Aryankavu

Aryankavu
Village
Aryankavu Railway Station
Aryankavu Location in Kerala, India Show map of Kerala Aryankavu Aryankavu (India) Show map of India
Coordinates: 8°58′0″N77°8′35″E / 8.96667°N 77.14306°E / 8.96667; 77.14306
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Kollam District
Government
• Type	Panchayati Raj (India)
• Body	Aryankavu Grama Panchayat
Area
• Total	198.84 km2 (76.77 sq mi)
Population [1]
• Total	11,133
• Density	56/km2 (150/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English [2]
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	691309, 691316
Vehicle registration	KL-25
Nearest city	Kollam 76 kilometres (47 mi)
Nearest town	Punalur 33 kilometres (21 mi)
Climate	Tropical monsoon (Köppen)

Aryankavu is a village located in the Kollam district of the Indian state of Kerala. It lies close to the border between Kerala and Tamil Nadu near Thenmala. It is also one of the famous pilgrimage sites associated with the legend of Sabarimala. The village is located beside Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary.

Location and connectivity

It is in the eastern end of Kollam district on National Highway 744 at about 22 km (14 mi) away from Tenkasi and 36 km (22 mi) away from Punalur. ^[3] The village is well connected with Punalur, Kollam, Tenkasi and Thiruvananthapuram through both Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation and Kerala State Road Transport Corporation.

The village lies along a mountain pass in Western Ghats called Aryankavu Pass or Schencottah Gap. The Kollam–Sengottai railway line also passes through Aryankavu and there are two railway stations in Aryankavu namely New Aryankavu railway station and Aryankavu railway station.

The nearby airports are Trivandrum International Airport (98 km [61 mi]), Madurai Airport (148 km [92 mi]) and Tuticorin Airport (115 km [71 mi]).

Demographics

As of 2001 ^[update] India census, Aryankavu had a population of 12125 with 5949 males and 6176 females. ^[3] The most spoken languages in Aryankavu is Malayalam . But due to its closest proximity to Tamil Nadu, Tamil is also widely spoken and understood . There is also Malapandaram tribal population in Aryankavu. ^[4]

Aryankavu Pass/ Schencottah Gap

It is a mountain pass connecting Kollam district and Tenkasi district and the village is located along this pass. This pass along with Palakkad Gap and Aralvaimozhi gap is a significant pass that connects Kerala side of Western Ghats with Coromandel Coastal plains of Tamil Nadu. The pass is a narrow low-lying area in Western Ghats with altitude lesser than 300 metres (980 ft). The Kollam–Sengottai railway line and National Highway 744 passes through this pass. ^[5] In the western end of the gap there is Kallada River valley. The pass plays an important role in the climate of nearby Punalur as it keeps the mercury levels in the town significantly higher than nearby areas. ^[6]

The gap along with Achankovil Shear Zone plays the role of an ecological divide. It separate the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve from Cardamom Hills and High Range of Kerala. ^[7]

The elevation map of Western Ghats showing Aryankavu Pass/ Sengottai Gap

Attractions

Palaruvi water falls

The Palaruvi Falls is located in the forest, five kilometres (3.1 mi) away from Aryankavu check post. The name `Paal' means milk & `Aruvi' means stream. There is a train named Palaruvi Express that passes through Aryankavu which is named after this falls.

Kadamanpara Sandal Forest

It is the second largest natural sandal forest after Marayur. It is situated in Aryankavu Grama panchayath. ^[8]

Rose Mala

Rose Mala is a place in Aryankavu which is 11.8 km away from Aryankavu Junction. ^[9] It is one of the ecotourism spots which provides view of Thenmala Dam reservoir. ^{[10] [11]} There is a view point called Rajathottam near Rosemala which offers view of Tenkasi.

Nedumpara

Nedumpara is a place which is 11 km (6.8 mi) away from Aryankavu. Harrisons Malayalam limited has a rubber estate in this place named as Isfield Estate. One of the highest peak of Kollam district named Nedumpara Peak is located in Nedumpara, which is locally known as Nedumpara Motta. It is the water divide between Kallada River and Achankovil river.

