View source for Karunagappalli

{{Short description|Municipality in Kerala, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Karunagappally
| other_name               = 
| settlement_type          = [[Municipalities of Kerala|Municipality]]
| image_skyline            = 
| image_alt                = 
| image_caption            = 
| nickname                 = 
| pushpin_map              = India Kerala#India
| pushpin_label_position   = 
| pushpin_map_alt          = 
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location in Kerala, India
| coordinates              = {{coord|9|3|16|N|76|32|7|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Kerala]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Kollam District|Kollam]]
| established_title        = <!-- Established -->
| established_date         = 
| founder                  = 
| named_for                = 
| government_type          = Municipality
| governing_body           = 
| leader_title1            = Chairman
| leader_name1             = Kottayil Raju
| unit_pref                = Metric
| area_footnotes           = 
| area_total_km2           = 18.65
| area_rank                = 
| elevation_footnotes      = 
| elevation_m              = 14
| population_total         = 49,604
| population_as_of         = 2011
| population_footnotes     = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kudumbashree.org/sub-district/881034/20 |title=Karunagapally Municipality Profile |website=www.kudumbashree.org}}</ref>
| population_density_km2   = auto
| population_rank          = 
| population_demonym       = Karunagapallikkaran
| demographics_type1       = Languages
| demographics1_title1     = Official
| timezone1                = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1              = +5:30
| postal_code_type         = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code              = 690518
| area_code                = +91 (0)4762
| area_code_type           = Telephone code
| registration_plate       = KL-23
| blank1_name_sec1         = Nearest city
| blank1_info_sec1         = [[Kollam]] (24 km)
| blank1_name_sec2         = [[Climate of India|Climate]]
| blank1_info_sec2         = [[Climatic regions of India|Am/Aw]] <small>([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]])</small>
| iso_code                 = [[ISO 3166-2:IN|IN-KL]]
| footnotes                = 
| leader_title2            = Vice Chairman
| leader_name2             = Sakeena Salam
| demographics1_info1      = [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]], English
| blank2_name_sec1         = [[Human sex ratio|Sex ratio]]
| blank2_info_sec1         = 999 [[male|♂]]/[[female|♀]]
| blank3_name_sec1         = Literacy
| blank3_info_sec1         = 94.26%
| blank4_name_sec1         = [[Urban planning|Planning]] agency
| blank4_info_sec1         = 
| blank5_name_sec1         = Civic agency
| blank5_info_sec1         = Karunagappally Municipality
| blank2_name_sec2         = Avg. annual temperature
| blank2_info_sec2         = {{convert|27.2|°C|°F}}
| blank3_name_sec2         = Avg. summer temperature
| blank3_info_sec2         = {{convert|35|°C|°F}}
| blank4_name_sec2         = Avg. winter temperature
| blank4_info_sec2         = {{convert|24.4|°C|°F}}
| website                  = 
}}

'''Karunagappally''' is a [[municipality]] in the [[Kollam district]] of [[Kerala]], [[India]]. It is 24&nbsp;km north of [[Kollam]] and {{convert|60|km|abbr=on}} south of [[Alappuzha]]. Karunagappally taluk consists of [[Alappad]], [[Ochira]], [[Adinad]], [[Karunagappally]], [[Thazhava]], [[Pavumba]], [[Thodiyoor]], [[Kallalibhagom]], [[Thevalakkara]], [[Chavara]], [[Neendakara]], [[Clappana]], [[Kulasekharapuram]], [[Thekkumbhagam]], [[Ayanivelikulangara]], [[Panmana]], Ponmana and [[Vadakumthala]].<ref>[http://kollam.nic.in/villa.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210123336/http://kollam.nic.in/villa.html|date=10 February 2007}} Taluks & Villages - Kollam District</ref> The taluk is bound on the north by [[Kayamkulam]], on the east by [[Kunnathur (Kerala)|Kunnathur]] taluk, on the south by [[Kollam]] and on the west by the [[Arabian Sea]]. It is one of the fastest developing towns in Kerala and is part of Kollam metropolitan area.

