Wadakkancherry

Wadakkancherry Vadakancheri-Cochin
Town
Wadakkancherry Location in Kerala, India
Coordinates: 10°39′34″N 76°14′58″E / 10.65944°N 76.24944°E / 10.65944; 76.24944Coordinates: 10°39′34″N 76°14′58″E / 10.65944°N 76.24944°E / 10.65944; 76.24944
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Thrissur
Government
• Body	Wadakkanchery Block
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	680590
Telephone code	04884
Vehicle registration	KL-48
Nearest city	Trichur(Thrissur)
Lok Sabha constituency	Alathur
Civic agency	Wadakkanchery Block
Climate	cool&hot (Köppen)
Website	www.w4wadakkanchery.com

Wadakkanchery (വടക്കാഞ്ചേരി), is a small town in Thrissur district, Kerala. It is the Head Quarters of Thalappilly Taluk. There are two places with similarly pronounced names - Wadakanchery and Vadakkamchery. The block has panchayaths of DESAMANGALAM ERUMAPETTY, KADANGODE, MULLURKKARA, MUNDATHICODE, THEKKUMKARA, VARAVOOR, VELUR and WADAKKANCHERRY.In Malayalam, this town is വടക്കാഞ്ചേരി- Wadakanchery; situated in Thrissur or Thrichur district, another place is Vadakkenchery is pronounced വടക്കഞ്ചേരി and is on the National Highway 47 (Palakkad Dist).

Geography

Wadakkanchery town is situated on the Thrissur - Shoranur State Highway 22 and is directly connected to Kunnamkulam (another major town on National Highway 17).Ottupaara bus stand is a main stop between Thrissur - Ottapalam and Thrissur-Chelakkara bus route.There is a huge demand for last many years for making Thrissur - Perinthalmanna - Nilambur - Ooty or Bangalore as National Highway.

There is a railway station here - Managed by the Southern Railways, Wadakanchery Railway Station (also spelt Wadakancheri Railway Station).. Station Code: WKI. Being one status of adarsh station by govt of india its main station after Thrissur Railway station.There are 2 platforms. Most of major trains stops here.

Nearest Airports are,

• Cochin International Airport (Nedumabassery airport)& Code is COK. is distance of 70km.
• Calicut International Airport (Code CCJ)

Culture and education

Wadakanchery is an important cultural centre. The Kerala Kalamandalam is located at Cheruthuruthy, not far from Wadakanchery. This place is home to many artists, literary and cinema figures. Film director Bharathan, Kathakali singer, Kalamandalam Hyder Ali, film actor Oduvil Unnikrishnan, author of the Malayalam version of the "Panchatantram", Sumangala are all from Wadakkanchery. The ancient illam Aavanapparambu is near Wadakanchery.

Government Boys' High School, Government Girls' High School, St.Pius, and Clelia Barberi are the premier schools located at Wadakanchery.

Sri Vyasa NSS College, managed by the Nair Service Society, at Parlikkad is a noted educational institution near Wadakanchery. Parlikkad also hosts a major Religious congregation of Hindu bhagawatkars during December of every year. Wadakkanchery is point of ending of State highway 50 that connects to Chavakkad via Kunnamkulam.

Festivals and attractions

The Vazhani Dam, approximately 8km from here, made entirely of mud is the major tourist attraction near Wadakanchery.

Wadakkanchery is situated in the heart of "pooram belt" - "pooram"s are the annual festivals in temples of central Kerala, mostly in and around Wadakkanchery, especially the "Uthralikkaavu" and "Machad Thiruvaanikkaavu" are well known for the fireworks extravaganzas and rituals respectively , during the festivals.

The "Pathinettara (eighteen and half) Kavu Vela" is famous which takes place on the first day of Kumbha masam at different temples in and around Wadakanchery.

The most famous fireworks are during the festival at Sree Rudhira Mahakali (shortened to Uthrali) Kavu. This takes place in the month of Kumbham (February-March). The pomp and gaiety of this occasion is matched only by the fireworks of the Thrissur pooram or Nenmmara Vallangi Vela.

Unlike other temple festivals in Kerala where caparisoned elephants are the main attraction, the 'Machad Mamangam' is celebrated with huge models of caparisoned horses. Villages in the general area of the temple participate in the festival in a competitive but spiritual way. These huge horses are carried by the youth of their respective villages to the temple.

Religion

Many important places of worship are also here.St. Francis Xaviers Forane Church, St. George Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Ottupara Town masjid,Jaram masjid, Sivan temple and Maari amman temple...etc.

"Machad Thiruvanikavu kuthira Vela" festival also famous for its man-made horses which takes place at Thiruvanikavu Devi temple on the Tuesday coming after the first Friday of Kumbha masam, the Para Purappad is on the first Friday and next Tuesday in the month of Kumbhamis the Kuthira Vela, pupularly known as 'MACHADU MAMANKAM'.

Uthralikaavu Pooram(annual festival of the temple) conducted in the month of February-March (Malayalam Month of Kumbham) every year attracts a huge number of people around the world. It falls on the very next Tuesday of the Machad Mamankam during the month of Kumbham. The Para Purappad here is on the same day of Machad Mamankam.

The Dhanwanthari Temple at Nelluvay near Erumapetty (on Wadakkanchery - Kunnamkulam Road, approx. 8 km from Wadakkanchery) is another place of religious interest.

The Siva temple at this place is considered an archaeological monument by the Archaeological Survey of India. The Pallimanna Siva Temple at Kumblangad at a distance of 3 km from Wadakanchery is another archaeological monument by the Archaeological Survey of India, famous for the wall paintings in the temple.

Government Offices

The town has some important State and Central government offices - They are Taluk and Village office, Munsiff and Magistrate court, Joint Regional Transport Office, Two post offices, Assistant Labour Office, Sales Tax office, State Excise office, Police station, Circle Inspector's office and Telephone Exchange (BSNL).

The town is covered under all cellular / mobile operators (GSM and CDMA) in Kerala circle.

Wadakkanchery assembly constituency is part of Alathur Lok Sabha constituency.^[1]

References

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