Edayilakkad Knowpia

Edayilakkad (Edayilakkadu)
	Edayilakkad
	GeographyLocationLake Kavvayi
Adjacent to	The Kanara
Administration
	Kasaragod district, India
Demographics
Population	1305

Edayilakkad (also spelled Edayilakkadu or Edayilekkadu, is a marshy island situated in Valiyaparamba Panchayath, Kasaragod district, Kerala, India. It is located in the Kavvayi Backwaters, a long, almost isolated, arm of the Arabian Sea. Edayilakkad is noted for its biodiversity and local conservation efforts.^[1] The island is three to four meters above sea level on average. To the east of Edayilakkad lies the mainland of India.

History edit

Historic knowledge of the remote area dates to the 2nd century A.D.. Although it wasn't inhabited until the early 1900s, feudal Lingayats of the Vijayanagara Empire once controlled the region.^[2] Before the formation of the Kerala state, the area was part of Madras. An emigration of a mainly Sri Lankan labour force onto the island occurred in the 1930s.^{[citation needed]}

Location edit

To the south of Edayilakkad lies the island of Madakkal, while the village of Trikkarippur is located on the mainland east of Edayilakkad. The village of Ayitti is due north of the island. The island lies on the Malabar coast. According to India's revenue department, the island has an area of 312.01 acres (126.27 ha). Due to its width, Edayilakkad is one of the largest islands in the northern parts of Kerala.

Geography edit

Lake Kavvayi, in which Edayilakkad is situated, is separated from the Arabian Sea on the west by a thin strip of land, which was probably formed due to embayment (a gradual separation of the lake from the sea). This strip is called Valiyavaramba (meaning "Big Border"). The area of Lake Kavvayi is approximately 1,264 km² (488 sq mi).^[3]

The island of Edayilakkad is an important nesting area for the endangered Whitebellied Sea Eagle (Halineetus leucogaster)

Backwaters edit

Located 30 km [19 mi] from Bekal, the Kavvayi Backwaters is one of the most picturesque backwater boroughs in Kerala.^{[citation needed]} The Valiyaparamba Backwaters of Edayilakkad are approximately 21 km [13 mi] long, and 37.0 km [23.0 mi] long; and are formed from the confluence of seven rivers. The backwaters are at the southern end of the Tejeswini River.

Population edit

There are 1,305 people living in 250 houses on the island.^[4]^{[failed verification]}

Fauna and flora edit

Edayilakkad is biodiverse,^[5] including being a nesting area for the state endangered white-bellied sea eagle,^[6]^[7]^[8] and home to Nervilia orchids.^[6] The island is a home to a large mangrove forest biome.^{[citation needed]}

Shelter for Monkeys edit

A small forest ( it is called "Kaavu") is there in Edayilakkad. It is the shelter for many monkeys. There are so many monkeys there. It is an attraction for visitors. They will feed the monkeys. More over , an old lady, living nearby, feeds the monkeys regularly. On special occasions like the festival, Onam, special feast is given to the monkeys.

Feast for Monkeys as a part of ONAM Festival.

References edit

^ Kumar, M K Sunil (22 March 2017). "Kerala Falls Behind in Rainwater Harvesting - Times of India". The Times of India. Indiatimes. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
^ Keladi Nayakas - The Rebellious Rani of Belavadi and Other Stories. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. 2001. ISBN 9788126901272. Retrieved 9 July 2017. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
^ News; keralakaumudi.com; retrieved July 2017 Archived 16 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine
^ Responsible Tourism; Kerala Editor; retrieved July 2017
^ "Proposal Submitted to Government of India: Integrated Coastal Zone Management" (PDF). sisem.in. Government of Kerala. 2015. p. 60. Retrieved 9 July 2017. The area has rich biodiversity. The sacred grove viz. Edayilakkad island preserves many rare and endemic species.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ ^a ^b P S Harikumar. "Wetlands of Kerala: Degradation, Restoration and Future Management - A Case Study of Kavvayi Wetlanda Coastal Wetland in the Northern Kerala" (PDF). wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in. Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. p. 2. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
^ Bernama (15 November 2011). "White-Bellied Sea Eagle Under Threat In Kerala". ssig.gov.my. South-South Information Gateway. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
^ Muhamed Jafer.P (2000). ""Habitat use of birds of north malabar coast with special reference to the white bellied sea eagle, haliaeetus leucogaster" Thesis: Chapter 4 - Biology and Ecology of Whitebellied Sea Eagle, Halineetus leucogaster (Gmelin)" (PDF). shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in. Department of Zoology, St. Joseph's College Devagiri, University of Calicut. pp. 64, 57, 68. Retrieved 9 July 2017.