Vizhinjam
Encyclopedia
Vizhinjam is a locality of Thiruvananthapuram
city in the India
n state of Kerala
. Kovalam
beach is just 3 km from Vizhinjam. The areas in and around Vizhinjam are known for its Ayurvedic treatment centers and internationally acclaimed beach resorts. As of 2001, the population was 18,566. Vizhinjam is a natural port, which is located close to the international ship route.
is an international deepwater multi-purpose shipping hub in its initial stages of development. The total project expenditure is pegged at Rs 6000 crores over three phases and is proposed to be developed on the landlord model with a view to catering to passenger, container and other clean cargo. The project is currently in the tendering stage.
At present, more than 80% cost of the wave energy plant is due to civil construction (concrete caissons). Considerable cost savings can be obtained using the concept of multi-functional breakwaters wherein a power module forms an incremental addition to a caisson breakwater. It is proposed to demonstrate the utility of this concept with the design and construction of a breakwater with a number of power modules.
. Before the Cheras established themselves as a major force in Kerala
, it was ruled by the Ay dynasty sometime between 7th to 11th century AD with Vizhinjam as the capital. The Ay kingdom extended between Nagercoil and Thiruvalla. During the second Sangham age (circa 850–1400 AD),the region was the scene of many battles between the Kulashekaras and the Cholas and Vizhinjam, the capital, was sacked by the Cholas.
When the kings of the Ay dynasty shifted their capital to Vizhinjam, they built a fort which is now considered to be the oldest fort in Kerala
dating to the eighth or ninth century. A preliminary investigation by a team of archaeologist under Dr. Ajit Kumar, University of Kerala, has revealed the fort might have originally been 800 m² in area. The fort's wall can be found on the northern and western (seaside) parts and has been constructed using large boulders set in mud mortar. The wide base of the wall tapers on its way up. The fort's wall can be found on the northern and western (seaside) parts and has been constructed using large boulders set in mud mortar. The wide base of the wall tapers on its way up. Even now this part of Vizhinjam is known as Kottapuram, 'Kotta' in Tamil and Malayalam means Fort. According to Dr. Ajit, one important clue in dating the fort is that the walls have no battlements or `loop holes' (holes to place cannons in). This is typical of early forts, he says. Another complex of walls, near the present Our Lady of Good Voyage Church, probably relates to the Portuguese period.
The team was also able to trace literary and epigraphical references - of 9 AD to 12 AD vintage - to a fort and port at Vizhinjam. Sangam literature such as `Pandikkovai', `Iraiyanar Ahapporul Urai', `Kalingattup-parani', of Jayamkondar, and `Vikrama-solan-ula' are said to have numerous references to the existence of a fort, port and a mansion at Vizhinjam.
Moreover, the Srivaramangalam copper plate's of Pandyan King Nedum Chadayan ( 8 AD) have clear reference to Vizhinjam and its fort. "Here, the fort is described as surrounded by waters of three seas, protected by a wide moat, high walls which the sun's rays do not touch and so on. Leaving aside the hyperbole typical of such inscriptions, the ground evidence at Vizhinjam that fits this description of the old fort. In fact the port at Vizhinjam has been mentioned in the work `The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea', a work of the first century AD. Here Vizhinjam has been called as Balita," said Dr. Ajit.
Recent excavations carried out by Dr.Ajit Kumar and Dr. Robert Harding at Vizhinjam have brought to light archaeological evidences of international maritime trade flourishing from here. The discovery of possible amphora potsherds indicate that Vizhinjam had maritime trade with the Red Sea Coast during the early Christian Era (Roman period). It would support the identification of the port with Balita or Blinca of the Greco-Roman records. A large number of sherds of the Torpedo Jar and Turquoise Glazed Pottery types indicate trade relations with the Persian Gulf region from perhaps the 8th century onwards. East Asian trade connections are indicated by Chinese and Thai ceramics, ranging in date from (possibly) the 9th century to the colonial period.
The Portuguese
and the Dutch
had commercial establishments here. The Portuguese have built a church in Vizhinjam near to the sea shore, which is still functional and is referred as the Old Vizhinjam Church (Old St. Mary's Church). It is located in the vizhinjam fishing harbour area.
cave temples, of which ten exist, are distributed accordingly in three groups. The southernmost group consists of those at Tirunandikara, Vizhinjam, Tuvarankad, and Bhutapandi. All the cave temples in the southern group are examples of one called shrines, mostly enshrining a lingam. The best example of this group is the niche cave on a boulder at Vizhinjam, the capital of Ay rulers, a sea port and the scene of battles between Pandyas and Ay Kings. This cave has unfinished reliefs of Siva Kirata Murti and Siva
dancing with Parvati
. Some scholars hold the view that the bas-reliefs of Vizhinjam with their slender forms and rhythmic lines, show Pallava affinities.
, Vizhinjam had a population of 18566 with 9278 males and 9288 females.
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
city in the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. Kovalam
Kovalam
Kovalam is a beach town on the Arabian Sea in Thiruvananthapuram city, Kerala, India. It is located around 13 km from the down town of Trivandrum.-Etymology:...
beach is just 3 km from Vizhinjam. The areas in and around Vizhinjam are known for its Ayurvedic treatment centers and internationally acclaimed beach resorts. As of 2001, the population was 18,566. Vizhinjam is a natural port, which is located close to the international ship route.
Seaport development
Vizhinjam International SeaportVizhinjam International Seaport
Vizhinjam International Seaport is an International deepwater multi-Purpose Shipping Hub coming up at Thiruvananthapuram in the Indian state of Kerala...
is an international deepwater multi-purpose shipping hub in its initial stages of development. The total project expenditure is pegged at Rs 6000 crores over three phases and is proposed to be developed on the landlord model with a view to catering to passenger, container and other clean cargo. The project is currently in the tendering stage.
