Kottur Malayandipattinam

Geography

Kottur-Malayandipattinam is located 15 km west of Pollachi in the Coimbatore district, and is the biggest panchayat town in Pollachi taluk. Its latitude is 10.5344 and Longitude is 76.9774. The Anaimalai and Valparai Hills of Western Ghats and Aliyar Reservoir are just 5 km away. The River Aliyar runs near Malayandipattinam.

It is near Anaimalai and Vettaikaranpudur, and places of tourist interest including Aliyar Dam, Monkey Falls, the village of Navamalai, and the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary.

Etymology

Kottur-Malayandipattinam is an urban name of two villages, namely Kottur and Malayandipattinam, which have grown together during the British Colonial Period to form the biggest Town Panchayat of Pollachi Taluka of Coimbatore District. The word Kottur means in Tamil a village at the end and the word Malayandipattinam means a town near the mountains. The Navamalai, Valparai and Anaimalai Hills are just 5 km from the borders of Kottur-Malayandipattinam.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Kottur had a population of 25,261. Males constitute about 50% of the population (12,616) and females a little above 50% (12,645). For every 1000 men, there are 1002 women. Kottur has an average literacy rate of 63%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 71%, and female literacy is 56%. In Kottur, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Transport

Kottur-Malayandipattinam is linked by road with all the cities via Pollachi, Valparai, Palakkad, Udumalaipettai and Palani. The local bus numbers from Pollachi to K.M Pattinam are 2, 9,9A, 9B, 9C,10,10a,10b 17, 29,29 a/c, 29B, 29C,37,37a,37a/b,murugan9b,RNS, and 37B,57a. Buses to Navamalai, Kadamparai and certain buses going to Valparai hill counties go via KM Pattinam, bus from Udumalpet & Palani to Annamalai will also crosses through KM Pattinum All the villages and small towns near Kottur-Malayandipattinam are well connected by proper roads and bus services run by the Coimbatore branch of State Transport Corporation of Tamil Nadu (TNSTC). The nearest airport is at Coimbatore, about 54 km. From airport prepaid taxis are available. You can choose a car of your choice and pay. Normal prepaid charge from airport to Kottur malayandipattinam is Rs.1000/. The nearest railway station is at Pollachi, about 14 km. As the conversion of tracks from meter gauge to broad gauge is going on since three years. There is a computer reservation system at the Pollachi Railway station which is becoming very active. For Tatkal reservation which normally starts at 8:00 a.m. Coimbatore Railway station is about 57 km away. All connections are available.

Population

In Malayandipattinam, mainly Hindus live. Kottur, however, has a big colony of Muslims at its northern part. The majority of the Muslims live in their Ghetto. A few of the Muslim families live in other parts. Kottur-Malayandipattinam is peaceful and different communities live harmoniously. A few Christians also live in Kottur-Malayandipattinam. The dominant castes are 24 Manai Telugu Chettiars Chettiars, Kongu Vellalar Gounders (there are so many sub-castes among vellalars), hindu-Nadars and Saanars, Boyars. Gounders, other Vellalars, hindu-Nadars and Saanars speak Tamil, Boyars and Ottars speak Kannada, Chettiars,some Boyars and Chakkaliars speak Telugu, Muslims speak Hindustani (Urdu mixed Hindi) and Tamil. Many tribes speak their dialects which are closely connected with the main south Indian languages. Recently a few malayalis have come to settle down here. A group of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees also live in the southern part of Malayandipatinam. Gounders (some of them) and 24 Manai Telugu Chettiars (mill owners) are very rich.

As of 2001 India census, Kottur had a population of 24,999. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Literacy rates average 63%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 71%, and female literacy is 56%. In Kottur, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

The town has an ethnically mixed Hindu population, including Tamil-speaking Gounders and Nadars, Kannada-speaking Bhoyars, and Telugu-speaking Chettiars. The Muslim population speak Urdu and Tamil.

