Tourist attractions
See also: Kasaragod Town
Kasaragod is one of the most beautiful districts in Kerala state endowed with 9 rivers (out of a total of the 44 rivers that flow in Kerala), hills, beaches, backwaters, as well as temples, churches, mosques and forts.
- Bekal Fort - It is the biggest fort in Kerala today and is 14 km from Kanhangad and 15 km from Kasaragodtown. The nearest railway station is Pallikere railway station, which is now called the Bekal Fort Railway Station, and the nearest airport is Mangalore Airport.
- Ananthapura Lake Temple, an ancient and attractive-looking temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
- Mallikarjuna Temple is another temple in the heart of Kasargod Town and is dedicated to Sri Shiva.
- Ranipuram - A conglomerate of grassy hills near Panathady Town and linked to Kanhangad by Kanhangad-Panathur state highway.
- Kottancheri Hills - Located near Talakaveri which is the starting point of the Kaveri river. It is 36 km from Kanhangad Town.
- Valiyaparamba Backwaters.
Other tourist attractions are Chandragiri Fort, Anandashramam, Nithyanandashramam, and Kareem forest park - the only man made forest in the Kerala. The forest park is located in Parappa near Nileshwar. The Kerala State Government is planning to set up an IT park in Kasaragod. It will be constructed in 100 acres (0.40 km2) of revenue land in Cheemeni which is estimated to generate around 50,000 IT jobs.
- Adhur, one of the natural spot in Kasaragod with large diversity of Flaura and fauna. Located on the shore of Payaswini River.
Pilgrim centres[edit]
- Ananthapura Lake Temple an ancient and attractive-looking temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
- Bela Church, also known as Our Lady of Sorrows Church, is a Roman Catholic church located 14km north of Kasaragod and 50km south of Mangalore. It was built in 1890 and is thus the oldest extant church in the district. This Gothic Revival Roman Catholic church, which is under the Mangalore Diocese, recently celebrated its centenary when it was also renovated. Bela Catholic Parish is also one of the oldest existing parishes of the Diocese of Mangalore. The mother tongue of the Catholics is Konkani.
- Trikkannad Shiva Temple is located on the shore of the Arabian Sea. It is situated at a radius of 1 kilometer from the renowned Bekal Bridge. The location of this temple is unique and it provides the worshippers an opportunity to make their appeal to God. It is said that all the appeals are granted here by the Almighty.As per the legends once a Pandyan ruler tried to attack the Shiva temple and the reigning deity of this temple set fire to his ship and turned him into a rock. In this rock the famous Trikkannad Siva Temple is located. This temple is also known as Dakshina Kashi.
- Madhur Ganapathy Temple is an architecturally impressive structure.
- Mallik Deenar Mosque, one of the first masjid in India built during the period of the prophet Muhammad by swahabi 'Malik-ibn-Deenar', is located approximately 3km from kasaragod railway station in the shore of Arabia See. Hundreds of people visit this place every day.
- Mallikarjuna Temple is another temple in the heart of Kasargod Town and is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
- Palakunnu Bhagavathi temple.
- Mallam Temple.
- Kammadam Bhagavathi temple is most famous for Theyyam Kaliyattam in Dhanu and attract hundreds of people in "Samkramam" day of every month to visit and pray in sacred grove. The Temple is dedicated to Kammadath Bhagavathi and Chamundi(Raktheshwari).This temple is located 25km east from Nileshwaram town and 5km East from Chittarikkal Kunnumkai.
Fauna and Flora[edit]
Kasaragod district surrounded by three forest districts - in the north by Dakshina Kannada (one NP and 2 wildlife sanctuaries), in the east by Kodagu (one NP and two wildlife sancturaies), and in the south by Kannur (one wildlife sanctuary and one elephant corridor). Even then, the forest officials of this district have not sent any proposal to the state forest department or the Central Government for setting up a sanctuary here, although shola, evergreen and mangrove forests exist in abundance.
Kasaragod district is very rich in vegetation. Natural vegetation, except in some coastal regions, consists of different types of forests. But in spite of generally favourable climatic conditions, vegetation is not uniform. In restricted regions, with their own micro climate or special edaphic features, plant formations assume different characters. Thus, plant communities, ranging from psammophytes and mangroves to evergreen forests are seen here.
Ranipuram Wildlife sanctaury (50 km2, proposed)
In Panathady RF, the proposed Ranipuram Wildlife sanctuary / National park of Kanhangad forest range consists of various flora and fauna which are endemic to the Western Ghats and a yet to studied biodiversity hotspot. It merges with the Talacauvery Wildlife Sanctuary. Ranipuram hill station which falls in Panathady reserve forest is an ideal area to notify as a wild life sanctuary/National park. Shola forest seen only here in this district. Elephants, leopards, deer, wild dogs, wild boars, macaques, jungle cats, Leopard cats slender loris, porcupines, malabar giant squirrels, malabar civet cat, many species of birds, rare butterflies and medicinal plants are found in these forest.