Karunagappally is the location of a government engineering college named the [[College of Engineering Karunagappally]], also known as<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ceknpy.ac.in|title=CEK - College of Engineering Karunagappally|website=College of Engineering Karunagappally}}</ref> CEK, and a Government Arts & Science College under the University of Kerala. Europeans called Karunagappally Martha. It is also home to renowned [[Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham]] University's campus.

== Tourist attractions ==
{{AI-generated|date=October 2025|section=Tourist}}
* [[Azheekal Beach]]– A coastal beach located about 10 km from Karunagappally town. Known for its scenery, clean sands, and sunset views.<ref name="kerala-tourism">{{cite web |title=Azheekkal Beach |url=https://www.keralatourism.org/destination/azheekkal-beach/609/ |website=Kerala Tourism |publisher=Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala |access-date=2025-11-22}}</ref>
* [[Alumkadavu Backwaters and Houseboat Facility]] – The village of Alumkadavu (3 km from Karunagappally) offers backwater views and houseboat services.<ref>{{cite web |title=Alumkadavu |url=https://www.keralatourism.org/kerala-article/2021/alumkadavu/1143 |website=Kerala Tourism |date=December 2021 |publisher=Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala |access-date=2025-11-22}}</ref>
* [[Oachira Temple]] – Dedicated to Parabrahmam, this temple is a pilgrimage site and known for the Oachirakkali festival (June–July) and the Panthranduvilakku Utsavam in November–December. The temple is about 8 km away from Karunagappally and falls under the Karunagappally Taluk (sub-district)<ref name="Kerala-Tourism-Oachira">{{cite web |title=Oachira Temple near Karunagappally, Kollam |url=https://www.keralatourism.org/destination/ochira-temple-kollam/357/ |website=Kerala Tourism |publisher=Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala |access-date=2025-11-22}}</ref> 
* Vallickavu / [[Mata Amritanandamayi Math|Amritapuri Ashram]] – Located within Karunagappally Taluk, this spiritual campus (Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham’s presence) draws many visitors.<ref name="Amritapuri-history">{{cite web |title=History of Amritapuri |url=https://www.amritapuri.org/ashram/history |website=Amritapuri.org |publisher=Mata Amritanandamayi Math |access-date=2025-11-22}}</ref>
*  [[Kannetty]](Pallickal) River Boat Race – Sree Narayana Trophy – An annual boat race held in the Pallickal / Kannetty river during Onam festival season.<ref name="Hindu-Kannetty">{{cite news |title=Chambakulam Chundan wins Sree Narayana Trophy |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/chambakulam-chundan-wins-sree-narayana-trophy/article3320078.ece |work=The Hindu |date=12 March 2012 |access-date=2025-11-22}}</ref><ref name="Youtube-Kannetty">{{cite video |title=Sree Narayana Trophy Kannetti Vallamkali 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAjKOfZiasc |publisher=GroupNTBR |date=16 September 2022 |access-date=2025-11-22}}</ref>

==Demographics==
As of 2011 India census, Karunagappalli Municipality had a population of 25,336 where 12,219 are males and 13,117 are females.<ref>{{Cite web|url =http://www.census2011.co.in/data/town/628368-karunagappally-kerala.html|title = Karunagappalli Population - Census 2011|access-date = 9 January 2016 |website = census2011.co.in |publisher =Census India }}</ref> 75% of the population is Hindu; Muslims, the second-largest community having 19%. Christians are scattered and spread over Panchayths and Municipality limits, and account for 6% of the population. In the coastal panchaythat Azheekal, almost 100% of the population is Hindu. The high literacy of Kerala is reflected in Karunagappalli as well with 94.23% of the population classified as literate as against the national average of 74.04%.

