Marthandam

History

Southern Division, or Padmanabhapuram Division till 1921 and Trivandrum Division from 1921 to 1949, was one of the administrative divisions of the princely state of Travancore. It covered the five taluks of Agastiswaram, Eraniel, Kalkulam, Thovalay and Vilavancode and was administered by a civil servant of rank Diwan Peishkar equivalent to a District Collector in British India. The Southern division was predominantly Tamil-speaking in contrast to the other three divisions where Malayalam was spoken. In 1920, the neighbouring Trivandrum was also merged with the Southern division. In 1949, the princely state of Travancore was dissolved and the Southern Division was included in the Travancore-Cochin state of India. In 1956, the Tamil-speaking taluks of Southern Division were transferred to the neighbouring Madras State as per the States Reorganisation Act of 1956 and forms the present-day Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu. The Malayalam-speaking taluks of the erstwhile Trivandrum division form the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala. The headquarters of the Southern Division were at Padmanabhapuram.

Schools

Colleges

List of hospitals & Other Clinics

Behind Marthandanthurai Church, Kollencode-629160

Near St.Antony's Church, Kollencode-629160

Near Bus Stand, Kollencode-629160

Tourist spots

The Chitharal Jain Monuments are the ruins of a Jain training centre from the 9th century CE, on a small hill. It is famous for the hillock which has a cave containing rock-cut sculptures of Thirthankaras and attendant deities carved inside and outside dating back to the 9th century.[1][2] Among the rock-cut relief sculptures is a figure of the goddess Dharmadevi.[3] Jain influence in this region was due to the King Mahendravarman I (610-640).

It is one of the longest and highest aqueducts in South Asia and is also a popular tourist spot in Kanyakumari District. The aqueduct is built across the Pahrali river, a small river that originates in the Mahendragiri Hills of the Western Ghats. Mathur Aqueduct itself carries water of the Pattanamkal canal for irrigation over the Pahrali river, from one hill to another, for a distance of close to one kilometer. This Aqueduct is necessitated due to the undulating land terrain of the area, which is also adjacent to the hills of the Western Ghats.

Mathur Aqueduct is a concrete structure held up by 28 huge pillars; the maximum height of the pillars reaching 115 feet (35 m). The trough structure is 7 ft in height, with a width of 7.5 ft (2.3 m). The trough is partly covered on top with concrete slabs, allowing people to walk on the bridge and also see the water going through the trough. Some of the pillars are set in rocks of the Pahrali river, though some of the pillars are set in hills on either side.

Road access allows one to drive in to one side of the Aqueduct (up to one end), while it is also possible to drive into the foot of the Aqueduct (the level where the Pahrali flows) on the opposite side. There is also a huge flight of stairs (made in recent times) that allows one to climb from the level of the Pahrali river to the trough.

Tourist spots near by

Geography

It is one of the most fertile lands of Tamil Nadu and has the climatic conditions of Kerala. It has a railway line connecting the capital of Kerala, Trivandrum, with the southernmost tip of India, Kanyakumari. It does not have a railway station of its own but Kuzhithurai railway station is very near. Marthandam is well connected to Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore by rail service also bus service to all over Tamil Nadu. The river Thamirabarani runs through the Marthandam city and every year a festival known as Vavubali will be celebrated at the banks of river Thamirabarani.

Transport

Marthandam lies on the National Highway connecting the city of Trivandrum and Nagercoil. A bus stand is also located in Marthandam near the Market Road.

The nearest airport is Trivandrum International Airport, which is 40 kilometres (25 mi) from Marthandam.

