Product Code Database
The town of Virajpet also spelled as Virajapete () is township of the district of Kodagu, in India's southern State of Karnataka. It is the main town of the Virajpet taluka, south of the district, and borders Kerala State. The name of the town is derived from its founder, Dodda Vira Rajendra.
Lieutenant Connor in his 1870 memoir titled Memoir of the Codugu Survey noted that Virajpet was "a large straggling town containing about 500 houses... and although the whole permanent trade of the country is centered here, there are but few symptoms of either affluence, or growing prosperity; having no manufactures, its chief support must be in traffic, for this, its situation is particularly advantageous, fitting it in a great measure for being a staple between Mysore and the Western coast". He noted that fair takes place every Friday and was "the largest of the periodical markets held in the country". He added, "... all the produce of the southern parts is brought here for sale, also that of the districts in its vicinity, it being the: principal place from which they are exported, the neighbouring inhabitants of Mysore resort here in great number. Rice is the chief article which they take away with them."
During the independence movement, Mahatma Gandhi visited the town in 1934 and addressed a public gathering.
The native language of the region is Kodava Takk, a South Dravidian language spoken by the indigenous Kodava people, who have inhabited Kodagu for centuries. Kannada, the official language of Karnataka, is also widely spoken and understood.
A significant number of Malayalam speakers in Virajpet are descendants of migrants from Kerala. Many Malayalis moved to Kodagu during the British colonial period, particularly to work in coffee plantations. While Malayalam remains spoken among these communities, it is not indigenous to Kodagu and reflects migration patterns rather than native linguistic identity.
Recent cultural reports and linguistic studies emphasize the importance of preserving Kodava Takk, which is facing challenges due to limited intergenerational transmission.
| President | T. R. Sushmitha |
| Vice-president | Vinank Kuttappa |
The Virajpet Nagar Panchayat is the municipality in charge of the civic and infrastructural assets of the town. Virajpet has a town area of . The municipal council consists of 18 elected representatives, called , one from each of the 18 wards (localities) of the town. A councillor from the majority party is selected as a President. The council initially met at the Town Hall, which was built in 1932, before it was expanded in 1956. However, the council then met in another building constructed for the purpose, which also housed the administrative staff associated with the municipality.
For elections to the Lok Sabha, Virajpet falls under the Mysore constituency. Prior to revision of the constituencies by the Delimitation commission in 2008, the town came under Mangalore constituency. For elections to the State Legislative Assembly, the town falls under the constituency that, apart from the town, includes the surrounding villages, and sends one member to the assembly.
The nearest airports are Kannur International Airport in Kerala and Mangalore International Airport at and respectively. Also, the Kozhikode International Airport and the Bangalore Kempegowda International Airport are at a distance of and respectively from the town.
|
|
