Echilamvayal
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About
Echilamvayal is a village in the Kannur districtKannur district
Kannur District is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala, India. The town of Kannur is the district headquarters, and gives the district its name. The old name Cannanore is the anglicised form of the Malayalam name Kannur. Kannur District is bounded by Kasaragod District to the north and...
of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, located in the western side of Kallan Kunnu (Malayalam:)(Kallan Hill) on the Payyanur-Pulingome state highway. Echilamvayal is primarily an agriculture area. Most of the farmers cultivate rice, coconut, arica nut, banana, and other plantation and horticulture crops.
The eastern side of Kallan Hill is primarily ghat areas and the south, north and western sides are agricultural lands. One of the tributaries of Perumba River
Perumba River
Perumba River is a major freshwater river in Malabar region of Kerala State in India, which passes through industrial city of Payyannur, Kannur district...
(Payyanur
Payyanur
Payyanur is a Municipal Town situated at the northern end of Kannur district in North Malabar region of Kerala, India. This Municipality consists of three administrative villages viz. Vellur, Korom and Payyannur. Other villages are; Annur and Kokkanissery....
) starts from this hill. The famous Kallan kulam (Kallan pond) is on the southern side of this hill. This pond is the home of many rarely found fishes. There are many small "Para kulam"s (hill ponds) on top of the Kallan joseph smith hill. Kallan hill is a natural sanctuary for many native animals and birds.
Echilamvayal Reading Room and Library, Anganavadi, AKG Center, Yuvajana Vedhi, and Hazmi Purogamana vedhi are the cultural organizations in this area. The Echilamvayal Mazjid and Palayinkeezhu Bhagavathi Temple are the two religious places for devotees. The coconut processing center is the only industrial unit in this area.
Echilamvayal is bordered by Karinkuzhi
Karinkuzhi
Karinkuzhi is a village located on the southern side of Karinkuzhi river on the Payyanur-Pulingome state highway in the Kerala district of India....
(north), Korom north (east), Payyanchal (south) and Vellur (west). It is about 3.5 km from the Payyanur town. Echilamvayal belongs to the Vellur of Payyanur Municipality.
History
Etymology and GeographyIn the local language ‘Malayalam’, Vayal means paddy field. Prior to 1950, south, west, and north-west parts of Echilamvayal were having vast area of plain paddy fields. At that time, even coconut trees were not cultivated in this area. The only tree that was visible in the vast area of paddy land was a ‘Njanal’ tree about half a mile from the western tip of the Kallan hill. Prior to 1950, one could get an unobstructed view of Arabian Sea, Ezhimala hills, and Western Ghats from the top of Kallan hill. It is not clear how the Echilamvayal got ‘Achilam’. Some people believe that Echilamvayal got its name after this place was used for dumping 'Echils' (leftover foods) during a 'Yajna
Yajna
In Hinduism, yajna is a ritual of sacrifice derived from the practice of Vedic times. It is performed to please the gods or to attain certain wishes...
' conducted by Lord Shiva.
Spice Route
Kolathunadu was divided into three regions by the three major river systems-Valapattanam, Kuppam, and Karyankode (Tejaswini). Payyanur, Echilamvayal, and Cherupuzha regions are located in between Kuppam and Karyankode rivers.
During the period 1600-1800, the Payyanur was ruled by Kolathiris. Pazhassi Rajas ruled Kottayam and Telicherry area. Veera Rajendra ruled Virajpet and the Hoysalas ruled Madikkeri. Kasargod and Hosdurg region were ruled by Tuluva Kings. Neither the Kolathiris nor the Tuluvas could pay much attention to Cherupuzha region because of its distance from their respective administrative headquarters. Inhabitants in these region cultivated black pepper and cashew nuts. These spices were available in abundance in the Prapoyil and Pulingome
Pulingome
Pulingome is a village in Kannur District of Kerala state, south India.The famous Kottathalachi Mount is in this village. There is a Cross and a small shrine at the top of the hill. From Good Friday onwards there is way of the cross offers taking by many....
region near Cherupuzha
Cherupuzha
Cherupuzha is one of the tributaries of the Chaliyar River.It originates from the foothills of the Thamarassery churam as three separate rivulets. Iruthullippuzha and Kadungampuzha merge near Kaithappoyil. Engappuzha join to it near Kuppayakkode and forms Cherupuzha...
.
Kannur and Payyanur (Kavvayi or Kachilpatanam) were the two sea ports in this region. The foreign traders from Arabia, Portugal, England, and France established Payyanur-Echilamvayal-Cherupuzha route as a commercial route for transporting spices to nearest port Kavvayi. Later, British established Payyanur as a main railway station to conduct spices trade to these regions.
Tippu's War Route
Prior to British, Tippu Sultan had used Wagamandalam, Cherupuzha, Echilamvayal, and Kokkanisseri route as safe route for invading the princely states of Kolathiris, Pazhassi, and Samorins.
Early Inhabitants
The current Echilamvayal did not have any inhabitants prior to 1800. There are clear evidences of early inhabitants in the southern side of Kallan Kunnu. A banyan tree and a stone used for worshiping Guligan were seen at this place. The banyan is still there, but the stone was later removed by the land owner which has led to the reconstruction of Palayinkeezh Bhagavathi temple. It is said that there lived a Hindu family here and the family was killed and thrown in a well by the invading army of Tippu Sultan.
