Dharmadom

Dharmadom Dharmadam
town
Railway Station
Dharmadom Location in Kerala, India
Coordinates:
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Kannur
Area
• Total	10.68 km2 (4.12 sq mi)
Population (2001)
• Total	29,169
• Density	2,731/km2 (7,070/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	670106
Telephone code	91 (0)490
Vehicle registration	KL 58-
Nearest city	Thalassery
Sex ratio	1000:1120 ♂/♀
Lok Sabha constituency	Kannur
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Dharmadam
Website	dharmadam.info

Dharmadom or Dharmadam is a census town in Thalassery taluk of Kannur district in the state of Kerala, India. It is known for the 100-year-old Government Brennen College and Dharmadam Island. Dharmadam is also home to famous Andaloor Kavu. The annual festival here draws thousands of devotees. A variety of theyyams are performed during the week-long fest in February. During the festive season the entire village follows vegetarian diet and offers rice flakes, jaggery and plantains to all guests. India's premier circus Academy, Circus Academy Thalassery is also located at Dharmadam. There is a small railway station in Dharmadam where only the local passenger trains stop.

Dharmadam was earlier known as Dharmapattanam and was previously a Buddhist stronghold.

The Dharmadam Island is located 100 metres away from the mainland at Dharmadam. Geographically, Dharmadam is an island, en route Thalassery and Kannur. It is surrounded by the Anjarakandy river on three sides and by the Arabian sea on the fourth side. The Jews and the Arabs have named this place Dahfattan in their records in the 12th century, the British named it Darmapatam and the Portuguese called it Darmapatao. The last perumal of Kerala Cheraman Perumal left for Arabia from Poyanad province north of Dharmadam. The relics of the fort of Perumal's sister Sreedevi and nephew Mahabali is seen in the vicinity of Govt. Brennan College. Mahabali was believed to have been converted to Islam by Malik Bin Deenar and later became the first Ali Raja of Arakkal Kingdom.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Dharmadam had a population of 29,169. Males constitute 47% of the population and females 53%. Dharmadam has an average literacy rate of 87%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 88% and, female literacy is 86%. In Dharmadam, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Education

• Govt. Brennen College, Dharmadam
• Kannur University Thalassery Campus, Palayad
• District Institute of Education Training, Palayad
• Govt. Higher Secondary School, Palayad
• Jeycee Special School, Dharmadam
• Rotary Special School, Dharmadam

Notable citizens

• Pinarayi Vijayan - Current Chief Minister of Kerala
• M.N. Vijayan - Critic, writer and orator
• N. Prabhakaran - Writer
• Valsalan Vathussery - Writer
• M.P. Kumarn - Historian,translator.

Access

• Road :Kanyakumari-Mumbai NH 66 (previously NH 17) passes through Dharmadam.Dharmadam is 3.5 km away from the nearest city Thalassery. Frequent bus services from Thalassery to Andaloor, Meloor, Parapram and Kannur criss cross Dharmadam. Fast Passenger and Town to Town buses stop at Meethalepeetika in Dharmadam.
• Railway: Dharmadam has a railway station where local passenger trains stop. Nearest major station is in Thalassery 3.5 km from Dharmadam. Kannur railway station is 18 km away.
• Nearest airport - Calicut International Airport - 90 km. The proposed Kannur International Airport is 25 km from Dharmadam.

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See also

• Muzhappilangad
• Muzhappilangad beach
• Dharmadam Island
• Thalassery
• Kannur
• Palayad
• Andalur
• Sree Andalurkavu
• Educational Institutes in Thalassery