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Revision as of 09:27, 22 July 2006
Template:India district infobox
Thiruvananthapuram District is the southernmost district of the Indian state of Kerala. The headquarters is in the city of Thiruvananthapuram(Trivandrum) which is also the capital city of kerala.
The district has an area of 2192 km², and a population of 3,234,356 (as per the 2001 census), the second largest in Kerala. It is divided into four talukas: Thiruvananthapuram, Chirayinkil, Nedumangad, and Neyyattinkara. The urban bodies in the district are the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Attingal, Neyyattinkara, Varkala and Nedumangad municipalities.
Thiruvananthapuram literally means City of Lord Anantha.The name derives from the deity of the Hindu temple at the centre of the city. Anantha is the serpent Shesha on whom Padmanabhan or Vishnu reclines. The temple of Vishnu reclining on Anantha, the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple, which dates back to the 16th century, is the most recognizable iconic landmark of the city as well as the district. Along with the presiding deity of Sri Padmanabha, this temple also has inside temples dedicated to Lord Krishna and Lord Narasimha.
The city was the capital city of the Travancore state before the independence.
One of the other major landmarks in the city is the Government Seceratariat.This white coloured building that was built by the Kings of Travancore is the seat of power.The central Durabr hall was were the assembley used to meet during the imperial rule. To compliment this gothic structure less than a mile down the road you have the modern Legislature complex ,the largest legislature building in India.
The district is 33.75% urbanised.
Geography
The district is situated between North Latitudes at 8.17° & 8.54° and East Latitudes 76.41° & 77.17°. The southern most extremity, Parassala is just 54 km away from the Southern Peninsular tip of India, Cape Comerin(Kanya Kumari). The district stretches 78 km along the shores of the Arabian Sea on the West, Kollam district lies on the North with Thirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts of Tamil Nadu on the East and South respectively.
The district can be divided in to three geographical regions : Highlands, Midlands, and the lowlands. Chirayankeezhu, and Thiruvananthapuram Taluks lies on the midland and lowland regions, while the Nedumangad Taluk lies in the Midland and Highland regions, and the Neyyattinkara Taluk stretches over all the three regions.
The Highland regions on the east and the north-east comprises of the Western Ghats and this area is ideal for major cash crops like rubber, tea, cardamom and other spices. Timber trees like Teek, Veetty(rosewood), etc, are grown in this region. The Ghats maintain an average elevation of 814 metres, and Agasthyarkoodam, the second highest peak in the Ghats, is 1869 metres above sea level. The midland region lying between the Western Ghats and lowlands is made up of small and tiny hills and valleys. This is an area of intense agricultural activities. This region is rich in produces like paddy, tapioca, spices and cashew. The lowlands are comparatively narrow, comprising of rivers, deltas and seashore. This area is densely covered with coconut trees.
Climate
The large forest reserves favourably affect the climate and induce rains. Cold weather is experienced in the mountain ranges whereas lower down, the weather is bracing and is generally hot in the plains. The mean maximum temperature is 90°F; humidity is high, and rise up to about 90% during south-west monsoon. The average rainfall is about 150 cms per annum. There are two rainy seasons : South-West monsoon (June - September mid) and North-East monsoon(October - Nov mid). December, January, & February are the coolest months (on an average, temperature goes down up to 16 °C) and March, April, & May are hot (on an average, temperature rises up to about 35.2 °C). Summer showers are also common in May.
Flora and Fauna
The district has a rich variety of plants ranging from rare orchids, medicinal plants and spices to hedge plants, tuber crops, plants yielding edible fruits and fibre. Aromatic plants and spices such as pepper and ginger are cultivated on a large scale on the hilly tracts. Nedumangad taluk is one of the biggest centres of cultivation and trade of pepper and other hill produces. A major portion of the district comes under the middle plain and the region is under the cultivation of coconut, paddy, tapioca, tuber crops, plantains and vegetables.
The forests of the district abound in a variety of animals & birds and are excellent wild life habitats. Elephants, bisons, monkeys and rare species of reptiles have the place of prominance in them. The Neyyar reservoir and nearby areas abound in wild life. Nestled in the lap of the Western Ghats, a wild life sanctuary is fastly growing over an area of nearly 777 sq. kms. around this reservoir. The forest under the Kulathupuzha range is the habitat of rare species of snakes and lizards. Mammals are well represented in the district. Nilgiri Langur (Kasi Fohnii), the Lion-tailed Macaque (Macaca Silenus), the Nilgiri brown mangoose (Herpestes fuscus) and the Malabar civet (Moschothere Civettina) are characteristic to this region. Carnivores include tiger, wild cat, jackal, leopard and wild dog. Sloth gear, gaur, a few species of deer and elephants are also seen. Reptiles include lizards, snakes, crocodiles and tortoises. There are about 75-80 species of snakes in this area and some of them are very poisonous.
Rivers
Among the three rivers in the district, the Neyyar (56 kms), the southernmost river of the Kerala State, has its origin in the Agasthyamala, the second highest peak in the Western Ghats. Karamana river (67kms) and the Vamanapuram River have their origin from Chemunji Mottai of the Western Ghats. There are 10 major back waters in the district. The major lakes are Veli, Kadinamkulam, Anchuthengu and the Edava-Nadayara lakes. Besides these, there is a fresh water lake at Vellayani in Thiruvananthapuram taluk, which has the potential to become the major water sources of the Trivandrum city in future.
Demographics
Population :
According to the final figures of 2001 census, the population of the district is 32,34,356. The details are as below:
Language :
Malayalam is the mother tongue. People in Neyyattinkara taluk living adjacent to Tamil Nadu border, speak Malayalam mixed with Tamil. Trivandrum city is more cosmopolitan with people speaking various languages like Malayalam, English, Tamil, Hindi, Tulu, and a minor percentage speak Gujarati.
Religion and Caste :
Hindus constitute the majority of the population followed by Christians and Muslims. The Hindu community lies grouped on the basis of castes and sub castes as elsewhere in the State. The Nairs, the Ezhavas, the scheduled castes and 11
tribes form the majority of the Hindu community. Christians belong mainly to the Latin Catholic Church, the Church of South India and the Orthodox Syrian Church. The Muslim community also forms a major division of the total population. Economic, social and other ties bind the members of different religious groups at the local level. People live in peace and amity, influencing and being influenced by the culture of one another.
Socio-Economic Conditions :
More than 50 percent of the total population depend on agriculture for their livelihood. Agricultural labourers constitute 42 percent of the total labour class. Most of the people are engaged in low remunerative pursuits which require very little capital. Political and social consciousness, coupled with the efforts of the social, religious and cultural leaders, have helped to pull down the age-old feudal order. Economic changes have also affected the social life and attitude of the people.
External links
- Official website of Thiruvananthapuram District
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