Brahmin settlements in Kerala started during 1300-1400. They were migrated mainly from Tulunadu region of South Canara
South Canara
South Canara was a district under the British empire, located at . It was bifurcated in 1859 from Canara district. It was the undivided Dakshina Kannada district...
. Payyanur is the northernmost of the traditional Brahman settlements in Kerala. Payyanur was one of the 24 "manigramas "(villages)established by Brahmins. Brahmins typically settled on a valley near river banks and close to fertile and cultivatable lands. Brahmins settlements promoted rice and banana cultivations. Brahmins chose the north part of Echilamvayal, on the bank of Karinkuzhi
Karinkuzhi
Karinkuzhi is a village located on the southern side of Karinkuzhi river on the Payyanur-Pulingome state highway in the Kerala district of India....
river, for their settlement. They built Kankole
Kankole
-Demographics:As of the 2001 India census, Kankole had a population of 9,747 with 4,649 males and 5,098 females....
Shiva temple. The Kolathiris provided them with the services of Peryanian and Peryadan warriors for their protection. Subsequently, people from other echelons of society also migrated to this region.
It is believed that Echilamvayal was under the administrative control of Krishnapuram during British period (1800–1945). It is during this period, people started occupying Echilamvayal. The Krishnapuram rulers had constructed four 'Chumadu Thangi's (platform for resting head load), between Kothayimukku and Kankol. These 'Chumadu Thangi's were for the use of head load workers transporting spices from eastern hill stations to Payyanur. These four 'Chumadu Thangis' were located at Payyanchal, Echilamvayal, Karikuzhi, and Kankol. Also Krishnapuram rulers planted many banyan trees on either side of the road, for shade, between Kothayimukku and Kankol.
During 1950-1960, many people from the Kannada speaking region of Kasargod migrated to this place for employment.
Nearby Places
- Alakkad is a nearby village. Alakkad Konginichal Kavu (Kavu means dense forest) is famous for its distinct theyyam splendor.
- KankoleKankole-Demographics:As of the 2001 India census, Kankole had a population of 9,747 with 4,649 males and 5,098 females....
is a village located in the Kankole-Alappadamba Panchayat in the KannurKannurKannur , also known as Cannanore, is a city in Kannur district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the administrative headquarters of the District of Kannur and 518km north of state capital Trivandrum. During British rule in India, Kannur was known by its old name Cannanore, which is still in...
district of IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state of KeralaKeralaor Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
.
- KarinkuzhiKarinkuzhiKarinkuzhi is a village located on the southern side of Karinkuzhi river on the Payyanur-Pulingome state highway in the Kerala district of India....
once had one of the best and largest play ground in Payyanur area. Till 1970 most of the school and district athletic meets were held here. In 1970’s the Kerala government converted this all season and beautiful playground into an electric substation.
Transportation
- Nearest Railway Station: PayyanurPayyanurPayyanur is a Municipal Town situated at the northern end of Kannur district in North Malabar region of Kerala, India. This Municipality consists of three administrative villages viz. Vellur, Korom and Payyannur. Other villages are; Annur and Kokkanissery....
(6 km) - Nearest Airport : South: KozhikodeKozhikodeKozhikode During Classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, Kozhikkode was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices. Kozhikode was once the capital of an independent kingdom of the same name and later of the erstwhile Malabar District...
International(CCJ) 120 km, North: MangaloreMangaloreMangalore is the chief port city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is located about west of the state capital, Bangalore. Mangalore lies between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghat mountain ranges, and is the administrative headquarters of the Dakshina Kannada district in south western...
International(IXE) 120 km - Nearest Sea Port : New Mangalore Port 120 km North
- Nearest City/Town : PayyanurPayyanurPayyanur is a Municipal Town situated at the northern end of Kannur district in North Malabar region of Kerala, India. This Municipality consists of three administrative villages viz. Vellur, Korom and Payyannur. Other villages are; Annur and Kokkanissery....
Educational institutions
- Vellur Government High School: 1 km
- Kandoth Government LP School : 1 km
- Sree Narayana Guru College of Engineering & Techonogy : 2 km
- Payyanur College : 3 km
- Chinmaya VidyalayaChinmaya VidyalayaChinmaya Vidyalaya are a group of schools operated by the Chinmaya Mission Trust, founded by a spiritual leader late His Holiness Swami Chinmayananda. There are more than 75 such schools in 12 states across India...
: 2 km - Kendriya VidyalayaKendriya VidyalayaKendriya Vidyalaya, is a system of central government schools under the Ministry of Human Resource Development ....
: 3 km - College of Engineering Trikaripur Cheemeni : 4 km
- Government High School Mathil : 4 km
- Pariyaram Medical CollegePariyaram Medical CollegePariyaram Medical College was established in March 1993 at Pariyaram in Kannur district, Kerala state, South India.The nucleus for this building complex was the Pariyaram Sanitorium which was inaugurated way back in 1938 or so. The engineer who built the building was Mr...
: 20 km - Government College of Engineering, Kannur: 40 km