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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox park
| name = Asramam Maidan
| alt_name =
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| photo = View of Asramam Maidan, Kollam.jpg
| photo_width =
| photo_caption = Asramam Maidan, Kollam
| map = India Kollam#Kerala#India
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| type =
| location = [[Asramam]]
| nearest_city = [[Kollam]], [[Kerala]]
| nearest_town =
| coords = {{Coord|8|53|36.8|N|76|35|36.7|E|display=inline}}
| area = 71 acres
| founder = [[East India Company]]
| operator = DTPC, [[Kollam]]
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| open = All year
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| publictransit = [[Kollam KSRTC Bus Station|Bus Station]] {{rint|bus}} - 1.6 km<br>[[Kollam Junction railway station|Rail Station]] {{rint|rail}} - 2.2 km<br>[[Kollam KSWTD Ferry Terminal|Ferries]] {{rint|ferry}} - 1.6 km
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The '''Asramam Maidanam''' or '''Ashramam Maithanam''' is an urban park, or ''maidhanam'', in the city of [[Kollam]], in Kerala, India. At {{convert|72|acre}}, it is the largest open space within Kerala Municipal Corporation limits.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140720110835/http://www.hindu.com/2010/08/09/stories/2010080954830300.htm 2,000 saplings for Asramam Maidan]</ref> The ''maidan'' is considered as one of the green lungs of the city and regularly hosts the city's main cultural and sports events.<ref name="thousands witness">[https://web.archive.org/web/20140718215715/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/thousands-witness-kollam-pooram/249167-60-123.html Thousands witness Kollam Pooram]</ref> It holds an [[Adventure Park, Kollam|adventure park]]<ref>[http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/article557207.ece Sculptors' touch gives a new look to adventure park]</ref> [[Children's Park, Kollam|children's park]],<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140720150727/http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/06/stories/2009070654580500.htm Nod for work on park]</ref> picnic village,<ref>[https://www.keralatourism.org/destination/picnic-vllage-kollam/260 Picnic Village in Kollam]</ref> [[British Residency]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070526191217/http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/17/stories/2006081713120300.htm A historical building floored]</ref> and mangrove forests<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/biodiversity-heritage-tag-for-asramam-mangroves-soon/article4509604.ece Biodiversity heritage tag for Asramam mangroves soon]</ref> making it an important tourism spot in the city.

The Asramam maidan is the major training hub of all the driving school operators in Kollam city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/curbs-on-using-asramam-maidan/article19557112.ece |title=Curbs on using Asramam maidan - The Hindu |date=25 August 2017 |access-date=25 August 2017}}</ref>

== History ==
{{main|Kollam Airport}}
[[File:British Residency in Asramam, Kollam.jpg|thumb|right|[[British Residency]] in [[Asramam]], [[Kollam]] - Till 1829, [[Quilon]] was the capital of the [[Travancore]] State and the quarters of the British Residency.]]
Asramam Maidan was used as an [[aerodrome]] during the [[British Raj]]. At that time there were no civil aerodromes either in [[Thiruvananthapuram]] or anywhere else in the erstwhile kingdoms of [[Travancore]] and [[Kingdom of Cochin|Kochi]] nor in the [[Malabar region|British-ruled Malabar]] area of the [[Madras Presidency]].<ref name="mixed response">[https://web.archive.org/web/20090615132530/http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/08/stories/2009060853370300.htm Aviation school proposal evokes mixed response]</ref> Chartered flights, mainly using [[Avro]] aircraft, would land and take off from [[Kollam Airport|Quilon Aerodrome]]. The aerodrome was primarily used by VIPs from Madras en route to Thiruvananthapuram, who after landing at [[Kollam Airport|Quilon]], would proceed to [[Thiruvananthapuram]] by car.<ref name="mixed response" />
Quilon Aerodrome was also used for flying training. During one such training exercise, an aircraft hit a tree on the boundary of the aerodrome, killing the pilot and the trainee. Training operations were stopped after the accident, but civilian aircraft continued to use the aerodrome.

Because of the loose soil in the [[Asramam]] area, the landing and take-off areas were prepared by bringing huge quantities of red laterite soil from the hilly areas. The aerodrome had strong barbed wire fencing round it, with two entry points, one at the south and the other at the north. There were no buildings in the aerodrome, not even a shed, although there was a concreted area in the shape of a ring where the planes stopped after landing. It was here that the passengers alighted and boarded the plane. Planes used to land sometimes once in two months.<ref name="mixed response" /> The airport then came under the control of [[Kerala Public Works Department]] (PWD). Residents of Asramam knew in advance about the arrival of planes, because the PWD authorities, on getting information about a coming arrival, hoisted a windsock on a tall wooden mast.<ref name="mixed response" />

After the commissioning of [[Trivandrum International Airport|Thiruvananthapuram airport]] and its development, Quilon Aerodrome went into decline, and finally, planes stopped arriving there. The aerodrome remained fenced off for a long time. Later, the fence was destroyed and its granite stumps pilfered. The only reason the maidan was not encroached upon was that it was a central government property.<ref name="mixed response" /> Now there are two large helipads at the maidan.

