Thodupuzha

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?Thodupuzha Kerala • India
Coordinates: (find coordinates)
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area • Elevation	• 22 m (72 ft)
District(s)	Idukki
Population	46,226 (2001)
Codes • Pincode • Telephone • Vehicle	• 685584 • +914862 • KL-38

Thodupuzha (in malayalam: തൊടുപുഴ) is a town and a municipality in Idukki district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is 59 km from Ernakulam.

Thodupuzha is also the name of the river that flows through Thodupuzha town. It is located at 9.9000N, 76.7170E and 22 metres above mean sea level

It is the largest town in the district and is the commercial centre of the district. The town is being modernised with the help of a programme sponsored by the 'World Bank' which is financing the programme through the Government of Kerala. The other major town in the district is Kattappana. It was at one time part of the territory of the Travancore dynasty. It lies in central Kerala, southeast of Muvattupuzha. It lies almost at sealevel, ~20-22 MSL, with medium sized hilly regions spread allover the Taluka.

The Main Eastern Highway ( Muvattupuzha - Pathanamthitta - Punalur Road / SH - 08 ) pass through Thodupuzha.

Thodupuzha is strategically placed as a gateway to the Highrange parts of the Kerala. It has a population of around fifty-thousand and the main occupation is agriculture and trade. Thodupuzha is not part of highranges, it is lowland with hilly regions spread across as against wide perceptions. It was previously in Ernakulam District. Thodupuzha is a verdant land that attracts a number of tourists. The famous hydral project the Malankara dam is developing as a famous tourist centre

The people are majority Hindu and Syrian Catholics. There is a Muslim population also. Muslims are mostly rawthers who are the warriors of Madurai Raja and migrated from Madurai, Tanjavoor. They are staying in other parts of high-ranges in Idukki District and Irattupetta.

P. J. Joseph, got elected from the Thodupuzha assembly constituency for the seventh time. He is the head of the Kerala Congress (J) party and former PWD minister of Kerala.

Thodupuzha is a land of religious tolerance and unity as there are a number of churches, temples and mosques. Sreekrishna Swami temple ,Karokkode Bhagavathi Temple,Kanjiramattom Sree Mahadeva Temple,St.George Church at Muthalakodam, the St.Mary's Forane Church at chungom, The St.Michaels Church at Thenomkunnu and several other churches recently built such as the Town Church are prominent among the Christian churches in and around here. Among the Hindu temples are Sreekrishnaswamy Temple, the Karicodu Bhagavathi Temple and the Mudaliar Madom Temple. Among the Muslim mosques are the Kariodu Ninaru Mosque and the pazhayari Juma Masjid.

Palai is a town 30 km southeast of Thodupuzha. The two towns share historically different traditions of Syrian Christian culture. While the Syrian Christian settlers in Palai are most probably the descendants of medieval fugitives from Paravur as can be gathered from their umpteen number of family histories, Thodupuzha Christians belong to the rich tradition of the golden quadrilateral of ancient Syrian Christianity that consists of Kothamangalam, Karingachira, Kuravilangadu and Mailakompu. So the Thodupuzhites are generally benign, eco-friendly people whereas their aggressive counterparts from Palai were in the forefront to damage the fragile eco-system of the High Ranges in Kerala and elsewhere Muthalakodam is a pilgrimage centre located 3 km east of Thodupuzha Town.

Thommankuthu is a famous waterfall and tourist place located 18 km from town in Karimannoor Panchayath.

1 Demographics
2 References
3 See also
4 External links
5 Charity links
6 Company Links
7 Personal Links

[edit] Demographics

As of 2001 India census^[1], Thodupuzha had a population of 46,226. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Thodupuzha has an average literacy rate of 82%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 84%, and female literacy is 81%. In Thodupuzha, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age. Thodupuzha has a large population of the so called " Vella Pillai" who migrated from "Tenkshi" in Tamilnadu. The Vellal Pillai spread later on to different parts of Kerala and their main deity the symbol from Tenkashi is placed near Erattupetta and all Vellala Pillai people meet there once a year to mark the plight of them from Thenkashi. Thodupuzha also happens to be the place of "Vellala Pillai" population who migrated from Tenkashi in TamilaNadu. There are different stories behind their plight. The popular once says they were afraid of giving away one beautiful lady to a low caste king in Tenkashi. They established a temple near Erattupetta and it is now custom that they meet once every year.

Kothakutti, a rock area, 5 km from Thodupuzha. Earlier Thekankoor palace was situated here. The route is Thodupuzha - chalassery - Karimannoor.