It has a railway line connecting the capital of Kerala, Trivandrum, with the southernmost tip of India, Kanyakumari. Kuzhithurai station is found to be centered between Trivandrum — Kanyakumari railway route. This railway station collection is more than seven crore per annum and a daily passenger patronage of more than 50,000 people. The station has two platforms and falls on the Kanyakumari—Trivandrum line in the Trivandrum Division of the Southern Railway zone. most of all daily trains passing through the station halts in Kuzhithurai station. Marthandam is well connected to Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore by rail service also bus service to all over Tamil Nadu

Ayyapan temple

There is a Lord Ayyappa temple in Marthandam at the banks of Kuzhithurai River. This temple is known as either "Vettuvenni temple" or "Vedi sasthan Kovil". The latter one due to the fire cracker being burst at the temple as a mark of prayer to Lord Ayyappa. This temple is just by the side of National Highway NH-47 connecting Trivandrum with Nagercoil.

Sree krishna temple

There is a famous Sree Krishna temple at Kannacode in Marthandam. Historical records say that Travancore king Sri Vishakam Thirunal who ruled from 1880 AD to 1885 AD used to pray every month at this temple to ward off his BudhagrahaDosham. Renovation of the temple has been recently done by contribution from devotees. Situated in a peaceful location on the banks of Tamravarni river, this temple is called Guruvayoor of Kanyakumari district.

Sree Easwarakla Boothathan Temple

Alappancode Sree Easwarakla Boothathan Temple is just 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from Kuzhithurai Jn to wards Arumanai Road and adjacent to Melpuram Jn. In Tamil Nadu it is the only temple where a large number of caparisoned elephants are participating in the annual festival. Every year more than thirty-five decorated elephants are joining for the procession. The procession will start from the Kariyathara Temple in Anducode and finish in Alappancode, and the procession will cover about seven kilometers (4 miles). Devotees from Kerala and Tamil Nadu gather here to see the festival. The festival will be held on the last Saturday of December.

Trimoorthy temples

The famous Trimoorthy temples called Mahadevar, Brahma and Mahavishnu temples are in one compound at banks of famous Tamraparni River, just walkable distance from Kuzhithurai Bus stand.

Sree Chamundesari temple

The Sree Chamundesari temple is just adjacent to the Mahadevar temple. Though the temples are under Devaswam board, the temples are maintained by a best trust called Kuzhithurai Sree Mahadevar Shektra Samrakshna Samithi; with the help of devotees of this surrounding area the committee has spent a huge amount for the renovation of the temples. A large number of devotees from Kanyakumari and Trivadrum District visit Sree Chamundeswari Temple for special poojas, especially unmarried girls for a good marriage life.

Anjukannu Kalungu Sree Madan Thampuram IssakkiAmman temple

Festivals celebrated there are: Year festivals for 7 days, Shivrathri (Shivalaya Ottam), Saraswathy pooja, Deepawali, Thrikkarthika, Monthly Ammavasya, yearly Kumbhabishegam, Pongal.

The main festivals celebrated there are Samivaravu, Sivarathri, vavubali, and Onam.

Churches

The Marthandam CSI Church in the Main Road at the junction was built by Rev. Robert Sinclair born in Scotland who came to India after his ordination as a minister on 3 August 1910, in Scotland. He succeeded Rev. H.I Hacker in 1919 and came to Marthandam and served from 1920 to 1939.

St. Antony's Church is located in Vettumani near to Thamiraparani Kuzhithurai River. St. Antony's Church was under control of Roman Catholic Parish of Kuzhithurai Diosiose. St. Antony's Church was very popular and various miracles happening for peoples due to the blessings of Jesus through St. Antony. Every Tuesday and Friday Special Mass have been conducted.

Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of Marthandom (Christ the King Cathedral). The Eparchy of Marthandom (also called Marthandam) is a Syro-Malankara Catholic diocese in Tamil Nadu. It was created by Pope John Paul II on 16 December 1996. It was the fourth diocese of the Syro-Malankara church. It consists of three civil districts: Kaliakkavilai, Marthandam, Nagercoil. Pope: Francis, Major: Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal, Archbishop: Cleemis Catholicos, Bishop: Vincent Mar Paulos. And it has a total area: 1,665 km² (643 sq mi), population: 20,669,924, Malankara Catholics: 65,000; languages: Tamil, English, Malayalam.

