Nagercoil Clock Tower

Last updated

Nagercoil Clock Tower
Clock Tower, Nagercoil.JPG
General information
AddressTower Junction, Vadiveeswaram Village, Ozhuginasery, Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu 629001, India
CountryIndia
Completed1893

The Nagercoil Clock Tower, also known as also known as Nagercoil Tower Junction, is situated in the heart of the city of Nagercoil, India. The clock in the tower was presented to the Maharajah of Travancore by the European missionary, Rev. Duthie, during his visit to Nagercoil in the later part of the 19th century. A prominent landmark of Nagercoil, it is in a state of neglect. It has stopped ticking as there is no expert available to bring it back to action.

History

The clock tower was built at the centre place of Nagercoil, to commemorate the visit of Sri Moolam Thirunal, then ruler of Travancore, in 1893, and it was designed by Hogeorf and S. Horesly of England. [1] The Maharajah himself inaugurated it on 15 February 1893. The pendulum of the clock was made in Derbyshire by Smith of Derby Group, London. The clock is attached to a 60-foot-long chain with a weight, operated with pulleys through gravitational force. As the Nagercoil Municipality grew wary repairing the clock every time it stood still, the clock tower is now legally under private care as per a contract with the Nagercoil Municipality since 2009. The sponsor renovated the tower twice in 2010 and 2012 by spending around Rs. 4 lakh. It has been running without trouble ever since.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nagercoil</span> City in Tamil Nadu, India

Nagercoil, also spelt as Nagarkovil, is a city and the administrative headquarters of Kanyakumari District in Tamil Nadu state, India. Situated close to the tip of the Indian peninsula, it lies on an undulating terrain between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma</span> Last ruling Maharajah of Travancore from 1924–1949

Sree Padmanabhadasa Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, popularly known as Sree Chithira Thirunal, was the last ruling Maharaja of the Indian princely state of Travancore, in southern India until 1949 and later the Titular Maharajah of Travancore until 1991. His reign is known for several notable reforms that have indelible impact on the society and culture of Kerala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Padmanabhapuram Palace</span> Travancore era palace in Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, India

Padmanabhapuram Palace, also known as Kalkulam Palace, is a Travancore era palace located in Padmanabhapuram in the Kanyakumari district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The palace is owned, controlled and maintained by the government of the neighbouring state of Kerala. Padmanabhapuram is the former capital city of the erstwhile Hindu kingdom of Travancore. It is around 20 km from Nagercoil, 39 km from Kanyakumari town and 52 km from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. The palace is complex inside with an old granite fortress around four kilometers long. The palace is located at the foot of the Veli Hills, which forms a part of the Western Ghats. The river Valli flows nearby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kanyakumari district</span> District of Tamil Nadu in India

Kanyakumari district is one of the 38 districts of Tamil Nadu state and the southernmost district in mainland India. It stands second in terms of population density among the districts of Tamil Nadu. It is also the richest district in Tamil Nadu in terms of per capita income, and also tops the state in Human Development Index (HDI), literacy, and education. The district's headquarters is Nagercoil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thampi and Thankachi</span> Surnames used for certain royal family members of erstwhile Travancore kingdom

The Thampis and Kochammas are the sons and daughters of the maharajahs of Travancore and their consorts belonging to Samanthan Nair caste

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colachel</span> Town in Tamil Nadu, India

Colachel is a coastal town in the far south of India, located within the administrative jurisdiction of Kanyakumari District. It is a natural harbor on the Malabar coast, located 20 km north-west of Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of India. As of 2011 the municipality had a population of 23,227 and a metropolitan population of 47,007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devasahayam Pillai</span> Indian martyr and Saint

Devasahayam Pillai or Mar Lazarus Sahada was an Indian layman and martyr of the Catholic Church. He was canonized as a saint of the church by Pope Francis on 15 May 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dharma Raja</span> Maharaja of Travancore from 1758–1798

Rama Varma I often referred to as Dharma Raja, was the Maharajah of Travancore from 1758 until his death in 1798. He succeeded his uncle Marthanda Varma, who is credited with the title of "maker of modern Travancore". During his reign Dharma Raja not only retained all the territories his predecessor had gained but administered the kingdom with success. He was addressed as Dharma Raja on account of his strict adherence to Dharma Sastra, the Hindu principles of justice by providing asylum to thousands of Hindus and Christians fleeing Malabar during the Mysorean conquest of Malabar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayilyam Thirunal</span> Maharaja of Travancore from 1860–1880

Ayilyam Thirunal Rama Varma (1832–1880) was the ruler of the princely state of Travancore in India from 1860 to 1880. His reign was highly successful, with Travancore gaining the appellation of "model state of India". Ayilyam Thirunal was the nephew of Uthram Thirunal and Swathi Thirunal and grandson of Gowri Lakshmi Bayi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moolam Thirunal</span> Maharaja of Travancore from 1885–1924