Most of these highly endangered animals are killed by people due to lack of conversational awareness or to protect their crops. Ranipuram wild life sanctuary will be in contiguous to Talacauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka. If it is declared as a wild life sanctuary, it will enhance the tourism industry of this district along with Ranipuram hill station/Biodiversity park. Declaring it as a wildlife sanctuary is the only way to protect this Westernghat biodiversity hotspot and permanent solution for Encroachment, Poaching, hunting in night, mining, Illegal tree felling which are main threats for this park.
The proposed Munnamkadavu Dam may very useful to create a fresh water and wetland ecosystem and sanctuary for wild crocodile, otter, endangered fish and water birds. Afforestation around the catchment area of dam reservoir will help to create another new wildlife sanctuary here in future and recreate lost wild elephant corridor.
Malom Wildlife Sanctuary (5 km2) Malom Wildlife Sanctuary of the Kanhagad region is popular among tourists for its tropical rainforest and many wild animals. The sanctuary is home to animals like wild pig, slender loris, rhesus monkey, flying squirrel and porcupine. The Malabar hornbill, peacock and grey-hornbill can also be seen in the sanctuary.Many animals like Flying squirrel, bats, Jungle cat, Butterflies are living here. Encroachment, hunting in night, illicite tree felling and granite mining are the main threats.. Tourists can even spot snakes like king cobra and python. It is 35 km away east of Kanhangad in Balal-Kallar panchayaths and 5 km away from malom town center. Flora': Evergreen monsoon forest, shola, orchids, medicinal plants, grass lands etc. Mammals: about 24 species mainly Elephants, wild bison, Leopard, wild dogs, mongoose, pangolin, Jungle cats, Malabar giant squirrels, Flying squirrels, fox, porcupine, bonnet macaques, Langur, Leopard cats, Deer, wild boar, slender loris, hares, squirrels, bats etc. Birds: About 200 species mainly Great Indian horn bill, Paradise flying catcher, green barbet, peacock, trogon, wood pigeon, malabar grey horn bill, white bellied tree pie, heart spotted wood pecker etc.. Reptiles: King cobra, kraits, viper, rat snakes, Indian cobras, green whip snakes, monitor lizards etc. Amphibians: About 19 species, Thousands of insects and spiders About 100 species of butterflies including sword tail, forest nymph, malabar bird wing etc.
Adoor wildlife sanctuary (2 km2)
A Fragmented, Adoor reserve forest which spreads about 2 km2 in Kasaragod district is the home for endangered animals like jungle cat, slender loris, wild pig, porcupine, turtles, peacock, Malabar horn bill, butterflies, medicinal plants and wet evergreen forest. Illicit tree felling, hunting, encroachment are main threats for this sanctuary. It is about 35 km east of Kasaragod town in Adoor-Kuttikol panchayath.
Parappa wildlife sanctuary (2 km2)
A fragmented RF, Parappa reserve forest of Kanhangad range are home for jungle cats, slender loris, wild pig, porcupine, turtles, peacock, Malabar horn bill, butterflies, medicinal plants and wet evergreen forest. Illicit tree felling, hunting, encroachment are main threats for this sanctuary. It is about 22 km East of Chervathur town
Kammadam sacred grove wildlife sanctuary (50 acres)
Kammadam kavu, related with Bhagavathi temple, is the biggest sacred grove of Kerala and rich in wildlife, evergreen forest, orchids, medicinal plants and shrubs. Wild animals like Jungle cat, monitor lizard, civets, fox, bats, snakes, various species of birds and butterflies seen. It is 25 km east of Nileshwaram town.
Kareem's Forest park (32 acres)
India's first private sanctuary which spreads across 32 acres (130,000 m2) and rich in diverse species of trees, medicinal plants, birds, insets, reptiles, amphibians, small wild animals, microorganisms and so on. People from different walks of life environmentalists, scientists, University and Ayurveda students, and laymen, all over the country visit his forest park for practical experience and study purpose. He is also multiplying and distributing the seeds and saplings of forest trees and medicinal plants and help our mother earth and help the nation to convert waste lands into thick forests by replicating his efforts without involving additional coasts.
The park is situated at Puliyamkulam, near Parappa. It is 23 km away east of kanhangad town. Frequent bus service available.
National Movement
Kasaragod played a prominent role in the National Movement for the freedom of the country. Mohammed Sherul Sahib and Kandige Krishna Bhat were the frontline leaders of the independence movement. Umesh Rao, K. M. Krishnan Nambiar, Shreesankarji, Naranthatta Raman Nair, A. C. Kannan Nair, T. Gopalan Nair and Meloth Narayanan Nambiar were prominent freedom fighters.
The agrarian struggle to end the exploitation and oppression by landlords and chieftains were part of the National Movement. The Kadakom Sathyagraha was started following the arrest of Gandhiji in 1932. The Palayi Harvest Agitation (1941), Cheemeni Estate Struggle (1942), Kayyur Agrarian Riot (1944), Eleri Estate Agitation (1946), Karinthalam Paddy Seizure Revolt (1948) and many other struggles waged by the peasant organisations accelerated the tempo of the freedom movement. Besides the agitation of the peasants, the various struggles unleashed for the uplift of the scheduled castes and tribes also supported and enlivened the National Movement.
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