Many tribal people speak their own dialects, which are closely connected with south Indian languages, and there are a few Malayalis in the town.

Religion

The northern part of Kottur is home to a large population of Muslims, with the population of the southern part of Malayandipattinam being mainly Hindu; a small number of Christians also live in Kottur-Malayandipattinam.

Hindu temples in the area include the Mahaliamman, Adaliamman, Karupparayan and Kannimar temples in nearby Navamalai.

Muslims are served by the Sunnath Zamath mosque and the Rabbania Arabi madrasah.

A modern small Christian church exists on the outskirts of Kottur.

Infrastructure

After Pollachi Town, Kottur-Malayandipattinam is an important commercial centre for many of the neighbouring villages and Hill people. It is also well cultivated agriculturally, thanks to the Aliyar-Paramikulam multiproject scheme done by the Congress Government under the rule of Mr. K. Kamaraj in the sixties. It has 3 secondary schools, one for boys, one for girls and the other co-educational. There are many primary and middle schools. There is also one Madrasa for Muslims in Kottur area. A Christian school run by TELC is located in the busy market street of Malayandipattinam. There is one big Government Hospital and there are many private clinics for primary health care. There is however only one hospital with a bit of modern health care, namely Kalaivani Hospital. One has to go to Coimbatore for multi specialty hospital which is 58 km away. The Police station of Kottur-Malayandipattinam has jurisdiction over many neighbouring villages covering almost 13 km in north, south and east. There is only two nationalized bank in Kottur-Malayandipattinam, namely the Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) and corporation bank. There is one LD bank in Kottur-Malayandipattinam, namely the Anaimalai Land Development Bank. There are branches of small cooperative banks which cater to very few. Private Money lenders operate successfully exploiting the rural and poor people. There are many shops give loan against gold and jeweleries. Kottur-Malayandipattinam has no proper bus-stand but has many bus-stops. The buses stop at different points. The local buses are old, very crowded and noisy. There is no bus time regulators. Public likes loud music and masala movies in the buses. There are many taxis near the stand near the Police station. They charge arbitrary fees and charges. There is no meter. There are no auto-rikshaws. There are so many small restaurants which give south Indian meals.There is one big hotel along with the boarding facility named VIKRAM hotel. There is a weekly market for vegetables and grains, on Wednesdays. There are many shops on the main road connecting Kottur and Malayandipattinam which stock things needed for the population. There is one supermarket. Liquor shops run by the Government of Tamil Nadu [TASMAC] offer Indian made foreign liquors (IMFL) like beer, whisky. These shops do good business. Their customers disturb the smooth flow of the traffic on the main market road. The traditional palm-wine and local arrack are available illegally. They are forbidden in Tamil Nadu. For many skilled works, there is a shortage of persons. There is a heavy demand for electricians, welders, plumbers, masons and other workers. For any work do not pay any advance! It is very likely that the person will never return. There are persons who say they know the work but their skill is doubtfull. Some persons will say they will come and do the work but they delay.. Be aware of people. So many coir factories run around the town panjayat. The most of the employment was created by coir industries. Coir products were exported directly to China, Europe, United States and Middle East countries.

Temples

KM Pattinam has many temples, one church and one mosque. The famous temples are Mahaliamman Temple,Aadhisankarar temple, Kamakshiamman Temple, Bala Murugan Temple and Black Mariamman Temple. There are two Mahaliamman temples, one in Kottur and the other is in Malayandipattinam run by the public, as tax is collected from everyone for the temples once or twice in a year. It is an unwritten law that the yearly temple festival of Kottur Mahaliamman Kovil is celebrated first and then a week later in Malayandipattinam.The Aadhisankar temple is a private shiva temple but there is no restrictions for people those who worship.The Kamakshiamman Temple is run and managed by 24 Manai Telugu Chettiars (Telugu speaking). The black Mariamman Temple, which the Sri Lankan Tamils made popular, is taken care of them. The Murugan Temple was also built by Gounders. There are other small temples catering to different communities. All temples in KM Pattinam are managed by the communities. They are not taken over by the Government. But there are also numerous family deities [Kuladeivams] in the place which are taken care of castes and sub-castes! A big mosque is there in Kottur for the Muslims who live around the area. Christians have built a small church at the outskirts of Kottur recently.

