on power. To allay their fear and doubt the engineer and his family positioned below the bridge in a country boat while six jumbos stood on the bridge. The bridge stood the test of times and it was a main thoroughfare for many years. The availability of alternate passages reduced the usage of the bridge resulting in the negligence of maintenance. The bridge is now a victim of non-maintenance and contributes to only archaeological value.
Punalur has commendable healthcare and educational facilties up to college level.
Puthoor: Puthoor, a calm and quiet village, is situated little away from Kottarakara.
The agrarian village produces various crops.
Majority of the inhabitants are Hindus. Christians positioned second and Muslims third.
The village is rich in shrines. Cheriyil Devil Temple, Kaniyapoika Temple, Srikrishna Temple and Pangod Devei Temple constitute Hindu shrines while St George Orthodox Church at Karikkal and St George Orthodox Church at Puthoor constitute Christian shrines.
The village has adequate facilities for education up to higher secondary level. Little Flower School, Divine Public School, Kaniyapoika Govt High School and Vendar Higher Secondary School meet the needs.
In healthcare sphere, Bethany Hospital is there to serve the villagers and more.
Sooranad: Sooranad is a small but cleanest village in Kerala.
The villagers derive income for their livelihood from agriculture and from toiling in cashewbnut processing units, tiles and bricks manufacturing units and casual jobs. A good number of women are engaged in cashewnut processing units.
The children have facilities for getting education up to high school level. Two High Schools – Govt High School and Santhinikethan Model High School – located here.
Moderate facilities for healthcare exist.
Population of the village consists of Hidus (mostly), Christians and Muslims. Among the three, Muslims are less in number.
The village is accessable both from M C Road (Main Central Road) and NH 47.
