Tiruvalla

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  ?Thiruvalla
Kerala • India
Coordinates: 9°23′06″N 76°34′30″E / 9.385, 76.575
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
District(s) Pathanamthitta
Population 56,828 (2001)
Codes
• Pincode
• Telephone
• 689101
• +91-469

Coordinates: 9°23′06″N 76°34′30″E / 9.385, 76.575 Thiruvalla ( previously spelled Tiruvalla) (തിരുവല്ല in Malayalam), is a town and a Taluk headquarters located in Pathanamthitta district in the State of Kerala in South India. Nedumpuram Palace and Paliakkara Palace are located here. There is a railway station in Thiruvalla in the Ernakulam to Thiruvananthapuram rail route via Kottayam. Thiruvalla is the meeting point of M.C.Road (Main Central Road/SH-01) and T.K.Road (Thiruvalla-Pathanamthitta-Kumbazha Road/SH-07)

Contents

[edit] Demographics

The city spans a geographic area of 27.94 km² with a population of 56,828 as of 2001 India census,[1]. Males constitute 48% of the population and females 52%. Thiruvalla has an average literacy rate of 90%, higher than the national average of 59.5% male literacy is 90%, and female literacy is 98.7%. In Thiruvalla, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

The nearest port is in Cochin and , nearest airport is in Cochin and Thiruvananthapuram at a distance ~130 km north and south respectively. The nearest train station is in Thiruvalla. The city has a tropical climate with a temperatures ranging from highs of 34.4 °C in the summer to a low of 18.5 °C in the winter with a healthy rainfall of 3040 mm.

View over Tiruvalla: Center
View over Tiruvalla: Center

[edit] History

There are plenty of evidences to suggest that the area had been inhabited since 500 BCE although the city was founded sometime around 800 CE. The present day areas of Niranam and Kadapra on the western part of Thiruvalla were submerged under the sea before then.

It is interesting to note that the name Thiruvalla comes from the word "Thiru Valla Vazh", named after the deity Thiru Vallabhan of the Thiru Vallabha temple. This temple is one among the one hundred and eight vaishnava thirupathis in India. This temple is the family temple of Vallabhasseril Tharavad famous kalari family of Central travancore.Link [1]. Vallabhasseril was a very powerful tharavad under Panthalam Raja, which provided him with all the necessary security forces of those times. Link[2]. Once upon a time, this tharavad controlled the ‘Niranam thura’ (a small harbor at Niranam) as the main navigators with their own ‘Kalari’ and ‘Kshethram’. The famous Aryabhada Swamikal had described this family as ‘Soorya vamsajar’ of Travancore in his books.Link[3] Another version says that the name has come from the old name Valla vai. This name had some relation with the river Manimala which was known as Valla puzha, suggesting that Thiruvalla was the mouth of river Manimala and hence was known as Valla vai.Link[4] On the western part of Thiruvalla, the rivers Pampa, Manimala and Achen Kovil join for a panoramic view. As in many other places in India, the culture and heritage of Thiruvalla are tied to its temples. Historical evidence such as copper plates and proclamations point to Thiruvalla as a flourishing and major center of spiritual and educational prominence in 1100. The Sree Vallaba Temple governed a Vedic School with one thousand students and one hundred teachers. The temple also maintained a hospital in the service for the public at large. The rulers of Thiruvalla belonged to the Thekkumkoor Dynasty, which had one of its headquarters at Edathil near Kavil Temple. Today's Paliakara Palace is a branch of Lakshmipuram Palace of Changanacherry, which is a branch of Alikottu Kovilakam of Pazhancherry in Malabar. Similarly, Nedumpuram Palace is a branch of Mavelikkara Palace is an heir to the Kolathiri tradition of Udayamangalam.

The Kaavil market (which is no longer in existence) was once one of the most famous markets of Kerala where there were even foreign trade links. Even now the houses in this street are known as "Kaavil" and their family houses in the now Pushpagiri-Tholassery area as "Malayil". It is actually situated in the street starting from Kavumbhagom. It was also the settlement area of early Christians of Thiruvalla. This was the heartplace of Thiruvalla up to the 19th Century (East to M C road was forest area). Even now dens can be found in the KSRTC garage area.

Thiruvalla was never under direct British rule and before India's independence from Britain on August 15, 1947, it was governed by the Travancore dynasty. The Thiruvalla municipality started functioning in 1919, with Shri M K Kesavan Nair as the first Chairman of the Municipal council. The constitution was officially approved on October 8, 1920. The municipal office has established several public health facilities, libraries and sports facilities.

The famed pilgrim centre of Sabarimala is about 100 km from Thiruvalla. Parumala Church, one of the famous Christian pilgrimage centres is in Thiruvalla. The spiritual conventions at Eraviperoor, Othera, Kumbanadu, Maramon, and Cherukolpuzha are all located in Thiruvalla.

