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Geography
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.
Demographics
As of 2001 India census, Alappuzha had a population of 177,079. Males constitute 48% of the population and females 52%. Alappuzha has an average literacy rate of 84%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Politics
Alappuzha assembly constituency is part of Alappuzha (Lok Sabha constituency). The other Lok Sabha constituency of the district is Mavelikkara.
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 aGujaraticommunity in the town. Alappuzha is a centre for coir industries. Later coir (different kinds of rope made fromcoconut fibre) became a major product of the town, both for local and world markets.
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 Kuttanadstyle. Alappuzha is unique in that it is the only district in Kerala without forest.
The main cultural and spiritual events of Alappuzha are Chambakkulam Moolam boat race, Chettikulangara Bharani and Nehru Trophy boat race.
Alappuzha is bordered by Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts on east, Kollam district on south, Ernakulam district on north and the Arabian Sea on west.
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.
The Poomkavu Church is situated in the out-skirts of Alappuzha, and is a famous destination for Christian pilgrims. Other famous religious destinations are
- Ambalappuzha Sri Krishna Temple
- Mannarasala Temple, Harippad
- Subhramanya Swamy Temple, Harippad
- Puthiyidam Sree Krishna Swamy Temple, Kayamkulam
- Chettikulangara Bhagawathy Temple, Mavelikkara
- Edathua Church
- Champakulam Church
- Mullackal Raja Rajeshwari Temple
- 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).
- Kidangamparambu Devi Temple
- Edamaruthusserril Temple, Puthuppally, Kayamkulam
- Varnappalli Temple, Puthuppally, Kayamkulam
- Valiyakulangara Temple, Karthikappally
- Kalarcode Major Mahadeva Temple
- Pathiyamkulangara Sree Bhagavathi Temple
- Pazhveedu Sree Krishna Swami Temple
- Vallya Kalavoor Sri Krishna Swami Temple, Kalavoor.
- Velikkattuthara Devi Temple, Kuttanadu, Govenda.
- Elangumatom Sri Khnda Karna Swami Temple, Talavadi.
- Kottangulangara Devi and Maha Vishnu Temple (1800 years old)
- Mararikkulam Mahadeva (Shiva) Temple
- Kanichukulangara Devi Temple
- Korthusseril Bhagavathi (Devi) Temple
Latest addition to Alappuzha is the Revi Karunakaran Memorial Museum 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 Bharanitakes 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 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.
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 theNehru Trophy Boat Race and Champakulam Moolam Boat Race. preethikulangara duga devi temple
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 Colleges 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 toPope Leo XIII), started in 1888.
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]
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 ofTravancore 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 atMavelikkara. 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 theKudippallikkoodam ("Hut Schools") style. He prepared textbooks himself to overcome a textbook shortage. He was a reputed professor. His close disciples includeSahitya 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 Mathuratradition. 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, the drama club with historical background is situated in Kayamkulam. Many genius artist came out from this club.
Taluks
Proposed Alappuzha Municipal Corporation
There is a demand to upgrade Alappuzha Municipality to a Municipal Corporation.
The proposed Alappuzha Municipal Corporation comprises of:
- 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 sq. km
Total Population (1991 Census): 403,463
Places in Alappuzha
- Kalavoor
- Pallathuruthi
- Kudassanad
- Kalarcode
- Pulincunnu
- Champakulam
- Punnapra
- Ambalapuzha
- Thrikkunnapuzha
- Cherthala
- Mavelikkara
- Kodukulanji
- Kayamkulam
- Aroor
- Aryad
- Kainakary
- Ramankari
- Mithrakari
- Thathampally
- Punnamada
- Pazhvanangadi
- Poonthoppu
- Koyippally
- Charummoodu
- Thaikattussery
- Poochakkal
- Thamarakulam
- Vedarapla
- Thondankulangara
- Mullakkal
- Kottamkulangara
- Rodumukku
- Vazhicheri
- Kedangara
- Mannarashala
- Kattoor
- Kappil
- Thekkekkara
- Chennithala
- Chettikulangara
- Krishnapuram
- Thazhakkara
- Mannar
- Pandanad
- Tiruvanvandoor
- Chengannur
- Venmony
- Ala
- Cheriyanad
- Puliyoor
- Budhanoor
- Ennakkad
- Chungom
- Pallana
- Thottappally
- Thrikkunnappuzha
- Haripad
Omanapuzha
-ALLEPPEY HOUSEBOAT CRUISE
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