KAYAMKULAM

'Kayamkulam' is a city and a municipality in Alappuzha district of the Indian state of Kerala. It is an ancient market town that is almost equidistant from Alappuzha town and Kollam. The city is well connected by rail and road with other cities in the region. Kayamkulam gets its name from a portmanteau of two Malayalam words - ''kayam'' (sap of a spice tree) and ''kulam'' (pond). Kayamkulam is well known for its coir, fishing and tourism industries. The town is an important township located on the backwaters of Kerala. One of the largest power plants in Kerala, run by the National Thermal Power Corporation, is located in Kayamkulam. The climate is tropical wet, with heavy rain in the monsoon season.
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. Legends about his exploits are part of the local folklore.

Contents

Demographics

How to reach Kayamkulam

Festivals

Nearest towns

Krishnapuram Palace

Pilgrimage centres and places of interest

Demographics

As of 2001 India census^[1], Kayamkulam had 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.

How to reach Kayamkulam

★ 100 km from Trivandrum International Airport, on National Highway 47.

★ 140 km from Nedumbassery Airport, Alwaye, on National Highway 47.

★ Kayamkulam Railway Junction is 1.5 km from the town. Trains from the North from Eranakulam via Kottayam, and from Eranakulam via Alappuzha passes through Kayamkulam Junction and then proceed to Quilon, Trivandrum and further to Nagercoil and Kanyakumari.

Festivals

Oachira Vrishchikam festival is celebrated every year at the Oachira Temple.
Chettikulangara Kumbha Bharani, the ''bharani'' festival celebrated in the month of ''Kumbham'' is an important event for the people of this locality and neighbouring places. This festival celebrated with pomp and gaiety is popularly known as the Kumbhamela of South. Lakhs of people from different parts of Kerala and abroad visit Chettikulangara to participate in this mega event.

Nearest towns

★ Mavelikkara - 15 km

★ Pandalam - 35 km

★ Haripad - 13 km

★ Karunagappally - 20 km

★ Adoor - 30 km

★ Keerikkadu Jetty - 07 km

Krishnapuram Palace

Krishnapuram Palace is a tourist attraction, just 400 m from N.H.47 located between Kayamkulam town and Oachira. The palace is maintained by the Archeological Department and contains exhibits that belonged to the Palace and its former occupant, the Travancore Maharaja Marthanda Varma. The palace is also famous for a large pond within the palace. It is said that an underground escape route runs from the bottom of the pond as a possible escape route from enemies. The ''Gajendra Moksham'',mural painiting in the palace is the largest in Kerala. The two-edged ''Kayamkulam Vaal(sword)'' is also on display here. The palace also houses, in its courtyard, one of the four statues of Buddha in Alappuzha District.

Pilgrimage centres and places of interest

Place Name	Religion	Distance from town
Krishnapuram temple	Hindu	3 km
Oachira temple	Hindu	5 km
Chettikulangara Devi Temple	Hindu	10 km
Vadakkankoyikkal Temple	Hindu	9 km
Irandackal Bhaghavathy Temple	Hindu	6 km
Kollanthara Bhagavathy Temple	Hindu	10 km
Koonrathu Devi Temple(Arattupuzha)	Hindu	9 km
Varampathu Devi Temple(Kandalloor)	Hindu	6 km
Koladathu Kavu Devi Temple	Hindu	6 km
Puthiyidam Sree Krishna Temple	Hindu	1 km
Bharanikkavu Devi Temple	Hindu	9 km
Kayamkulam Saitharu Mosque	Islam	1 km
Churches at Kattanam	Christianity	1 km
Mosque at Kayamkulam	Islam	1 km
Mata Amritanandamyi Math	Hindu shrine	13 km
Evoor Sri Krishnaswamy Temple	Hindu	7 km
Eruva SreeKrishna Swamy Temple	Hindu	2 km
Padinjattathil Devi Temple, Puthuppally	Hindu temple	4 km