Attingal is a municipality in Thiruvananthapuram metropolitan area in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala state, India. It was the location of the Attingal kingdom, under Travancore. It is the headquarters of ChirayinkeezhuTaluk, and the important government institutions of the taluk such as the Taluk office, court complex, office of the deputy superintendent of Police, civil station, and treasuries are situated in Attingal. It is one of the oldest municipalities of Kerala which was constituted prior to its independence in 1924. In 1914 itself Attingal Town Improvement Authority (TIA) was formed which was the term used before the municipality regulation act of 1922. Attingal Town is located 25 kilometres (16 mi) north of Thiruvananthapuram. Attingal is the 3rd densely populated municipality in the district.
Demographics
According to the 2011 census,[2] Attingal has a population of 37,346. Males constitute 17,009 of the population and females 20,337. Attingal has an average literacy rate of 88.9% of the population is under the age of 6.
The town is famed for its cleanliness in recent years. The municipality has undertaken many plans which have been successful. The municipality has also achieved a couple of awards for its success.
Koyikkal Palace is the maternal home of the Travancore royal family. The great rulers of the kingdom, including Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma, were brought up in this palace situated at Kollampuzha, Attingal. [5]
The palace, built in stone and wood, according to Kerala architecture stands in a nearly 10-acre wide plot, a portion of which is privately owned now. The palace has four temples inside it, including the 700-year-old sanctorum that houses the Palliyara Bhagavathy. The temple of the family deity, Thiruvarattukavu Devi, is also seated in a temple inside the palace complex. [6]
The historically important palace, built in an 'ettukettu' structure. The temples and the palace is currently under the control of the Devaswom Board. One of the entrance gates here, ' Chavadipura', was reconstructed recently by the royal family. [7]