Cherthala
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Cherthala
Kerala • India |
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| District(s) | Alappuzha |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area • Elevation |
320.44 km² (124 mi²) • 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population • Density • Sex ratio |
4.78 lakhs (1991) • 1,491/km² • 1030 |
| Codes • Telephone • Vehicle |
• +0478 • KL 32 |
Cherthala (formerly known as Shertallai) is a Taluk and a municipality in Alappuzha district in the state of Kerala, India. It is 36km from Cochin and 22 km from Alleppey on the Cochin-to-Alleppey section of National Highway 47 Road Route and Railway Route. Cherthala is in Alleppey District, of which Alleppey is the district headquarters. Cherthala is a Major Taluk consisting of 20 villages of which Cherthala is the Taluk headquarters.
The Name
According to the folklore, once a namboodiri (the priestly class) was travelling through the present day cherthala when he found the idol of the 'Devi'(The mother goddess) in a pond. The idol was found with its head immersed in mud. The priest took out the idol and established a temple at the location which is the present day Karthiyayani temple. The place is said to have got its name from this incident. Cher - Thala cher means mud and thala means head in malayalam.
There is another story which say that the former name was kadappuram (meaning coastal land) and this part of land was gifted by the erstwhile State of Cochin to the erstwhile State of Travancore for protecting it from enemies. The place got its name as Chertha (joined) Thala (abutting land).
How to reach
One can travel to the Town by train commuting through the Cochin-to-Alleppey rail route. The railway station is known as Shethalai in Indian railway parlance. The four-lane NH 47 runs through the town. The Cherthala town can be reached by road from Cochin or from Vaikom (15 km) or from Kottayam (30 km) as well as from Alleppey (22 km). Thus it acts as the easy meeting point from the neighbouring towns. The nearest airport is the Cochin International Airport about 50 kilometers north east and the nearest seaport is Cochin Harbour about 36 kilometers north west of the town. The famous vembanadu back waters flows along this beautiful town. The international tourist destination Kumarakom is only a 10 km travel from here. Industry
The main industry here is based on the products from the humble coconut tree. The coconut oil is used for cooking, as hair oil and in manufacture of soap. The coir extracted from the husk of the coconut tree is used for making rope, door mats, carpets and as protection against soil erosion.
Fishing and allied industries is another major source of lively hood. The place is endoved with a network of canals which are invariably connected with either the Arabian sea on the west or the Vembanad back waters on the east side. Oflate prawn farming has caught up with the place. The prawn mainly go into the export market. There is major industry involved in export of sea food in Aroor industrial belt on the northern part of the taluk.
Demographics
==Demographics==[1]
As per kerala government website , Cherthala municipality had a population of 43326 over an area of 16.18 square Kilo Metres. The density of population is 2678 per square Kilo Metre. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%.
Cherthala has an average literacy rate of 94%, with male literacy of 98.4% and female literacy of 89.7%.
Administration
Cherthala is one of 6 taluks of the Alapuzha district, Kerala state, India . The taluk of cherthala is divided into 20 villages for government administration. Cherthala is represented in the kerala constituent assembly by constituencies named Cherthala and Aroor.
[edit] Places of importance
Aroor
Aroor is situated on the National Highway 47 between Cherthala and Kochi. Aroor is identified as industrial park for sea food exports. It is also one of the fish landing centres.
Arthungal
It is an important pilgrim centre of Roman Catholic Christians and is famous for well known St. Andrews Church, popularly known as St. Sebastuian Church situated 8 km south-west of Cherthala town facing the sea coast. Hindu pilgrims from Sabarimala used to visit Arthungal and take bath in a tank in the Church premises to formally conclude their penance. The tank is not in existence now.
Cherthala
The town is famous for the well known Devi (Karthyayani) temple located in the centre of the town. Padayani and vela thullal of the temple are famous .The idol of Bhagavathy(goddess) is said to have been consecrated by Vilwamangalath Swamiyar (A famous priest). Cherthala is well -connected by road and rail. It is a major centre of coir industry.
Kanichukulangara
Situated 13 km north of Alappuzha town, Kanichukulangara is famous for the Bhagavathy temple. It is believed that the shrine was consecrated by a Brahmin who happened to recognize Devi who had reached the shore. The souls of the brahmin and the maiden who is said to have fallen in love with Brahmin have been consecrated in small shrines inside the temple.
Kokkamangalam
Situated on the western shore of Vembanad lake is the seat of one oldest churches world. It is said that the apostle St. Thomas, who visited Kerala and established 7 churches including one here , consecrated a cross there. Later the cross was found missing and it was recovered from Pallipuram and brought back to Kokkothamangalm where a church was built. The present church was built in 1900.It is a major pilgrim center.
Pathiramanal
Pathiramanal known as the mysterious sand of midnight, is a small beautiful island of tourist importance. It is situated in the centre of Vembanad lake, 4 km east of Muhamma. This island is full of coconut trees and luxuriant vegetation.
Thannermukkom
It is situated on the western bank of Vembanad lake. The Thannermukkom salt water barrier was constructed as apart of Kuttanad Development Scheme. The Thannermukkom regulator constructed across Vembanad lake between Thannermukkom and Vechur is to prevent tidal action and intrusion of salt water. It is the largest mud regulator in India.
Thiruvizha
Thiruvizha is situated about 5 km south-west of Cherthala and is famous for Shiva temple. The temple attracts large number of devotees on account of the divine prasadam which is supposed to possess medicinal and curative properties for mental illness.
Vayalar
Situated about 2.5 km north of Cherthala, Vayalar is a politically important place in the history of modern Kerala. The historic struggle at Vayalar by the communist party against Sir C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer, Diwan of Travancore, resulted in the relinquishment of the rule of Diwan. Hundreds of communists fell victim to the tragic police firing in 1946. There is martyrs' platform (Raktha Sakshi Mandapam) erected at this place. You can still find stump of the cocunut tree in which a hole was created due to the police firing. Every year leading communist leaders come down here on the memorial day. This place is home to the late poet Vayalar Rama Varma.