==Economy==

Karungappalli used to be an agrarian economy until the late 19th century with [[coconut]], [[banana]], [[tapioca]] and [[Paddy (unmilled rice)|paddy]] as the main crops grown. With rapid urbanization and the consequent pressure on land, the reliance on agriculture has dwindled. Several cottage and small industries have now come up in the area including brick making, engineering and electronics. Proximity to [[Kollam]] (27&nbsp;km) and the excellent road and rail infrastructure have helped in this transition.{{fact|date=October 2025}}

Fishing forms the major source of livelihood for the coast dwellers. The area also receives some foreign remittances from the large number of people from here working in the Gulf countries. Now Kerala's many prominent{{what?|date=October 2025}} business centres had their branches here.{{fact|date=October 2025}}

==Environment==

Karunagappalli is known for high [[background radiation]] from [[thorium]]-containing [[monazite]] sand. In some coastal panchayats, median outdoor radiation levels are more than 4 [[Gray (unit)#Effect on the body|mGy]]/yr and, in certain locations on the coast, it is as high as 70 mGy/yr.<ref>{{Cite journal |vauthors=Nair RR, Rajan B, Akiba S, Jayalekshmi P, Nair MK, Gangadharan P, Koga T, Morishima H, Nakamura S, Sugahara T |title=Background radiation and cancer incidence in Kerala, India-Karanagappally cohort study. |journal=Health Physics |date=January 2009|pmid=19066487 |doi=10.1097/01.HP.0000327646.54923.11 |volume=96 |issue=1 |pages=55–66 |bibcode=2009HeaPh..96...55N }}</ref>

==Transport==
===Road===

Karunagappally is on the Kanyakumari-Kochi-Panvel [[NH 66|National Highway 66]] route. In taluk, Oachira to Neendakara is accessible through this same highway.

Main road transport is provided by State owned [[Kerala State Road Transport Corporation]] (KSRTC) and private transport bus operators. KSRTC Bus Station is situated in the heart of the town, on the National Highway 66. Buses are available from Karunagappally to Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kottayam, Kayamkulam, Shasthamkotta, Harippad, Kottarakkara, Kodungallur, Guruvayur, etc. Local services are also available to destinations throughout the district. The station operates Super Fast, Fast Passenger, Non AC low-floor, Venad and Ordinary buses.

Road transport is also supported by private taxis and autorickshaws, also called as autos.{{fact|date=October 2025}}

===Rail===

[[Karunagappalli railway station]], (KPY) is a NSG 4 category railway station situated in Edakkulangara. It lies on the Kollam-Kayamkulam rail route of the Thiruvananthapuram-Ernakulam railway line and is only 1.5&nbsp;km far from the KSRTC bus station. Auto rickshaws are available from and to the railway station. Buses are available to railway station bus stop every 15 minutes (150 meters from station). Also buses are available from town to Alumoodu Jn. bus stop every 5 minutes, which is only 700 meters away from KPY railway station. There are 32 express and 18 passenger trains are available from here.{{fact|date=October 2025}}

Mumbai (Lokamanyathilak)-Thiruvananthapuram-Lokamanyathilak [[Netravati Express]], Kanyakumari-Bangalore-Kanyakumari [[Island Express (train)|Island Express]], TVC-Hydrabad-TVC [[Sabari Express]], Kanyakumari-Mumbai-Kanyakumari [[Kanyakumari Mumbai Express|Jayanthy Janatha Express]], Nagarcoil-mangalur-Nagarcoil [[Ernad Express]], TVC-Mangalur-TVC [[Maveli Express]], TVC-Ernakulam-TVC [[Vanchinad Express]], Nagarcoil-mangalur-Nagarcoil [[Parasuram Express]], TVC-Shornur-TVC [[Venad Express]], TVC-Mangalur-TVC [[Malabar Express]], TVC-palakkad-TVC [[Amritha Express]], [[Rajya Rani Express]], Thiruvananthapuram-Guruvayoor-TVC Intercity Express, [[Kollam - Visakhapatnam Express]], Trivandrum-Mangalapuram-Trivandrum Express and Punalur Palakkad [[Palaruvi Express]] are the main train connections. Around 50 trains have stop here in both directions.{{fact|date=October 2025}}
Station Code: KPY.

