Shoranur is a town and a
municipalityA municipality is an administrative entity composed of a clearly defined territory and its population and commonly denotes a city, town, or village, or a small grouping of them. A municipality is typically governed by a mayor and a city council or municipal council.The notion of municipality...
in
Palakkad districtPalakkad District or Palghat is one of the 14 districts of Kerala state in South India. The city of Palakkad is the district headquarters. Palakkad is bordered on the northwest by the Malappuram District and on the southwest by the Thrissur District. The district is 13.62% urbanised...
,
KeralaKerala , is a state located in southwestern India. The state was created in 1956 on linguistc basis, bringing together those places where Malayalam formed the principal language...
,
IndiaIndia, 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, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Bay of Bengal...
. It is located on the banks of the Bharathapuzha River.
CheruthuruthiCheruthuruthi a.k.a Vallathol Nagar is a small village near Wadakkanchery on the banks of the Nila river. It falls in Talappilly taluk of the revenue district of Thrissur...
, where
Kerala KalamandalamKerala Kalamandalam is a major centre for learning Indian performing arts, especially those that developed in the southern state of Kerala. It is situated in the village of Cheruthuruthy in Thrissur district on the banks of the Bharathapuzha....
is situated, is right across the banks of the Bharathapuzha. Kerala Kalamandalam is a major centre for learning Kerala's classical arts like
KathakaliKathakali is a highly stylised classical Indian dance-drama noted for its attractive make-up of characters, their elaborate costumes, detailed gestures and well-defined body movements presented in tune with the anchor playback music and complementary percussion...
,
KoodiyattamKoodiyattam or Kutiyattam is a form of Sanskrit theatre traditionally performed in the state of Kerala, India. Performed in the Sanskrit language in Hindu temples, it is believed to be 2000 years old...
, Koothu, Mohiniyattam,
OttamthullalOttamthullal or Ottanthullal is a type of performing art from Kerala, south India. The art form was created during the feudal era by legendary Malayalam poet Kalakkaththu Kunchan Nambiar...
and
PanchavadyamPanchavadyam, literally meaning an orchestra of five instruments, is basically a temple art form has evolved in Kerala. Of the five instruments, four -- timila, maddalam, ilathalam and idakka -- belong to the percussion category, while the fifth one, kombu, is a wind instrument.Much like any chenda...
.
'Shornur' is believed to be have originated from Cherumannur, which is found in the Revenue and Railway records.
Shornur was a part of Kavalappara Desam which was a petty feudatory under the Raja of valluvanad (Valluvakonathari).
Shoranur is a town and a
municipalityA municipality is an administrative entity composed of a clearly defined territory and its population and commonly denotes a city, town, or village, or a small grouping of them. A municipality is typically governed by a mayor and a city council or municipal council.The notion of municipality...
in
Palakkad districtPalakkad District or Palghat is one of the 14 districts of Kerala state in South India. The city of Palakkad is the district headquarters. Palakkad is bordered on the northwest by the Malappuram District and on the southwest by the Thrissur District. The district is 13.62% urbanised...
,
KeralaKerala , is a state located in southwestern India. The state was created in 1956 on linguistc basis, bringing together those places where Malayalam formed the principal language...
,
IndiaIndia, 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, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Bay of Bengal...
. It is located on the banks of the Bharathapuzha River.
CheruthuruthiCheruthuruthi a.k.a Vallathol Nagar is a small village near Wadakkanchery on the banks of the Nila river. It falls in Talappilly taluk of the revenue district of Thrissur...
, where
Kerala KalamandalamKerala Kalamandalam is a major centre for learning Indian performing arts, especially those that developed in the southern state of Kerala. It is situated in the village of Cheruthuruthy in Thrissur district on the banks of the Bharathapuzha....
is situated, is right across the banks of the Bharathapuzha. Kerala Kalamandalam is a major centre for learning Kerala's classical arts like
KathakaliKathakali is a highly stylised classical Indian dance-drama noted for its attractive make-up of characters, their elaborate costumes, detailed gestures and well-defined body movements presented in tune with the anchor playback music and complementary percussion...
,
KoodiyattamKoodiyattam or Kutiyattam is a form of Sanskrit theatre traditionally performed in the state of Kerala, India. Performed in the Sanskrit language in Hindu temples, it is believed to be 2000 years old...
, Koothu, Mohiniyattam,
OttamthullalOttamthullal or Ottanthullal is a type of performing art from Kerala, south India. The art form was created during the feudal era by legendary Malayalam poet Kalakkaththu Kunchan Nambiar...
and
PanchavadyamPanchavadyam, literally meaning an orchestra of five instruments, is basically a temple art form has evolved in Kerala. Of the five instruments, four -- timila, maddalam, ilathalam and idakka -- belong to the percussion category, while the fifth one, kombu, is a wind instrument.Much like any chenda...
