Alappuzha

Alappuzha
—  city  —
Alappuzha Location of Alappuzha in Kerala and India
Coordinates
Country	India
State	Kerala
District(s)	Alappuzha District
Population • Density	2,105,349 (2001[update]) • 1,492 /km2 (3,864 /sq mi)
Sex ratio	1079 ♂/♀
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area	1,414 square kilometres (546 sq mi)
Codes • Pincode • 688 XXX • Telephone • +0477 • Vehicle • KL-
Website	www.alappuzha.nic.in

Alappuzha (Malayalam: ആലപ്പുഴ), also known as Alleppey, is a town in Alappuzha District of Kerala state of southern India. A town with picturesque canals, backwaters, beaches, and lagoons, it was described as the one of the places known as Venice of the East by Marco Polo (1292). It is the administrative headquarters of Alappuzha District. Though the present town owes its existence to the sagacious Diwan Raja Kesavadas in the second half of 18th century, district of Alappuzha figures in classical Literature. Kuttanad, the rice bowl of Kerala with the unending stretch of paddy fields, small streams and canals with lush green coconut palms, was well known even from the early periods of the Sangam age. History says Alappuzha had trade relations with ancient Greece and Rome in Antiquity and in the Middle Ages, as well as with other parts of India. The famous Chettikulangara temple is at Mavelikkara in Alappuzha district. Arthunkal church and Edathuva church are famous christian worship centres in the district.

Geography

Alappuzha is bordered by Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts on east, Kollam district on south, Ernakulam district on north and the Arabian Sea on west.

Alleppey Coastal Plains are formed of Quaternary sediments. A series of dunes and ridges marking the repeated regressional and transgressional events characterize this coastal plain. Soil of the area belongs to the great group of Tropopsamments - Tropofluvents, commonly called Coastal Alluvium. Major water bearing formations are Tertiary sedimentary formations and weathered and fractured crystalline formations. The land form possesses ridge and swale topography formed in the late Quaternary geologic period.

Commerce and Tourism

Soon after Alappuzha was developed as a port by the Diwan Raja Kesavadas, the town started functioning as the main commercial centre of the state of Travancore. Export flourished from the port. Spices like pepper were the main export items. Thachil Matthoo Tharakan, a close confidante of the Diwan, pioneered the export of timber. Domestic trade was also active. Many traders from Gujarat came and settled down here to do trading, leading to the presence even now of a Gujarati community in the town. Alappuzha is a centre for coir industries. Later coir (different kinds of rope made from coconut fibre) became a major product of the town, both for local and world markets.

Public Transport Boat service in Kerala

Alappuzha is now the hub for backwater tourism in Kerala. House boats locally called "Kettuvallam" are available on hire on a daily basis as well as for longer durations to take visitors on the old waterways. These house boats in general have 2 bedrooms and attached bathrooms. Some of the boats have the bedrooms fitted with air conditioners. A routine trip includes food cooked on board in the traditional Kuttanad style. Alappuzha is unique in that it is the only district in Kerala without forest.

House Boat, Punnamada Backwaters, Alappuzha

The main cultural and spiritual events of Alappuzha are Chambakkulam Moolam boat race, Chettikulangara Bharani and Nehru Trophy boat race.

The picturesque CSI Christ Church in Alappuzha town was built in 1818 by the first CMS (Church Missionary Society) missionary to the erstwhile state of Travancore, Rev. Thomas Norton. It was the first Anglican Church to be established in Travancore. Famous religious destinations are

1. Poomkavu Church
2. Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple
3. Mannarasala Temple, Harippad
4. Subhramanya Swamy Temple, Harippad
5. Puthiyidam Sree Krishna Swamy Temple, Kayamkulam
6. Chettikulangara Bhagawathy Temple, Mavelikkara
7. Edathua Church
8. Champakulam Church
9. Mullackal Raja Rajeshwari Temple
10. East Juma Masjid (near Dutch Square) and West Juma Masjid (near Iron Bridge) were built centuries back and Salafi Juma Masjid Mosque is built by the Nadvathul Mujahideen during 1990's and inaugurated by late Sulaiman Sait Sahib (fomer IUML President).
11. Kidangamparambu Devi Temple
12. Sreekrishnaswamy Temple, Mavelikkara
13. Edamaruthusserril Temple, Puthuppally, Kayamkulam
14. Varnappalli Temple, Puthuppally, Kayamkulam
15. Valiyakulangara Temple, Karthikappally
16. Kalarcode Major Mahadeva Temple
17. Kandiyoor Siva Temple, Mavelikkara (2500 years old. Built by full of rocks)
18. Pathiyamkulangara Sree Bhagavathi Temple
19. Thiruvampady Sree Krishna Swami Temple
20. Vallya Kalavoor Sri Krishna Swami Temple, Kalavoor.
21. Velikkattuthara Devi Temple, Kuttanadu, Govenda.
22. Elangumatom Sri Khnda Karna Swami Temple, Talavadi.
23. Kottankulangara Devi and Maha Vishnu Temple (1800 years old)
24. Mararikkulam Mahadeva (Shiva) Temple
25. Kanichukulangara Devi Temple
26. Korthusseril Bhagavathi (Devi) Temple
27. Thondankulangara MahaDeva Temple