== Events ==
[[File:Oceanos Underwater Expo 2018 at Asramam Maidan, Kollam, Oct 2018.ogv|thumb|right|Underwater Oceanos expo held at Asramam Maidan in Oct 2018]]
[[File:Snap(9) from Kollam Fest-2016, Dec 2016.jpg Snap10) from Kollam Fest-2016, Dec 2016.jpg|thumb|right|[[White House|The Whitehouse]] model entrance of Kollam Fest-2016, held at Asramam Maidan]]
[[File:Link road at Asramam, Kollam.jpg|thumb|right|[[Asramam Link Road|Link Road]] at [[Asramam]]]]
[[File:Entrance of Adventure Park, Kollam.jpg|thumb|right|Entrance of Asramam Adventure Park, [[Kollam]]]]
Asramam Maidan is the regular venue for many events including recruitment rallies for the [[Indian Army]],<ref>[http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/Army-Recruitment-Rally-Begins-in-Kollam/2014/10/12/article2473442.ece Army Recruitment Rally Begins in Kollam]</ref> [[Kollam pooram|Kollam Pooram]],<ref name="thousands witness" /> Kollam Fest, cricket tournaments,<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/14/1094_misc.html Matches played on Asramam Maidan]</ref> large weddings<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20141020165001/http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/90031643/101-weddings-ashramam-maidan Massive wedding program at Asramam Maidan]</ref> and various events of a political or non-political nature.<ref name="Sonia to address INTUC rally">[http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/sonia-to-address-intuc-rally/article5656592.ece Sonia to address INTUC rally]</ref>

;Kollam Fest

Kollam Fest is an international event with focus on art, culture, trade, and tourism. The event, organised by the [[Kollam Municipal Corporation|Kollam City Corporation]], was aimed at presenting the history and culture of [[Kollam]] to the world.<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/history-culture-of-kollam-to-the-fore/article2572509.ece History, culture of Kollam to the fore]</ref>

;Kollam Pooram

[[Kollam pooram|Kollam Pooram]] is one of the most colorful festivals of Kerala, attracting a large number of people from all parts of the state. The Kollam Pooram, organised in connection with the annual festival of the [[Asramam]] Sri Krishnaswamy Temple, is held annually at the Asramam Maidan in the month of April. The festival has now assumed the status of a national festival, and gets the biggest government allocation for such an event after [[Thrissur Pooram]].<ref name="heritage complex">[https://web.archive.org/web/20050420003213/http://www.hindu.com/2005/04/16/stories/2005041606760300.htm Asramam Maidan to be made heritage complex]</ref>

;Cricket matches

Asramam Maidan is a regular ground for the Kerala Cricket Association's matches, which are held almost all year round.<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/14/1094_misc.html Matches Played on Asramam Maidan, Kollam]</ref>

== Future development proposals ==

* Following a preliminary inspection by a team of experts, in 2009 plans were drawn up for the construction of an airstrip and an aviation school at Asramam Maidan. Supporters of the project said that the school would increase the importance of the city.<ref name="mixed response" /> However, after an inspection, the team reported that the maidan was not suitable for the project because of the presence of several high-rise structures in the vicinity and local protests against the project.<ref>[http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/article107040.ece?service=print Asramam Maidan not suitable for airport]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130602112700/http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/09/stories/2009060955110500.htm Airstrip: team inspects Asramam]</ref>
* The government of Kerala has decided to preserve the Asramam Maidan and the adjacent guest house complex in [[Kollam|Kollam city]] as a heritage complex.<ref name="heritage complex"/>
* The [[Kollam Municipal Corporation|Corporation of Kollam]] has been sanctioned Rs. 52 lakhs in the 2017-18 financial year's budget for constructing cycle track around the Asramam maidan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/focus-on-water-supply-system/article17693525.ece |title=Focus on water supply system - The Hindu |date=28 March 2017 |access-date=4 April 2017}}</ref>

== Local public and private institutions ==
[[File:Office of the Superintendent of Police, Kollam.jpg|thumb|right|Office of the Superintendent of Police, [[Kollam]]]]
* ESIC Model & Super Speciality Hospital<ref>[http://kollamcity.in/esic-asramam ESIC Model & Super Speciality Hospital, Kollam] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014055531/http://kollamcity.in/esic-asramam |date=14 October 2014 }}</ref>
* Traffic control room, Kerala Police
* International Astro Turf Hockey Stadium<ref>[http://www.keralacricketassociation.com/Kollam KCA, Kollam]</ref>
* Dr. Nair's Hospital
* [[Kerala Tourism Development Corporation|KTDC]] Tamarind Hotel
* [[Kerala Cricket Association]], Kollam branch<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060912165759/http://www.hindu.com/2005/11/25/stories/2005112507060300.htm Astro turf stadium for Kollam]</ref>
* [[Kadappakada]] Sports Club
* Office of the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Kollam

== See also ==
* [[Kollam Airport]]
* [[Kadappakada]]
* [[Chinnakada]]
* [[List of cricket grounds in India]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{Commons category|Asramam Maidan}}
{{Kollam |state=expanded}}
{{Navboxes
|title = [[File:Gnome-globe.svg|25px]]{{nbsp}}Geographic locale
|list =
'''[[Geographic coordinate system|Lat. <small>and</small> Long.]] {{Coord|8|53|36.8|N|76|35|36.7|E|display=inline}}'''
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[[Category:Maidans in India]]
[[Category:Cricket grounds in Kerala]]

[[Category:Geography of Kollam]]

Asramam Maidan - Revision history

>GreenC bot at 04:07, 26 April 2021