History and Growth of the Town
Colachel Municipality is a First Grade Municipallity as per G.O.Ms.No.238, dated 02.12.2008 situated on the west coast of Kanyakumari District in Tamil Nadu State. It was constituted on 01-10-1920. The nearest town is Nagercoil, 20 kms away from this town which happens to be the District Headquarters of Kanyakumari District. Colachel is a Historical place. Before the state reorganisation in 1956 it was part of the erstwhile Travancore State. Wasco-da-Gama called it ‘COLACHI’.
Bartolameo speaks of the place ‘COLACHEY’ well known to the ancients. It was a Dutch Colony, which came under Travancore after the defeat of the Dutch by king Marthanda Varma in 1751 for which a victory pillar was commemorated near the beach. The importance of Colachel is due to the existence of a port on the west coast of Tamil Nadu in the Arabian sea – from historical times which is remarkable for the natural Harbour facilities it possesses.
As a mark of remembrance of the war Marthanda Varma Maharaja erected the war Memorial at Colachel Port in a single stone with the height of 15 ft in during the year 1741. and the buildings in the same campus i.c, Light House, Customs, Court buildings are not at all still maintaining, since the area is under the control Indian Army. Moreover this town is declared as a Heritage Town by the State Govt. as per G.O. no.143 Housing and Urban Development Dept. on 20.05.2002. Now the Municipality is functioning in the building adjacent to the Bus stand in the Colachel – Nagercoil State Highways Road.
The Municipal jurisdiction extends over an area of 5.18 Sq.k.m. This Municipal limit consists of Colachel, and Kalkulam village. The population as per 1991 Census was 24305, 2001 Census 23787 and 2011 population is 23155. Above 50% of the area is seashore where the active fishermen solely depending on fishing for their livelihood. The rest of the population is engaged predominantly either in agricultural operations or agro-based industries and petty trades.
Council :-
This Municipality consists of 24 wards , 24 elected Councillors comprises of 16 General, 1 Women (SC), and 7 Women (G) members.
| 1 | Name of the Municipality | COLACHEL |
| 2 | Name of the Region | TIRUNELVELI |
| 3 | Grade of the Municipality | FIRST |
| 4 | Full Postal Address | Main Road
Near Bus Stand Colachel – 629 251 |
| 5 | Phone Number | 04651-226229
04651-226892 |
| 6 | Email ID | commr.colachel@tn.gov.in |
| 7 | Area of the Municipality | 5.18 sq.kms. |
| 8 | Population (As per 2011 Census) | 23227 |
| 9 | Total No. of Wards | 24 |
| 10 | Total No. of House Tax Assessments | 7957 |
| 11 | Total No. of Water Supply Connections | 4953 |
| 12 | Total No. of Public Fountain | 114 |
| 13 | Total No. of OHT’s | 11 |
| 14 | Total No. of Bore Wells with Hand Pump | 3 |
| 15 | Total No. of Street Lights | 1411 |
| 16 | Total No. of Schools in Municipal Area | 14 |
| 17 | Total No. of Hospitals in Municipal Area | 10 |
| 18 | Total No. of Kalyanamandapam & Marriage Halls | 10 |
| 19 | Total No. of Industries | 2 |
| 20 | Total No. of Restaurant | 2 |