Vellarikundu
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Vellarikundu
| native_name =
| settlement_type = Taluk
| pushpin_map = India Kerala#India
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|12.36750|75.28313|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = Kerala
| subdivision_type2 = District
| subdivision_name2 = Kasaragod
| image_skyline = Balathode Town.jpg
| image_alt =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| established_title =
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type = Taluk
| governing_body = Balal Grama Panchayat
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 = 550.39
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total = 181,247
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Malayalam, English
| timezone = IST
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = PIN
| postal_code = 671534
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code = 04672
| registration_plate = KL-79
}}
Vellarikund is a town and taluk headquarters in the Hill range of Kasaragod District in the state of Kerala.{{cite web |url=https://kasargod.nic.in/tehsil/ |title=Taluk Offices |date= |author= |access-date= 24 August 2021}} Vellarikundu is located between Odayanchal and Chittarikkal on Odayanchal-Cherupuzha Road.
Etymology
'Vellari-' comes from the Malayalam word 'വെള്ളരിക്ക' which means cucumber. '-kund' means low surface or pit. The place was formerly used for harvesting cucumbers.
Transportation
Vellarikundu is able to connect Mysore and Bangalore by Kanhangad-Panathur-Madikeri Road from Odayanchal. Private and Ksrtc Buses provide routes to Kanhangad, Kasaragod, Mangalore, Mysore, Bangalore, Kannur, Calicut, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta.
The nearest railway station is Nileshwar Railway Station on Mangalore-Palakkad Line. The nearest airport is Mangalore International Airport on North and Kannur International Airport on South.
History
Vellarikundu Taluk was announced in the Kerala budget of 2013. On 21 February 2014, the new taluk was inaugurated by the Sri Oommen Chandy chief minister of the state. The taluk was created by splitting the Hosdurg taluk.{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/322116/kasargod-get-2-more-taluks.html|title=Kasargod to get 2 more taluks|work=Deccan Herald|access-date=28 March 2013}}
Tourism
Kammadam Kavu is a sacred grove near Vellarikkundu with 60 acres of rarer birds and other small animals. It is one of the biggest sacred groves of Kerala.{{Cite web|url=http://travelkannur.com/theyyam-kavu/kasaragod-chittarikkal-kammadam-bhagavathy-temple/|title=Travel Agency, Best of Homestay, Temple & Theyyam Tour Packages}}
Demographics
Population. (2011). • Total. 181,247. • Density, 330/km2 (850/sq mi). Languages. Time zone · UTC+5:30 (IST). PIN. 671534. Telephone code, 04672. Vehicle.
Vellarikundu Taluk
Vellarikundu is one of the four taluks of Kasaragod district. It was carved out from Hosdurg taluk in 2013.{{cite web
| url = https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/12-new-taluks-to-be-formed-in-kerala/article4530074.ece
| title = 12 new taluks to be formed in Kerala
| date = 21 March 2013
| work = The Hindu
| url-status = live
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171115013905/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/12-new-taluks-to-be-formed-in-kerala/article4530074.ece
| archive-date = 15 November 2017
}}
{{Kasaragod Labelled Map}}
Administration
Vellarikundu taluk has administration over 15 revenue villages. They are: Balal, Bheemanady, Belur, Cheemeni-II, Chittarikkal, Karindalam, Kinanoor, Kodom, Maloth, Palavayal, Parappa, Thayannur, West Eleri, Kallar, Panathady.{{cite web |url=https://kasargod.nic.in/tehsil/ |title=Taluk Offices |date= |author= |access-date= 24 August 2021}}
Church
Little Flower Church
Schools
St.Jude's Higher Secondary School,
St. Elizabeth convent school, Vellarikundu,
Nirmalagiri L.P School,
Little Flower English Medium School