Kunnukuzhy ( R C Junction ) , is a popular junction in the heart of Trivandrum city. This is where I’ve spent the best part -the most creative and the wasted part of my life.

My great grandfathers and their offsprings were one of the earlier inhabitants of this locality. The earlier generation has its roots in these localities and many of our ancestral properties spread around this pin code #695037. At one time, probably in the 60’s or 70’s, my relatives had many houses here, but as years went by, due to necessity they sold it. with it, we lost very beautiful houses and the address.

Old name for Kunnukuzhy

Kunnukuzhy was earlier called as “Pakouttuvilla” (not spelled right). I’m not sure how and why it was called as “Pakouttuvilla”. As for the name Kunnukuzhy, I think it was coined due to its peculiar terrain (ups and down).

Old life in Kunnukuzhi

Treading back to the old life, Kunnukuzhi holds many tales. I remember old folks say about a place near the current AKG center used to be the waste dump yard for scavengers. I also head that many Anglo Indian Community lived in Kunnukuzhi locality and old timers tell that in the evenings, passers could hear the English songs from their Gramophones.

Well, time has moved forward, many Anglo Indians moved to western shores, the scavengers too were made redundant with changes in sanitation.

There is another junction with a name Gas house junction. I think that building is long gone and how it has the Hassan Marikar Hall.

Facilities, landmarks in and around Kunnkuzhy junction, as I see it

• Basil’s shop at kunnukuzhy junction ( Basil once gave me a sack full of old sold bottles ( one with marble). I still have it. At one time I thought I will sell it as antique bottles on ebay.
• Slaughter house ( Abattoir – a bone of contention)
• Law College ( We often hear their shouts, scream and Inkulab Zindabad)
• Indian Coffee house, Spenser’s ( Once, it was my evening hangout)
• IGNOU office
• City high school ( First steps in cycling started in this school ground)
• Institute of Management in Government ( Once attended a training here)
• Vikas Bhavan KSRTC Garage ( Constructed on City school ground)
• Barton Hill ( Now has an engineering college )
• Hassan Marikar Hall, AKG Center ( Rotaract Life)
• Miranda junction ( Close friend stays there)
• Temple near Vadyakadu junction ( Early morning suprabadam was a ritual that got into our system. I used to think that a group of ladies come to sing this. Later I grew to knew that they played  MS Subalekshmi’s cassette.
• Co-orperative Bank – Took loan from here to purchase- Celeron 333
• Kala vihar Nagar, Vikas lane ( one of the lanes )
• Police quarters
• SPCA Veterinary hospital at PMG ( Taken my dog here for some shot. The lady at the counter asked for name. I was confused. Is it my name or dog’s name?
• Vikas Bhavan ( a crude PWD building housing many Govt offices)
• PMG junction
• Hanuman Temple

This post is dull without pics of these places. Gimme more time for pics to be uploaded. Next time I visit Trivandrum, I’ll capture the essence of Kunnukuzhy. Let me hope that my pics will bring back the myriad life around different hot spots in Kunnukuzhy where I had many a fleeting moments.