Festivals

The main festivals of the town were mahaliamman temple yearly festivals the run of temple car leads the function.The Aadhi sankarar temple festival leads another play which is to held during the Tamil month of Chittirai every year.

Tourist spots

The famous tourist spots near Kottur-Malayandipattinam are Aliyar Dam (5 km), Monkey Falls (7 km), Navamalai (13 km), Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary (6 km), and Aatthu parai anai kattu (4 km) and known as MYLADU DURAI, the famous cini location.. The famous temples are Mahaliamman Temples, Adhaliamman Temple near Monkey Falls on the Navamalai Road, Karupparayan and Kannimar Temples in Navamalai at the river bank of Aliyar in the forests. Aliyar-Parambikulam contour canal running through the mountains is worth to watch for the engineering skills. There are beautiful spots all along the canal. Those who are interested in trekking can find more interesting places. One can go on a trek from Aliyar Dam to Upper Aliyar along the river. Take the tribal persons [one or two] for your company. The tribal population knows the area much better than anyone. Another beautiful trek is the way to Thadaganatchi hills,an artistic temple is being build in the foot hill for the deity samukthiambigal. Valparai Hills (40 km) are now developed as tourist centres on the pattern of Ootty and Kodaikanal Hills. However the tea estate owners, it is told, were resisting the development. Parai bagavathi amman temple, a famous temple located in this area, also attracts many visitors. There are many male visitors who have the habit of drinking alcohol for the sake "kick" and they through bottles and plastics everywhere. They stare at girls and ladies, make comments. Don't get provoked. Just ignore them. It is the best way for your safety. There are two ashram like units near aliyar foothills. One belongs to the Vethathiri Maharishi's Temple of Consciousness and the other to the Maithreyi centre. Many people visit these two places for natural cure and meditation. Another important place is Aathmanathavanam where samukthiyambikai and kalasamhara bairavar temples are situated in the foothills of thadaikai malai.

Filmy connection

The surroundings of KM Pattinam are very beautiful. Paddy fields and coconut grooves cover vast stretches of land. Aatthu parai anai kattu and other scenery form the backdrop of many south Indian and Bollywood films. Earlier shooting was free of charge, but today the land/ site owners and the local administration charge heavy fees from the film units.

Culture

KM Pattinam was very rich culturally. The different communities celebrate their festivals in a sober way. Festivals means for many new clothes, sight seeing tours and new films. The traditional Harvest festival Pongal has also become more like a family festival like Diwali. Temples celebrate their yearly festivals. In Mahaliamman temples, people offer fire-works. Filmy music and filmstyle dances dominate the events. The temples have stages for staging plays and dances, but the theatre died due to films. There are no promoters for theatre and traditional dances. Film Music and dance have influenced the traditional music and dance. Folk songs were once popular in the region, but today it is also extinct. There are a few movie halls, but due to cable TV, the movie halls are not very often visited by people. The buildings are wearing out. Two or three halls were already closed. Valliammal was one of the movie halls which is still operating in the village.

Sport

KM Pattinam is famous for Volleyball and Cricket. There was a volleyball team. Some players play for the district and state level teams. Now its no more. They had a ground for volleyball and cricket, every year cricket tournament is held here in (kottur G.H.S.school ground) which teams from different areas of Coimbatore district participate. And another famous school of G.H.S.S (Govt Higher Secondary School) kottur. Cricket players played (g.h.s.s)ground,ullas nagar,rainbow colony, etc..