Kanakkoor sree DhanwanthariTemple and Bhagavathy Temple

Latest addition to Alappuzha is the Revi Karunakaran Memorial Museum [1] featuring countless arts and artefacts. Revi Karunakaran was the architect of modern Coir industry that still employs more than 500,000 people in the state of Kerala. The objects featured at the Museum were collected by his family over three generations and features unique artistic pieces from all parts of the world.

Mullackal Rajarajeswari Temple

Mullakkal Temple located in the heart of Alappuzha city, dedicated to the goddess Rajarajeswari. Basically the temple was a palace of Chembakasseri kingdom and later dedicated to Sree Raja Rajeshwari Devi. Mullakkal Chirappu is one of the main festival time for Alappuzha people. Devotees throng the temple in large numbers to seek the blessings of the Devi . The major attraction of the temple is its top opened Sreekovil, specially made for Vana Durga (Durga in Naure or Forest as a whole).

The nine day Navarathri festival is celebrated with all festivities in Alappuzha, particularly the last two days, Mahanavami and Vijayadasami. Another important festival of the temple is 'Thaipooyakavadi'. About fifteen 'Kavadis' take part in the procession of 'Thaipooyakavadi' festival.

By road it is about 60 km from Eranakulam. There are many stories behind this temple. Some say that the idol seen here was brought by the soldiers of the Thekkumkur king. They were supposed to have kept it in a Jasmine Garden. The idol got permanently fixed at this spot and later a temple was constructed by the king Devanarayana of Chembagasery.

Payasam, Vada, Appam are normally offered to the Goddess as Naivedyam. The first Sunday of December is celebrated in this temple as a women's festival. On that Day all functions of the temple are carried out by women only.

The temple timings are 5 AM to 10.30 AM and between 5 to 8 PM.

Chettikulangara Bharani

This temple is very famous in Kerala, as it is believed that the deity of the Bhagawathy temple has miraculous healing powers. The temple situates in Mavelikkara. In February and March the temple is teeming with life as the festival of Bharani takes place during this time. The temple comes alive with activities and grand feasts. The Bharani festival celebrated in the month of Kumbham is quite an event to the people of this locality and neighbouring places. This festival celebrated with pomp and gaiety is now been widely known as the Kumbhamela of South. Lakhs of people from different parts of Kerala and abroad visit Chettikulangara to participate in this event.

The entrance of the Haripad Subrahmanya Swami temple

The highlight of the festival is Kuthiyottam and Kettukazha. Kuthiyottam is performed as an important offering to the deity. This is a ritual dance practiced and perfected through several centuries. It can be witnessed in several houses of Chettikulangara and in neighbouring areas. The houses are decorated, and the portrait of the deity is installed in temporary structures. Kuthiyottam starts a week before Bharani day. It is a type of folk dance performed by youths with the accompaniment of folk music and other musical instruments.

Chettikulangara Kettukazhcha, conducted every year on the Bharani Nakshathram of Malayalam month ‘Kumbham - It is probably the most amazing cultural visual spectacle in Kerala, similar to the Thrissur Pooram.

The event is an offering of the people of Chettikulangara to their beloved deity known for her spontaneous blessings on true devotees as a mark of gratitude, devotion, unflinching faith, and for showering prosperity and protection to their lives. ‘Kettukazhcha’ displays deftly sculpted and decorated forms of ‘ six temple cars known as ‘Kuthiras’, five Therus’ (Chariots ) and icons of Bhima and Hanuman. All the temple cars, chariots and the icons are all incredibly gigantic in size and are many times larger than any other similar Kuthiras and Therus built during the festivities at other temples in the Central Travancore region.

Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple.

On the move, these out of the world sky scrapping colourful decorations are electrifying, and will create an unforgettable artistic impression in union, especially during the night in the back drop of illuminated lights. Chettikulangara Kettukazhcha heralds the architectural and aesthetic acumen of the ancient people of Chettikulangara, who could convert an improbable out of the world concept to an enormous artistic reality, achieved by collective hardships and will power.

