Elanthoor facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Elanthoor
village
Bhagavathi Hill Festival
Elanthoor Location in Kerala
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Pathanamthitta
Government
• Type	Block Panchayat
Population  (2001)
• Total	15,344
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	689643
Telephone code	0468
Vehicle registration	KL-03
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Aranmula
Climate	moderate (Köppen)

Elanthoor is a village located in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, a state in southern India. It sits right between the towns of Kozhencherry and Pathanamthitta. This peaceful area has played an important role in India's fight for freedom. It has also contributed to the country's film industry.

Some people believe the name "Elanthoor" comes from "Ellangalude Oor." This old phrase means "a place with many houses" or "a region where many settlements are close together."

About Elanthoor Village

How Many People Live Here?

According to a 2001 survey, Elanthoor had a population of 15,344 people. Out of these, 7,135 were males and 8,209 were females.

Where is Elanthoor Located?

Elanthoor is easy to find because it's located between Pathanamthitta and Kozhencherry. A main road called the T. K. Road (which is also known as SH - 07) connects Elanthoor to bigger towns. You can also reach the village easily from the Main Eastern Highway.

Nearby Places

• Police Stations: The closest police stations are in Elavumthitta (about 6 km away), Aranmula (about 8.6 km away), and Pathanamthitta (also about 8.6 km away).
• Railway Station: The nearest train station is Chengannur (CNGR), which is about 18 km from Elanthoor.
• Airports: The closest major airport is Trivandrum International Airport, located about 115 km away.

Mahatma Gandhi's Visit

In 1937, Mahatma Gandhi, a famous leader of India's freedom movement, visited Elanthoor. He was on a special tour of Travancore (an old kingdom in India) to support a movement that aimed to allow all people, including those who were considered "untouchable," to enter temples. Gandhi called this tour a "pilgrimage."

Why Gandhi Visited Elanthoor

Gandhi came to Elanthoor because he was invited by K. Kumar, also known as Kumarji or Elanthoor Gandhi. Kumarji was a well-known freedom fighter and one of Gandhi's closest friends and followers in Kerala.

In his speech, Gandhi praised Elanthoor as a "model village." He highlighted the amazing work done there to allow all people into temples. This happened even before the official "Temple Entry Proclamation" was made. Gandhi said that the people of Elanthoor had already shown the way by ending the practice of "untouchability" on their own. He felt their actions set a great example for all of Travancore.

Kumarji worked hard for everyone to live together peacefully. He also helped people who were treated unfairly to gain equal rights, especially regarding temple entry. Other important people like Pandavathu Sankara Pillai and Ennakkadu Valiya Raja also supported his efforts. It seems that two temples in Elanthoor, Bhagavathikunnu Temple and Thevar Nadai, had already opened their doors to all people long before the official proclamation. This important historical fact is something historians should pay more attention to.

A Special Moment with Gandhi

After his speech, Kumarji introduced two other freedom fighters, Khadar Das TP Gopala Pillai and Pulinthitta PC George, to Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi even wrote a message for Gopala Pillai on a piece of paper. This message inspired Gopala Pillai to promote Khadi, which is traditional Indian hand-spun cloth.

Before leaving Elanthoor, Gandhi named a baby that Kumarji handed to him. He also had milk and fruits served by Kumarji's mother.

Famous People from Elanthoor

Elanthoor has been home to some well-known personalities:

• Meera Jasmine: A famous actress.
• K. Kumar: A follower of Gandhi, a social reformer, and a chief editor of the 'Swadeshabhimani Newspaper'.
• Mohanlal: A very popular actor.