Which one is correct?. Kadamakkudy or Kadamakudy. Both are used intermittently on all media and this blog of mine about Kadamakkudy alias Kadamakudy is no exception.
How did that name Kadamakudy evolve?. Kadal mukkuva kudy – Kadal means sea. Mukkuvar means fishermen. Kudy means the place where one lives (huts). Kadamakudy was a place where the sea fishermen used to stay. That was the most convincing answers. Another view is ….’Kadama’ means duty, ‘kudy’ means drinking. A place where the fundamental duty of people was to drink and be happy. Kadanna (once you enter) koottil (you are in a cage, there is no going back) is another story on the rounds about the name Kadamakudy which is also spelt as Kadamakkudy. We will be using both ‘Kadamakudy’ and ‘Kadamakkudy’ throughout this blog and both refers to the same place.
Kadamakkudy islands comprises of a cluster of fourteen smaller islands like Valiya Kadamakudy, Murikkal, Palyam thuruth, Pizhala, Cheriya kadamakudy, Pulikkapuram, Moolambilly, Puthussery, Chariyam thuruth, Chennur, Kothad, Korambadam, Kandanad and Karikkad thuruthu. Kadamakkudy also known as Kadamakudy is just 21 km from the nearest city Kochi. Valiya Kadamakudy is the main island of Kadamakudy islands. I am touring all these islands on my cycle.
Kadamakkudy islands has a population of 15,823. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Kadamakkudy has an average literacy rate of 84%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 86%, and female literacy is 82%. In Kadamakkudy islands, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Since I live near Kadamakkudy, I have the luxury of visiting this place almost every day during the good season (after the rains). Based on my experience, the best season to visit Kadamakkudy are from the month of September till May. After the month of May, the monsoon rains start and continue till August-September. Last couple of years the rain pattern have changed. In the year 2019, we even got some rains during the month of November and even during December. Must be the effect of the environmental impact caused by global warming.
The beginning
My cycling and photography trips to Kadamakkudy helps me to live the two lives, which are complementary to each other. From Monday to Friday I am in the corporate world, and from Friday evening till Monday morning I am the lazy cyclist, photographer and story teller. Of late I am in the process of adding purpose to my pleasure trips to Kadamakudy Islands. You can read more about that at https://kadamakkudy.org
Through this blog, I want to share with you at least a fraction of the beauty and splendor I am experiencing at Kadamakudy. For everyone who does not have a fixed mindset, Kadamakkudy has something to offer. Whenever I get an opportunity, I cycle through Kadamakudy. The road cutting through the Kadamakudy islands is ideal for cycling. Kadamakudy is known for it’s prawn farms (Chemmeen kettu) and the paddy cultivation. Six months of the year the fields are used for prawn farming, and for the remaining six months it is used for paddy (pokkali) cultivation.
Kadamakkudy has lot to offer for bird watchers and bird photographers. Around 75 species of birds are spotted here. Any time of the year is good for photography, especially during the golden hours. The peak monsoon rains starts from June and continues till August.
Experiential tourism by the Blue Yonder
Best wishes
Abrachan (Aby)
abrachan@gmail.com
Whatsapp : 9895372115
Blog of Kadamakudy Islands 