Azheekal Beach

Azheekal Beach
Azheekkal Beach
Beach
Azheekkal Beach
Azheekkal Beach
Azheekal Beach is located in Kerala
Azheekal Beach
Azheekal Beach
Location within Kerala
Coordinates: 9°07′55.9164″N 76°27′49.9392″E / 9.132199000°N 76.463872000°E / 9.132199000; 76.463872000
LocationAzheekal, Oachira (via Karunagappally Taluk), Kollam, Kerala
RangeAlappad peninsula
Part ofArabian Sea
Water bodiesT. S. Canal (to the east)
Dimensions
 • Length660 m [1]
Hazard ratingLow
Nearest TransportKarunagappally Mainline rail interchange - 17 km
Oachira Mainline rail interchange - 9 km
Trivandrum Airport Airport interchange - 110 km

Azheekal Beach is a coastal landform on the Arabian Sea in the Karunagappally Taluk of Kollam district, Kerala, India.[2][3][4] It is at the northern end of the Alappad peninsula, a land strip separating the sea from the T. S. Canal. The area is a site for the Azheekal Fishing Harbour and is a center for the regional fishing industry.[1] Following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, the beach was identified as a high-vulnerability zone. Modern environmental research focuses on the area due to coastal erosion and the impact of mineral sand mining.[5]

Location and Geography

It is located on the Alappad peninsula, which measures less than 50 meters wide at several points between the Arabian Sea and the National Waterway 3 T. S. Canal[6] The beach is 12 km (7.5 mi) from Kayamkulam and 14 km (8.7 mi) from Karunagappally. Azheekal Beach is approximately 660 meters long.[1]

Fishing industry

The local economy is centered on the Azheekal Fishing Harbour. It supports a fleet of about 180 motorized boats, mostly under 15 HP, which use monofilament gillnets.[7] The harbour is a landing and distribution point for the Kollam district fisheries sector, which directly employs an estimated 100,000 workers.[7]

Environmental change and mining

Data indicates a reduction in the Alappad peninsula's surface area. Lithographic maps from 1955 recorded the village area at 89.5 square kilometers; by 2018, the area was measured at 8.9 square kilometers.[8] Between 1973 and 2020, 59.24% of the coastline underwent erosion.[9]

Local residents attribute this land loss to mineral sand mining by public sector units, including Indian Rare Earth Limited (IREL) and Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited (KMML)[5] These entities extract minerals such as ilmenite, rutile, and zircon from reserves estimated at 127 million tonnes. Research suggests mining contributes to saline water intrusion into local groundwater aquifers.[10]

2004 tsunami impact

Azheekal and Alappad recorded between 132 and 149 deaths during the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami[11] The village lost 2,194 houses, and another 3,000 were damaged.[12] Research indicates the narrow geography and loss of natural sand barriers increased the vulnerability of residential zones to the waves. Long-term studies identified rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among survivors cited in assessments conducted a decade later.[13]

Azheekal Beach

Tourism and demographics

The beach is a site for domestic tourism and features a seaward pier. Activities include swimming and small-scale boating. Agencies maintain a low hazard rating for the area under standard weather conditions.[14][15]

The population primarily consists of traditional fishing castes, including the Hindu Dheevara and Araya communities. Other groups include Latin Catholics and members of the Ezhava community.[16]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Azheekkal Beach". Kerala Tourism. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  2. ↑ "Azheekal Beach (Azheekal Mangrove Forest) | DTPC". DTPC kollam. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  3. ↑ "Azheekal Beach Kerala Retreat - Kollam | Timings, Entry Fee, Best Time To Visit | Traveleva". traveleva.in. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  4. ↑ Biju E. Paul (5 March 2024). "Kerala's Nooranad leprosy asylum marks historic first: Residents enjoy a day out at Azheekal Beach". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  5. 1 2 "Save Alappad, Stop Sand Mining, Kerala, India". EJAtlas. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  6. ↑ Elankath, J. (13 December 2020). "Kerala village Alappad: Sea erosion continues despite coastal defences". Onmanorama. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  7. 1 2 Sudhakaran, S.; Varsha, C. "Climate Change Vulnerabilities on Livelihood of Fishing and Allied Communities of Southwest Coast of India". ResearchGate. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  8. ↑ Anonymous. "The Area of Village Has Shrunk From 89.5 Sq Km to 7.6 Sq Km. in 20 Years" (PDF). International Journal of Scientific Research. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  9. ↑ Selvan, C. C. (2020). "Shoreline change analysis along the Kerala coast". Journal of Coastal Conservation. 24 (5): 1–15. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  10. ↑ Sajan, S.; Sreebha, S. (2013). "Tsunami on Kerala coast: a study of groundwater quality". Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 185 (12): 9907–9925. doi:10.1007/s10661-013-3329-0. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  11. ↑ Roos, D. (2 October 2018). "The 2004 Tsunami Wiped Away Towns". HISTORY. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  12. ↑ "Kerala: The Tsunami Aftermath" (PDF). Asian Human Rights Commission. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  13. ↑ Kumar, M. S. (2017). "Long-term mental health outcomes following the 2004 Asian tsunami disaster". Indian Journal of Psychiatry. 59 (4): 438–444. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  14. ↑ "Azheekkal South Beach". Sandee. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  15. ↑ "Azheekal Beach Weather". World Beach Guide. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  16. ↑ Menon, A. S. (25 November 2018). "Coastal community life under threat". The Hindu. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
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