Wave energy
Vizhinjam fishing harbour is the site of a unique demonstrations plant that converts sea wave energy to electricity and is given to the local grid. This plant is based on the oscillating water column (OWC) principle. A caisson was constructed in December 1990 at Vizhinjam and two generations of power modules have been tested as of today. The plant was first commissioned in October 1991. The physical processes in the energy conversion are understood to a much greater extent, leading to a threefold increase in absolute power from the plant.At present, more than 80% cost of the wave energy plant is due to civil construction (concrete caissons). Considerable cost savings can be obtained using the concept of multi-functional breakwaters wherein a power module forms an incremental addition to a caisson breakwater. It is proposed to demonstrate the utility of this concept with the design and construction of a breakwater with a number of power modules.
History
The history of Vizhinjam dates back to The Ay DynastyAy kingdom
The Ay was the earliest ruling dynasty of the southern parts of present-day Kerala, south India. The Ay kings claimed descent from Yadavas or Ayar....
. Before the Cheras established themselves as a major force in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, it was ruled by the Ay dynasty sometime between 7th to 11th century AD with Vizhinjam as the capital. The Ay kingdom extended between Nagercoil and Thiruvalla. During the second Sangham age (circa 850–1400 AD),the region was the scene of many battles between the Kulashekaras and the Cholas and Vizhinjam, the capital, was sacked by the Cholas.
When the kings of the Ay dynasty shifted their capital to Vizhinjam, they built a fort which is now considered to be the oldest fort in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
dating to the eighth or ninth century. A preliminary investigation by a team of archaeologist under Dr. Ajit Kumar, University of Kerala, has revealed the fort might have originally been 800 m² in area. The fort's wall can be found on the northern and western (seaside) parts and has been constructed using large boulders set in mud mortar. The wide base of the wall tapers on its way up. The fort's wall can be found on the northern and western (seaside) parts and has been constructed using large boulders set in mud mortar. The wide base of the wall tapers on its way up. Even now this part of Vizhinjam is known as Kottapuram, 'Kotta' in Tamil and Malayalam means Fort. According to Dr. Ajit, one important clue in dating the fort is that the walls have no battlements or `loop holes' (holes to place cannons in). This is typical of early forts, he says. Another complex of walls, near the present Our Lady of Good Voyage Church, probably relates to the Portuguese period.
The team was also able to trace literary and epigraphical references - of 9 AD to 12 AD vintage - to a fort and port at Vizhinjam. Sangam literature such as `Pandikkovai', `Iraiyanar Ahapporul Urai', `Kalingattup-parani', of Jayamkondar, and `Vikrama-solan-ula' are said to have numerous references to the existence of a fort, port and a mansion at Vizhinjam.
Moreover, the Srivaramangalam copper plate's of Pandyan King Nedum Chadayan ( 8 AD) have clear reference to Vizhinjam and its fort. "Here, the fort is described as surrounded by waters of three seas, protected by a wide moat, high walls which the sun's rays do not touch and so on. Leaving aside the hyperbole typical of such inscriptions, the ground evidence at Vizhinjam that fits this description of the old fort. In fact the port at Vizhinjam has been mentioned in the work `The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea', a work of the first century AD. Here Vizhinjam has been called as Balita," said Dr. Ajit.
Recent excavations carried out by Dr.Ajit Kumar and Dr. Robert Harding at Vizhinjam have brought to light archaeological evidences of international maritime trade flourishing from here. The discovery of possible amphora potsherds indicate that Vizhinjam had maritime trade with the Red Sea Coast during the early Christian Era (Roman period). It would support the identification of the port with Balita or Blinca of the Greco-Roman records. A large number of sherds of the Torpedo Jar and Turquoise Glazed Pottery types indicate trade relations with the Persian Gulf region from perhaps the 8th century onwards. East Asian trade connections are indicated by Chinese and Thai ceramics, ranging in date from (possibly) the 9th century to the colonial period.
The Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
had commercial establishments here. The Portuguese have built a church in Vizhinjam near to the sea shore, which is still functional and is referred as the Old Vizhinjam Church (Old St. Mary's Church). It is located in the vizhinjam fishing harbour area.
Cave temple
KeralaKerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
cave temples, of which ten exist, are distributed accordingly in three groups. The southernmost group consists of those at Tirunandikara, Vizhinjam, Tuvarankad, and Bhutapandi. All the cave temples in the southern group are examples of one called shrines, mostly enshrining a lingam. The best example of this group is the niche cave on a boulder at Vizhinjam, the capital of Ay rulers, a sea port and the scene of battles between Pandyas and Ay Kings. This cave has unfinished reliefs of Siva Kirata Murti and Siva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
dancing with Parvati
Parvati
Parvati is a Hindu goddess. Parvati is Shakti, the wife of Shiva and the gentle aspect of Mahadevi, the Great Goddess...
. Some scholars hold the view that the bas-reliefs of Vizhinjam with their slender forms and rhythmic lines, show Pallava affinities.
Demographics
India censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Vizhinjam had a population of 18566 with 9278 males and 9288 females.
See also
- Vizhinjam International Seaport - WikipediaVizhinjam International SeaportVizhinjam International Seaport is an International deepwater multi-Purpose Shipping Hub coming up at Thiruvananthapuram in the Indian state of Kerala...
- Vizhinjam Port Official Web Site.
- Details of Vizhinjam International Transshipment Terminal
- Location of Vizhinjam Port
- Vizhinjam International Sea Port Ltd.
- Vizhinjam Port Related Site.