One of the earliest printing press in Kerala, Bhagyodayam Press was set up in Thiruvalla back in 1937.

[edit] Facts

Thiruvalla has a large number of Non-Resident Indian Community. Most of the financial power of the place is derived from them. Almost every leading bank in the country, including the high-profile private ones, has a branch here. There are large number of private financiers too.

Thiruvalla is connectd to other southern Indian cities Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai etc by a fleet of private bus operations.

Hospitals including a private medical college, both big and small, are here. Thiruvalla has a high literacy rate of above 90%. Thiruvalla Taluk was considered as having the maximum number of university graduates in all over India. High importance is given to quality education. This was also helped by the advent of Christian missionaries and the many schools started by them around the area, active promotion of education by the Royal Family of Travancore, and the communist government of 1969.

[edit] Legends and myths

Tiruvalla have a lot of myths in the Hindu background. Most of them are surrounding the Sree Vallabha temple.According to the legends, Sree Vallabha have 3 sisters who are bhagavathies of the nearby temples- namely Alanthuruthy, Padappad and Kaavil.The complex and interesting rituals that are made in the Kaavil street and in Sree Vallabha temple are centuries old and shows the legends in their background.

According to popular legends & Christian myths, Saint Thomas, one of the 12 Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, came to Musiris (Kodungallore) in 52 A D and later to Nelkinda (Niranam) through Purakkadu, ancient ports of Kerala, in South West India to preach the gospel. As a result, Christian communities were formed in seven towns of Kerala. The famous Niranam church which is only 5 km from Thiruvalla was founded at this time.

Thiruvalla Christians were part of the autonomous Indian Orthodox Church, until the 17th century when due to the intervention of the Portuguese Colonialists and missionaries, a schism occurred leading to the introduction of Catholicism in India. The Mar Thoma Church and the Evangelical Church have their headquarters in and around Thiruvalla. The headquarters of the Orthodox Church Niranam Diocese is also in Thiruvalla. The famous Niranam, Paliakkara Church, St.John's Cathedral and Parumala churches are important tourist destinations.

[edit] Topography

The topography of Thiruvalla comprises plains, paddy fields, and small ranges. The major crops grown are rice, tapioca, coconuts, rubber, plantains, sugarcane and a variety of vegetables.


[edit] Educational institutions in and around Thiruvalla

  1. Marthoma College, Kuttapuzha - http://www.marthomacollege.org/
  2. MACFAST - Mar Athanasios College for Advanced Studies Tiruvalla [5]
  3. Pushpagiri Medical College Hospital
    1. College of Medicine
    2. College of Dental Sciences
    3. College of Pharmacy
    4. College of Nursing
    5. School of Nursing
    6. School of Multi-purpose Health Workers
    7. School of Medical Lab Technology
  4. DB College, Pamba,Parumala
  5. St Aloysius College, Edathua
  6. Mar Thoma Academy, Near TMM Hospital
  7. MGM Higher Secondary School (Estd:1902), Market Jn
  8. DB Higher Secondary School, Kavumbhagom
  9. St Mary's Residential Central School, Paliakara
  10. SCS Higher Secondary School, Thiruvalla
  11. Balika Madom Girls Higher Secondary School, Tirumoolapuram
  12. Syrian Jacobite Public School, Varikkad
  13. Marthoma Residential School, Kuttapuzha
  14. NSS High School, Muthoor Jn
  15. Seventh Day Adventist Public School, Kuttapuzha
  16. St.Thomas Higher Secondary School, Thirumoolapuram
  17. CMS High School, Thiruvalla
  18. SNVS High School, Tirumoolapuram
  19. Government Girls High School, Thiruvalla
  20. Belivers Church Residential School , Kuttapuzha[6]
  21. Christ Central School, Muthhor Jn