Christmas celebration is massive in Marthandam. In this district, Christmas is celebrated more than the rest of Tamil Nadu. Onam is also celebrated well in this district due to its neighbour Kerala and presence of Malayalam-speaking people throughout the border of district. Also festivals such as Deepavali, New Year, Ramzan, and Easter are celebrated in this district.

TPM church in Marthandam is located on Bethel Street.

Folk Arts

There are several Folk Arts practiced in temples for Sastha (ayyanar), Sudalaimadan and Isakkiamman. Villupattu is especially for Sastha temples and Kaniankoothu is practiced for Sudalaimadan. Grand Tamil poet Avvaiyar temples are found along with Isakki amman temples and worship of teachings of Avvaiyar can be observed

Many Folk arts and dances are popular in this district. They are played during the time of festivals in temples, celebrations in schools etc. Bow Song (Villu Paatu) is an ancient form of musical- storytelling art of southern Tamil Nadu. Villu Paatu has been especially popular in Thovalai and neighbouring areas of the district.

Bow, the age-old weapon of warriors - paradoxically lends itself to be used as a primary musical instrument for the Villu Pattu artists. There are Udukku, Kudam, Thala, Kattai, etc. as supplementary instruments in their performances. Udukku, mentioned in the ancient Tamil literature as Thudi, is a small drum with a slender middle portion which is held in the left hand and played by the fingers of the right hand. Occasionally, the Villu Pattu team divides itself into two groups, each trying to prove opposite points-of-view of a subject. This is called Lavani Pattu. The songs used by the Villu Pattu artists are mostly traditional folk-songs.

Thiruvathirai Kali occupies the pride of place among the folk dances. It resembles Kummi and is played especially during Onam festival. The players are young girls. The necessary number of girls is 8,10,12 or 16 for each dance. They move round and sing in chorus. Each girl strikes the stick (Kole) which she holds in each hand, and the striking of the sticks and the steps, which she makes are rhythmical to the tune.

Kalial is a folk dance played by group of men or boys in the country side. A group leader sings songs and keeps time with cymbals. The players stand in a circle with sticks in their hand and dance round a lighted lamp repeating the songs sung by the leader. They turn, twist, lean forward and backward, squat and move round singing to the tune. At the beginning the steps are elaborate and at times, they are also very quick. When invited to perform in a function, the players generally begin the dance with an invocation for heavenly aid and conclude the dance with a torch - dance using lighted torches. This folk dance exhibits the artistic and recreative life of the country side.

Kathakali is a unique form of drama, which has its origin in Travancore. Kathakali (story-dance) is a relatively recent (fifteenth or sixteenth century) development of earlier dances, which, like dances every where, arose out of religious expression through symbolical action. In this art-form, the characters express their ideas not by words, but by significant gestures. In Kanyakumari District, it is now played in the temples at Thiruvattar, Thirparappu, Ponmana, Kuzhithura, Neyyoor, Nattalam and Munchira during the time of festivals.

Ottam Thullal is a form of story telling. It is a popular for of amusement, staged in the temple premises and Malayalam is the language commonly used. Ottam Thullal is now played in the temples of Thiruvattar, Thirparappu, Ponmana, Nattalam and Thirunanthikara in the district during the time of festivals.

Kalari, is an ancient martial art of Kerala. A tradition believed to have been founded by Parasurama is known as Vadakkan Kalari ; another is credited to Agasthiar in which the emphasis is on striking at vital points of the body and not on weapons, even through sword, knife, Urumi (rolling sword), Mankombu (horns of a deer), Kandakkodali, (a kind of axe), mazhu (a kind of axe) etc., are also used. Kanyakumari district is home to an indigenous form of martial arts called 'Adimurai' or 'naadan', which is often confused with the Kalari of Kerala, in spite of its uniqueness.

Notable places near Marthandam

The following towns are within 3–18 km (1.9–11.2 mi) from Marthandam: