Edayilakkad

{{short description|Island situated in Valiyaparamba Panchayath, Kasaragod district, Kerala, India}}

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| name = Edayilakkad (Edayilakkadu)

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| location = Lake Kavvayi

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| waterbody = The Kanara

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| country = Kasaragod district, India

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| population = 1305

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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.{{cite news | last1=Kumar| first1=M K Sunil| title=Kerala Falls Behind in Rainwater Harvesting - Times of India| url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/kerala-falls-behind-in-rainwater-harvesting/articleshow/57765952.cms| accessdate=7 July 2017| work=The Times of India| publisher=Indiatimes| date=22 March 2017}} The island is three to four meters above sea level on average. To the east of Edayilakkad lies the mainland of India.

History

Historic knowledge of the remote area dates to the 2nd century AD. Although it wasn't inhabited until the early 1900s, feudal Lingayats of the Vijayanagara Empire once controlled the region.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZiOBi3DNj5kC&q=keladi+nayaka+lingayat&pg=PA10 | title=Keladi Nayakas - The Rebellious Rani of Belavadi and Other Stories | publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist | work=Basavaraj S. Naika | year=2001 | isbn=9788126901272 | accessdate=9 July 2017}} 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|date=July 2017}}

Location

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 {{convert|312.01|acres|ha}}. Due to its width, Edayilakkad is one of the largest islands in the northern parts of Kerala.

Geography

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 {{convert|1264|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}.[http://news.keralakaumudi.com/beta/news_files/NKNR0079182/NKNR0079182.php News]; keralakaumudi.com; retrieved July 2017 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316025055/http://news.keralakaumudi.com/beta/news_files/NKNR0079182/NKNR0079182.php |date=16 March 2017 }}

File:Haliaeetus leucogaster -Gippsland, Victoria, Australia-8 (2).jpg

=Backwaters=

Located {{convert|30|km|mi|abbr=on|disp=sqbr}} from Bekal, the Kavvayi Backwaters is one of the most picturesque backwater boroughs in Kerala.{{Citation needed|date=July 2017}} The Valiyaparamba Backwaters of Edayilakkad are approximately {{convert|21|km|mi|abbr=on|disp=sqbr}} long, and {{convert|37.0|km|mi|abbr=on|disp=sqbr}} long; and are formed from the confluence of seven rivers. The backwaters are at the southern end of the Tejeswini River.

Population

There are 1,305 people living in 250 houses on the island.[http://keralaeditor.com/responsible-tourism-north-kerala-backwater-village/ Responsible Tourism]; Kerala Editor; retrieved July 2017{{failed verification|date=July 2017}}

Fauna and flora

Edayilakkad is biodiverse,{{cite web |url=http://sisem.in/docs/ICZM_Kerala_concept_note_2015.pdf |title=Proposal Submitted to Government of India: Integrated Coastal Zone Management |year=2015 |website=sisem.in |publisher=Government of Kerala |page=60 |quote=The area has rich biodiversity. The sacred grove viz. Edayilakkad island preserves many rare and endemic species. |accessdate=9 July 2017 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} including being a nesting area for the state endangered white-bellied sea eagle,{{cite web |url=http://www.ssig.gov.my/blog/2011/11/15/white-bellied-sea-eagle-under-threat-in-kerala/ |title=White-Bellied Sea Eagle Under Threat In Kerala |author=Bernama |date=15 November 2011 |website=ssig.gov.my |publisher=South-South Information Gateway |accessdate=9 July 2017}}{{cite web |url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/47995/11/11_chapter%204.pdf |title="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). |author=Muhamed Jafer.P |year=2000 |website=shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in |publisher=Department of Zoology, St. Joseph's College Devagiri, University of Calicut |pages=64, 57, 68 |accessdate=9 July 2017}} and home to Nervilia orchids.{{cite web |url=http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy/lake2016/Plenary/T5_DrHarikumar_abs.pdf |title=Wetlands of Kerala: Degradation, Restoration and Future Management - A Case Study of Kavvayi Wetlanda Coastal Wetland in the Northern Kerala |author=P S Harikumar |page=2 |website=wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in |publisher=Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore |accessdate=9 July 2017}} The island is a home to a large mangrove forest biome.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}

Shelter for Monkeys

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.

File:Feast for Monkeys.jpg|Feast for Monkeys as a part of ONAM Festival.

File:Feast for monkeys.jpg

References

Category:Islands of Kerala

Category:Geography of Kasaragod district

Category:Islands of India

Category:Populated places in India