[edit] Famous Sons and Daughters

  1. H H Baselios Marthoma Didymos I, Catholicos of India and All the East
  2. Chalakuzhy Paulose Matthen (1890-1960)- Member of Parliament from Mavelikara Constituency to the first Lok Sabha(1952)-Pioneer Banker and founder of the Quilon Bank Ltd.-(later amalgamated to form the Travancore National and Quilon Bank Ltd.)-Indian Ambassador to the Sudan(1957)
  3. P C Thomas, MLA 1980-82 JNP & 1982-87 IND
  4. E John Jacob, MLA 1965-1979 Kerala Congress, Former Agriculture Minister of Kerala.
  5. Kandathil Varghese Mappillai, Founder Malayala Manorama
  6. Kandathil K M Mammen Mappilai, nephew of K V Mappillai
  7. G Padmanabhan Thampi, MLA 1957-1960 Communist Party of India.
  8. P Chacko, MLA 1960-1965 Indian National Congress
  9. Kochu Kunju Vaidian, MLC, Sri Moolam Praja Sabha, Ex-counsellor, Thiruvalla Municipality, Founder SNV Sanskrit School.
  10. Fr Iype Thoma, Kovoor-Pioneer of Marthoma Church in Thiruvalla
  11. Raghavan Nambiar, Villuvarvattathu, Veteran poet. He suggested the name "Malayala Manorama" for the famous daily
  12. Vishnu Narayanan Namboothiri, Veteran poet
  13. Dr Alexander Karackal, Former Pro Vice Chancellor of Kannur University & former Sabha Secretary of The Indian Orthodox Church
  14. Olympian Pappan, Represented Indian football team in Rome(1960)
  15. C K Ra, Famous Artist
  16. Abu Abraham, Famous Cartoonist
  17. A T Kovoor, Famous Psychiatrist
  18. E M Kovoor, Famous writer and novelist
  19. Kuzhivelil Krishna Pillai, famous social worker, headmaster, writer and the first post-graduate in thiruvalla.
  20. T K Sreenivasan, Ex-President SNDP Union and popular social worker.
  21. Adv Mathew Thoompumpattu Thomas, MLA 2006- present & 1987-1991, Janata Dal, Transport Minister of Kerala 2006 - present
  22. Adv Mammen Mathai, MLA 1992-2003 Kerala Congress (M)
  23. Late M G Soman, Movie Actor
  24. Nadiya Moythu, Movie Actress
  25. Meera Jasmine, Movie Actress
  26. Nayan Taara, Movie Actress
  27. Kaveri, Movie Actress
  28. Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Movie Actress
  29. Aswathi Kurup (Paarvathi), Movie Actress
  30. K G George, Film Director
  31. Blessy, Film Director
  32. Late Sri V P P Nampoothiry-Ex-MLA and Founder of the famous Nampoothiry's College

[edit] Attractions at Thiruvalla

  1. Thiru Vallabha Temple: The Flagpost of the Thiru Vallabha Temple carved out from a single rock with a Garudan at the top, created by the legendary "Perumthachan".
  2. Niranam church: Founded by Apostle St Thomas around AD 54 CE.
  3. Paliakkara Church: First church of Thiruvalla.
  4. Parumala Church
  5. Paliyakkara Palace
  6. Nearest city to the Chakkulathu kavu Bhagavathi Temple[7].
  7. Thrukakkudi Cave Temple, Kaviyoor
  8. Club 7: The Largest Shopping Mall in Kerala with Three Star Hotel - A Sky Group Venture
  9. Deepa Tower (Shopping Mall with Multiplex theatre)
  10. Metal Casting Centres, Mannar
  11. St John's Cathedral, mother church for the Syro-Malankara Thiruvalla Archdiocese, recently completely rebuilt in traditional Kerala style


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[edit] Headline text

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[edit] Subdivisions

  1. Kuttappuzha
  2. Eraviperoor
  3. Kaviyoor
  4. Koipuram
  5. Othera
  6. Thiruvalla
  7. Thottapuzhasserry
  8. Kadapra
  9. Kuttoor
  10. Nedumpuram
  11. Niranam
  12. Peringara
  13. Kavumbhagam
  14. Thiruvanvandoor
  15. Mallappally
  16. Mathilbhagom
  17. Kattookara
  18. Thollassery
  19. Thirumoolapuram
  20. Vallamkulam

[edit] PIN Codes

  1. Thiruvalla 689101
  2. Kavumbhagom 689102
  3. Kizhekkenmuthoor 689103
  4. Valanjavattom 689104
  5. Manjadi 689105
  6. Kutoor 689106
  7. Muthoor 689107
  8. Karackal, Peringara 689108
  9. Thiruvanvandoor, Podiyadi 689110
  10. Kuttapuzha 689111
  11. Chathankari 689112
  12. Alanthuruthy, Azhyadathuchira 689113
  13. Vempala 689114
  14. Thirumoolapuram 689115
  15. Chengaroor 689121
  16. Angadical 689122
  17. Edanad 689123
  18. Kallisseri 689124
  19. Ala 689126
  20. Vallamkulam(nannoor) 689541
  21. Eraviperoor 689542
  22. Othera 689546
  23. Kurianoor 689550
  24. Vazhamangalam 689571
  25. Nedumpuram 689578
  26. Kaviyoor 689580
  27. Anjilithanam 689582
  28. Mepral 689591
  29. Mundiappally 689593

[edit] See Also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns. (Provisional). Census Commission of India. Retrieved on 2007-09-03.

[edit] External links