Page 54 - history_Classical

Kattakada itself derived from 'Kattalkada' that throws light into the town's past. 'Kattal' means wild
banyan tree and 'kada' shop,” he said. “Initially, Kattakada was a place where there was a market under
the shade of a huge banyan tree. And hence the name Kattalkada,”

Kattakada is in the eastern part of Thiruvanathapram District. It is situated about 18 km east of
Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala. To its north is situated Nedumangad (18 km) and to its south,
Neyyattinkara (14 km). It is a commercial centre and the second biggest market of hill products in the
district,after Nedumangad. Neyyar Dam, a tourist spot and the core of Agasthyavanam Wildlife
Sanctuary,is only 10 km away from Kattakada at kuttichal panchyath, towards the east. Thus, Kattakada
is situated at the centre of four places: Trivandrum to the west, Neyyattinkara to the south, Neyyar Dam
to the east and Nedumangad to the north.
The nearest railway stations are Trivandrum Central(18 km), Balaramapuram (10 km) and Neyyattinkara
(13 km).Kattakada is the entry point to the mountain ranges (Western Ghats) and the nerve centre of the
eastern parts of the district. Also, it is a growing educational centre in the Trivandrum district, which fast
emerges as the educational hub of the district. The present day Kattakada town lies in two village
panchayts; Kattakada and Poovachal.

Kattakada Taluk (Tehsil) was declared in the Legislative Assembly in March 2013. The new Taluk was
inaugurated on 11 February 2014. Kattakada is a constituency in the Legislative Assembly since 2011.
Presently Adv. I. B. Satheesh represents the constituency after former Speaker of Kerala Legislative
Assembly, N. Saktan of Congress, faced a surprise defeat from him in the 2016 assembly election. A
considerable portion of the town which forms part of Poovachal Panchayat, is included in the
neighbouring Aruvikara Assembly constituence

Situated in the Agasthyamalai hill ranges in the south of the Western Ghats, in Nedumangad and
Neyyatinkara Taluks of Thiruvananthapuram district, Neyyar is a popular picnic spot.The Neyyar wildlife
sanctuary established in 1958 is located at the foot of the Western Ghats, 30km east of
Thiruvananthapuram. It is spread over an area of 128km. The landscape is hilly and wooded. Wildlife is
represented here by wild elephants, Sambhar , Jungle cat, Gaur, Niligiri langur and the Niligiri ahr. Tigers
and Leopards have also been sighted up. Besides there is a large population of crocodiles and otters . A
crocodile farm was set in 1977. Gardens near the dam are decorated with larger then life statues. Boats
can be hired to view deer and other wildlife on an island in the reservoir area of the dam.

He sanctuary has a wide variety of vegetation and landscape, ranging from tropical wet
evergreen forest to grasslands. The best way to explore the sanctuary is by boat. Climate conditions are
moderately hot and humid, and hottest in March and April.

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