Bourdillon's Plot

It is the world's first stump planted plantation of teak which located near the Palaruvi Falls in Aryankavu. A British man named T. F. Bourdillon was its leader. He was then conservator of Travancore. ^[12]

Ambanad Hills

Ambanad Hills is the only tea estate of Kollam district. It is also one of the largest Clove plantation in Kerala. ^{[13] [14] [15]} The estate also has tangerine plantations. ^[16]

Religion

Hinduism is the major religion at the village. There is also a sizeable Christian and Muslim population.

Aryankavu Shasta Temple

Main article: Aryankavu Sastha Temple

Aryankavu temple (1890)

The temple dedicated to Shasta at Aryankavu is situated near the border of Tamil Nadu. The temple is one of the important Shasta temples in Kerala. Ayyappan is depicted here as a teenager (young boy). The deity is known as Thiru Aryan and therefore the place got the name Aryankavu. ^[17]

Surrounded by forests, the temple is located on the National Highway 744. Just like in Sabarimala, women from the age 10 to 50 are not allowed inside the temple. The rituals and pujas followed at the temple is that of Sourastrian ^[18] tradition. The sanctum sanctorum of the temple has idols of Pushkaladevi, ^[18] Shiva and Shasta. A young Ayyappa sits in the middle with Pushkaladevi ^[18] on the left side and Shiva on the right side.

The festival at the temple is celebrated during the concluding days of the Sabarimala Mandala Kalam. The most important festivals observed here include Pandiyan Mudippu, Thiru Kalyanam and Kumbhabhishekham. There are plans to include the temple as part of Sabarimala circuit. ^[19]

Other religious places

There are two catholic churches: St. Mary's Catholic Church Archdiocese of Changanassery & St. George Malankara Catholic Church at Arankavu. The St. George Malankara Catholic Church was established in the 1950s. The founder of the Church was Mr. K.V Abraham Vaidyer (Kaleekal) also known as Kannadi Vaidyar. He was an Ayurvedic physician as well as a member of the Grama Panchayat in 1957.

There are also numerous Evangelicalist churches that are active in the area.

The major center of worship of Muslims is the Edappalayam Juma Masjid.

See also

• Palakkad Gap
• Aralvaimozhi

References

1. "കൊല്ലം ജില്ലയിലെ ഗ്രാമ പഞ്ചായത്തുകളുടെ അടിസ്ഥാന വിവരങ്ങള്‍". dop.lsgkerala.gov.in.
2. "The Kerala Official Language (Legislation) Act, 1969" (PDF).
3. "Census of India : Villages with population 5000 & above". Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Archived from the original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved 10 December 2008.
4. "KIRTADS | MALA PANDARAM" . Retrieved 24 October 2021.
5. Pereira, Ignatius (25 December 2013). "Shencottah train in the siding, yawning gap ahead". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 24 October 2021.
6. "Punalur burns; this is why it is always so during summer". OnManorama. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
7. LOCKWOOD, Text and Photographs IAN. "Heritage Hills". Frontline. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
8. "Kerala". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
9. V.n, Aswin (28 September 2017). "A ride away from the crowd". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 24 October 2021.
10. "Coracle ride, jungle safari, wildlife and more.. Rosemala charms visitors despite Covid restrictions". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
11. Mathew, Roy. "Kerala snapshot: Residents marooned in a wildlife sanctuary in a terrible summer". Scroll.in. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
12. "Kerala Forests: Bourdillion Plot". Archived from the original on 26 June 2017.
13. Pereira, Ignatius (9 March 2013). "Clove harvest spices up Ambanad". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 24 October 2021.
14. Pereira, Ignatius (28 January 2015). "Scent of cloves fills the air in Ambanad". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 24 October 2021.
15. "On top of the Ambanad Hills". Mathrubhumi. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
16. "Welcome to Ambanad Hills, nature lovers' `Mini Munnar'". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
17. Pereira, Ignatius (18 December 2013). "The mountain trails of a divine legend". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 24 October 2021.
18. "Aryankavu Sri Dharmasastha temple - Travancore Devaswom Board". www.sabarimalaaccomodation.com. Archived from the original on 20 November 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
19. "5 Temples Part of Sabarimala Pilgrimage Circuit". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 24 October 2021.