Balaramapuram
| Balaramapuram ബാലരാമപുരം |
|
|---|---|
| Town | |
 Balaramapuram
ബാലരാമപുരം 
 Balaramapuram
ബാലരാമപുരം |
|
| Coordinates: 8°23′N 77°5′E / 8.383°N 77.083°ECoordinates: 8°23′N 77°5′E / 8.383°N 77.083°E | |
| Country |
 India
|
| State | Kerala |
| District | Thiruvananthapuram |
| Government | |
| • Body | Gram panchayat |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Malayalam, English |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Vehicle registration | KL- |
| Website | Balaramapuram |
Balaramapuram is a small town in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, India. Balaramapuram is famous as the centre for the production of traditional varieties of handloom textiles meant for the contemporary cloth wearing style of Kerala. Its unique craftsmanship makes it an ideal heirloom..
Balaramapuram is located on National Highway 47 13 km South east of Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) city in Kerala, India and 25 km North of Kaliyikkavila, the southern boundary of the state. Balaramapuram lies 77 degrees 5 minutes east longitude and 8 degrees 23 minutes North latitude.
During the regime of His Highness Maharaja Balaramavarma, from 1798 to 1810, handloom weaving was first introduced at Balaramapuram. The Maharaja and his Delava (Chief Minister), Ummini Thampi jointly decided to convert Balaramapuram and its surrounding places into an agro-based industrial belt with various traditional industries by the development of paddy and coconut cultivation, fishing, weaving, and oil extraction. Separate streets with a clustered at identified places, providing a comparatively better infrastructure for development.
The Delava of Maharaja brought seven weaver families (Shaliars) from Tamil Nadu to produce fabrics for the members of the royal family and made them settle at Balaramapuram in a separate location now called "Shaliar Street". Market places were opened at convenient locations to make the marketing of products easier. The present residents of the street are the descendents of these seven families. Among the prominent weaving masters, Mr. Ponnan alias Appu panicker from Thannivila is an acclaimed weaver who taught the business to others of this region.
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Wikipedia