Poovar

Poovar is a tourist town in Neyyattinkara (tehsil) in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala state, South India. This village is almost at the southern tip of Thiruvananthapuram while the next village, Pozhiyoor, marks the end of Kerala. This village beach attracts tourists throughout the year. The beach is magnificent and has many 5 star hotels and Island hotels to attract more and more tourists. This will eventually contribute more development of the region.

Poovar
Town
Poovar beach
Poovar
Location in Kerala, India
Poovar
Poovar (India)
Coordinates: 8°19′3″N 77°4′17″E
Country India
StateKerala
DistrictThiruvananthapuram
Languages
 • OfficialMalayalam, English
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registrationKL-20

State government offices
  • Panchayath Office, Poovar
  • Sub Registrar's Office, Poovar
  • Village Office, Poovar
  • Agriculture Office, Poovar
  • Govt.Hospital, Poovar
  • Govt. Homeopathic Hospital, Poovar
  • Govt. Ayurveda Hospital, Poovar
  • Fisheries Office, Poovar
  • Govt.V & HSS, Poovar
  • Fire & Rescue Office, Poovar
  • Police Circle Office, Poovar
  • KSRTC Depot
  • coastal police station Poovar

Geography

Poovar lies very close to Vizhinjam, a natural harbour. The beach of Pozhiyoor named Pozhikkara is located near Poovar. The 56 km Neyyar River passes through Neyyattinkara Taluk into the Arabian Sea near Poovar.[1]

History

Poovar was a trading centre of timber, sandalwood, ivory and spices. The village was one of the ancient Muslim settlements along the western coast of India. The central mosque in Poovar was built by Malik Deenar, an eighth century Muslim preacher. During the reign of the Chola dynasty, Poovar was a major port. The explorer Megasthenes, Roman writer Pliny the Elder and Venetian traveller Marco Polo mention connections with Greece and Rome.

There were a merchant named Pokku Moosa Maraikkar who lived in Poovar during the 18th century in a house called Kallaraickal Tharavad, which many times gave shelter to Marthanda Varma (1706–58), king of Travancore from his enemies. Poovar also had trade relations with international markets at this time as well as a well trained army and some ships. At the Battle of Colachel and Battle of Kayamkulam these forces assisted the Travancore army against the Dutch East India Company during the Travancore–Dutch War.

The origin of the name "Poovar" has a story related to Marthanda Varma. Before that it was called Pokkumoosapuram. During internal riots in Travancore and while escaping from the Ettuveetil Pillamar (Lords of the Eight Houses), the king reached Poovar. It was a spring season and the trees on either sides of the Neyyar were full of flowers. These flowers fell into the river making it more attractive. On seeing this pleasant scenery, Marthanda Varma commented that this was poo-var, a conjunction of the Malayalam words for "flower" and "river".[2]

Transportation

Nearest Airport : Trivandrum International Airport - 30 km, Nearest Railway Station : Trivandrum Central -30 km, Nemom - 20 km, Neyyattinkara - 10 km Nearest Harbour : Vizhinjam - 14 km

[3]

References
  1. India9.com, Retrieved on 1 July 2008
  2. Murickan, Jose (1991). Religion and power structure in rural India: a study of two fishing villages in Kerala : Poovar, Sakthikulangara. Rawat Publications. p. 43.
  3. Shrinithyaa, G (2018). Poovar Wonder. Retrieved 31 December 2018.


Poovar Wonder by G. Shrinithyaa - A book published by Amazon.com

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