| Thiruvalla | |
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| Coordinates | 9°23′06″N 76°34′30″E / 9.385°N 76.575°E |
| Country |  India |
| State | Kerala |
| District(s) | Pathanamthitta |
| Population | 56,828 (2001[update]) |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
Tiruvalla ( previously spelled Thiruvalla) (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)
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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 Kochi and , nearest airport is in Kochi 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.
Location
Tiruvalla is on the western border of Pathanamthitta District.The municipal town limits are Thirumoolapuram, Kattod, Kuttapuzha and Manipuzha.Formerly some areas of present Changanacherry were parts of Tiruvalla taluk. Now the boundaries of the taluk are Varattar Bridge on the south, Lappalam on the north, Pullad on the east and Edathua.
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 Tiruvalla comes from the word "Thiru Valla Vazh", named after the river Manimala which was known as Valla puzha, suggesting that Tiruvalla was the mouth of river Manimala and hence was known as Valla vai(vai in old malayalam means mouth of river).Because of this Sri Vallabha temple was called "Thiru Vallavayappan" which later reformed as "Sri Vallabhan" Thiru Vallabha temple, considering that the deity is God Vishnu. This temple is one among the one hundred and eight vaishnava thirupathis in India. Another version says that the name has come from the old name "Valla vai".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 Tiruvalla are tied to its temples. Historical evidence such as copper plates and proclamations point to Tiruvalla as a flourishing and major center of spiritual and educational prominence in 1100 CE. 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 Kaavil 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" among their friends and relatives and the houses in the now Pushpagiri-Tholassery area as "Malayil" because they are in an elevated area compared to Kaavil. The Kaavil market was actually situated in the street starting from Erankavu Temple to the Kaavil temple in the present Kavumbhagom. It was also the first settlement area of early Christians of Tiruvalla. We can see quotes about this then famous street and its people in the renowned Poem " Unnuneeli Sandesham". This was the heartplace of Thiruvalla up to the 19th Century (East to M C road was forest area. Dens were found in the KSRTC garage area, which are now buried).The first school in Tiruvalla started somewhere in mid 19th century in Kaavil market, in the road to Pallippalam. Still all the major religious processions are required to pass through this way only, in spite of the new roads constructed parallelly.
Thiruvalla Christians were part of the autonomous Indian Orthodox Church, which was not affected by the schism which occurred in the 17th century due to the intervention of Portugese colonists (Introduction of Catholicism in India). By 19th century, inspired by the work of the British missionaries, a reformation movement happened which eventually resulted in a schism, leading to the formation of Marthoma Church.
Thiruvalla was never under direct British rule and before India's independence from Britain, 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 8 October 1920. The municipal office has established several public health facilities, libraries and sports facilities.
Facts
Thiruvalla has a large Non-Resident Indian Community. Almost every leading bank in the country, including the high-profile private ones, has a branch here.There are a large number of private financiers too.
The town is connected to all major South Indian cities by a fleet of private bus operations.
A no.of big and small including a private medical college operate here. Thiruvalla has a high literacy rate of above 90%. Thiruvalla Taluk was once 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 with the active promotion of education by the Royal Family of Travancore, and the communist government of 1969.
The Mar Thoma Church and the Evangelical Church and the Indian Pentecostal Church of God (IPC) have their headquarters in and around Thiruvalla. The headquarters of the Orthodox Church Niranam Diocese and Syro Malankara Catholic Thiruvalla Archdiocese are also in Thiruvalla. The famous Niranam, Paliakkara, Kallooppara Valiyapalli and Parumala churches are important tourist destinations.
The nearest railway/bus terminal of Sabarimala is THIRUVALLA. The famed pilgrim centre of Sabarimala is only about 100 km from Tiruvalla. [Parumala|Parumala Church], one of the famous Christian pilgrimage centres is about 10 kms from the town. The spiritual conventions at Eraviperoor, Othera, Kumbanad, Maramon, and Ayroor-Cherukolpuzha are all located east of Tiruvalla
Politics
Thiruvalla assembly constituency is part of the newly formed Pathanamthitta (Lok Sabha constituency).[2]
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 traditions, 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, which were the ancient ports of Kerala, in South West India to preach the gospel. The now famous Niranam church which is only 5 km from Thiruvalla is the fourth among the 8 churches he founded in Kerala at this time.
