Kayamkulam

Kayamkulam Kochunni

Kayamkulam is closely associated with the legend of Kayamkulam Kochunni. He was a famed highwayman, active in the area known as Central Thiruvithamkoor, in the early part of the 19th century. He is said to have stolen from the rich and given to the poor (like Robin Hood). Legends about his exploits are part of the local folklore.

Kingdom of Kayamkulam

Kayamkulam was a mediaeval feudal kingdom, known as odanadu, ruled by the Kayamkulam Rajas, with their royal palaces at Eruva and Krishnapuram. Maha raja Marthanda Varma (1706–58) conquered kayamkulam and annexed its territories to Travancore. It is said that the kingdom of Kayamkulam had a huge army led by a valiant commander 'Yeruvayil Achutha warrier ' and therefore the large army of Travancore attempted three times before they succeeded in capturing Kayamkulam. The present day palace was built in its place by Marthanda Varma after he annexed Kayamkulam to Travancore.

Kayamkulam, Mavelikkara and Karunagappally were previously known as Onattukara.

Kayamkulam had slave markets in the 17th Century

Tourist attractions

The Krishnapuram Palace, built in the 18th century, now functions as a museum. Constructed in typical Kerala-style architecture, it has the largest mural painting in Kerala. Also, this palace museum at Krishnapuram houses the famous Kayamkulam double-edged sword.

Cartoonist Sankar Memorial National Cartoon Museum and Art Gallery, is the first of its kind in the state and would be elevated to the ‘top cartoon study centre’ in the country.

Kayamkulam Lake is a part of the Kerala backwaters tourist map. The Kayamkulam Boat Race is held on the fourth Saturday of August every year. The famous Chinese fishing nets can be found on the banks of the lagoon.

Azhikkal Beach (Aayiram Tengu) and Valiya Azhikkal beach (Kochiyude Jetty) have gained popularity as tourist locations.

Transport

Kayamkulam is well connected by road and rail network. Besides this, Alappuzha-Kollam boat service runs via Kayamkulam.

Roads

NH66 passes through Kayamkulam, which conveniently connects it to the major cities Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Kollam, Palakkad and Coimbatore. The Kayamkulam-Punalur (KP) road is a major road connecting it to the eastern parts of the State. The KSRTC Bus Station[code KYLM] lies very near to the national highway and is one of the biggest bus stations of KSRTC in terms of total area. All the KSRTC buses have halt at Kayamkulam Bus station. The new Railway Terminal Bus Stand near Kayamkulam Railway Station is an interlink between railway and road transport.

40 km from the Kollam, on National Highway 66.

105 km from Trivandrum International Airport, on National Highway 66.

131 km from Cochin International Airport, Nedumbassery, Alwaye, on National Highway 66.

106 km from Ernakulam KSRTC Bus Station via Alappuzha to Kayamkulam by bus takes about 2.20 hours

109 km from Thiruvananthapuram KSRTC Central Bus Station to Kayamkulam Bus station by bus takes about 2.40 hours

Railways

Kayamkulam Junction railway station(Kayankulam Jn) [code KYJ] is a major railway junction situated 1.5 km from the town on the K.P. Road. Trains from the North from Ernakulam via Kottayam, and from Ernakulam via Alappuzha pass through Kayamkulam Junction and then proceed to Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram and further to Nagercoil and Kanyakumari.

100 km from Ernakulam Junction via Alappuzha to Kayamkulam through train takes about 2.00 hours

114 km from Ernakulam Junction/Ernakulam Town via Kottayam to Kayamkulam through train takes about 2.30 hours

106 km from Thiruvananthapuram Central to Kayamkulam through train takes about 2.10 hours

41 km from Kollam Junction to Kayamkulam through train takes about 30 minutes

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Kayamkulam has a population of 65,299. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Kayamkulam has an average literacy rate of 82%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 84%, and female literacy is 79%. In Kayamkulam, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Civic administration

Kayamkulam assembly constituency is part of Alappuzha (Lok Sabha constituency).

Educational and research institutes

The Central Coconut Research Station (CCRS) at Kayamkulam was established in 1948, as a field station of the erstwhile Agricultural Research Laboratory. Presently, it is a regional station of the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI).

K.P.A.C. Drama Troupe

Kerala People's Arts Club (KPAC) is a theatrical movement in Kayamkulam, Kerala, India. It was formed in the 1950s by a group of individuals having close ties with Left-wing politics parties of Kerala. This political theatre was very influential in propagating communist ideas in Kerala.

In 1951 KPAC staged its first drama, Ente Makananu Sari (My Son is Right). The songs of this play were written by Punaloor Balan. Its second drama Ningalenne Communistakki (You Made Me a Communist), first performed in 1952, became a path-breaking play in the history of Malayalam theatre. The play was penned by the renowned playwright Thoppil Bhasi, under the pseudonym Soman. Bhasi was underground when he wrote the play. The success of Ningalenne Communistakki made KPAC in the forefront of a powerful people's theatre movement in Kerala.

KPAC played a significant role in popularising the Communist Party in Kerala through its dramas, road shows and kathaprasangams (story telling).

Power plant

Rajiv Gandhi Combined Cycle Power Plant - The Rajiv Gandhi Combined Cycle Power Plant (also known as Rajiv Gandhi CCPP Kayamkulam or NTPC Kayamkulam) is a combined cycle power plant located at Kayamkulam, Alappuzha district, Kerala, India. The power plant is owned by NTPC Limited. The power plant is fueled by imported and indigenous naphtha. Source of the cooling water is Achankovil river. There is a plan to expand the plant by three units with capacity of 350 MW each. New units would be fueled by re-gasified liquefied natural gas.

Popular personalities

Kayamkulam Philipose Ramban, a Christian priest lived in Kayamkulam in 19th century translated Bible into vernacular language Malayalam for the first time.