Kasargod (also spelled Kasaragod or Kasargode) is the northern-most district in the state of Kerala, India formed on 24 May, 1984. The place was famous in ancient times as Harkwillia, a port city in the west coast of India.

The district has splendid natural beauty and resources, and is bounded by Karnataka in the north and east, Kannur in the south and the Arabian Sea in the west. The land rises from the densely populated coastal region in the west to the forest-covered Western Ghats range in the east. Twelve rivers across the district form lush green gorges in places as they cut their way through out the hills before emptying into the Arabian Sea. The longest of these is the Chandragiri River which flows into the sea just south of the district headquarters, also named Kasargod.

There are a variety of languages spoken, the main being Malayalam, Kannada and Tulu. Also languages like Tamil, Hindi and Konkani are also spoken by a minority of the population in the District.

The climate is warm and humid throughout the year with an average maximum temperature of 31.2 °C (88.9 °F) and a minimum of 23.6 °C (74.5 °F). Annual rainfall is plentiful at 3581 mm (141.0 in) but is mainly concentrated in the period from May to September.

The nearest airport and seaport are in Mangalore, which is 20 km from the northern border and 50 km from Kasargod town. The chief business center is Kanhangad, 12 km from Kasargod town.

Places of interest

• Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI), situated 4 km north of Kasaragod town, was established by the central government to conduct research on plantation crops such as coconut, arecanut, cardamom, turmeric and cashew.
• Bekal Fort, which lies 12 km south of Kasaragod town, is being developed by the central government as a special tourism area.

External links

• Official District Website
• CPCRI