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.
Major Educational institutions in and around Thiruvalla
- College of Engineering Kaloopara (Managed By IHRD)
- Marthoma College, Kuttapuzha
- MACFAST - Mar Athanasios College for Advanced Studies Tiruvalla
- Pushpagiri Medical College Hospital
- College of Medicine
- College of Dental Sciences
- College of Pharmacy
- College of Nursing
- School of Nursing
- School of Multi-purpose Health Workers
- School of Medical Lab Technology
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine
- Synergy English Academy
- Pamba DB College, Parumala
- St Aloysius College, Edathua
- Mar Thoma Academy, Near TMM Hospital
- MGM Higher Secondary School (Estd:1902), Market Jn
- DB Higher Secondary School, Kavumbhagom
- St Mary's Residential Central School, Paliakkara
- SCS Higher Secondary School, Thiruvalla
- Balikamadom Girls Higher Secondary School, Tirumoolapuram
- Syrian Jacobite Public School, Varikkad
- Marthoma Residential School, Kuttapuzha
- Seventh Day Adventist Public School, Kuttapuzha
- St. Thomas Higher Secondary School, Thirumoolapuram
- St. Thomas Higher Secondary School, Thirumoolapuram
- Prince Marthanda Varma High School, Peringara
- NSS High School, Muthoor Jn
- Nicholson Syrian Girls High School, Meenthalakara
- CMS High School, Thiruvalla
- SNVS High School, Tirumoolapuram
- Government Girls High School, Thiruvalla
- Believers Church Residential School, Kuttapuzha [1]
- Christ Central School, Muthoor Jn
Famous Personalities
- H H Baselios Marthoma Didymos I, Catholicos of India and All the East
- 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)
- Kandathil Varghese Mappillai, Founder "Malayala Manorama"
- Kandathil K M Mammen Mappilai, nephew of K V Mappillai
- Raghavan Nambiar, Villuvarvattathu, Veteran poet. He suggested the name "Malayala Manorama" for the famous daily.
- E M Kovoor, Famous writer and novelist
- Vishnu Narayanan Namboothiri, Veteran poet
- Kochu Kunju Vaidian, MLC, Sri Moolam Praja Sabha, Ex-counsellor, Thiruvalla Municipality, Founder SNV Sanskrit School
- Fr Iype Thoma Kovoor-Pioneer of Marthoma Church in Thiruvalla
- P C Thomas, MLA 1980-82 JNP & 1982-87 IND
- E John Jacob, MLA 1965-1979, Kerala Congress, Former Agriculture Minister of Kerala
- G Padmanabhan Thampi, MLA 1957-1960, Communist Party of India
- P Chacko, MLA 1960-1965, Indian National Congress
- Adv Mammen Mathai Former MLA
- Adv Mathew T. Thomas, MLA 2006- present & 1987-1991, Janata Dal, Transport Minister of Kerala (2006 - 2009)
- Dr Alexander Karackal, Former Pro Vice Chancellor of Kannur University & former Sabha Secretary of The Indian Orthodox Church
- Purshothamananda swami, Great saint in Himalayas who had many eminent deciples like Ashok Singal
- Olympian Pappan, Famous football player represented Indian team in Rome (1960)
- C K Ra, Famous Artist
- T K Sreenivasan, Ex-President SNDP Union and popular social worker
- B G Varghese, Columnist and Senior Journalist
- Abu Abraham, Famous Cartoonist
- Kakkanadan , Novelist & writer
- Abraham Kovoor, Famous Hypnotherapist & Rationalist
- Late M G Soman, Movie Actor
- Nadiya Moythu, Movie Actress
- Meera Jasmine, Movie Actress
- Nayan Taara, Movie Actress
- Kaveri, Movie Actress
- Kaviyoor Ponnamma, Movie Actress
- Aswathi Kurup (Paarvathi), Movie Actress
- Bhama, Movie Actress
- K G George, Film Director
- Blessy, Film Director
- Late John Abraham, Movie Director
Attractions at Thiruvalla
- Shri Vallabha Maha Kshetram: (alternatively, The Thiruvalla Temple), One of the 102 divine Vishnu deshas in India. The Flagpost of the Thiru Vallabha Temple carved out from a single rock with a Garudan at the top, created by the legendary "Perumthachan".