===Air===

[[Trivandrum International Airport]] is the nearest airport and is accessible via the National Highway 66.{{fact|date=October 2025}}

==Politics==
[[Karunagappally (Assembly constituency)|Karunagapalli assembly constituency]] is part of [[Alappuzha]] [[Lok Sabha]] [[constituency]] and the major political parties in Karunagappally municipality and nearby panchayaths were CPI[M], [[Communist Party of India|CPI]], Congress, BJP.{{clarify|Explain what this abbreviations mean|date=March 2021}}<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S11/KL_Dist_PC_AC.pdf 
 |title=Assembly Constituencies - Corresponding Districts and Parliamentary Constituencies 
 |access-date=2008-10-20 
 |work=Kerala 
 |publisher=Election Commission of India 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304011026/http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2001/background/S11/KL_Dist_PC_AC.pdf 
 |archive-date= 4 March 2009 
}}</ref>

Including Neendakara, Thevalakkara, Chavara and Panmana Panchayaths, [[Chavara]] assembly constituency is part of [[Kollam (Lok Sabha constituency)|Quilon Lok Sabha]] constituency. CPI(M), RSP, CPI, BSP, BJP, {{clarify|Explain what this abbreviations mean|date=March 2021}} are major political parties there.

==Industries==
The major industries in the public sector are [[Indian Rare Earths Limited]] (IRE) and [[Kerala Minerals and Metals]] Limited (KMML) in Shankaramangalam. [[KERAFED]] in Puthiyakavu, house-boat manufacturing in Alumkadavu, the state owned Kerala Feeds Ltd in Kallelibhagom are also major industries.{{fact|date=October 2025}}

The cashew nut industry plays a role in the local economy.{{fact|date=October 2025}} Western India cashews in Puthiyakavu and Latha cashews processing, imports and exports in Charamurimuk are the major cashew processing units in town limits. Coconut, paddy, tapioca and banana are the other main agricultural crops. Other small scale and cottage industries are based on bricks, well rings making, engineering, electronics items and handicrafts.{{fact|date=October 2025}}

==Religious centers==
There are many religious centers in and around [[Karunagappally]]. The Municipality is known for its religious harmony. Major religious centers include Kattilmekkathil Devi Temple, Ochira Parabrahma Temple, Sree Subhramanyaswami Temple  Panama, Changankulangara Sree Mahadevar Temple, Thevalakkara Major Devi Temple, Pulithitta Chathushashti Yogini Sametha Mahakali Dharmadaiva Temples (Pulithitta Sree Bhadrabhagavathy Dharmadaiva Temple), India Pentecostal Church of God, Karunagappally, Assemblies of God Church, Karunagappally, The Pentecostal Mission, Karunagappally,  Karunagappally Sheikh Masjid, Karunagappally Jama'at Mosque, Padanayarkulangara Mahadeva Temple, Sree Mookumpuzha Devi Temple, Maruthoorkulangara Mahadeva Temple, Mararithottam Mahadeva Temple, Puthiyakavu Devi Temple, Edakkulangara Sree Devi Temple, Vallikkavu Temple, and Puliyankulangara Temple, Shree kasiviswanatha temple and Vadakke nada bhagavathi temple Cheriazheekal.{{fact|date=October 2025}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://kollam.nic.in/karu.html Karunagappally Taluk]

{{commons category|Karunagappally}}

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Karunagappally
|North     = [[Pathanamthitta district]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Tirunelveli district|Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Thiruvananthapuram district]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Arabian Sea]]
|Northwest = [[Alappuzha district]]
}}

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