Snake boat races are the most significant traditional event in Alappuzha. These spectacular regattas are usually held between August and October, and involve long thin boats powered by up to 120 oarsmen. The most famous snake boat races are the Nehru Trophy Boat Race and Champakulam Moolam Boat Race. preethikulangara duga devi temple

Water Transport

The regular water transport is carried out by Kerala State Water Transport Department.The schedules are as follows.

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Educational institutions

Alappuzha district has a proud educational history. The district has more than ten Arts and Science Colleges, one Medical College (T.D. Medical College) in the government sector, Engineering College under CAPE (College of Engineering and Management Punnapra) and Polytechnics.

The first school in Alleppey, the CMS (Church Missionary Society) Compound School (near the CSI Christ Church), was established in 1816.

The first Higher secondary school in Alleppey was Leo XIIIth Higher Secondary School (Formerly known as Leo XIIIth English Medium High School, dedicated to Pope Leo XIII), started in 1888. Govt. High School Paravoor S D V English Medium Higher Secondary School and Matha Senior Secondary School are premier institutions in Alappuzha for pre-graduate education.

University Institute of Technology (U I T), St. Joseph College for Women, and Sanathana Dharma College (S D College) are the institutions for common people to study under the Kerala University. The Ravi Varma Government Fine Arts College is at Mavelikkara.ST Aloysious Secondary school Punnapra Alappuzha. Carmel polytechnic college[Best Polytechnic award winner], ''drisya multimedia'' one of the leading multimedia institution in alappuzha

MGEF (Mahathma Gandhi Education Foundation)

MGEF (Mahathma Gandhi Education Foundation) is one of the leading Educational Institution in South India with its Head Office at Cherthala conducts Information Technolgoy Courses (Multimedia, Animation, Programming, .NET, CAD Engineering, Hardware Courses, Web Designing Courses etc.), Fire and Safety Courses, Fashion Technology, Modeling, Management Courses, Electronics and Electrical Engineering Courses. MGEF Study centres are flourished all over Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. MGEF International Office is in Kingdom of Bahrain and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. MGEF giving 100% Placement assistance through MGEF own Placement Cell, MGEF Online Placement Cell and through MGEF International Office at Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. MGEF Head Office is at Gandhi Bhavan, North of Devi Temple, Cherthala, Kerala, India and website is http://www.mgef.com. Phone : 0478 -2823333, 2182314, 2182972. Mobile : 09995955393.

Social and Cultural Institutions

The district of Alappuzha is the place where the Kerala State Library Council was born on September 14, 1945. The council formed as a meeting of all libraries of Travancore conducted at P.K. Memorial Library, Ambalappuzha. The library council in Alappuzha district conducts a wide variety of socio-cultural programs in the district, as well as computer education.

Saradamandiram - aradamandiram is a house built by Kerala Panini A.R. Rajarajavarma near Sri Krishna Swami Temple at Mavelikkara. He spent his latter part of life there. The Kerala government acquired Saradamandiram and preserves it as a memorial. Famous as Kerala Panini, A.R. was born on February 20, 1863. He is the first grammarian of Malayalam. He was instrumental in bringing about drastic changes in the educational system by revising the syllabus and reforming the Kudippallikkoodam ("Hut Schools") style. He prepared textbooks himself to overcome a textbook shortage. He was a reputed professor. His close disciples include Sahitya Panchanan P.K. Narayana Pillai, and Swadeshabhimani K. Ramakrishna Pillai. He died on June 18, 1918.

A.R. is the first ever Indian principal of The Maharajas College (now University College) at Thiruvananthapuram. He is the man who visualized a university uniquely for Kerala. Rajarajavarma actively led the reformist group in the Prasavadha, which revitalised the craft and soul of Malayalam poetry. Malaya Vilasam, written by A.R., is considered an example of his talent as a poet. By writing several introductions to renowned poetic works, he proved himself as the pioneer of the modern critical approach in Malayalam literature.

The Buddha Statue

The statue is located at Mavelikkara. The statue is in seated posture, resembling Padmasana. A feature common to the idols is that hair has not been engraved on the head. Studies by the Archaeology Department have not been able to explain the absence of hair which is common in Buddha statues of the Gandhara and Mathura tradition. The head has markings resembling a headgear. Though the department has made a pagoda-like structure for the statue, no information on the idol is available to tourists who visit the area. Local people in the area light lamps before the idol. The idol at Mavelikkara is four feet high and is perhaps the biggest in the region. The engravings on the head resemble the helmets of Greek statues. The mark of a sacred thread is visible on the body. Another feature is the marking of a shawl on one shoulder. Here the Archaeological Department has put up a board specifying the age of the statue.

KPSC, the drama club with historical background is situated in Kayamkulam. Many genius artists came out from this club.