- Dharma Shasta Temple Meenthalakkara
- Niranam church: Founded by Apostle St Thomas around AD 54 AD.Holds a good museum.
- Parumala Church: Burial place of St.Gregorios, the first proclaimed Saint from India.
- Paliakkara Church: First church of Tiruvalla. It attracts many tourists because of the marvellous murals on the eastern wall of its altar. Also thousands regardless of religion come and pray for the intercession of St. George here.
- Paliakkara Palace
- Nearest city to the Chakkulathu kavu Bhagavathi Temple.
- Kaviyoor Hanuman Temple
- Thrukakkudi Cave Temple, Kaviyoor
- Club 7: (The Largest Shopping Mall in Kerala with a Three Star Hotel - A Sky Group Venture)
- Deepa Tower (Shopping Mall with Multiplex theatre)
- Metal Casting Centres, Mannar
- St. Johns Cathdral Church, Tiruvalla
- "Kadalimagalam Padayani" one of the great folk-performing art with all its traditional forms conducted in the kadalimangalam Devi Temple during march/April months every year. The ten days festival is condcted by the people of two local 'kara'namely Eruvellipara and venupala. The rare and great padayani Koolam namely 'KALAYAKSHI' is performed at here.it's right of two families namely Mukkanjirathu and Pullenplavil of the two 'karas to perform this 'KALAYAKSHI KOOLAM'.
- St. Mary’s Orthodox Church, Kallooppara- situated on the banks of the river Manimala is one of the oldest and renowned churches of Malankara Sabha. The church have a legacy of around seven centuries, keeping its tradition and culture intact without compromising on its religious values.
Subdivisions
- Amalloor
- Meenthalakkara
- Kuttappuzha
- Eraviperoor
- Kaviyoor
- Koipuram
- Othera
- Thiruvalla
- Thottapuzhasserry
- Kadapra
- Kuttoor
- Nedumpuram
- Niranam
- Peringara
- Kavumbhagom
- Thiruvanvandoor
- Mallappally
- Mathilbhagom
- Kattookara
- Thollassery
- Thirumoolapuram
- Vallamkulam
- Thiruvamanapuram
- Thuruthiyilbhagom
PIN Codes
- Thiruvalla 689101
- Kavumbhagom 689102
- Kizhekkenmuthoor 689103
- Valanjavattom 689104
- Manjadi 689105
- Kutoor 689106
- Muthoor 689107
- Karackal, Peringara 689108
- Thiruvanvandoor, Podiyadi 689110
- Kuttapuzha 689111
- Chathankari 689112
- Alanthuruthy, Azhyadathuchira 689113
- Vempala 689114
- Thirumoolapuram 689115
- Chengaroor 689121
- Angadical 689122
- Edanad 689123
- Kallisseri 689124
- Ala 689126
- Vallamkulam(nannoor) 689541
- Eraviperoor 689542
- Othera 689546
- Nedumpuram 689578
- Kaviyoor 689580
- Mepral 689591
- Mundiappally 689593
- Podiyadi 689110
- Azyidathuchira 689113
- Pullad 689548
- Kumbanad 689547
Eat Out Joints at Thiruvalla
- Hotel Greenlands
- Hotel Elite Continental
- Hotel Dynasty
- Hotel Tilak
- Hotel Besotta
- Hotel Abhilash
- Hotel Joecees Dhaba
- Hotel Rajan De Cafe
- Kaledio @ Club7
- Hotel Voyage @ Club7
- Chicking @ Deepa Tower
- Red Penguin @ Deepa Tower
- Baskin Robbins @ Club7
See also
References
- ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ^ "ORDER NO. 9 - TABLE A & B – ASSEMBLY AND PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCIES AND THEIR EXTENT" (PDF). Kerala. DELIMITATION COMMISSION OF INDIA. http://www.delimitation-india.com/Final_Publications/KERALA/Final_Order_Kerala.pdf. Retrieved 2005-05-31.
External links
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