Sir Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma (1857–1924) was Maharajah of the princely state of Travancore between 1885 and 1924, succeeding his uncle Maharajah Visakham Thirunal (1880–1885). Moolam Thirunal is considered as the first in Indian to implement the concept of public participation in governance through the formation of Travancore Legislative Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sethu Lakshmi Bayi</span> Regent Maharani of Travancore from 1924–1931

Pooradam Thirunal Sethu Lakshmi Bayi CI was the monarch, though designated as the Regent due to British policy, of the Kingdom of Travancore in southern India between 1924 and 1931. She, along with her younger cousin, Moolam Thirunal Sethu Parvathi Bayi, were adopted into the Travancore royal family and were the granddaughters of the celebrated painter, Raja Ravi Varma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ammachi Panapillai Amma</span>

Ammachi Panapillai Amma was the title held by the consort of the ruling Maharajah of Travancore as well as those of other title-holding male members of the Travancore Royal Family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visakham Thirunal</span> Maharaja of Travancore from 1880–1885

Visakham Thirunal Rama VarmaFRAS was the Maharaja of the erstwhile Indian kingdom of Travancore from 1880 to 1885 AD. He succeeded his elder brother Maharajah Ayilyam Thirunal to the throne of Travancore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marthanda Varma II</span> Maharaja of Travancore from 1846–1860

Uthram Thirunal Marthanda Varma was the Maharajah of Travancore state in southern India, succeeding his elder brother Maharajah Swathi Thirunal in 1846 till his demise in 1860. Known for his progressive rule, he abolished slavery in the kingdom. He was succeeded by his nephew Maharajah Ayilyam Thirunal in 1860. His mother was Her Highness Maharani Gowri Lakshmi Bayi. He was married to Thiruvattar Ammachi Panapillai Amma Srimathi Madhavi Pillai Kochamma of the Nagercoil Ammaveedu, who died in 1860, a few months before the Maharajah's death. The Maharajah's daughter was married by his nephew and heir Maharajah Ayilyam Thirunal.

Rajah Rama Varma was the ruler of the Indian kingdom of Venad, later known as Travancore, in the modern day state of Kerala, India between 1724 and 1729, having succeeded his brother Unni Kerala Varma. He is better known as the uncle of Maharajah Padmanabha Dasa Vanchi Pala Marthanda Varma Kulasekhara Perumal, the "maker of modern Travancore". He was born into the Royal Family of Kolathunadu, as the second son of Rajah Ittamar of Thattari Kovilakam. It was princes from the Parappanadu family who customarily married Kolathunadu princesses. Rama Varma's entire family, including himself, two sisters and his elder brother Unni Kerala Varma, were adopted into the Venad house as members of the Travancore Royal Family by Rajah Ravi Varma, nephew of Umayamma Rani due to the failure of heirs there. Ittammar Raja's sister and her sons, Rama Varma and Raghava Varma, settled in Kilimanoor and married the now adopted sisters. Of the adopted sisters, one died soon after her adoption while the other was the mother of the Maharajah Marthanda Varma.

Ammaveedus were the residences of the consorts of the Maharajahs of Travancore in Trivandrum. The descendants of the Maharajahs were considered as members of these Ammaveedus, with a status subordinate only to royalty. The chief four Ammaveedus are the Arumana, Vadasseri, Thiruvattar and Nagercoil Ammaveedus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Travancore royal family</span> Ruling family of travancore

The Travancore royal family was the ruling house of the Kingdom of Travancore. They had to give up their ruling rights in 1949 when Travancore merged with India and their political pension privileges were abolished in 1971. The family is descended from the Ay/Venad family and the Chera dynasty.

A. Nesamony, sometimes known as Marshal Nesamony, was a political leader from Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu, India. He was the second son of Kesavan Appavu Nadar, born on 12 June 1895 at Nesarpuram, Palliyadi in Vilavancode Taluk, Kanyakumari district. He graduated from Maharaja's College in Thiruvananthapuram, and studied at law college in Thiruvananthapuram. He began practising in 1921. He was among those involved with the merger of four Taluks from Southern Travancore to Tamil Nadu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bharani Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi</span> Indian princess, Rani of Travancore

Maharani Bharani Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi CI was the Senior Rani of Travancore from 1857 till her death in 1901. Her consort was the famous poet and writer, styled the father of Malayalam literature, Sri Kerala Varma Valiya Koil Thampuran.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nagercoil Municipal Corporation</span> 14th Biggest Corporation of Tamilnadu

Nagercoil Corporation is located in Kanyakumari district. Nagercoil is the administrative headquarters of Kanyakumari district and it is located in southern Tamil Nadu. The corporation is located 18 km north of Kanyakumari. Nagercoil Corporation is a forum with 52 members. At present Kottar, Vadasery and Vetturnimadam are the important places in Nagercoil Corporation. The annual tax revenue of this corporation is 81 crore rupees.

References

  1. "Time stands still at Nagercoil's clock tower". The Hindu. 29 January 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2015.