Famous personalities

• Mr. A.K. Antony- Thrice Chief minister of Kerala, Indian Defence Minister
• Mr. V S Achuthanandan- Chief Minister of Kerala
• Late Mr. Boban Kunchacko
• Late Mr. Parappurathu - Famous writer
• Late Mr.N.P.Chellappan Nair - Famous writer and dramtist - Father of former Chief Secretary Mr.C.P.Nair
• Mr. Vellapally Natesan - General Secretary of SNDP Yogam
• His Holiness Navajyothi Sree Karunakara Guru, the founder of Santhigiri Ashram
• Mr. Vayalar Ravi - Former Home minister of Kerala, Union Cabinet Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs & Minister for Parliamentary Affairs
• Smt. K.R. Gowri Amma - Revenue Minister in the first Kerala LDF ministry, initiated the revolutionary Land reforms in Kerala, Agriculture minister in Kerala UDF Ministry
• Mr. Riaz M T- Chairman, Mahathma Gandhi Education Foundation. Famous IT Expert and Business Man
• Late Mr. Vayalar Ramavarma- Great Malayalam Poet and film lyricist
• Mr. Vayalar Sarath Chandra Varma - Famous film lyricist
• Late Mr. Mavelikkara Krishnankutty Nair - Famous Mridangam artist.
• Mr. Fazil - Famous film Director
• Mr. Nedumudi Venu - Famous film Actor
• Late Mr. Mavelikkara Prabhakara Varma - Famous musician.
• Mr. Kunchako Boban - Famous film Actor
• Late Mr.Kunchacko
• Mr. K. C .Venugopal - Former Tourism Minster and now MP to Alappuzha
• Mr. A A Shukoor - Alappuzha MLA
• Late Mr. Rajan P. Dev - Malayalam Film actor and Drama/Theater personality
• Late Mr. Ratheesh
• Late Narendra Prasad
• Mr. K L Mohanavarma - Malayalam Author.
• Mr. S.L.Puram Sadanadhan -writer
• Mr. Chelangatt Gopalakrishnan - Writer & Film Critic.
• Mr. Joy J. Kaimaparamban - English & Malayalam Author.
• Mr. Itty Achudan- The major contributor of ethno-medical information for the compilation of Hortus Malabaricus.
• Mr. Samraj - Famous magician
• Late Mr.V.P.Sivakumar - Famous story writer
• Late Mrs. Mavelikkara Ponnamma - Famous Film actress.

Taluks

• Karthikappally
• Chengannur
• Mavelikkara
• Ambalappuzha
• Kuttanad
• Cherthala

Proposed Alappuzha Municipal Corporation

There is a demand to upgrade Alappuzha Municipality to a Municipal Corporation.

The proposed Alappuzha Municipal Corporation comprises:

• Alappuzha Municipality (villages of Alappuzha West, Alappuzha East, Mullakkal, Pazhaveedu, Kalarkode)
• Aryad panchayat (villages of Komalapuram, Aryad North, Aryad South)
• Mannancherry panchayat
• Mararikulam South panchayat (villages of Mararikulam South, Kalavoor, Pathirapally)
• Mararikulam North panchayat
• Punnapra North panchayat (villages of Paravur, Punnapra North)
• Punnapra South panchayat
• Ambalapuzha North panchayat (villages of Ambalapuzha North, parts of Karumadi)
• Ambalapuzha South panchayat (villages of Ambalapuzha South, parts of Karumadi)

Total Area: 169.64 km²

Total Population (1991 Census): 403,463

Places in Alappuzha

arattupuzha

• Kalavoor
• Pallathuruthi
• Kudassanad
• Kalarcode
• Pulincunnu
• Champakulam
• Punnapra
• Ambalapuzha
• Thrikkunnapuzha
• Cherthala
• Mavelikkara
• Kodukulanji
• Kayamkulam
• Aroor
• Aryad
• Kainakary
• Ramankary
• Mithrakari
• Thathampally
• Punnamada
• Pazhvanangadi
• Poonthoppu
• Koyippally
• Charummoodu
• Thaikattussery
• Poochakkal
• Thamarakulam
• Vedarapla
• Thondankulangara
• Mullakkal
• Kottamkulangara
• Rodumukku
• Vazhicheri
• Kedangara
• Vallikunnam
• Budhanoor
• Ennakkad
• Chungom
• Pallana
• Thottappally
• Thrikkunnappuzha
• Haripad
• Muthukulam

See also

• Alappuzha (Lok Sabha constituency)

References

External links

• Kerala State Water Transport Department official website
• Official website of Alappuzha District

Gallery

Alleppey houseboat

Church

Paddy fields

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