.
Etymology
'Shornur' is believed to be have originated from Cherumannur, which is found in the Revenue and Railway records.
history
Shornur was a part of Kavalappara Desam which was a petty feudatory under the Raja of valluvanad (Valluvakonathari). It extended from the Bharatapuzha till Mundakkottukurussi. The fuedal lord was the moopil
nairNair , is the name of a Hindu Forward caste from the Southern Indian state of Kerala. They are a Kshatriya caste belonging to the Nagavanshi order...
. The area passed on to the hands of samoothiri of
kozhikodeKozhikode , also known as Calicut, is a city in the southern Indian state of Kerala. It is the third largest city in Kerala and the headquarters of Kozhikode district....
with the fall of valluvanad.
With the British conquest of Malabar, Shornur became a part of
Madras PresidencyMadras Presidency , also known as Madras Province and known officially as Presidency of Fort St. George, was a province of British India...
. As a part of the
British EmpireThe British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom, that had originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height it was...
Shornur came into prominence as it was the junction between the empire and the erstwhile states of
KochiThe Kingdom of Cochin was a princely state that included much of modern day Thrissur district, Chittoor Taluk of Palakkad district and Kanayannur and Fort Kochi Taluks of Ernakulam district which are now the part of the Indian state of...
and
TravancoreTravancore was a princely state from the Indian subcontinent, with its capital at Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. It comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, the Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of Tamil Nadu. Its ruler was accorded a 19-gun salute during the...
. With the advent of railways it became one of the most important towns of
MalabarMalabar is a region of southern India, lying between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. The name is thought to be derived from the Malayalam word Mala and Persian word Bar or Bar from Arabic language....
. With the setting up of metal industries during the early 1930s ushered in a golden age for the town.
Post Independence and the formation of the state of Kerala the town became a part of
PalakkadFor the district with the same name, see Palakkad District.Palakkad is a town and a municipality in the state of Kerala in southern India. It is the administrative headquarters of Palakkad District...
district. From the early 1980s the town slowly started to loose its prominence mainly due to the construction of a link line 1 km from the railway station and the labour issues in the industrial sector, and went into a state of stagnation.
industries
Shornur is an important area in the palakkad industrial belt. It has one of the three industrial estates of the district. The region manufacture agricultural tools consisting of axes, shovels, sickles, spades etc. The products are widely used in kerala and the neighbouring states and are even exported.
C K Menon who trained in metallurgy from
SheffieldSheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, the city has grown from its largely industrial roots to encompass a wider economic base...
(U.K.) was the pioneer in this field. In 1929 he set up the first industrial unit at Shornur. The initial success was soon followed by the setting up of other industries in the area. The proximity to the railways acted as an advantage in this respect.
The industries flourished during the second world war and after independence owing to increased demand. This continued till the late seventies and early eighties but, after the gulf boom there was a severe shortage of labour which pushed the industries into severe losses. The early 21st century ushered in hope as labour situation improved slightly. The older generation still remembers the days when Shornur was the "Sheffield of kerala".
major industrial units
Geography
Shoranur is located at . It has an average elevation of 49
metreThe metre or meter is the basic unit of length in the International System of Units . Historically, the metre was defined by the French Academy of Sciences as the length between two marks on a platinum-iridium bar, which was designed to represent one ten-millionth of the distance from the Equator...
s (160 feet).
Demographics
India
censusA "census" is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population.In other words every 10 years...next one would be in 2010 The term is used mostly in connection with...
, Shoranur had a population of 42,022. Males constitute 48% of the population and females 52%. Shoranur has an average literacy rate of 84%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 85%, and female literacy is 82%. In Shoranur, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age. The population is predominantly Hindu with sizeble Muslim and Christian population.
Transport
The Shoranur Junction is an important Southern Railway Junction. The Shoranur railway station is the only station in Kerala having six platforms and railway lines to 4 different routes (
PalakkadFor the district with the same name, see Palakkad District.Palakkad is a town and a municipality in the state of Kerala in southern India. It is the administrative headquarters of Palakkad District...
,
KozhikodeKozhikode , also known as Calicut, is a city in the southern Indian state of Kerala. It is the third largest city in Kerala and the headquarters of Kozhikode district....
