Kasaragod district

Kasaragod was a part of ancient Tamilakam in the ancient period. According to the ancient Tamil works of Sangam period, the regions lying in the district was included in Puzhinadu, which had included much of the regions between Kozhikode and Mangalore in the southwestern coast of India. It was a part of Ezhimala kingdom, with its capital at Ezhimala in present-day Kannur district. At the largest extend of its power, the kingdom of Kolathunadu, which later emerged as one of the 4 most powerful kingdoms of Kerala during the medieval period, had extended from Kasaragod in the north to Korapuzha in the south, and Arabian sea in the west to Kodagu Hills in the east.[8]

Kasaragod was known to the Arabs by the name Harkwillia.[9] Many Arab travelers visiting Kerala between the 9th and the 14th centuries visited Kasaragod, being an important trade centre then. Duarte Borbosa, a Portuguese traveler who visited Kumbla, near Kasargod in 1514 recorded that rice being exported for coir to Maldives.[9] According to Barbosa, the people in the southwestern Malabar coast of India from Kumbla in the north to Kanyakumari in the south had spoke a unique language, which they called as "Maliama" (Malayalam).[10] If he is right, then Kumbla would be the northern end of Malayalam region in the first quarter of 16th century CE. Many portions of the present-day Hosdurg taluk(Kanhangad) and Vellarikundu were parts of the Nileshwaram dynasty in the early medieval period. The areas north to the Chandragiri river (present-day Taluks of Manjeshwaram and Kasaragod) was ruled by the Kumbala dynasty, which had 64 Malayalam and Tulu villages according to the legends.[11]

Kannada kingdoms focused on Kasaragod in the 16th century CE. The Vijayanagara empire attacked and annexed Kasaragod from the Kolathiri Raja with Nileshwaram as one of the capital in the 16th century. During the decline of the Vijayanagara empire, the administration of this area was vested with Ikkeri Nayakas.[9] At the onset of collapse of the Vijayanagara empire, Venkappa Nayaka declared independence to Ikkery. Kumbla, Chandragiri, and Bekal are considered to be the chain of forts constructed or renovated by Shivappa Nayaka.[9]

Francis Buchanan, the family doctor of Arthur Wellesley, visited Kasaragod in 1800.[9] In his travelogue, he recorded information on places like Athiraparambu, Kavvai, Nileshwaram, Bekal, Chandragiri and Manjeshwar.[9] Hosdurg and Vellarikundu is part of Kolathunadu (south of Chandragiri river) and Kasargod and Manjeshwaram is in the Tulu Nadu region (north of Chandragiri river). In 1763, Hyder Ali conquered Bedanoor (Bidnur), the capital of the Ikkery Naiks. His son Tippu Sultan conquered much of Malabar region in Kerala. As per the Treaty of Seringapatam of 1792, Tippu surrendered Malabar, except Kanara to the British. The British occupied Kanara only after the death of Tippu Sultan.[9] it is said that Kinavoor Molom (Sree Dharma Shashtha Temple) is belonging to Karinthalam (one of 64 Brahmin villages in old Kerala).

Before the formation of Kerala, Kasargod was a part of South Canara district of erstwhile Madras Presidency. However, in 19th century CE, Kasargod Taluk witnessed many struggles to separate the region from South Canara and to merge it with the Malabar District as it was the only Malayalam-majority region in South Canara. Kasargod became a part of Kannur district of Kerala following the reorganization of states and the formation of Kerala on 1 November 1956.[12] Later Kasargod was divided into two Taluks for the ease of administration - Kasargod and Hosdurg. Kasargod was declared a district in the year 1984. The inclusion of Kasaragod with Kerala has been a contentious issue as there is a sizeable population that speaks Tulu and Kannada. But it is noted that as per the 2011 census report only 8.8% and 4.2% of the total population in the district speak Tulu and Kannada respectively as their mother tongue. In 2013, two more Taluks, namely Manjeshwaram and Vellarikundu were formed in the district.

Kasaragod has a Tropical Climate.

Manjeshwaram and Kasargod subdistricts (Taluks) are included in the Kasaragod revenue subdivision whereas the remaining two Taluks are included in the Kanhangad subdivision.

Taluks in Kasargod