Veronaqbs at 05:23, 27 February 2026

2026-02-27T05:23:18Z

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{{Short description|Place in Kerala, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox landform
| name = Azheekal
| other_name = Azheekkal
| image = File: Azheeckal Beach, Kayamkulam.jpg
| caption = Azheekkal
| pushpin_map = India Kerala
| location = [[Azheekal]], [[Oachira]] (via [[Karunagappally]] Taluk), [[Kollam district|Kollam]], [[Kerala]].
| coordinates = {{coord|9|07|55.9164|N|76|27|49.9392|E|display=inline}}
| range = [[Alappad|Alappad peninsula]]
| part_of = [[Arabian Sea]]
| water_bodies = [[Kayamkulam Kayal|T. S. Canal]] (to the east)
| length = 660 m <ref name="KT">{{cite web |title=Azheekkal Beach |url=https://www.keralatourism.org/destination/azheekkal-beach/609/ |website=Kerala Tourism |access-date=10 November 2025}}</ref>
| type = Place
| free_label_1 = Hazard rating
| free_data_1 = '''Low'''
| free_label_2 = Nearest Transport
| free_data_2 = [[Karunagappalli railway station|Karunagappally]] {{rint|rail}} - 17 km [[Oachira railway station|Oachira]] {{rint|rail}} - 9 km [[Trivandrum International Airport|Trivandrum Airport]] {{rint|air}} - 110 km 
| embedded = {{succession links|left=}}
}}

'''Azheekal''' is the name of coastal locations in the Indian state of [[Kerala]], deriving from the [[Malayalam]] word ''Aazhee'', meaning the "confluence of backwaters and the sea" (an [[estuary]])<ref name="DTPC">{{cite web |title=Azheekal Beach |url=https://www.dtpckollam.com/places/azheekal-beach |website=DTPC Kollam |access-date=2025-11-09}}</ref><ref name="HED_Azheekkal">{{cite web |title=Azheekkal |url=http://www.hed.kerala.gov.in/index.php/azheekkal |website=Higher Education Department, Government of Kerala |publisher=Government of Kerala |access-date=9 November 2025}}</ref>

The location is a coastal town situated in the [[Karunagappally]] Taluk of the [[Kollam metropolitan area]], and is primarily known for its beach ([[Azheekal Beach]].<ref name="DTPC"/> The primary and most referenced location is a coastal town and fishing harbor in the [[Kollam district]] of Kerala, fishing harbor, and significant infrastructure.

==Geography and features==
Azheekal is located at the northern tip of the [[Alappad peninsula]] in Kollam district,<ref name="HED_Azheekkal"/> facing the [[Arabian Sea]] to the west and the Kayamkulam Kayal (backwater) to the east.

[[Azheekal Fishing Harbour]] is a major active fishing harbor along the Kerala coast, serving as a vital economic center for the local population.<ref name="blueDrive">{{cite web |title=azheekal beach - thebluedrive |url=https://thebluedrive.com/2021/04/09/azheekal-beach/ |website=thebluedrive |access-date=2025-11-09}}</ref><ref name="HED_Azheekkal"/>

Azheekal is connected to Valiyazheekkal in the neighboring [[Alappuzha district]] by the [[Valiyazheekkal Bridge]]. Spanning approximately 1,200 meters across the mouth of the estuary, it is noted as one of Asia's longest tension steel bar concrete bowstring bridges and forms a crucial link in the proposed Kerala Coastal Highway.

Azheekal is connected to [[Ayiramthengu]] in the neighboring [[Kollam district]] by the [[Ayiramthegu Bridge]]. Spanning approximately 759.8 meters across the [[T.S Canal]].<ref name="ADB-Ayiramthengu">{{cite report |title=Short Resettlement Plan: Ayiramthengu-Azheekal Bridge |url=https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/project-documents//39114-01-ind-rp.pdf |date=August 2007 |publisher=Asian Development Bank |series=Tsunami Emergency Assistance (Sector) Project |id=Project No. 39114 |pages=9 |access-date=2025-11-20}}</ref>

==Environmental impact==
The coastal sands around Azheekal are known to contain valuable [[rare-earth mineral]]s, including [[monazite]], which is rich in [[thorium]].<ref name="Keralamining">{{cite web |title=Mineral Resources |url=https://dmg.kerala.gov.in/en/mineral-resources/ |website=Department of Mining and Geology - Government of Kerala |publisher=Government of Kerala |access-date=9 November 2025 |quote=The State possesses one of the world class deposits of mineral sands in the coastal tracts between Neendakara and Kayamkulam. This, commonly known as the Chavara deposit... The Heavy Mineral Sand deposits in Kerala contain an assemblage of Ilmenite, Rutile, Leucoxene, Monazite, Zircon and Sillimanite.}}</ref><ref name="blueDrive" />

The area was severely affected by the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami]], resulting in loss of life, significant erosion, and structural damage along the coastline.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Geography of Kerala]]
[[Category:Estuaries of India]]

Azheekal - Revision history

Veronaqbs at 05:23, 27 February 2026