,
ThrissurThrissur is a city situated in the central region of the state of Kerala, India. It is the headquarters of the Thrissur District. It is known as the 'Cultural Capital of Kerala'. Thrissur city is built around a beautiful hillock atop which the Vadakkumnathan temple which has Shiva as the...
and
NilamburNilambur is one of the biggest town and a taluk in the Malappuram district of Kerala, South India. It is famous for its forests, especially its wildlife habitats, rivers, waterfalls and teak plantations. It is situated close to the Nilgiris range of the Western Ghats on the banks of the Chaliyar...
). Most of the main line trains operating in Kerala pass through this station .The station serves as a major transit point for the passengers from the
MalabarMalabar is a region of southern India, lying between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. The name is thought to be derived from the Malayalam word Mala and Persian word Bar or Bar from Arabic language....
region. Venad express which runs between Trivandrum and Shornur is one of the many trains starting from here.
People of Shornur have been demanding for a triangular railway station as many of the long distance trains skip Shornur via the link route, 1 km from the station.
Shornur has two bus stands - one at Shornur and other at Kulappully. There are regular bus services from these stands to
ThrissurThrissur is a city situated in the central region of the state of Kerala, India. It is the headquarters of the Thrissur District. It is known as the 'Cultural Capital of Kerala'. Thrissur city is built around a beautiful hillock atop which the Vadakkumnathan temple which has Shiva as the...
,
PalakkadFor the district with the same name, see Palakkad District.Palakkad is a town and a municipality in the state of Kerala in southern India. It is the administrative headquarters of Palakkad District...
,
OttapalamOttapalam is a town in Palakkad District of Kerala state in South India. Situated on the banks of the Bharathappuzha river , it has a rich cultural heritage and has played host to many historic events. Being headquarters of the taluk by the same name, it is one of the municipalities of the district...
,
GuruvayurGuruvayur is a bustling pilgrim town and a municipality in Thrissur district of the Indian state of Kerala. It lies 25 km to the northwest of Thrissur city.-Guruvayur Temple:...
,
PattambiPattambi is a small town in the Palakkad district of the state of Kerala, South India.-Geography:Pattambi is well-known for its cultural importance. Situated in the banks of River Bharathappuzha ,...
,
CherpulacheryCherpulassery or Cherplassery/Cherpalchery is a small town in Palakkad district of Kerala state, south India. It is in Ottapalam taluk, known for its eminent and prolific contributions to the world of culture. Geographically, it is a tri-junction of roads converging from three towns -- Ottapalam,...
and
ChelakkaraChelakkara is a small town in Thrissur district of Kerala state, south India. It is one of the constituencies in Thrissur district.-Geography:Chelakara is located at . It has an average elevation of .-Religion:...
. Mayilvahanam motors, which is one of the largest bus operator in the state is based here.
The nearest
airport to Shoranur is the
Cochin International AirportCochin International Airport , also known as Nedumbassery Airport, is located at Nedumbassery, near Kochi , Kerala in India...
.
nearest places
- Ottapalam
Ottapalam is a town in Palakkad District of Kerala state in South India. Situated on the banks of the Bharathappuzha river , it has a rich cultural heritage and has played host to many historic events. Being headquarters of the taluk by the same name, it is one of the municipalities of the district...
15 km east
- Palakkad
For the district with the same name, see Palakkad District.Palakkad is a town and a municipality in the state of Kerala in southern India. It is the administrative headquarters of Palakkad District...
50 km east
- Thrissur
Thrissur is a city situated in the central region of the state of Kerala, India. It is the headquarters of the Thrissur District. It is known as the 'Cultural Capital of Kerala'. Thrissur city is built around a beautiful hillock atop which the Vadakkumnathan temple which has Shiva as the...
33 km south
- Pattambi
Pattambi is a small town in the Palakkad district of the state of Kerala, South India.-Geography:Pattambi is well-known for its cultural importance. Situated in the banks of River Bharathappuzha ,...
15 km west
- Cherpulachery
Cherpulassery or Cherplassery/Cherpalchery is a small town in Palakkad district of Kerala state, south India. It is in Ottapalam taluk, known for its eminent and prolific contributions to the world of culture. Geographically, it is a tri-junction of roads converging from three towns -- Ottapalam,...
27 km northeast
politics
Shornur is a part of Shornur Legislative Assembly Constituency and Palakkad Parliamentary Constituency.
educational institutions
- Al Ameen Engineering College
- St.Theresa's Convent School
- M.P.M.M.S.N Trust college
- S.N Trust Central School
- S.N Trust H S S
- Technical High School
- Maharishi Vidya Mandir
- Carmel School
- Vishnu Ayurveda College
- K.V.R High School
- Govt. High School Ganeshgiri
- Jyothi engg college Cheruthuruthy
- IKON Kavallapara
tourist attractions