Kanhangad

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?Kanhangad Kerala • India
Coordinates: (find coordinates)
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
District(s)	Kasaragod
Population	65,499 (2001)

Kanhangad (Malayalam: കാഞ്ഞങ്ങാട്) is a city and a municipality in Kasaragod district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is 28km from the district headquarters of Kasargod. Kanhangad is also known as the Commercial Hub of Kasaragod district. The place made well known by the Nithyanandashram, one of the international spiritual centres 4 km east of Kanhangad town

1 Kanhangad Town
2 Demographics
3 Economy
4 Tourism
5 Climate
6 Schools and Colleges
7 Personalities
8 References

[edit] Kanhangad Town

Hosdurg (Hosa Durga in Kannada and Puthiya Kotta in Malayalam, meaning "new fort"), half a kilometer south of the town center Kottachery, hosts the municipal office, other administrative offices, the police station, the civil and criminal courts . The nearest airport is at Mangalore [1], 85 km away.

[edit] Demographics

As of 2001 India census^[1], Kanhangad had a population of 65,499. Males constitute 48% of the population and females 52%. Kanhangad has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 83%, and female literacy is 74%. In Kanhangad, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age. The most widely spoken language is Malayalam.

[edit] Economy

Agriculture and fishing has been the primary source of income and has been the mainstay of the people here. Based on the nature of soil and the topography, there is diversity in the selection of crops grown here. Rubber, Pepper, Cashew and Ginger are the important crops that are grown in the eastern part of the region, which comprises forests and hilly areas. In the costal areas coconut, paddy and tobacco are cultivated mainly. There was a time when the economy was based mainly on the agriculture. Kanhangad was once famous for its tobacco production but now it has become a thing of the past.

Since the oil boom of the 80’s, this place has witnessed large-scale migration of young people to the oil producing Gulf countries in pursuit of lucrative job opportunities. This has considerably changed economic situation and life style of the people here. Now most of the families depend on the Gulf money that is sent in by family working abroad.

[edit] Tourism

A prominent feature that attracts the attention of travelers in Kanhangad town center is a tall minaret, a contribution from the wealthy merchants of the town who are predominantly Muslim^{[citation needed]}.

Anandashram (5 km from Kanhangad) is an internationally renowned spiritual center founded by Swami Ramdas in 1939. It offers a quiet, peaceful ambiance best suited for meditation and spiritual studies.

Hosdurg Fort (half a kilometre south of Kanhangad) is renowned for its chain of forts built by Somashekara Nayak of Keladi Nayaka dynasty of Ikkeri.

Nithyanandashram is a spiritual center near Hosdurg Fort.

"Guruvanam" is a spiritual center. [6 km from kanhangad town(via arai bridge)near monacha]. The main attraction is non stop water flowing from a statue of cow's mouth^{[citation needed]}. The name is called 'paapa nashi ganga' [source from Ganga]".

Karpooreshwara Temple, built there in 1963, was constructed after the style and design of the famous Somnatha Temple in Gujarat. A full size statue of Swami Nityananda in sitting posture made of pancha-loha is one of the attractions of the ashram.

Bekal Fort Beach

Bekal Fort is a 300-year old fort, which is one of the largest and best preserved forts in Kerala lies 10 km north of Kanhangad. With its admirable beaches, it has become the focal point for the development of tourism in north Kerala. The Bekal Fort is the biggest fort in Kerala. A controversy exists regarding the origin of the fort. Some argue that the fort was built by Ikkeri Nayakas.

In the book History of Bekal written by Nandakumar Koroth gives credit to all the rulers who ruled the tract of land from the 15th century. The solid construction resembles the one at Kannur St.Angelo fort built by Portuguese.

Adot Vana Durga temple, Bellikoth where the Sahashrachandika Yaagam was conducted for the prosperity of the people living all over the world.

Ranipuram is a small place in Kasaragod district of Kerala state, south India. This place was formerly known as Madathumalauntil 1970s. About 48 km east of Kanhangad on the Panathoor road branching off at Panathady. Lying 1016 m (Google Earth) above sea level adjacent to Bhagamandala forest range. It is proposed to make a wild life sanctuary combining with reserve forest of Ranipuram and Kottancherry along with reserve forests of Karnataka as Ranipuram Wildlife Sanctuary.

[edit] Climate

The southwest monsoon starts towards the end of May or the beginning of June, heralded by thunderstorms and holds till September when the rain fades out. October brings in the northeast monsoon. Dry weather sets in by the end of December. January and February are the coolest months of the year. March, April and May are very hot.

[edit] Schools and Colleges

Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Periye.
Mahakavi P. Smaraka Govt. Higher secondary school, bellikoth.
Little Flower Higher Secondary School
Durga higher secondary school, Hosdurg
Christ C.M.I public school, Mavungal
Government High School Hosdurg
Iqbal Higher Secondary School
Chinmaya Vidyalaya Kanhangad
Jamaath Higher Secondary School, Centre Chithari
Govt. U.P. School, Melangot
Govt Higher Secondary School, Pallikara
Govt Higher Secondary School, Periya
Crescent English medium school, ajanoor
GHS Balla East, Chemmattamvayal
GVHS Kottappuram, Nileshwar
G.H.S Uppilikai
Dr Ambedkar Govt. Higher Secondary School, Kodoth.
Govt.Higher secondary school Parappa
E.K Naynar memorial college Eleritattu
St Payas college Rajapuram

Govt High School Pakkam MIC Arts and Science College Chattanchal CHSS Chattanchal

Institutions for higher education include Nehru Arts & Science College, Agricultural College and Swamy Nithyananda Polytechnic. And many more private institutions. One of the Private Paramedical Institution among them is

[edit] Personalities

Kanhangad has been the home town of eminent personalities such as Maha Kavi P. Kunhiraman Nair, a famous poet, Sri. K. Madhavan, a Veteran Communist leader, Vidwan P. Kelu Nair, an author and freedom fighter and C.M.Padmanabhan Nair, a former leader of the socialist party.