VALIYATHURA PIER OR VALIYATHURA KADALPALAM

 History tells us that the Valiyathura Pier or Valiyathura Sea Bridge had been built during World War II. Stretching 703 feet into the Arabian sea, it was a crucial trading hub. It was once the only port along Trivandrum's southern coast. 

Valiyathura has a good beach. It is close to the famous Shanghumugham beach which is always  packed with tourists  and the international tourist centre, Kovalam is not very far.  The Trivandrum International Airport is closeby.

Fishing is the livelihood of the people at Valiyathura. There is a large concentration of the fishermen community here. They are simple people who toil hard in the sea. When the sea is rough we can see them playing football on the beach.

The formation of Kerala literally closed down the port. There was Cochin to take care of the needs of the state. There was not much activity at the Valiathura port. In the year 1979 one businessman had brought Cement through a Ship to reactivate the port. However he had to face  a lot of problems. There were no more ships.

The pier had attracted quite a number of tourists. One could see fishermen angling on the pier to catch fish.

As the pier was stretching into the sea, the fishermen used to launch their Kattamarams from  the edge of the pier. They did that to avoid battling the strong waves rushing on to the shore. It was an unforgettable scene. The Kattamarams would be loaded with all the fishing equipments and food. There would be two  fishermen to board the Kattamaram. While the Kattamram was held by a few people, one of the fishermen would jump into the sea. Then the Kattamaram would be pushed into the sea. We could see the other  fisherman jumping into the sea afterwards. Together, the two would steady the Kattamaram, climb on to it and paddle away. They would go deep into the sea and return with their catch the next day.

Though it may sound very simple, it is really a very dangerous operation.

One day we had come across a fisherman with two holes in the place of his nose. When probed he said it was the outcome of his brush with the Kattamaram while he was  at the sea. 

Kattamaram is Catamaran, a boat with two hulls. 

The pier is dilapidated now. It is closed as it is unsafe to tread on it.